Itadaki no Hecate

Bearer of Treasures and the Priestess

The girl who was once Konoe Fumina, who called herself a shadow of her own self, had become one again with her real self. In appearance, there was little difference, but the girl who now stood before the young man seemed like a completely different person. The Faux Vessel had disappeared, and in her place was the Supreme Throne, Hecate.

Episode 3: The Bearer of Treasures and the Priestess

"Konoe...san?" Yuji said as he was about to step forward.

Suddenly, the girl in front of him glared sharply, and took the initiative ahead of him. The Torch, caught off guard and startled, stumbled back and fell to the ground.

The Priestess stood in front of him. She was shorter than him, but right now, she was a towering, menacing presence. Without any thought or feeling, she stretched her hand out towards Yuji's chest...

Only to stop a few inches away from it.

"Konoe-san?" Yuji said, confused.

Hecate's eyes were wide, as if not comprehending why she would hesitate. She would not realize it at that moment, but something inside her was stopping her, a memory of this Torch who had made herself, or at least, a part of herself, feel something completely different.

Hecate shrugged it off, then attempted to reach into Yuji's chest again, but this time, she was stopped by a sharp pain from within, from a different source. She winced and pulled back, with eyes closed.

"I understand," she said, as if to herself. But Yuji could sense her reluctance. It seemed that not only one, but two things inside of her were stopping her from taking out whatever was inside of him.

As the Priestess backed away, Yuji stood up and studied her. In every physical way, she was still Konoe Fumina, yet she was completely different. This one did not even seem human, or even seem to have a heart of her own. He recalled Konoe's last words.

"Meet the real me."

So, this is the person that Konoe had come from. Yuji stepped forward again bravely, even when his eyes met the cold stare of the Supreme Throne. He gave his best effort to smile.

"Hey, are you feeling okay after all that?" he asked.

Hecate did not answer. She simply ignored him, turned around and flew straight up into the night sky. Yuji sighed and shook his head. It seemed like he had gone back below square one.

He knew that that would be the last he would see of her that day. Turning in the direction of his home, the Torch headed towards it with his head down and his hands in his pockets.

High above the city of Misaki, Hecate surveyed the area. Still wearing the dress her shadow had bought, she was like a single luminescent star in the dark night sky.

There was another Crimson Lord in the city, she sensed, and a very powerful one at that. However, he was nowhere near Hecate's level of power, and should not be too much of a threat. However, his Rinne did seem to have an interest in the Treasure that she was protecting, and when Rinne were interested in something, it usually means their master is after the same thing.

"If he touches it, I will destroy him," she said aloud, as if to someone unseen.

From a relatively safe distance, the pale man with blue hair observed the Supreme Throne.

"She's finally here," he said. In his arms, his dearest Marianne slept I comfort and security. "The Supreme Throne, Hecate, one of the most feared Crimson Lords of all time."

He took out an elegantly crafted revolver, then shrugged as he put it away. "As powerful as I am with the many Flame Hazes I've killed," he said, "this would be pointless against her. Thankfully, it doesn't seem like she has any reason to stop my plan, or she would have gone right at me at this moment. It appears that her only motive in this city is protecting that Treasure. I want it even more now, but I'm no fool, I would not stand a chance against that monster."