Durandal descended from the sky.
Her feet struck the hard rock, and cracks like twisted snakes wound across the ground, forming a circle twelve meters in diameter around her. Somewhat embarrassed, she scratched her head and pulled her legs out of the fissures in the stone.
She had accidentally used too much force again.
Good thing nobody saw that.
She climbed to the top of a hill and looked out over the parked mining village. Rope was eating an ice cream handed to her by a child, smiling so broadly that her eyes had narrowed to slits.
It looked like she was really enjoying this.
Having left the place where she grew up and cast aside all her former identities, Rope wanted to be a hero too.
That was all Hoshino's influence.
Durandal held Glory of Dawn and waited for the right moment.
When the time came, she would transform into flowing flames, a living ball of lightning, and sweep toward that poor little village.
Of course, everything was under control.
"Let me show you a magic trick."
After finishing her ice cream, Rope tossed the wooden stick into a trash bin and rubbed her hands together.
She faced the children's starry eyes. Even though all of this came from Rope's false identity, she still relished it. Enjoying glory that had never belonged to her under the name of Rhodes Island, Rope decided to repay these children.
Just as she had always done.
A so-called magic trick.
Rope looked at the little girl nearest to her and spread her hand wide, showing that her palm was completely empty.
"Watch closely."
She deliberately lowered her voice, putting on an air of mystery.
Her hands moved nimbly, her fingers fluttering like a chaotic mass of flowers, too dazzling to follow. In the