Accelerator collapsed on the roof, gasping for breath. Nagato didn't even look a little bit exhausted. He looked exactly like he did 4 hours ago, before training had started. In these 4 hours, Nagato had pushed the limits of Accelerator's ability with magic spells that had made the lightning mage's spells look like child's play. Due to his ability returning, Accelerator had just enough power to barely block off the oncoming spells. After his ability had been exhausted, Accelerator was tested to his physical limits with training in hand-to-hand combat, speed and reflexes.
Nagato strode over and hovered over Accelerator's exhausted form. "You held out longer than I thought. Nice endurance. Here's your reward." Moving his fingers in a pattern, Nagato spoke a word that didn't even sound like any earthly language. Immediately, the pain in Accelerator's body and his weariness faded. Accelerator shifted into a sitting position, and glared at Nagato. "You seem to get plenty of amusement from this," he growled.
Nagato shrugged. "By the time I'm done with your training, you'll probably be able to stand toe-to-toe to Kanzaki, and she's a saint. I do have high expectations for you."
"You haven't changed a bit in these four hours although you seem to have used plenty of magic."
"I barely used 30% of my power. I could probably go on for another couple hours or so. Still, very impressive. Some of the spells I used could have been fatal if they hit you directly."
"Are you trying to kill me?!"
"Your ability worked, didn't it? After this much training, you should at least be able to deflect a powerful spell with no problem." Muttering something in a language that sounded vaguely like Latin, a bright beam of white light shot towards Accelerator. Remembering the beam as a spell that had broken through his deflection and nearly killed him, Accelerator summoned most of his power and strengthened his deflecting power. The beam hit the shield and bounced off to hit the barrier. It disappeared upon contact.
Nagato smiled, the first genuine one Accelerator had seen on his uncle's face. "You've improved extremely quickly. Good job. At this rate, you'll be beating up regular magicians in no time." He stretched. "Let's go back down before Aiho wakes up and finds that we're both gone."
"Since when were you on a first-name basis for Yoshikawa and Yomikawa?"
"Since now. It annoys the heck out of Aiho, but it's fun. Actually, let's wait a while." Nagato touched the side of the dome and it disappeared. He sat down beside Accelerator, watching the sun slowly rise.
Accelerator had a sudden thought. "Can that level 0 beat your magic?"
Nagato's expression turned sour. "Imagine Breaker. Not my favourite guy. He's annoying. But yes, he can get through my magic defenses. Although he won't get into a fight with me for a long time now."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I've heard about his power from the people who have been defeated by him. Out of curiosity, I tested him and he barely managed to get through. He got slightly cocky after that, so I taught him a lesson."
"What did you do?"
"I put him through one of my more powerful spells. It'll take a few days for him to recover. His fault for agreeing to fight me in the first place. Oh, and there's something else I forgot to tell you."
"Yeah?"
"There's a prophecy about you."
"Prophecy?" Accelerator stared at Nagato like he was crazy.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm not crazy. I was actually surprised there was only one prophecy about you anyways, since you're the special kid."
"I don't want to be called a special kid. What's the prophecy?"
"A child two different worlds shall create, the strongest of the strong, the number shall be eight. Sacrifice for another at one's demise, rise again as Heaven's eyes. We've already figured out half of it."
"What did you guys find?"
"First line obviously refers to you; second line refers to the strongest of the espers, the eight level 5s. As for the third and fourth line, we're still stuck."
"They could refer to me," Accelerator said. "Although the sacrificing and rising part, I'm not so sure."
"I know one thing for sure. Someone's going to die in the war. My visions have told me that much."
They sat in silence for a while, staring out at the slowly awakening city. Finally, Nagato stood up. "Don't tell the others I still have a soft side or else you'll find yourself without a tongue. I like my current reputation as a cold-blooded murderer to my targets." His voice was ice again.
"I get it."
"Good. Come on, let's go back."
As Nagato strode off, Accelerator followed slowly after, smirking to himself. His uncle was certainly a very cold person, but he still had some of his humanity.
***
Not to Accelerator's surprise, Yomikawa was up, drinking a cup of hot coffee in the living room while watching the news. She turned around at the sound of the door and nearly dropped her coffee cup when she saw Accelerator.
"Accelerator? You woke up?"
"Yeah. In the middle of the night."
"Where have you been?"
"Training with me." Nagato stepped into the room after Accelerator. "His powers returned as well."
Yomikawa's eyes widened. "Your calculating capability's back?"
"Yeah. I don't need the choker anymore."
"Glad you're perfectly fine now. Well, does that mean you're back as the first-ranked level 5 esper?"
"Yeah, I guess." Accelerator let out a yawn and sat on the other couch.
Meanwhile, Nagato glanced at the TV. "Any important news of the sort?"
"Information leaked from the city security has everyone panicking. There's rumours that a war is going to happen. More work for Anti-Skill." She looked annoyed.
"Then turn the damn volume up!" Nagato snatched the remote and turned the volume up.
"When asked about the rumours currently circulating around the city, Academy City officials have refused to say a thing. They say that everything is fine, and that the rumours are fake. However, they have kept silent about the reason why the rumours were on their security database."
Nagato hit the mute button. His face was paler than ever. "Don't tell me the Roman Catholic Church is working faster than we thought."
"Whoa there, slow down. What's this about the Roman Catholic Church?" Yomikawa glared at Nagato, her face demanding answers.
"There will be a war. Between science and magic. The sources said it would have taken a few weeks. Don't tell me it was a dupe?!" Nagato swore. "Damn the Romans. They could never wait."
"Nagato, calm down." This came from Yoshikawa, who had just entered the living room. "Welcome back to the realm of the awake, Accelerator."
Accelerator gave her a brief nod. Yoshikawa turned back to Nagato. "Is there any way you can contact Necessarius to ask for more information? You can use the things you gave me."
"Pass it over. I have to talk with her."
"Her?" Accelerator broke in, looking confused.
"Archbishop Laura Stuart. Extremely frivolous, but she gave me the info." Nagato took a small slip of paper from Yoshikawa and folded it, bringing it to his lips and whispering a few words. He then unfolded it.
"My, my, you're quite the impatient one, aren't you, Nagato?" A female voice came from the paper, speaking Japanese with just a hint of a British accent.
"You gave me the wrong information, Archbishop." Accelerator saw that Nagato was struggling to keep his composure.
"Actually, I'm watching the same news on Academy City right now. The information they have is from an old threat when the Roman Catholic Church sent Vento of the Front to attack the city."
"Then when will the Romans send the declaration of war?"
"No exact time has been declared. I told you I estimated a week or so."
"And what if they progress quicker than expected?"
"Go and talk with Aleister Crowley."
"About what?!"
"Make sure he is aware that Accelerator can also use magic."
Accelerator's head snapped up at the mention of his name.
"That makes no sense whatsoever!"
"How about you tell him you'll support the Science side?"
"So you're finally telling me which side I should fight for?" Nagato's voice rose.
"My, my, don't let your temper control you. Well, I'll leave you to your own devices." The paper disintegrated and disappeared.
Nagato sat on the couch, his cold composure gone. In its place was a dark look of rage. He started muttering a series of words that weren't in Japanese.
"Nagato, what's going on?" Yoshikawa looked slightly concerned.
"Damned Romans and that Archbishop. She is such a—" Nagato muttered the last word in another language, but Accelerator easily guessed it as an insult. "We have a week until the Romans send their war declaration. Then, they will send their strongest magicians to attack the city. Sorry Aiho, but science is useless against magicians that are close to my caliber. The best we can do is get some magicians from Necessarius and get the strongest espers to fight."
"Don't forget Kamijou." Yomikawa commented.
Nagato's face turned even darker. "The most annoying guy in the world. Sadly, he'd be useful against magicians."
"So what did the Archbishop mean by telling Aleister Crowley about my magic? Didn't you say he's just going to kill me?"
"In a situation like this? You're the trump card in the war. Whoever has you on their side would win. The Romans don't want you on their side, so they'll target you."
"You know I got attacked by that lightning guy?"
"He was one of the Roman mercenaries. Very powerful. Although, that does confirm my suspicion that you have an angel inside you, which means the Science side will win pretty easily."
"He saved me twice, just saying." He quickly filled in what happened those two times when Michael had taken over his body. Suddenly, a familiar voice spoke in his head.
Accelerator, let me take over your body for a while.
Starting at Michael's voice, Accelerator replied mentally. What are you going to do?
I am going to inform your uncle about the war and the details that I know. This will be very useful information.
Okay then.
"Accelerator? What's wrong?" Yomikawa waved a hand in front of his face, and then she flinched back as his eyes closed, then snapped open to reveal blank white eyeballs.
It has been a long time since I have been allowed to take over a human's body with consent. The voice was deep and regal, sounding nothing like Accelerator's voice.
"Who are you?" Nagato asked, his hand outstretched, a ball of energy forming on it.
I am not your enemy, diviner. Your suspicions were correct. Accelerator has given me temporary permission to let me speak through his body. I am the archangel Michael.
Nagato looked shocked, then dipped his head in a small bow. The ball of energy disappeared. "Thank you for saving my nephew's life twice, archangel."
It is nothing. However, I asked him to let me speak through his body to give you some information on the war. I am sorry, diviner, but the Science side will not win so easily.
"What's going to happen?"
As an archangel of heaven, I know more than my fellow angels. There must always be a balance between good and evil. As one of the archangels of heaven, I am the "good". Do you know what the opposite of me is?
Nagato's face was ghostly white. "A fallen archangel."
Correct, diviner. We have information that the fallen archangel Lucifer has taken the side of the Catholics. While none of us wish to fight against the churches, they are no longer in control of themselves. Lucifer is controlling the fifth-ranked magician in the Roman Catholic Church. He has manipulated the entire church to his will. He will participate in the war.
Yoshikawa and Yomikawa gasped in horror. Nagato seemed to be in shock. Composing himself, he spoke again. "Then what will happen?"
This is not merely another battle between magic and science. Lucifer is trying to hasten the ending of the world, and the war the Romans are declaring is a perfect opportunity. As fate suggests, I will have to use Accelerator's body as my host and fight Lucifer in the body of the fifth-ranked magician. Even I do not know the outcome.
Nagato swallowed. "What can I do?"
Please train Accelerator to his limits and break past them. And Haruka, as well. I cannot do much in my limited powers. This will greatly benefit you in the war.
Accelerator's eyes closed, but reopened a second later, revealing his red irises. "Okay, what happened? What's with the shocked looks?"
"You don't remember a thing?" Yomikawa asked.
"Last thing I remember was letting Michael take over my body for a while and then I wake up to find all three of you guys shell-shocked. What did Michael tell you guys?"
As Nagato was still too shaken to speak, Yoshikawa and Yomikawa quickly filled him in. Accelerator sighed and rolled his eyes towards the ceiling. "Can't I get one moment of peace in my life? This is just nice, finding out I play a big part in a supernatural battle."
"Well, looks like Yahiko was right after all. His visions were never wrong." Nagato stood up, his expression ice again.
"Aren't visions of the future never wrong?"
"Not all the time. There was a vision I saw of you, a future that never came to pass. A future where you killed all the clones of the Railgun and achieved level 6."
"What happened to me?"
"Nothing good. You had lost all your humanity. You made your own group that is part of Academy City's darkness, and you carried out missions that destroyed many innocents and brought the city to its knees. When you reached 18 and the seal broke, it killed you."
Accelerator sat silently after that, saying nothing. Nagato sighed. "It was just a possibility. It can never pass now. The future has changed. For the better or for the worse, I don't know. Still, Archbishop Laura is right about one thing."
"What is it?" Yoshikawa asked.
"I should talk with Aleister Crowley."
"He does not speak unless he feels like it. And usually, he has a group of espers to get the people he wants to talk to. At least that's what I heard," Yoshikawa said.
"Forget about that. Isn't there anyone that can reach someone who can take me to Crowley?"
"Yes, there is." Stiyl entered the room. "Sorry for barging in, but the door was unlocked. You'll get your wish earlier than expected, Nagato-san. Aleister Crowley wants to talk to both you and Accelerator. I can't bring you there myself right now, but Musujime Awaki will." He left right after saying the words.
As if on cue, the mahogany-haired esper appeared in the room. Accelerator looked up again, sending the girl a death glare. She replied with a cool look. Turning her head from side to side, she spotted Nagato. "I believe you are the magician Aleister Crowley wants to meet?"
"Who else would it be?" Nagato replied warily.
"I have orders to take both you and Accelerator to where he is. We go now."
"No way in hell am I going with you." Accelerator muttered.
"You don't have a choice this time."
"Fine."
Accelerator, Nagato and Awaki disappeared, leaving Yoshikawa and Yomikawa in the living room. "That escalated pretty quickly," Yomikawa commented.
"The sooner it's over, the better." Yoshikawa replied, sitting on the couch beside Yomikawa. "If Nagato's right, Anti-Skill won't be able to do a thing against magicians. We've gone beyond science."
"I just hope they don't get into too much trouble and take care of themselves."
"Your teacher instincts are kicking in again." Yoshikawa grinned at her old friend. "Hey, aren't you late for work?"
"Crap! Gotta go!" Yomikawa rushed out the door, coffee still on the table.
Yoshikawa shook her head ruefully. "I just hope nothing bad happens in the near future," she said.