Aurora: Now that we are all here...we must discuss our next move! As you are all aware, at this point, the AWF is quickly gaining a collection of Beast Keys and Ancient Shackles!

Cleo's fist tightens as she gritted her teeth at the mere thought of Archerd taking her Key from her.

Aurora: I believe Akeru and Itsuki have a grand idea; to bring all of our sisters together once more to challenge this threat!

Cleo: What a dumb plan...

Everyone looked at her as she glared a bit at Aurora.

Cleo: You honestly think any of them will help us in the tiniest bit?! Not to mention finding them will be near impossible!

Ci: I agree...but the plan can work. You are here, are you not?

Cleo: Not by choice! I don't give a damn about helping any of you!

Akeru: So you are refusing? You are going to let Archerd get away?!

Cleo: Girl, I will end you!

Benjiro: That's enough; quit being a damn brat!!

Cleo looked at Benjiro and shut up, looking away.

Benjiro: Obviously, all the Witches will have their own thoughts about an alliance, all more than likely negative...

Aurora: But in the beginning, we were all united until Ju- ahem, the Beast Witch started her havoc. If we stay divided, then her evil plan wins! Unless we unite, if an Ancient Beast rises, we will all perish one by one!

Ci: She is right...even if you hate us with all your heart, you cannot deny the truth...each Ancient Beast is made to defeat us with our disadvantages!

Cleo looked at them and huffed, turning her head at them.

Cleo: I do hate you, every last person in this damn room...but you do hold a point. So until we extinguish the threat, I will lend my aid. But don't think for a second we are on the same level; I am still a Sultana!

Benjiro: What did we talk about, Sultana?

Cleo jumped a bit and blushed, gritting her teeth slightly.

Cleo: S-S-S-Sorry if I am a handful...

Itsuki, Akeru, and Ravenbeard look at each other, confused about her sudden behavior change, but just shrug as Aurora continues her speech.

Aurora: At the moment...we have three of the eleven Witches in this castle. We need to do three things before anything else: First, we need a safe place for the Witches to stay. While I would love for it to be this castle...it can only do so much.

Itsuki: Well, what about making a Chamber?

Ci: The issue with that is that a Chamber is exclusive to one person...therefore, we need to go beyond that. A Grand Realm should do...

Akeru: A Grand Realm?

Cleo: You don't know about such a spell?! What a fool...

Benjiro: Cleo...

Cleo: B-But I suppose it makes sense not to know...

Ci: Anyways...a Grand Realm is a grade 12 spell. It is like a Chamber, but when someone uses a Grand Realm on the portal of an existing Grand Realm, it allows the two to link with each other in a sense...creating a shareable dimension between multiple people. But, of course, ours is a grade 13 Witch version of it...so only Witches can link to it.

Aurora: What an excellent idea! If we do that, we can enchant the spell onto something for Itsuki and Akeru to enter and exit!

Cleo: It would have to be something they could hide because if anyone got ahold of that specific something, we could get invaded easily!

Aurora: That is true...I will think about it. Let's get to subject two: We need to set up Link points like this castle and other locations for faster travel. That way, we can get somewhere instantly if trouble were to arise.

Itsuki: A...Link point?

Cleo: Seriously?! You call yourself a mage, and yet you don't know Link?!

Benjiro: Ahem...

Cleo: W-W-Well, I guess it is an uncommon spell...

Ci: Link is a Grade 8 spell that allows a person to set up a unique portal point anywhere in the world for their personal use. Of course, the same rule applies to the Grand Realm, where using Link on someone else's portal would cause them to be able to use it.

Aurora: Meaning that our version only we could use it...but at least you can set your own Link up, Itsuki!

Akeru: What about Ravenbeard and me then?

Aurora: Well, the Link closes once the person who casts it either closes it themselves or enters it...so as long as you go first, there would be no issues.

Itsuki: Makes sense...so what is the third thing?

Aurora: The first Witch we need to get is Amani.

Akeru: A-Amani?! Why her ?!

Ravenbeard: Aye, I get ye point. It be because she is of the sky?

Aurora: Precisely...with her help, we can locate the others easily. As you likely know, there are five countries: Sanoptia in the far east, Polisha in the middle, Arezilla on the northernmost island...then there is to the south the swamplands of Orgeta, and finally to the west is the volcanic mountain region known as Evalot.

Ci: Not only them, but several smaller islands and on top of that there are two other countries: The sky fortress of Teck and Aquari, the underwater country.

Akeru: So with Amani, that means she can watch at least six of the seven countries?

Aurora: Well...not exactly. Teck isn't always flying or visible; only it shows up at certain times.

Itsuki: Well, how do we get to Amani anyways? She seems just to show up randomly.

Cleo: Easy, we just make a considerable racket somewhere that would catch her interest. I could use Sandoclypse again-

Akeru: Please don't; that was scary enough the first time you used it...

Ci: I'm sure we will think of something...but another thing we must do is train Itsuki more.

Aurora: Oh yes! Ci volunteered to be your magic instructor!

Itsuki: W-Why her ?!

Ci: Is there something wrong with me?

Itsuki: N-No, ma'am!!

Ci: Well, the guard dog can't produce anything beyond a Grade 1...and out of everyone here, I am the most skilled with magic.

Cleo: Like hell you are!

Ci: Would you like to train him then?

Cleo: No way!!

Ci: Then stop complaining...besides, Itsuki, you need to learn Link, and you said you wanted to know Chamber. You need to learn more spells anyways because every time you fight, you just use the same old spells...

Itsuki: W-Well, that's because I...

Ci: Because you don't believe it is necessary at the moment, but you fail to realize how much of a challenge these new foes will be...not only that, but there is a chance you will have to fight a Witch on your own. The Book of Witchery Volume 1 holds up to Grade 4 spells, yet you only know one Grade 3 and a handful of Grade 2 spells, yes? Not only that, but the other book that is also known as the Void Book also has spells that you could learn. What Rank are you again?

Itsuki pulled out his Magica and noticed something strange. It changed colors and shape; it was a platinum crest with a half-sphere inside, but the half-sphere no longer had the trim around it, and it was clear.

Itsuki: W-What the hell? What happened to my Magica?!

Cleo: What do you mean???

Akeru: It used to be a normal half-sphere with a bronze trim!

Ci: A bronze trim? You must be joking...

Itsuki: W-What do you mean?

Cleo: Are you telling me you two have never noticed it change colors every time your Rank went up?!

Akeru: It did ?!

Aurora: Oh indeed! It starts as a bronze trim, then a silver trim, then finally a gold trim! Then, it gains its proper form like you have it once you reach Platinum!

Itsuki: But why did we reach Platinum? We haven't done any Hunts or Quests...

He pointed the Magica towards the ceiling to display his information to see he had a bounty, and the Manticore was listed as a Hunt.

Itsuki: W-What the hell?! I thought you said that thing was your pet?!

Cleo: It was; I never said anything about it being a threat...I was the one who made it at Hunt and forgot about it.

Akeru: You seriously are the devil...

Cleo: Don't flatter me~

Ci: The bounty was probably due to you defeating that one buffoon, which causes your Rank to go up. But anyway, that should mean you can learn Grade 6 spells with the Void Book.

Akeru: Why are those books called that?

Aurora: W-Well, the Book of Witchery -

Ci: Isn't supposed to be in the hands of a typical Mage...but my sister, I suppose, even breaks the rules occasionally. The Void Book is a very ancient book made by one of the most powerful Mages in the world. How you obtained it is beyond me...

Itsuki: How did Armando even get it...

Aurora: Well, anyway...we will start tomorrow! Cleo, you will help me with the Grand Realm since Ci will be with Itsuki. Ravenbeard and Akeru, you will go with Benjiro and assist him with anything he needs, okay? Operation Unify is underway!

The whole room went quiet when she said Operation Unify and just gave her sly looks, but they didn't want to say anything to hurt her feelings, so they just went with the name as they all stood up and parted ways.