Chapter 15
Chapter 15: A Whole Different World
As they awaited the arrival of their guests on Milchidan, Nanoha Takamachi murmured thoughtfully, “You know, Yuuno-kun, Morgan’s planet’s culture seems oddly similar to Japan on Earth.” Her gaze wandered to the horizon, her expression contemplative.
The head librarian, Yuuno Scrya, perked up, adjusting his glasses. “Hmm… There might be an ancient connection between your planets, even if they’re separated by at least 500 million light-years. That’s something we could investigate someday.”
They stood at the edge of Milchidan’s Military Base 04, overlooking a vast, sparkling ocean stretching endlessly before them. The scene was tranquil, but an unmistakable hum of excitement hung in the air as they anticipated their visitors’ arrival.
“Star Gazer is approaching in three minutes,” intoned Raising Heart Exelion, Nanoha’s intelligent device—a small, red orb adorned with pink wings that had been her trusted companion since childhood.
Nanoha smiled fondly, turning to Yuuno. “You know, Morgan’s meeting with Ellen reminds me of how we met. I still remember when you crash-landed on Earth in your ferret form, asking for help to collect the Jewel Seeds. That day, you gave me Raising Heart and taught me magic. Thanks to you, I met Fate and so many wonderful friends.”
Yuuno chuckled, blushing as he recalled his younger self’s awkward heroics. The memory of their adventures and shared hardships warmed him as he looked toward the sky, which grew brighter with an approaching light.
Above them, Ellen guided Morgan through their descent, pride evident in her smile. “Ta-da! There it is—my home planet, Milchidan.”
Morgan’s eyes widened as she took in the breathtaking view. Her gaze roamed over lush landscapes and glistening oceans, which sparkled under the sunlight. “Wow… It’s way bigger than my planet,” she murmured, awestruck. Nearby, she noticed another planet, covered in metallic structures, starkly devoid of Milchidan’s natural beauty.
Noticing her stare, Ellen sighed a hint of sadness in her expression. “That’s Balkan. It used to be a beautiful, thriving world, full of life and culture, just like Milchidan.” She paused, the weight of her ancestors’ history evident in her eyes. “Now it’s mostly industrial, used for storage and manufacturing. The Balkan people merged with Milchidan over time, carrying on their legacy here.”
Morgan nodded solemnly, absorbing Ellen’s words. “So, your ancestors came from Balkan?”
“Yes, long ago,” Ellen replied. “Milchidan became a sanctuary for the Balkan people—a new home to preserve their history. After a long conflict, the two planets reconciled, uniting a century ago.”
As they descended, Morgan marveled at the beauty below vibrant green landscapes, expansive forests, icy tundras, deserts, and sparkling oceans. The planet seemed alive with a quiet power, and she felt a sense of responsibility—even as a visitor—to respect and protect it.
With a soft thud and a glowing magical circle beneath them, they landed in the base’s arrival bay. Ellen quickly shut off her Barrier jacket revealing her brown Military uniform wich matched Nanoha. Nanoha and Yuuno stepped forward, their expressions warm and welcoming. Nanoha extended her hand, her voice kind. “Welcome to Milchidan, Morgan.”
Morgan bowed and greeted them with a respectful hand gesture she’d learned from the ninja academy, her hands forming a specific sign as she knelt respectfully. “Ninja Academy student Morgan LeFay Uzumaki, at your service.”
Nanoha, amused, tried to replicate the gesture, laughing warmly as she led Morgan and Ellen into the base. Morgan felt at ease with her friendly hosts, her initial awe blending into excitement as she took in every new sight.
Meanwhile, back in Konoha…
At Morgan’s house, Anko picked up Morgan’s cat, who purred contentedly. “With all the animals she takes care of, Morgan’s got plenty of sources for stress relief,” she mused, scratching the cat’s ears.
Ibiki nodded, his gaze sweeping over the room. His eyes landed on a small stack of blood-stained bandages near the wastebasket. “This isn’t just stress… it’s something deeper. Do we know anything more about her history?”
Hayate and Cat-senpai shook their heads. Cat-senpai removed her ANBU mask, her expression concerned. “There were no records of Morgan LeFay Uzumaki until half a year ago. She might have joined Konoha for safety. Maybe she’s running from something—or someone.”
Anko looked up, a playful glint in her eye. “Finally, I get to see your face again, Yugao,” she said, teasing her ANBU companion.
Ignoring her, Yugao picked up a sheet from Morgan’s writing desk, her brow furrowing. “It looks like she’s been learning another language…”
Ibiki continued examining her belongings. “We’ll have to piece together what we can. There are too many unknowns about her past.” Hayate brushed his hand over Morgan’s bed, recalling his own family’s loss in the Third Shinobi War. Meanwhile, Yugao stepped outside to Morgan’s garden, taking in the vibrant greenery she’d cultivated amidst the abandoned district. She’s put so much effort into reviving this place.
Back on Milchidan…
Morgan followed Nanoha and Yuuno through the hallways of the base, her eyes wide with wonder as she took in the advanced technology. Every corridor seemed to glow with a soft light, blending seamlessly with the natural beauty outside.
“This is the training area,” Nanoha explained, leading her into a spacious room with walls that appeared to be made of shifting light. “If you’re up for it, we’d love to see a bit of what you can do.”
Morgan’s heart raced with excitement, feeling a strange but exhilarating sense of familiarity. She nodded, eager to learn. In the sleek, energy-infused interior, various soldiers greeted Nanoha as “Captain” and Ellen as “Junior Captain.” It seemed both adults held high ranks. Finally, they reached a massive door plated with shimmering metal.
As they entered, Admiral Chrono Harlaown greeted them warmly. “It’s good to finally meet you in person, Morgan,” he said, towering over her.
Morgan bowed respectfully. “Yes, sir, Admiral.”
“So polite... I know you just arrived, but may we begin your examination?” Admiral Chrono asked, guiding her to the medical bay, where Doctor Shamal awaited.
Shamal, with short blond hair and kind green eyes, greeted her warmly. “Hello, Morgan. Could you summon some magical energy for me?”
Morgan nodded and closed her eyes, soon surrounded by an iridescent glow.
“Kaiserfarbe? And an A+ magical output! At her age, it could hypothetically reach SS Rank,” Shamal murmured in astonishment, her intelligent device, Klarerwind, glowing as it assessed Morgan’s aura. Even the other adults looked impressed.
After a thorough assessment, Morgan was taken to the training area to demonstrate her combat skills.
In the training room, she faced target dummies with progressively higher difficulty. Milchidan ranked its mages by power levels from E to EX, with top-ranking mages “sealed” at Rank A to prevent environmental damage. Nanoha, for example, was at Rank A, though her true level was SS+.
Morgan punched her target, shattering it with ease. She swiftly moved through the initial levels, her precise attacks obliterating each target.
Watching from the sidelines, Admiral Chrono raised a brow. “She’s practically a child soldier, but even at her age, I don’t know anyone on Milchidan who could ace these tests so easily…”
As Morgan progressed, she began using both magic and ninjutsu, smoothly combining her powers. Weaving hand seals, she summoned chakra scalpels, used replacement techniques, and danced through the tests like a seasoned fighter. She eventually reached her limit at an SS-ranked target, which knocked her back. Forming the seals for Mystical Palm, she began healing her injured arm, blushing as she rejoined the stunned adults. “Did I do poorly?”
“Oh, no,” Nanoha laughed, eyes wide with amazement. “You were incredible, Morgan.”
Doctor Shamal nodded, intrigued. “You can use chakra for healing, too? You must tell me more about this.”
Morgan nodded shyly, but a loud growl from her stomach betrayed her hunger.
Ellen chuckled. “Let’s head to the cafeteria! You can explain over lunch; the food here is excellent.”
As they settled into the bustling dining area, Morgan couldn’t help but feel a warmth in her heart. She felt a sense of belonging here as if Milchidan had become a second home.