I'm very sorry for the super long delay. I had a little trouble with my eyes and have to take a lot of rest due to some other health issues. But i finally managed to get through that and ready to continue the story! Hopefully, you'll enjoy this!

The Night of the welcome party;

Food, music, and drinks, harmonically color the party night. It's not even close to luxurious party, but it's very warm and everyone prefer to hear stories from they who were dispatched with the Great Grand Enchanter.

The Great Grand Enchanter herself, sitting on the special seat which made just for her. At first she always wish that she could sit on the same chair with others, but now Nozomi starts to accept what people gives her.

"Great Grand Enchanter! I-I mean... No-Nozomi-chan…" Dia tried to start a conversation.

"Yes, Dia-chan?" Nozomi replied.

"I have things to report." She said.

"Save the seriousness for later, Dia-chan. We are all here to have fun." Nozomi said.

"Unless it's urgent, of course." Eli who sat next to Nozomi said.

"W-well it's not that urgent, but pretty critical." Dia said.

"Then, save it for later." Eli said.

"U-understood." Dia nodded.

"Oh! Oh! Nozomi-chan! I have things to report too-nya!" Rin said.

"My-my! Rin-chan, my favorite miners, speak your mind!" Nozomi said cheerfully.

"Kayo-chin is about to lead a farming company now-nya!" Rin said.

"I-it's not a company! Rin-chan!" Hanayo protested.

"Oh, is it about the farm we are going to build?" Eli asked.

"Yeah-nya!" Rin replied cheerfully.

"Ah, I will tell you about that plan later, Nozomi. Alisa told me about it." Eli said.

"Speaking of that, why don't we talk about a haunted house near this school?" Maki suggested.

"H-Haunted house?" Dia flustered.

"No talking about work during dinner!" Eli said.

"But I believe this is a fun topic to talk about." Umi said.

"It's not!" Eli said.

"Now-now, Ericchi. Why don't we hear them out? I believe it can be interesting to hear ghost story." Nozomi said.

"But…" Eli tried to convince her.

"Don't worry, if you are scared, you can hug me all night." Nozomi said.

"It's not like that!" Eli protested.

"I-I'm not a fan of Ghost Story." Hanayo said.

"M-Me too… not at night." Honoka said.

"Eh…but, it can be interesting-nya! Let's hear it out!" Rin said.

"What kind of ghost story is this? I need to know first before you are telling it to anyone." Dia said.

"Hehe, not like we want to sleep tonight, right?" Kanan said.

"What?" Dia turn her sight to Kanan.

"I'm just being sarcastic, Dia." Kanan said.

"C-C-Can I just skip this?" Ruby asked.

"No-zura! You must hear it out-zura! This might be very interesting-zura!" Hanamaru said excitedly.

"I'm pretty curious about the story you are going to tell." Kotori said.

"Same, I feel like this isn't exactly a ghost story. What is this all about?" Mari asked.

"Well…" Maki twirl the tip of her hair.

"It's about the abandoned house near the school's forest." Maki said.

"We plan about to use them as a shelter for Lady Dominico and her ladies. But we heard stories about it." Umi said.

"Like, the rumor about seeing missing people going there before they actually went missing?" Dia asked.

"Isn't that old rumor?" You asked.

"Is it real though?" Kanan asked.

"Exactly. We heard that the said missing people become to look like a dead body that controlled to do an activity there. But no one can confirm that rumor." Maki said.

"D-Dead body? Like Marionette?" Ruby asked.

"I've read that somewhere-zura!" Hanamaru said.

"Why don't you ask the Magister?" Mari asked.

"Our magisters think that the matters are not that interesting to be solved." Umi said. Eli smiled awkwardly while Dia seems to try to help herself searching in her agenda.

"Then, why don't we help them solving the problem? I'm sure the magisters just think that there are far more important research to do than a mere rumor that no one can confirm." Nozomi suggested.

"I-it's not like that, Nozomi! I just think that we should do it when we really need it!" Eli said.

"Then, you think we really need to do it?" Nozomi asked.

"Ah! There it is! I knew that it was included in this list of unconfirmed rumor." Dia cuts in as she makes a new bookmark in her agenda.

"Ayase-sama has collected a few information and rumor from similar location. She asked me to write these but I never happen to figure out the connection until the information about dead body and marionette come to my ear." She continued as she starts to write something.

"First of all—…"

"W-wait wait wait! Dia! Let's not talk about work right now." Eli said.

"Ericchi, I'm starting to get the feeling that you wanted to make this conversation doesn't happen. The had no problem in the last time we talk about work at a dinner party." Nozomi said.

"But…" Eli loses her word.

"Please continue, Dia-chan." Nozomi said.

"R-right, so, the first thing we found is about is that the house has no light."

No wonder! Ericchi wouldn't enter a place like that!

The other her commented.

"Second, there's also a rumor of druid sighting by the scouts from the west tower of Uranohoshi. They said, she has a long braided hair and a pair of wooden horn that shaped like an elk horn. It is unknown about the real shape of the lower body but they said her upper part is just like a human being." Dia said.

"Druid, huh? They are known to be friendly to human being because of the similarities, but slightly arrogant because they think human is incomplete." Maki said.

"Yes, and third, many said that these druids are following the human who will be gone missing in the next day. Nobody knows what they are up to, but one of the magister informed that the druids are starting to be gone missing as well." Dia said.

"Isn't that a very serious matter? There might be some kind of dark force trying to build up an army." You said.

"Yes, we are afraid of that too, but, it's hard to find any lead to where those people are gone to. The only hope for a clue is within that house, yet we can't be sure about the danger inside it. That's why no one is sent there yet." Dia said.

"See? I have reasons! I wouldn't want to sacrifice my peoples for that!" Eli said.

"In that case, we should be the team to investigate that place." Nozomi said.

"No! I told you we don't know about the danger inside it! We might not be able to survive it!" Eli said.

"Ayase-sama is right. It's always better to find at least a way to know what inside that house without risking our lives." Dia said.

"How can we do that? Someone need to go there to figure out!" Umi said.

"Heh, yeah. Someone need to start it. We will never know without doing anything about it." Maki said.

Hmm…this is hard, Ericchi and Dia-chan is right, but Maki-chan and Umi-chan is right too.

Nozomi said to herself.

At time like this, I wish my familiar is here to cooperate with me. Why is that little jerk won't obey me…?

The other her replied.

Honestly, the other her keeps talking about how her familiar never want to obey her but she never really try—or at least being persistent about it. Maybe she already gave up? She never knows what the other her really think about in her head.

"Hello everybodyyy!" suddenly a mother-like voice greets everyone on the table.

"Ah! Shiki-san!" You greets her back.

"M-M-mama!" Maki flustered as the monarch run to her cheerfully and hugged her. Principal Minami came by with a sigh and her mother also there with them—giving out the smile that never changes.

"I heard you all have the werewolf card games. Are we going to play it?" the Monarch asked.

"Uh… not with this much peoples." Maki said.

"What? That's no fun, Maki-chan! Werewolf is fun when we have more crowd!" Shiki said.

"And chaotic, we already have 18 peoples, adding three will make things worse." Maki said.

"24 players should be fun." Kazuha said.

"24? Who are the other three?" Honoka asked.

Just a second later, Alisa, Yukiho and Hiromi joined.

"Whoah! Are we going to play with them?" Honoka asked.

"Shouldn't it be fun that way?" Kazuha asked with that one strange smile, again, it always feels like she is about to make them do something ridiculous.

"It should be! The more people, the harder to find the enemy!" the Monarch said.

"Yeah! Plus, we get to act cool or creepy without actually sacrificing our real body. Spirit magic is really wonderful!" Principal Minami said.

From then, Nozomi, Eli, Maki, You, Riko and Dia raises their eyebrows. Realizing that they got themselves an answer to a problem they were trying to solve.

"Spirit magic…" Eli mumbled.

"An artificial decoy that could let us experience something without actually sacrificing our real body. Can we really do that with spirit magic?" Maki asked.

"Sure, why not? It's one of the advanced spirit magic." Kazuha said.

"Yep, and alchemy makes that possible to be implemented safely and cheaply. Did you know that the werewolf card box is made with alchemy?" Principal Minami said.

"I did know that, but, what I want to know is, can we implement that outside the universe? I mean. When we implement the spirit magic on the cards, we all will traveled to the game universe while our real body will become invisible and protected–…"

"Hold it right there. Invisible and protected. Will we really have that invisibility while playing a werewolf game?" Dia cuts in as Riko tried to explain herself.

"Dia, have you read the history of Werewolf game? It's in our rack, number 54 row 8, book ID W-32." Eli said.

"I-I haven't got myself there, Ayase-sama!" Dia replied.

"Back then, the first spirit magic that implemented on werewolf card game have no protection and invisibility. Some evil mages use this game as one of the trick to kill their enemy silently. The creator of the spirit werewolf game concerned with the issue so he improved the magic with a protection. But that wasn't enough as it still able to be used for kidnapping, so he added invisibility."

"Wait, but we can see everyone who play werewolf game back then-nya!" Rin said.

"Yes, that's another improvement, it only projects the spirit that plays the game in the game universe. The game universe itself actually never existed, but it is still projectable and when we touch anything in there, we are only told by our brain that affected by the magic."

"You mean, we only feel like touching because our brain was affected by the magic?"

"Yes, like a hypnosis." Eli said.

"W-Wah—I didn't know the game is that complex!" Hanayo said.

"Isn't it?" Kazuha said as she giggles amusedly.

"Let's play it already! I can't wait to try out that cool magic!" The Monarch said.

"M-M-Mama! Don't be so excited with trying out a magic on yourself!" Maki said.

"But it sounds amazing, Maki-chan! For mages to be able to create a safe and exciting games! We might be able to be saved from an Armageddon because we are playing werewolves!"

"It's not that powerful!" Maki said.

"Now-now, everyone. Let's just start playing, ok? Since we have a lot of peoples, there will be a lot of roles played here." Nozomi said.

"Dia, let's make sure we get every detail of the magic in this game." Eli said.

"Understood, Ayase-sama!" Dia replied.

"Don't hold back, ok? Do what you can so the game is still fun to play!" Nozomi said as she prepared the werewolf card game box and place it on the table.

Everyone gathered around the table, they have to drag a few more chairs for Principal Minami, the Monarch, Kazuha, Alisa and Yukiho to sit with them.

Nozomi opened the card box, carefully shuffles the card before she took one without looking at it. She places it with the back surface on top, then gently hands the stack of card to Eli who sat next to her. The blonde did the same thing and she hands it to Maki. It continues to Umi, Kotori, Hanayo, Niko, Honoka, Rin, Chika, Riko, You, Hanamaru, Ruby, Yoshiko, Dia, Mari, Kanan, Principal Minami, Kazuha, The Monarch, Alisa, and Yukiho.

"Hehe, the back of the cards are cool already. I wonder how it looks on the front." Alisa said.

"I'm sure it will be cool." Yukiho replied.

"Now-now, everyone. Let's open the card and see what we get." Nozomi said.

Everyone agreed and they opened the card. Nozomi expecting herself to be transported to the game Universe, but…

It's dark and damp;

No light, nothing that can makes her see anything around her. The atmosphere is so heavy and cold. So many things is wrong in this place and she doesn't think this is the game universe she is expecting. More importantly, she feels like she is missing something within herself.

"Non-chan?" She called her other self.

"She is not here." Said a womanly voice.

She knew that woman is involved in this mysterious happening.

"Mother?"

"You can call my name."

"Right, Kazuha-san."

"No, that's her name. I am Heidr."

"Heidr? That sounds like a Scandinavian name." Nozomi said.

"Kazuha Toujou has merged with three souls within her soul. A powerful mage like her should not be living, yet she lives and breaks the limit of human being." The woman replied.

"So, Heidr-san. Who are you, exactly?"

"Many knows me as reincarnation of Gullveig, the witch with gold hair, but I should tell you that it isn't true. I am Heidr, I, myself, have my own soul. I specialize in dark spirit and shadow magic, my blood is the blood of ice giant, thus I also master the art of ice magic. I'm here to guide you in this place and keep you under my protection."

"Thank you, but, where is this, exactly?"

"The house behind the forest, one that never touched by the light."

That house, is the house that she wants to investigate with her friends.

"Is this really ok?"

"I'll keep you under my protection, Great Grand Enchanter."

"No, I mean, wouldn't they be worried if we are missing from the game?" Nozomi asked.

"There's another you playing the game and there's Kazuha Toujou spending her time with her real daughter. While I'm sure that the other you will worry, I'm very sure that no one else will."

"I see, so, you think it's fine for us to spend time here?"

"We will investigate this place."

"Alright then. But, I can't see anything?"

Then suddenly a blue light orb appeared on this woman's hand. She is tall and pale skinned. Nozomi couldn't see her face yet, but she is sure that she might be as beautiful as Kazuha.

"Aren't you curious about how I look, Great Grand Enchanter?"

"Yes?"

"I just look like her. She merged our soul with hers. We are all the same now." She said.

So basically… Kazuha has three person that looked just like her.

"Wow, is that mean she can be in many places at once?"

"Not only that, we can be in another timeline, universe, or dimension at cost of her humanity senses."

"What do you mean by, humanity senses?"

"Everything that human can feel with their skin or heart. Her body is also no longer a real vessel but a materialized object, which makes her similar to yokai and wraiths or may also called as creature of void."

"Weird, from how you describe her, it feels like you are trying to say that she has become heartless, but how come she still appear to care about others especially Non-chan?"

"It is also unknown to me, but in theory, she is only driven by a task that she created before she turns into creature of void. I don't know exactly about the task she is driven with, each of our souls have different memories and objective."

"Can the task change?"

"The task always changes in specific momentum, I don't know who changed this task though." Heidr replied.

"I see, hmm… I wonder if we will ever find the task giver." Nozomi said.

"Save that for later, Great Grand Enchanter. Your duty here is to figure out what you desire to know about." Heidr said.

"You're right. Then let's get going!" Nozomi said before she tried to make her move, but stopped at the moment she realizes that she couldn't see the way without light.

"Uhm…."

Heidr handed her the blue light orb quietly. Nozomi accepted it gladly and starts her investigation mission.

Back in Uranohishi;

The game has started, everyone gets their own role and with more role choices involved, the game becomes quite unpredictable even after a few rounds.

Thief

The cards on Nozomi's hand says.

"Someone stole my role…"

She grunted to herself.

"If only you are here, we could have discussed about whose role should be stolen tonight." She sighed.

"I wonder if this is just a magical issue, we might be having too much soul to transport and you got left behind by mistake…" she continued talking to herself.

"More importantly, the Guardian Angel player is really good, she somehow managed to block off attack three times in three nights."

"And everyone are just soo random! They can't even decide who to execute in the morning! Ahh! This is so—…"

"Sheesh, are you going to talk to yourself like that all night?" said someone who entered Nozomi's cottage.

"Eh? Ericchi?" she turns herself to this person.

"Your role is harlot?" Nozomi asked.

"Not at first, someone stole my role, then I stole Maki's role. Then… I don't know who have the thief role now."

Nozomi quickly hid her card.

"Either way, I'm blocking your role tonight. Whoever you are." Eli said.

"Sure, that's fine by me." Nozomi replied.

"Hmm… where's the other you?" the blonde asked.

"I don't know! She went missing at the time I entered this location!"

"Ah! Could she be left behind?" Eli asked.

"Maybe…" Nozomi sighed.

"I'm all by myself now, I don't like it." She continued.

Eli smiled mischievously at her.

"Hmmm…? Is that so? So now Non-chan is a social person." She said teasingly, causing the latter to blushes slightly.

"S-Sheesh! Don't tease me for that! You've changed a lot too. You are a lot more foolish than serious lately."

"Well, I admitted that change, you didn't! You are still trying to look hot headed and stubborn!"

"O-Only because I'm dealing with specific people! Really!"

"So where's the country-side accent, sweetheart? You sounds so normal."

"I always using this 'normal' accent when talking to you! Stupid Ericchi!"

"You are calling me 'Ericchi' too…"

"It's a cute nickname, shut up!"

"Alright, alright. Fine, I'll shut up and be a good girl."

"You're supposed to be a harlot, serves me right."

"I did tease you and all, but then you told me to shut up."

"Are you stupid, Ericchi!? It's not even the right kind of teasing!"

"Is it really not? Then, show me how's the right teasing?"

"I'm not going to fall for that. You're just trying to make me flirt on you."

"Well, you said it yourself. When I'm around your family, I should pretend to look innocent and not perverted."

Nozomi sighed heavily.

"At the ends, it's always back to her." She said.

"Of course it is. She gave birth to a beautiful person like you. She deserves the credit."

"What about my father? Why can't you hate her for what she did."

"Nozomi, she has done something that makes her who she is right now. Something that could be related to the attempt to save the world."

"Ericchi, is there anything that you never tell to me?"

"There is."

"Will you ever tell me?"

"Now is the right time. Without Nozomi around, I feel like you will listen and won't feel embarrassed about it."

"Why would I be?"

"Because it's related to who you are too."

"Then, pray tell. We have got lots of minutes."

"Your real father is the God of Death, Kazuha never make any children with the one who took care of you."

"Why am I not surprised? That man always nags the other Nozomi when you are not around."

"You never told me that. But, he wanted her to inherit his power, isn't that a strange thing?"

"No it's not. Because I met him once and makes me do some decision making-test. I failed it. He said, I'm too merciful and careful."

"Is that why you changed yourself?"

"No, I was just thinking that maybe humans are indeed a failure being. That only until I meet everyone else, by the way. Everyone else that the other Nozomi embraces for me."

Eli chuckled to her statement.

"I have to agree. Everyone are so lively and exciting to be with."

"I'm glad she came here." She continued with a faint smile.

"Kazuha called her, with me as the executor of that magic."

"I knew that. I also know why you all sealed my vessel. It's not because of a trap or anything, right? It was because I'm angered and my vessel is starting to collect evil spirits and dark power."

"The trap is made by yourself. Nozomi. If you return to your vessel right now, you'll most likely to berserk and destroy the world."

Nozomi sighed heavily.

"The other you, even though she is also lonely and gloom, she never has as much pride as you. Because of how she is educated and how she never knows about her own ability. That's what makes her wiser than you. She deals with her problem and fight with her weakness, you deal with your problem without even trying to fight or knowing your weakness. You just want to make things right according to your own righteous mind." Eli said.

"I knew about that too, but I don't know what else to do about that. I am just, me."

"There, you just admitted defeat on your own weakness, honey."

Nozomi silenced.

"It's the reason why Kazuha did everything she did right now. She told me this once, on the last judgement day before you disappear from your throne…" Eli took a deep breath.

"As a judge, I can't forgive what she has done to herself and human being. Acting almighty, thinking that she could do anything to make her way, even a Death God wouldn't do that. It's not even a wisdom that he wishes from her. As a mother, I would prefer to keep her safe and protected, I hope that times can changes her and someone could make her see the world. But… as a human being, I don't think I have all the patience and time. They might pull me down before I see her grow as the woman I wish her to be. That's why, if one day I become something else that not even close to a human being, I want you to know that I did it all for her." She mimicked the way Kazuha talks. Calm and majestic.

"Sheesh, Ericchi, you don't need to mimic her way of talking too."

"Well, it makes it more realistic, right?"

"Silly Ericchi." Nozomi sighed again.

"But, will you tell me what she is right now? I can't read her. She looks like a yokai, but also a spirit, a human soul, and an undead."

"Not an undead, but a creature of void. They have similar characteristic, but not quite."

"A creature of void? But then, who controls her?"

"I don't know. All I know is that the fact that she can become a creature of void makes her story about marrying a death god to give birth to you more realistic. Only a god knows about how to do that."

"That means, the other three souls are not her."

"They are her. But you know which one is the real one."

Nozomi nodded.

"Then, I was really mistaken about her. She is still the person I know, but, that still didn't make me want to forgive her for what she did to the man who took care of me."

"It's also a mandatory, because he was corrupted by the undead."

"Who controls the undead? The Death God, right?"

"No. This time, a human being did. The Death God himself told Kazuha that he lost control of the undead, because you sold out the artifact that he trusted to you."

"I don't remember that to happen."

"Your sight was infected by the corrupted world tree, Nozomi. You wouldn't remember that. The corruption on the world tree is also not yet known. That's why, if we want to take back your vessel, we need figure out a way to purify the world tree and your vessel."

Nozomi nodded again.

"I see now. Then I owe her an apology. I didn't know that it was a mandatory."

"She tried to tell you but you never listen. You always snap on her at the time she tried to talks to you."

Nozomi scratches her cheek shyly.

"Oh, by the way. Kazuha told me to make the whole undead thing is indeed controlled by a Death God. The Death God himself want this matter to be kept that way for the sake of everyone."

"Really, you make him sounds like a selfless being."

"Death is wise, Nozomi." Eli said.

"But where is he right now? Why the Dark God spoke that he can make someone a Death God?"

"Hmm… Should that be something to investigate too?"

"Yes, I'm very curious about it. The Dark God also trying to marry me."

"What? He can't do that! You didn't try to consider it, right?"

"Well, I really prefer a silly kitsune to be my wife. She makes me smile, everyday."

"Are you sure you're not mistaken her with a clown?"

"What? No. Clown is creepy!"

Before they continue to make their playful banter, a teleportation magic separates them.

"Oh! Times up!" Eli said.

"Aaah! Now you didn't do your job as a harlot!"

"Next time!" she said before she disappeared from the cottage.

"Oh well, I guess we just have to continue this… hmm, whose role to steal if I ever get the chance to?"

She said, continuing herself to focus on the game.

At the house without light;

"Say, Heidr. You said that Kazuha is no longer able to feel what human feel. But what about you? I've seen and heard you giggle and all." Nozomi asked as she and Heidr investigate a formerly study room with only a single blue light orb hovering on the ceiling, acting as the replacement of the broken oil lamp.

"I can do that, but it's merely an artificial emotion that created from witnessing an activity or a chain of reaction. I am a spirit from the beginning, I have no sense of humanity." Heidr replied.

"Really, then what makes you decide that it's something worth to be giggled at?"

"I have no idea, my mind said that it's funny so I giggled."

That's what called as emotion, silly. You reacted to my action according to what you think!

Nozomi said to herself.

"Then, can I ask about what you think about me?" the purplenette asked curiously.

"I think you are a mischievous girl. But unlike Kazuha's daughter, you are a good learner."

"What do you mean?"

"Both of you started with same way of thinking, but you learn faster than her. You are making better decision and knows your position better. A wiser person than she ever be."

"Aww! Don't compliment me that much!" Nozomi said.

"It's not compliment, I'm stating the truth. Besides, what I say next might be in your favor. You are lazier and spiritually weaker than her. You understand lesson very well, but your spirit isn't well trained and it causes you to cast weaker magic."

"Well, I don't care about that one."

"I know, that's why you are never be the alpha."

"What?"

"Alpha."

"Alpha-what?"

"Alpha female."

"Huh?"

"The female on top."

"What that means?"

"Hmm…what to say in your modern language… A Seme?"

"What?!"

"But am I aggressive enough?"

"You mean, Non-chan? Yes she is. You? Nah."

"What the….!"

"You can't even cuss."

"I can!"

"Say the last word."

"Fuck!"

A few moments after she said, it, Nozomi started to pray for forgiveness.

"See? You can't."

"It's not like that!"

"Well, a seme doesn't have to be able to cuss or have dirty mouth, you know."

"I-I knew that!"

"It just would be nice for me to see if you can break your own limit. But it seems you regret it."

"It's a bad word! What if kids mimic me? I'm the Great Grand Enchanter."

"You are a good girl."

"I am!"

"That makes you not the alpha."

"Bah! I don't care about it now! As long as I'm only compared with Ericchi, I'm good."

"Well, you are. You seems only a non-alpha when you are up against her. You're an alpha when you are against someone else."

"Heidr, please stop all these non-senses about alpha female…"

"You're welcome."

Nozomi sighed heavily at her.

"I didn't know a spirit can tease me like this."

"It is also my duty to keep you entertained."

And Nozomi sighed again.

"So, how's your research going?"

"Huh? Well, I found nothing very interesting."

"You need to think like how a person in a research should be."

"You mean…?"

"Act like you are in the middle of research."

"Hmm…well, then I'll probably bookmarks all the important pages and places those books close to…" Nozomi scans the room for a desk."

"There." She said. The desk is just close to where Heidr stands.

"You are there! Why don't you just tell me to search there?"

"A teacher teaches and guides, not commanding."

"Fine." Nozomi once again sighed before she approaches the desk.

"These books are opened recently."

"I did it but I didn't change anything."

"Well, alright. So, what do we have here…" Nozomi starts to read.

"Year One, I started my project to make plants able to think, act and feel like human. This magic is a combination between the human's nature magic and the druid's nature magic. It's difficult to combine, them, but I'm sure there's a bridge somewhere that could connect those magic with each other."

Nozomi turn the page.

"Year Two, the lily that I grow in my backyard has started to greet me by blooming their flowers whenever I came by. They also could tell me when they need water by pretending to be wilting. It's a good achievement. I'm going to try for more interaction."

She turns the page again.

"Year Five, not many improvements happen, but I found that she has started to build emotion. She displays her joy by dancing when I bought her fertilizer. She also starts to grow her friends and I planted them on other vases. It seems that she is the most respected one here, everyone bows to her will."

"This is getting a little suspicious, don't you think?" Nozomi asked Heidr's opinion.

"I believe that so. It's like a start of a tyranny."

"What? That's a way to put it." Nozomi said as she turns the page again.

"Year Six, she grows a lot of friends. It's starting to look like an empire of plants, but, is this still a lily? She starts to look more like a nymph than a lily. She also has started to be able to say a single word to tell what she needs. The other day though, she says one single word that I feel bothered with. She said: Jealous. But what she is jealous with? I need to find out what makes her feel jealous."

"See? This is starting to look like an experiment gone wrong! Things like this always gone wrong!" Nozomi commented.

"It's not always. Kazuha success more often than failing terribly like this person."

"Eh, well, I just think like that because it always what start a quest in a game."

"You're talking about video game in modern universe?"

"Yep! I'm surprised you know them."

"I'm the universe traveler, Great Grand Enchanter. I can go visit a universe with a snap of my finger."

"So you know a lot about my universe?"

"Yes, I'm the one who finds you before Kazuha summon you here. And…oh, I know about your guilty pleasure. It's the Yakiniku Shop, right? You always sit there at the start of the month, spending your—…."

"Ahhh! Don't say it! That's embarrassing! It's not like I have terrible control of my appetite, I just… you know, like to start my month with something fun."

"I understand. You want to run from your loneliness."

"It's not like that too." Nozomi sighed.

"Oh well, anyway. Let's continue." The purplenette turns the page again.

"Year seven, something is getting more and more eerie about this lily. Not only she starts to grow her friends into a beast-like creature, she also starts to look less human and more into a monster. She still reacts to my call, to my word, and to everything with a single word. She also called my name and ask me to water her every morning. Perhaps I'll watch her for a few more years and see."

"I'm getting the feeling that this man will somehow try to end this creature life and miserably fails." Nozomi said.

"Is that also the plot in video game's quest?"

"Yes! Then we as the main characters, go to defeat this creature."

"Are we really going to? There's no save points, you know." Heidr said.

"Uh…well, maybe we are here by design? Or perhaps we are supposed to return and tell this to everyone?"

"Shall we? Let's try to see what else he has in his journal."

"Year eight, she begun to develop a brain—or at least that's what it looks like. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed so I moved her to the forest near the school. A few teachers are very supportive and they build me a cottage to continue my research. I located her near the pond so that she always has her own water source. She also agrees to me willingly when I told her that I'm going to move her. I'm glad I didn't put her down back then, she is a sweet being despite of her monstrous-form."

"This sounds like a mistake! Everyone would tell him that he is an idiot for letting that thing grow!" Nozomi said.

"Well, things are unpredictable. Maybe she really is a sweet creature?" Heidr said.

"We can see how it goes!" Nozomi turns the page again.

"Year nine, she is growing wildly! I can't even stop her from growing friends in the forest! But I also can't put her down, she is too precious to me. She is very protective to me too. Days ago, she avoids me from getting attacked by the druids. She also stops a few wild animals from entering my cottage. Maybe this is fine after all? She loves me and I love her back."

When Nozomi turns the page again, the next page is empty.

"That's an anti-climax."

"Not really, aren't you curious about why this cottage turn like this? Then, where's the person who write that journal?"

"Gone, of course. And I bet things goes wild like mentioned. Everyone dead except the big monster."

"Hmm, you might be right, but things can't be going like the way it always is. Let's find out what happen, ok? What about we move somewhere else?"

"Sure, let's move."

Nozomi agreed before she closes the book and walk out along with Heidr and the blue light orb following her.

Back in Uranohoshi;

Nobody knows who is who and who is going to be who at the next time they meet each other. Nozomi, with a villager card in hand, terribly hoping that she never steals this card. Now she can't do anything but waiting for the day time.

A few turn passes, Nozomi gets a little bored since she really couldn't do a thing about her role. It's up to the guardian angel role, Nozomi sees someone approaching her and standing in front of the door, waiting.

"Come on in, you are the guardian angel, right?" Nozomi offered.

"Am I really allowed to?" a motherly voice that she knows so well heard.

"Mother—uh…yes, you are the guardian angel after all."

Kazuha opened the door gently and enter the cottage. She has a pair of small holographic wings and a cute halo above her head.

"That was… a cute interpretation of guardian angel."

"It's merely because I'm a big soul. A little too big for this game."

Nozomi remain silent. She knows a little more about her mother and she feels like engaging any offensive conversation will do absolutely nothing to her.

In the first few minute, Nozomi and Kazuha couldn't make any conversation start. It's only up to the time when Nozomi decided to make the first move.

"Mother, I know this may sound redundant, but… I'm sorry… for being rude to you."

"Your apology accepted and will always be accepted." Kazuha said.

Nozomi blushes slightly.

"Sheesh, it's not like you will be able to feel it. You're just a creature of void." Nozomi said.

Kazuha smiled wider.

"I see. Someone must've told you something." She said.

"It's not her fault. I was so curious…so…. I…"

"It's alright, Non-chan. I knew that she will talk about it to you."

"Right…uh… you knew." Nozomi scratches her cheek awkwardly.

"No matter how you look at me, I'm still your mother. I will accept you."

"Will she really if she isn't a creature of the void?" Nozomi asked.

Kazuha remain silent to listen.

"Have I done something unspeakable, unforgiveable, and unbelievable? Something that could makes a mother's love deplete into hate. Something that make her too scared to continue living as a human being, so that she changes herself into another being in order to be able to do her duty as a mother?"

"My main reason is simply because I want to live long enough to see you grow, Non-chan. The other reason is because I was dying and what I feel doesn't matter to me anymore."

"You were… dying? How?" Nozomi asked.

"Traitors among the judges and prosecutors. Azura's family doing. They bribed some of them to win a matter that could be a huge disadvantage for every country and human being. I decide to be against them, so they decide to be against me."

"Azura family again…" Nozomi sighed.

"They are the biggest politic family, always succumbed into nepotism. Don't be surprised if they have some morons among their peoples."

"Why can't we just destroy them or something."

Kazuha giggled.

"That attitude is what makes me so worked up, Non-chan. Also the reason why I was dying. The matter they are trying to win is to remove Great Grand Enchanter from her throne and create a new political hierarchy, the leader will be chosen from votes and you know how many of the Azura family placed on a high place. They could win every single election and put the world under their feet. There will be more war and struggles, more pain and suffering."

"How's that even related to me? What I've done?"

"It's not your fault, it was their greed who drives them to do that. The former Great Grand Enchanter, Eli Ayase's mother, knew about this matter, but she decided to take off this burden off her shoulder. That's why I was so persistent about making you the Great Grand Enchanter."

"Oh, you mean to say that you want to put her burden on my shoulder? I knew nothing about that! All I knew that you were insisting me to take up the throne! I couldn't do much because I'm just a curious kid who think things can go easily if we try!"

"It's more like into my shoulder, Non-chan. You, as a Great Grand Enchanter will only become a symbol, a decision maker, and someone to adore. Everything else is done by people under your command. I am your advisor, action executor, and spy. When all my task is done, I'll be gone back to where I belong."

"What? What are you saying? When all task is done, you'll be gone?"

"Non-chan, I am no longer a human. I am, a creature of the void. I should not be here for too long and with me existing on your side right now is a concern you should be thinking about. It means that the world is unbalanced and they need me to balance it."

"Why the heck you—urgh… please tell me what they did to you, why were you dying and what makes you think becoming the creature of the void is your only choice?"

"They locked me in a room, along with a few other judges who agreed with me. They closed all the window and started a fire outside and inside that room. We couldn't do much since we were drugged during our meeting. That time I felt so dizzy, I couldn't think of anything except for realizing that we're all dying."

Nozomi recalled that she has seen a vision similar to that somewhere.

"Your real father, the Death God, know about this. He offered me to become a creature of the void, with my own soul as the commander of my own vessel. I immediately accept it, because I know if I surrender that time, my daughter will be in trouble."

"So… you really… did it for me…" Nozomi said with shy smile.

Kazuha nodded.

"I survived that death, then I saved everyone in that room. It was too late for some of them, but that makes things better for my task to avenge those corrupted judges."

"Is that why the Azura family are ruined right now?"

"Yes, them and their minor allies. It's one of my duty to clean them up from the nobility. Soon, it will become their life that I will clean. Slowly and quietly."

"I could agree with you. I do hate the Azura from the depth of my heart. But, will the other me agree?"

Kazuha remain silent.

"She has… no idea about the pain that you and I have been through. She is naïve and—..." Nozomi averted her eyes.

"…wiser than me. She will probably give them mercy." she said softly.

"Nozomi, which one of you that destroyed a whole village with a hurricane and killed a lot of innocents?"

"That was her idea but, I… agree with her and…. I… allow that to happen."

"A wisdom come and goes, even the wisest soul can succumb into sins at one point." Kazuha said as she gently walks toward the door.

"You don't have to be the wisest or wiser than someone else to know and do the right thing. If you really think it's the right thing, just do it. Even if you are wrong, don't regret it. Learn from it." She continued.

"It's like you're trying to allow me to do something wrong." Nozomi said.

"Sometime it's necessary to be wrong, sweetheart." Kazuha said.

Nozomi sighed and remain silent, thinking of everything that she discovered from her mother.

"Am I, a little too complex for you?"

"You are always too complicated to understand. I can't understand you at all. If you want to put the burden on your shoulder, then why are you not the Great Grand Enchanter?"

"Nozomi, only a human can become a Great Grand Enchanter."

"But, if you said that my real father is the Death God, then I am not a human, right?"

"You are a human. You were born from my womb when I was a human. Even if you're not fully a human, you still have human blood left within you while I don't have any left within me."

"Is that also mean that I'm a successor of the Death God?"

"Yes, you will be a Death Goddess. But only after I retire from that title. When I said I've become a creature of the void, I also mean to say that I fittingly become his wife, by spirit and vessel." Kazuha said.

Nozomi seems to be surprised as she heard it.

"Then, when the Dark God said… he wanted to marry me…?"

"The Dark God contacted you? My, that's a discovery. Why I have never heard of it?" Kazuha said, and her smile seems to turn sad.

"You knew him?"

Kazuha remain silent for a moment.

"Back in the day when I was captured and forced to go to a school which look more like a prison than a school…" she leaned herself to the wall.

"There were two men who showed their interest to me. Both of them told me, they love the way I appear so mysterious and cold to everyone around me. They also said, they really want me to show a bit more of myself to them." She continued.

"When I graduate, they were asking me: do you have any wish that you can't have or do on your own?"

"Wait, did they ask the same question to you?" Nozomi asked.

"Ah, I forgot to add this detail. They were brothers, both of them are the sons of the previous Death and Dark Deities"

"Do gods change yearly or something?"

"No, but something happened to them… because of me." Kazuha said calmly but her smile seems to show a hint of guilt.

"When they asked the question…or more like, the Dark Prince asked the question when the Death Prince walking next to him, I hesitated because I know both of them are interested on me. If I answer that, it will make them try to fulfill that wish. But I couldn't stay quiet so I said: I've done and have everything I wish for. I'm graduated and I finally freed from the prison they put me into."

"I suppose that wasn't translated properly in their head?" Nozomi asked.

"To the Death prince, it is properly translated, he understands that I do not wish to answer the question and trying to avoid it. But, to the Dark God, he took it to the wrong turn. He said that he will fix that problem for the future generation, thus he created a chaos within the emperor and put a Great Grand Enchanter on the throne—and that Great Grand Enchanter, was my best friend. Ayase's mother." Kazuha smiled wider.

"That was also my fault too. Because I was more interested to work in the backstage and that time, there was no other mages who are brave enough to step up to the throne and create rules for the life."

It really sounds like someone, but Nozomi couldn't really recall about who did the same mistake with her.

"I was trying so hard to stay behind the scene, and I forgot that I have been using someone to protect my face. Naturally, that someone thought that the responsibility is all on her shoulder, so…she…" Kazuha pauses and sighed.

"Non-chan, I love you but I can't continue my story about her."

"Why?"

"Because it's hard for me to explain everything to you right now. Perhaps we can continue our chat later?"

"I'll be waiting." Nozomi replied.

Kazuha nodded and she gives her a sincere smile.

"Thank you, Non-chan. Also, thanks for willing to listen to me. I do not wish my daughter to hate me for what I did." She said before she once again focuses herself to the door.

"Now, with our conversation over, this game will soon to be over." Kazuha said.

"I believe it has been going on a little too long." Nozomi said.

"Yes. Let's make this over soon." Kazuha replied before a bright light shines from the door, a werewolf jumped in and—….

Back in the house without light;

Heidr and Nozomi continue to investigate the area. The have found a few more clues about what exactly happened with the person who used to live here. A broken wall, remain of wars and a few hints of magical residue left on the kitchen, close to the backyard.

"This place is a big mess." Nozomi said.

"You can load a lot of magic in here." Heidr said.

"Well, that's not a bad idea, but, what for?" Nozomi said.

"You can figure out what happened. Just load them and cast it to anything."

"hmm… alright." Nozomi replied as she starts to approach one of the magical residue on the ground.

"Uhhmmm…this looks like a common nature magic. I don't know if I need to load this one to know what this is."

"You should be able to load something else than that from there. Try it." Heidr said.

"Uh…well, the other thing is, I don't know how to load magic. The other Nozomi always do it."

"Is that so? Then, I'll teach you how. Please touch that residue."

Nozomi places her fingers on the residue. She can feel something is different from the common nature magic.

"Ah! You are right! Something is different from the common nature magic."

Heidr responded with a giggle,

"Should I be amazed that you can tell how a magic felt like?"

"H-Huh? Well, not at all! I've been living for a long time here. It's only natural if I learned how it felt like!"

"Sure, but anyway. To continue from where we left. You may start to try absorbing the magic to your hand."

"How?"

"It's like casting the common fire or water magic, but to the opposite direction."

Nozomi knows how to cast fire or water magic, but she never really knows how to do it to the opposite direction. Perhaps she could try to do it carefully?

She assumes that she doesn't need to do the first step of fire magic (casting the heat from her body heat), it's all started from blowing the wind—but to the opposite direction.

Surprisingly, when she does that, she can feel a magical knowledge stuck to her mind. A magic that felt warmer than her body, magic that could make her feel comfortable… like a soothing wind.

"This feels like a healing magic, but it's not quite?"

"It's druid's nature healing magic. They are different from human's nature healing magic."

"They are? Then, how can I know the difference?"

"Cast it to yourself."

Nozomi agreed so she cast the magic on herself. As the time as the magic land on herself, she can feel a painful sensation on her head. Something sharp and burning her.

"Ahh!" she held her head.

Soon, Heidr approached her and sooth her pain with a magical power. Nozomi is cured, but, she is still unsure about what just happened to herself.

"What was that?" she asked.

"That's druid's nature healing magic." Heidr replied with a smile.

"It doesn't feel like healing at all."

"It doesn't. Because what heals the druid wound human. It goes the same for human's healing magic." Heidr said.

"What hurts the human may heal the druids, then what heal the druids may heal human. It feels like you're just trying to tell me something."

"Am I?" Heidr smiled.

"Is it possible that the druids start to think that we human aren't worth to be friend with?"

"Druid and human are never be friend or foe, Nozomi. Race is not a border, it's a diversity that you should respect. Those druids may have problem with some souls that they knew as human being, then perhaps human has unintendedly wound them as they try to help out, perhaps it has created some sort of stereotyping culture among the druids."

"Hmm, are you just trying to tell me that the druids may hate us right now? Because of some human's innocence?"

"Mhmm, pretty much."

Heidr replied with a smile. To be honest, Nozomi feels like she is somewhat mesmerized by her beautiful yet mysterious smile. It's not like she is cheating or something, alas, she can't possibly do that, knowing that she is looking at the person that she knew as her mother. Even though she might not be related by blood, it's still awkward.

"I see your attraction to me, also the awkward thought you are thinking." Heidr said.

"N-No! It's not–…" Nozomi sighed.

"It can't be helped. You're extremely beautiful."

"And you are gay."

Nozomi sighed again as she heard her response.

"Nozomi-chan, by blood or not, I'm still your mother. The other thing is because you should start to learn how to ignore your own sinful desire, else, you won't be able to understand the essence of true love."

"What's a true love anyway. There's nothing like that."

"Mhm, because you personally think you don't have anyone."

Nozomi remain silent.

"Eli is not yours, because she is hers."

The purplenette keep her mouth shut.

"But you have a lot of feeling for her inside you."

"I know she loves me but, I don't belong to her… and, I feel bad to the other me."

"Everyone has their own fate and destiny, sweetheart, but never give up on hopes just because you can't see your fate and destiny in front of your eyes. One day, those two will be married and you will return to where you belong to."

"Then what's the point of me being here right now? To just let her borrow my vessel? To let her take away my purity? To take away what I hold dear for someone that doesn't even belong to me? To have a broken heart because I don't have that someone I knew as my lover?"

The purplenette sighed.

"This is stupid. I thought it's all just a fun thing, but now I feel like I'm tired of it. Why do I bother to help someone that doesn't even matter to me in my world?"

"Nozomi, my dear. If you put it that way, then that's what you are getting." Heidr said.

"Then tell me a good thing that I can get from here."

"First, you already said it. Fun. Second, experience, and third, you get to do what you can't do in your real world. It's like playing a game, just like what you were thinking when you came for the first time."

"I no longer able to think that way. Everything here is so stressful and dangerous, also frustrating!"

"My-my, Nozomi, you're just frustrated because you wanted something, right? Something that you desperately want."

And from then, Nozomi realizes something. Why did she suddenly say all that selfish desire? It's not like she is desperate of returning home right now. She believes she still has a lot of things to do and try.

"Hey, what just happened to me? Did that magic did anything to me?"

Heidr smiled.

"Maybe…"

"Wait, is this…?" she raises her eyebrows.

"The water that leaks in your school."

"Oh!" Nozomi feels like she is starting to place another puzzle into her pocket.

"It's all coming from here." Heidr continued.

"But, I didn't drink or sense any water?"

"Because it came from a magic."

"Wait, don't tell me, what heals the druids are….?"

"Poison to human."

"So that means… the druids has something to do with the poison that invaded the school?"

"Not exactly what you're thinking, but they do have something with it though."

"Then, can you be more specific? People are worked up because of it, the espion especially, because if they couldn't find it, some will suspect them."

"Well, they do needs to be suspected because your Master Espion is trying to buy the school, it can be a good lesson for her."

"I don't want her to get in trouble."

"Then, shall we continue looking for clues? If you really want to get rid of the suspicion, then you better try to get the clear sight of these matters."

Nozomi nodded.

"Hmm… where should we go next…." Heidr tried to think.

"Ah! Take a look at the window." She pointed at the broken window.

"What?" Nozomi tried to examine it.

"The glasses broken pieces came from the outside, someone is breaking into that window and did something here." Heidr said. Nozomi tried to examine the direction of the force that came from the outside of the window. Just across the window frame, she can see a clothing remain—full body clothing. She carefully approaches it and examine it thoroughly.

"His clothing looked like a common people clothing, I can't tell who this person is."

"Well, would someone wear his costume at home?"

"You mean, the attack was unexpected and he isn't prepared to fight?"

"A super hero fight in costume, right?"

"Yes, but, can we really base our theory from that? I mean, look, I might be outside and fight in my pajama if I have to, but, I might pay a visit to someone with a pajama too if I have to."

"There can't be any sane person want to pay a visit to a place of isolation with a common clothing. This place is above the mountain, within a dangerous forest. It's hard for me to think this person is anyone else than the owner of this house."

"Sane person, right?"

Heidr smiled.

"Your reasoning is right. but at this matter, you lose. What I said is based on truth. This corpse is the owner of this house. He died in the fight that he should have not been involved with."

"A fight that he should've not been involved with? That doesn't make sense. This is his house, right? Then whatever happen here is his responsibility! If he really is the owner, then he should've been involved with it no matter what." Nozomi said.

Heidr smile wider.

"In that case, allow me to tell you my reason." she said as she pointed to the backyard. It's trampled everywhere and lots of dead plants littered on the ground.

"The war should've not been happened, but he insist it and make it happen. That's why i said that he should've not been involved with it."

"Explain further!" Nozomi said.

"He didn't know the truth of the beginning. His experiment never been a success, but his dream reach a void being. She makes his dream comes true in exchange of protection and care, but lies stains the white sheet and no one can hide it anymore. The druids are trying to take back what belongs to them, yet this guy insist that she belongs to him."

"I still don't get it." Nozomi said.

"the experiment that he mentioned, Nozomi."

"Mhm, the humanoid plant?"

"Yes, she was actually a void being pretending to be his successful experiment. She ran away from the druids because she is no longer able to keep up with the druid. Naturally, in that case, the druids will try to take back what belongs to theirs and the man will try to protect what he thinks to be belongs to him."

"Wait, if she is a void being, doesn't that mean she is the same race with Kazuha-san right now?"

Heidr nodded.

"So, is there anything you plan to do with her?"

"Like what i said, our job is to keep balance of the world, so anything that cause balance to crumble should be removed."

"But how could a void being have a desire to move out? Didn't you said void being have no feeling?"

"The desire itself might be the command from someone who controls her. The one who control her still have feeling and desire, thus we plan to figure out who is behind her and will remove them if we find that soul as a threat to the balance of the world." Heidr said.

"I see, then, let's continue looking." Nozomi said.

Heidr and Nozomi once again searches around, but this time, Heidr seems to focus her eyes on something outside while Nozomi trying to figure out what she should be looking for as she keep staring at the dried old corpse of the man.

By the time Nozomi tried to engage a conversation with Heidr, she notices that the woman didn't budge from where she is looking at yet. Nozomi curiously tried to look at what she is looking at and the only thing she notices is a movement among the dark forest.

"Did something just…!?" and Nozomi is hushed with the tip of the tentative finger.

"It seems that our time is running out, dear. I'll send you back to your vessel."

"Eh?"

And before Nozomi could make another question, she couldn't see or hear anything else in the dark forest.

It might be shorter than usual, but yes. hopefully i'll be able to keep going till the end!