No one's POV

A gentle sea breeze washed across the shore as waves lapped against the beach. Amidst this picturesque, tranquil scene, a single boy heaved a frustrated sigh. That boy was of course Sora. Four days had passed since he and his friends had conquered the Sunken Ruins of Melusine. Sora was currently sitting cross-legged on the wooden porch of Remia's house, seemingly deep in thought.

Sora(mind) : I want to leave Erisen right after we got through the Sunken Ruins of Melusine, but...

Sora: *sigh* What to do...

Judging by the sigh and the frustration face, he want to say goodbye to Myu. However, he didn't know how to say goodbye.

Myu: Papa! It's lunch time!

The dagon girl who'd just jumped out of the ocean like a flying fish. Myu, the girl who'd gotten extremely attached to Sora in the short time they'd been together. She leaped toward Sora, still dripping seawater. If Sora caught her, his clothes would end up soaked. So naturally, he—

Sora: Hey, stop that! You're getting everything all wet, Myu!

Myu: I'm sorry!

Caught her anyway. And even though he was scolding her, he didn't sound the least bit angry. Sora had quite the soft spot for Myu.

Sora: Where's Aishia and the others?

Myu: They're already eating. They gave me a mission to come get you!

Myu puffed her chest out proudly. Sora, who almost perpetually had a frown on his face, smiled.

Sora: I see. Thanks, Myu. You did great.

In front of his adopted daughter, his dour personality vanished. Had Sora's classmates been able to see him now, they would have been shocked. Even though he'd given them the cold shoulder, here he was, smiling warmly. For her part, Myu was all smiles as well. She loved nothing more than being praised by her beloved daddy. Incidentally, her laugh was quite reminiscent of Remia's, and you could clearly tell they were related. Myu would gladly have spent the next hour nuzzling with her father, but she had a mission to complete. She quickly returned to her senses and got to her feet. She then grabbed Sora's hand and pulled him up.

Myu: Hurry, Papa! Or Mama's food will get cold!

Sora: Alright, alright, I'm coming. Want me to carry you?

Myu: N-No, I'm on a mission!

Myu valiantly resisted the temptation to jump into Sora's arms.

Sora(mind): What a strong girl!

Sora thought with a smile. But at the same time, he was still grappling with how he was going to tell Myu he'd need to leave her behind when he resumed his journey. That was the other reason for his sighs. As he let Myu pull him along, he furrowed his brows and gave the matter some more thought.

Lunch was a lively affair. Remia had made meat skewers, and Myu ended up getting her face covered in sauce as she devoured them. She sat between Sora and Remia, and the two of them took turns wiping her mouth while reprimanding her for her lack of table manners. They looked like a perfect family.

Remia: Oh dear.

Sora: Hey now, calm down.

However—

Kaori: Aww, I'm so jealous. I wish me and Hajime could do that.

Hajime: K-Kaori...

Shea: Mrrr. Remia's spot was my spot when we were traveling...

Tio: It's going to be another feast today.

Kaori and Shea watched on with unbridled jealousy, while Tio laughed at the two of them. Aishia didn't seem particularly mind, but everyone could tell she was jealous just as much as Kaori and Shea.

Aishia(mutter): I want Sora to feed me.

Yue, on the other hand.

Yue: I want a kid I want a kid I want Hajime's baby—

Yue was muttering to herself like a broken record. Upon hearing Yue's ramblings, a slight smile crept up Hajime's face. Kaori gave Hajime a glare that could kill lesser beings, and a sudden shiver ran down his spine. Yue, on the other hand, grinned triumphantly. Kaori turned her murderous glare onto Yue, and the two settled into their usual fighting poses. Since arriving at Erisen, the two of them had squabbled at least five times a day. At this point, everyone was so tired of breaking them apart that this time they didn't even try.

Remia: Oh my, how lively... Oh yes, that reminds me. How were the "Seven Legends of Erisen" adventure, everyone?

But Remia was different. She had experience with child-rearing. In the face of Yue and Kaori's simmering wrath, she just smiled gently like always and changed the topic.

Myu: Mrrr, we didn't find anything.

Myu's ears drooped, though she continued attacking her fish skewer with gusto. The past few days, she'd been leading Aishia and the others on adventures near the outskirts of the city, but she'd yet to find anything interesting.

Aishia: Mmm... We couldn't find the treasure that was supposed to be hidden here when Erisen was built.

Yue: Though we did discover quite a few caves.

Kaori: Yep. The underwater ones looked really cool, too.

Shea: I guess this means six of the seven legends about Erisen are false.

Remia: I see. I suppose the seven legends were just folklore...

The so-called seven legends of Erisen were mostly just folk tales and urban myths known around the city. Aside from the city's hidden treasure, there were also stories of a ghost that wandered the sea, a mysterious ghost ship that appeared in times of thick fog, a city hidden at the bottom of the ocean where the pirate king's treasure lay, and a fish with a human head that was supposed to bring good fortune. But of course, they were just stories. They'd been examined by other adventurers long before Sora's party had arrived here, so of course they'd found nothing.

Myu: What's real is real!

Myu replied unhappily. Remia gave her daughter a troubled smile. Myu had been using an awful lot of strange phrases Remia didn't understand the meaning of recently. After a few seconds, Remia turned to the man responsible for her daughter's corruption. Sora awkwardly averted his gaze.

Sora: Uhh, anyway. Don't let this get you down, Myu. There's still one legend left to check, right?

Myu: Mhmm. The "Shining Will of the Sea."

Hajime: The "Shining See" appears?

Remia: Yes. They say there's something hiding in the "Shining See," and by encountering that "something" your wish comes true.

Yue: Hmm...

Remia: But neither the time nor place of the appearance are determined.

No one knew where this story came from or when it started, but this was the oldest and vaguest rumor of the western seas. According to legend, there was a shimmering ocean that would appear at random times in random places. It was large enough to span from horizon to horizon, and supposedly it was home to a creature or person or "thing" of some sort that would grant a wish to whoever found it.

Tio: So we have to rely on luck.

Kaori: It's such a romantic legend... If I found it, I could wish Yue would get stranded somewhere.

Yue: Perish, Kaori...

Yue drove her fist into Kaori's side. Kaori yelped in pain and retaliated by poking Yue in the stomach. Yue squealed in surprise and quickly settled into her usual fighting pose. Round two was about to begin. Sora completely ignored the catfight going on between the two of them and turned to Myu.

Sora: I couldn't go with you guys in the morning, but I'm free now. Me and Hajime have repaired the submarine too, so how about making our last adventure a grand one? We can search all day and spend the night in the ocean.

Myu: Mmm!? A sleepover adventure!? I wanna go!

For a moment Myu looked like she was trying to hold herself back from saying something, but then she smiled and nodded vigorously. Remia patted her on the head and turned to Sora with an expectant look.

Sora: You wanna come too, Remia?

Remia: I would love to. Ufufu, this will be our first family trip, darling.

Sora: 😅

That comment by Remia kicked off round three. Aishia and Shea whirled toward Remia, whose smile didn't even falter.

Aishia and Shea: *Staaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaare*

Sora(mind): Why do you always have to fan the flames like this?

Sora thought despairingly to himself. But despite his exasperation, Sora found he was enjoying himself. There was a slight smile on his face as he tucked away his lunch.

(Timeskip)

That evening, dark wispy clouds covered the night sky like a long trail of cotton candy. Hajime's submarine looked like nothing more than a small shadow from that height. Though he'd made it much bigger when he'd repaired it after the trek into the ruins. He'd also enchanted it with gravity magic to turn it into a pseudo-hovercraft when it was above the water. As a result, it wasn't affected by the waves at all, and Sora and the others were able to enjoy a pleasant barbeque as they coasted across the sea.

Hajime: It doesn't look like it'll rain, but it's a shame we won't be able to see the stars...

Hajime muttered as he looked up, a pair of tongs in one hand.

Yue: Mmm... Should I blow the clouds away?

Hajime: That sounds a bit too dangerous.

Only Yue would suggest altering the weather simply because she found it unpleasant. The others gave her nonplussed looks. Meanwhile, Hajime rejected the idea since he knew it would take up too much of Yue's mana.

Hajime: If I'd been able to finish the airship we could have taken a trip among the clouds, too.

Myu: Papa, what's an airship?

Sora: It's a ship that flies in the sky.

Myu: You mean it can fly just you!?

Sora: Yes that's right.

Tio: Oh, I suppose those men did fly, in a sense. They traveled along quite a nice arc, too.

Tio smiled as she recalled the event from a few hours ago. When the townspeople had learned Myu and Remia were going to go on a trip with Sora, a bunch of them had started talking to the mother-daughter pair. Friends of Myu, friends of Remia, and a bunch of men jealous that Sora was going on a date with their crush.

The latter specifically had tried to stop Sora at all costs, and naturally, they'd all been sent flying. Specifically, Sora had rounded them all up with wires, then flung them into the ocean. The few persistent ones—such as the town mayor, a human noble appointed to rule the city by the king of Heiligh, and his administrative staff—Sora had tied to missiles and launched into the sky.

Kaori: Remia and Myu sure are... loved by the townspeople, huh...?

Kaori muttered softly.

Shea: They're all just jealous of Sora. But I'm surprised there are humans who are interested in you even though you're a beastwoman like me, Remia.

Aishia: Mmm... That's because Remia's a devil.

Remia: U-Umm, Aishia? Isn't that a bit rude? I just happen to meet a lot of people thanks to my work...

Surprisingly, Aishia's stare was powerful enough to silence even Remia. Incidentally, Remia's job was to mediate between the humans sent by the kingdom and the dagon people that lived within the city. She was just one of many such mediators on the city payroll, and she was actually more of a part- time worker than anything.

Tio: True, since you're tasked with making connections between the Dagon and the official kingdom, it's understandable.

Hajime: That can't be the only reason.

However, her signature smile and gentle demeanor were powerful enough to defuse any situation, no matter how tense. Before her benevolence, the prejudice and racism of humans vanished like mist, as did the resentment of the dagons they were ruling over. The residents of Erisen trusted Remia not only to handle official disputes, but also to resolve conflicts between married couples and siblings and the like.

Sora: I remember the townspeople saying they all wished they could keep one of you in their house.

Indeed, everyone in Erisen wanted a Remia of their own to keep their house peaceful and in order.

Remia: P-Please don't bring that up, Sora. It's rather embarrassing...

Blushing, Remia brought her hands up to her cheeks.

Myu: Papa! Papa! Everyone also says Mama's unbeatable!

Sora: They say that about you too, you know. I guess together you make the unbeatable mother-daughter pair.

People didn't call Remia unbeatable because she was a master at fighting or anything. No, they called her unbeatable because no matter how hard they tried to win her affections, she shot them all down without a second thought. As for Myu, whenever someone tried to get close to her as a way of getting close to Remia and say things like, "Hey Myu, call me Papa!" she'd just reply with "No way!" and run off with a smile. As a result, everyone was jealous both that Remia called Sora darling, and that Myu called him Papa.

Shea: Remia. You're not actually interested in Sora, are you?

Shea asked timidly. Aishia and the others suddenly turned to Remia with newfound interest. The young dagon woman glanced down at her daughter.

Remia: Ufufu.

Kaori: What's that laugh supposed to mean, huh!?

Aishia: You've got guts, Remia... It's a shame I'll have to bury you at the bottom of the ocean.

Remia: Oh dear, Aishia, too. Oh may.

Remia deflected Aishia and Shea's threats with her usual gentle smile. And so, the barbeque-cum-adventure proceeded smoothly. A few hours and several warps later, the party had passed beyond the Sunken Ruins of Melusine, which they'd been using as a landmark, and were now hundreds of kilometers west of any known landmass. It was nearing midnight, and there was nothing in sight. Though everyone kept their eyes peeled from the comfort of the submarine deck, they didn't find anything out of the ordinary. Before long, Myu's eyes started to droop. She'd had a hearty dinner, and the gentle lapping of the waves combined with the soothing sea breeze was the perfect combo to lull someone to sleep.

Sora: Myu, shouldn't you go to—

Myu: Don't wanna.

Despite her drowsiness, Myu was determined to unearth the truth behind the last legend. Unfortunately, her body was already at its limits. Sora turned to Remia, at a loss for what to do. Remia gave Sora a troubled smile and patted her daughter on the head.

Sora: Myu?

Myu: No.

Still, Myu refused to let herself sleep. She'd stay awake by sheer force of will if that was what it took.

Aishia: Mmm... Myu. I'm feeling sleepy too. Let's sleep together.

Sora(mind): Thanks for the save, Aishia!

Sora thought. Aishia' resting expression made her look drowsy, so she was a pro at acting tired. However—

Myu: You can sleep if you're tired! I'll take care of the rest!

Myu replied with a smile.

Sora: Hajime...

Hajime: Sorry.

It was actually kind of impressive that Myu could remember the lines Hajime had taught her even when she was too tired to stand straight. Making Sora and the others glared at him.

Sora: Myu. I'll stay up, so you go to bed. Don't worry, if we find anything I promise we'll wake you up right away.

Myu: That's not good enough.

Myu rejected Sora's attempt at a compromise. She was being awfully stubborn about this last legend, and Sora couldn't quite understand why.

Sora: Why not?

Myu: Because if I sleep, morning will come.

Everyone:......

Myu: Our last adventure would end right away.

Myu sat down and hugged her knees, staring out at the moonlit ocean. She wasn't excited about the adventure itself, she was just desperate to spend more time with everyone. When she said "our last adventure," she didn't mean the last legend of Erisen, she meant the last actual adventure she'd get to enjoy with Sora and the others. Sora wasn't so dense that he couldn't understand that. Besides, he'd spent the last few days agonizing over how to broach this exact topic. This whole time the party had been lounging around on the deck, Myu hadn't left Sora's side. Even when he'd gone belowdecks to grab some tool or the other, she'd faithfully followed after him, like a baby chick following her mother. It was obvious what she was thinking.

Sora: Myu...

Sora softly stroked Myu's emerald-green hair. He wasn't sure what to do, whether he should tell her they'd have to leave her behind now or save that discussion for later. He'd delayed his departure for quite a few days already because he was unwilling to part with Myu, but thinking back on it, he wondered if that hadn't been making the inevitable harder on her. At the very least, he didn't want their last memory together to be a depressing one. Sora glanced over at Remia, and she gave him a quiet smile, as if to say she trusted whatever decision he made. Hajime and the others seemed unsure of what to say too. Like Sora, they'd spent the last few days trying to think of how to bring up the fact that they were leaving her behind.

Sora: Myu.

Sora said softly. She twitched, sensing from Sora's tone that he was about to say something serious. She looked timidly up at him, her eyes welling up with tears. Myu was a clever girl; she knew what was coming. Sora sat her on his lap and hugged her, then looked out at the ocean.

Sora: It's really pretty, isn't it?

Myu: Mrr?

Sora: I mean the clouds and the sea. They look really pretty in the moonlight.

Myu: Yeah...

The moon had reached its zenith, and its light refracted across the wispy clouds, causing them to shine with a mystical light. What few moonbeams shot through lit up the ocean, making it scintillate.

Sora: I've never seen an ocean this pretty before.

Myu: Really?

Myu looked up at Sora in surprise. Since she'd been born and raised here, this was a familiar sight to Myu. But back on earth, only people who worked out on the ocean saw sights like this regularly. A regular high schooler like Sora certainly hadn't had many opportunities to take boats out to open sea.

Sora: And it's thanks to you that Papa and everyone here can see it.

Myu: It is?

Sora: Yeah. We're all here because you invited us on an adventure.

Myu: Ehehe...

Myu blushed happily. But Sora's next words wiped the smile off her face.

Sora: I swear I'll never forget this adventure for the rest of my life.

Myu::......

Myu's expression grew dark again. She should have been happy to hear Sora say that, but she was clever enough to know what that implied. Sora quietly waited for her to say something. He was ready for her to tell him not to go, or to bring her with him. He knew what he would say to her too. But Myu didn't say anything. She just bit her lip, desperately keeping the tears in her eyes from spilling down her cheeks. The painful silence stretched on for a few minutes. Eventually, Sora let out a long sigh and put his thoughts in order. He opened his mouth to say what needed to be said, but just before he could speak—

Hajime: Ah!? What's that!?

A massive presence suddenly made itself known to the party, and shivers ran down their spine.

Shea: Sora, look up!

Aishia: The sky!

Sora reflexively looked up in response to Hajime, Aishia and Shea's voice and saw that the sky was suddenly closing. Or rather, so many clouds were appearing that it looked like someone was closing a lid over the sky. Within seconds, the moon had been swallowed up by the roiling black mass.

Sora: Myu, Remia. Don't leave my side.

Myu and Remia: Yes.

The two of them nodded, looking worried.

Kaori: Hajime, Sora, there's mist coming in from everywhere... This isn't normal, right?

Kaori muttered.

Hajime: Well this is a fantasy world, so for all we know, this is normal.

Yue: What do you think, Hajime?

Hajime: Someone's behind this.

The fog rolled over the submarine, engulfing it. It was thick enough that people standing on opposite sides of the deck wouldn't be able to see each other. It reminded Sora of the fog in the Haltina Woods. Everyone quickly formed a protective circle around Myu and Remia.

Aishia: So is the legend real?

Sora: That'd be nice, but I don't see any sparkling ocean anywhere.

Tio: Master, My King, look. Something's coming.

Tio's voice was tense. She stared intently into the fog, trying to discern the truth with her dragon eyes, her golden, slitted pupils sparkling. Everyone turned toward the direction she was looking, and a second later, they saw it.

Hajime: The hell is that?

A massive shadow cut its way horizontally through the fog. Judging by its silhouette, it was easily over thirty meters long. But it made no sound as it passed. Nor did it create any wind. In fact, it didn't even disturb the fog. Almost as if it wasn't real. The night was so quiet that Sora and the others could hear their own breathing.

Kaori: Was that a... whale?

Kaori muttered, her voice trembling. For as silent as the creature was, its presence was immense. And that was what terrified everyone. Including Sora. As the creature circled around the submarine, he could make out what looked like fins jutting out from the body of the shadow, which supported Kaori's guess.

Hajime: My Demon Eye's not showing me anything...

Sora: Hey, Tio.

Tio: My apologies, My King. But I know nothing about this creature, either.

Tio, who was always so reliable and observant, shook her head, cold sweat pouring down her forehead. Suddenly, their submarine shook.

Sora: Hajime!? Did you put us down in the water!? We're being carried away!

Hajime: How!? It's still in hovercraft mode!

A loud rumbling noise shattered the silence that had previously surrounded them. At the same time, the sea grew choppy and turbulent. A powerful current suddenly appeared underneath the submarine and started dragging it forward. Furthermore, the mist started to whirl around the party like a tornado as the unknown creature circled around them.

Sora: Tch!

Myu: Papa! Don't!

Sora raised his hand preparing for an attack, but Myu clung to him and begged him to stop.

Sora: Myu!?

Myu: I'm sorry! But umm... I don't think he's a bad person!

Sora: Are you saying you...?

Of course, Myu had no idea what the creature was, either. But it seemed she was sensing something from it. Something inside her was telling Myu that they couldn't hurt it, and Sora could tell from the earnest look in her eyes that she sincerely believed that. She just couldn't express it in words. While Sora was hesitating, their surroundings continued to transform. The whirlwind of mist sped up until they were surrounded by a wall of fog, making it look like they were in the eye of a storm. But the sky above them wasn't clear, like it would be in a normal storm. It, too, was covered in swirling dense fog. But instead of sucking up the surrounding water, the fog hurricane was pushing it away, creating a crater in the ocean.

Sora: Does it mean to drag us down to the bottom of the ocean?

Aishia: It's strange... I can sense mana from everything around us, both the fog and the water.

Shea: Sora, Hajime, I think we'll be okay! I'm not seeing any future where we die, at least!

Sora shot Aisha a glance. Though he said nothing, it was a trivial task for her to read his thoughts, and she quickly created a teleportation portal to let everyone escape. But before she could send anyone through—

Myu: Papa! He's calling for us! He wants us to save him!

Sora: Wh-What?

Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time to process that or ask Myu what she meant.

*Owooooooooooooooooooooo!*

The creature let out a howl. It wasn't a threatening sound, though. In fact, it almost sounded melodic. A second later, Sora and the others were surrounded by light, and their consciousness began to fade.

Sora: Hang on, everyone!

It was too late to escape now. At Sora's command, everyone hugged each other, with Remia and Myu at the center of the circle. The submarine dropped to the bottom of the ocean, and Sora and the others blacked out.

(Timeskip)

Remia: Ngh... Where are we...?

Remia shook her head and groggily opened her eyes. Her disorientation quickly vanished when she realized that Myu, who she'd been hugging before losing consciousness, wasn't in her arms. She leaped to her feet and shouted.

Remia: Myu! Where are you!? Say something! Mama's looking for you!

Remia's voice carried quite far. But she heard no reply from her beloved daughter. Looking around, she realized Hajime and the others were nowhere to be seen as well. Unease welled up within her. Her limbs felt frozen. Remia had sworn to herself that she'd never lose her daughter again. But now Myu wasn't by her side. This couldn't be happening. Just the thought that her precious daughter might be suffering somewhere alone caused her chest to tighten up.

Remia: It's fine... Everything will be fine. Sora and the others are here too. She'll be okay.

Remia(mind): You have to keep it together.

She told herself. Slowly the impatience and unease began to recede, and Remia could think clearly again. After a few deep breaths, she'd more or less calmed down. She took a look around, taking stock of her surroundings. She was standing on a path of cracked cobblestones, which was surrounded by the walls of crumbling buildings. It seemed she'd been transported to the back alley of some city.

Determined to find Myu, Remia dashed out of the alleyway. She emerged onto the main street, which was nearly twenty meters wide and surrounded on both sides by massive buildings she'd never seen before. The road seemed to continue on forever, disappearing into the horizon. In the other direction, the road continued for around three kilometers, stopping at a massive castle that had a large cylindrical tower reaching up to the heavens. Remia, who possessed neither superhuman jumping strength nor the ability to fly, could only estimate the scale of this city, but by her estimation, it had once been quite huge. Not only that, it would have taken some serious engineering skills to build.

But whatever it had once been, now it was just an abandoned, dilapidated ruin. The houses and buildings were all in disrepair and looked to be uninhabited. Indeed, Remia saw not a single person anywhere. Looking up, she saw that dark thunderclouds covered the city, occasionally sending down flashes of lightning. A faint black fog covered the city as well, making the air seem sooty and polluted. There was an overall oppressive atmosphere surrounding the city as well, as if people didn't belong in it.

Remia: Where have I ended up?

Remia mused, mostly to distract herself than anything. Last she recalled, they were being pulled down to the bottom of the ocean. After a few seconds, Remia started running down the deserted street.

Remia: Myu! Where are you! Mama's looking for you!

She glanced here and there as she ran, searching for her daughter. The old cobblestone road was cracked and broken, with sharp pieces of rubble strewn about everywhere. Dagons generally didn't wear sturdy shoes either, so it was doubly dangerous for Remia to run. Especially since she wasn't looking at where she was putting her feet. Naturally, it wasn't long before she hurt herself.

Remia: Ah!

Her flimsy sandal hit a sharpened piece of rubble, and the thin cords it was woven of ripped apart. Remia reflexively pulled her leg back, but her foot came away bloody. She tore off what remained of her broken sandal without hesitation and, ignoring the pain in her foot, continued running down the street. In seconds her feet were covered in numerous scrapes and cuts, but she didn't stop. Myu was the most precious thing in the world to her; she couldn't let a little pain stop her. But it wasn't her daughter who answered her desperate cries.

Remia: Huh? Who... might you be?

Remia shouting had attracted a rather shady figure. The figure resembled a person, but Remia couldn't be sure it actually was one. They were wearing a robe that covered them from head to toe, and Remia couldn't make anything out of their face. In fact, she couldn't even see their mouth. Furthermore, the robe the figure was wearing was unnatural. It seemed more liquid than solid. To Remia, it looked as though the figure was clad in a layer of flowing black tar.

Alarm bells started going off in her mind. Whatever that figure was, her instincts told her it was dangerous. She had to run, now. But this was the first person she'd seem in this ghost town, and the possibility that they might provide her with information caused her to hesitate. What if they knew where Myu was? Her love for her daughter caused Remia to ignore her instincts and approach the strange figure.

Remia: U-Umm... have you seen a little girl—

Before she could finish, the figure's robe began to ripple. A second later it contracted and began to morph into the shape of a giant scythe. The figure advanced on Remia, scythe in hand. It looked like the grim reaper from Earth's legends. Pale-faced, Remia took a trembling step backward. She tripped over a piece of rubble and fell to the ground. The dread emanating from the figure was so great she couldn't even scream. Her gaze was glued to the terrifying figure.

Remia(mind): You have to find Myu! Get a hold of yourself! You're her mother!

It scolded her over and over, urging her to get to her feet. Even though she was too terrified to move, even though she was up against a monster the likes of which she'd never seen, in her heart of hearts, Remia still didn't give up. She couldn't afford to give up. So she glared at the menacing reaper bearing down on her with every ounce of defiance left in her. A second later, a streak of blue light shot through the reaper's head.

Remia: Huh?

Remia muttered, dumbfounded. Tar dripped from the gaping hole in the reaper's head, looking uncannily like polluted brain fluid. In the corner of her eye, Remia spotted the sleeve of a familiar, comforting black and bluecoat.

Sora: You've got guts, staring him down like that. Guess I should have expected as much from Myu's mom.

Sora landed on the ground next to Remia. Her eyes widened in surprise and she looked up at him.

Remia: Sora! Wh-Where's Myu!?

Sora: Sorry, but we'll have to talk later.

Sora replied curtly. He picked her up with one arm, and she reflexively clung to his neck with an involuntary squeal. He leaped backward, and a second later something whooshed past Remia's ear. Turning around, Remia saw a reaper's scythe inches from her face. It seemed there was more than one black-robed figure. More than two, even. They started popping up in all directions, oozing out of cracks in the walls or floor. Soon enough, Sora and Remia were surrounded by twenty reapers.

Sora: Hang on tight. This is going to get rough.

Remia: O-Okay.

Remia replied reflexively to the commanding tone in Sora's voice.

The grim reapers let out a wordless, soundless howl as they spread their liquid cloaks out.

Sora(mind): Is that like a war cry?

Sora thought to himself. A fierce gust of wind whipped across the battlefield. Even Sora's Spirit Art couldn't sense out where these strange monsters' mana crystals were, and he had no idea what that liquid tar they were wrapped in actually was. In fact, he wasn't even sure if these were monsters, or if they were sentient. But if they were after him, there was only one thing to do.

Sora: I don't have time to deal with trash like you.

As the reapers charged, Sora's hand began to glow with blue light. A second later, a dome of barrier appeared out of thin air. They formed a protective circle around Sora. Sora raised his hand, and he fired a huge water dragon. Regardless of what they were made of, it seemed the reapers weren't capable of withstanding the magical force of Sora's Spirt Art. They were blasted backward, tar leaking from their wounds like blood.

Sora: You're getting in my way. Die already.

A fierce grin crept up Sora's face. His pupils dilated, sparkling with unrestrained bloodlust. Faced with the unleashed monster of the abyss, the reapers faltered. As did Remia, who was seeing Sora's bloodthirsty side for the first time. But while Sora's demeanor was a bit of a shock, she found that she wasn't actually scared of him. Partly because she realized that despite being in a life-or-death battle, Sora was taking care not to move so violently that it'd hurt her. But mostly because she understood where his anger and impatience were coming from. He was worried about Myu, too.

Remia: Sora...

Sora: Remia. Plug your ears. I'm gonna blow these bastards away.

Remia didn't know why she called out to Sora, or what she was even planning on saying to him, but his interruption gave her the perfect opportunity to shut up and nod. A second later, Sora raised his hand and blue and electricity appeared on his right and left hand. He blasted a huge Firestorm.

Sora: Perish!

The resulting shockwaves obliterated the nearby ruins, leveling everything within a hundred-meter radius. Once the dust settled, Remia could see nothing was left in the vicinity. No reapers, no ruins, no cobblestone road. Still, Sora scanned the area thoroughly, wary of any sudden attacks. Only once he was sure it was safe he relax.

Sora: Sorry, Remia. I haven't been able to find Myu yet. You're the first person I found.

Remia: Huh? Oh... I see.

It took Remia a second to realize he was continuing their conversation from earlier, but when she did her face fell.

Sora: This city's huge. I checked from the sky too, and I can't tell where it ends.

From how high up Sora had checked his surroundings, he guessed the city was at least 60 kilometers across, if not more. There were a few cities on Earth that big, but none in Tortus.

Sora: I'm guessing that castle's sitting at the city's center. Since there are roads that head straight out of it going east, west, north, and south. I'm thinking of heading for that castle while destroying everything in our path.

No matter which of the four main streets someone ended up on, they'd be able to see the castle from where they were. Since it was such a central landmark, Sora figured everyone else would try and congregate there. Furthermore, Sora knew they were somewhere north of the castle, meaning that he and Remia must be on the north main street. He knew that because before he'd met up with Remia he'd found a faded signpost that had mentioned this was the north side. Though the signpost had been written in a language he hadn't seen before even in Tortus, his Language Comprehension skill had allowed him to read it.

Remia: D-Did you just say destroy everything in our path?

Sora: Yeah. The best way to tell people where we are is blowing stuff up. Well, if they're all on the south side they probably won't be able to hear the explosions until we're pretty close to the castle, but... it's better than doing nothing.

A tinge of unease entered Sora's voice as he said that. When he'd flown up into the sky, he'd seen the giant wall that separated the northern and southern parts of the city. It had been like a scaled-up version of the Great Wall of China. Sora had no idea what the purpose of the massive wall was, but from what he'd been able to make out from a distance, the south side's buildings weren't as grand as the north side's.

Sora(mind): Maybe the two halves of the city serve different purposes or something happened to make the south side collapse faster than the north?

Regardless of the reason, Sora had a sneaking suspicion that the massive wall was thick enough to block out sounds between the two sides. Still, he was right in saying that blowing stuff was up still better than doing nothing. Of course, he was also constantly calling out to his comrades via telepathy, and he had been using his Spirit Art to scout the area up ahead to make sure he wasn't accidentally getting anyone caught up in the demolition.

Remia: Won't that attract the attention of those things though?

Remia asked, her expression stiff. She was suddenly worried her sanity might not withstand traveling with Sora.

Sora: Don't worry, I'll destroy them all if they come.

Remia: I-I see...

As always, Sora had no compunction about killing anything in his way. This time, even Remia couldn't just brush it off with an, "Oh my." Cold sweat poured down her back. Sora ignored her trepidation and lowered her onto the ground. As her feet touched the stone the pain she'd forgotten about came back in a rush and she gasped.

Sora: Hm? Why're you barefoot?

Remia: My sandals were making it hard to run, so I...

Sora: I see...

Sora instantly realized how desperate Remia must have been while searching for Myu. He stamped his foot on the ground, instantly using [Earth Manipulation] Spirit Art to create chair from the cobblestones. He then sat Remia down on it and knelt down in front of her. He picked up her bloodied and battered feet and carefully examined them. After a few seconds, he rested them on his knee.

Remia: S-S0ra?

Sora: I'm just fixing up your feet. My healing isn't as good as Kaori, but a scratch like this is simple.

Remia: I'm fine. Forget about me, we need to find Myu.

Sora slowly looked up at Remia.

Sora: Do you plan on letting it happen a second time?

Remia: Ah!

There was no need to specify what Sora meant by "it." Remia knew. Just as Remia had sworn she'd never lose Myu a second time, Myu was almost certainly thinking she never wanted to see her mother hurt a second time. If Myu saw the state Remia was in, she'd no doubt cry.

Sora: Besides, it won't take long.

Remia: Okay... Umm... Sora? Thank you for saving me.

Sora: It's because you're Myu's mom.

Like Remia, Sora wanted to start searching for Myu as fast as possible. Which was why he was treating Remia as quickly as he could, and responding curtly. However, his reply brought a smile to Remia's face. Because it made it clear he cared about Myu as much as she did. Seeing his desperation warmed Remia's heart. Which was why she found herself asking.

Remia: Myu's... okay, right?

It was a pointless question, since she knew Sora didn't have the answer. But she just wanted him to say something that would take the edge off her anxiety.

Sora: Of Course she's okay. She's braver than anyone I know. Plus she's smart, too.

Sora responded instantly. He believed in Myu the same way he believed in his comrades, and he didn't doubt for a second that they'd all be reunited.

Remia(mind): Ah... He really is a strong kid...

Remia thought to herself. She wasn't just referring to the overwhelming strength she'd just seen on display when he'd destroyed the reapers. Sora had the strength of heart to believe the future he desired was always within his grasp, and give his all to make it happen. Remia could see it in him. It was that strength of his that had made her crybaby daughter strong, too. Myu had looked up to Sora's strength, and in trying to become more like him, she'd grown.

That was why she called Sora Papa even though she'd refused to call anyone else that. Though she was happy to see her daughter growing up, Remia couldn't help but feel a little jealous of Sora as well. And that birthed a desire to tease him a little.

Remia: You sure understand our daughter well, darling!

Remia put on her usual gentle smile. The smile that everyone praised, and that she used as a mask to deal with others.

Remia(mind): Now then, is he going to get angry with me and tell me to stop pestering him, or just give me that exasperated look of his?

Remia nervously waited for his reply, but Sora didn't even look up at her as he said.

Sora: Why bother keeping up the act when Myu's not around?

Remia closed her half-open mouth, unsure of what to say. Sora had finished treating one foot and was moving on to the second, but Remia hardly even noticed the pain going away.

Remia: You could tell it was an act?

Sora: What, the whole darling thing?

Sora had long since figured out why Remia was always dodging the question when people asked her if she was really into him or not.

Sora: Remia, you are a very loving Mother. You were only doing that for Myu's sake, right?

Remia nodded apologetically. She hadn't wanted to say the truth in front of Myu. She couldn't. Of course, there was no way she'd actually fallen for Sora at first sight just because he came back with her daughter. But she couldn't bring herself to tell Myu that Sora wasn't really her Papa. Or that she wasn't interested in him. After all, Sora was the first person Myu had ever deigned to call Papa.

So whenever Myu was present, Remia had made a big show of getting along with Sora. However, there were plenty of girls around Sora who truly were in love with him. And so she'd felt it wouldn't be fair to them to lie and say she was sincerely interested in Sora when they asked. Which was why she'd settled for acting evasive instead, using her trademark smile. After all, she knew they'd part ways before long.

Remia: I'm sorry... for causing you so much trouble.

She felt bad for prioritizing her daughter even when she owed Sora so much for bringing Myu back. For taking advantage of Sora after all he'd done. Remia hung her head in shame.

Sora: You don't have to apologize. Aishia and the others have probably figured it out, anyway.

Sora finished treating Remia's feet. All the cuts and scrapes had healed over cleanly. While there had been a lot of them, most had been shallow so a few healing salves had been enough. He then opened his Time Space Cache and took out a spare pair of women's boots, which he handed to Remia. The whole time he seemed wholly unconcerned about her confession. Remia slowly pulled on the boots while Sora turned around and started monitoring the area. As she looked at his back, she couldn't help but wonder.

Remia: Aren't you mad?

Sora looked over his shoulder and replied.

Sora: Why would I? You're doing it for Myu's sake.

Sora smile gently. He wasn't so petty that he'd try to find fault with the methods Remia chose to support her daughter. Especially since he cared for Myu too. After hearing his answer, Remia found herself at a loss for words. She didn't know what to think about Sora anymore. Even she found her heart beating loudly.

*Badump*Badump*

Remia:...

Sora: Hm? Isn't that...?

Sora muttered, sensing something. He zoomed in to see an explosion of blue mana just like his. It was Aishia.

Sora: Remia, let's go!

Remia: O-Okay!

Sora: Hang on tight!

Sora held out his hand, making it clear he was planning on carrying Remia bridal style again. It made sense, considering he was much faster than her. However, Remia took his hand without hesitation. Almost as if she trusted him with her life. Strangely enough, though, Remia felt uncomfortable in his arms. Not because she hated him. No, rather for the opposite reason. Suddenly, the prospect of wrapping her arms around Sora's neck felt embarrassing. But now wasn't the time to worry about that. Her daughter's life was still in danger. Remia pushed her embarrassment down and clung to Sora. A second later Sora kicked off the ground and the scenery started flying past. Though they were moving at insane speeds, Remia wasn't at all afraid.

Remia: Sora, thank you very much. Truly, I mean it.

She was thanking him not just for saving her back there, but also for everything he'd done for Myu. Sora look down and meet her eyes, but she wasn't able to meet his.

Sora: You don't need to thank me. I am sort of her dad, after all. And I love her dearly. And what Myu's love, I love.

That was basically him confessing that he love Remia just as much he loves Myu.

Remia(mind): Now I understand why Hajime and the others calls him a smooth talker. He really says such things so casually...

Remia smile at Sora, looking like she wanted to say something. With his good looks, gentlemanlike demeanor, and talent, there was nothing left to be desired. Indeed, he would be popular like this; in reality, it was clear he was. His only flaw was how he would make flirtatious comments when he was such a blockhead himself.

Remia: He really knows how to give people the wrong idea sometimes.

Remia muttered.

Sora: Err... Remia?

Sora tilted his head at Remia's gaze.

Remia: Nothing!

Remia replied in a playful tone. She couldn't hold her beating heart any longer and chuckled to herself. This time, it wasn't a pretend laugh, but a real one.

(Timeskip)

Meanwhile, Myu herself was...

Myu: Mrr...

Currently hiding behind a few pieces of rubble inside a small alleyway. There was no one else around. When Myu had awoken, she'd found herself alone in an eerie, abandoned city seemingly filled with malice. Any small child would have been too terrified to move, but not Myu.

Myu: I have to hurry and save Mama!

Myu bravely poked her head out from behind the rubble. She quietly glanced around. The strange malice that she'd sensed upon first waking up had thinned somewhat. And as far as she could tell, nothing was waiting to ambush her nearby. Myu took a deep breath. Then she resolutely got to her feet. Naturally, she was still scared. That much was evident by how she was trembling. Her eyes darted about fretfully as well. But even so, Myu took a step forward.

Just like Sora had said, she was brave. As she strode forward, Myu thought about her beloved Papa. As well as the kind, strong, cool girls that traveled with him. Utilizing everything she'd learned in the short time she'd spent with everyone, Myu continued striding forward. Eventually, she exited the alleyway and moved onto the main street. The main street itself was littered with chunks of rubble large enough to be boulders, limiting Myu's vision.

Myu: Is that... a castle?

At the end of the street, a good distance away, Myu saw a castle with a giant tower. Flanking the castle on either side were walls higher than any she'd seen before. The buildings around her were all in disrepair, and none were terribly tall. At most, they were four stories high. She'd seen Fuhren before when she'd been kidnapped, but from what she could tell, this ruined city was many times bigger than it.

Myu: Mama's probably looking for me...

Myu muttered to herself. Though she was still disoriented, she forced herself to think.

Myu: If she can't find me she'd... probably go to the castle?

As far as Myu could tell, that was the biggest landmark. It made sense that Remia would head there.

Myu: Papa'll definitely go there.

Of that, Myu was certain. While she might not have known the meaning of the word itself, she knew Sora and the others always acted rationally.

Myu: If I go there... I'm sure Papa will sense me with his Magic! And then we can search for Mama together. Or maybe he's found Mama already. I know there are bad things here, so I have to go slowly or they'll see me...

Myu made a small fist, confident that she could do this. Of course the dimly lit, menacing street was quite daunting to someone as young as Myu, but she motivated herself by thinking of Sora.

Myu: Papa always said if you give up the adventure's over! I can do this! I'm a big girl! Do your best! I can fly! Yes, we can!

Myu didn't really know what the last few phrases meant, but they'd sounded cool when Sora had said them so she used them as encouragement. She was the daughter of the monster of the abyss, she wasn't going to let anything stop her!

???: This way.

Myu: HOIAejghoasjgoaigfj!?"

Just as she was about to take a bold step forward, she heard a mysterious voice, making her scream in surprise. Panicking, she quickly clapped her hands over her mouth and retreated to the safety of the rubble. Her heart was pounding wildly and there were tears in her eyes. For all her bravery, Myu was still a little girl.

???: This way, girl of the sea.

Myu twitched, but managed to suppress her scream this time. The voice sounded like it was coming from inside her head. She looked around frantically, but couldn't spot anyone.

Myu: Wh-Who might you be?

Now she was using her mother's politeness. Sadly, the disembodied voice didn't say anything other than repeat, "this way." It was obviously suspicious. But after calming down and thinking about it, Myu realized the voice somehow "felt" the same as the creature they'd seen the silhouette of.

Myu: Are you the shadow?

By shadow, she was referring to the massive creature that had brought them all here. Despite how large its presence had been, Myu hadn't found it scary at all. In fact, she'd found it quite comforting. She'd felt the same sense of security around it that she did when she was swimming in the ocean.

Shadow: Hurry, child of the sea. Danger is coming.

Exasperated by Myu's continued inaction, the voice imparted slightly more concrete information. That was enough to convince Myu.

Myu: This way?

Somehow, she could tell which direction the voice wanted her to go in.

Shadow: I will take you to your brethren. To another strong child of the sea.

Myu: Do you mean Mama?

Myu asked, but there was no reply. She shut her mouth and obediently followed the voice's directions. The rubble made it hard to walk, and Myu needed to be careful where she stepped, so she didn't make too much noise. She followed the mysterious voice's guidance, and whenever it said danger was near she stopped breathing and waited quietly for the dangerous robed figures to pass. To her surprise, she was much calmer than she expected. She was nervous of course, but only a little, and it made her thinking sharper. It helped that she'd already experienced being in a dark, dirty, dangerous place before.

Compared to her time in the underground prison, this was far better. She had a guide, and people she could trust looking for her. Plus, she wouldn't have to escape into a sewer this time. Probably. Most importantly, though—

Myu: I need to hurry and find Mama.

She had a mission. Myu needed to find her mother, who was as powerless as her. The last thing she wanted was her beloved mom getting hurt because of her again.

Shadow: I'm sorry.

Suddenly, the voice apologized to her. Myu suddenly remembered that the shadow had been asking for help, too.

Myu: Mister Shadow, what's your name? What do you want us to do?

It was only at this point that Myu realized she hadn't even asked the shadow what its name was. But the only reply she received was the same apology as before, and another plea for help. It appeared the shadow couldn't communicate very effectively. Normally, that would have been strange, considering how immense a presence it had been, but Myu seemed to understand both that this was the case, and that it wasn't strange.

Myu: You must be really weakened right now...

It occurred to Myu that it might have used up the last of its power to call everyone here.

Shadow: Seek out they who can create, they who can scar the flow of time.

It sounded more like it was talking to itself than Myu. She was paying close attention to the voice as she walked, so she picked up everything it had just said, but half of the words had been too complicated for her to understand. Still, she was almost certain it was talking about Hajime. However, its next words threw her prediction off.

Shadow: Though they live in different times, the two shall light the spark. One shall fan the flames. I have brought those who share your comrades' powers here for that purpose.

Myu: T-Two? One?

Myu was half-guessing what the voice was trying to say, so when it added clarifications that didn't line up with her predictions, it left her completely lost.

Myu: Mrrrr, right now all I can do is keep going!

Myu pushed her questions aside from now and focused on the task at hand. The voice might be guiding her along the safest route possible, but carelessness could still lead to death. Just then, Myu heard a thunderous roar.

Myu: Mrrr!?

The earth shook, and she was knocked off her feet. A second later, there was another series of noises. Someone was fighting. Whoever they were, they were behind Myu. Probably two or three streets away at least. But they were getting closer. Myu was still quite far from the castle. And with the speed she ran at, they'd catch up to her in no time.

Myu: Papa is that you?

She had a feeling it wasn't. Myu knew what it sounded like when Sora fought. And there were no gunshot sounds, or explosions, or streaks of blue light. She guessed it was Aishia, or Yue, or perhaps Shea.

Shadow: Hurry, child of the sea! Your brethren are near!

There was a sense of urgency in the shadow's voice now. Myu, too, sensed danger closing in on her quickly and with a hesitant.

Myu: O-Okay.

Myu turned her back to the fighting noises and started to run. Whatever scary "things" she could feel were catching up to her fast. They'd probably been lured here by the sounds of fighting. Or maybe they'd finally locked onto Myu's location. Either way, it was clear to Myu that they wouldn't just pass her by like they did before. Though she wanted to cry, she gritted her teeth and kept her tears bottled up. If there was time to cry, there was time to run. She could no longer afford to care about where she stepped, and soon enough her feet were covered in cuts just like Remia's had been. As a result, her speed dropped. And eventually, her feet caught against a loose piece of rubble and she tripped.

Myu: Awaah!

Tears sprang to her eyes as her knees slammed against the ground. Looking up, Myu realized she'd run all the way to a wide plaza. More importantly, though, she sensed something behind her. Raising herself into a sitting position, Myu turned around. Behind her, she saw a giant wolf with no fur glaring at her.

Myu: Ah...

Her voice came out as a soft whimper. She was too terrified to scream. Her instincts were yelling at her to run, but she was rooted to the spot. The creature stalking her was unbelievably grotesque. Worse, it had brought its minions with it. Smaller wolves loped out from gaps in the buildings, surrounding Myu. Chunks of rotten flesh dripped from the large wolf's furless body, and it bared its fangs at her. But just as it leaped forward, a blinding flash of light filled Myu's vision. A second later, the giant wolf was blown backward.

Myu: A-A whale?

Indeed, it was the whale who had intervened to save Myu. But now the whale was only two meters long, swam through the air, and was made of glowing particles of light. And it had just tackled the wolf out of Myu's way. The wolf slammed into the building behind it and was buried under a mountain of falling debris.

But it quickly blew the debris away with a gust of bloody wind, and let out a ferocious howl. A second later, its tiny minions rushed at Myu. The whale made of light slid down to where Myu was and overlapped its body with hers. The aura of light surrounding Myu blocked the wolves' fangs, keeping her safe. It then flashed again, blowing the wolves back. Myu was safe for the moment, but she knew she couldn't relax just yet.

Myu: Uuu...

The bloodlust emanating from the wolves was sapping away her courage. She was shivering in fear, and it looked like she could pass out at any moment. The thought of just giving up and letting the whale take care of the rest crossed her mind. In fact, she was about to do just that when she suddenly realized something.

Myu: Are you getting smaller, Mister Whale?

It wasn't just her imagination. Since Myu herself was small it was still big enough to cover her completely, but the whale was definitely shrinking.

Myu: Is it because you're protecting me?

The whale didn't reply. Myu still had no idea what it actually was. But she knew it was sacrificing itself to protect her. And it had the same warmth to it that the shadow and the voice had possessed. Myu gritted her teeth again and wiped her tears away. She rallied her courage and got to her feet, cutting through her fear.

Myu: Mister Whale! I'm okay now!

Her voice was trembling and her face was pale. She was clearly not okay. But the determination in Myu's eyes was unwavering.

Myu: I'll keep running, so run with me!

It felt as though the whale shined brighter for a moment. As if Myu's bravery was giving it strength. She glanced toward a nearby alleyway. She planned to run into a narrow space and hide there to buy time until Sora came to save her. Don't give up, no matter what. That was the most important lesson Myu had learned from Sora and the others. But before she could start running, the wolves surrounded her from all sides. As if mocking her new resolve. Even so, Myu didn't falter. She sucked in a huge breath and shouted.

Myu: Do your worst, if you dare!

At the very least, she wouldn't be beaten in spirit. A second later the pack of wolves leaped toward Myu.

???: Oh my. You're quite spirited, for one so young.

But before they could reach her, they were washed away in a torrent of water.

Myu: H-Hweh?

Myu blinked in surprise. She watched as the current of water snaked around the wolves like a living creature, going into their mouths to destroy their bodies from the inside, crushing them through sheer water pressure, or cutting them to pieces with precise jets.

Though Myu was inside this whirling current, none of the water even touched her. It moved protectively around her like a barrier. None of the wolves could get close to her no matter how hard they tried. The giant alpha wolf tried to use its blood wind to blow the water away, but its paltry wind was swallowed up by the giant press of water.

Myu: I-Is that one of your friends, Mister Whale?

The shimmering whale didn't reply. But it separated itself from Myu, as if to say everything was going to be okay, and started shrinking faster. Once it was small enough to fit in her palm, it plopped onto her head and remained there. As Myu looked up in confusion, the same woman's voice from earlier called out to her.

???: My, you have some interesting friends, young lady.

Her voice was gentle, far gentler than one would expect from someone who was engaged in a fierce battle with monsters. Myu looked up and saw—

Myu: Mama?

An older dagon woman was sitting elegantly atop an arch of water. Her gentle demeanor and faint smile reminded Myu of Remia, which was why she'd reflexively said, "Mama." But this woman was wearing completely different clothes from Remia.

???: M-Mama? I wasn't expecting anyone to call me that. Ah, hang on a moment.

The older lady drew the cutlass at her waist and sliced the wolf charging at her in half. The giant wolf charged at the same time from behind, but the lady's cutlass shattered into pieces and she swung it like a whip at the alpha wolf, using a small water current to keep the cutlass-pieces mostly linked. Anywhere her water whip struck, the wolf's flesh was shaved away. The shards of cutlass inside the whip were vibrating at a high frequency, making it into a kind of chainsaw. The wounded alpha wolf tried to leap back and regroup, but the lady didn't relent.

???: Mutts that can't follow orders need to be punished. Come, grunt like a pig for me.

The lady started scoring the wolf with a consecutive series of whip lashes. With every strike, more of its flesh was shaved off, and it started whimpering pitifully. Funnily enough, its whines did sound like the grunting of a pig. This dagon lady might have had the same gentle look to her as Remia, but she was far more sadistic than Remia ever could be.

??? Sorry about the interruption. At any rate, I'm not your Mama.

Myu: Ah, yes. You're not.

The alpha wolf had been reduced to a pile of meat and bones. The few remaining minions it had left were about to be next. The dagon lady brandished her whip, making it clear she didn't intend to let even a single one escape. The whole time she was goring the wolves, she maintained that gentle smile that was so reminiscent of Remia. Honestly, it was a little scary. Myu felt bad for ever thinking this woman could have been her mother.

Myu: Umm... thank you for saving me. Who are you? I'm Myu!

???: My, what a polite young lady you are. Saying thank you and introducing yourself is an important part of proper manners.

The older woman grinned. At the same time, she sent torrents of water rushing out in all directions to clean up the blood, guts, and corpses sprawled around the square. Once that was done, she moved her arch into the barrier that was protecting Myu.

???: It's nice to meet you, fellow dagon girl. I'm—

The water barrier burst apart into a million tiny droplets that glittered like a kaleidoscope. The woman paused for dramatic effect, then finished with a dazzling smile.

Meiru: Meiru Melusine. Captain of the Melusine pirate crew.

This was a meeting that shouldn't have been physically possible. But somehow, the light whale had traveled across time to unite Myu with the "other strong child of the sea," Meiru Melusine. A wielder of ancient magic and the ruler of the western seas. In order to rescue Myu, it had guided the two dagons to each other.