Yet again, the soul fragments were involved in another scuffle.

Since Xue had forcibly pushed himself to take control over the body, the backlash came soon enough and he began to cough out blood profusely. His incomplete soul could not handle the repercussions.

Cecil blanched upon seeing that horrifying sight.

Her fatigue and pain was instantly shoved to the back of her mind. She had never felt so frightened in her entire life, crying out Xue's name in alarm.

"Xue! Oh my god!"

The man fainted, right after reassuring Cecil in a weak voice that he was completely fine.

Truthfully, Xue had bluffed her after explaining the situation of Veau amplifying the seal on his soul. He had assured her that everything was completely fine, when he knew he actually wasn't fully recovered yet.

He needed to head back to sleep, to ensure his soul was awakened properly.

However, his concern for Cecil overruled that.

Tsuki and Cecil hurried to prepare a pail of water to wipe the blood pouring out of his mouth incessantly. Whereas, inside the mind of Xue, the soul fragments already knew where this was leading to.

Yet another opportunity for one of them to take control.

Hence, the reason behind the scuffle.

"You go!"

"Why should I?"

"Why not me? Just release my arms and legs."

"Shut up, Leonaut!"

"Let me go, you vermins."

"You shut up too, Isleif."

"Just pick one, hurry."

"He is ri-right, w-we have to hurry!"

"If none of us go out, my saviour will have to keep coughing out blood!"

"Za-Zasiok--"

"Just..."

"...go!"

This time, Kai, Shin and Alric kicked Zasiok out of the mind to take control of the situation. After all, in such a chaotic situation, someone of a composed mind would be a better choice.

Moreover, Kai was still recovering from his traumatic experience of soaring through the air and almost killing them all.

There was no way he wanted to take control once again.

With no other choice, Zasiok had to accept his fate.

***

"...Zasiok?" Hana leaned in, whispering his name out.

K'xug only frowned in confusion when he heard Hana calling out that name. After all, he hadn't met all of the soul fragments of Xue.

Zasiok smiled slightly, nodding his head. He gestured for Hana to pass Cecil over to him and she obliged happily.

Finding herself in a familiar embrace, Cecil opened her eyes. She was still half-conscious since she couldn't let herself rest peacefully right now.

She raised her hand, trembling slightly as she caressed his cheek.

"Are you...really...okay...?"

Zasiok leaned into her touch, smiling. "We are fine."

"I was so scared..."

"Go to sleep now. Everything will be fine, we'll be fine."

"...are you lying...again?"

"I'll be here when you wake up, I promise. You trust me, right?"

Cecil nodded, her eyes losing focus. "I trust you, I will always trust you."

"Rest now, Cecil."

Zasiok could feel Cecil heating up with each passing second as he spoke with her, knowing that Hana was right.

Cecil was suffering from a high fever.

"You promised..."

She finally closed her eyes, her ragged breathing becoming more stable.

His smile faded away just as Cecil lost consciousness.

"K'xug, check up on her," Zasiok lowered his voice. "Before Xue passed out, he warned me that the dark magic within Cecil is escalating too quickly."

K'xug nodded.

"Quick, bring her here." Tsuki procured another mattress, placing it on the ground.

Her room seemed like a makeshift clinic now.

Kiyae and Hana carried Cecil to the mattress, laying her down gently.

K'xug followed closely behind, his eyes zoomed in on Cecil's shoulder. Even without seeing the actual wound itself, he could tell the perilous condition she was in.

"Is your condition stable enough to explain the situation right now?" Yun questioned, adjusting his glasses.

Zasiok nodded. "I will be brief about it."

He started to explain the situation to the rest, of how he ended up here with Rugi in a brief manner, like he had said. Excluding the part about dark magic, he reminded them that Cecil and Rugi would be unresponsive for the next few days.

Meanwhile, K'xug discovered it wasn't only Cecil afflicted with dark magic. The other soul fragment of Xue who he recognised in an instant was in the same state. His condition wasn't as dire as compared to Cecil.

Nevertheless, it was still serious on its own.

"K'xug, is...is Cecil really going to be okay?" Hana asked, her expression looked as if she was going to cry at any moment.

K'xug nodded.

"Don't worry, Hana!" Kiyae grinned. "I don't think Cecil would dare to leave any of you behind, and I still haven't gotten down to scolding her yet."

"Sc-scolding her?"

"For being an idiot! Who told her to let us go? She should have dragged us along with her into the portal!"

He advised the two ladies to help Cecil sit upright, starting the process of removing the dark magic spreading within her body. K'xug had done this procedure many times in the past, he didn't need to remove Cecil's clothes to imagine how the wound looked like or how to cure it.

On the other hand, finishing up with her own explanation, Tsuki proceeded to hand over a note to Yun, Haru and Zasiok.

"This note here, she wrote it before she fainted," Tsuki tapped on her smoking pipe. "She said it was the instructions to take care of that fool Rugi, and what each medicine and herb did."

"...she even remembered to leave this note behind in her current state." Haru muttered out, impressed.

"She has been the one seriously injured from the start yet she was pushing herself to take care of the two of them, this reckless woman." Tsuki clicked her tongue in disapproval, shaking her head.

"It seems that Cecil is the person we need to be concerned about more." Yun stated.

Zasiok sighed to himself, glancing over to Cecil. "Indeed, she is."

He walked over to and he noticed K'xug halting abruptly. This also attracted the attention of Hana and Kiyae.

"Pretty eyes, what's wrong?"

"K'xug?"

"Is-is there something wrong with Cecil?!"

K'xug narrowed his eyes, staring at Hana.

Her condition is too serious.

Whatever happens and however long it takes, you just have to trust me.

His grave expression was all Hana needed to see to understand.

Hana turned to look at Kiyae, biting on her lower lip. "No matter what happens, we...we need to trust K'xug."

Kiyae frowned at those words.

"Next time, instead of waiting for her to drag us along, I'll jump in with her instead." Kiyae mumbled out.

She couldn't help but feel guilty. After all, the reason behind Cecil's separation from them was due to her and Haru falling for the trap.

On the other hand, Zasiok felt apprehensive upon hearing those words from Hana. The soul fragments inside him shared the same sentiment.

It seemed they had underestimated the severity of Cecil's injury.

"Captain, with Rugi out of duty, the guards and the civilians will be in a mess," Yun mused out. "If what the mercenary said was true, Rugi's work to get rid of Ephert's spies and hidden weapons here is far from over."

"We should help finish up Rugi's work," Haru scratched his head. "Without him, we can't leave this island anyway."

The two of them looked over to the unconscious sea green-haired man. There was a cloth placed over his forehead, his expression serene. It seemed like the medicine and herbs from Cecil helped him relax immensely.

"Ahhhhh!"

All of a sudden, a choked scream pierced the air and everyone swivelled their heads to the direction of the source.

It was from Cecil.

Her eyes burst open but they were glazed over, seemingly dead.

K'xug's eyebrows were furrowed deeply, his wings springing out from his back without warning. Tsuki and Masaru were the only ones who reacted strongly to that sight, and Yun hurried to explain the situation to them.

Meanwhile, Kiyae and Hana were panicking, trying to hold down Cecil who was struggling. At the sight of her best friend in excruciating pain, Hana couldn't help but tear up, biting on her lower lip.

"Cecil...!" Hana cried out. "Cecil, just hang in there!"

Haru and Zasiok rushed over as well, but they felt hands clamping down on their shoulders. It was Ryo and he exhaled heavily.

"Captain, Xue, we gotta trust K'xug."

"Oi, pretty eyes boy!" Kiyae turned to K'xug. "I know Hana said to trust you whatever happens, but is she supposed to be in so much pain?!"

K'xug clenched his jaw, his eyes turning demonic.

I have no other choice!

The dark magic has seeped in too deep and it's nearing her heart!

If I don't forcibly cleanse it with my light magic, she'll die either way!

...but again, it's not like you can hear me anyway!

Tears involuntarily slipped down from Cecil's face and Hana hastily used her sleeves to dry her tears away.

Cecil shrieked in pain once again.

Zasiok and the soul fragments within could feel their hearts bleeding with each passing second, it was as if knives were being stabbed into their chest one after another. He instinctively took a few steps forward, shrugging off Ryo's hand from his shoulder.

At that moment, he noticed Cecil lifting up her hand as if reaching out for something. Zasiok rushed over without a word, grabbing hold of her hand.

"Cecil...I'm here," Zasiok muttered out, his voice trembling slightly. "We are here, so...just hang in there."

Her other hand reached out as well, and someone grabbed it a second later.

It was Rugi.

"Owner!"

"It is partially my fault that you are suffering like this," Rugi spoke weakly, smiling. "I'll share the pain with you."

Another wave of immense pain hit Cecil again, and this time, she dug her nails into their hands. The two men grunted in pain, but they held onto her hands tightly.

***

Cecil opened her eyes after losing her consciousness.

She found herself standing in a white space, it stretched far and wide, completely barren. It reminded her of the time she was summoned to meet AI500 after her death in her previous world.

"Where am I?"

[ In the space that allows one to cross over to other dimensions. ]

"AI500?"

"Why am I here? Didn't I just faint?"

[ It seems that the control of your soul in the body is starting to weaken. ]

Cecil frowned.

"What do you mean by that? Isn't it just dark magic attacking the body, and not my soul?"

For once, the system inside her head emitted a humane reaction, letting out a sigh of...frustration.

"Did you just sigh?"

[ Complications has occurred. ]

[ What a hassle. ]

[ She is becoming needlessly greedy. ]

"..."

"Who and what are you talking about?"

[ ... ]

"You know, you are starting to sound like an actual person...talking like that--"

Cecil gasped.

She felt a searing pain striking at her entire being and she staggered, collapsing to the ground. It was even a struggle for her to breathe.

"Wh...wha--it...it hurts...!"

[ Yes, it is supposed to hurt. ]

[ A simple price to pay for being reckless and sacrificial for the sake of others. ]

She let out a choked scream that resounded throughout the white space, it stretched on endlessly for miles.

[ From then and until now, this part of you has never changed. ]

[ Cecil Lan, Miranda Winters and the many other names you have once possessed. ]

"What are you...talking about?!"

"Who exactly are you, AI500?!"

[ Relive these memories, your pain should have subsided by then. ]

[ The control over your soul and the body should be stabilised as well. ]

The system sighed in her mind again.

"Stop sighing and tell me...what's going on!"

"Ugh!"

Just then, Cecil became extremely dizzy and her vision grew hazy. She lifted her head, shock coursing through her body as she saw the silhouette of a child in front of her, waving at her.

[ Have a nice journey~ ]

Her eyes closed involuntarily.

***

A second later, her eyes fluttered open.

She was no longer in the empty, white space.

The environment she was in was a garden, it was filled to the brim with flowers and an ostentatious fountain in the centre of it. Cecil saw someone standing in front of the fountain, their silhouette and appearance extremely familiar.

No...not just familiar.

This person is me.

Cecil glanced down at herself, noticing she was completely transparent...like a ghost.

She turned back to look at the stranger yet again.

Their hair was raven-coloured, just like hers.

The woman was holding a staff in her hand, pointing it at the fountain. Her eyes were closed, muttering a chant to herself. Water from the fountain started to drift towards her and hover in front of her staff, it grew into a huge ball of water.

She smiled to herself.

"I finally did it."

Their eyes slowly opened.

"Maemi! Maemiiii!"

The raven-haired woman gasped, turning to look. She saw a gorgeous brunette waving frantically waving at her from the other end of the garden. It seemed that the brunette was using some form of magic to amplify her voice.

"The archmage's son! The archmage's son is here! Hide, hide!"

The raven-haired woman that Cecil knew was her in some way, started to flail her arms. She lost control of the magic she held over the water from the fountain. It burst into droplets of water, creating artificial heavy rain all over the garden.

Just before she lost control over the water, she saw someone teleporting right opposite her at the fountain. They received the full impact of her unintentional water spell, water dripping down from their hair and clothes that matched the look for a wizard.

"..."

"You either have an issue with me, or with magic itself."

A shadow was cast over him as the man lifted his head. His grey eyes looked at the woman with a deadpan and his handsome face showed a hint of annoyance.

"I'm guessing it's the former, Maemi."

Cecil recoiled back, bewildered.

She would recognise that man anywhere.

It was Xue.

I don't remember meeting Xue anywhere else!

Relive my memories?

Whose memories are these?!

There were countless questions running through Cecil's mind. She watched as the stranger she knew was herself, yet not quite her at the same time, paling at the sight of drenching the man standing opposite her.

"It...it was all an accident!"

"...this is the third it has happened, Maemi. The third. Time."

"..."

At that moment, Cecil noticed her vision growing blurry once again.

[ ... ]

[ It's time for you to return, Cecil Lan. ]

"Wait--!"

She did not even have time to recover as her vision went black once again.

***

Cecil blinked her eyes open, inhaling sharply when she noticed numerous pairs of eyes boring down on her. However, she began to cough harshly and everyone started to fuss over her in concern.

"Cecil!"

"You are awake, thank god!"

"Are you okay?"

"Do you need water? Does she need water?"

"..."

"Rather than water, I think we should check up on her current condition."

"I'll get some change of clothes too, tsk tsk. Look at all of you, filthy and drenched in sweat. I won't allow that in my place."

"Miss Tsuki, I will help you."

"Such a darling you are, Masaru."

Cecil looked down at herself, realising she was covered completely in sweat. She wanted to move her hands until she noticed they were occupied with something else. Turning her head, she gasped and loosened her grip on the hands she was clamping down on.

There were blood stains on her fingernails.

To say she was horrified was an understatement, she brought her head up, her eyes wide in confusion.

"What's..." Cecil spoke, surprised to find her voice hoarse. "What's happening?"

She experienced a baffling dream, and now, she came back to consciousness only to find out that she had injured two people unknowingly.

Moreover, they were two very precious people to her.

"I'm sorry, I--I did not mean to--"

"It's fine, you fainted, and almost died from dark magic in your body," a low and gentle voice explained. "K'xug had to sacrifice a lot of energy to save you, and that almost cost your life too."

It was Xue speaking.

However, with one glance, Cecil could instantly tell that the person she was looking at wasn't exactly Xue.

Zasiok?

"Compared to any of us, your condition was definitely the worst," Rugi added on. "These injuries on our hands are nothing much."

Glancing down at the wounds on their hands, Cecil still felt guilty.

"I have the ointment with me--ah, the ointment should be over there with you..."

"...is that really your priority right now...?" Zasiok questioned, not knowing whether to be touched or to be frustrated.

Whereas, K'xug was still seated behind Cecil and he placed his hand on her shoulder, his actions abrupt.

Everyone paused and looked at him.

He smiled wryly, a drop of sweat rolling down his cheek.

Sorry.

It isn't done just yet.

You only got through the worst part.

Unlike Veau or Xue, K'xug wasn't completely a demon or an angel. Hence, his control over both forms of dark and light magic was nothing compared to the actual thing. If it was a demon or an angel doing this, the process would have been less painful and quicker, alas, K'xug wasn't blessed to be a master of both sides.

"Ahhh!"

K'xug could feel the glares behind him.

He knew they were cursing him for having no tact or delicacy.

"..." K'xug maintained a deadpan.

Meanwhile, Cecil fainted again.

***

Pt. 1

《 start 》

Cecil Lan.

I'm sure you can hear all of us in there.

Hang in there.

I wish I could take the pain away.

...but I can't.

So hang in there.

Hang...in there.

《 stop 》

***

Pt. 2

《 start 》

It's a rush for time.

Tact?

Delicacy?

I cannot afford that right now.

《 stop 》