After I calm down again, I say, "I think I'm ok now Hildi, than–" she puts her hand over my mouth.

"I love you Sammy."

A bit shocked, I stutter, "I…I love you too."

Before coming to this world, these would have been the words of romantic love but not anymore. Hildi very much just feels like family. I'll be damned if I ever call her mom though, she's just a sister…Yeah, she's just a big sister…Right?

I wipe away my tears, "You can put me down now, I want to know what cool magic I can do after all!" I say with a big smile.

Putting my hair behind my ear, she answers, "Well you'd better, I need to know what tutors I need to get for my little Archwitch in the making~"

We both snicker a little and I return to the table, where Thunderbird has put a frog in a small terrarium.

"Now, to test your aptitude for domination you need to-"

"Can we skip this one?"

"You don't wish to learn what your aptitude in domination is?"

"No…to even do this to a frog for a test is too unethical. I could never do this to any other living being."

"Hmm…I understand." Moving his wing like arm over the terrarium, it disappears and he says, "Let us move on to something more fun then. Illusion magic. Both the simplest to learn and hardest to master school of magic, illusionists practice the art of forming magical mirages into things indistinguishable from reality. They are the masters of imaginary reality. For this test, it is not important whether or not you can manifest the magic by yourself so I will assist you from the beginning to produce a good canvas for you."

He puts his hand on my shoulder and suddenly the shop before me feels like I could draw on it. I hold out my hand and as simply as finger painting I create a big smiley in the middle of the room.

"I see you're already grasping the canvas in front of you. Good. I would like you now to try and create something life-like, indistinguishable from reality. Try to remember something you remember well and start drawing."

Hmm…Something I remember well…Maybe my family? Trying hard to visualize them, my hand starts to move on its own. It's hard to visualize their faces and the memory is a bit blurry but I keep focusing on it until my hand stops moving. I'm not sure how much time passed but in front of me is now my family without their faces. Seems I remember least of my big sister as it's been a while since I've seen her but this image fills me with a feeling of nostalgia nonetheless. Seems like I even drew a bit of our living room behind them, it is even more blurry than my family itself though and surrounding the painting is what almost looks like a frame made of mist.

"I see. Mostly realistic but not convincing. I'd say you're average, perhaps slightly above average for your age but it's hard to say. Who did you imagine?"

"My family..."

I try grasping at them but my hand just goes right through. Then Hildi comes up behind me, puts her arm around me, bows and says,

"I will take care of her now. She is in good hands."

It is then that Thunderbird puts his hand off my shoulder and like mist blown away by a warm breeze, the illusion disappears. Maybe it's because I already cried so much today but I don't feel sad about it, more like bittersweet as I lean into Hildi's hug.

"Rarely in my job do I see so many non despicable emotions in a day. I'm not sure if I should feel sick or glad of this change of pace in my clientele."

Hildi lets out a chuckle, "Well, people don't tend to bring their children to the kingpin of anything related to illegal artifacts and assassination."

"You are indeed my first, perhaps I should moonlight as a pediatric wizard sometimes, haha."

"It seems like my child has a positive effect on you. This is the first time I've seen you have a heartfelt laugh or emotions other than bloodlust."

"Well, you know what they say. Young blood warms old bones."

"Oh my, you sound like my clan elder."

"Well, I imagine I'd not be much younger than them... Either way, back to business. For this next one, I need to get something."

He picks out a jar with what looks like a ghostly, semi transparent cloth floating inside it.

"Next we will be going over the school of Spirits. Spiritualists summon Familiars from the realm of the white queen. Not much is known about it to normal people, besides that your soul travels there once to make a pact with one of its inhabitants if you touch a conduit from its world, which is in this jar. Apparently, Spiritualists know more about that world but they all made a vow of silence. And those bastards never squeal even if you torture them. Believe me I tried. Anyways, all you need to do is hold this and, in your head, ask the white queen politely to enter her lands. From there you can find a Familiar you like, make a pact with them and, in exchange for feeding off your mana when they're in this world, they'll do what you tell them to do. It is also good training to increase your mana pool, which is why I have mine locked up in a safe 24/7 so my mana always gets a workout and that little shit can't spy on me. Because I'm sure they do."

"So what sort of pact do I make?"

"Just something like 'Promise me you will serve me diligently and I promise to give mana to you equal to your actions'. It's not complicated and those miscreants seem to have a lack of ambition to deceive anyways so you should be fine."

"Hmm… I see. So I just put my hand in there and ask the queen and then I'll be there?"

"Correct, provided she lets you enter. Also, don't worry about taking your time choosing a good servant, what will seem like a long time to you will for us just be a short moment. To us it will seem as if you close your eyes and then immediately open them again with a Familiar by your side."

"Ok…And what if I don't find a good servant? How do I leave?"

"Just ask to leave and you will be promptly back here. My hypothesis is that it costs them mana as well to keep you there, so they don't want you staying forever either. It might seem scary but it is very much low risk."

"I understand…"

Taking a deep breath, I put my hand in the jar and touch the silky fabric.

Hmm maybe to be polite I should try to speak more like Takemura. How was it again? Ehm… This lowly one humbly requests an audience with her ladyship the great white queen.

Ding Dong, Ding Dong. Church Bells?

"You're in front of your highness the queen, prostrate yourself!" a loud voice commands me.

I feel the urge to comply and just like Takemura I prostrate myself by kowtowing. But it's strange. As I look at arms this is neither my old or new body. More like a ghostly mix of light blue and the starry sky. Also on my hand, the royal sign ElBEE gave me is clearly imprinted on it.

Then, a regal but calm and feminine voice says,

"You may raise your head, the one formerly known as Samuel Gardner."

"What, how did you…"

"It is written all over your soul. Both past and present, it seems my friend had a hand in the issue."

"You know what happened to me and why I'm-"

Two swords one from each side come to my throat as if to behead me.

"Such insolence, you may speak when spoken to" A man's voice says.

"At ease. It is but the soul of a child."

"Yes your highness!" the soldiers say in sync as their swords retreat from my neck and I now lift my head.

It looks like I am in a giant throne room of some kind. The walls are made of pure white marble and all decorations are of a red color. Looking at the queen, she is beautiful, at least thirty feet tall, is wearing a white dress with red accessories on it and holds a crimson red fan in her hand. Completely white both in her garb, skin and hair, the only color coming from her are her sparkling crimson red eyes, her fan and her jewelry. She looks almost ethereal, though she is definitely of flesh and blood. She looks more like a human than someone like Sally that is partially translucent.

"I do know many things but I will not share, it is for you to find out or for my friend to explain."

"Ehm, who is this friend of yours?"

"I will not share, though he will tell you if she chooses to."

"I…Ok?"

"I assume you are here to find a servant?"

"I…I am not sure. I don't really want a servant, can I instead maybe find someone willing to be in more of a friend-like relationship as equals?"

"Ohohohoho surely you jest little soul."

"I am not. I don't like to own people or be a master to someone."

"People you say?" she grips her fan and masks all but her dagger staring eyes with it.

Shit that might have been rude.

"I'm saddened that I may have offended you, was that offensive to say?"

"It was not. Just a refreshing perspective," she says, putting her fan away again. "So, why have you requested an audience with me?"

"Ehm…Is that not what I'm supposed to do to enter your country?"

"Ohohohoho, such delectable ignorance. Do you truly believe I personally greet every hoodlum trying to enter my country?"

"Ehm, I guess if you phrase it like that, probably not. Why did you talk to me then?"

"You were showing the appropriate amount of respect and I was also interested in seeing your soul, since that artifact did not allow me to view it prior to you entering here. And I was not disappointed, you truly are a fascinating little soul in so many ways."

"I am?"

She gets a smirk on her face, "More than you are aware of…Either way, now that you are here, let us take a walk." She motions me with her fan to follow her but as I try to stand up with my gaseous body I fall back over. It's like my legs are not strong enough to support my body.

"Oh yes, I forgot this would be the case, I'm used to meeting more experienced souls. Elhune-"

"Yes, my queen!"

"Please put my guest into a wheelchair and attend to them."

"As you wish, my queen," a maid answers as she goes into another room and returns with a wheelchair that looks like a throne, with a silky red cushion and black and white pelt adorning it. In comparison to me, she and everyone, else is like a giant. They must be at least 30 ft tall and all the furniture and the room around me is to scale. It is quite frightening seeing a 30ft maid pushing a wheelchair that is basically a supersized monster truck moving quickly towards you. But she halts her advance in time, without me being in danger, and picks me up with ease. She has a young face like she's maybe her early twenties with stylish glasses adorning it, black hair put together into a ponytail and wearing a maid uniform. Unlike the white queen, she looks like a normal Human, even if her complexion is extremely pasty. She puts me on top of the wheelchair, which to me is more like a supersized bed with a cushioned wall behind me, and starts pushing towards the queen at tremendous speeds.

"As you can most likely gather yourself, this is my throne room. I will be showing you around my castle as we have a little chat."

"That is very kind of you, your highness. This lowly one truly appreciates it."

"Ohohoho, to be so humble when you're royalty yourself, how refreshing."

"I am?"

It takes me a second for my brain to realize that technically ElBEEzabeth made me royalty.

"Oh! Yeah, I guess technically but I'm just a normal person I'm not of royal birth or anything"

"Ohohohoho, so fascinating. Do you know that powerful people are looking for you?"

"Do you know who they are!? I just know that someone is looking for me and that I have this necklace to hide me from them."

"I do…In fact they begged me to find you but how could I if you're that well blocked…Would you like me to tell them?" She asks in a both curious and menacing tone.

"That depends, who are they? Are they friendly? What do they want from me?"

"Hmm…I'm not one to go spread gossip to anyone but for my entertainment I'll answer one of these questions." She then contorts her body in a way that looks like her back is breaking and looks me straight in the eyes while somewhat contorting her face to be more monstrous, her red eyes widening and even though the rest of her face is hidden by her fan I can tell from the shadows behind it that her facial structure changed a bit as well. All in all I'd describe her as almost like an owl.

Her voice sounds distorted as she says, "Choose wisely…"

Fuck. This is like back in the Silent Leaf trials. Three options huh? If I knew who's looking for me I might be able to deduce why and if they have good intentions. If I find out if they have good intentions I still don't know if what they want from me is good for me and I also would have no idea who they are. If I know what they want from me though I would know whether it is a good idea to be found or not… Yeah it seems like the best option…

"I would like to humbly know what they want from me."

"Hmm what was it she said again…Ah I know 'To take you in no matter the cost and never let you leave their sight again…'"

"So this woman wants me prisoner for life? Why?"

"Like I said~ Only one question." Her face then returns to normal as she smiles again and contorts her body back to how it was before.

"Hmm…either way, I'm glad I met your highness…This was valuable info."

"I'm glad you thought so. Now let me show you to my observation deck."

She then moves ahead through the clean white marble castle with red adornments. Looking at the halls, makes me think the queen might be very vain, as her castle just looks like an extension of her. WAIT. Perhaps the castle is her and I'm just talking to a conduit inside of her. I understand now white queen…You can't leave this place and that's why you only give out small amounts of information so people have to come back for you so you don't get lonely…

"Do you need a hug, your highness?"

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Stopping for a second, she looks at me curiously, "Oh? Why would I need a hug?

"You seem lonely…"

"Do I now… I guess it's been a while since I've talked to my equals…I should contact them again. You have a fascinating insight for such a young soul. Weren't you an extreme introvert before?"

"I still am."

"Hmm…Fascinating, the insight you have on others is just not allotted to yourself is it?"

"Ehh… Just by nature of how thought works I believe I still know myself best."

"Ohohoho, ignorance is bliss."

We then come upon what looks like a portal room. It's a big oval room with different framed portals on the walls. Multiple servants seem to be coming in and out of them, politely bowing when seeing their queen and then moving to do their job. The queen moves through the blue portal on our right and we follow right behind. When we come out on the other side, we are on what looks like a platform in the sky. The wind is blowing strong and from where I'm lying, I can only see the sky and a circular platform beneath us. There does not seem to be a sun but there also isn't darkness outside like in the Black Market. It seems like a luminescent fog is floating in the sky giving off the light of eternal twilight. The queen moves to the very edge of the platform and so does my maid, pushing me closer as I claw myself into the seat cushion as much as possible and close my eyes.

"Don't be afraid, little soul. Open your eyes and behold my kingdom!"

Carefully, I open my eyes and look down upon a massive city. Right under us is the white castle on top of a hill. Beneath it, there are multiple walled rings of different looking cities in them, while outside the outer wall vast fields and farms can be seen. Surprisingly, even though white does seem to be the choice of color for the walls, most houses I can see are quite colorful.

"This is my kingdom and as you can see, it is divided into walled off rings. Depending on how much I like the souls asking entry to my kingdom, I allow them to enter higher rings of my kingdom. Most end up in the farm, some I allow in the commons and only chosen get to be in the markets or artisans rings, while only a chosen few are allowed in the noble ring."

"So how about your castle or throne room?"

"For first timers like you? Six, you're the seventh."

"And how many souls have entered your kingdom before?"

"Hmm…If I had to guess about a quintillion."

"I…I can't even imagine a number like this. So…why was I special? I'm not strong, I'm not particularly smart, I'm extremely young compared to you and I have zero power or influence. I am not even particularly talented in magic."

Tapping her fan on her hand while her white hair blows in the wind, she answers, "It has been a compilation of factors. For starters, you asked for an audience with me, only maybe a billion have ever dared to on their first contact, since everyone knows if you waste my time you get blacklisted from my kingdom. Of those billions that tried, maybe a few thousand showed the correct level of politeness, since most who ask for an audience with me on their first contact are arrogant beyond belief. Next, there needs to be something interesting about you for me to even take a serious look, be it your situation, your emotions, your mana, etc… For you, it was the non tracing amulet. Then, for the hundreds or so that qualified for that, I take a close look at their soul and if I'm interested I let them talk to me and those seven that qualified I gave my time. Even if two of them turned out to be quite boring once I was speaking to them."

"Am I one of those two boring ones?"

"No, your inconsistencies, connections and lack of knowledge intrigue me. You're like a ball made of gold being gifted to an orphanage full of kids that see you as nothing more than a toy, almost poetic if I dare say so myself."

"So is me being from a different world like secretly giving me special powers I need to figure out how to unlock?"

"Ohohoho I will not confirm or deny, part of my fun comes from watching what you will do."

"That is a lot to take in… Your highness if I may. I was told anything I learnt in here, beyond what is common knowledge, I will have to do a vow of silence for, is that true? And if so, what of what I learned and am yet to learn can I share?"

"Hmm is that what they told you? Then let's make a pact, you may not willingly share with anyone but your family what you learned here without my permission."

"Just to clarify, like, my family back on earth? Or Hildi? I'm unsure what that means."

"Anyone you consider your family you may share your findings with."

"Ok that seems fair, I agree to those terms."

Color comes out of me and a white moth out of the white queen, combining into the air and a small, colorful butterfly hair pin with red eyes floats in front of me landing in my hair.

"The pact has been made and a stylish accessory has been given."

"Your majesty if I may ask-"

"You may."

"Why was it a moth and not color coming out of you?"

"Oh, that is because I'm not Fey like you. Our existence is something in between life and death."

"Aren't Fey like…Aspects of life and at war with death?"

She narrows her eyes, "Very astute of you, that is why there is a certain amount of distrust, even towards me. Not to mention the politics of the issue…So much paperwork."

"Hmm, so you aren't evil and you're part death right? Does that mean that peace between death and life is possible?"

Throwing her head back, she hides her face behind her crimson fan as she laughs, "Ohohohoho, marvelous, a question I have never been asked by your kind. Eleanor truly is full of surprises."

"Who is Eleanor?"

"Oh, I said too much but I'm sure you'll find out about her someday Samuel. Either way, I do not believe peace to be possible without either side being eradicated. The goals to the core of your entire being are so fundamentally different that even a ceasefire will be hard to negotiate. But if you're just asking whether the Archlich is sentient and able to reason and communicate, then the answer is yes."

"Have you met him?"

Turning her back to me, she looks out to her kingdom and in a somber tone answers, "Once, he offered nothingness, I refused."

"What does that mean? What is 'nothingness'"

Turning around again, she shrugs, "It is simply that, non-existence, neither you nor anything else."

"Why would you want that?"

"To some, existence is suffering. They seek nothingness. To me existence is both toil and pleasure and without either, the other would have no worth. Thus I revel in both and find them equally exhilarating."

Sounds kinda like a sado-maso kink haha. Better not say that to her though, haha.

"Oh I'm not offended by it. The pleasures of flesh are not foreign to me either."

"Wait a second. You can read my thoughts!?"

"Not as much reading, more like everything you say and think is openly transmitted to me. You don't actually have a mouth making soundwaves in this form after all, your soul just directly transmits its entirety to me. It's how I know who are good people and who are not."

Feeling really nervous, I ask, "Did I fail the test then?"

"What? Oh no, don't be silly. A simple well meant jest said in quiet is nothing that would offend me."

"Either way, if you can see that deeply inside me you should know I'm not a good person."

"Oh? How so?"

"I have lived a selfish life, I stole three times back on earth just for fun and I have said and thought many bad things before. Also, right now I'm taking advantage of Hildi, one of the kindest people I have ever met, by lying to her and getting her to adopt me as her child even though I'm basically a grown ass man."

Putting her fan in front of her face, her eyes widen as she says, "Oho? Another fascinating insight into your soul. Thank you for this, it was delectably entertaining. Let me show you to my garden next, I wish to introduce you to someone that might fit your ideal of equal not servant." She then moves back to the portal not further acknowledging what I said. The maid pushes me diligently after her, while I still lie here like a cockroach, lacking the strength to even sit myself up. After we come back to the portal room, we enter a green portal to the left and come out in a beautiful garden. It seems like it's also enjoyed by the servants who take their breaks in here and then get spooked when they see their boss walk in, standing up quickly and bowing to her. Swiftly, she moves through the maze of lusciously green hedgerows and colorful flowerbeds, seemingly having a specific place in mind. After a few minutes, we come upon a gazebo where a guard is sitting on a garden chair with his feet resting on another chair, reading a book in one hand and eating a sandwich with the other, with a cup of tea on a small table in front of him and his weapon quietly resting on his hip. His guard uniform is a crimson red and his skin a pasty white but not quite as pure white as the Queen's. He has brown hair, blue eyes and seems to be about thirty. His face looks a bit rough, as if he grew up on a farm but it's not unattractive.

"Pavel, a moment of your time if I may. I have something to discuss."

The guard jolts up at the voice of his queen, throwing over his cup of tea and hitting his head on a wooden beam holding in the pain as he salutes.

"Yes my queen!"

"At ease. I came here to discuss something with you informally."

"Yes my queen. How can I be of assistance?" he says, relaxing his body slightly.

"Is it true that in your entire lifetime you have never entered a servant contract with anyone and yet you still managed to work yourself up to head of the royal guard?"

"That is correct, your highness."

"Would you enlighten me as to why you never took a servant contract even though it would have increased your strength and status a lot faster than trying to build it by yourself?"

"May I answer frankly, your highness?"

"You may."

"I would never lower myself to be the servant of some brat, I am a free man and I choose to serve queen and country, not some self proclaimed master that sees themselves above me."

Giving him a smile, she answers, "Well you're in luck then, I found someone who wants to form a contract with you as an equal not a servant, isn't it your lucky day!"

"And who is that person that requested this?"

"The little soul right next to me."

Looking at me for a bit, he returns to look at the queen and replies, "I am to understand this is your guest and I'm to be courteous to them, correct?"

"You may speak frankly about them as well."

"Then why would I ever make a contract with this infant that doesn't even have nearly the amount of mana to manifest me in full? As head of the royal guard, I have a duty to fulfill to this court and my country, I have no time to be babysitting."

"Oh, in that case that will be no problem, you're from now on temporarily relieved of your duty as head of the royal guard and assigned to this little soul."

He seems shocked, "Have I failed in serving your highness and this is punishment for it?"

"Not at all, this is a reward! An opportunity for you to get some mana and experience on the outer realms without being treated as lesser."

"Ehm…If I may chime in. If he doesn't wanna go with me he doesn't have to, even if he is not gonna be my servant but a friend, if he doesn't want to go, I don't want to force him either."

"See, she's perfect."

"Even then, I still very much have my reservatio–"

With a threatening smile, she interrupts, "Let's take a short walk together, Pavel."

"Yes your highness…" he answers in a somewhat resigned tone.

"Elhune-"

"Yes, your highness?"

"Please feed and entertain my guest while I'm away."

"Of course your highness."

"As the queen and Pavel leave, I see Elhune clap and multiple moths start flying in different directions, opening portals wherever they land. Out of them, come multiple servants who seem to have lesser status than Elhune as they bow to her as well when entering. She exchanges some words with them and they leave to their portals again. After a bit of time, a fat and jolly cook with a marvelous twirled mustache and bushy eyebrows walks through the middle portal and says,

"Let me look at you for a bit esteemed guest so I know exactly what to prepare custom made to your liking. Hmm, Hmm…HMM! I see, magnificent! I have been inspired!"

His mustache twitching like whiskers, they open up and reveal moths inside of them that float into the air and create a portal above the cook and a kitchen in front of him.

"Bohihihi, Essence of fright, essence of night, essence of life, essence of death, essence of snow, all tightly wrapped up with a pretty pink bow and put it in a shape deserving of fate. Tadaa all finished!"

I mean he was talking pretty big but in the end he just made a parfait, a beautiful one but it's still a parfait. It has light blue layers with white snowflakes in it and black layers with white star shapes in them and he actually put a pink bow around the glass haha. Kinda cute.

"I assure you the ingredients were well picked out, once you taste it, you will be more than satisfied Bohihihi"

"Oh shoot. I forgot you can hear my thoughts. I didn't intend to offend."

"You did not, you will only know the beauty of it after you ate it after all bohihihi."

Suddenly, Elhune picks me up and puts me into a small chair for me to lay in right next to the parfait. It is probably like 3 ft tall. She then claps her hands and multiple servants carry out what looks like a puppet theater.

"Would you like to eat your meal in one go or throughout the show, young master?"

Elhune asks me, holding the parfait in her giant hand.

"How would I even eat it in one go?"

"Well young master, you are but a soul, you have no mouth so I would just place it on top of you and you will absorb it by yourself."

"Huh…That sounds interesting? Let's try it."

"As you wish, young master."

She then takes the parfait, glass included, and puts it on my back. I can feel it slowly sinking into me and… Filling me with a wonderful feeling of calm and relaxation as if all my sorrows and stress have gone. While I'm slowly consuming this parfait, the puppet show begins showing a green leaf person fighting with a skeleton and with every strike white and black sparks come from them and collect in a pool beneath them. Then, both of them, exhausted, retreat from the fight, leaving a cloud of dust behind them. In the next scene, from within that cloud of dust the puddle of black and white starts to move and divide. From it, a white girl with red eyes and an inkishly black boy with blue eyes appear. They then start playing, growing up and eventually falling in love. As they grow, so do their children and a kingdom from them. Then the leaf person and skeleton appear again. This time, clad in armor and weaponry. During their fight, the ground quakes and the kingdom panics. It is then, that the black king and white queen emerge out of their fog and try to confront the leaf man and the skeleton. They talk and talk and in the end both of them nod in agreement but walk to different sides, the queen to the leafy green man and the king to the black skeleton. But it seems both of them expected to go to the same place together and tears fill their eyes as they try to hold out to each other but get taken away by the fighter they chose. At the same time, their kingdom splits into the black and white kingdom and the queen returns to her palace, shedding a single tear before greeting her loyal subjects and children waiting for her. The curtain then closes and opens again with the puppets bowing.

"Wooh! Bravo!" I say while clapping my hands. Wait. My hands? Looking at them, my starry black and blue hands are covered in glass and so is the rest of my body or soul, soul body. I can also sit up now. Still not strong enough to stand though. It is when they do their clean up that the queen returns with a somewhat dispirited Pavel in tow.

"Ah, I see you have already eaten, little soul. Did you enjoy the entertainment?"

"I guess, it was quite tragic though. So I'm not sure if enjoy was the right word for it. I didn't know you went through something horrible like this."

"Oh the ol' puppet show? That's just a story."

"But…It was obviously a story about you…"

"Was it now? If it was, I'd surely remember it now, wouldn't I? Ohohoho"

"Uhuh…"

"Anyways. Pavel and I came to an understanding and he will accompany you on your journeys from now on.

"Ehm, are you sure you're ok with this Pavel?"

He looks at me and firmly answers, "I am."

"Ehm ok. So do we need to do a contract now?"

"Do you accept that I will use your mana as much as I can without taking advantage of you?"

"Yes?"

"Then that should be fine."

"It didn't do the colors and moth thing though."

"That's because this isn't a contract, it's a civil agreement between 'people' based on trust."

"Oh, didn't know that was a thing, sounds good."

Poking his cheek with her fan, the queen laughs, "Ohohoho, see I told you Pavel. Interesting right?"

"Hmm, perhaps."

"Also what is with my soul body now? It has like glass around it."

"Ohohoho, eating spirit food strengthens the soul and Gerome is a marvelous chef, it should have strengthened it well."

"I…What does strengthening a soul mean?"

"That your soul is stronger now obviously, ohohohoho."

"I…But…Ok. So…Do I go home now?"

"Oh? But you haven't told me what you wanted for your audience?"

"Eh, I thought getting a Familiar was that?"

"Oh no no no that is why you came here but I can't just leave you without bestowing something your soul desires on you. Imagine me, the queen, inviting the 7th first timer and not bestowing a boon! I'd be the laughing stock of everyone! So tell me, what is your deepest desire?" she asks while pointing her fan at me and suddenly getting serious.

"Eeeehm…To get my old body back?"

"Nope"

"What do you mean nope?"

"I can see your greatest desire and it's not that."

"Is it to go back home?"

"Nope, a little closer though…"

"Eeeeh, money, fame and power?"

"Wrong! You're really bad at this 'knowing yourself' thing. You know, usually people come here with a very strong desire for something."

"If you already know then why not just tell me?"

"Because it's fun! But it's boring when it goes on too long so I'll just tell you! Your greatest desire is…"

"Yes?"

Theatrically putting her arm in front of her face while leaning back she answers, "It's… I can't even say it, it's so precious…"

"Just say it!!!"

"Your greatest desire is…To be loved by the people close to you for who you really are. Aaaah, so cute, so pure, the first I have ever encountered here."

"Shut up…I mean everyone wants that…How could that be my greatest desire?"

"Ohohoho, even your soul is blushing. How delectable, how pure. Usually people coming here want such grand and magnificent things and demand them with utmost arrogance but you, such a quaint but pure wish and no expectations of me. Ohohohoho, sooo fascinating, sooo refreshing. Ohohohoho."

"Are you done making fun of me now…"

Pointing her fan at me, she shakes her head in disappointment, "Making fun of you? No! I'm positively excited about it! You know what we call people like you? Those pure of heart. Their mana is always the purest but they tend to die early… At least once your mana is big enough, Pavel can protect you. Just don't go dying on me before you do, ohohoho."

"I'll try not to…May I go now?"

"Hold your horses Samuel, you haven't even been given the boon yet!"

"I thought that you telling me my greatest desire was my boon?"

Theatrically contorting her body again, she laughs, "Ohohoho, the ignorance, the innocence…The…The bad listening skills, delectable. I am yet to bestow my boon upon you!"

She comes close to my face, puts her hands over her eyes and…RIPS THEM OUT WHAT THE FUCK! Caterpillars drop out of her eye sockets like blood and she holds her ripped out crimson eyes in front of me and pushes them in.

"What the heck are you doing!?!!?!?"

"Oh little old me? Just giving you the soul seeing eyes."

She then puts her hand in front of her face, moving it up from her chin and then down again like a theater kid. As she puts it back down, her eyes have already regrown.

"But…But your eyes...My eyes! What did you do!?"

"Tehee, I just gave you your boon, the soul seeing eyes. With them you can see a person's soul and you can make sure they truly love you. When it comes to revealing your true self though, that's up to you, they're not divining eyes, they can only see the current soul. If you want to see if someone loves you, look at them with that question in mind and if their soul is pink they love you. Easy as that. I'll send you back now. Oh before I forget though, as long as your soul is imprisoned we can only talk when you touch a conduit, anyways bye bye. Ohohohoho"

She then flicks my head and I suddenly open my eyes and am back in the shop, the ghostly cloth I touched leaving my hand and floating back to the bottom of the jar.

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