Izzy controlled Arnold and turned his gaze toward the forest beyond the mansion grounds.
The trees stood quietly under the moonlight, their dense canopies overlapping like layered curtains. From this distance, the forest looked almost peaceful, its dark green mass unthreatening. Yet that calm felt false, like a surface stretched thin over something far more hostile.
Based on her conversations today, Izzy was certain of one thing.
She could not leave this place.
Even the Inspectors, people who clearly possessed power beyond her imagination, were skeptical about leading her out and had to wait for another group from the outside.
They knew something was wrong with this village.
To what extent, Izzy could not tell. But they undeniably knew more than she did.
So the question remained.
What was this village? What secret was it hiding?
‘There might be a limit to how many times I can make a mistake.’
She had noticed it this afternoon. When she triggered the anomaly by speaking about leaving the second time, the villagers’ stares had lingered longer than before. It was as if whatever governed this place was growing less tolerant of her probing.
Although, the one who was in immediate danger was Arnold, the vessel she was controlling, and not her true self. So she could be more bold about such matters.
But there was still a lingering concern she could not dismiss.
Would the consequences ever reach her main body? Would the villagers swarm out of their quaint little cage and hunt her, approaching this very mansion?
After all, the mansion was only a thirty-minute walk away.
Could she leave this place right now?
The thought alone made her chest tighten.
A strange sense of dread crawled up her spine the moment she imagined leaving this place without resolving the mystery of the forest. It was an instinctive warning, like standing on the edge of a cliff she could not see.
What if… something far more terrifying was waiting out there?
‘The vile beast.’
The vile beast that Mary had spoken of. The vile beast that lurked in the eastern forest.
The same direction as this mansion.
She felt like… it had some connection to her in some way.
‘I can’t ask how to leave this place… then can I ask what the village’s secret is?’
Maybe it would be a good starting point.
‘There are only four days left before the Moon Rite starts.’
Time was running out.
Tomorrow, she would ask Mary again. There had to be clues about the village, the forest’s danger, and the reason no one was allowed to leave.
Or, even yet, asked those Inspectors about it. She saw no reason not to ask them.
‘Hopefully, I’ll get something useful.’
Steeling her resolve, Izzy shifted Arnold’s attention back into the study and glanced over his shoulder toward the bookshelf.
A gray-haired doll sat silently atop the middle shelf.
Its porcelain head tilted slightly to the side. Long lashes cast shadows over glassy navy eyes that stared downward without focus. Its small mouth was molded into a neutral expression, neither smiling nor frowning, unsettling in its stillness.
It was as if she were looking at a miniature, uncanny replica of herself.
This strange doll had somehow appeared in Arnold's room just yesterday.
Izzy had assumed it was one of Isa’s mischief.
Although…
She controlled Arnold to step closer. His fingers reached out, grasped the doll and turned it around.
Something caught her eye.
Behind its back was a toy knife.
A small whittled from a splinter of wood, tucked into the back of its dress.
“Hmm.”
*Stare—*
‘This doll is getting more and more suspicious.’
Izzy narrowed her eyes and studied its face closely.
“Hmm.”
She knew something was wrong with this doll. She just couldn’t prove it.
“Don’t try anything, or I’ll destroy you,” she muttered, guiding Arnold’s finger to poke the doll’s head lightly.
‘Pfft.’
Izzy chuckled at her own words.
It was just a toy knife. It had to be Isa again.
Did that girl really want to prank her that badly?
“Sir…”
From the doorway, Erin cautiously peeked her head inside.
A moment later, she stepped fully into the study. Her blonde hair had already been loosened for the night, flowing freely down her back instead of being tied as it usually was during work hours.
She wore a simple white long-sleeved dress without her apron. The fabric was slightly wrinkled at the cuffs.
Arnold glanced at the clock mounted on the wall. It was half past nine now. In the common phrasing of this world, it must be the ninth hour of the serene time.
Why had she not retired to bed yet?
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
‘Don’t tell me… she still cleaning at this hour?’ Arnold narrowed his eyes. There was no practical reason for her to be here now. Not unless something had happened.
“Begging your pardon, sir,” she said, bowing her head. “I wished to inform you that Miss Marion has gone to her bedding.”
‘And why would you feel the need to inform me of that?’ Arnold shot her an incredulous look.
Erin lifted her head and answered calmly, without the hesitation or nervous stammering as she usually did.
"I deemed it my duty, sir, as I know you hold a great deal of concern for her.”
‘…’
That was, unfortunately, accurate.
Arriet was their only female vessel, after all.
Arnold also felt like this girl had become more and more bold lately. Did she realize he, or “Arnold,” was the one who had brought her here?
Well, since they were trapped in this place together, that would be revealed sooner or later.
There was no real need to maintain such rigid formality between them anymore. Although, he had to admit, he was becoming more and more fond of the act of being a noble.
Erin hesitated. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her skirt, rubbing the fabric between her thumb and forefinger. She drew a breath, closed her eyes briefly, and spoke in a rush.
“E… excuse me, sir. Are you—”
“I don’t know what you’ve been thinking so hard about,” Arnold cut her off before she could finish, “but I’m not the person you think I am.”
He had a good idea of what she was about to ask.
Probably whether he was the one who brought her here.
‘Cat’s out of the bag, I suppose.’
“Ah…?” Erin startled visibly. Erin stepped back in alarm, her eyes going wide.
Before she could spiral into panic or take any more drastic measures, Arnold pointed to his head.
“See this?” he said, indicating the wounds under his bandage. “I lost my memory because of it.”
Erin widened her eyes, froze in place.
Her gaze lingered on his head for a long moment. Then her hands clasped together as realization dawned on her face.
“I…I understand! So that’s how it stands!"
‘You believe that?’ Arnold closed his eyes and shook his head inwardly. ‘So naive.’
“If there is nothing more, you are dismissed. Return to your room.”
Erin did not move right away. She took a moment to look at him.
She stared at his eyes longer than he expected, which made him raise an eyebrow.
Before he could ask if there was anything else, Erin bowed politely.
“Y… yes, sir!”
Erin turned and disappeared down the hallway. Once out of sight, she pressed a hand to her chest and let out a sigh of relief, her steps quickening as she retreated.
‘…’
Arnold tracked her through his Field Vision, watching until she reached her room and the door closed behind her.
‘I really need to give her some real-life lessons,’ he thought grimly.
Turning away from the doorway, he returned his attention to the study.
—-
After the conversation between Arnold and Erin ended, Izzy returned to the theatre, her customary sanctuary within their shared mind.
She sank into the plush velvet seat, its warmth a familiar comfort. With a thought, she made Arnold close his eyes and fall asleep in his study chair.
Across the mansion, Arriet, too, closed her eyes and drifted off, allowing Isa to return to their mindscape.
“Izy!”
Isa burst into Izzy’s vision without warning. She practically dove into the seat, landing half on top of Izzy, crushing the velvet cushion and stealing what little space there was. The chair creaked under the sudden weight.
“What are you doing?”
“Nothing.” Isa giggled. She craned her eyes upward for a moment, before wriggling closer, curling up against Izzy’s side.
A gentle warmth spread through Izzy’s chest.
‘Mmm.’
Although knowing Isa was just the childish version of herself, this still was a weird feeling. A pleasant one, but strange nonetheless.
“Have you done with everything yet?” Isa craned her neck slightly, peeking up at Izzy with half-lidded eyes, her voice softer.
Izzy raised her eyebrows.
‘This girl, now she knows how to care?’
“Izzy!”
*puff puff*
‘Pfft.’
Izzy smirked. Of course, she knew the young mind probably heard that.
Still, Izzy didn’t quite understand why Isa had asked in the first place.
“Why?”
“Isa wants to spend more time with you.”
‘...’
Izzy blinked.
What was this?
‘Am I dying or something?’ Izzy chuckled internally. ‘We are literally together all the time, Isa.’
“We are not… all the time, Izzy.”
‘...’
That was true. They technically weren’t together all the time. One was often managing a vessel while the other was here. It was still close enough, but it wasn't the same.
They were aware of each other, could watch and feel each other to a degree, but there were still moments of separation.
Izzy glanced down. She noticed her young mind's head drooped lower, her eyes unfocused.
‘You’re going to sleep?’
‘Yes.’
‘...’
Izzy didn’t comment further. Everyone needed rest, even a fragment of herself.
‘Good night.’
‘Good night, Izzy.’
The young mind’s signal faded, as she shut off her consciousness.
For the first time, Izzy found herself alone in her own mindscape.
‘Mmm.’
She felt the cramped contact and Isa’s weight leaning on her. The warmth leaning against her side.
Izzy looked to the side, at the peacefully sleeping girl.
Isa’s long grayish hair draped down her pale neck and shoulders. Both of them wore the same gown, a flowing dress decorated with a green flower.
Izzy glanced at her own chest. She looked at the flower adorning her own form, it was still the same serene azure.
‘Strange indeed.’
Izzy lifted her gaze to the empty theatre.
With a slow wave of her hand, the stage curtains parted halfway. The heavy velvet slid aside soundlessly.
Simultaneously, the first clear notes of violins spiraled up from the orchestra pit.
But instead of a powerful chord erupting, it was a calmer, smaller melody.
“~”
A soothing background music, the kind she used to hear in her past life.
The notes drifted through the air, filling the theatre with a quiet harmony. A calming breeze followed, brushing over the seats and stage alike.
“...”
Izzy looked amused. Using a grand theatre’s orchestra as a personal lullaby was kind of extravagant in its own way.
She allowed herself to enjoy it.
To pretend, just for a moment, that she was a wealthy aristocrat with nothing to fear.
Someone with money in her pocket, time to waste, and no looming disasters pressing against her mind.
The nostalgic melody wrapped around her thoughts.
Her vision softened. Her eyelids drooped.
‘If only my past life had been like this.’
A normal life.
Growing up in the inner city. Going to school without fear.
Having hobbies. Playing sports. Spending afternoons outdoors.
Visiting amusement parks. Watching movies in theatres. Eating at restaurants.
Falling in love. Building a family.
If that continent had never appeared.
If the apocalypse had never happened.
If “he” had never participated in the war.
If “she” had never gone outside.
‘...’
Izzy stroked Isa’s head gently, as her own consciousness slowly faded away.
*i actually don't know what *puff puff* mean. I did intend for her to hit Izzy, but…oh well, you can imagine it yourself. No need for me to say it out loud.
change of schedule next month. But still 3chapters/week, so no need to worry. (change to MON TUE FRI)
