My body temperature is still hot. My head feels painful, and my breath is still heavy. After accompanying Ascella for a short run in the morning, I am now standing. Looking at myself reflected in the bathroom mirror.

  That waitress no matter what, she cannot leave my memory.

  Even though it has been several days since then. Somehow I feel something. When she played that piano, the tone of the song she played I cannot forget it.

  It feels like I have heard it, but where, and when?

  For so long I have tried to remember it. Even the sun now has started to set on the west side. From my room window, my eyes can see far to the other side of the city. Other houses arranged in this special district, I can see them clearly.

  This is enough.

  I step my feet out of my room. Going down the stairs to the lower floor. Walking along the corridor leading to the front door of the Sevilla house. When reaching the very first room upon entering the house. Sunlight shines through the door that is half open.

  I approach slowly, a feeling of disbelief slightly bothers me.

  Why is this door left open?

  Aunt Riana always reminds everyone in the house, to close the door if no one is here. But, where is everyone. I did not meet Ascella, Ghyna, or aunt while walking here.

  Is this my chance?

  My feet step through the door, and arrive on the house porch. Sure enough there is no one around. I take a pair of shoes arranged near me, and wear them.

  The shoes rubbing against the wooden boards, as I step down the stairs. It makes me more certain.

  Somehow I want to meet her.

  My feet step on the second stair, one left from three stairs.

  As if there is something piercing sharply from the back of my neck. The air around me feels frozen. This feeling, I feel it suddenly. My body stops when someone's hand holds my shoulder.

  "Where are you going this late in the afternoon, Sinhart." Aunt Riana's voice appears from behind me, my shoulder is released slowly from her hand.

  Since when was aunt Riana here, I should have known since the beginning. Aunt is the hardest person to trick, Ascella said so. Now it feels true.

  "Better to tell first if you want to go out," she said, after glancing at the shoes attached to my feet.

  My head bows slightly, thinking of a correct and appropriate answer. "t-that is because I want to walk around the city for a while," I said.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  "So that is how it is...,"

  Aunt takes one of my hands and opens it, as if wanting to give something.

  "Aunt found it in the bathroom,"

  A cold feeling is felt in the palm of my hand. Round and solid, gold color, with a glow that shines brightly when hit by sunlight.

  Afterwards, I see aunt take off something from her neck. A necklace with a pendant, looking like a deep green jewel. Just like before, she intends to give it to me.

  “w-what is this?” I asked confused with her intention.

  “jewel artifact, every member of our family will have one.” Aunt raises her hand, showing a ring with the same jewel on her ring finger.

  “With this we will be connected to each other.” Aunt puts that necklace on my neck forcibly. Although actually I do not mind.

  Every family member will be connected.

  “Everyone has one even Ghyna and Ascella,” said aunt.

  I once saw Ghyna wearing a necklace that was almost the same as the one put on me right now. As for Ascella it feels this green color, is the same as the color of the ring jewel on her finger. Also with grandmother. As for others I did not pay much attention.

  But do I remember the others.

  “Inside it is very quiet is it not...,” said aunt, while turning toward the house door which is now wide open.

  “Y-yes,” I replied spontaneously.

  “Aunt also feels that way,”

  The wind blows slowly past the two of us, my hair flies a little.

  “Have you ever felt afraid when lonely?” aunt asked me

  Fear and loneliness.

  “Or afraid of the darkness of the night,” she continued

  The darkness of the night.

  “Have I ever felt it,” I murmured slowly

  Kupika village at night everything felt dark, different from the city which uses lamp light. At that night my eyes often looked into the darkness of the forest.

  What was my feeling at that time, I do not know.

  “That all can happen, because of ignorance toward something.” Aunt then rubs both of her hands. It seems she feels cold in the palms of her hands.

  “The mind tends to exaggerate something dark and not yet understood. The less knowledge, the wilder the imagination works. At that point fear is born from assumptions, not reality,” she continued.

  Is that what I felt at that time. Fear... also all this time?

  “fear does not always disappear, but it will shrink along with the increase of knowledge you have.” At the same time aunt stops her hand movement

  Then aunt turns around, facing inside the house. A moment before she steps her feet, "Whatever happens return before the sky is completely dark," she said

  "If you do not return aunt will look for you," she continued.

  Looking for... maybe through this pendant. Connected to each other, was that the meaning before.

  "That jewel takes a little of your Anima energy, do not lose it." Aunt immediately walks leaving me after saying so.

  Even though I still do not understand and want to ask again. But time keeps running I should immediately go, to the east district of the city toward the small restaurant where I met that waitress.

  The high house fence is getting closer. At this time I have passed the gate. From here on, I better start speeding up my walk.

  On the side of the road I pass the same lamp posts. Larger buildings with wide doors, and big windows. Walking out of the special district and toward the east district streets.

  The stone road that is still just as neat. But with lower and cramped buildings. The surrounding atmosphere is quite quiet where usually at times like this, people like to gather in the middle of the city.

  Only one or two people pass me. The nameplate of the restaurant I visited with Ascella and Ghyna starts to be visible. Previously I did not pay attention when entering. Written on that small restaurant board.

  "Innocette," says a voice of someone right in my ear

  My head turns to the source of that voice, there is no one.

  Am I hallucinating?

  When I refocus my gaze on the restaurant. A woman is seen coming out from there. Without a smile, alone, walking calmly toward me. The same woman as that time, she this time is seen using a simple cloak and the same eye cover.

  I do not dare to glance at her as she passes me. My gaze freezes at the empty space in front. My body does not want to move... as if there is something holding it.

  "You know... I just moved to this city," said the woman from behind me, it did not sound loud or soft.

  My head turns back. When realizing she has faced me, from behind that black cloth that covers her eyes. I can feel something, just like that time..

  "You... are afraid of me right. I can feel your body trembling," she said, a voice tone that did not change from before.

  Afraid of her, my body... suddenly feels trembling but I did not feel it before.

  The woman lowers her head until approaching me. My face feels pierced by her eyes which are closed behind that cloth.

  "Hm... Sinhart. Your emotions are not in sync with your soul. Truly unique." My vision is dark, my eyes are covered by her hand that grips my forehead.

  A warm feeling on my forehead, I must release her hand.

  "Alter ego." A moment after she said that, her hand grip releases quickly.

  I could feel before, her body flinched.

  "You... would you like to come to my house for a moment, there is something I want to talk about with you,"

  The woman smiles at me.

  I must not follow strangers. Someone once told me. But who? When? Why can I not remember it?

  "My name is Obsidian. This way... our relationship is no longer strangers,"

  The afternoon sky is increasingly painted with a warm orange color. The city is getting quieter with people resting in their respective places. Building and street lights start to be turned on

  "Rest easy... I am just a weak woman,"

  "It is impossible I intend to harm an Anima wizard like you... no your real self will be fine," continued the woman who mentioned her name Obsidian.