Complete annihilation of the 13th Hierarchical City Kagutsuchi: confirmed.

Phase #724 completed successfully.

System isn't operating within normal parameters.

Transmitting all data to "Tamagahara".

The system can't proceed to Phase #725.

Danger! Danger!

-----

"Why? Why won't you die?!" he shouted. No matter how many times he stabbed her, or how many times he froze her, the girl keeps getting up.

"Impossible, you cannot kill me." His opponent replied.

"What did you say?!"

"Perish!"

A bolt of light erupts from his opponent's body and slammed into him.

"Damn it my feet! You bitch!" he shouted out. Was he going to die here? The girl kept walking towards him...and kept going. This was a bit of a surprise.

"Ragna...Finally the hindrance is gone. We're together at last!" said the girl, reaching for his brother.

"Brother?!" he called out.

"Stop it...I..." his brother said quietly.

"Finally...we can be one."

Already he was screaming. "Stop it! Brother, BROTHER!" He screamed and screamed, but still his body refused to move. He can only watch as that girl leaped into the Cauldron, his brother in her arms.

"Ragna!" he called out.

They melt together, his brother and that girl. They turn into something else...something...very dark.

-----

Immediately, he opened his eyes. "A nightmare..." the young man told himself. "No...that event already happened but where....GAH!" he clutched his head. "Where...who..." he continued.

"Ah you're awake." Said a voice.

He looked up, just to see the source only to find a girl staring down at him. Right now, he was laying down on a bed, but he didn't even remember being brought here. Was it the girl? No...she probably couldn't even carry him so help must have been needed.

"How's your sleep?" asked Estelle. "You know, I haven't even thanked you properly for last night. And-"

"You are a chatterbox, you know that?" the young man interrupted a little as he sat up on the bed. "Sorry, I was just a bit disoriented, that's all." He frowned. Seriously, where was he?

Estelle was still as cheerful as ever though, seemingly unfazed by his small display of rudeness. "That's alright. Umm, we didn't get a proper introduction last time. And ah...guess I should start." She smiled. "My name is Estellise Sidos Heurassein. But umm, I guess you should just call me Estelle. I'm a princess to succeed the throne here."

"Is that so?" the young man asked. "My name is...my name...why..."

"Mmm?" Estelle asked. "You can't just forget your name can you?"

"Yukianesa...Beast...my name...." he muttered, placing a grip on his sheathed sword. "My name is Jin Kisaragi of the Novus Orbis Librarium." He said suddenly, only slightly confused by an odd feeling that washed over him.

"Oh good, I thought your name would be the other things you mentioned." She chuckled. "But umm, I think I'll just call you Jin. Is that alright?"

This was certainly an odd girl. "Yeah, sure. But I need to get going."

"Wait, wait, wait..." Estelle said hurriedly, placing a hand on Jin's shoulders to stop him from getting up. "Flynn said that you are still quite injured, and you probably aren't familiar with this place just yet. If the guards find you wandering around, they may think you're a thief." She told him.

"What time is it?" Jin asked, a little annoyed now.

"Umm...dawn actually. It's probably a few hours before the sun rises." She replied.

"I see." Jin whispered. "Let me guess, you're going to introduce me to your friends or something of the sort, aren't you?" he asked.

"Actually just Flynn. He helped carry you back from that field and to my room." Estelle answered.

"Your room? I hope you didn't do anything controversial to me while I was asleep." He said sarcastically.

With a look of shock on her face, Estelle merely turned and said, "How rude. Here I am, trying to act friendly towards someone whose life I saved and now he begins to insult me."

"Whatever you say, princess." Jin replied, closing his eyes. "Please let this be a dream." He thought to himself.

-----

(Next chapter...Duke, The White Mask, and Terumi.)