Shrine of Greed VIII: Black and White
In the middle of the city, there's one explosion after another. The sight is no different than multiple sets of fireworks and firecrackers being set off at the same time. Then, with the commencement of the explosions, smoke fills the vicinity.
Once the smoke clears, it reveals Echidna shielded by a barrier.
"What are we doing here, Pandora?" She asked her fellow witch with a scrutinizing expression.
"Would you mind if we play for a bit?" Pandora grinned. "I want to see if I can annoy you with something."
"You're already annoying me but fine. I'll play your game."
She snaps her fingers and two dozen black and white rifles appear behind her.
"But don't cry when I play too rough."
With that quick warning, she snaps her fingers again. The rifles fire fireballs towards the Witch of Vainglory. Pandora casually sidesteps the fireballs like it's mere child's play.
Not letting up on the offensive, Echidna snaps her fingers again. The flames from the fireballs that missed their target form a blazing circle around Pandora. Then, the fiery circle quickly converged towards Pandora in the middle, creating a booming explosion when they meet.
The fire begins to burn their immediate surroundings, slowly continuing to spread.
Meanwhile, the Witch of Vainglory reappears, unscathed. "Whew. Playing with fire, eh? That's dangerous."
Instead of giving the witch a snarky reply, Echidna elects to summon five more dozens of the same black and white rifles.
All the rifles she summoned fired simultaneously as she once again snapped her fingers. This time, rather than being only limited to fire, the bullets consist of either one of the six elements. And so, converging and colliding in front of Pandora, the elemental bullets burst together, creating a massive whirlwind consisting of all six elements.
The fiery whirlwind supported by water and powered by shards of rocks, light energy, and dark energy runs through Pandora. Normally, one would be utterly crushed in less than a second by such devastating magic. However, as the destructive whirlwind passes her, Pandora remains completely unharmed and smiling.
"There's really no point to this," said Echidna with a sigh. "I don't get what you want to see."
"Well," Pandora summons a throne made of rock and sits on it. "There's a slight misunderstanding. By 'playing,' I didn't mean we are playing together. I meant… that I'm going to play with you." She crossed over a leg on top of the other. "You are welcome to try and force me to play together anyway. That is," she smirks. "If you can reach me."
"I still haven't got a clue what exactly this little game consists of, Pandora. I do love mysteries but I appreciate it if you stop being cryptic. I do have places to go and people to see now that I'm in control of the story. I'll be a busy girl from now. Unfortunately, it also means I won't have a lot of time to play games. anymore."
"Haha. Is that so? Very well, then. If you're in a haste, then let's go ahead and welcome the other players, shall we?"
"Who are…"
As she's about to question Pandora, the appearance of two figures answered Echidna's question. Standing in front of her, Pandora has summoned Scylla and Charybdis.
"..."
The two servants are looking at her with empty, lifeless eyes. They don't feel any different than a couple of puppets being controlled.
"You two…" said Echidna, looking at them with a mixed expression.
Meanwhile, Pandora is watching the whole scene with a disgustingly excited grin. So much so that her body trembles due to excitement.
"What a lovely reunion!" She exclaimed, summoning a fancy cocktail in hand. "Hey, Echidna. You should be grateful to me I brought those two to life! Come on, now! Where's the gratitude?!"
"... Tsk." Echidna clicked her tongue, visibly annoyed.
"Hehe. Well then, how about you and your old friends play together just like old times?! I'm just going to sit back and enjoy myself with this show!"
Hence, as Pandora finally revealed her intent for the "little game," Scylla and Charybdis charge to attack Echidna.
400+ Years Ago
As the day progresses in the city of Aplistia, the citizenry goes on about their daily business. People working, people shopping for supplies, children playing, families spending a pleasant time together. A father buying an apple for his daughter...
Up the hill in the shrine's mansion, a young, eight-year-old witch named Echidna watches the scenery from the window of her bedroom, peeking from the corner of the book she's holding.
"..." She stays attentive to that particular scene, watching the father lifting and putting his daughter on his shoulders for a ride. "Is this something normal… for a father and daughter to do?"
Since she's a girl who's unable to understand people's emotions, affectionate actions between people have always perplexed her.
"If that is the case, then why have Father and I never done such a thing?"
The last time her father has been around for the first time in many months, he brushed past her when she called out to him like she wasn't even there. Not to mention, she had gotten in trouble with her mother for leaving her room...
Thus, such an affectionate familial scene is all too confusing for young Echidna.
How is a father supposed to act to his daughter? What about a mother? Is it supposed to be anything like these daily scenes she's witnessing down the city? Or is it supposed to be similar to how her parents have treated her?
Moreover...
How are children supposed to act? Are they supposed to gather and play around together? Or should they be restricted to their room, ordered to read 'books of enlightenment' and learn strange languages from a different world?
Why do people form these relationships with one another? Why do people develop certain feelings for one another? What… is this very complicated thing known as 'love'?
She wishes she could read books like those dramatic, romantic, adventurous, fictional books in hopes to have a better understanding of these burning questions she had in mind. She's a very curious girl, after all. Unfortunately, her mother prohibits her from reading such "useless and meaningless books" and only chooses a specific few books for her to read. Well, with a few exceptions on rare occasions where there must have been a mistake when the servants delivered the books to her. For example, a story known as The Odyssey was once mixed up among the books delivered.
In any case, it's not like she hates the books she's allowed to read. They're very interesting and engaging as well. And she does love reading them. However, maybe, just maybe, she's curious about learning emotions… particularly that thing called love. Because she's a very curious girl, after all.
And well, having friends makes her curious too. She wonders what it would feel like. Would it help her better understand human interactions and human emotions?
Sighing, she turns her attention back to the book in her hands, though not without stealing a final glance at the scenery from below.
"These are all just stupid fantasies. Whatever."
And then, one eventful day, a very unusual and surprising event broke the monotonous daily routine for the young witch.
As always, she spent the whole day reading various books her Mother wanted her to read. By the end of the day, she prepared herself for sleep. But before she can dive into her dreams, there's a knock on the door.
"Echidna-sama, may we come in?" A sweet voice she doesn't recognize accompanied the knocking, having never heard it before.
"Yes, go ahead."
Thanks to her permission, two ladies in maid uniforms enter her room. One is a mischievously smiling girl with long black hair and the other is a cool stoic girl with equally long white hair.
"Uhm…"
"Ah, allow us to introduce ourselves, Echidna-sama!" The black-haired girl stepped up first. "My name is Scylla~. The Scourge of Messina."
"And I am Charybdis. The Scourge of Messina" The white-haired girl introduced herself shortly after Scylla.
""Together, we are Scylla and Charybdis, the great menace of the seas!""
"U-Uhm…" Young Echidna tilted her head, slightly perplexed. "S-Scylla… and Charybdis… I think I know those names. T-They're the name of the sea monsters from that story… aren't they?"
"Ah, yes~, yes~, we are the embodiment of those monsters, Echidna-sama~. Fufu~." Scylla said like it's not a big deal at all.
"Indeed, we are," Charybdis nods, supporting the black-haired girl's claims. "We have traveled space and time to meet the one we were destined to serve. You, Echidna-sama."
"You were destined to serve... me?"
"Ahhh, it was so troublesome going through all that work just to get hired as maids here~. But for you, we'll go through any lengths~."
"And thus, now that we have acquainted ourselves, will you form a Contract with us and take us as your servants, Echidna-sama?" Charybdis offered.
The two servants fall to their knees before the witch.
"Contract…"
After thinking for a few moments, the witch faces the two servants.
"I'll accept your Contract under the condition that… the two of you will not only be my servants but be my friends as well… If you accept my condition, then you may consider this Contract forged."
Back in the present...
Magical bullets and knives clash against one another in mid-air, igniting sparks all over the place.
Scylla piles on the pressure, throwing her deadly knives to Echidna with a seemingly never-ending supply.
The black-haired girl always has at least four knives in each hand locked between her fingers. Moreover, not only has she stored them in her clothes and body tied into little containers, but the numerous "Doors" Charybdis have set up around the area are also supplying her ammunition of knives.
Together, the two servants form a very deadly duo.
"Heh. As expected… these two work well together." Echidna said under her breath, almost in admiration of her 'enemies.'
And just because of the witch's praise, that didn't mean Scylla let up on her assault. She keeps throwing her knives while the witch keeps repelling them with her rifles' magical bullets, bringing the encounter into a stalemate. That is until the pattern breaks when Scylla intentionally misses with a batch of knives. The knives were seemingly thrown in a random direction. Then, they disappear in mid-air… through one of Charybdis' Doors.
Another Door opens behind Echidna where the knives reappear. They haven't lost their frightening velocity as they head straight for Echidna with the intent to carve her skin open.
But the witch has already anticipated this sudden change of pattern. A few of her rifles flip backward, facing the direction where the knives are coming from. They unload magical bullets, repelling the knives once again.
"As I was saying, you two work very well together," Echidna repeats her praise.
What especially makes it tricky facing the two together is that only Charybdis can see where she set her Doors at. However, being partners in crime, Scylla has "a good sense" of where they are almost to the point it can be assumed she knows where they are as well. Thus, it makes for a very daunting predicament for their opponents.
"Enjoying playing with your old friends?" Asked Pandora after she took a sip of her drink. "Very authentic, are they not? I created them based on your memories."
"..." Echidna ignored the other witch. "Oh, right. In order to end this farce, she's the one who needs to be targeted."
And so…
Echidna positions her rifles to aim at Pandora. But before she can even fire, Scylla herself runs to one of the Doors and reappears behind Echidna through another Door. With the knives locked between her fingers, she uses them to strike at Echidna.
The witch manages to avoid the deadly knives by using wind magic to pull herself away.
That doesn't deter the black-haired servant as she continues her charge towards Echidna. But the witch halts her charge by firing at her feet. A fiery circular blaze then ignited around Scylla, trapping her inside.
With Echidna's attention on Scylla, Charybdis takes advantage of the situation. She reappears behind the witch using her Doors and kicks the witch away. Then, she summons another Door inside the burning circle for Scylla to escape. Having escaped the circle, Scylla reappears in mid-air through a Door above Echidna. She sends all eight knives in her hands to rain down on the witch.
Having no time to react, Echidna instinctively put up her arms to defend herself. That only results in four knives being stabbed into her arms, while two landed on her shoulders, and two on her midsection.
"Ow." The witch grimaced from the pain.
She may be a voyager witch but even they're not immune to pain…
She continues to cringe and grimace as she removes the knives using some force to pull them out. Her wounds quickly heal, appearing brand new and undamaged…
"Hehe. What's wrong, Echidna-chan? A witch of the fragment… losing a battle to a couple of furniture? Goodness! You're going to bring shame to our name! Tsk, tsk." Pandora continued to insult her. "Come on, Dona-Dona! Why don't you attack them?! Why don't you strike them down and destroy them?! Don't tell me… you can't do it?!"
"..."
"Hahahahahahahahahaha! Oh my goodness! How very soft and weak of you, Echidna! Is my game hurting your poor little feelings? If that is so, then I'm so sorry! Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!"
Amidst the Witch of Vainglory's continuous insults, Echidna continues to ignore her. At the moment, she finds herself between Scylla, who now has brand new knives in her hands, and Charybdis, who's Doors remains as tricky as ever. Both girls, whose eyes look empty and lifeless, appear as nothing less than frightening predators, ready to destroy their prey. They aren't the Scylla and Charybdis she had known. Instead, they are Pandora's puppets who can't even speak...
Throughout all of this, the white-haired witch remains calm as her eyes gaze back and forth between the two.
She lets out a tired sigh. "Between Scylla and Charybdis, eh? To be destroyed by Scylla and her knives or to be devoured by Charybdis and her Doors? I wonder, I wonder. What will the others choose in this situation?"
400+ Years Ago
"So, in the end, it's a happy ending for the two."
Young Echidna takes a deep breath as she finally pulls the book away from her face. After spending the past two days with barely any sleep, she finally finished reading a very intriguing story.
Her cheeks reddened as she contemplates the story, placing both hands at her chest.
It's such a captivating story using time travel and a looping narrative with a slow buildup and a heavy focus on the mystery. At the heart of the story, it features a thrilling romance between a boy and a girl. Through the passage of time, through the traversal of numerous worlds, through all the trials and tribulations, the sadness and the sorrow, in the end, the two lovers got the happy ending they thoroughly deserved, ending the story in a euphoric high.
Despite her inability to understand emotions, there's something about it that pulls on her heartstrings.
She sighs, her thoughts still lost within the story. "This will be a difficult story to top… Haaa. Somehow, I doubt I will read something as intriguing as this..."
Slowly, she places the book aside on the side table atop the other books.
It seems the category of books she has been reading has expanded since the last time. Other than the usual books provided by her mother, there are adventure, romance, mystery, and drama books as well.
As for how the situation came to be, it all started after befriending the two new servants of the mansion, Scylla and Charybdis.
A year has passed since their first meeting and Echidna has gotten to know the two very well. She became fast friends with them.
That said, despite being the type to be always associated with one another, the two couldn't be more opposite of each other.
In Scylla, there's a very curious girl who's not afraid to venture into the unknown. So much so that she'll venture straight into it no matter the danger without thinking of the consequences. All for the sake of finding answers to satisfy her curiosity. She's a girl who gets very excited over almost everything and has a tendency to tease others. It goes without saying but she's the one responsible for sneaking those "useless fictional books" to Echidna's room right under her mother's eyes.
In Charybdis, there's a girl who's always composed, cool, calm, and collected. Much like Scylla, she's also a curious girl. But in contrast to the eager and reckless black-haired Scylla, the cool white-haired Charybdis would rather formulate a plan to methodically conquer the unknown… even if that plan would take centuries to bear fruit. She's a girl who excels at managing and controlling the situation. And while she didn't oppose Scylla sneaking books for Echidna, she urged caution to the young witch to avoid trouble with her mother.
With these two around, she always feels like being caught in two minds. To listen to Scylla or to listen to Charybdis? To be more like Scylla or to be more like Charybdis? Regardless, at the end of the day, she concludes that taking from both Scylla and Charybdis is the best case; Scylla's eagerness tempered with Charybdis' composure. Why only choose one? Why not be both Scylla and Charybdis?
Besides, she considers them her good friends and they shared plenty of fun times together throughout the past year.
And so, that's how it is.
Just then, there's a knock on the door.
Since this occurrence right exactly at this time has become a part of her daily routine, she already knows who's behind the door. And not only because it became part of her everyday life but also because she became familiarized with this pattern of knocking.
"Please come in!" She invited them in with an excited smile.
Thus, Scylla and Charybdis enter the room.
"Oh? Have you already finished reading that book?" Charybdis asked, noticing the young witch didn't have a book in her hands which is a rare sight. "That was quick even for your high standards, Echidna-sama."
"Ahahahaha... It's a wonderful book. I couldn't take my eyes off it. Soo… I couldn't help myself."
"It's one of my favorites - easily in my top 5! I'm happy to see you enjoyed it as well, Echidna-sama! Fufu~," says Scylla as she tiptoes her way to the bed, sitting next to the witch. "I'll sneak in a new set of books for you tomorrow!" She promised with a wink.
"Hey, Scylla. Let's slow down a little, shall we? If her Mother finds out she's been reading those books, Echidna-sama will be in big trouble. Let's not drop our guards and let's continue exercising caution." Charybdis reminded them of such consequences.
The happy atmosphere surrounding the room drops slightly upon the mention of Echidna's mother. Although both Echidna and Scylla are pouting over it, they both know Charybdis only intended to look after the young witch's wellbeing.
"Boo. Spoilsport." Scylla complained, huffing.
...
"Uhm, Echidna-sama? Is something the matter?"
As the two servants were glaring at each other, they noticed the young witch seem to be suddenly lost within her thoughts.
"I-It's nothing. It's just that… I'm curious…" Echidna started with uncertainty before slowly composing herself. "You know... I noticed... Why does almost every story feature romance? Even the ones whose main plot isn't about romance still feature romance as a subplot. Like for instance, the book that I've just read. Although it has a heavy focus on sci-fi, mystery, and action, romance is still a vital aspect within the main characters. I'm really curious… Love. Is love really that important?"
The servants give each other looks for a second. Then, Scylla smiles slyly and scoots closer to the witch.
"Oh dear, oh dear. Don't tell me! Our dear maiden Echidna-sama is curious about love! She isn't even at THAT age yet! She isn't even in the double digits! Fufu~."
Grinning mischievously, Scylla invades the witch's personal space and scoots even closer.
"Tell me. Does Echidna-sama want to be in love?!"
"E-Eh?! I-It's nothing like that!" Echidna denied, her face beginning to heat up. "S-Stop acting like that type of meddling onee-san character, Scylla! I'm just curious! CURIOUS!"
"Oh? Fufu~."
"B-Besides… even if let's say, in a hypothetical, HYPOTHETICAL, scenario where I do indeed have the desire to be in love, it's not like I'll ever be capable of understanding people's feelings. Let alone love. I… I don't think any man would want a girl like me. So… even in that HYPOTHETICAL scenario, it's hopeless. It's pointless. So… I think I'll be content just sitting on the sidelines, watching and observing. You know, just like how it is with books! I can satisfy my curiosity like that... I'm sure... I suppose."
"... Don't say that, Echidna-sama," says Scylla with a frown.
"Any man would be very fortunate to have you, Echidna-sama." Charybdis followed after Scylla.
"Anyway! Enough of this gloomy talk about love! Besides, personally, I think having friends is just as good as having a lover! If not even better! And I have you two, right?! Scylla? Charybdis?"
The two nod.
"Y-Yes. O-Of course you have us, Echidna-sama. You'll always have us! Forever! For eternity!" Scylla assured.
Echidna smiles in relief. "Right. Of course. I'll always have you two..."
...
And so, the young witch Echidna is having the time of her life as she begins to discuss the books she's read with her beloved friends.
It's fair to say this is the most fun she's ever had in her entire life.
Talk about books.
Talk about love.
Talk about boys...
At the time, the young witch has wished for nothing more but for these little moments to last forever. For eternity.
Just her… and her friends.
Unfortunately, life is never quite simple.
And those moments… will soon come to an end.
The beginning of the end began one day when a different servant entered her room. As soon as she recognized that the pattern of knocking doesn't belong to Scylla, there's a growing feeling of dread and unease within her... although, at the time, she didn't know why.
"How may I help you?" The witch asked.
"Uhm, E-Echidna-sama, I-I don't mean to be rude… So, please excuse me. B-But, are you feeling okay, Echidna-sama?"
The witch nods, a little confused. "Why, yes. I am doing splendidly, actually. I appreciate your concern, though. Well… is there any reason for your concern?"
"U-Uhm…" The servant hesitated for a moment. "It's just… H-Haha… W-Well, I understand you may be at that age where, you know, you wish to be out there, having friends, and all of that… Some servants have been growing concerned about a particular habit, Echidna-sama. We've been meaning to talk to you about it but we don't know how to approach this..."
"I have no idea what you're trying to get at. Please get straight to the point. I promise I won't get mad." She tried to force a smile.
"E-Echidna-sama, you've been talking to yourself... A lot. Like, a lot! Well, for almost a year now…"
"Eh? Talking to myself? What do you mean? I don't recall doing such a thing. Isn't that the sort of thing that crazy, delusional people do? Are you calling me crazy and delusional?"
"Echidna-sama… There's no one in this mansion named Scylla and Charybdis. They… don't exist."
Back in the present...
A batch of knives disappears as a swarm of white glowing butterflies overwhelm them.
More knives continue to be thrown in desperation towards Echidna but the result remains the same. A swarm of butterflies devours them.
And still, more and more knives continue to fly. Supported by Charybdis' Doors, there is nowhere to hide. Several doors in mid-air. Several doors in the ground. They all surround the witch as knives burst out of them like a barrage of bullets one after the other.
By now, the battlefield is decorated with burning flames, thousands of knives, and a huge swarm of butterflies. Amidst the chaos, Pandora remains sitting on her throne with her ever lovely smile.
Echidna frowns upon seeing a glimpse of that smile, sighing slightly. "I admit it might have been… a little nostalgic but I suppose it's about time to end this farce."
She takes a quick glance at both Scylla and Charybdis, an unreadable expression on her face.
Then…
That unreadable face turned into a wicked grin.
She snaps her fingers.
The swarming butterflies gather together and combine to take shape into what appears to be a dozen spinning blades. The blades go flying in the surrounding vicinity of the witch, destroying everything in their path. Their destructive power isn't anything less than the elemental whirlwind she created from earlier. They might even be more destructive...
Nothing can withstand them.
The knives.
The Doors.
Even the flames are being severed and devoured...
And finally.
The blades struck Scylla and Charybdis.
"Urgh!"
For the first time since the encounter, it seems 'life' has finally returned to both of them. It takes them a moment to piece together the situation. And once they do, a look of sadness envelops their expression.
"Echidna-sama… I- We're..."
"It's fine. This was out of your control," Echidna crosses her arms, glancing at Pandora for a moment who's responsible for this farce in the first place. "And now…"
…
"Farewell."
The spinning blades reverse their trajectory and come back to finish them off. They drive through their bodies, breaking them apart.
Slowly, their bodies begin to disintegrate into glowing butterflies.
...
The chaotic scenery with fiery inferno and knives completely fade. It's replaced by a beautiful sea of glowing butterflies.
Pandora rolls her eyes, perhaps preferring the chaotic scene.
Meanwhile, Echidna continues staring at her fading "friends" with a cold detached expression, seemingly without a care.
"F- Ughk… Fufufufu~," Scylla giggles as she's slowly fading away, bearing through the pain. "Y-You are so strong, Echidna-sama. Fufu~. G-Give 'them' hell~."
"Heh." Charybdis agreed. "Y-You can do it, E-Echidna-sama. We believe."
""The menace of the seas bids you farewell, Echidna-sama!""
And with their final words, their physical forms have fully disintegrated into butterflies, joining along with the sea of butterflies.
"Well, I suppose that's it," Echidna says rather nonchalantly.
"How cold of you, 'Echidna-sama.'" Pandora said with a mocking tone. "Are they not your dear friends? Your very first friends, in fact?"
"Kuku. Friends? Even in the context of this world, it's not like they were even real in the first place."
"Hehe. The nature of existence. What is real and what isn't real. That's the big question, is it not? Are one's delusions real? Or are they just that? Delusions. Is anything in this world real? Anything inside the Sea of Fragments? Or is it all just data? Is anything on the outside even real? Or is it also data viewed by those in an even higher realm? Are we all just… a piece of data? Are we AI designed by programmers? Or could it be that we're fictional characters whose actions and thoughts are controlled by an author? Or do we truly exist and have a will of our own?" Pandora pondered with a charming smile.
"Oh? I never took you for a philosopher. I'm almost impressed, Pandora." Echidna said sarcastically. "We don't always get along and we have many issues we don't see eye to eye but honestly, I could sit with you over a cup of tea and thoroughly discuss these questions. I've always pondered over them myself."
"And you have impressed me too. To be frank, I may have doubted your resolve a little but I see how you coldly destroyed your little friends. You see, I was hoping you'd shed a tear for me or two."
"I feel insulted. Did you honestly think I'm such a weakling that I'd end up crying over it? That I'll be bothered by it? Funny. Just in case you forget, I'm not like the others. I'm a very evil, wicked witch. A monster."
"That so? In any case, I've seen what I wanted to see. As promised, I'll see myself out of this fragment," Pandora yawns, stretching her arms. "It's been a while since I've been on the outside. A few years, actually. Even before your meddling which turned everything into an unfixable mess, I already got my hands full fixing everything thanks to that ridiculous project… Project RbD. Because that incompetent buffoon keeps dying so many times, the world keeps going through a reset."
"Project RbD?"
"Ah, that's right. You don't know about it because you're a newbie. I'll leave that as a mystery for you to agonize over, then. But here, let me give you a hint. The whole absurd idea behind Project RbD is based on video game deaths back in those primitive years. And just so you know, there are people who didn't appreciate your attempt to form a Contract with the buffoon during Arc 4. They feared the Project would've been compromised. Some even believe you tried to hijack the Project itself."
"Really? That's interesting to know. Although... that wasn't even me. That was, eh… technically, another me."
"The point stands that it's very troublesome when someone gains awareness. Especially if that someone is you. No matter which you it is, it will always be troublesome."
Echidna grins wryly. "I'll take that as a compliment."
"You know, lately, there's been an agreement between the Creators to kill off characters who gain awareness to prevent more from becoming voyagers... especially those with the potential to become a Creator… You've already experienced being 'hunted' yourself. Melancholy. Hehe."
"..."
Echidna cringes at the mere mention of "melancholy." She decides to quickly change the subject.
"What about you, Pandora? I'm curious. Are you a genuine witch? Or are you also someone who gained awareness? You know a lot about me but I barely know anything about you. Don't you think it's a little unfair?"
Pandora glares at her disapprovingly. "I'm not going to enlighten you with a response. But know that I don't have any of that poor sob backstory like you and many of the other voyagers have. Anyway, as I was saying, it's time for me to leave. Take this."
Pandora tosses her a small metallic item shaped like a rectangle, reminiscent of something known as a 'USB' in the Outside World.
"What is this?" Echidna asked.
"An access card. I know you already have your book but it contains all the data in this world. It contains everything you'd like to know about this world. Its people, memories, history, blah blah. You know how it goes. Most importantly, it's needed to gain access to the Od Laguna… and to manipulate it. It's Head Admin rights of some sort that I set up when I first found this fragment."
"Ahh, this will be very convenient. I can't believe I'm saying this but thanks, Pandora."
Pandora stands from her throne and with a slight flick of her hand, a portal appears in front of her.
She turns to stare at Echidna and smirks.
"I'll wait for you outside. Once you're finished with what you have to do, I'll meet you there. As I said, there are people who aren't happy with you because of your meddling and interference with Project RbD, so make sure to follow the instructions I provided inside that thing. But for now, do enjoy yourself. And be prepared. Because I will thoroughly break and destroy you. Hehe."
With that final warning, Pandora walks into the portal and disappears.
"..."
Echidna's composure falters for a moment but she shakes herself out of it.
"Forget about her. There's still a lot that needs to be done."
She looks at the access card Pandora gave her.
"Od Laguna, eh? Otherwise known as this world's 'Universal Control.' It's the very thing that controls and moves everything in this world. Of course, it also hides the truth behind this world. Everyone and everything in this world bow to its will. Heh."
…
"As a child, it was something I both respected and feared. It's almost ridiculous to believe that this little thing gives me access and allows me to control it."
…
"2410.04.01… Olympia Corporation…" She read the label written on the access card. "If I recall correctly, that's the organization of the Creator known as Titan… Is that who Pandora works for?"
…
"Hmm. Project RbD. It goes without saying but it refers to Return by Death. It seems there's a conflict of interest between Pandora and the party responsible for the Project. I doubt they play on the same side. Although, what does all of this mean? At first, I was certain Return by Death was a Contract between Subaru and Satella. It's the Witch of Envy's Authority, after all. But maybe there's more to it. Is Satella behind the Project? Or perhaps, another organization is at play here."
…
"It's almost easy to forget… but Satella is originally from the outside, too… isn't she? That makes her a genuine witch... unlike me."
As the butterflies circle around her, she raises an arm and one of them lands on her finger. She stares at it lovingly.
"But my, I just can't help but wonder. What's next for me after this? I'm… truly screwed, am I? Haha… Oh well, I suppose it doesn't matter. Nothing has changed."
"As long as I achieved my goal. Nothing else matters."
400+ Years Ago
Whack!
The sound of a thumping slap reverberated inside the room of the young witch Echidna. The young witch's face is stained with redness.
Meanwhile, her mother stands in front of her with arms crossed, giving her the harshest of glares.
"Let me ask again. Who brought you those books?"
Echidna didn't answer.
And so…
Whack!
Another slap.
"If you don't answer, I'm assuming it means no one gave them to you. In other words, you snuck into the library yourself and got those books. Is that right, child?"
Again, no answer from the young witch.
Whack!
This time, the impact of the slap caused her to fall on the ground.
"Insolent child. Lack of discipline. Do you not understand that this is for your own good? I forbid you from reading those useless books to prevent your head from being filled with nonsense. I don't want you to be infected with weakness. After everything I have done for you, is this how you repay your Mother? By disobeying her? By acting like an unruly mutt?"
As for how this situation came...
Somehow, her mother had gotten word that she had been reading books other than those provided to her.
Regardless, she can't let anyone know that it's Scylla and Charybdis who have been providing her those books! She must protect her only friends! Therefore, she can't expose them to her mother… no matter how painful it is. No matter how much her mother keeps hitting her…
Her mother walks over to where she fell and grabs her by the chin, hard.
"Well, child? Tell me."
The grip tightens, eliciting a whimper out of the young witch.
"Y-Yes, Mother… This is all my fault… I… I'm sorry… for not listening to you… and disregarding your kindness... Mother…"
Her mother looks at her, unconvinced. Nevertheless, after tightening her grip on her again to the point her fingers dug into the skin, she lets her go.
WHACK!
It's shortly accompanied by the hardest slap she has received yet… causing her to fall on the ground again.
"For you to misbehave like this… It seems the love I've given is a little lacking. Therefore, I'll make sure to love you, even more, my child."
"T-Thank y-you, M-Mother…" Echidna stammered in between sobs. "Y-You t-truly are v-very… kind… Mother. A d-disobedient d-dog... like m-me... don't deserve your l-love... Mother..."
"Hmph. I'm glad you have not lost all your senses. From now on, I don't want to ever hear that you step out of your room again unless I told you so. The next time you misbehave, I will have you tied in chains down in the dungeon. Don't misunderstand. This is all for your sake. This is my love for you, my daughter. Do you understand?"
The young witch nods. "Yes… Mother…"
Her mother walks past her and leaves her room, leaving her all by herself on the ground.
...
"Echidna-sama!"
As if they suddenly appeared out of thin air, Scylla and Charybdis quickly rush to her side.
"Are you alright, Echidna-sama?!"
"What do you think… Do I look alright?" The witch asked quietly, almost in whispers.
"What…"
"Echidna-sama… You..."
"Hehe… Scylla… Charybdis… You two are my friends, right? You'll always be by my side… right?"
"U-Uhm... Y-Yes! Of course!"
"O-Of course, Echidna-sama! Please never doubt us!"
"Then…"
With a lovely smile, Echidna declares…
"Please kill Mother."
"W-What?!"
"Are you deaf? I said… please go kill Mother. And no. Before you ask, I am not joking. I want you to go and kill her. Please."
"B-But Echidna sama…"
"What's the matter? You can't do it? Are the two of you not the Scourge of Messina? The terror of the seas who devastated countless ships and sailors? Are the stories you told me just boast, then? Come on… It's just Mother… She may be the Witch of Greed but surely, she stands no chance against two terrifying monsters, right?"
"W-Well… She's your Mother, Echidna-sama! Y-You shouldn't wish death on her!"
"No child should wish that on her Mother, Echidna-sama! No matter what kind of Mother they have..."
"Tsk! I don't care if she's my Mother! I want her dead! So go ahead and kill her!"
"Please rethink this, Echidna-sama! We have no problem taking this order but we don't want you to regret it!"
"It will pain you to have brought death to your very own Mother! We don't want you to suffer this pain! We don't want you to live with this burden!"
"Regret it? It will pain me? It will make me suffer? Honestly... Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! As I thought... I'm a fool. A crazy, delusional fool. I knew it all along… hehehehehehe… hahahahaha. This is utterly ridiculous."
"E-Echidna-sama?"
"I knew it. I knew it… All this time, I've been talking to illusions in my head. Of course, you can't kill Mother. Because you don't exist. You only exist inside my head. You're just… characters I made up based on a book I read before."
"Echidna sama… What are y-"
"ENOUGH! Don't say anything! I don't want to hear any of it! B-But… but if… if by some miracle, you truly do exist… then prove it to me! Prove it to me by killing Mother! Do it! Right here! Right now! Let's go out of this room! And I will watch you kill Mother!"
"..."
"Hahahahahaha… Of course, you can't… Useless. You two… you're just like…"
"..."
"Furniture."
"..."
"Haha. That's what you are. Furniture. You only exist for my convenience… because I was alone… because I wanted to know what having a friend would feel. That was the purpose of your existence. Outside of that, nothing. You have no purpose. It's no different than being useless furniture."
…
"STUPID USELESS FURNITURE I DON'T NEED ANYMORE!"
"Echidna-sama! Please! If you deny us, we'll no longer exis-"
In the midst of her plea, Charybdis's body breaks and shatters… like pieces of glass.
"CHARY!" Scylla rushed to gather the broken pieces in her arms. "..."
Echidna slowly makes her way behind the black-haired furniture. "You're next. Scylla… Any last words?"
Scylla stands up and turns to face the witch.
She smirks. "Heh. Now that I think about it, you are very pathetic, Echidna-sama. So pathetic and pitiful."
The witch gulps at the harsh words, taken aback by the suddenness.
"You're unable to understand emotions. People's feelings. Love. You don't understand any of them. And you never will. No matter how much you try. No matter how sincere and genuine your efforts are. But it's not like you can help it. That's just how it is. That's how you were born. The best you can do is learning about them through books. But that doesn't mean you can understand them. You're just forcing and fooling yourself to think that you do understand."
"You are a lonely girl with no friends! And you don't even understand why you're feeling lonely! Or that the emotion you're feeling in the first place is loneliness! You don't know! Fufu~. That's why you created us, right? Out of curiosity. An attempt to remedy that foreign feeling that is known as loneliness. But even then, that's only because a book told you what your feelings are. Even now, you don't exactly understand."
"Ahhh, you truly are so pitiful, Echidna-sama! We are your one and only friends and you're getting rid of us! Okay. Maybe you'll have quote-unquote 'real' friends in the future! That's what your book told you, right? The other witches? Fufu~. It must be a very lovely time you're looking forward to! After all, tea is best enjoyed with your fellow monsters! Fufu~."
"But Echidna-sama…"
"You also know that they will die. You will lose them. It will break and shatter you to see them all go. And you know what the cruelest thing is? You won't even understand why you will feel sadness! You will shed tears! And you won't know why! You won't understand your sorrow! Fufu~."
"That's why… we are your one and only true friends, Echidna-sama," Scylla smiles sincerely. "Because… no matter what happens, whether you believe we exist or not, we'll always be here for you. Even useless furniture may have some use again in the future. Unlike the other witches, we'll always be here. Waiting. Until the day you need us again. The only way we'll be truly gone is the day when you will no longer exist."
"So, for now, until you'll find love for us again... Farewell, Echidna-sama."
"After all, as they say, 'without love, it cannot be seen.'"
The witch clenches her hands into fists.
And with a tearful cry… "SHHUUUUUUUUTTTTT UPPPPPPPP!"
Scylla shatters in the same manner as Charybdis.
And thus, with the black and white girls gone and no longer around...
They won't be part of her daily life anymore.
A crying witch is the only one who remains in the room.