Fabularis

by GenocideHeart

A mysterious book from a vanished world finds its way in the hands of a lonely, sickly princess. Later that night, a new fate unravels itself before her. It is the beginning of a journey she would never have imagined herself the protagonist of…

1. Chapter 1: Remnant

((A/N: Aye, siwmae. And good day to you, readers.

This here is the first fic I wrote in a long while. I used to publish Monster Girl Saga, a Monstergirl Quest fic, but life caused me to put it on extended hiatus.

This one's actually an AU focused on the Monster Girl Encyclopedia, as part of an extended setting I've been working on over the years. Think of it as 'timelines that never were'. There is also some Monster Hunter content to it, but the focus is on the MGE, with the addition of some original elements that come from the aforementioned extended setting.

Also, this is a cross-post from TouchFluffyTail, where I post under the screenname 'Jyashinsai'. Just a heads up, as I may eventually stop posting here due to planned heavy smut later on.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it. The first two or so chapters will be setup, and then the story will truly begin. Doing otherwise would leave readers a bit lost. Hope you enjoy!

Author out.))

==Chapter 1: Remnant==

Creation. Countless universes, large and small. Some similar, others vastly different.

Within each universe, Fate weaves its web. History is written, and great events mark the coming and going of the ages.

Sometimes, those events are also branching points. And... In some very rare cases, two outcomes can happen at a given time. Perfectly balanced, either of them could come true. Alas, Fate dictates only one of the two timelines created by such forks can go on existing.

So what happens when one of those 'rejected timelines'... refuses to disappear?

Once upon a time, two such lost timelines, about to disappear forever into the Void, collided. Desperate to survive, they latched on to each other, buying themselves more time.

Then a third one came along and crashed into them.

And another. And another.

Time and again, lost timelines found this abnormality, this mass of 'stories that never were', and in a bid to survive, became one with it. And eventually, this great mass became its own Creation.

They call it "The Myriad Worlds".

Alas, even in the Myriad Worlds eventually universes come to an end. But unlike in the great Origin, they are never lost. For when a universe dies, fragments of it scatter across the Myriad Worlds - an eternal testament that a universe once existed, lived, grew, and died. Everlasting remembrance.

And sometimes... these fragments make their way into the hands of the most unlikely people. Such as, for example, a sickly, weak, lonely princess of a distant kingdom, neglected by Fate's favor. Powerless, talentless, and pitiable when compared to her older sisters.

For some reason, fragments like such people. Perhaps it's some lingering desire by the departed inhabitants of a lost world, wishing to bring some solace to lonely souls who are becoming lost in despair...

And occasionally, such a fragment reaching the right hands attracts attention from beings in high places, and changes the fate of an entire world.

=O=O=

The streets of Lescatie were bustling with activity on that day. It was, after all, the day when peddlers from all over the world gathered to sell their wares at the public market. A great many stalls occupied the streets, with a variety of wares on display. Pottery, clothing, house tools, even weapons.

The Theocracy of Lescatie was one of the two most powerful nations in the Order's territories, and its main producer of Heroes, the stalwarts who battled against the threat of the Demon Lord's armies encroaching upon humanity. Its capital, also named Lescatie, was truthfully more a fortress than a city, with high walls protecting the inner districts, watchtowers scattered in the outskirts, and a great many guards patrolling. Generally, it was regarded as one of the safest cities in Order territories.

At least, if what you wanted protection from was the mamono who preyed on human men, that is. If you sought safety from the predations of corrupt bureaucrats, career criminals and abusive nobles, on the other hand, it was less than ideal.

Despite the city's wealth, owing to the Order's presence, a great deal of its citizenship was poor and hungry. Most of the wealth was amassed in the hands of the corrupt hierarchy in power, or the criminal syndicates prowling in the night. The common man struggled to make a living, and the capital's slums were an impoverished hell.

As for the royal family of Lescatie... they had long since become little more than puppet rulers, while the real power was in the hands of the nobles and the clergy. King Castor Bistoa Lescatie, while initially well-meaning, proved simply too weak-willed to oppose the other factions, and soon became mired in the same corrupt circles as the rest of the nobility, and as for their three oldest daughters, they were largely too busy enjoying the fame and wealth coming with their status as gifted mages, capable of hearing the voice of the Gods and blessed as Heroes.

...then there was the fourth daughter.

Francisca Mistel Lescatie. A small, pretty, somewhat busty, but always downcast-looking girl, with beautiful green eyes and a rich mane of luscious purple hair that would often spin itself into drills on its own, regardless of how much a hairdresser attempted to stylize them otherwise.

Born fragile and sickly, which rendered her infertile, and possessing no power to speak of. Overshadowed by her sisters, and ignored by both her family and most of those around her. A pitiful girl, lonely and lacking confidence.

Her ailing health eventually confined her to her room, inside a tower in the royal castle's annex, where she spent her days reading books and wistfully looking out of the window, yearning for her own wings to take flight.

Only three people could be called "her friends" in all of Lescatie. Two of them, a young commoner boy named Elt and a daughter of the Noscrim noble house named Wilmarina, were her childhood friends, and often played together with her as children. Alas, as time went on, Wilmarina changed, becoming distant and throwing herself in her training as a knight, while Elt vanished without warning. Their loss was devastating on young Francisca's mind, causing her to withdraw inwardly even more.

That left only one person. A young maid, an unimportant commoner from a poor family who was hired by a stroke of luck, perhaps due to her beauty, with long golden hair cascading across a visage with delicate, fair-skinned features and framing a pair of deep blue eyes, and a slender, yet pleasantly curvy frame that hid an unsuspecting amount of strength for such a small girl.

This maid's name was Rowena, and she'd been assigned to what was viewed as a 'thankless task': to care for the sickly, lonely princess.

If you'd asked Rowena, though, she'd tell you that being assigned as Lady Francisca's personal maid was the best thing to happen to her in her life. And it would be hard to miss the adoring light in her eyes as she speaks.

Yes, indeed. Francisca and Rowena became very close, very fast and Rowena quickly came to regard the sad girl as a little sister of sorts, being fiercely protective of her, to the point of being at times disciplined for speaking out of line in defense of her mistress. Rowena didn't mind the punishments, be they lashings or docked pay: to her, defending Francisca's honor was far more important. One could say she was the last bastion protecting Francisca's sanity: a true knight, shielding her lady with no hesitation, even without shining arms and armor.

She also took it upon herself to scour the city's shops for new books that her protégé could enjoy, knowing well that those stories were one of the few solaces in Francisca's life, and even paid for them out of her own pocket sometimes, when she had no access to the family funds the royal family prepared for Francisca's needs.

And so, we find this loyal maid prowling Lescatie's market, hoping to luck out and find some new, intriguing pieces of literature that would hopefully be within her modest means to purchase. And this is where our story truly begins.

For this loyal maid is about to find the key to changing her mistress's fate... and that of the entire Kingdom of Lescatie, as well.

=O=O=

Rowena sighed dejectedly. She'd been walking for hours, and yet was still empty-handed. She'd hoped to find at least a small novel for Francisca to read, and to that end she'd rifled through a few books, but all she'd found was, to put it in kind words, printed trash. That is, when it wasn't thinly disguised smut. Some of the books she'd found would have fit better in a mamono town than an Order fortress with how lewd and explicit they were.

The blonde maid was loathe to go back empty-handed. Lately, Francisca had been especially depressed, and she hated to see her like that. She'd been hoping to cheer her up with a nice, thick book full of amazing tales of swords and romance, something that she seemed to enjoy greatly.

As she browsed around the stands, she ignored several peddlers who attempted to interest her in dresses, cosmetics and worst of all, lacy underwear. She may have been a maid, but was no harlot! (Although, if it cheered Lady Francisca up even a little, I'd wear that leather outfit in an instant, and even top it with a bucket on my head), she admitted privately, her affection for her ward overpowering her embarrassment.

As she morosely looked at the stands, her gaze was caught by a small tent propped up near a backstreet, and she noticed that there was an unfamiliar merchant, wearing a heavy, cumbersome hooded cloak that obscured his - or perhaps her - face, and a peculiar, gaudy outfit with a great many gold- and silver-colored decor about it, which would have been better fitting for an eccentric explorer than a merchant. Somehow, she'd never seen this particular peddler, even though she'd visited the market for the better part of ten years now. And... upon closer inspection, he had books!

That alone was enough to draw Rowena closer. Eyeing the books, she noticed with some excitement that she didn't recognize any of them, and they appeared to be fairly old and with elaborate, colorful covers. (I just hope I can afford to buy at least one), she thought, grimacing at the possibility that the books might be a bit outside her funds limit.

"Aye, siwmae. And good day to you," the peddler greeted her as she approached, removing his hood. Rowena looked up and was startled for a moment: the merchant wore a peculiar horned headdress with a pair of reading glasses mounted upon it. She'd never quite seen anything like it before.

"L-likewise," she stammered before catching herself and bowing in apology. "Ah, please forgive me. Your visage startled me. I've never quite seen anything like it, you see."

"Ahh, yes, this outfit is typical of the travelers from my homeland - a distant land you probably never heard of," the peddler explained in an amicable tone. "The various features are meant to symbolize virtues and bring good luck. The horns, for example, represent wisdom, while these medals," he continued, pointing at the gold and silver discs on his chest, "symbolize glory."

The merchant then shook his head, chuckling. "Ah, but I am sure a lady such as yourself is not interested in the ramblings of an old fool." He bowed his head slightly. "I am... never you mind, a simple wanderer's name is not important. I'm just, well, a peddler of sorts. I adore trinkets and oddities, so I trade for them."

"Ah... trade? So you don't sell?" Rowena asked, looking crestfallen. The peddler chuckled.

"Of course I will sell, as well. Trade is my preference, but a sale is just as good. Is there anything I can interest you in, my Fair Lady?" he replied. Rowena blushed slightly at the compliment, but soon became busy browsing the odd merchant's wares.

The man was not joking when he said he had a variety of trinkets and oddities. His merchandise was unlike any she'd ever seen before. Among the many items that caught Rowena's eye were an old signet ring with a curious spider-like engraving, a thick book with a brown cover titled 'The City of Forever', and a phial with a strange golden liquid that seemed to glow gently in the sunlight.

After much browsing, Rowena took the three items that caught her eye and presented them to the merchant.

"Good sir, how much is it for these three?" she inquired. The peculiar merchant adjusted his glasses and hummed as he gazed at her selection. His eyes narrowed as he saw the book.

"That book... hm, so that's how it is," he murmured, drawing a puzzled look from Rowena. Looking up at her, he gave her a friendly smile. "Ah, pay me no heed, Fair Lady. Just surprised to see someone interested in that musty old tome. Now, let me see what else... an old witch's signet ring, and... hoh, I didn't know I still had a Divine Blessing! How lucky of you to find it, milady," he noted, eyeing her last pick.

"Wait... witch's ring? I'm not sure... isn't it dangerous?" Rowena asked, alarmed by how the peddler identified the signet ring. The man shook his head.

"No, no. The ring has no power whatsoever; even the priests couldn't find anything," he explained. "It's merely an old ring that was worn as a membership symbol by a covenant a long time ago. The covenant fell apart and no longer exists, and the ring, nowadays, is merely a trinket. Fair-looking, but useless." He scratched his chin. "Hmm... I can sell you all this for 20 gold."

"T-twenty...! I only have twelve... which one is the most expensive item among these?" Rowena asked, dejected. The merchant hummed.

"That would be the Divine Blessing. By itself, it's worth ten gold. It is, after all, a very rare and potent panacea..." He lowered his voice. "So potent, in fact, it can remove demonic energy taint. It may be of use to milady, seeing how dangerous that energy is for women."

"I've never heard of such a thing. Does it even work?" Rowena asked, looking dubious. The man nodded.

"I've seen it unravel all sorts of ailments of the body, up to and including petrification," he claimed. "Used it myself, in fact, when I was in a dangerous place full of poisonous waters. I can guarantee its effectiveness. The only issue is, it's incredibly rare. I didn't even think I had this one left."

"I see... I'd love to buy it too, but the book for Lady Francisca is more important," Rowena sighed, setting aside the Divine Blessing and handing the merchant ten gold pieces. "I'll just take the ring and book."

The peddler paused, not moving to take the money as he gazed at the girl with a pensive look. Then, he sighed, picked up the Divine Blessing and replaced it on top of the book, next to the ring. At Rowena's motion to protest, he held up a hand. "Ten gold for all three."

"Eh...? But why? You said..."

"I heard about the unfortunate Fourth Princess of Lescatie... and the loyal maid who lovingly looks after her," the man said, scratching his chin as he winked at her. "I may be a merchant, but I'm not without a heart. For your selfless dedication, I'll throw in the Blessing as a gift."

"I- thank you, good sir," Rowena replied with a smile, moved. "I shan't forget your generosity."

"Ah, it's fine, it's fine," the peculiar merchant reassured her as he took the ten gold. "And thank you. That was a fine transaction. Who knows, if the Gods will it, someday we'll meet again. And we'll make another fine transaction, of course!"

"Likewise, sir. Thank you again!" Rowena bowed to him before turning to walk back to the castle. As she did, the man cleared his throat, drawing her attention.

"Hmmm... you are a fine trading partner," he murmured, then nodded to himself and looked up at her. "Rumour it may be, but I have heard of some worrying movements by the Royal Makai's radical faction in this area. Please do take care, milady."

"The Royal Makai's radicals...?" Rowena muttered, feeling a chill run down her spine. That particular faction of mamono, led by the Fourth Daughter of the Demon Lord, the Lilim Deruella, was one of the most infamous, as the Lilim was known to take over and forcefully monsterize entire towns, whether they wanted to or not, turning them into dens of lust and depravity. Rowena heartily hoped they would never come to Lescatie, and prayed that should that horrible day come, the Heroes protecting the city would be up to the job.

"It's just a rumour, as I said. Even so... these are treacherous times, milady," the man commented. He then nodded again. "Well, at any rate, I will stick you in my prayers." The peddler waved her goodbye. The maid bowed again, then turned around and left, hurrying back to deliver the book she'd found to her mistress. He followed her retreating form until she disappeared from sight.

"...such dark clouds on this city. And yet, that girl shines brilliantly in the darkness. How lucky her mistress is, to have her," he murmured as he began to shimmer and vanish in thin air. "And the Shard seems to finally have found its path. So... at long last, my work is done, and this tired old memory may rest." He looked up at the sky, becoming transparent. "Did I serve you well, Great One?"

The merchant's final whispered words hung in the air as he disappeared, and were soon lost in the wind. No one appeared to notice his departure. As if he'd never existed... or could only be seen by a select few.

=O=O=

"Lady Francisca! I'm back!" Rowena called as she knocked on the princess's door. A low voice came in reply from inside.

"Come in, Rowena. It's open," it said. Rowena grasped the door's handle and entered the room, holding her purchases from the market. The princess sat on her bed, seemingly idling. Upon seeing her, and the large book in her hands, Francisca's eyes lit up and she sat up a little more straight.

"You found a book!" the princess exclaimed, delighted. The maid nodded with a smile.

"Yes, I was quite fortunate," she replied. "I found a peddler with a number of odd items for sale, and he even offered me a discount. Here, take a look..."

Francisca watched curiously as Rowena displayed the items she purchased. She poked at the vial with the golden liquid with curiosity, to which Rowena explained.

"According to that peddler, this is a rare blessed potion that can completely remove demonic energy taint, although I presume it does nothing if one has already become a mamono," she said, holding the vial up as she gazed at it curiously herself. "I'm not sure how legitimate it is, but... well, I was given it for free as a token of appreciation, and given the danger that demonic energy poses, I'd rather keep this as a last chance to save myself - or you, Princess - than have nothing at all and await my doom."

"That makes sense," Francisca replied, nodding. She then eyed the ring. "And this?"

"Ah, the peddler mentioned it's an old signet ring belonging to a long-gone coven from his distant land. It has no power and is purely decorative. I liked the design on it, and thought it would look good on you, so I purchased it."

Francisca nodded again, then her eyes excitedly darted to the third item: the thick book. Rowena smiled at the young girl's happiness and held the tome up.

"And here it is! I found a book of old legends," she said proudly. "I presume it's stories from that merchant's homeland. I hope you enjoy it, Princess Francisca."

Francisca eagerly grabbed the book, and began to flip the pages in earnest. Soon enough she let out a delighted squeal.

"This book has pictures to go with the stories!" she exclaimed, her smile widening. She looked up at the maid. "Thank you, Rowena! I'll treasure this!"

Rowena affectionately rubbed her head. "I'm just glad you like it, Princess," she said, before catching herself and quickly straightening up. "Um, pardon my rudeness for patting you on the head..."

"Hehehe... I don't mind," Francisca replied. "After all, you're my best friend..."

The maid smiled, swelling with pride. While looking after the princess could be hard, seeing her smile like this was the best reward she could ask for. Looking down, she saw the shy princess was already absorbed into reading, and chuckled.

"Well then, I'll leave you to the exploration of your newfound worlds, Princess," she said, not really expecting an answer. "I'll bring you dinner later. Have a good read."

As she left she heard Francisca mumble in concentration, intensely reading the text. The maid sighed.

She was glad she'd found something to lighten her mistress's mood.

=O=O=

Later that evening, after dinner, Francisca lay in her bed, still reading the book.

It was quite a fascinating read. The book narrated a story of a mysterious female being that was created by the Gods and placed in the world, so that she would restore balance to all of creation in their name. Over time, a great kingdom rose under the being's rule, and then an empire. A great fortress built on crystal soared in the skies, and many different species, human and not, were brought together under her in peace.

At first Francisca found humans coexisting with monsters to be a weird idea. After all, any place with mamono in it would eventually be corrupted and turn into a Demon Realm, so coexistence was a pipe dream, to say nothing of mamono who forcefully turned humans against their will. She soon realized, however, that the monsters in the book didn't seem to have demonic energy - which was probably what enabled them to peacefully exist alongside humans.

(Truly a fantasy), she thought sadly. Francisca didn't like this war. She would have preferred to live in peace, and she suspected it was the war's fault that she and her childhood friends grew distant over time. Alas, it didn't look like there was a choice: humanity's survival was at stake, after all.

Glancing outside the window, Francisca realized it was late: the sun had already gone out, and darkness was setting in. Feeling a bit drowsy, she decided to go to sleep early that night. Leaning towards her nightstand, she gently blew the flame on her lamp out, then laid her head on the pillow and stared up at the ceiling for a long while, unmoving.

(Great heroes, wise rulers and exciting adventures), she mused sadly. (I wish I could experience even just one of these... Why was I born so weak?) she thought as she began to feel herself drift off. Still holding tightly the book Rowena bought her, she had one last thought before sleep overtook her.

(...I want to be strong. Strong enough to protect everyone... Strong enough that everyone will need me, and rely on me...)

Soon, the lonely princess was fast asleep.

Had she been awake still, she'd have seen the book in her hands shine gently.

=O=O=

Francisca awoke with a start, disoriented. It was pitch black around her, but for some reason, she felt as if she was no longer in her bedroom.

Turning her head slowly, she attempted to get her eyes used to the darkness, and felt around for the nightstand and the small bell she would use to summon Rowena in the, unfortunately frequent, case her sleep was plagued by bad dreams.

Only, the nightstand was not where it was supposed to be.

Francisca's alarm turned to panic. Truth be told, she hated the dark. She always felt like something was about to jump on her from it, and it was for that reason that her room had a window that overlooked the largest road in the city, which was illuminated even by night. In fact, the lack of light from the window was strange.

As the princess's eyes adjusted to the darkness, she realized her gut feeling had been true: she wasn't in her room anymore. Instead, she was in what looked like a large ballroom, and she managed to faintly make out a window with a balcony on the left side. Francisca began to feel fear. Had she been kidnapped? Or worse - taken by the infamous radical mamono, to be made into a horrible monster that preyed on humans? Or-

Don't you have a vivid imagination, a sudden voice rumbled near her. Francisca yelped in fright, and frantically started looking around, trying to spot the intruder. A chuckle came from the darkness, and she realized that whoever the person talking to her was, they could see her perfectly in this dark. The princess gulped audibly, then gathered all her courage and spoke up.

"W-who are you?" she asked, timidly. The voice hummed, then replied.

That is a good question, but a little hard to answer at the moment, the mysterious speaker admitted. Technically, I am not even alive anymore, although my situation is a bit more... complicated than most. And before you ask, no, I am not one of those 'undead mamono' you are thinking about.

"I... I don't understand. Did you kidnap me?" Francisca asked, trying to gather information. She was frightened, and doubted she could escape whoever her captors were, but had to at least try, and needed information. To her surprise, the voice laughed heartily.

Ha! No. I did not kidnap you, it stated. If you absolutely need to know, you are in 'The City of Forever'. Allow me to welcome you... to the Divine Fortress, Rianobed. Or at least, one of its many incarnations.

Francisca blanched at that. She was... inside a book? That seemed a bit too outlandish to her, even with the feats mamono were capable of.

...a sudden wave of irritation came over her. I already told you I am not one of your mamono, the voice responded, sounding exasperated, and Francisca realized with a start that it could read her mind. The confirmation came almost immediately, with a dismissive sound from the mysterious talker.

Of course I can read your mind, the voice pointed out patiently. You are inside the book, and I am the book. Or rather, the leftover echo inside the book. Although, now that I found you, I'll likely disappear soon enough.

"Disappear? Why?" the princess asked, confused. The voice sighed.

Because, as I said, I found you, it replied. In the first place, had you not been the one meant to find this book, you wouldn't be here. That means I can entrust the Shard to you, and finally rest.

"The... Shard?" Francisca inquired, even more confused. The voice sent a mental impression of a nod.

Yes. The Shard of the Overlord's power. The remnant of what I once was, it specified. When I was alive, I was a fragment of the one who rules over Creation on behalf of the Dimension God, and was meant to save a certain world from destruction. ...regrettably, I failed, and both I and that world were destroyed. However, the power I held cannot simply be lost, and so it dragged me along for the ride in another world.

"I... um, I'm not sure I understand. Are you even human?" Francisca asked warily. Was this a trick from a Lilim? She received a sensation akin to an eyeroll, and then a sudden flash of red light temporarily blinded her, forcing her to cover her eyes. When the blindness faded, she looked at where the flash had occurred.

And then upward. And gasped.

Before her stood what appeared to be a female wearing an elaborate black evening dress, with a considerable cleavage that partly exposed a generous pair of breasts, and high heels, with a slim yet curvy figure, long flowing black hair, nearly chalk-white skin, and striking red-and-green eyes. Her pupils were unusually small, however, barely being small black pins in the sea of green and red that was her irises.

She was also at least three meters tall.

Francisca whimpered in fright, and the woman sighed, shaking her head. She then opened her arms wide, as if to show she was carrying no weapon.

I mean you no harm, child, she stated. Also, I am not as tall as you see me. What you perceive is the difference in spiritual power between the current you and me. Even as a fading remnant, I'm a fair bit greater than you. In time, your perception of me will hopefully change.

"...who are you?" Francisca asked again in a weak, timid voice, forgetting she'd already posed that question. The woman smiled wryly.

I'm going to assume this time you're asking me for a name, she replied. In that case... hmm. I guess you can call me Lumiere. It's the name of the 'original me', after all. She then bent down, looming over the princess. The more pressing question is, why are you here?

"I... I don't know," was Francisca's reply. Lumiere shook her head.

Wrong. You know. You even said as much before you fell asleep, she stated. Don't you remember? "I want to be strong. Strong enough that everyone will need me and rely on me, and I will be able to protect everyone."

"Ah..." Francisca murmured. She did remember thinking that, right before she dozed off. But what did it have to do with her current situation?

Simple enough. You wanted the power to make a difference. I can give you the power to make a difference, Lumiere replied. The Shard of my power that is within this book wishes to be preserved. The book has chosen you. Otherwise it wouldn't have ended up in your hands, and you wouldn't be here.

"Eh? Me?" the princess asked incredulously. It was preposterous to think that anyone would choose her over, say, one of her sisters for receiving any sort of power. Lumiere scoffed at that.

Your sisters are no good. They allow themselves to become delusional with fantasies of power, not to mention they misuse it. Like much of that cesspool of hatred and lies your poor city has become, I might add, she stated flatly. She then looked at Francisca. You, on the other hand... I have a good feeling about you. So does the book, clearly. I think you'll use this power well.

Francisca recoiled at that. This was the sort of thing she was told mamono offered to humans to tempt them into corruption. "No... I don't want to become a mamono!" she protested. Lumiere's eyebrow twitched.

For the last time, I am not a mamono. If I was, do you think I'd be so roundabout about corrupting you when I have you right here, helpless and vulnerable? she reiterated, irritation clearly showing through. She then knelt next to Francisca's bed. You know what, get out of that bed. I want to show you a nice sight. Maybe it will take your mind off these paranoid worries of yours and give you some peace of mind.

"Ah... I'm too weak of constitution, I-" the princess replied, only to be cut off by the giant woman.

You aren't even in your body, lass, she pointed out. This is a magically created plane entirely contained within the book, and you are currently here in an astral form. Right now, you are healthy.

Francisca's heart skipped a beat at that. Healthy...? She felt a sudden flutter of hope in her chest, and looked at the giant, then the barely visible floor of the dark room. With trepidation, she decided to try and stand. It was worth a try.

Slowly swinging her legs over the bed's edge (and idly wondering why of all things in her room, the bed was the only one that followed her), she carefully set her feet on the floor, noting with surprise that it was warm. She made sure to have a good foothold, and took a deep breath. Then she scrunched her eyes closed and pushed herself off the bed.

For a few moments afterwards, she remained immobile, dreading the inevitable collapse as her legs gave way under her weight. When that didn't happen, she tentatively cracked an eye open, then the other, and then gasped as she found herself standing effortlessly. Behind her, Lumiere made an amused sound.

Told you, did I not? Now come on, follow me, she told the incredulous young woman as she walked past her and went towards the balcony window Francisca had earlier seen to her left. The young princess hesitated for a moment, then decided she'd never have a chance like this again, and began to walk after her, at first slowly, then with a brisker pace as she realized she was stable and secure on her feet. Approaching the balcony the woman awaited her on, the princess found herself humming in happiness at being able to move pain-free for the first time in only the Chief God knew how long. She even skipped in the last few steps. A clearly amused Lumiere observed her antics with a wry smile.

Once Francisca joined her on the balcony, she took a look at the view, and froze.

They were high up.

Really high up.

So high up, the clouds were below them.

Did you forget where you are, girl? Divine Fortress, Rianobed, Lumiere reminded her, amusement clear in her voice. The City of Forever that dwells in the Heavens. You should have read about it in the book.

"I-I-I-I didn't think it'd be this high up!" Francisca yelped in fright as she stared in terrified awe at the spectacle of the clouds below and the starry sky above. She then glanced up and fell straight backwards. A gigantic celestial body took up most of the sky.

Ah yes. Helgaia, the planet I originated from, is a moon of the giant planet Arth, Lumiere commented with an upside glance. It can be... a little overwhelming for first-timers, but it was a fond memory of mine, so when I created this book and placed what I could save of the vanished world within it, its magic made the sky look like this. But no matter, she continued, turning to her. Do you understand that, in a certain sense, this plane is quite real? Surely you don't think a regular dream can be so vivid.

Francisca had no answer to that. She was too busy staring in awe at the sky and the horizon. As terrifying and overwhelming as the sight was, there was an unparalleled beauty in it. The young princess couldn't help but be moved to tears by the spectacle.

"I... never thought I'd ever see something like this in my life," she whispered, taking in the view. "...it's the first time I'm glad to be alive."

Hmm. You've had a rough life, Lumiere commented, and the reminder caused Francisca's enthusiasm to fade a little. Noticing that, the imposing woman bent over slightly and patted her on the shoulder. Well... what would you say to changing that too?

"...Eh?" the princess murmured, blinking at her in confusion. Lumiere rolled her eyes.

As I mentioned when we first met, the reason why you're here is because you're an ideal candidate to inherit the Shard of the Overlord, she patiently explained. I'll keep it brief so as to not confuse you: should you accept it, you will receive all the leftover power within the Shard - a pale memory of what it once was, but still, I wager, greater than anything you'll ever face in your world. At the very least, she added, I can guarantee that it's incomparable to the power those 'mamono' of yours wield.

Francisca blinked at that. Power to rival a mamono? Like the Heroes of the Order? That... sounded a little too good to be true. There had to be something more to it. "What's the catch?" she asked, suspicious. Lumiere smirked.

Well, haven't you regained some confidence already just from being able to walk freely and seeing a pretty scenery, she quipped. She then became serious. But to answer your question, first let me preamble with a statement. Quite an important one, I should add.

Francisca straightened up, ears perked. She had a feeling she was about to hear something critically important.

What I tell you now is the absolute truth, and nothing less, Lumiere stated, a deadly serious look in her eyes. Then, she spoke again, and her voice... expanded, for lack of a better word, feeling as if it was coming from all directions at once.

Hear me. This Lumiere, who stands before you, cannot lie. It is not permitted by the laws of the Myriad Worlds. Whenever you ask me of anything, I will only ever answer with the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Francisca blinked. Somehow, she'd felt a chill through her body when Lumiere made her statement – as if some kind of foreign power passed through her.

She had no idea why, but Lumiere's words made her absolutely certain of one thing: no matter what, she would not ever be deceived by this mysterious woman.

Feeling reassured in her new certainty, she looked up to Lumiere and nodded with decision.

"I understand. I will hear you out." she said simply.

Little did she know how much her existence would change with those few words.

=O=O=

"...So, let me see if I understand what you told me so far..." Francisca said as she sat on the edge of her familiar bed, looking at Lumiere, who was cross-legged on the floor before her, while thinking carefully about their discussion until now. "Basically, this Shard of the Overlord is a power that would let me collect... what did you call it? The 'genetic information' of any living thing I ever come across?"

Yes, the pale-skinned giantess replied. Any living thing that enters the area of effect of your power will immediately be replicated as, for lack of a better term, information stored inside your body. Lumiere rose to her feet and began to pace back and forth before Francisca, holding her left hand up and waving it as she explained, in much the same way a lecturing teacher would during a class. Think of this power as a library that keeps getting more and more books as you meet new creatures. Each book represents one creature. She stopped pacing and held her arms out, as if to encompass all that was around her. Everything you need to know about those creatures will be stored in there. When you need to copy a creature, you are basically pulling one of those books out, and reading its contents. Is this easier to understand?

"Actually... yes, it is," Francisca nodded slowly, thinking. "When you put it that way, it's really simple. ...that said, exactly what is 'genetic information'?"

Right, I guess your world wouldn't have that knowledge, Lumiere said, rubbing her chin. It basically is... hmm... like a house building plan, that determines how your body develops. Your genetic information establishes, among many other things, your species, your sex, hair and skin color, height, body build... each feature is influenced by one or more 'genes', and all genes together make up your genetic information, She sighed, shaking her head. The list of things that your genes determine is so long we could be here the whole day, and I still wouldn't be done listing them yet, so let's just sum it up with 'all your physical features are determined by genes'.

"I see... it's sort of like what a doppelganger mamono can do...", Francisca mused. Lumiere shook her head.

Ah... not quite, no, she corrected her. I am not too familiar with your world, since I was only able to bleed limited information in from it through this book, but from what I know of it, a doppelganger will use a man's memories to assume a form he finds appealing. You, on the other hand, would directly copy the man's appearance. Lumiere resumed pacing back and forth, gesticulating animatedly. The only thing a doppelganger and you would have in common is that you'd both be able to shift to a form that isn't your own, but the exact way you do it couldn't be more different. You won't need someone's memory to transform, you just need them. Or rather, to get close enough to them.

"So, if I had to oversimplify what you said... I'd basically be a shape-stealer?" Francisca asked. Lumiere nodded, and the young princess hummed, thinking with arms crossed. "I see... come to think of it, is it only appearance I could copy?"

No. Appearance is, in fact, just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the full capabilities of the Shard, as they say, Lumiere replied, smiling. This was sure to interest the princess. At the bare minimum, you will copy both their appearance and their innate qualities, such as for instance, fire resistance, or the ability to breathe underwater, or having your arms turn into wings... or even reconfigure your body to have more limbs. The pale-skinned woman held up a finger. You will also gain instinctual knowledge of how to use any innate power or new body part, so there's no need to worry about learning.Another finger went up. Additionally, on a more esoteric level... with some time and effort your power can also let you acquire some of their knowledge, and even mimic their personality.

"Eh... really?" Francisca asked, stunned at the statement. If that was true, this power went far, far beyond mere 'copying'.

Yes, Lumiere confirmed. She then wagged her index finger in caution before Francisca's nose. Those last two abilities, however, have a few requirements and limitations. First, you must make a conscious effort to acquire such information. The process is not automatic, unlike when you are simply copying appearances and innate abilities. Also, your target has to remain within the area of effect of your power for a certain amount of time, and it has to be continuous. If they ever get too far away, you have to start over. The tall woman frowned. And there are certain... risks... to mimicking an especially strong-willed individual's personality, so be careful with that. Finally, even with your best effort, you won't be able to acquire anything more than surface knowledge. Things that a person strongly wants to keep secret will likely be unreadable, or at best come to you as hazy, muddled visions that have little to no use without proper context.

"I see... it's a relief to know that taking knowledge and personality isn't automatic. Something about just knowing someone's deepest secrets against their will bothers me," Francisca admitted. She then sighed. "That's... a lot to take in. But I admit, it all sounds very intriguing. Still... I'm not sure..."

...You're worried about whether you'd still be human or not, right? Lumiere asked with a gentle smile. I understand such doubts, given the kind of world you live in. That said... the answer is yes and no.

"Um...?" Francisca mumbled, confused. Lumiere cocked her head, raising an eyebrow.

I thought it'd be obvious, but it really depends on what you mean by 'not being human', she explained. If you mean it in the sense that you 'won't be purely human anymore', then that's correct. While most of you will remain unchanged, a part of you will be altered to properly be able to host the Shard's power. That altered part of you will be neither human nor monster, but something else entirely, and will become the core of your being as far as your powers will be concerned.

Lumiere resumed pacing back and forth, though much more calmly than before. If, on the other hand, you mean it in the sense that you will 'stop being human entirely', the answer is no. In the first place, because your chimeric power will also remember your human self, you will be able to return to your original form at any time, and it will be fully human, aside from the core part that I mentioned earlier. In short, the 'human you' will always be part of you. You can't get rid of it in any way. Lumiere stopped pacing and shrugged with a grin. Although, you certainly can tweak your human form – or any other form you take – to fix parts of it that you dislike. Take, for example, your current body. Without meaning to offend, it's sickly, weak, powerless and barren, is it not? Well, you can make it all go away. Your control over the genes inside your body is absolute.

Francisca felt her heart skip a beat at those words, even without being in her actual body. "I-I could make myself healthy for real?" she whispered, daring to hope. Lumiere nodded, smiling warmly.

Indeed, you could. You would be the 'Ultimate Chimera', after all, she answered. A being who can 'be anything, do anything and defeat anything'. The pinnacle of existence. Why would something as trivial as tweaking your own body in the pursuit of physical excellence be a problem? Lumiere pointed at herself with both hands. This body you see, it is not the one I was born with, either. This is the appearance that the original me, the Overlord, painstakingly shaped over a span of time so great, thinking about it would make your head hurt, in order to create the perfect, ideal shape. Her smile turned slightly sad. Our original appearance... to be honest, it's the one thing we forgot. Neither the original one, nor us fragments, remember what appearance we were born with. The memory just isn't there anymore. She sighed. It may seem like an insignificant thing, but... our beginning is lost to us.

"...Is there no way to recover those memories?" Francisca murmured, frowning. It felt wrong, forgetting one's origins like that. And it clearly disturbed Lumiere, though she tried to not show it.

I have no idea, the other woman admitted. We tried numerous things, but none worked. One theory is that the memory is so deeply submerged beneath hundreds of millions of other memories, it just can't resurface on its own anymore. But anyone who tried reaching within our mind to recover it ended up insane from the mental stress. Lumiere smiled wistfully. I'm ancient, despite my looks, and my original self, the Overlord, is older still. To dive in our mind is to peer through depths, reach through mists, sift through sands, and delve into eternity. Mortal minds cannot do it without breaking. Even divine minds are ill-equipped for it.

"I'm really sorry to hear that," Francisca honestly told her. Lumiere smiled again and reached out, gently patting the princess on the head with a large hand.

I've come to terms with it, so don't worry, she reassured her. Her smile then brightened. But enough talking about me. Surely there is something else you wish to ask of me?

"I... for now, no, I don't," Francisca replied, hesitant. She curled up on her bed, an unsure look on her face. "I'm... tempted, I will admit as much. But..." she murmured. Then something occurred to her. "Oh! Right. How much time do I have in here?"

Right now? More or less, as much as you want, Lumiere replied. Because you came here in spiritual form, this magical world is currently not bound by material limits. No matter how much time you spend in here, barely any time will have passed in the outside. She tapped a finger on her lips, looking thoughtful. Offhand, I would say for every day you spend here, only a minute or so passes in the outside world. You could spend three months here, and only about one and a half hour would have actually elapsed in your world.

"Wait... isn't that way too convenient?" Francisca muttered, shocked. "I can think of a lot of ways in which this time distortion could be abused..."

Ah, but you won't be able to return here as a spirit if you leave now, Lumiere cautioned her. At the princess's questioning glance, she explained. You were only able to enter this world in this spiritual form because it was your first contact with this book, and you were asleep. Now, you are linked. If you choose to leave it now, next time you visit your actual physical body will be dragged in, and its presence will cause this book's time to synchronize with that of the outside you came from. She gave a lopsided smile. Sorry to bust that bubble, but I felt like your mind was wandering somewhere dangerous with that line of thinking.

"Ugh... I knew it was too good to be true," the young princess murmured, annoyed. Then something else occurred to her. "Wait. Let's assume I decide to make something while in here. Say, a painting. Will I be able to take it out with me when I leave?"

Not this time, Lumiere answered. The tall woman once more resumed pacing back and forth – (Must be an unconscious habit), Francisca thought – and continued explaining. Essentially, anything you do in this world in your current form won't affect the physical you in any way, because you aren't physically here. That also means you can't really transport anything out with you. However, in subsequent visits, you will actually be here, and will be able to carry out anything you want from this pocket world, including items you made. She then smiled. By the way, this also means you can give the Shard's power a test run, so to speak, without committing to it. It will only permanently affect you if you wholeheartedly embrace it; until then, the power it lends you will be temporary.

"That really feels too convenient," Francisca pointed out with a raised eyebrow. Lumiere shrugged.

I don't make these rules. The Shard does. I'm just along for the ride because I am its last holder, the giant woman replied. I'll agree it's convenient, but isn't that a good thing for you?

"That's... true," the princess admitted. It meant she could actually get to see what this power she had been offered was about, without having to go all-in from the start. "So let me summarize what I learned. I can stay here nearly as long as I want and no one will actually notice back home, because time is different here." Lumiere nodded, and Francisca continued. "I can have a... sample... of what you're offering without committing, and my real body won't be affected until I actually accept it." Another nod. "And I could use that power to make myself healthy?" Yet another nod. Francisca sighed. "You already know that now I just can't leave without at least giving it a try, right?"

Yes. Yes, I do, Lumiere replied with a grin. Well then, since you will stay here for a while, shall I show you what Rianobed has to offer? It's a big place, but I can at least show you a few locales you will likely want to use. And while we're at it, let's stop in the kitchen for some food and in the bath for a relaxing soak.

"What do I even need food and bathing for, if I'm not here in my real body?" Francisca asked, confused. The older woman shook her head.

Technically, you don't need either, but it's said that a hearty meal and a nice bath are good for the mind and soul, she replied. I can vouch for the truth in those words.

"Well... fine. While I'm here, I'll try as many new things as I can. Lead the way!" Francisca proclaimed, pumping her fist. Lumiere giggled at the childish gesture.

That's the spirit! Now, first, if you'd come this way, there is...

=O=O=

"Ah... this is heavenly," Francisca murmured as she allowed her naked body to sink into the warm water of the giant bath she was in, and settled in a sitting position against a large, smooth rock. All around her, steam slowly rose from the waters, and a peculiar, calming scent not unlike cinnamon filled the air. Lumiere assured her the vapors and the scent were both harmless and in fact had soothing properties, and that had been enough for her to cut her exploration of Rianobed short and insist in taking a dip once she saw the bathing area.

Truthfully, calling it 'a bath' was inaccurate: according to Lumiere, the place was actually a natural hot spring that she had arbitrarily decided to build the whole mansion around, which explained the rocky terrain surrounding the pool of water and the sparse vegetation in the area. Francisca shook her head in disbelief; clearly, the older woman's definition of 'a reasonable decision' was very different from her own, which was saying something, since she'd been raised as a royal. Neglected and ignored, perhaps, but a royal nonetheless.

Then again, calling the place she was in 'a mansion' was also an absurd understatement. Rianobed was very much a testament to the grandiose mindset Lumiere possessed, and truly deserved the moniker of 'Divine Fortress': the building was gigantic, easily the size of a city-state and similarly built, if the perimeter walls she'd seen on the ground floor were any indication. Among the places she had been showed were the entrance to what Lumiere claimed to be a botanical garden (which looked more like an indoor forest than what would be conventionally called 'garden', judging by how expansive it appeared to be); a dining room with attached kitchen that could have comfortably seated the entirety of the Lescatie city guard and the whole Order of the Ice Flower at once, with seats left to spare; a smithy with every conceivable tool for forging and tempering weaponry, as well as processing material from various sources, both organic and inorganic; the private bedrooms area, which contained enough individual rooms to house twenty people, as well as an absurdly opulent master bedroom with a luxurious double bed, a private bath and a small armory attached; the servants' quarters, which had enough space and living arrangements for a regiment, rather than a private house's staff – although, given the size of the 'house' she was in, perhaps a regiment of servants would actually be necessary to keep it in order – and, naturally, the enormous baths that she was currently relaxing in.

Surprisingly, moving around this colossal place was much easier than expected: Lumiere showed her numerous magical platforms that connected parts of the mansion, and would instantly transport those who stepped on them to predetermined destinations. Thus, despite the place's size, very little walking was actually involved, unless of course one wanted to explore every nook and cranny.

(This is more of an indoor city than a residence. It's all a bit overwhelming. Ah, well, at least I can relax now), Francisca mused as she closed her eyes and let the warm water work its magic on her. Sighing, she cracked an eye open and lifted her right hand above the pool's surface, letting the water collected in her palm slowly trickle out as her thoughts wandered to her current situation. (I wonder how it is that I can feel as if I'm really taking a bath. I'm not even physically here, so why does it feel so good? ...magic, I guess.)

Shrugging and letting her hand drop back in the pool, she decided she didn't really care how the baths felt so nice. It was more than enough for her that they did. (Ah~ I'd be happy to spend the rest of my life in here. I should ask Lumiere if it's in any way possible to take this marvelous place out of this world within the book), she thought, humming happily as she closed her eyes once more and further sank into the deliciously warm water. There was a very slight current in the pool which caused the water to caress her skin as it moved, and the pleasant sensation made her shiver in delight. Lulled by the waters, Francisca began to feel sleepy.

Then she started hearing an odd noise.

At first, Francisca ignored the noise, chalking it up to the environment, but then it intensified, and she frowned, trying to place the sound. It felt oddly familiar. A slight memory tugged at her mind, and eventually she realized the noise was similar to that of a feline sniffing. (Are there cats here?), she wondered, cracking one eye open to look around.

Immediately, she was greeted by a distinctly feline visage peering down at her from her side with large, curious cat eyes, its pointy ears twitching. Her eyes shot open, and she noticed a second head come into view, on the side opposite the first one.

For several seconds, the young princess and the two feline faces stared at each other. Then, Francisca's lips parted.

=O=O=

"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!"

Lumiere dropped the plates she was moving, startled by the sudden shriek. Ignoring the broken tableware, she took off towards the bath area where she'd left Francisca; she was sure the scream had come from her, and she sounded genuinely frightened.

Reaching her destination in a flash, the tall woman threw the baths' door open, ready for whatever was on the other side. She then stared at the scene before her for a few long moments, before sighing and shaking her head.

Ah... right, I should have known it was those guys, she muttered as she eyed the cause of Francisca's frightened shout. It was a pair of large, cat-like bipedal creatures with tufted ears and a sizable white ruff. They had white belly fur, yellowish-orange body fur with brown stripes, and brown paws, ears and tail tips, as well as a curious brown paw-like symbol seemingly painted on their chest. The two were currently hiding behind one of the baths' decorative columns while warily observing Francisca, who was submerged to her neck in deep water, staring at the felines with a startled wide-eyed expression. Lumiere signed again, then clapped her hands once, drawing the attention of both the catlike beings and the human princess.

Ahem, she cleared her throat before giving the two cat-people a sharp glare. I believe I told you before not to come into the baths as you please?, she told them in an ominous tone. The two felines shifted restlessly, attempting to look innocent. Francisca, who was eyeing them from the waters, got the impression that they didn't understand Lumiere's words, but did understand that she was upset, and why she was upset, and it made them nervous. She felt slightly sorry for the two creatures now; they didn't seem to be malicious or ill-intentioned, and on second glance, they were also sort of cute, in a 'big, fluffy, huggable cat' way.

Lumiere appeared to either notice her look or pick up on her thoughts. Sighing again, she shook her head. Fine, I'll let you two off the hook this time. But, she added, her tone hardening as she pointed at Francisca, this young woman is my guest. Treat her nicely. Got it?

The two cat-people looked at each other, then at Francisca, and then started nodding frantically, occasionally making a meowing noise. The princess blinked, then found herself giggling in spite of the earlier fright. (They're really cute, after all), she thought. Looking at Lumiere, she pointed at the two visitors.

"Um... are these creatures born from the magic of this world?" she asked, curious. The older woman shook her head.

No. These are Grimalkynes, creatures that originated in the 'vanished world', she explained. They belong to a type of beast-folk with high intelligence that often lived alongside humans. She nodded towards the two Grimalkynes, who waved their paws and made friendly meowing noises. Francisca smiled and tentatively waved back, then returned her attention to Lumiere. These are part of a small clan, and have taken up residence in the botanical garden, which is safer than the land below. They can't really understand what you say, but will grasp the general meaning of your words from things like posture, tone and context. They shouldn't bother you during a bath again after this.

Lumiere sighed again as she looked at the two small furry creatures. Some beastfolk were able to speak the human language, and act as mediators when dealing with Grimalkynes, but I wasn't able to find any either in the garden or in the land below. I guess they're extinct. Still, Grimalkynes are smart, and once you gain their trust, they will faithfully help you. She glanced at the two catfolk, who were now slowly approaching the water edge, ears twitching in curiosity. Hmm... you're in luck. These two seem to be interested in you. If they take a liking to you, they'll spread word of you in their tribe, and you'll enjoy friendly relations with them.

"I-I see," Francisca murmured, eyeing the Grimalkynes. After a moment of hesitation, she gave Lumiere a questioning look. "Is it alright if... I get closer?"

It will be fine. They're curious and want to approach you, too, Lumiere nodded. But do move slowly. Grimalkynes are easily startled by unfamiliar people. Nice and easy, that's how you'll establish a contact with them. Don't worry about them sniffing you, either – smell is how they remember people.

Francisca nodded, then began to edge closer to the ground the Grimalkynes were standing on, taking care to move slowly and carefully, so as not to threaten the feline creatures. The Grimalkynes gave her an alarmed look when she began to move, but eventually relaxed again, and drew closer to her as well. Eventually, both parties came within touching distance of each other.

At that point Francisca hesitated again, then began to very slowly raise her right hand, stopping once it was a little ways away from the two cat-folk. The felines followed the hand's movement carefully, and kept eyeing it once it stopped. Then, after a few moments where neither side budged, the Grimalkyne closest to Francisca moved near her, and rubbed its head under her hand, as if inviting her to pet it.

The sudden contact caused the princess to inhale sharply in surprise and excitement, and after a brief moment, she began to slowly scratch the Grimalkyne's head behind its ears. A loud purr came from the feline being, and Francisca couldn't help but smile in contentment. Truthfully, she had always liked cats, but had never been able to have one due to her fragile health, and at this moment, her only thoughts were of enjoying the delicious fluffiness under her fingers.

Seeing that, the other Grimalkyne lowered its guard as well, and approached her, aggressively attempting to get her to pet it with her other hand by repeatedly reaching for it with a paw. The young woman giggled and complied, and soon, two very satisfied cat-folk were purring while she slowly stroked their heads.

Off to the side, Lumiere observed the scene with a half smile. She then rubbed her chin, pondering.

(Hmm... It might be about time to introduce her to the Shard's power. These Grimalkynes might be perfect for it),she thought as she watched the princess play with the beast-folk. (I'll bring it up to her after lunch. A full belly and two friendly creatures at her side should help her stay calm during the experience...)

Nodding to herself, the pale-skinned woman decided on her plan of action. It was time to begin fulfilling the other purpose that the Shard of the Overlord had created this world within the book for.

=O=O=

So, how was the food? Lumiere asked, a faint smile adorning her lips as she observed the satisfied expression on her guest's face. Francisca hummed, cleaning her mouth up with a napkin before neatly folding the fabric and setting it down on the table.

"It was delicious," the princess admitted. And it was the truth: she'd rarely eaten meat before, owing to her sickly constitution making many foods indigestible to her, and this particular meat was far tastier than any other she'd ever had. She then frowned. "I'm just... um... a little hesitant to ask what kind of meat it was..."

Mosswine. The Grimalkynes occasionally bring me some when they have a successful hunt, was Lumiere's reply. Francisca blinked.

"Mosswhat...?" she asked, confused. She'd never heard of such a creature.

One of the many animals that live in the botanical garden, the older woman clarified. They were prey creatures to larger things in the vanished world. Similar to your boars, but smaller and docile. I'll show them to you... eventually. For now, all you need to know is that they're mostly harmless, have an excellent nose for mushrooms, and their meat is delicious. Just... don't stand in their way if they charge.

"I see..." Francisca murmured. She appeared lost in thought for a few moments, then refocused and looked at Lumiere. "You mentioned the 'vanished world' several times now. Is that the 'world you failed to save' you told me about when we first met?" she asked the other woman. At the confirmatory nod, she continued. "I imagined as much. ...I don't suppose you could tell me more about what transpired there?"

...Actually, I probably should. If nothing else, to ensure you don't make the same mistakes I did, Lumiere murmured after a few seconds of silence. It's not a story I care to tell, but it may serve as a cautionary tale to you.

Francisca remained silent, giving Lumiere her undivided attention. The ancient woman took a deep breath, her eyes closed as she gathered her thoughts. She then looked at the princess and began recounting her tale.

My first memories as a Shard were of waking up in a savage world, where brave human Hunters and great wild beasts both engaged in the daily struggle to survive. I was told a dangerous instability threatened that world, but it hadn't manifested yet. My task was to prevent the world from being destroyed if and when it did manifest. To that end, I initially sought information from the humans, seeking to identify any unusual happenings in the world.

Lumiere sighed deeply.

It all started going wrong right there, and I regret to admit it was all my fault. The Hunters had no particular useful information - all the disturbances they were aware of were largely insignificant things in the grand scheme of things. They nonetheless offered to assist me in further investigating. I refused. I felt that they would only hinder me, and their information was useless at best.

The raven-haired woman shook her head.

If only I hadn't been so arrogant, I could have prevented all that followed. Those Hunters possessed no useful information at the time, but that was not from lack of trying - it was merely the calm before the storm. When everything started going up in flames, they were the first to notice the warning signs. Had we been cooperating at that time, like they suggested, I would have been in the position to timely stop the disaster that was to come. Instead, I presumed myself more competent... and failed to see those warning signs.

Lumiere sighed again.

It would take too long to recount the series of horrific blunders I made after that. I will sum it up thus: I ignored an abnormal conflict between two Elder Dragons, looking for 'something greater', and the conflict became the spark that ignited a previously-dormant powder keg. Before I realized it, multiple creatures with world-changing powers were at each other's throats, and the whole planet was being torn apart by their warring.

Lumiere looked up at Francisca, and gave her a sad smile.

I attempted to assist the Hunters at that point, but it was far too late. The magnitude of the conflict had already gone out of control, and my allies, who were far more fragile than I was, perished quickly. The world itself sustained horrific wounds from the warring of the Dragons - the End War, as the few survivors that managed to last longer than most everyone else took to calling it. Within a short time, most of the world became a lifeless, uninhabitable wasteland.

The pale-skinned woman leaned back on the chair she was occupying, and steepled together the fingers of both hands, holding them at chest level.

With my abject failure laying before me, and the world falling apart around me, I did the only thing I could think of at the time: using every last ounce of power I had left, I killed all the remaining warring Dragons, then created this book and physically tore out the last inhabitable, relatively untouched piece of land left in the whole world, casting it inside this place. I managed to salvage a few creatures along with it - mostly smaller beings such as the Grimalkynes, as well as a handful of Wyverns, and even some Elder Dragons who had attempted to avoid and escape the bloody conflict. That was all I could manage before I was too spent by the effort, and the devastation claimed my physical form as well.

Lumiere shrugged, a self-deprecating smile on her lips.

And that is the story of my failure. If there's any lesson you should take from all that I said, it's undoubtedly this: do not attempt to do everything alone, no matter how strong you may think you are. Surround yourself with trusted allies, and do not be afraid to rely on them to fulfill key roles in your plans. She held a finger up, shaking it in caution. It's true that there is no shame in solitude, and a lone, mighty warrior may succeed where a thousand would fail. But conversely, sometimes a thousand weaker men may accomplish greater things than even the greatest Hero could, thanks to the power of unity and cooperation. Knowing when to go at it alone and when to rely on your allies is one of the key qualities of any leader. And you, as a royal, should learn this lesson well.

Having said her piece, Lumiere fell silent, allowing Francisca the time to fully comprehend what she'd just heard. The princess thought deeply about what she'd been told for several minutes, during which Lumiere made sure she would not be disturbed, quietly removing the used dishes from the table they had dined at. The two Grimalkynes from earlier, who surprisingly had assisted Lumiere in cooking, watched her from afar, seemingly understanding that she was mulling over something important.

Eventually, Francisca came out of her thoughtful trance, and gave Lumiere a sideways look.

"Thank you for telling me this story. You gave me some important food for thought, in addition to the one for the stomach," she honestly told her. "I hope it wasn't too uncomfortable for you..."

Not at all... I actually feel a little better now that I told you everything, the older woman reassured her. Perhaps what I needed was this kind of closure. Having no one to talk with about this was... not easy. Your presence here helped me. Thank you.

"I'm glad I was of some use," Francisca replied with a small smile. It was the pure truth, too: this was the first time she was told she'd helped someone, other than Rowena of course, and it made her feel... good. (I could get used to feeling like this), she thought, pondering the warmth that Lumiere's thankful words left in her bosom.

Hmm... Say, I have been thinking, Lumiere spoke up after a brief period of silence at the table. Do you want to go and give the Shard a try now? You've taken a nice bath, you've eaten a hearty meal, and you appear happy and relaxed. I would dare say you're in the perfect state of mind to take the next step in this adventure.

"Eh..." Francisca hesitated at those words, feeling a bit of trepidation. She thought about it, glancing up at the older woman. She could tell from Lumiere's general demeanor that she wouldn't push her into anything, but could also plainly see that she hoped for a positive answer. She tapped a finger to her lips, seriously pondering the proposal, and found herself leaning towards agreeing to it.

Undoubtedly, she still felt anxiety about it, but on the other hand, at this exact moment she felt she could face the unknown with relative peace of mind. (Is this what she meant when she said a nice bath and meal are good for mind and soul?), the princess wondered. If that was the case, Lumiere was definitely the kind of person who planned things out in detail... which made her past blunder in the vanished world all the more painful for her, she suspected. Or perhaps, it had been the grim lesson she learned from that incident.

After some more pondering, Francisca reached a decision. She looked at Lumiere with determination, and nodded.

"If not now, when? Let me try."

=O=O=

"I'm not too sure about this anymore," Francisca admitted, feeling her earlier confidence evaporating.

She'd followed Lumiere to a basement area with no teleportation devices. The other woman explained to her that the Shard had been placed in a harder-to-access area on purpose, so that it could only be accessed intentionally, rather than stumbled upon by accident. But there was also another, more practical reason for it being isolated.

Namely, its mere presence was terrifyingly oppressive.

The sensation had started as they approached through a long corridor in the basement. Initially, it just felt like a light pressure, not unlike how she'd been told someone would feel high up on a mountain peak. However, as the two women went deeper in along the corridor, the sensation had become stronger and stronger. Francisca wasn't sure exactly what was ahead, but she knew one thing: it held an absolutely incomparable, otherworldly power, enough so that its sheer existence made it feel like as if the air was too thick to breathe normally, and the body felt heavier as well.

Francisca felt Lumiere's eyes on her and glanced to her side, breathing rapidly. "Um... are you sure this Shard called me here? It almost feels like I'm being warned away, to be honest...", she muttered in between breaths. Lumiere shook her head.

I'm positive. The reason you're feeling like this is the same reason you perceive me as a giant: the Shard's presence is taking a form your perception can comprehend, she explained. She then rubbed her chin. The oppressive presence you told me you're feeling is most likely due to your own fears about this situation. You're facing something unknown, and you're naturally anxious and afraid. She glanced at the young princess, noticing her pallor, and sighed. Perhaps I was too hasty. Do you want to head back? There's always time to come here another day.

Francisca paused, biting her lip as she stood still and considered turning back. Then, she shook her head and looked up at Lumiere.

"No. It'll never get easier than this if what you say is true. I need to see for myself what the Shard is all about at least once, or my perception of it will never change, right?" she argued. Lumiere blinked at the unexpected answer, then smiled lightly and nodded.

That is true, she agreed. She then gave Francisca a knowing look. You know... you're stronger than you, yourself, think. All you really need is to become aware of that strength.

"I wish it was that easy," Francisca shook her head. "To be honest, if you weren't here I would've fled already. I've never felt like this in my life."

And you probably never will again, Lumiere commented. Part of why you're feeling this so strongly is because you're perceiving the power that is fueling this magical world, too. It was created using the Shard's power, after all.

"Wait," Francisca said, stopping as she heard those words. "If that's the case, wouldn't it mean that taking the Shard away would make this world cease to exist?"

No. This world's existence is now set apart from the Shard, although it is still capable of regulating it, Lumiere explained. In fact, most of the Shard's power is inextricably tied to the City of Forever. Taking the Shard will actually weaken it, as its power will be left behind, to maintain this place's existence. Lumiere tapped her chin, thinking. Offhand, I would say that there is enough leftover magical power in this world to sustain its existence for another hundred million years or so. In other words, it's not going away anytime soon. She looked at Francisca. This stored power could also be consumed in order to bring everything inside this magical plane in the material world. Doing so, of course, will destroy the book. But, if you take the Shard and ever feel like bringing Rianobed, and the remnants of the vanished world, into your own, then know that you are capable of doing so.

"Huh... interesting," Francisca murmured as she resumed walking, lost in thought. "So, this giant mansion, and the land below, could be taken out and placed in the world... hmmm. I wonder if..."

Lumiere's lips curved into an unseen smile as the princess began to ponder various possibilities that came to her mind. Francisca's anxiety visibly subsided as she did so, her tense movements becoming more relaxed. (Good, she's unwinding a bit. As expected, her discomfort was mostly from her own fears. Getting distracted is removing it,) the older woman thought. Matching her pace to that of her smaller companion, she remained silent and advanced down the tunnel, keeping an eye out so that Francisca wouldn't trip or hit an obstacle.

Before long, the pair came to a pair of large ornate brass double doors. Stopping, Lumiere reached out and pulled Francisca back before she walked face first into the imposing surface. The princess yelped, then blinked as she looked up at the massive metal slabs. Her companion chuckled.

Welcome back from whichever mindscape you were lost in, my young friend, she teased. Francisca blushed, realizing she nearly embarrassed herself by smacking right into the giant doors before her eyes. She gave Lumiere a halfhearted glare.

"You could have warned me a little earlier," she accused. The other woman chuckled.

I could have, but you looked like you were having some pleasant flights of fancy, and I didn't have the heart to disturb you, she replied. A wink and a smirk followed. Besides, I see you're much less tense. I did tell you that it was mostly just your fears, didn't I?

Francisca blinked, then realized that Lumiere was exactly right. There was still a powerful pressure she felt weighing down on her, but the ominousness behind it was gone, and she could breathe normally. She frowned as she felt a little bit of anxiety return, and attempted to ruthlessly squash it, then gave Lumiere an urgent look, nodding at the double doors. The pale-skinned woman nodded, and advanced until she was right in front of the large portal. She then laid her hands on the heavy metal slabs, and pushed.

There was an unmistakable screeching sound as the old metal protested upon moving again after the Heavens only know how many years, and the huge doors slowly pried open. Francisca gulped as she felt a blast of cool air hit her in the face while Lumiere continued to open the doors with no apparent effort, and closed her eyes, waiting for the sound of the moving door to end.

Finally, the screeching noise died down, and after a few moments, the princess slowly reopened her eyes, peering into the room behind the now-open gate. What she saw took her breath away.

The room beyond the gate was extremely large, with a tall ceiling that went much higher than the roof of the corridor she was standing in. She estimated it to be at least fifteen meters tall. The room was entirely made in smooth marble, and immaculately white, unlike the corridor leading to it, whose gray coloration and uneven surfaces suggested it was made of limestone. There was no decorum other than eight torch sconces placed at regular intervals: the room was almost blindingly white, but otherwise devoid of any ornaments, with the exception of a large dais placed exactly at its center. The torches were obviously magical in nature: rather than a normal fire, they held what appeared to be very bright, pale yellow flames, and no smoke rose from them.

What truly attracted attention, however, was the object placed on the dais. There, hovering about half a meter off the floor and slowly spinning around, was the single largest prism crystal Francisca had ever seen.

The massive hexagonal object dominated the room: its upper tip nearly reached the ceiling, and it was nearly as wide as the dais it rested over. It was of a lovely, deep purple color, like an enormous amethyst, and was transparent enough she could see the opposite side of the room through it, though the white marble appeared brilliantly purple through it. The torches' light reflected off its surface as it spun, casting purple hues around the room at random. The best way to describe this object was... majestic.

Francisca stared in awe at the Shard for what felt like an eternity, before she felt a light touch on her shoulder. She abruptly let out the breath she hadn't realized she was holding in, and briefly hunched over, panting as she attempted to get her breathing under control again. She then looked up at Lumiere, whose hand was still on her shoulder.

"This crystal is the Shard...?" she asked weakly. Lumiere gave her a curious look, then shook her head.

This is the Shard, yes... although I don't see it as a crystal. It must be how your mind perceives it, she replied. Francisca blinked, then glanced back at the large prism hovering in the room.

"It's not a crystal? Then... what do you see?" she asked, curious. Lumiere smiled and touched her index finger to her lips, as if to say 'I am not telling'. The princess gave her an annoyed look. "Let me guess... 'you must find out on your own'?"

Just so. You will see its true form... eventually. Assuming, of course, that you choose to embrace it, the older woman replied. Until then, well... what it really looks like isn't important for the purpose of trying it out, don't you think? Besides... you will know it when you see it. I guarantee that.

"I... guess that's true," Francisca nodded slowly. She then looked at the crystal again. "So... um. How do I do this?"

Walk up to it and touch it, was the reply. The princess nodded and waited for more instructions. When none came, she stared at Lumiere in open disbelief.

"T-that's it? Just touch it?" she asked, nonplussed. Lumiere nodded.

That's it. For the purpose of a trial, that's more than enough, she confirmed. It would be a bit more complex if you were trying to permanently claim it as yours, but that's not the case, so a simple touch will be enough.

"...I'm equal parts relieved and disappointed," Francisca admitted, sighing deeply as she hung her head low. "I was expecting something more... grandiose."

You'll get grandiose if and when you claim the Shard for good, my over-imaginative young friend, Lumiere chuckled, amused by the princess's underwhelming reaction. Let's take one step at a time, eh?

Francisca nodded, then stared ahead with determination and took her first step forward. As she did so, she felt the oppressive sensation from before make a return. This time, however, she knew that it was merely her own uncertainty and fear attempting to hinder her, and put every ounce of willpower she could muster into quashing those anxieties. Slowly, she advanced step by step, until eventually, she was within reach of the spinning prism. Then, she lifted her right hand, reached out, and touched the crystal's surface.

For a moment, nothing happened, and she wondered if she'd done something wrong. Then, a strange sensation, like a rush of energy, shot through her hand and up her arm, and she felt a peculiar warm sensation spread into her body. She fought back the sudden urge to yank her hand away from the crystal, and waited until she couldn't feel the surge anymore. Then, slowly, she removed the hand from the crystal, and stared at it with curiosity.

"...There was some kind of surging sensation, but besides that, I don't feel any different. Did it work?" she wondered aloud. Hearing the sound of footsteps, she looked at her side and saw that Lumiere had walked up to her. The other woman wordlessly grasped the princess's extended hand and briefly closed her eyes, concentrating, then looked down at her and nodded.

It worked. I can feel a connection has been established between you and the Shard, she confirmed. You should now be able to begin collecting genetic information, and using it.

"'Begin'? Shouldn't there be some already from when you used it?" Francisca inquired, curious. Lumiere shook her head.

No. As I mentioned earlier, I had to burn through every ounce of my power to create this place and save as much of the vanished world as I could, she explained. As a result, the Shard was... reset, I guess you could say. All data accumulated in it up until that point was wiped away, and it is now in a virginal state, so to speak - a blank slate ready for you to write on anew. She sighed. It's a shame - I had accumulated the genetic information of every creature in the vanished world, but it's all lost now. Well, I guess it is what it is.

"I see. Um... so what should I copy first?" Francisca asked, unsure. Lumiere smiled.

Why, isn't it obvious? she replied coyly as she turned around and headed for the exit, beckoning for the princess to follow. We're starting with your new friends - the Grimalkynes. She giggled. I can't wait to see what you look like with cat ears...

Francisca blinked, then followed the pale-skinned woman, feeling a little suspicious of her oddly giddy reaction. She didn't know what Lumiere found so funny, but suspected it was something silly, embarrassing, or possibly both.

She only hoped it was not something she would never be able to live down.

=O=O=

"So, um. From what you told me earlier, all I have to do is be close enough to a creature, and… this power does the rest?" Francisca asked Lumiere on their way back. The other woman nodded.

Yes. Just get close enough, and you will acquire their genetic information, she confirmed. I expect that you'll be able to pick information up from about fifteen meters away, at first. Not very far, but the more creatures you copy, the more the Shard will grow, and so will your range. At least, that's how it was for me…

"I see. I... really don't feel any different, though. Is that normal?" the princess asked, torn between relief and disappointment. Lumiere gave her a curious glance.

I thought you'd be relieved that you are unchanged, particularly mentally, she commented. But yes, it's normal. This power isn't like the monsterization process that human women who turn into mamono undergo. It merely provides you a base to work with. Your personality is untouched. She tapped her chin. With that said, I believe I mentioned earlier that you should be careful about using the Shard's ability to copy someone's knowledge and mannerism. Unlike a mere physical transformation, doing that can alter your behavior, though it's generally temporary. She glanced at Francisca. And you should also probably be careful with Elder Dragon-class creatures. Their nature is far from mundane, and that could be troublesome.

"You mentioned Elder Dragons before. What are they, exactly? Just very old dragons?" Francisca asked. Lumiere vigorously shook her head.

Hahaha, no! Elder Dragons are… hm, well, they often don't even resemble dragons, she explained. It's less a monster type, and more a category that was made up by the Hunters of the vanished world. Lumiere fell into 'teacher mode' again, waving her finger as she spoke. Unlike other monster types, which classify monsters by shared traits – ah, I'll teach you about those later – Elder Dragons are 'creatures that defy ordinary understanding', and reside outside of the standard ecosystem. They are rare creatures with immense power that have lived since ancient times. She shrugged as she walked. I suppose you could call them a 'phenomenon'. Disasters. Cataclysms. Living, breathing forces of nature. Remember, it was a war between Elder Dragons that destroyed the vanished world.

"Huh… are there any beings in my world that could be called Elder Dragons?" Francisca inquired, curious. Lumiere nodded.

Yes. Offhand, I can think of your Demon Lord, of course, she replied. And then there's those… 'Lilim', was it? From what I gathered about them, they are powerful enough to fall in this category. She scratched her cheek, thinking. Hmm… maybe those 'chaos gods' I have heard about. And… obviously, the gods in your pantheon. Ares, Eros and a few other names I can't quite remember. She nodded to herself. That should be about it, as far as my knowledge of your world goes.

"I see…" the princess murmured. The pair walked the rest of the return trip in silence, with Francisca lost in thought and Lumiere quietly giving her thinking space.

Eventually, the two made their way back to the dining room. There, they found the two Grimalkynes lounging around while snacking on the leftovers from the earlier meal. Francisca stopped at the dining room's entrance, unsure of how to proceed. Sensing her hesitation, Lumiere gently placed a hand on her back and lightly pushed her forward.

Go on, she told the anxious princess. Get a little closer. We're about thirty meters away, you should be able to pick up their information about halfway there.

"Um… all right, here I go…" the young girl nodded. Slowly, she began to walk towards the two cat-folk.

She was less than a third of the distance in when it hit, and it was gone so quickly she almost missed it. It started as a jolt that ran through her body, and then she felt the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. Francisca blinked. The feeling was not at all what she had expected, and she was sure that, had she not been anxiously awaiting for something to happen, she'd have dismissed it as just her nerves acting up.

The rushing sensation was gone almost immediately, but Lumiere noticed nonetheless, and quickly walked up to the princess, who had abruptly stopped moving. The Grimalkynes also appeared to sense something was amiss, as they stopped munching on their food and approached Francisca, curious. The younger girl looked up at her pale-skinned companion.

"That was strange," she murmured, still confused by the speed at which it all happened. "It was like that time I touched a Thunderstone by accident, only not as unpleasant."

Sounds about right. I stopped paying attention to it eventually, but I remember it feeling that way when it first happened, Lumiere confirmed. She then rubbed her chin, pondering the event. Twenty meters… that's a longer range than I had anticipated for you. It seems like you're very compatible with the Shard. As expected of the one specifically chosen by it, really.

"So, um… I got that 'genetic information'?" Francisca asked. At Lumiere's nod, she continued. "So… what do I do now?"

Hm… for starters, I would say remove your clothes, the taller woman answered. At Francisca's blank expression, she elaborated. When you use the Shard's chimeric power, your body structure changes. The exact change varies based on what genes you're manipulating and how complete the change you undergo is, but generally speaking, your size can vary, and you may grow extra body parts. She pointed at the cat-folk's rears, where their tails were prominently visible and swishing around. In the Grimalkynes' case, you're most likely going to grow a tail, among other things. I know you've changed out of your nightwear, but you did put on the underwear I provided you after the bath, right?

"Ah… right," Francisca nodded, looking down at her current attire. It was a simple cyan-colored loose dress, which surprisingly fit her figure perfectly, as if tailor-made. Despite its simplicity, it still managed to showcase her lovely physique without being audacious about it. Beneath the dress, she also wore a pair of plain white panties with no particular frills. The outfit was completed by a pair of comfortable sand-colored flat gladiator sandals. Francisca suspected the entire outfit was, in fact, magically tailor-made to her exact measurements: it fit her too well for it to be otherwise.

Right, and what do you think is going to happen if you grow a tail while wearing tight-fitting panties? Lumiere patiently asked her. She nodded as understanding dawned in Francisca's eyes.

"That… would be very uncomfortable, wouldn't it?" the princess admitted meekly. The older woman nodded.

Yes. Yes, it would. At the very least, remove your panties, she urged. I understand you're embarrassed, but consider this: I am also a woman, and the Grimalkynes don't even see you as a female. I'm not sure what you're so concerned about… besides, didn't both of them already see you naked in the bath?

"That's… a good point," Francisca conceded. Sighing in resigned defeat, she nodded. "All right, I'll strip."

Hesitating momentarily, Francisca proceeded to do just that. She was surprised with how easily both the loose dress and the underwear came off – for the dress, it was simply a matter of pulling it over her head and sliding it off, and the panties were just as easy to slip down and off her legs. She paused briefly as she looked at her sandals and then at the Grimalkynes' paws, then shook her head and undid the sandals' ties as well, realizing that she was likely to hurt badly if her feet changed too. (I really hope I don't have to strip every time I use the Shard,) she thought. (That would be very embarrassing…)

For the future, I'd suggest either wearing specially made clothes, or just clothes you don't mind losing in an emergency, and foregoing use of underwear entirely, she advised. While in here, replacements are easy enough to conjure, but should you take this power and use it in real life, you'll need to decide whether convenience or modesty is more important. She shrugged. Well, there'll be time to think about it. Now, are you ready?

Francisca slowly nodded, instinctively covering her bare breasts with one hand as she stood before Lumiere, blushing lightly. She cast a furtive glance at the Grimalkynes, and noted with some relief that they only seemed curious about her behavior and nothing else. Shifting her attention back to Lumiere, she awaited further instructions.

Right. For this next part, you will have to improvise a little, I'm afraid, she warned her. I can give you a generic idea of how to do this, but… it's a power that right now, is inside you. I can only help so much, by describing loosely how it was for me. You'll have to do the rest. Do you understand?

The princess nodded again, and Lumiere seemed satisfied.

Good. Now… let's begin. For starters, try searching within your spirit until you find the 'sensation' you felt when you established contact with the Shard, she instructed the younger woman. I know it's an awfully vague instruction, but I really cannot put it in simpler words. Just… close your eyes and focus inward. She rubbed her chin. It might help if you hold a hand to your heart. The rhythm of your heartbeat may help you focus.

Nodding, Francisca did as instructed. Placing her right hand over her heart, she closed her eyes and focused on the gentle beat she could feel under her fingers. Slowly, she relaxed, and her breathing became attuned with her pulse, inhaling and exhaling regularly over several beats.

It only took a few seconds for her to 'find' the same warm sensation she'd felt when she established contact with the Shard. As she found it, she attempted to familiarize herself with it, and after a brief struggle, got a distinct sense that she would now be able to find it much more easily. She suspected it was the Shard itself actively making it easier to connect with it. Whichever the case, she had succeeded in achieving her goal, so she slowly reopened her eyes, taking care not to lose contact. Lumiere immediately knew she'd succeeded by the look in her eyes, and nodded in satisfaction.

Very good. Now that you managed it for the first time, subsequent uses should be much easier, she told her. Francisca nodded. Satisfied, the tall woman continued. This next part should actually be pretty easy. Just 'call' the power to yourself. After that, I'm pretty sure you'll instinctively know what to do.

Nodding again, Francisca closed her eyes again, and attempted to figure out how to, as Lumiere suggested, 'call' the power to her. At first she tried thinking intensely of phrases such as 'come here' and 'aid me', but nothing happened. She frowned, then changed her tactics: rather than focus on coherent thoughts, she relaxed, and vaguely let the idea of an invitation float in her mind.

The Shard's power reacted almost immediately, and she felt it respond to her invitation by offering a spark of knowledge. And at that moment, it was as if a book opened before her, and as Lumiere promised, she knew exactly what to do. Without hesitation, she claimed the offered knowledge, and eagerly made it her own.

Then she fell over forward.

"Whaaaaa?!" she cried out, feeling her body's balance shift. A peculiar sensation, like a light tension, made itself felt on top of her head, at the base of her back, and around her ankles, and she found herself unable to stand upright. She nevertheless was able to catch herself and avoid a painful impact with the floor by stopping her fall with her hands. As she did so, the same tension was felt in her palms and fingertips, as well as beneath her feet. Then the sensation spread to most of her body.

Francisca blinked as she became aware of a weird fluffiness forming around her neck, but her struggles to try and regain balance prevented her from checking what was going on. Straining in frustration, she was surprised to hear a distinctly feline hiss come out of her mouth instead of the sigh she was trying for. The noise was followed by a more human grunt as she tried to stand upright again – only to fail and fall forward again. This time, as she landed hands first, she became aware of something peculiar: the floor was colder than she remembered it.

As she kept struggling to get back up, a hand lightly grasped her shoulder, and she looked to her side to Lumiere, who was gently shaking her head.

Calm down. Your center of balance shifted, that's why you can't stand up, she reassured her. This is the very first time you changed your form. Your body needs to get used to this new development. It'll get easier over time, but for now, be patient. Her smile then became mischievous and teasing. You look really fluffy, by the way. Here, take a look.

Saying that, Lumiere reached behind Francisca, and the princess yelped loudly as she felt her hand grasp… something. It was a part that wasn't there before, and the sensation was both new and somehow natural. The older woman then brought her hand forward – and within her grasp was a cute, orange striped tail. It took Francisca several moments of confused blinking and one more stroke of Lumiere's hand before she realized that she was, in fact, looking at her own tail.

Her tail.

As the thought finally sank in, Francisca became anxious to look at herself, and hissed again in frustration at being unable to stand. Then, a movement to her side caught her attention, and she saw the two Grimalkynes, imitating her posture while looking at her with a peculiar expression. She could have sworn they were telling her, 'Pay attention to us'.

As she watched the cat-folk, they briefly collected themselves, bending their arms and slightly spreading their legs to better brace themselves, and then used their front limbs to carefully push themselves to an upright position. They repeated the movements several times, looking at her intently as they did, until they were satisfied that she'd grasped their intent: they were showing her how to stand without falling over. Francisca nodded at the Grimalkynes, then focused, trying to remember exactly the way they moved and how they'd balanced themselves by widening their arms as they pushed themselves up. She then imitated their movement as best she could.

The first attempt failed, and she nearly fell over backwards due to having pushed too hard before she found herself back on all fours, but on the second attempt, encouraged by a little dance from her feline friends, she managed to push with just the right amount of force to stand up without falling. She remained still for a few seconds, getting a sense of her new balance, then slowly brought her legs together to assume a more stable posture. Confident that she wouldn't fall over again, she exhaled slowly, smiled in triumph, and then began to satisfy her curiosity, examining her new form.

The first thing she noticed was that, much like the Grimalkynes, she had a sizable ruff around her neck area. That was the pleasant, soft fluffiness she'd felt earlier. The white fur enveloped her lower neck and shoulders, and proceeded to descend into her cleavage.

Speaking of which – and that was the point where she started to blush horribly – her breasts were completely exposed. Not a hint of fur covered them, and they looked no different than they did in her human form. Francisca automatically covered her chest in a self-conscious gesture, mortified. She hadn't expected this, instead guessing that she'd have a fur-covered chest like the Grimalkynes she was copying. A giggle came from her side, and she shot an amused Lumiere a dirty look.

"This is not funny," she pointed out, annoyed. "Why are my breasts bare?!"

Well… you are currently using a hybrid form that's midway between your regular human form and a Grimalkyne, she explained. It seems that for you, assuming a form midway between your target creature and your true self is easier, and so your particular version of the Ultimate Chimera's power defaults to this. The older woman shrugged. Besides, it's not uncommon for cat beastfolk to have bare breasts, or at the very least exposed nipples.

"These Grimalkynes don't, though!" Francisca protested. Lumiere raised an eyebrow.

Those two are both males. You're female, she noted. Francisca blinked, then glanced at the cat-folk.

"They… are?" she murmured, surprised. At Lumiere's nod, she glanced at the felines, then at her naked breasts, then back at the felines – and promptly covered her chest even more. The older woman rolled her eyes.

I assure you they aren't interested in you that way, she stated in an exasperated tone. If they did, they'd make it very obvious, since it's Lynian mating season. They're curious because your smell has suddenly become somewhat similar to theirs, but it still doesn't quite register as 'female Grimalkyne'. She raised an eyebrow. Also, Grimalkynes don't consider large breasts sexually attractive, anyway. For them, it's more a matter of scent than appearance.

"...are you sure?" Francisca asked, hesitant. Lumiere nodded firmly. The princess bit her lip, then slowly lowered her hands, eyeing the two cat-folk for any reaction. When all she got was curious, perplexed stares, she breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed. Clearly, Lumiere had been correct once again, and the two beastmen had no interest whatsoever in her as a woman.

Having calmed down from the unplanned panic attack, she resumed examining herself. Firstly, she noted that her fur pattern was essentially the same as the Grimalkynes: yellowish-orange with brown stripes on the body, with some white fur framing the sides of her abdomen and chest. Her hands were entirely covered in brown fur, as were her feet, and both featured prominent, very large, and very sharp looking dark brown claws instead of nails. (I could scratch someone up pretty badly with these,) Francisca thought, somewhat unnerved by the claws' menacing gleam.

Glancing down, she noticed that she was standing on her toes – which were also clawed – rather than the flat of her feet, and realized that detail, along with the newly-acquired tail she could see behind her, was the reason why she had struggled to regain her balance after she'd changed form: she was neither used to having extra weight on her back, nor accustomed to standing on her toes, and it had wreaked havoc on her sense of stability.

With that said, she currently felt as if both were completely natural things to her. She remembered Lumiere mentioning that the Shard's power would allow her to gain instinctual knowledge of how to properly use any new form she took, and guessed the reason she felt so comfortable so quickly had to be because of that.

She turned her attention to her tail, which unlike other body parts, was a completely new factor to her. Much like the rest of her body, it was covered in yellowish-orange fur with black stripes, and it was long enough to almost touch the ground with its tip while she stood. She tried to imagine it moving towards the front of her body, and to her surprise, it immediately reacted to her thought. (This is definitely the Shard's adaptation at work,) she realized. (There's no other way I'd just… know… how to move my tail.) She then blinked. ('My tail', huh… never thought I'd be using those words to refer to my own body in my whole life. This is kind of fun.)

Tentatively, she touched her tail, and flinched. Somehow, the contact felt rather sensitive. She knew some cats really didn't like having their tails touched, and guessed it had to be because they were, in fact, delicate.

She also noticed that she felt the smooth texture of the fur under her hand more strongly than usual. Turning her hand up, she blinked as she noticed orange flesh protrusions both on her palm and the tip of her fingers. Without thinking too much, she moved a clawed hand to tentatively poke one of the orange nubs – and was immediately stopped by Lumiere, who firmly grasped her hand to prevent her from doing so.

Don't. It'll hurt. A lot, the older woman cautioned her. Those are the same paw pads that felines have. They're very sensitive body parts. You can accurately feel texture of objects, pressure and even vibrations through them, as well as better perceive temperature shifts. But because they're so sensitive, they don't do so good with painful trauma. She wagged a finger before the princess's nose. They are tough, since felines walk on them, and can take impacts reasonably well, due to being cushioned – it's how cats can fall from great heights and land on their feet without excessive harm – but they don't do nearly as well with puncture wounds, cuts, or extreme heat and cold.

"Ah… r-right, I'll be careful," Francisca nodded, slightly shaken by the warning. Looking down at her hands again, she instead opted to lightly rub one of the pads on her fingers with her other hand, carefully keeping her sharp claws away from them. She realized Lumiere's information was accurate: she could feel the details of the pads – a very slightly rough surface, which gave a sense of firm toughness while still being soft to the touch. She tentatively flexed her hands open and close a few times, and couldn't feel any particular discomfort, though the sensation of closing her hand into a fist was much more pronounced.

Having finished examining her hands, Francisca idly rubbed the side of her head, pondering what she'd seen so far. She then paused and blinked. Something felt amiss. Tentatively, she started touching her neck, temples and cheeks, and before long she realized what was off.

Her ears were missing.

Alarmed, she gave Lumiere a panicked look, which became one of annoyance when she caught her struggling not to laugh. Her brows twitched.

"I'm going to scratch you sooner or later," she warned her in a flat voice. "Stop laughing and tell me what happened to my ears."

Lumiere, still struggling to hold in her laughter, pointed at the top of her own head. Francisca, confused, reached up, and her fingers almost immediately ran into an obstacle that wasn't there before. Blinking, she brought both hands up, and began to feel around. Soon, she realized the truth: her ears were still there – just, now they were on top of her head, rather than to the side. She groaned. (I should have expected this. The Grimalkynes have their ears there, too…) she thought, annoyed with herself for not having realized it sooner.

She felt her ears twitch under her fingers as she thought, and wondered if they reacted to her mood. (They probably do. My tail as well, I would guess. They say you can tell a cat's mood from ears and tail,) she mused as she felt around. While she couldn't see them – she made a mental note to find a mirror as soon as possible – she concluded from her exploration that they were the same pointed, tufted ears that the Grimalkynes possessed. Probably brown-colored, if comparing the rest of her body's color scheme to the Grimalkynes was any indication.

While checking her ears, she also became curious about her hair, which appeared to be as long as ever even in her new body, and spared a glance at it. She then openly sighed: while her hair color had changed into a slightly darker shade of her body fur, those rebellious hair drills that never seemed to go away were still prominently featured even in her changed form. (I can't believe that I'm being persecuted by these drills when I'm not even in a human form anymore,) she thought in frustration. (Are they some sort of punishment from the Chief God?)

Having exhausted her exploration subjects – she deliberately refused to check her more… private parts at that time, owing to the extreme embarrassment she felt at the idea – Francisca looked back at Lumiere, who had been sitting idly on a chair along with the Grimalkynes, who were still giving her curious looks while squatting on the floor.

"Um… so, what now?" the princess asked. The older woman raised her eyebrow.

What do you mean? There's no 'what now'. You're free to do as you please, she replied matter-of-factly. You can revert back to your usual appearance. You can opt to stay in that form, and familiarize yourself with it. I suppose you could also try the other part of your power, and see if you can learn the Grimalkynes' language…

"Their language…?" Francisca asked, her interest piqued. Lumiere nodded.

Of course. They communicate, you know, she confirmed. Granted, a lot of Grimalkyne communication is non-verbal, but they do have a rough language for when they need to coordinate complex actions. She rubbed her chin thoughtfully. I never bothered to learn it back when I was in the vanished world, but I think there are some notes in the Rianobed archives on Grimalkyne society that include information on their language. Feel free to peruse them, or anything else in the archives. I'll show you where they are later. For now, what will you do?

Francisca thought about it for a while. Ultimately, she decided there was only one possible answer to the question at that time. Looking up at Lumiere again, she smiled.

"I want to run around a bit," she stated. The pale-skinned woman smiled back at her.

I figured you would.

==Chapter 1: Remnant (End)==

((A/N: This concludes chapter 1. Feel free to leave feedback, particularly constructive criticism. I'm always open to suggestions. Next chapter will go a bit more in depth on the exact nature of the chimeric power introduced here – both it and Rianobed are part of the 'original generation' side of this setting, as well as feature a few important story-driving events. And a few more Monster Hunter things.

By the way, as far as visuals go, in the future you should refer primarily to artist 'MuHut' on deviantArt. A number of monstergirl forms in this fic will be based on his art, which is up there as far as quality goes. There are some exceptions, though, and I'll give credit to whichever pieces of art I based myself on from time to time. This chapter is an exception as the Grimalkyne hybrid form is entirely made up from scratch by me, and sadly there is no art available for it – my drawing ability is considered a crime against humanity, haha. If anyone wants to take a swing at making art of it, be my guest, I don't mind.

That's all for now. Author out.))