They sat there, for what seemed like eons, looking at each other, staring intensely without hesitation or fear.
She, the horned being of great power and infinite deviousness.
He, a traveler between the light and dark.
And there they sat, at odds with one another. Peering with dark eyes, Reimei spoke to her emotionlessly.
"Does death scare you so much that you need to keep it at bay with some kind of entertainment?"
"Oh, I would say even witches fear it, but boredom can be so droll at times that I'd rather not die that way. An infinite number of possibilities, a never-ending cycle of life…. we all have to keep ourselves entertained or what else? We die. That's all there is too it…" spoke Eua.
Reimei didn't react. He merely lifted his hand and ushered from the darkness the Orb of Fate: softly glowing blue amidst the outskirts of the room coming into view. Passing the placed 8 chairs in the circle, with two being occupied by Reimei and Eau, the Orb of Fate came to the center and shined bright.
"So, despite all that Rika, Komoto and the other's accomplished in the last world for their happy ending from this cycle of fate, you dare intercede to restart the cycle again?" Reimei spoke with spite in his voice. He peered into the depths of the Orb, seeing Rika and the others living peacefully.
Suddenly, memories from another of the broken worlds came forward, and all Reimei could understand was immense pain once more.
Whatever Eua was planning, it had to do with the dimensions already within the totality of the Orb of Fate. These worlds were places where a much older Witch of Fate, the Rika/Bernkastel was sifting through to repair.
So, why did Eua find such fancy with the worlds Satoko became the devisor?
*Who exactly are you, Eua? Do I know you somehow? Why do I have this feeling…* Reimei's thoughts were cut short.
"What can I say, Satoko-chan is rather entertaining. I do wonder how my "little cat" will fend for herself against the Master of Traps?" Eua chuckled softly and rested her head on the fist of her right hand, peering with a fox-like gaze at Reimei.
"No." Reimei spokes suddenly.
"Ara ara…Reimei-san…you tell me you aren't intrigued at all? It's not like you have a choice in the matter. Another world called forth Satoko-chan's desires to me, and I helped in kind….
…Even Rika-chan said the other worlds were broken and needed repair; that their pain was so immense that they began merging into others to resolve it. Satoko-chan's pain and despair were so profound, what else could I do but help? And…stem my boredom just a little longer?" Eua smiled in an almost uncaring way.
Reimei gripped the armrest of his chair deeply. The mere audacity of this woman reached no bounds, but to have her threaten the happiness the others found didn't sit well with him. Calmly, he relaxed his grip and breathed. Looking up at Eua again, he opened his eyes filled with darkness that could piece any soul.
"Another game to win then. But you underestimate them. Rika-chan is more formidable than you will ever know..." he rose from his seat.
"Even if you have a connection to her, even if Satoko-chan accepts her fate and becomes Lambda-Delta, and even if you are connected to their beings somehow in whatever way or form…" Reimei began to walk towards a cautious Eua.
"Even if Hanyuu or Komoto do not cross paths or exist in these worlds." He walked past the Orb of Fate and towards Eua, who rose from her seat in defiance as well.
"Even if there are no allies…and all the cards of Fate are stacked against her…" Reimei grinned, now standing before Eua with full confidence.
"Rika-chan will defy Fate, for however long it takes. And she will save Satoko-chan in the process." The die was cast, and Reimei set his cards and wager on the table.
And now, all that was left was for Eua to lay her cards on the table, if there were any.
"Can she now?" Eua cocked her head sideways, grinning. "I may break her, or help her. Who knows, but we will see Reimei-san…we will see…"
And they looked at each other, their eyes narrowed.
Together they spoke to the other, wondering who would have the answer first.
"But Reimei…"
"But Eua…"
"Can you believe in this?"