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Mirii... unfortunately, I can't explain everything: the information is only reserved for those who work and live inside the Shrine. If you pass that shoji, all alone… you will automatically start your quest. I would have warned you about it, if you wanted to come… that's your right to know about this. I thought it wasn't necessary to explain the essentials this rapidly, since you would understan
"Enough with the talk." Mirii nodded, while looking at Hun. "Hunley, please enter inside the room." Mirii's head rose. "I don't trust this voice… this version of facts feels way too convenient for this unknown entity."
Hun nodded.
"Good idea, Mirii." He turns his head towards the shoji, as he walks in front of it. "I'll retrieve the list, so Mirii can be safe."
… you broke the prophecies…! Don't follow her ideas any longer, Master…!
Hun opened the shoji: a wooden wall was right behind it!
"Huh?!" Hun took some steps backwards. "A wall?!"
Mirii's irises shrunk. Her eyes were seeing… herself wearing a kimono, with her tentacles rolled up above her head. Hun turned behind, staring at the girl: she was slowly walking towards the wall…
"Mirii…?" His head was turning gradually to the right, with his face still pointing at Mirii.
Master… please, let me explain… it's not what it looks like…
"What's going on?!" Hun rose his head, his irises pointed at the ceiling, his face was frowning a lot. "Why Mirii is walking towards the wall?!"
… you weren't supposed to open that shoji… if Mirii opened it, the shoji would have revealed a special room which only she can enter… I put a wall at the entrance, my Master, to prevent you from getting overwhelmed by the magic surrounding the room.
"So, you wanted to hurt Mirii… didn't you?!" Hun jumped as he threw his fists in the air. "Release her! Now!"
Master, please… Mirii will still not enter inside that room, because of the wall. Actually… in your eyes it appears like a wall, but from her perspective… it's a mirror. A mirror who would transfer all the magic from the room, while she keeps looking at it.
Hun bended forward: two hands grabbed his right hand, as his shoulders immediately twisted to his right seeing Fara.
"Fara, let me go!" He pulls his right arm. "Mirii is in danger!"
"Big bro, don' do it pleas'…" Fara's eyebrows were up, her mouth downturned.
"Why?!" Hun frowned a lot.
"Becuse… I 'an perceive well 'ntentions 'rom this 'oice…" Fara nodded once. "I… I trsted th' 'oice evr since th' beginnin'…"
"And why you didn't say so before?!" Hun snorted.
"… I though' Technie woul' have attackd me…" Fara sighed loudly. "I-I didn' 'xpect 'er to 'ake you opn th' door… bu' trust th' voice, please!" Her hands grasped his. "Give th' voice a chance…"
Hun kept looking at his sister for a while… he turns forward, tilting his head up and looking at the ceiling.
"Tell us your true intentions, whoever you are!" Hun growled. "And be honest, since you are supposed to be on our side!"
Master… first of all, I want to confirm that Mirii is not in danger… hopefully this message will calm you down a bit.
Hun kept staring at the ceiling.
Before explaining our true intentions, it's better to say something about the Watching Tile… after all, it's not true that a mortal is forced to reconstruct one.
"So, it was true…" Hun turned towards Mirii, which was staring at the wall, while standing still. "… I knew that punishment was suspicious, ever since the beginning!" He looks back up. "Even Mirii knew that this whole situation was suspicious! I should have done more, that day… so Mirii wouldn't"
Master, please! Believe in me… I-I'm saying the truth, this time! We… we couldn't really told you and your friend the truth, normally.
Hun's eyebrows lowered.
"… why you couldn't…?" His teeth gritted.
Our fear was that you believed more Mirii's words than ours… and we were right! If we asked Mirii to help us out… there would have been the possibility she would not only say "no", but to do everything possible for not letting us receiving her help! You would have helped her out, since you want to see Mirii happy… and we would never run this little, innocent experiment on her! That's why we didn't
"An experiment?!" Hun growled. "Release Mirii! No one shall be treated as a testing object!"
No, no! We don't want to make any harm to her… she's, after all, a heroine for the Shrine. It's practically guaranteed that Mirii will not suffer any harm from it. This is a promise… said from a dear friend of the owner. Go ask him about me… I'm sure he would be more than happy to tell you who I was in the past.
"… I'm not seeing the owner anywhere here, now…" Hun turns around. "… for now, release Mirii: I need to hear the owner first!"
Too late… not even I can stop the magic flowing in her soul. She lives in the sweeter waters ever since she was born… her attitude is shaped to fit in that society… such attitude might affect negatively your behavior, my Master. That's why we want to run a little experiment on her.
"What experiment?!" Hun rose back his head, while frowning a lot. "Wake her up! Experiments aren't anything good"
This experiment is harmless! Please, don't worry… besides, the effects will surely run out within this afternoon and Mirii will not remember anything that happened prior that time.
Hun snorted, frowning a bit more.
"What kind of experiment you want to do on her…?" He inhales air from his nose loudly.
As I was saying, Mirii lived into the sweeter waters for a long time… and since you are with her for the majority of the time, she might affect your behavior into one who might be incompatible with the Master role you are supposed to have. We know you proved the opposite… but we would still like to see how Mirii acts under the experiment effects: we might find a better occasion for other Inklings, as well!
"You are still not explaining the experiment…" Hun turned his head towards Mirii, as she starts turning a bit left and right, stretching the arm and leg closer to the wall. "… which it's making me nervous, since Mirii is acting so weird right now."
The magic transfer process is almost complete… Mirii will now act as if she always lived in the Shrine, embracing its culture and style. She will know you two, albeit in a slight different way than usual… and even people from the Shrine she never met before!
"Wow… it does sound incredible!" Hun's mouth opened wide. "I should know more about what the Shrine can do… you never know what kind of use I can get for future situations!"
Good choice… for now, let me finish: I'm just getting to the end of this speech! The rest of the people she knew before… they will appear as complete strangers. Even her skills… she wouldn't remember any single one of them. But in return… she has newer skills to use! Skills who might be useful on your mission…
"But wait!" Hun bended forward, as his eyebrows went up. "She must know something from the whole Agent affair! It will take too long to explain to her"
Don't worry about it… despite the fact Mirii seems changed… I'm sure her intelligence is still as great as before! She will quickly understand the situation… just make sure to pretend you are helping Mirii into her mission of reconstructing the Watching Tile: you would make her situation more easier.
"… understood." Hun nodded, as his arms were stretching down. "But don't think I'm that happy to see my friends being used for this experiment: she should have been treated far better than this."
"… Master?" Mirii turns behind, as her mouth opened a bit. "Oh!" She blushes a bit, as her hands covered her mouth. "Why… it's a great honor for me to meet you, my Master." Mirii bowed down for a moment. "Such rare occasions are a gift for the honest, hardworking Squid…"
"Hi Mirii!" Hun's right hand waved, while his cheeks blushed a bit.
"Hi!" Fara's arms waved together in front of the girl.
"Good morning, Master Fara." Mirii turned towards the little girl, bowing down for a short period of time.
Mirii lifts back her posture, while smiling at her.
"… ehm…" Hun looks down-right for a moment. "H-How are you, today… Mirii?" His eyes closed, while grinning a bit.
Mirii's face pointed at the boy.
"Fine… as usual." Mirii's eyes closed, as her hands went down in the middle, her head tilted while giggling a bit. "Of course, with such a respectable, wise guide leading this Shrine to its best…" Mirii blushes a lot. "… it's something I would expect every day."
Hun laughs while blushing a lot and scratching the back of his head.
"Wh-why, thank you for the kind words!" He closes his eyes while grinning for a moment. "It makes me so happy to know that the people of the Shrine appreciate my job…!"
"Hmm…" Mirii's head turned up-right, as her right forefinger and thumb rubbed together, her left hand was resting on her left hip, while her mouth rose slightly. "… I checked the backyard… I finished checking that report of yesterday… I finished the hot baths analysis…"
Hun's eyebrows downturned.
"… Mirii?"
"Excuse me for a moment, Master." Her irises turned towards Hun. "I have to mentally check if I finished doing my daily tasks… if I forget only one of those, our Shrine is taking the serious risk of being attacked." Her eyebrows lowered a bit. "And the only one to blame such event… it would be me."
"W-wait, what are you saying?!" Sweat was jumping out from his head, as his arms opened a bit. "N-no, you are not doing wrong!" He shakes his head. "Don't think that… you are doing the best you can!"
Mirii smiles a bit.
"Thank you, Master… but I can't forget the high responsibilities I have in regards of this Shrine." Her irises pointed up-right, as her right forefinger and thumb rubbed together. "Its protection depends from my deeds…"
"… sorry for the question, but… why are you rubbing your fingers like that?" A sweat drop appears on Hun's right side of his head.
"… nice observation, Master." Her irises returned on the boy. "It's a habit I got ever since I was very young… I do want to get rid of it, since it has no real use for me. Although… it's so hard for me to do that." She sighed, as her right hand grasped her right hip. "Because I tend to forget that, way too easily…"
"I see…" Hun's eyes blinked. "She seems so different… yet, I cannot think she's not Mirii… it's like this is another side of her I never knew about!"
"I'm sure I checked everything concerning the Shrine's defenses… for now." Mirii nodded. "Later I have to do the second and last check of the day." She bended forward, as her eyebrows rose while keeping their downturned pose. "With those Demon Squids around, it's almost impossible being relaxed."
"Which role do you have…?" Hun took some steps towards Mirii.
"Defensive specialist." Mirii's arms formed a cross. "My job is to make sure the magical defenses are working correctly." Her arms returned near her sides. "It's a job I personally find more adapt to my capacities…" Her eyelids lowered, while smiling a bit. "… I have a keen sense of safety, my Master. There are only few moments, where I truly feel safe… for the rest of the day, I'm attentive and ready to listen those feelings."
"Ehm… so, you are always worried?" Hun's eyebrows went up, his mouth downturned.
"I prevent such state, by following those special instincts." Mirii's head tilted to her left, while smiling and closing her eyes. "I trust them as much as myself… without them, I would feel lost."
"I see…" Hun nodded slightly.
"Masters, if you excuse me…" Mirii's left forefinger pushed her fringe a bit. "I have been tasked to move out of the Shrine and venture inside the sweeter waters… rather odd, considering my specialty in protecting the Shrine rather than running errands for it, but I accepted anyway: this Shrine isn't just a mere workplace… but it's also home." Mirii nodded. "And if my home can improve even more than it already is… I'll too."
"That phrase really reminded me Mirii…" Hun's eyes closed, while smiling. "It's satisfying hearing that Mirii can still remain as herself… I was really missing her already."
Mirii's head turned around, as her irises were moving in the same direction as her head.
"… why are you inside the Chamber of Destiny, Master Hun?" She took some steps on her left, looking down right. "Even Master Fara… what's the meaning of this?" She returns behind, frowning slightly.
"Ah, ehm…" Hun's forehead was covered in sweat, as his irises were looking left and right. "Well… I… ah!" He chuckles a bit. "Actually, we were… looking for you!" He nodded.
"Looking for me…?" Mirii's right fingers were resting on her chest, as she blushes a bit. "… I-I'm very surprised: the Masters themselves looking for me is an event who goes beyond my imagination!" Mirii's hands went behind her back, as her head rose. "… why were you looking for me…?"
"Because we want to help you out in your task!" Hun smiled, while closing his eyes.
Mirii's eyes expanded.
"… receiving help from the Masters… m-me of all Squids?!" Mirii turned left and right once, as her irises shrunk. "I… I can't believe the Masters, the youngest this Shrine ever had, desire to help a mere Defensive Specialist such as me!" Her hands covered her mouth. "I-Is that even a possibility according to our wise Book of Law?!" She swallows silently.
"It's more than possible… it's true!" Hun nodded twice. "We were thinking about the mission you had to take." He turned towards his little sister. "We heard you never went out the sweeter waters…" His right eye winked. "… and we were getting worried."
Fara nodded slowly, while smiling widely. Hun's head returned pointing at Mirii.
"You would have been all alone…" His arms moved a bit. "Dealing with their weird things"
"You mean those cheap toys they use?!" Mirii frowned. "Hmpf… if you were thinking that I would be scared of them, think again: only Demon Squids can truly scare me." Her arms formed a cross. "That thing which they call technology… a disgrace for this Shrine."
"Ah, becuse Technies do 'new abou' th' Shrine…" Fara opened her mouth a bit.
"… Technies?" Mirii's face turned towards Fara, as her right eyebrow rose. "Who are Technies…?"
"N-nothin'!" Sweat jumped out from Fara's head, as her hands kept moving sideways and in opposite ways. "It's… a-a lil' nickname I-I came up 'ith!" She nodded rapidly, then she grins at Mirii.
"Technies… … in a sense, it does describe those fools correctly." Mirii's left forefinger pushed her fringe. "They still refuse to get out of the sweeter waters… thinking to pass the rest of their days, watching the Sun going by…"
Hun's eyes were expanded, as his irises shrunk.
"Mirii… hating technology?!" His hands opened a bit. "I… I can't see that! Mirii is so passionate about technology!" His jaw dropped.
Mirii's eyelids lowered to the middle, as her mouth smiled a bit.
"Master Hun… if you would allow me to communicate a small, humble idea…" She bowed down quickly. "I can't do this normally, considering the rules explicitly say to not suggest any ideas for the Master… unless they are willing to listen, of course." Her head tilted to her left a bit, as her eyes closed and her mouth smiled.
"Oh… sure, go ahead!" Hun nodded, while smiling.
"This is the first time I'm venturing inside the sweeter waters… … aside from reconstructing a tile, I would also like to prepare the Inklings we will encounter." She laughed a bit. "Reforming them…" Her eyes closed. "Telling them about the greatness of our Shrine… my message would clearly leave a mark on their minds." Her eyes opened. "That mark will make them realize how wrong they have been, after all those years…"
Hun's face got paler.
"… ehm… well… does the Shrine n-need that…?" He grins a bit.
Mirii gasped loudly.
"M-Master!" Her hands covered her mouth. "The Shrine would greatly improve from the normal Inklings' presence: everyone of us would improve our powers, letting us improve the overall Shrine and even protect it effectively from the Demon Squids!"
Mirii frowned a bit, as her hands slid down.
"… my senses aren't giving me any signs…" Her eyes squeezed. "Are you a Demon Squid disguised as the Masters?!"
"Nooooo, no no no no!" Hun jumped, as he took some steps backwards. "Th-that sounds… so imperative! And… I hate imperative tones! Becaaaauussee… I hate giving orders! A lot!" His arms stretched down.
"Hmm…" Mirii's hands went behind her back.
"Bu-but the idea is actually not that bad!" Ink starts coming down from his forehead, as he smiles widely and starts pulling the top of his shirt. "I-I love it! It does seem to be effective!"
"You love it…?!" Mirii's hands clasped as her eyes sparkled, her cheeks blushed and her smile grew wide. "Th-the Master in person said that…" Her eyes went slightly watery. "I… I have no words…"
Hun chuckles, as his right wrist drenches his forehead.
"Buuut there is one thing you need to know… so… … c-can I say that?!"
"Why asking that, Master?" Mirii giggled. "Please do tell: information from you is a wise lecture to learn deeply…" Her hands went down.
Hun blushes a lot.
"Eeeehhhmmm… you see… ehm… a-alright, we can't go there now! Because…" He looks to his right for a moment. "Because we are supposed to meet someone! Who precisely you might wonder… eehhmm… we are supposed to meet… guides! Yes, guides!" He nodded jerkily, as his mouth flattened.
Mirii's right eyebrow rose.
"Guides… who guide us through the city! Sooo…" He bended a bit down, as his heart starts beating faster. "… sooo, we will know where to find the tile… s-since I don't know much about it!"
"Find…?" Mirii's head tilted to her right, as her eyebrows went up and her mouth rose a bit. "I have to reconstruct the Watching Tile, Master…" Her head tilted back to neutral position. "I'm sure to remember exactly the relative procedures…"
"Good! Fantastic!" Hun hugged Fara, as he pulled her towards the page. "Now, think more about that plan of yours… it sounds good, but less imperative!" He kept nodding, while grinning. "Meanwhile, me and my sister will call the guides… you wait here until our arrival, ok?!"
Mirii downturned her mouth.
"Master… are you nervous?" Her hands grasped, raising near her mouth. "If you are scared"
"N-nooo, not at all!" He shakes his head. "Just stay here… and wait for us! Simple!"
Hun's arms went back, as he turns into a Squid while turning behind: he jumped right through the paper.