Luminous stared at the broken mirror in deep thought. The only traces of mana he could detect, were from Cygnus herself. Which was nothing odd, as it was her bedroom. He can't help but feel that there were strange powers at work. He was afraid to investigate any further. A fear of being corrupted again. But his curiosity compelled him. He used the tip of his staff to poke a broken piece of mirror on the floor.

"Lumi," Evan called for him from the door.

Luminous jumped,"For goodness sake Evan! Don't sneak up to me like that."

"Sorry. I have circled the whole island several times. Still no elf in sight. Where do you think she went?"

"Probably the same place everyone else on the island went."

"Does that mean it's our fault she's gone?"

Luminous remained silent.

"Sorry. I just don't know what to do."

"We'll just have to keep trying then."

Luminous, Evan and Brighton stood around the conference table. It had been a few hours since Mercedes's sudden disappearance. The sun was now setting. The three mages weren't even sure if the elf's disappearance was their fault.

"We've already tried this. Many times," Brighton argued.

"Do you have any better ideas?" Evan asked.

"No. But if it doesn't work the first, second or fifth time, I don't see a point of trying the same thing over and over again."

"So you are just gonna give up then!?" Evan raised his voice.

"Hey!" Luminous stopped them. "He's right. But. Just one last time. That's all I ask."

"Fine," Brighton sighed.

The three mages pointed their wand and staff at the center of the table. As they were about to begin their ritual, a familiar voice appeared.

"Ahhhh!" Mercedes screamed as she fell out of a portal above them.

The elf landed on top of Evan.

"Oww..." Evan groaned in pain.

"W-W-WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE TOUCHING ME!?"

"Ah! Sorry!" Evan took his hands off the elf's chest.

Mercedes got off the dragon master and pointed her bowguns at him.

"Err...Thanks?"

Luminous placed his hand on the elf's shoulder. "Mercedes! Thank goodness you're alright." Luminous proceeded to hug her.

"Sorry I made you worry," Mercedes said.

"How long are you gonna lie down there?" Brighton asked Evan, who was staring at the dome ceiling.

"I'm just amazed how that cliche fell on me..."

Back at the witch's garden, Phantom and the witch were having a game of chess. The witch had transformed the large table into a smaller one, so that they could play while facing each other.

"Checkmate," the witch said.

"You cheated!" Phantom flipped the chessboard off the table.

"My my, what a sore loser."

"You used some time manipulation magic during the game!"

"I don't need to cheat to defeat you. I have played chess a lot with Neinheart. Although he had not once, let me win."

"You and your lies."

"You and your assumptions. I have hardly lied to you."

"Clearly the situation I'm in is more disadvantageous compared to yours. You would surely have made yourself gain the upper hand." Phantom pointed a finger at the witch while making his deductions.

"You have seen me a couple of times during the loops. I am completely vulnerable. And yet, you can't even reach me." The witch shrugged.

"Except that you have five overpowered bodyguards."

"Five morons who can't even work together. While you, had a simple goal. Just to reach me before the time runs out. And you can't even do that simple task. Are you that bad at chasing girls?"

"Gasp."

"Why are you so surprised?"

"I had never thought about that. I guess I had never needed to chase them before."

"Well that doesn't matter. What matters is that I've won. And now, time for your punishment."

"Wait, I thought you just wanted my butler? What punishment?"

"You don't know what you've got till it's gone."

"Hah...besides, the deal was he could choose. He won't betray me."

"Well, lets ask him now."

Gaston appeared from thin air and walked towards them. The butler took the witch's hand and kissed it.

"I would be glad to serve you M'lady."

"Gaston!?" Phantom left his chair.

"Ah. Sorry Phantom, I only serve winners. Unfortunately, you're not winning," Gaston said.

"You traitor! I can't believe this."

"Why don't you join the dark side too? We have cake," Cygnus suggested.

Phantom remained speechless and retreated back to his chair.

"Now. Pardon me Gaston. But I have a sudden request. Could you teach me how to dance? I was quite frail until recently and Neinheart did not allow me to partake in any strenuous activities," Cygnus asked her new butler.

"I would be glad to." Gaston fiddled with the gramophone nearby. It started to play waltz. He held Cygnus's hand and lead her to an open space under the dome.

"Now place your left hand on my shoulder. Watch my feet. 1...2...3...4," Gaston instructed Cygnus.

Phantom watched them from his chair.

Wait, what is going on here?
Cygnus learning how to dance?
What the heck is this situation?
I was just fighting for my life moments ago.
And she was upset only a while ago.
But she after she finished her cake, she challenged me to a game of chess.
And now...
That cake must have been really good.
Damn it Gaston. I trusted you.

"Oh, sorry," Cygnus apologized for stepping Gaston's foot.

"It's alright. Slowly now...1...2...3...4."

"Ah. Pardon me. I have something urgent to attend to. Don't worry. I'll be right back soon." Cygnus suddenly disappeared into thin air.

"What's that about?" Phantom asked.

"I assure you, this won't affect your time loops."

"That's good to hear. I wish I could fire you. If only time would flow normally to allow me to do that."

"There is a saying: Deceive your allies to fool your enemies."

"Oh shut up. I know you like cake."

"Gah...you got me."

Mercedes and the three mages sat around the round table as the elf explained Phantom's situation.

"So you're saying he is neither alive nor dead?" Brighton asked.

"So it's like a box?" Evan asked.

"Well that explains why time flows strangely in that dimension. Phantom is gambling the future with this 'Cygnus'." said Luminous.

"Yes. I mean no. Stop confusing me!" Mercedes answered.

"Whatever possibility that will be decided in this abnormality of a stray dimension may affect the real world," Luminous continued.

"Like a cat in a box," Brighton said.

"A box of chocolates!" Evan exclaimed.

"Wha-" Mercedes was confused.

"Now the question is, how did Mercedes manage to enter the dimension?" Luminous asked.

"She is like a cat," Brighton said.

"Chocolate!" Evan said.

"Chocolate...looping...cat..." Mercedes stared into blank space.

"Oh no! Mercedes is malfunctioning!" Evan alerted them.

"Calm down you fools!" Luminous shouted.

Everyone became silent.

"Mercedes, is there anything else you can remember?" Luminous asked.

"I don't know. I have told you everything," Mercedes replied.

"So everything is up to Phantom?" Brighton asked.

"We can't leave everything up to Phantom. If there is a chance to help Phantom change the outcome, we need to take it," Luminous said.

"But how?" Evan asked.

"I don't know if it will work. But it's worth a try. To send Mercedes back in there," Luminous answered. Luminous looked at the elf and said, "I'm sorry. But we need to rely on you."

"I'm in debt to Cygnus. I will do anything to help," said Mercedes.

The three mages took their positions around the table to try to repeat their ritual.

"So. Where do I stand?" Mercedes asked.

"The middle of the table?" Evan suggested.

"That would make sense," Luminous replied.

Standing on the table, the elf blushed and fidgeted about, feeling the awkward looks from the three mages.

"Focus!" Luminous commanded them.

Luminous chanted a spell and a portal opened up under the elf.

Mercedes landed in a new place. All she could see around her was white. Unable to see any edges of the walls made it disorienting.

"Did you think I would simply allow you to enter again?" Cygnus spoke from behind her.

Mercedes turned around, almost losing her balance.

"Sorry my dear. Happy falling." Cygnus snapped her fingers.

A hole opened up under the elf and she fell in it. She returned to the real world, landing on Evan.

"Oww...why me?.." Evan was lying, facing the ground, with Mercedes sitting on him.

"That witch..." Mercedes sneered.

"Heavy..." Evan felt a bowgun at the back of his head. "Wow, you're so light!"

"Where's Lumi?" Brighton asked.

Cygnus returned to her garden after kicking the elf out of her territory.

"Welcome back M'lady," Gaston greeted her.

"Thank you. Lets continue."

"Ahem," Phantom interrupted them.

"Oh well. I guess we could get back to the main event."

Luminous stood alone in the white room.

"Who knew I would be using light magic this way..."

He had managed to avoid being seen by Cygnus by using light refractions.

"Now, how do I get out of here?"

Author's notes:

Trying something different for this chapter.

Taking it easy before serious stuff happens.

To be continued-

(02 JAN 2015)