It's a shame that I only have one of those crystal thingies. It was just enough to create my Aurora persona with all the enhancements I wanted.

Now I have yet another perspective. It's pretty weird, seeing three perspectives at the same time.

I say that, but I (the main body) have already come back to my newly appointed dorm to sleep, while the other two are awake. It feels like I am lucid dreaming with the two still active perspectives even while I'm asleep, though I'm already used to it.

Anyway, talking about my two perspectives, seeing the two princesses is really surprising. Wait no, I'm only surprised to see Rose stranded in that forest. Encountering Alexia is a no brainer.

Look here Alexia, this is how you welcome a hidden power!

You don't just call an obviously powerful threat a crazy person! What kind of princess are you? Do you even have any sense of self-preservation?

As for Rose, I actually don't know what she is doing there, but she is doing well. She is moving just how I want it.

As Rose is already following Chibirisa, I think I'll just give her some of my experimental stuff I created and say some cool sounding lines before letting her be on her way.

As for Alexia…. I don't actually know…

I just moved my Aurora clone there because she invited me. It's not like I had any plans or something.

Though…. maybe I could think of something next time? I'm still a bit distracted by people actually being interested in me!

I have to rest my mind for a moment.

Oh right, before I do that, I want to test something!

It's pretty impossible to do with Chibirisa, likely because it is connected to me through some sort of magical reason. Though as for the Aurora clone, I think I can cut my connection to it. I wonder what will happen if I do.

I created that clone as close as possible to an accurate human anatomy. I just used the crystal that Eta delivered to me as a replacement for the heart. The bones are made from the metals used for magic suppressing cuffs, and the skin is from the monster hide I collected from that weird intelligent monster. Every other organ is made purely from my solidified magic.

Chibirisa automatically restores connection to me, so I wonder if the Aurora clone can do so too?

It has all the necessary organs to survive even without my control, so I think I'll just cut my connection until I wake up tomorrow?

'Where…?'

In just a blink of her eyes, she looks around seeing an unfamiliar ceiling.

Her golden eyes have now turned into a beautiful amethyst color. Gazing blankly at the ceiling of this luxurious royal suite. She sat up and then looked at the open window with a confused expression, her dark hair swaying gently at the cold breeze of the night.

'The last thing I remembered is…..?'

She recalls that beautiful formation of magic, and the light that vanquishes her arm along with her remnant of ego. In her final moments, she asked for that small girl to finish off every part of her wholeness. She wanted to rest and forget every painful memory that she had.

'Then why am I here…?'

After that thought came a surprising realization as she looked at her hands.

"I feel…. complete…" She muttered as she looked down.

The feeling of her heart beating, the complete sense of her whole bodily functions, and even every sense she had, all of it is just like how she remembers it when she was still alive.

She stood up and left the bed she was lying on, walking closer to the window before she swung her hand for a bit. With a flick of her own prowess, she easily manages to create a crimson crystal.

"... It's not my full power, but it is close…" She muttered to herself while feeling surprised at this.

Another surprising thing was that the murderous urge within her has vanished. Even though she still had bits and pieces of painful memories she possessed in the past, she lacked the genocidal rage that she had on humanity as a whole.

She closed her eyes for a moment, her senses expanding all around the city. Before her eyes widened as she felt that familiar magical signature. A foreign yet familiar one that seemed to soothe her soul.

"... I see."

Even if she was not sure, she had an inkling that the purple haired girl was the one responsible for her resurrection. It was not even the usual resurrection that she usually experienced, but rather a complete replacement of her physical body.

Even if the body was the same, she could feel it was also different from the one she had in the past.

"Now then…. I wonder where I am…?" She muttered to herself as she looked around, before deciding to leave the room.

She walked for a moment along the darkened hallways, her footsteps echoing on the marbled steps as she appraised the artistry of the castle. It was a bit modern for her own ancient sensibilities.

"Really… so they like this kind of art now, huh?" She muttered, looking at the weird abstract painting plastered on the walls.

After walking for a while, she found a path to the gardens of this palace. In her curiosity, she moved to that part to see for herself. Then her eyes glanced around taking in the large garden full of white and blue flowers.

"Hmm, I can at least commend their taste in flowers…" She nodded to herself.

"... Uh…"

She already noticed it, but decided to let the person get closer to her. Turning her head to that side, she saw a woman with crimson hair. Her strong willed gaze that had a hint of naive innocence while watching her with curiosity.

The magical prowess she could feel deep within the red haired woman is abysmal. It's at the same level as the common foot soldiers in her era.

"Greetings… I apologize for trespassing on your grounds…" Not really knowing what was happening, she spoke politely to the woman first with a soft bow.

"It's fine… I heard we had a late night guest. I assume it is you?" The red haired person said before quickly continuing. "This is just right. I am Iris Midgar, the First Princess of the Midgar Kingdom. My sister already told me about you, but if you may…."

She widened her eyes at that, surprised that the person she was facing was actually not a foot soldier, but rather the princess herself. Though she quickly composed herself, smiling mysteriously at the princess.

'Well, it is common for a princess to be at that level….' She mused within her mind. "You may call me… Aurora. I'm just a wandering witch." She said, an amused smile on her face.

In just a simple interaction, she quickly got the info she wanted. That she was actually a guest in this palace, and she seemed to be friends with Iris' sister.

'Well, nothing is holding me back anymore. I think I should enjoy myself as much as I can!' She thought to herself.

Duke Doem Ketsuhat slammed his fist on the wall. His teeth gritted as he glared beyond the windows showing the night sky.

"This is such a blunder! Just where did that princess go!?" He grumbled under his breath. "It will be impossible to go to the kingdom now that she is gone… I have to find her soon!"

After the debacle with Nelson, he thought he would have the chance to lock Rose Oriana into a marriage with him. It was just natural to order Rose's return to the kingdom with a reason for her own wellbeing after that ordeal.

Everything was going great, but an unfortunate timing caused her to discover something about them.

"What should I tell Sir Mordred…? It will be bad if he learns about this!"

He trembled as he uttered that name, recalling that sheer apathy in his gaze, and the terrifying capabilities of that man.

"If I don't find her soon…. it will be over for me!" He muttered to himself.

The door opened once more, causing him to look there. It was one of the Named Children working for him.

"What is it?"

"Doem-sama…. we found the whereabouts of the princess. She seems to be hiding within the Forest of Darkness."

His eyes widened at that.

The Forest of Darkness has become a very interesting topic for the Cult. There were many sectors vying to control it. Though the sector he was a part of ultimately took control of its matters after the Belgata Empire's branch failed.

"This will be complicated…" He clicked his tongue before shaking his head. "We might not be able to get to the kingdom, but finding the princess and taking her back is our primary objective. Take most of our forces and capture her!"

"... But, what if we encounter the Forest Hermit?"

He trembled at that. The Forest Hermit, a being in the form of a girl with dark hair and amethyst colored eyes, was one of the beings that solely protected the forest since its emergence.

Her existence was a major deterrent to the cult forces that tried to conquer it. It became very hard to acquire at least an acceptable amount of objects for their research.

He was already scolded by Mordred about it, and a warning has been issued to him. If he messes this up more, he will have to bid farewell to his life!

"... I'll personally go there along with the kingdom troops! All of the knights in this kingdom are in our control, so use them too as the front!" He stated.

He knew that the Forest Hermit didn't harm the innocent. It somehow knows whether the one who enters the forest is a criminal or not. This included even the disguised cult members.

He didn't have any valid reason to use the puny amount of soldiers within the kingdom before, but now that he had, he will do just that. Even if they lack the necessary battle experience due to their focus on arts, they will still be an effective shield against the protector of the forest.

"Princess Rose…. I'll make sure to take you back soon!" He said, a hint of desperation and desire clouding his narrowed eyes.

A/N

Sorry for the delay. Yesterday is a bit harsh for me, though fortunately today I have free time. I hope you have fun with this chapter!~

If you want to support me, you can go to my kofi account. Just replace the (dot) with a dot when writing it.

Ko-fi(dot)com/levelgap

See you later~