[ Garden of Time / September 21, 0078 09:00 ]

"Hello Fate, it's me," Arf's smile on the screen was mischievous but her eyes betrayed fear of being found out. "I have something to tell you before Yuuno returns. Don't blame him, please."

She fidgeted around for a bit.

"I know that you are not with the Bureau anymore. They came asking if I knew where you are, but I had no idea. But you did the right thing, Fate. Never give up on Vivio, or any of your children. Which is why…"

All along while she was talking, her ears were twitching nervously, as if afraid that someone would come. Now, they stooped sadly.

"I have long fulfilled all that I was supposed to do. I don't have any worries and regrets in my heart and my duty has ended. Thirteen years ago, you lent your magic to me but now you need it more than I and it's past time I gave it back."

"No, no, no…" Fate's lips whispered helplessly.

"Please don't cry, Fate. I should have died a long time ago but you gave me a wonderful new life. I am the happiest familiar in the world, so… Good bye, my stubborn, honest, ever kind master. Please take care of yourself and Vivio."

Arf let out a sigh of relief, and reached for the switch to disconnect but her arm stopped mid-air.

"Oh, and I am sending this with 35 minutes delay, so you don't try to stop me. By the time you get this, you have probably already felt it, so don't even think of going to the Library now. Bye-bye."

Her hand reached somewhere behind the screen and it went dark.

"Record end, Sir."

Subdued sobbing was the only answer Bardiche got.