As soon as she was barely a few trees down, the darkness enveloped everything. Of course, this was likely the perfect setting for a witch, shrouded in mystery and with unforeseen dangers, plants, animals, herbs, the list went on. She was almost worried the torch would extinguish itself and leave her.

Carefully stepping over knotted roots, avoiding ominous looking patches of plants and trying not to touch anything other than grass below her boot. And even the grass wasn't setting her at ease.

But even worse was the feeling that someone, or worse, something was watching her. Of course, wandering into a witch's territory was something she knew wasn't exactly going to be an easy or comfortable feat, but this was for Kotori. She had to know if there was some way to help her, reverse what was happening to her, anything. Hell, part of her even was willing to give herself up, perhaps take the burden off her.

Deep in her thoughts of what she was going to do when or if she did actually find this witch, she could've sworn she could hear footsteps behind her. She tightened her grip around the handle of her weapon and forged onwards regardless, keeping in mind that this forest could be filled with any number of creatures and possibly monsters, similar to what Kotori was becoming-

She couldn't think like that. She shouldn't think like that. At the end of this all, Kotori was still her friend and always would be. Nothing could ever change how she thought of her.

This time, a snap of a twig stopped her in her tracks and looked behind her, from where she sound had come from. This wasn't her imagination playing tricks on her, no matter how on edge she was.

She had only a split second to draw her weapon before something lunged at her, seemingly realising that its cover was blown.

She only had the time to knock it back with the flat of her sword, which did little to deter it seemingly. She couldn't even get a good glance of all of its features before it took the opportunity to use the force of the attack to retract back into the shadows.

Umi knew she was at a disadvantage here, especially seeing as the next pounce, from the right side of herself this time, caused her to drop her only light source, but she had no time to pick it up, lest she leave herself open to what was standing in front of her

Or rather, who was standing in front of her. Undeniably, the creature in front of her was and perhaps still was, in fact, a young girl. Older than her, she could tell, but only by a year or so.

But, similarly to Kotori, she appeared to have been mutated and twisted. Coarse fur spread across her forearms and covered her hands, black claws threateningly on show. Although, Umi had never really seen any creature with blonde fur before.

It, or rather, she drew back, two tattered animal ears atop her head, twitching whilst those piercing blue eyes dug into her, watching for movements, any signs that she might attack back. She let out an animalistic growl, bearing sharpened teeth with torn cheeks to reveal the rows behind.

Umi took the next strike, delivering a swing towards her shoulder, but the girl in front of her was faster, lunging to tackle her around the waist and pin her on the ground, before Umi thankfully managed to brace her legs to kick her off.

Whilst she stumbled back, Umi quickly righted herself on her feet, thrusting the blade forward to run through her stomach. Much to Umi's relief, the attack connected, going straight through to the other side.

But the creature in front of her didn't take much notice, as her relief was short lived, placing a hand on the sword and pulling it out of her, until Umi jumped back, ready to continue the attack, as the sword tore her shirt and left it hanging off her.

Underneath the shirt, there was little to no skin present, sinew and bone hanging onto each other with still working organs underneath. Jagged and disjointed bones had grown over to protect the stomach, yet there were no signs of where her sword had ran itself through. Suddenly, the bones cracked and twisted, moving themselves to harbour gaps between where more organs were present, suspended by copious amounts of sinew, muscle and tissue. Umi felt sickened to her own stomach, one that was thankfully not in view at this moment. Although as she lunged again, Umi wondered how long it would take before her own organs were spilled.

"Stop!"

The creature on top of her suddenly halted, pushing herself off Umi obediently, but still eyeing her with unmasked cautiousness and retaining a hardened expression as a woman made her way through the treeline.

"Elichi, is this how we treat our guests?"

Umi's eyes flickered over the person who had just come into both of their vision.

"Are you-"

"A witch? Yes, yes," The woman let out a laugh, "But you should call me Nozomi, eh? I don't want to ominously be known as 'the witch' all the time."

Umi huffed, her weapon still drawn.

"But, ah," Nozomi said, suddenly clasping her hands together and seemingly not taking too much notice of the fact that a sword was being brandished in her direction, "I should introduce her too, she has some trouble speaking," Nozomi looked towards the girl, "This is Eli. I know you two didn't get off on the best terms, but really, I could see you two becoming friends.

Umi stared incredulously, she was here to get help for Kotori, not to make friends with something in the forest that had tried to attack her.

"So… What brings you out here? Only a madman would wander out here with no purpose at all," Nozomi observed, "And an even madder person would come out in search of a witch."

"Well," Umi said, letting her sword fall to her side, "Maybe I am mad. But you've done something to my friend."

"Ah… Is this about Kotori-chan? Let me guess, you want me to turn her back."

"Yes, or - or something," Umi said, deciding that her sword wasn't doing her any favours as she sheathed it, "Please."

"Hm. Maybe we should discuss this somewhere more comfortable."

With that, she didn't allow anything more to be said, as Eli padded her way in front of Nozomi and they led the way through the trees.

"Wait-!" Umi said, not wanting to get left behind in tangled masses or foreign plant life, some of which she was sure was carnivorous. She guessed that some mutated venus fly traps lay waiting around a corner somewhere. Still though, neither Eli or Nozomi stopped or slowed for her, whilst Umi made a hasty grab for her torch again.

After what seemed to be many minutes of silent trekking, a rather large and homely looking cabin came into view, slightly ramshackle, but a home was a home, Umi thought. If this forest had a less malicious aura, this seemed like the kind of home a lovely old grandma might have lived in.

Leading her inside, Eli would sit down, as would Nozomi, next to each other on rickety wooden chairs. Umi didn't exactly know what to think of someone who looked as monstrous as Eli sitting so humanly. It was… Unsettling.

Nozomi's eyes told her to sit down in the seat opposite and she did just that, not exactly feeling as though she was in any position to reject any politeness she may receive.

"So, you want to know about Kotori-chan?"

"I don't want to just know. I want to be able to help her."

"That's a tall order," Nozomi observed out loud, "But I'm afraid there's little you can do, I've seen this all too often."

Umi looked to Eli, of course she had observed these kinds of things. She did this to people, like it was a sick past time, to play with people's lives. Nozomi saw the flicker of desperation on her face, so she leaned herself forward on her chair.

"She won't remember you. You know that, don't you?"

Maybe deep down, Umi did know that, but she didn't want to accept it. Kotori was one of her best friends and it hurt her deeply to see something like this slowly twist her, make her forget, make her lose her voice. Would she end up like Eli, barely able to speak a word and attacking at the slightest provocation?

Umi shook her head, "There must be a way. Eli listens to you, doesn't she? She understands you."

At the mention of her name, Eli only huffed, glancing to Nozomi who had reached over and started to play with her hair, "Elichi and I have a very special connection."

Umi averted her gaze from the display with a sigh, "I don't believe you. What's so different about her? What's so different that you did to her that you're not doing to Kotori, or the other way around."

"There were… Drastically different circumstances in which they became to start turning," Nozomi answered vaguely, "But that isn't important. Different people respond differently to what I do. But there are patterns. Distinct ways I can see how a person will change. Kotori-chan exhibits memory loss and occasional difficulties with speech articulation. Quite simply, she won't remember you. There's nothing you can really do."

"I… I see."

"Why do you care so much, anyway?" Nozomi asked, "You've requested I answer your questions, I think you can spare a bit of your time too."

"Because she's my friend. Anyone would do that for a friend."

"Friends?" Nozomi raised an eyebrow, "You're such good friends you'd venture into a forest, nearly get yourself killed in search of a witch that you wasn't sure that would help you or murder you?"

"Well… When you put it that way I do sound a little more than desperate. But what do you want me to say…?"

"I think you should reconsider your 'friendship', as it were," Nozomi shrugged, "I sense that you came out here expecting me to have some kind of cure for her condition, but I'm afraid there's little I can do. My hands are tied."

Nozomi looked almost sad for a moment as she turned her hands over and looked at the palms. Umi couldn't fathom what drove her to do this and why she would even feel sorry if this was what she did. Glancing to Eli, she shook her head, "I see. I can't stay too long anyway. I… Thank you for your time, I suppose."

Although she was unsure why she was being so courteous, Umi was reminded of why with a quick glance to Eli. Then again, she really didn't want to end up in a similar situation to Kotori. Not that she thought it was a repulsive thing to go through, but from Nozomi's descriptions, she likely wouldn't be able to keep her own mind, thus being unable to help.

"Elichi here will lead you out of the forest. Don't worry, she won't attack. I have someone to attend to."

Umi was a little unsettled at the prospect, but as Eli stood, she found herself following suit, unable to argue. But who would she had to attend to in this forest? Another creature like Eli? It seemed possible, but she didn't want to ask, so she followed Eli out of the cabin and towards the weaving, looming treeline.

She stayed a little behind Eli, who did glance back at her a few times, as if suspicious to her every move. She couldn't blame her.

"You… Are curious…?" Came Eli's voice, gravelly, strained and labouring in difficulty, "About her?"

Umi didn't feel the need to hold anything back, "Of course I am."

Eli nodded slowly in understanding, "Even I do not… Fully understand her."

"No one ever fully understands a person," Umi stated, "Sometimes you don't even understand yourself."

"That… Is correct. Nozomi tries to understand. When she cannot… She tries to make it something she does."

"And so she did… This to you?"

"Yes. I was… First. But it is not a curse. Not to me. Now you do not understand me… You may have… Done before. Nozomi understands what I am. It may be like an exchange."

"Who else was she was referring to? Who did she have to attend to?"

"Nico. That's her name. Nozomi… May be a witch, but she is no doctor. I would… Miss Nico. If she were gone."

Hearing Eli articulate words and feelings gave her a small pang of hope.

"The main thing Nozomi never understood… Was love. She was told… Witches could never fall in love," Eli stopped suddenly, but she remained facing away from Umi, "She met me. She realised she had been lied to. Or that maybe she was different. She did not understand."

"That's what led to this?" Umi asked delicately.

"It was how things began. I… Loved her back. I was blinded from what I was becoming. I still love her. Then she developed curiosity."

Eli's ear twitched as she continued on at a brisker pace, whilst Umi jogged briefly to catch up. Although some of what she said was difficult to follow, to her at least, she understood why and didn't comment on it. She appreciated the words, however hard to articulate, given to her.

"It was a… Fascination. Maybe she thought she was doing good...? For them?" Eli scratched at a tattered ear, "But I don't mind… What I am. I am sorry if this… Hurts… Kotori."

Umi didn't know what to say at that point, so she fell back into silence with a short sigh.

"But… You should think about what Nozomi said… She is… Wiser… Than you would think. You are close with her… Do you want to be even closer…?" Eli stepped over a branch and briefly looked over her shoulder to her.

Umi swallowed at the thought, how shameful the prospect of wanting to be closer to Kotori seemed to be. There was a small pang at her heart, but was it out of want or out of rejection of the idea? She shook her head, "I don't know."

"You should think. Maybe there is a way to… To save her mind. Do not blame yourself… If things go wrong."

Umi shook her head, "Thank you I suppose… I'll consider what she said."

Eli stopped at the edge of the treeline before the city, "Sorry… About attacking you."

Umi shrugged, "No harm, no foul."

Eli managed a slightly alarming looking smile considering how she looked, but Umi knew it was likely difficult for her to retain any semblance of normalcy. She exited the forest and turned back to her, but Eli had already disappeared.

After a rather surreal experience, Umi went back on home, extinguishing the flame.

Nozomi trekked her way towards the place Nico had set herself up in, only a paltry little place in comparison to what Nozomi and Eli lived in, but Nico didn't seem to mind too much. However, Nozomi worried that she might be going a bit stir crazy staring at the same four walls, as she couldn't go out much.

She carefully knocked on the door and opened it up, to see Nico on the bed above the covers, sweating profusely. Nozomi wasn't a doctor and she knew it, but she had tried to alleviate the symptoms she felt through whatever she could, herbs, mixtures, anything.

Nozomi had mainly thought that her change of Nico would prevent her from getting ill like this. She had certain regenerative abilities, despite the fact certain parts of her skin had worn away to reveal the bone underneath and although her cheeks hadn't worn away to see anything below, her teeth had still become sharpened and threatening.

Although, Nozomi had noticed, that out of all the people she had done this to, Nico had exhibited the most resistance. She hadn't become that animalistic, having retained a lot of what made her human. Her memory was still mostly intact and she could speak just fine. Mainly, advantages were coming out of this whole thing for her, aside from the fact she looked rather pitiful there on the bed. It was a mystery as to why Nico was so ill.

Nico tried to sit herself up before Nozomi shook her head, "No, don't do that," She leaned over her and gently pushed her by the shoulder so she lay down again.

"I want to go outside…" She wheezed, irritably wiping off her forehead.

"You're not in any condition to," She said, pulling up a chair, "I'm sorry."

"Not your fault…"

"I'm trying to figure something out. You know that, don't you?"

"Of course I do," She said, stifling a cough briefly, "But even you have to admit… It's not going well."

"I know… Although I'm no novice at healing, this is perplexing…"

"Yeah, don't sugarcoat it for me… Sorry if this seems a bit rude, but… You're not a doctor," She coughed, "If you can't do anything, you need someone with more knowledge…"

"What, are you telling me to hire a doctor? Bring one out here? It's not impossible, but… How am I to lead someone out here without scaring them half to death? Not to mention both you and Eli look more than a tad scary."

"Good point…"

"Ah, the magical branches have become more and more divided, eh?" Nozomi crossed her leg over the other and placed a hand on her cheek, "Things used to be so close. Healers wouldn't mind being around witches and we never were ostracised."

"You miss the days when you could tell fortunes in the big cities, right?" Nico smiled bittersweetly.

"What, have I gone on about it enough?" She laughed.

"It makes you happy, right? Do you have your cards with you?"

Nozomi nodded, reaching carefully into her pocket to bring out a deck of tarot cards, "Of course I do."

"Give me just a quick reading…" Nico insisted, sniffling.

"One card spread it is," She said, taking a deep breath, "I might be a little rusty, I haven't done this in a while. I didn't want to rely on the cards by doing readings for myself because that has never ended well for a witch."

"I get it."

Purple seals glowed on the back of Nozomi's hands in the image of two flowers as she closed her eyes and began to shuffle the deck. It was slow and methodical, almost entrancing until she placed two fingers on top deck and remove the top card, opening her eyes as she turned the card over.

The Sun.

Nozomi let out the breath she had been holding as the seals faded and she raised her eyebrows at the card, falling silent for a second.

"You're not gonna tell me what it means?" Nico complained.

"Of course, sorry," Nozomi chuckled, "The Sun is a very positive card. The Sun is the giver of life and the giver of light. It's a symbol of hope and the mark of the end of a cycle, typically, or the start of a new one. I think this means it'll be over soon, Nicocchi. But it won't happen by us just sitting there."

"Your cards are never wrong, right?" Nico rasped, "Thank God…"

Nozomi laughed quietly, "I think if you were less desperate you'd doubt my reading, Nicocchi," Nozomi said, sliding the card pack back into her pocket, "But yes, I think this means your ordeal is nearly over, okay?"

Nico managed a smile as Nozomi reached into her other pocket and procured a phial, "Drink this. Something will come soon."