Everything happened so quickly.

"Brago!" Sherry screams, grabbing Koko's hand and pulling her away from me. I have only half of mind to dash away from Brago and his fist attack.

"No! Wait!" Crap. Crap. Crap- "Let's calm down and-"

A fist collided with my jaw, shutting me up and sending me flying into the nearest pine tree. I need a second to remember how to breathe after that… This is so unfortunate that a second is all Brago needs to get closer to me. Just WHAT is this guy?!

"Zofis!" Koko screams. I'd respond with 'oh don't worry I'm alright' or 'I'm fine' but I'm too busy trying to survive here!

I evade incoming kicks and throw a handful of sand in Brago's face. It has no effect but it was worth a try… I hope. This fight ain't gonna be nice but, on the bright side - I can finally feel my face again! It will not help me in battle at all but it's just nice to know that my jaw isn't broken!

"Sherry what is the meaning of this?!" Koko is clearly in distress. Wait, why is she asking Sherry about it? … Oh no I'm so dumb. Puzzle pieces finally click together and I am not happy about it.

How did he even find his Bookkeeper so fast? He's the exact opposite of a social person… Can some mamodos just feel their bookkeepers? Well, it's not like I will just walk up to Brago or that jester guy and ask them about it… So I'll leave it as my personal mamodo headcanon for now.

While I wonder how the heck Brago found his Bookkeeper, Koko and Sherry have a very heated argument. I hardly can hear what they're talking about (probably all the Mamodo Battle jazz), I have to hold my attention on Brago and whatever he's gonna try next-

|REIS|

A dark, black-hole like sphere leaves Brago's hand and flies right into my direction. I hold my hands in front of me to catch it and soften the blow of the attack…

|RADOM|

Identical to Brago's light sphere leaves my hands as well. Two spells collide, I wait for an explosion but none comes. I can't believe my eyes - did Brago's spell absorb mine? What kind of magic is this?!

"Sherry stop!" Koko tries to reason with her friend once more.

I sway my eyes away from Brago for a mere second to look at Koko. Why don't I learn from my mistakes? Of course one second of hesitation is all the guy needs to knock me out onto the ground and step on me to prevent me from escaping (my poor back, fu-). Yep. Alright, I've lost this fight.

Today is probably the worst day of my life. I'm gonna die or will be sent back to the mamodo world… I hope for the latter but seeing how Brago and that other guy fought I am not sure I'll be sent there that easily.

"You do not understand what this… Thing is, Koko. Whatever it told you it's-"

"I understand everything perfectly fine, Sherry. I am not naive nor am I simple-minded."

"Fine. Then give me it's book so I could send it back to it's home dimension."

Wait. Did she just call me 'It' like some sort of animal…?

"Rude-" I say but Brago stomps on me to shut me up- god it hurts- Maybe I should keep my mouth shut for just a little while.

"Koko, those creatures-"

"Came here to fight and they won't stop until there's only one left. I know that. Don't you think I didn't realize the danger of this whole situation jumping straight into action?"

"Then why won't you give me the book? I want this fight to be over as soon as possible - by burning the book you'll actually do it a favor. Look at it - It's too weak anyway. If a strong opponent comes out at you two - you both will get hurt or even die in the worst case scenario!"

In my defense it's been my first fight and I think i've been doing relatively alright, thank you very much. Although, she does have a point… I am very weak on my own. All I can do is hope for Koko to read the spell at the right time but even that doesn't work all the time… Man, I miss being able to fling crap around with the power of my mind.

I give out a tired sigh (I sure wish Brago would take his foot from my ribcage but I can't really do much with that, can I?). As much as I hate to admit it - Sherry is right. Koko should give my book away if she wants to be safe and away from all of this conflict. She's… She's going to give that gal a book and then I'll be sent back home with shame and whatnot. I can feel disappointment oozing from 'my' sister's sore expression already!

"No." Koko says. "He can't come back yet."

Huh?

"Koko-"

"Zofis said he doesn't care about the Mamodo Battle." Suddenly, I feel all eyes on me. Woah, well, that's almost as uncomfortable as having a talk with 'my' sister at dinner. Of course I'm very glad that Koko is taking my side but I am also very VERY not-pleasing with the sudden amount of attention I'm getting…

"It's a lie. It's just trying to lure you to go with it. Battle is all they want and power is all they crave." How are YOU know it? Brago was here for like a day-.. Brago what the actual heck you told her?! "What else would they come here for, in this world? To take a look at the scenery?!"

"..." Koko is silent. Guess I have to stand up for myself.

"This is not a lie. I have my own reasons to be here!" If brago kicks me one more time I swear to god I'll scream- "I don't want to become the next Mamodo King, nor do I wish to battle with others!" Not a lie but I did want to participate in battle… Let's just hope Brago doesn't have a built-in lie detector in his brain or something… Who knows though what they do with those special trained soldiers!
Ah, I guess pain makes my thinking process haywire away from the topic.

A heavy weight finally lifts itself from my chest and I can breathe fully and freely once again.

Brago walks over to Sherry's side while Koko runs up to me. All of the people's gazes here hold different emotions (except the jester guy… I have no idea where HE went and I'm not sure I want to find out). Koko is concerned, Sherry is angry and Brago… I'm not sure what kind of emotion is that. A cold anger? Frustration? Annoyance? All of it at once?... Yes, perhaps. What a wide range of negative emotions at once.

Oh wait, are they all looking at me because they're waiting for me to start talking?

oh… No wait I didn't come up with a lie yet-.. Think, think, think-

"Well, mamodo child, tell me a reason why your book shouldn't be burned right now right here." I can feel anger oozing through Sherry's words.

I cough as my throat had gone stale for a second and gather myself up. Time to check if Brago is a walking lie-detector or if that girl got any decent detective skills!

"As I was saying!" I lightly brush my gown as Koko helps me to get up onto my feet. "I am not here to get some grand mamodo fight action. I am here for my own reason that I'd rather keep in a secret-" I see Brago's eyes narrow on me. "But since you asked so nicely I'll share it." Alright, fine, what do people say about good lies? They oftenly tangled with the truths.

"Around half a year or so ago I got very interested in the human world and everything about it. Unfortunately, the Mamodo world does not have many books about this world, so therefore my research on this topic is scarce and my hunger for knowledge is left unsatisfied."

That makes Sherry's face lose some of its hardness. Good, we're getting somewhere!

"I really wanted to know more about your world, to the point of seeking a method to enter it! When the mamodo fight broke out and I was chosen as one of the participants, despite not really being a great fighter, I still see it as a big win for me - simply because now I can walk around in the human world and study it to my heart's content" Mamodo do have hearts, right? God damnit, wish we had anatomy lessons at school.

"So… You're here as a tourist?" Koko said slowly. Oh, right, I did not told her a lot about why I am here… She must be confused now. Great job Zofis! You're now tanging yourself up in your own backstory! I still nod nonetheless when I see her waiting for my reaction.

"But… You told me you were searching for something very important and personal to you."

God damn it Koko! Are you on my side or not? Don't dig a grave for me like that!

"Ah, yes. Uh, there's nothing more important and personal to me…than forbidden in Mamodo world knowledge of the human world!" I gave myself a mental pat on the head, that was terrible but I hope at least humans buy that lie!

It seems to work a bit - Koko's eyes widen in understanding and Sherry's pose loosen a bit.
Brago is still… Brago and I try not to study his facial expression or body language too much since he looks like he'll rip my face off all the time. Better not to wire myself up in unnecessary worry about my well being.

Suddenly, Sherry gives a heavy sigh as if accepting her defeat.

"Fine, since your personal goals are not about bringing trouble, I guess you can stay. But I'm taking your book from Koko, I can't risk her getting hurt in a crossfire if that other demonic lunatic comes back."

"Ah, I think it's a bit late for that…" I feel my wounds dully ache on my back. Mamodo regeneration doing wonders, huh? "We did that sword clown escape, didn't we? He knows Koko is my book owner. If you take the book away, chances are the guy will attack her anyway, simply for being affiliated. Maybe he'll target her even if you do burn my book…"

Sherry's expression turned cold and all her anger focused on me once more, but before she could tell Brago to bite my head off Koko steps in.

"I don't mind." She says. "I'm not keen on fighting but I do want to help Zofis and, even despite all the dangers this might bring… as I said before - it's a risk but I'm willing to take on it. Even if it means kicking an ass once in a while!" She smiles warmly at Sherry. "I know you want to protect me and I am glad that I have such a good friend like you Sherry, but perhaps Zofis is right."

Wait. What?

I looked out of the window from the car we were driving. It's a pretty expensive car (I'm not great at figuring out the marks but it looks like only dirty rich people drive those!), with very high quality materials. I wonder if it's real leather on the seats or not. Probably yes… And I am totally not trying to divert my attention away from Brago who's staring at me with the intensity of a thousand suns while sitting right across from me!

Nope, everything is fine and dandy! Everything is under control!

I have only half a mind to hear the conversation that broke out between Koko and Sherry. Of course, they started having a verbal battle back in the woods but, somehow, the fires of it still keep going. Yep, we left the forest, got in a car, and drove for like 20 minutes in an unknown direction (Like hell I will butt into their conversation and ask where we are going, I value my life too much)… And they still argue. What a lovebirds.

"... You are not going to!" Sherry says firmly.

"You can't tell me what I can and cannot do! This is my choice and I know how hard it is for you to accept, but-"

"You are not going to participate in any fights Koko! You will stay in my house for the time being! It's the safest place for you right now."

"And how am I supposed to learn how to protect myself if I'll be stuck…"

I tune their conversation down again, focusing on the trees that pass us by. What a lovely maple! And a rose bush! Oh, and that mansion we're closing to is very grand too!..

Mansion?!

I gawk as we drive closer and closer to the giant building. This can't be our destination, right?

I glance at Sherry and Koko, (still arguing but now their fire is dying down as both sides can't win in their stubbornness… Though, it looks like Koko has the upper hand there… You go girl!) and take a better look at Sherry's attire. Now, when I look at it outside of our battle in the woods I see that her clothes are made from expensive material. Her dress does not have patches as Koko's clothes does, nor is it dirty or flimsy.

Did I just… unknowingly yeeted myself into the "Princess and the Pauper" class scenario? Is this really it?

"We're here." Sherry suddenly cuts in as the car stops right in front of giant wooden gates that this household calls a door. She opens the car doors and leaves with little but a glance at Brago. He leaves right after her with not a single world (what a chatty fellow). In contrast to their relationship Koko actually helps me leave the car. it's not like I need it since my back wound is mostly healed… But I accept the hand anyway and give her a brief thanks, getting myself a warm smile from her in return.

This mansion was very big. And very wealthy. Everything, from statues in the garden to a classy outfit of maids and butlers screamed "I am scandalously rich". Everything is so fussy and high-mannered. Almost makes me uncomfortable to just be here. Almost. I just need a second to gather myself up, that's all.

Koko was holding much better than I was. Huh, I guess, since she is Sherry's friend, and maybe even more than just friends by the way their heart energy tangles with one another, Koko is much more resilient to upper class showcases than I am.

Perhaps she and Sherry knew each other from a very long time.

I made a mental note to ask Koko about it later... For now, let's focus on what the present in a form of a still slightly furious woman hold to me.

[hi there again

author is here

this year is wild

my keyboard s broken

trying my best

sorry for keeping y'all waiting

guess Zofis will be living with Brago now, huh? Totally not going to end in disaster or anything, haha]