Hello everyone, I'm KaleidoMirror!
I'm excited to present to you this new update of "Echo of the Seasons," thanks to all your support. I hope you enjoy this second chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it. I want to express my sincere gratitude for giving this story a chance. If you follow my other works, you'll understand that from the beginning, I wanted to create a kind of multiverse inspired by all my stories, even showing fragments of those I left unfinished. So, once again, I thank you for joining me on this journey.
In this particular story, you'll find more advanced moments from my other stories, and you'll encounter some surprises. I want to clarify from the start that each of my stories is filled with carefully thought-out details, and my goal is to expand the universe in general. I know it sounds quite ambitious, but as a writer, I take responsibility for my words. If there are any hiccups, I had to make some cuts, but I'm sure it was to enhance the plot and make it more captivating in the next chapter, as you'll see.
Furthermore, I'm considering focusing on updating all the projects I've been working on lately, adding more content to each one. So, next time, at least you can expect "The Forge and The Foam," so stay tuned. On another note, someone finally deciphered the hidden surprise in "Can a Sword Have a Teenage Romantic Comedy?" So, well, that's something that could happen if everything goes wrong... so we'll see...
I'm also eager to hear your thoughts and comments on this new update.
Moving on to our regular section, I want to express my great enthusiasm and appreciation for masterpieces like "Kaguya-sama: Love Is War" and "Fate/Stay Night." I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to share my work with all of you. I hope you find as much pleasure reading this story as I did writing it.
Are you ready?
Enjoy it!
- Main Dining Room, Yamamoto Mansion -
(Saturday Morning, 08:05 am)
Within the vast hall, all the visitors who had enjoyed it in the past had come to a similar consensus about the atmosphere imbued with elegance and refinement. This was true if one observed the exquisite quality of the furniture and the velvet curtains adorning the stained glass windows, which lent the space a unique distinction. These elements, more than mere decorative objects, had the power to evoke in those who beheld them a journey through the passages of Japanese culture.
In every strategically placed corner of the room, some of the family treasures were proudly displayed, narrating the history of the lineage and the influential political trajectory of the Yamamoto and Fujiwara clans throughout the centuries, from the glorious days of the Edo Shogunate to the splendid Heian period.
Its walls partially revealed the ancestral grandeur worthy of the elite. Adorned with a series of paintings, artifacts, and self-portraits of illustrious figures. However, among the more reserved areas, discreetly displayed pieces of ancient calligraphy could be appreciated, revealing part of the richness of the venerable history of the Fujiwara, which had recently become one of the youngest family members' most special hobbies as part of continuing their legacy.
Despite the opulence surrounding the dining room, it radiated a more intimate and personal atmosphere, especially in the past six months since the young 'Ojou-sama' had instituted a very special rule: once their morning duties were concluded, the servants and guards discreetly withdrew, leaving the table set with a flawlessly arranged Western-style breakfast.
The table was adorned with an array of delights: golden waffles, scrambled eggs with crispy bacon, freshly squeezed orange juice, and a selection of fresh fruits emitting tantalizing aromas.
While it might seem that Yamamoto Mei was enjoying a quiet morning alone, the reality was quite different. She shared her breakfast with her best friend, watching with a characteristic 'Emiya' smile as Alice enthusiastically devoured her favorite cream-filled waffles.
Reflecting on her short life at this point, she couldn't help but smile as she recalled the incident from a couple of months ago that started all this: That morning, she had decided to invite Alice to breakfast for the first time.
The result was something that no one could have foreseen, exceeding all explanation beyond 'common' sense: the plates and cutlery used by her had taken on a "seemingly autonomous" movement, surprising and bewildering the servants who had witnessed this phenomenon. This had led to speculations about the presence of ghostly entities in the dining room, triggering a series of incidents and confusions Mei had not expected to be involved in.
However, the truth was far from those assumptions.
The simple explanation for all of the above was that Nursery Rhyme was in a kind of 'Presence Concealment' mode, although this ability is common among the "Assassin" class, in Alice's case, it was an extremely degraded version of her own. Furthermore, Alice herself had confirmed to her that as her master, she had a very special ability that could be due to her lineage.
So, this episode only confirmed that she had been aware when she was younger of supernatural presences that she had ignored, but since Alice's company had become routine, that kind of sixth sense had become more sensitive.
In the end, after considerable effort to disguise these events as magic tricks to surprise her mother on her next birthday, calm finally returned to the Yamamoto household. Well, almost everything because the little 'oju-sama' received large sets of similar games from Chika, who encouraged her daughter to become a skilled player like she was in her youth, that was just the first step for her mother to plant in her the seed of Mei starting her own game club at her "Gakushuin Elementary School".
Although her daughter received them gladly, causing Alice to jump for joy, both girls loved writing stories more and shared a taste for reading fairy tales and classic children's stories. They both also decided to give the games a chance, which provided them with hours of fun together when they had game nights regularly.
At this point, Mei delighted in watching her friend finally place her small blue book on the table after numerous attempts to teach her good manners had failed, surprised by how childish she could be.
But her actions fell short when she found herself amidst Alice's usual provocations and teasing when they engaged in a contest of who "dominated" whom. In the end, Mei, as the "master," decided to ignore it, focusing her efforts on following the path of an "ojou-sama" as her mother Chika wished of her, leaving the little violet-eyed girl visibly frustrated at not being able to drag them into her games on most occasions.
This time, to Alice's misfortune, she ended up losing the match, so she decided to focus on her own breakfast with a defeated expression, but finding solace in adding a generous portion of honey to her waffles, attempting to create a big smile, completely absorbed in the task.
"Don't you think your breakfast has become a bit too sweet for your own good, Alice-chan?" Mei broke the silence with a comment on the peculiarity of the situation.
"I don't see anything wrong with it," the servant responded with her mouth full, not losing her childish charm. "Besides, we can have fun scaring the servants with our pranks later, before your birthday party, Mei-chan!"
"It's not right for you to do that. You should be more careful..." the birthday girl hesitated for a moment before sighing. "Mom has been quite 'aggressive' lately trying to catch the mansion's 'ghost' every time she comes to the dining room."
"Hehehe!" her friend's laughter echoed in response. "You're right! But you can't deny it's fun, right?"
"I know," she confirmed as she took a sip of orange juice. "It's just that every time we do it, it reminds me of the first time we met. Do you remember, Alice-chan?"
"How could I forget!" exclaimed the girl, grabbing her book as she gracefully leaped onto the table, floating amidst golden flashes and easily reaching the ceiling with pirouettes and jumps. "It was our first tea party, Alice's favorite!"
"Especially when you showed up as an unexpected guest," Mei commented, showing a touch of etiquette as she wiped her mouth with a napkin, pointing to her friend, who was still enjoying herself dancing through the air. "Do you have any idea how scared I was to see you suddenly appear in front of me out of nowhere? It was really hard to convince the guards and servants that it was a mistake on my part to alert them so abruptly."
"It was so much fun," Alice smiled as she approached her friend. "Especially because I still remember your surprised face at seeing me, Mei-chan. So don't try to deny it!" ignoring Mei's betrayed look, the violet-eyed girl approached her friend, indulging in the leftover strawberries from her plate with eagerness, leaving traces of cream on her mouth and nose in the process. "I still wish I could taste that Gyokuro tea again."
"Still," exclaimed Mei, allowing Alice to have her way and taking her face in her hands, carefully wiping the traces of food. "It was an event I wouldn't change for anything in the world, Nursery Rhyme. Especially because you've been my true and only friend since then," she admitted with a smile, tucking some stray hairs of her friend. "You were patient enough to answer all my questions about the Servants, even though I didn't understand everything about you the first time. Our meeting ended up being extremely fun!"
"I feel the same way, Mei-chan!" Alice let herself be fixed but puffed her cheeks in embarrassment. "Alice is happy to spend such fun days with you! Especially because we always have super-special tea parties!" Looking into her master's eyes with the usual puppy-dog tactic, it was obvious to Mei what her friend wanted.
"I know!, I know!, I'll save the last snacks from my Dad for you!".
"Hooray!, Hooray!, Hooray!"
Mei relented with a smile as she watched Alice dance with joy around the room. "But can I at least have one?" the golden-eyed girl looked at her concerned for a moment before making a compromise. "At least because I have the role of 'master', I deserve at least that, don't you think?"
Alice paused for a moment seeming to think about it for a moment. "Only if you leave the sweetest ones for me!" she smiled, making a victory sign with her fingers. "Especially if it's your dad's legendary strawberry cake!" the girl looked at her with a tender expression, but with contained seriousness. "That's Alice's favorite!"
They both looked at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter, finding all this interaction amusing.
"All right, all right, you win," Mei sighed as she urged her friend to finish their respective breakfasts amidst an atmosphere of calm and laughter, exchanging anecdotes and jokes. They didn't miss the opportunity to share trivial details of the past week, during which they had noticed some changes in the mansion which could be due to the preparations for the grand gala in honor of the Yamamoto princess.
In the end, Mei herself was eager to turn seven today. But, what both little girls had in mind for now at least, was to anticipate their own mid-day tea party before continuing with their busy schedule in the afternoon, especially because it was a big day for her.
– Emiya Personal Study, Yamamoto Mansion –
(Saturday Morning, 09:25 am)
Both girls immersed themselves in the room, each focused on her task. Gracefully floating, Alice examined the tall shelves housing not only ancient tomes but also dusty books and frames containing sepia-toned photographs of the Yamamoto family; meanwhile, Mei meticulously inspected her father's desk and personal area. Here, among piles of documents and secret cabinets, she moved with utmost familiarity, knowing every nook and cranny of these spaces.
Accessing this room was no longer a challenge for them, as it had been in the past, but this time, Mei had decided to make use of her newly discovered abilities in the art of 'Onmyōdō' to enter. These abilities had emerged barely three months ago when Nursery Rhyme, her friend, stumbled upon some compendiums on esoteric cosmology written by the legendary 'Abe no Seimei.' Despite the evident deterioration of some volumes and the complexity of the passages, she saw it as a personal challenge, fueled by an inexplicable fascination resonating deep within her being.
This led her to dedicate every spare moment to developing her skills in calligraphy and historical research. Mei saw how her suspicions gradually took shape. After trials and errors, with some mansion furniture broken in "mysterious" circumstances, Mei finally managed to master some spells. She even stored them in scrolls through strokes with 'special ink,' preparing to use them in future situations.
As she reached a certain level in her self-learning, they celebrated with a grand tea party amidst laughter and childish animations, courtesy of Nursery Rhyme's 'magic.' This moment became a special memory, marking Mei's step towards her identity as a true "magus," a step that strengthened her self-confidence and her relationship with Alice.
With each achievement, Mei felt more confident in herself, self-appointing herself as a "reliable master." She solemnly declared that she would never fail in her duties, thus reaffirming her bond with Alice as master and servant. At this point, each success strengthened their friendship, turning it into a completely genuine and deep trust.
Nursery Rhyme seized this change in Mei to share some details about ancient Japanese sorcery. They might not be many or even not from major branches like Onmyōdō. But it was practical enough for her master's curiosity to be genuine, and she showed a keen interest in learning it.
Unknowingly, Alice fueled her master's desire to discover why her father had hidden this knowledge in his private study. This curiosity drove Mei to continue her regular explorations, uncovering hidden artifacts under protective spells and formations of low complexity bounded fields. Although she initially struggled to dismantle them, she persisted in her quest.
And in the end, all the effort paid off.
Mei discovered a considerable amount of treasures, each increasing her thirst for knowledge. But most surprising was finding one of the original tomes of the famous book "Tale of Goenji," along with a quill and an inkwell that seemed to hold more value than mere antiques. Additionally, she found exquisite traditional Japanese kimonos. But most intriguing were the sheets of paper and scrolls dating back to the Heian era, intensifying her suspicions.
Among the oldest scrolls, Mei discovered inscriptions and symbols that resonated with the knowledge she had acquired about Onmyōdō. Each discovery seemed to open a door to a hidden and mysterious world that had been lying dormant right under her feet all this time.
On this occasion, what had led them to their father's private study was to obtain some 'Pu-erh' tea they had seen last time and hoped to incorporate into their own afternoon tea party. This was not to mention that their father would be arriving in a couple of hours, so they needed to be quicker due to the lack of time. Therefore, they decided to search more quickly and organized to be able to retrieve the last snacks hidden in the 'emergency reserve' that had been prepared by their father before he set off on his "final journey".
Furthermore, at this point, Mei suspected that perhaps her father had noticed the repeated 'incursions' both had made into his office in the last month, which was why entry this time was a bit more challenging than usual. As she observed Alice searching the shelves unsuccessfully, the birthday girl decided to search once again through the hidden compartments of her father's personal desk.
To exercise the utmost caution possible, this time Mei decided not to recklessly disarrange the set of cards, documents about his latest international business dealings, and urgent corporate movements scattered on the table, choosing to ignore them after a quick glance.
However, everything changed for her when she noticed a medium-sized box that immediately caught her attention. She detected no strange 'aroma' from the box, which made her feel confident it was nothing unusual. Debating whether it was right to take the package or not, her sense of curiosity prevailed, leading her to hold the package in her small hands. Analyzing it closely, examining its apparently ordinary appearance, devoid of details about the sender or any special seals. In the end, she looked at it triumphantly before eagerly opening it to discover its contents.
"How wonderful!" she exclaimed excitedly upon finding something she had never imagined inside the box. "They look so delicious!" she admired as she found another small finely decorated box inside, accompanied by a package full of chocolate bonbons that looked very tempting.
Despite her initial surprise, she didn't let herself be deceived. She found no clues about the sender or any additional information, just a small note on the lid wrapped in a black bow similar to the one she wore herself, but arranged more roughly. The note bore a barely legible sentence with a drawing that seemed familiar to her, reminiscent of her own command seals adorning the back of her left hand.
[For the Little Princess of the Yamamoto Clan]
At that moment, it became evident to her that, although someone might underestimate her due to her young age, she had always been cautious in her decisions. She showed a certain degree of suspicion, especially because of the drawing that seemed familiar, yet different, with its combination of curved and straight lines intertwined in an elegant and symmetrical manner. Mei didn't overlook this detail, especially the minimal but obvious presence of latent magical energy.
After looking at it for a few more seconds, she sighed resignedly, unable to find any more relevant details, and decided to tuck it into one of the secret pockets of her gothic dress with some reluctance.
"Look, look, look, Mei-chan!" Her friend's anxious voice took her by surprise, causing Mei to shift her focus and notice how Alice held an ancient family album in her hands. "You look so tiny in this photo!" Alice continued, pointing to a particular image where Mei, at just two years old, appeared happily kissing her father's cheek as he held her in his arms, from the edge one could appreciate long silver hair that gave an idea about her mother's role in taking the picture at that moment.
"I know," Mei responded affectionately as she contemplated her father's warm expression. "Apparently, it was taken when my parents were on an excursion to one of the oldest temples in Nara Prefecture a few years ago," she revealed, noticing the background landscape in the image, briefly longing for her parents' presence at that moment.
"I want to go! I want to go! I want to go!" Alice's frustrated but insistent response was all it took to convince her.
"Okay, Alice-chan," assured Mei, making a mental note to discuss it with her mother. "But I don't know if the temple is open at this time of year. Besides, I've heard there have been strange weather changes lately, which makes traveling, especially by boat, a bit dangerous. It's still something we need to check before doing it."
"But..., But..., But..."
"I know..., I know..." Mei attempted to console Alice as she saw some tears fall from her best friend's eyes. "Let's make a promise to never forget it... After all, have I ever broken a promise?"
"Never!" Alice finally smiled, to the great delight of the golden-eyed girl.
Sometimes Mei wondered if she was playing her role as 'Master' well, but then she remembered that not everything was so bad. After all, Alice was the best, and she could always rely on her in times of need. Once the atmosphere between them became pleasant again, they continued with their respective search tasks for the tea.
Once again, Mei found herself in a predicament.
After resolving her small altercation with her friend, she found herself pondering why that gift was meant for her, especially considering the significance of today. Unable to help it, an ironic smile briefly lit up her face before being erased as she remembered her parents' warnings about accepting gifts from strangers.
Unfortunately, her curiosity was stronger this time, and she promised it would be the last time she would disobey her dad. "Who could blame her?" she thought to herself. Although she was only 7 years old, perhaps her parents were right to consider her mature enough compared to other children, but the truth was that she also felt the same curiosity as any other child. It wasn't wrong to want to discover the contents of the mysterious gift directed towards her, especially because she felt something compelling her to want to open it every time she looked at it.
In the end, it all turned out to be a gamble.
That thought drove her to carefully remove the protective plastics wrapping the mysterious gift, revealing its contents. In her hands lay a solitary white rose, whose meaning initially puzzled her. However, she could relate it to the first flower her father gave to her mother, a story that had always been special to her. But what truly baffled her was the pendant with an ancient, yet extraordinarily valuable appearance according to her own analysis. The focus was on a large ruby embedded in the pendant, whose deep red glow left her slightly enchanted by its artistic beauty.
"What...?" she found herself bewildered as tears began to emerge uncontrollably. "But... what is happening? I don't understand," she murmured as sadness engulfed her, causing tremors in her being.
"Mei-chan... What's wrong?" She wasn't sure how much time had passed, but she finally became aware of Alice's concerned voice, who had approached her. "Why are you crying? Did you hurt yourself?"
"Humph..." she sighed amidst tears and sobs as she tried to compose herself. Her childish cheeks reddened by the tear streaks, but her attention remained focused on the object.
"It's nothing, Alice-chan," she tried to disguise, quickly wiping her tears with her white gloves, albeit unsuccessfully.
"Is it the pendant?" Alice's hesitant voice inquired as she examined the object.
On the other hand, she found herself questioning why she had reacted that way. Especially because her servant seemed genuinely concerned to the point of having carelessly left her book forgotten hastily in the act to comfort her. Now feeling the warmth of the small violet-eyed girl enveloping her in a comforting hug made her feel a little better.
"It's okay, everything's okay now, Alice-chan," she appreciated the gesture, feeling her friend's warmth. "I don't think this pendant is bad," she declared, clutching the object to her chest. "I don't know how to explain it, but this gift makes me miss dad even more," she admitted with a sigh, trying unsuccessfully to calm down. Her tears began to flow again, but Alice's embrace became more comforting with each one.
"You know you can count on Alice for everything, Mei-chan!" Her friend's reassuring attitude made the sense of loss more bearable, and both remained silent for a few moments, finding solace in each other's presence amidst the loneliness of the room.
"I know, Alice-chan!" she thanked, feeling her friend's hand stroking her hair, reminding her of the comfort she used to receive from her father in difficult times. But her gratitude was interrupted by a sudden outburst of anger. "Hey!" she exclaimed, annoyed after a moment when she realized what was happening, "It's not fair that you take advantage of this moment to take on the role of big sister between us!"
"Look on the bright side!" she gave a victory sign with her fingers, "You've stopped crying now, Mei-chan!" Alice's proud voice, amidst laughter, left the confused but melancholic master speechless. Without a doubt, Alice knew how to switch to a more mature attitude in the most necessary moments, just like now when they ended up laughing together, enjoying a moment of closeness between them.
The birthday girl's heart had been seeking a light called 'hope', longing to leave behind the feeling of loneliness she had been ignoring. The increasing burden of her parents' work responsibilities in recent months had created a constant in her life, but Alice's presence had distracted her from it until that moment.
It was a strange thought, but it was the only thing she could say, something that arose from the depths of her being.
- Mrs. Fujiwara's Personal Garden, Private Grounds of Yamamoto Mansion -
(Saturday Morning, 10:55 am)
The weather was simply enchanting, with the sun's rays bathing the tea party in a warm, golden light. The two girls were enjoying this well-deserved outdoor break, nestled in a soft, comforting blanket.
Surrounding them, the garden was adorned with a variety of lush flowers and carefully arranged gardening decorations, creating a tranquil and relaxed setting in this private area of the mansion.
As the pair of friends savored delicious desserts, gazing at the clouds floating overhead in a clear blue sky, they were enveloped in comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
The young ojou-sama held her cup elegantly, savoring every sip of the aromatic tea before placing it back on her saucer. Her steady breath mingled with the gentle whisper of the wind, which delicately brushed the leaves of nearby trees.
"It would be wonderful if it could always be this pleasant," whispered Mei, letting her thoughts drift in the calm that surrounded them.
"I want more cassis macarons and a giant slice of strawberry cake, please!"
Her friend's cheerful voice snapped her out of her reverie, turning her attention back to the girl who had quickly finished her own desserts.
"Alice-chan, this is the third time you've depleted our reserves!" Mei tried to point out her friend's issue with her obsession with desserts. "It's not healthy to overeat!"
"But... Mei-chan," Alice looked at her with pleading eyes, causing Mei to once again give in to her whims. "Your dad's desserts are just so delicious!"
"I know, I can't argue with that," Mei conceded, though she looked at her friend with a mix of frustration and amusement. "But this is the last time... understood?"
"I adore you, Mei-chan!" Alice's response rang out with joy, making the master smile satisfied with how everything was unfolding up to that point. The bond between them was strengthening with each interaction, making that day in the garden a special memory they would cherish for a long time.
At first, when they arrived at the place, both friends were immersed in experiencing a moment of pure joy and happiness, just as they had planned since the morning after breakfast.
"Let's play together!" Alice's eager invitation showed her childlike innocence and readiness to seize the day, infecting Mei with her enthusiasm.
"Of course, it's only fair that we have some fun!" Mei replied, ready for any challenge her unexpected friend might throw at her. "Just hope you're ready to lose this time, Alice-chan!"
"It's not fair, Mei-chan!" The violet-eyed girl's childish pouts looked at her reproachfully. "It's Alice's turn to pick the game this time!"
"Okay," she sighed, realizing she wouldn't be able to take the upper hand this time. However, all was not lost. "Just hope you're not a sore loser, okay?"
Her friend looked at her with some doubt before smiling. "Yes, Alice promises!" Holding her book in the air with a self-satisfied pose, she made a victorious gesture. "So, let the games begin!"
And so, both friends delved into moments of endless fun, each adding their own rules on the fly to add more laughter and an extra sense of competition. However, despite any challenges, they both kept up with the games, knowing they were in the company of their most loyal and best friend.
And thus, another day full of promises of adventure and fun began, where a pair of friends maintained the spark of friendship as they had done for the past six months between them. Every shared moment so far only strengthened their bond, making them an unstoppable team when it came to letting their imagination soar and becoming each other's confidante.
At first, amidst their games, Mei had created a simple illusion to make it appear from the outside that she was enjoying a peaceful nap in her mother's serene personal garden. However, in reality, both friends were soaring through the skies, using Nursery Rhyme's special magic. They amused themselves with chase games, competing to see who could fly faster and engaging in an aerial version of tag, which quickly left them exhausted but filled with excitement and laughter.
After an hour, they decided to change the nature of the bounded field; now they created the illusion that Mei was enjoying a moment of indulgence, savoring desserts and elegantly sipping tea amidst a quiet solo tea party. However, the reality was that Alice had been delighting in the desserts, much to Mei's delight, who enjoyed her friend's complicity.
Though at this point Mei felt drowsy, she forced herself to open her eyes, surprised to see Alice approaching with a strawberry covered in a bit of cream.
"Open wide, Mei-chan, here comes the airplane!" Her friend's sudden playfulness caught her off guard, but she decided to go along with it. After all, there was no one around to judge her for being "childish," and that freedom made them feel closer to each other than ever.
This was just one of the many moments they shared as kindred spirits during their tea parties. Sometimes, they introduced changes into the routine, while on other occasions, they devoted themselves to experimenting with 'Onmyōdō' magic or creating new games with their servant's unique magic. But they could always guarantee that fun was in store when both girls joined forces to turn their day into something fresh and wonderful. Each adventure strengthened their bond, turning them into inseparable accomplices in a world full of magic and fun.
(Saturday Morning, 11:55 am)
Despite the beauty of the garden surrounding her, Mei felt a bit drowsy at that moment. "I don't think we overdid it this time, right, Alice-chan?" Her voice, laden with tiredness, betrayed her obviously affected state by the sudden lethargy.
"Alice-chan?" she asked again, but could only glance sideways as her friend decided to forge ahead and take a well-deserved nap after all the fun, sheltering herself under the shade of a blossoming cherry tree. "So typical of her," she sighed amusedly amidst yawns, watching as a drool thread escaped from the corner of her friend's lips.
"If I had more energy, I'd love to play a prank on her by doodling on her face," she felt tempted by the idea, but immediately dismissed it for lack of will.
Caught in an in-between state of reality and the world of dreams, little Mei found herself trapped amidst the midday haze.
At first, everything had proceeded ordinarily, but subtle changes silently took place, like their forgotten teacups, with a delicate aroma and steaming, had vanished into thin air. The atmosphere filled with an inexplicable coldness, simultaneously being swept by an unnatural heat, yet at the same time, with a magical sensation hinting at a snowstorm, momentarily shifting the perspective to endless sand dunes with a subtle smell of sulfur.
Amidst these changes, the girl had ignored all of this, getting lost in her childish but satisfying thoughts before falling into a deep slumber. Each sigh mingled with the changing environment, further immersing her in the magical atmosphere that seemed to envelop her.
(Saturday Morning, 11:59 am)
"I've been thinking about my parents again," she admitted with a hint of resignation, lowering her head, while longing for the evening to arrive so she could enjoy her party when her parents and school friends would finally come to congratulate her. "But we'll be together soon," she smiled, completely dispelling that negative thought. "I just hope Alice-chan doesn't play too many pranks on my cousin Mikan-chan this time," she added with a laugh, imagining how she would explain having "borrowed" the red ribbon her godmother Kaguya had given her. Playing that prank had always become a classic at their gatherings.
Unfortunately, Mei was so tired at that moment that she hadn't been aware that the "ruby pendant" she was wearing, a gift she had received, showed signs of a faint glow that had reacted with the vibrant-colored book adorned with Nursery Rhyme fairy tales.
The owner of the book, needless to say, had been unconscious for so long, though there might be the possibility that, even if she were awake, she would have overlooked those details. At this point, none of that mattered because no one witnessed how both of their bodies were eventually surrounded by a halo of completely crimson light, with intermittent silver flashes that reached a peak as time passed.
At that moment, a gentle breeze stirred everything around them, revealing a multitude of weapons scattered haphazardly, which shimmered for a moment as if in response to Mei's wishes. Simultaneously, all the pages of the fairy tale book were mysteriously torn away by the breeze, caressing the faces of both girls, completely asleep and unaware of this phenomenon. The scene was imbued with a mysterious and captivating aura, as if it were weaving the beginning of an unexpected adventure.
(Saturday Afternoon, 12:00 pm)
To be honest, I didn't expect to address all the pending details in today's update, but that's how it turned out. Nevertheless, I'm excited about what's to come and urge you to look forward to the next update. For now, I'm pleased with the outcome of this second chapter, "Ancestral Secrets of the Fujiwara Family."
It's gratifying to see that we've received 5 reviews, as well as 49 favorites and 59 followers. I'm excited to see how this will unfold in the future and I greatly appreciate your ongoing support.
Before I say goodbye, I'd like to address some comments from the previous chapter.
I always intended for this story to have a family atmosphere, and I believe I've achieved that. However, in the upcoming chapters, we'll explore more of the Kaguya-sama universe. I thank everyone who left their comments; you're amazing.
I bid you farewell for now, KaleidoMirror, see you in the next update!