Chapter 3 - Reunion

Mina did not hesitate. She ran forward, throwing her weapon aside. Neither paid attention to the sound it made as hit the ground, for the girl was quick to envelop the boy in a hug. Soma, for his part, simply hugged back.

"Why?" Was all he said.

"I wasn't going to leave you behind," Mina replied.

"But, Mina-"

"No buts about it, Soma," Mina pulled back to look at him sternly in the face. "This was my choice to make."

Her expression saddened slightly.

"I could not bear the thought of you staying here, on your own, with nothing but monsters for company."

"It's what I had to do," Soma said.

"Yes, I know that," Mina nodded. "And that's why I'm staying too."

Soma frowned, but said nothing.

It's not like she can leave, anyway, he thought.

With the seal back in place, Mina was here to stay, whether he liked it or not.

"You are willing to go that far, for me?" He asked instead.

"Of course I would!" Mina replied. "We're friends, aren't we? I-"

A small blush manifested on her face.

"Care too much about you to just abandon you."

Soma felt his face heat up as well, briefly stunned.

"Mina…"

A small silence followed.

"I can still be taken over by the chaotic entity, you know," Soma finally said.

"That's… true," Mina said. "But, I know you, Soma. You don't intend to just give up after everything that has passed, are you?"

"Of course not," Soma was quick to say, scoffing at the idea.

"Then let me help," Mina said. "You don't have to do this alone. If there's anything I can do, even just being there for you, then... I'm fine with that."

For once, Soma allowed himself a small smile.

"Thank you, Mina," he said. "To tell the truth, I am glad that you are here."

"Really?" Mina asked.

"Yes," Soma nodded.

Still, he could not help but frown again.

I just hope we don't come to regret this, Soma thought.

Another moment of silence followed.

"So, um, what now?" Mina asked.

"Well," Soma said. "I already have a plan. We better do that before anything else."

He frowned.

"Though I'm not sure if we can pull it off… or if it will work."

"Well, we won't know until we try," Mina said.

"Right," Soma nodded. "Though we have to retrieve Julius' whip first, so let's go."

With that, they began to be on their way. However, Soma would stop after taking barely a step. He glanced down at the discarded naginata on the ground, and hummed.

"Is something the matter?" Mina asked.

Soma glanced towards her, his face taking on an amused expression.

"Were you really going to travel through the castle in order to find me?" He asked.

"Well, I was worried!" Mina said. "I had to find you as soon as possible. Though looking back, I'm glad I was stopped from doing so. I don't think I would've actually wanted to confront a demon, or zombie, or anything like that."

"It's a good thing then that what they thought first was to tell me," Soma mused, sounding relieved.

"So you came down as soon as you knew?" Mina asked.

"Of course," Soma nodded. "What, you think I would stay up there in the throne room, waiting for you to come to me?"

He then chuckled, though shortly afterwards hummed. Somehow, that idea sounded strangely familiar… and inviting. He shook his head, sweeping the thought away.

"Anyway, let's get going."

With that, both resumed their walk. Soon they reached back the entrance courtyard. Once they went up the stairs, the castle doors opened up once more, as if nothing different had happened moments prior. Soma stepped through the doorway, but then stopped again.

"Hmm?"

He turned back, to see Mina had stopped too, but still outside.

"You not coming in?" He asked.

"Ah, well," Mina glanced around, looking unsure. "I'm not sure the castle wants me inside."

Soma tilted his head, puzzled.

"What are you talking about?"

"Well, earlier, the doors refused to open for me," Mina explained.

"Really?" Soma glanced upwards for a moment, then back down. "Well, that should be no problem now. I'm letting you come in."

Mina seemed to hesitate for a moment, but then nodded.

"Okay," she said, before stepping forward.

Unlike before, the doors remained opened. Still with some trepidation, the girl then crossed the doorway, finally getting inside. No sooner that she did, the doors suddenly slammed shut behind her.

"Ah!" The startled girl glanced back. "What- AHHHHH!"

Another sudden headache would cut her off. Stronger than the last, she was on her knees once again, clutching her head.

"Mina!" Soma rushed to her side and knelt down.

He suddenly froze, before quickly glancing around. He could feel it. An aura of hatred was now enveloping them.

The castle… it's angry, he could tell. Angry at-

Soma glanced back to the screaming girl.

Mina?

His eyes then widened in realization.

It was the castle all this time!?

The boy recalled what Mina had told him. Of the fatigue, the headaches, the spasms. Arikado had warned them that staying in the castle for too long would only invite death, and while at the time that could have been the reason, in hindsight it was odd that the young miko alone had gone through such an ordeal. Neither Yoko nor Hammer had shown similar symptoms, after all. Now that he was here, witnessing one of those moments, there was only one question in his mind.

Why would the castle have such a grudge against her? Soma could only wonder. It was sealed long before either of us were born- Wait.

He wasted no time. He quickly stood back up.

"Stop!" Soma shouted. "She's not- she has nothing to do with the seal!"

Not in a direct way, at least. He only learned it this very day, but the Hakuba Shrine conducted the ritual that sealed off the castle in the eclipse back in nineteen ninety-nine. With how far back that was, it was likely Mina's grandparents were the ones to do the deed. Though regardless if the castle thought Mina herself was the one responsible, or was taking revenge by proxy, it mattered not to Soma.

"Cease this at once!"

However, nothing changed. The anger remained, and in fact, it only seemed to magnify. As if the castle was lashing out at an order that it was not in full acceptance of. For a moment, Soma feared it would now target him as well. He gritted his teeth and grunted.

Seems I have no choice.

"I am your Master! Obey!"

Soma poured all his will into the command. He could feel it clashing with the castle's own. He felt his own anger rising, both at the thought of having his word challenged so, and to the fact itself. Soma hated having to embrace this new side of him, but the castle had forced his hand.

He could also feel the reactions from the castle's denizens, still connected to him even if no longer housed within his body. Ranging from awe, fear, and even adoration. A reminder of the extent of his Power of Dominance, it was enough for Soma to feel a strange mix of disgust… and satisfaction.

In the end, after a few tense and agonizing seconds, to Soma's relief he could feel the castle finally come to heel. The aura of hatred began to dissipate, and Mina's screaming came to a sudden stop. The ordeal proved to be much more than she could handle, however, for her body begun to fall forward.

"Mina!"

In a swift motion, Soma prevented her falling body from hitting the ground, taking hold of it. He then stood back up, bringing Mina up with him in a princess carry. Her eyes were close, her body limp, and yet-

"S-Soma…" Mina muttered as she stirred feebly; a sign she was still clinging to consciousness.

Soma felt washed over in relief.

"It's alright, Mina, it's over," he said. "You're safe now."

Still, he could not help but frown again.

I doubt the castle will stop its enmity against Mina's family any time soon, he thought. But no matter. So long she remains here, I won't allow for her to come to harm. If anything were to happen to her-

His frown deepened.

No, I won't allow that to happen again.

Soma blinked, confused.

Again? Why did I-?

Suddenly, the image of a woman flashed in his mind, startling him. It lasted only a fraction of a second, but he could remember it vividly. The woman looked like she came out medieval Europe, if her matter of dress, blonde hair, and blue eyes could attest. Despite never seeing her before, Soma could not help but find her familiar nonetheless.

Who was that woman? Soma wondered. Someone from my- Dracula's past?

He shook his head. Now was not the time to dwell on that. There were more pressing matters, like taking Mina to a proper place to rest up, and Soma knew just the place.

Tightening his grip on the girl in his arms, Soma broke into a sprint. He ran down the dilapidated corridor until reaching an opening in the ceiling. Without pause, the moment he was right under it, Soma proceeded to jump. With one big leap, he passed through the opening, landing in another corridor, this one in much better condition than the one below. He then continued in the opposite direction and into the room at the end, which housed one of the castle's many warp gates. He stood before it, and focused on his desired destination. The gate began to act up, and as countless times before Soma found himself lifted off the floor, before pulled into the gate.

Emerging at corresponding warp gate of their destination, Soma walked off the room and into the adjoining hallway. In contrast to the entry corridors, this one looked much more welcoming and opulent, actually furnished and pristine. Doors lined up across its walls. Soma's previous treks through this part of the castle had made him see it was some kind of living quarters. Though he never went through any of them as he traversed the area, he had a hunch that at least some of the doors had to house bedrooms. Right away Soma could see a Persephone, wiping clean a large vase with a piece of cloth. She would stop at his approach, and began to turn.

"Wel- oh!" She stopped herself from doing her greeting once she was actually facing him.

"I need an empty room," Soma wasted no time.

"Yes, over here, Master," Nor did the Persephone as she rushed over to the nearest door and opened it.

Soma went inside; his previous hunch proven right for it was indeed a bedroom. As he approached the bed, the Persephone hurried past him and pulled back the covers. Gently, Soma laid down Mina atop the bed, after which the Persephone laid the covers back down before stepping back. Only then did he finally audibly sigh in relief.

"Thank you," Soma told the Persephone.

"It's not trouble. After all, I live to serve," she replied matter-of-factly and with a smile.

"Right…" Soma said, as if not entirely believing it.

He still recalled how she and her ilk had attacked him previously. True, it was not as if they would have seen him as anything but an intruder at the time. Even so, no matter the reasons behind it, the behavior reversal was still jarring. Not helping matters was how her demeanor was also unchanged, but perhaps it was normal for a demon.

"Well, uh, you can leave now," Soma then said.

"Very well, Master Soma. I shall take my leave then," the Persephone replied.

She then made a curtsy, before proceeding to leave the room, closing the door behind her. Soma watched her leave, and remained staring at the door with a frown. That is, until he heard a small moan from behind. Turning back, he saw Mina rising to a sitting position.

"Hey, you shouldn't be up so soon," Soma admonished.

"It's alright," Mina replied. "I feel… fine."

However, that small pause was enough to make the boy frown.

"Are you sure?" Soma asked.

"Yes," Mina nodded. "I don't feel hurt or anything. Just… a little tired, that's all."

"Then you should rest up at least," Soma said.

Mina looked pensive for a moment, before sighing.

"I suppose you're right," she conceded.

With that, she began to adjust herself until her back was against the headboard.

"It's alright, I'll watch over you," Soma said.

He glanced around the room, spotting a desk with a chair.

"Not that I don't appreciate the gesture," Mina said as he headed over, "but what about the entity?"

"That can wait," Soma said, picking up the chair. "Besides, you said you wanted to help me. Which you can't do right now."

"That's… true," Mina had to concede.

Soma placed the chair next to the bed and sat down.

"Can you at least tell me about your plan?" Mina then asked. "Perhaps I can already think up on something that could help."

"Well," Soma began, "I was thinking on doing the same thing that Julius did: Use the whip's power to mess with my connection with the entity, just like he did with the castle's power."

"Mister Julius did that?" Mina asked, amazed. "Did he thought the castle could break out of the seal on its own?"

"I suppose," Soma replied. "Which means it either worked, or he wanted to cover his bases."

Mina hummed.

"Then, in that case…" she trailed off, pensive.

"Thought on something?" Soma inquired.

"Well… there's a ritual that could do the job," Mina said. "I don't know if it's the same one Mister Julius used, but it should be similar at least. Although, I don't know how effective it will be if I'm the one doing it."

Her expression then saddened.

"I'm afraid it won't be enough to severe the connection."

Soma frowned, then shook his head.

"Well, it's better than nothing," he said. "Not like I expected it'd be that easy, anyway."

"If only my parents were here," Mina lamented.

"But they aren't," Soma said. "No one we know is. It's just the two of us now."

A heavy silence fell upon them.

"Anyhow, how are you feeling?" Soma continued after a few seconds.

"Better," Mina said. "I think we can go now."

As if to prove it, she began to get off the bed. Soma quickly stood up, watching her do so. Despite his worry, the girl managed to stand up looking no worse for wear. Nevertheless, he remained on guard.

"Alright, just don't push yourself too hard," Soma said.

"Don't worry, I won't," Mina said.

With that, they both left the room. To their surprise, the hallway was not as empty anymore. The Persephone from before was still there, but now she had company. Two more of her kind, but also a Student Witch and even a Valkyrie were present. They were huddled together, seemingly engrossed in conversation. However, it would come to a stop as they turned towards the two of them.

"Ah, Master Soma," the first Persephone said as the others either curtsied or bowed in greeting. "I take it everything is fine now, yes?"

"Yes," Soma nodded.

Next to him, Mina looked over at the small group with a mix of wariness, but also curiosity.

"Good," the Persephone flashed a smile, before turning to Mina. "It's pleasant to see you well, Milady."

"Milady?" Mina repeated, confused.

"Why, of course. You are an esteemed guest, after all," one of the other Persephone said.

The rest of the group nodded in agreement.

"Eh?" Mina was aback. "Esteemed?"

"That's right," the last Persephone said. "So we'll make sure your stay here is as comfortable as it can be."

"As well as keep you safe," the Valkyrie said sternly, hand gripping her spear.

"Not that it's really necessary right now," the Student Witch added. "But, I'll still do my best!"

"I-I see," Mina said, feeling overwhelmed.

Well, this makes things much easier, Soma thought, feeling quite pleased. Good thing ordering the castle was as much sending a message to the rest of them.

"Right, so, there's something we have to deal with," he spoke. "So we must be on our way. Come, Mina."

As Soma started walking back into the gate room, Mina glanced back to the group.

"It was nice meeting you," she said, trying to sound polite if not sincere in spite of her unease.

While the Persephone did their customary bows and the Valkyrie made a simple nod, the Student Switch went as far as waving goodbye with a smile on her face. This simple, but possibly sincere gesture was enough to make Mina smile back.

Maybe this won't be so bad after all, she thought.

Feeling slightly better, she followed Soma. They would both come to a stop once in the gate room proper.

"The whip was left in the throne room," Soma said. "The nearest gate is still a fair distance away."

"I see," Mina said. "But it should be no problem getting there, right?"

"Well, no," Soma said, frowning. "But we better be quick."

He was not exactly keen in passing again through the upper floors of the castle, currently. Still-

It can't be helped, he thought, sparing a glance at Mina.

Turning back to the gate itself, Soma began to focus. As it begun to act up, he glanced back to Mina.

"Hold on tight," he told her.

"Okay," Mina was confused, but nonetheless complied by grabbing Soma's arm.

Just in time, for they began to rise into the air immediately after.

"Ah!"

Startled, the girl instinctively clung closer, shortly before the two would then pass through the gate.

Author's Notes: You know, I did considered having Mina actually go through the castle in search of Soma. Not that she would be actually fighting her way through, as it were. It was more to be her exploring and getting into all sorts of chatty encounters. In the end, I felt it would be too contrived to make Soma take too long to find out about it, so I opted otherwise. Still, not that aspects of the idea have been fully scrapped, mind.

Also, though I doubt I'll always go into great detail when describing the castle's layout, for the time being assume it's more or less as seen in Aria. Which, yeah, makes sense. Though naturally, don't take it for granted it will remain that way even in the short term.

Lastly, I suppose now's a good time as any. I know it's a popular headcanon to see Mina as Lisa's reincarnation, and I'll be honest, I am a sap for that sort of thing too. However, whether or not that may be a thing here is something I haven't decided yet. Yeah, even after all this time. Suffice to say, that's not to say the subject may not be brought up in some way...