Greetings, everyone! I'm bringing you this chapter primarily focused on Pocket Mirror and its remake, Goldernertraum, of which the chapter's title was named after. Hope you enjoy the RPG Maker game's integration to the story and this chapter's contents! Please enjoy!

May 29, 2024 update: Repolished and fixed the entire chapter's grammar and content.

"Ah! We're here!" Goldia's lively words reverberated to his right ear, which sounded like it came from far away due to how almost quiet she said it.

"…It appears we are in the prelude area of your 「dreamscape」, Goldia," he heard Emi respomd, sounding a little let down for some reason. Her feet shuffled before she says more, "I was expecting we arrive at any of their 「domains」 after we fall asleep."

"Well, since mister Kakyoin is with us, he needs to get accustomed to my dreamscape first. I don't want him to feel overwhelmed on his first time here, especially after he told us he was once attacked by an evil Stand in his dreams," explained Goldia.

"Oh, good point," conceded Emi. Again, her feet shuffles before she speaks directly to him, "Hm? Your eyes are closed Kakyoin. Please open them."

"Huh? Ah, sorry."

Kakyoin has only realized his eyelids are clamped shut, explaining why he thought everything appears dark. Abiding to her little request, he slowly opens his eyes, blinking once or twice to wipe off the blurs decorating the corners of his sight. After enough blinks, his vision clears, and the first persons he sees are, as he expected after hearing their voices, Emi standing to his left, looking at him expressionlessly. And Goldia located on his right, her frown turning upright when she saw he regained his bearings.

Feeling like he woke up from a good nap, Kakyoin stifles a yawn as he stretches his arms up, shaking his head to erase any lingering drowsiness infecting his head. He's now standing up sprightly as he lowers his arms back.

"Emi-san. Goldia-chan," he addressed the two with a nodding smile. "Good to see you two."

Emi didn't smile but returns his nod with her own while Goldia does the same with an eager smile. "Likewise, mister Kakyoin! I see giving you my 「pocket mirror」 and having you hold on to it before you sleep is a success, so you didn't go far away from us when we entered here!"

Mentioning her possession has made Kakyoin aware of the cold feeling clenched within his right hand. Opening it, he sees the golden object decorated with a gold rose in the front, appearing the same like it did in the real world. Believinghe wants it back, Kakyoin hands it out to her, leaning and crouching his body a little due to their height differences. "Guess I don't need to hold on to this anymore. Here's your mirror back."

"Alright." Goldia grabbed her pocket mirror back. She holds it close to her chest, especially to where her heart is.

Kakyoin straightens his posture after doing the deed, smiling at her. He's not sure how important the pocket mirror is to her, but considering how he got here thanks to it, he believes it isn't just an ordinary pocket mirror she's deeming her keepsake.

"Well then," they heard Emi as she walks forward away. "Now that we are here in your dreamscape's entryway, tell me… Which 「domain」 shall we embark to? You have talked with your 「sisters」 and presumably told you whose domain we shall visit, yes?"

"Of course," responded Goldia, following her. "After giving it much thought and talking with them in my head, we will go to Fleta and Egliette's shared realm. The two are planning a picnic there so they're expecting us, mister Kakyoin included, to attend. You know they wouldn't take no for an answer given this is a special occasion, right mother?"

"Alright." Goldia grabbed her pocket mirror back. She holds it close to her chest, especially to where her heart is.

Kakyoin straightens his posture after doing the deed, smiling at her. He's not sure how important the pocket mirror is to her, but considering how he got here thanks to it, he believes it isn't just an ordinary pocket mirror she's deeming her keepsake.

"Yeah… I know too well how that turned out…" Goldia feels her eyes starting to water and her frowning lips quivering as a memory flashes in her eyes related to their conversation. She's thankful Emi granted her and her sisters a comfortable existence after she painstakingly restored each and every one of them, to the point she was very exhausted once she's done, but the events that happened to her before she met Emi are… too painful enough to remember. She won't try downplaying it because she shouldn't forget why she went on a harrowing journey to regain her memories, only to fail and almost have her soul taken. She made a promise to better herself and her relationships with her sisters, but she would be lying to herself if she said they didn't affect her so badly.

Sensing the piling sorrow within her watering eyes, Emi crouches down and wraps Goldia in a comforting hug. Goldia lays her chin gently on her left shoulder as she rubs her back soothingly. "Please cry no more, my dear daughter. What happened back then had long passed, and even if you are still feelling regret and anguish to this day, please do not forget… I, and your sisters, are here for you."

Her hug and soothing words manage to pull Goldia out of her grief, returning the hug by wrapping her arms around Emi. "I know mother. We are always be grateful to you and your compassion…" She expressed her gratitude, hoping their hug last as long as she likes. In their embrace, they temporarily forgot the other occupant watching them express their affection.

It would be rude of me to interrupt their embrace. I'll let them continue hugging for now. Kakyoin thought, choosing to check out their surroundings.

Though the place he was brought into is dim enough he can't see anything some meters away from him, what appears to be moonlight pouring through two windows near the door and stairs far from him give it some luminance. Aside from those in the front, there are three doors to the left, right and back of him, two or three unlit lanterns hanging on a chain up from the ceiling, petals scattered around the floor coming from the leftmost door, unlit or melted candles scattered also across the floor near the doors or windows and lastly, five colorful spheres lodged in five holes surrounding a bigger hole or crack, spaced apart that it gives a shape of a star if traced.

Given the dim lighting and oppressive atmosphere surrounding this small room, it boggles Kakyoin that a place like this exist within Goldia's dreamscape. From his short interaction with her, he can tell the girl is sweet, caring and nice who expresses concern to anyone regardless if they are strangers or not. Besides that, this room does look like it's a starting point or entrance and since first impression counts, he could only wonder why Goldia possibly have this place within her mind.

Once he's done examining, Kakyoin turns back to Emi and Goldia, who have split apart once they realize they made him wait. "Ah, Kakyoin," addressed Emi, standing up on her feet. "Apologies if we made you wait. Goldia was remembering a sad memory and was on the verge of crying, so I…"

"It's fine. I understand why you hugged her, which is why I didn't interrupt you two," Kakyoin raised his left hand to stop her, nodding in understanding. "I wouldn't like it either if one of my friends are feeling down over something. My first instinct would be to try comfort them."

Hearing him, Emi shows a relieved smile. She's glad that despite how much Kakyoin has changed, his golden heart remained so he wouldn't think of doing something bad, especially when he has Hierophant Green.

"Very well. Let us not delay this any longer. Goldia?" Emi faced her, who understood what she wants her to do without words.

"Yes mother."

The girl marches to the large hole in the center of the room, holding her pocket mirror as she stares down to it. With Emi and a curious Kakyoin watching her, she crouches on one knee and inserts the mirror in the hole. Not letting go of her hand, Goldia closes her eyes and says the following words.

"「Dream of Mirrors」… Grant us access to Fleta and Egliette's beloved garden.

Stepping back, she waits for two seconds before the small embedded object produces a twinkling sound as it glowed brightly. At the same time, the embedded green sphere glows. Particles are emitting out from the glowing mirror, then another two seconds later, the particles all coalesce together to create a big, rectangular object, which soon reveals it to be a big mirror, framed by an ornate and shiny golden casing adorned with golden rose at the top and feather wings on the bottom made from the same material as the casing. The mirror is facing forward, towards the impassive Emi and stunned Kakyoin.

With a big mirror successfully appearing from the pocket mirror, which itself had stopped glowing, Goldia crouches again to retrieve it in her hands. She takes a step backward to marvel at the floating mirror with a proud smile. "It's done!" She exclaimed, turning to them.

"Very good. You are getting accustomed to your 「Stand」, Goldia," Emi complemented her with a smile, marching toward the mirror. Kakyoin followed, albeit very confused but also still curious over what Goldia and Emi said and did to create a mirror big enough for them to probably fit through.

"Yup! I believe I am becoming proficient enough in using 「Dream of Mirrors」 and its ability that I might not need to say anything next time and let my thoughts do it, hopefully!" Goldia claimed.

"I would like to see that." Emi replied, nodding.

"Dream of Mirrors, huh?" Kakyoin repeated the name, staring at the mirror created by a smaller mirror seconds earlier. Emi and Goldia turn to him, the latter having predicted he wants to learn her Stand after she showed it in action. "I should've suspected it given you were the daughter of a Stand User even if you're adopted, but who would have thought you're a Stand User, Goldia-chan?"

Goldia giggles. "…You didn't ask."

"Heh, good point," shrugged Kakyoin. "So I take it your… 「Dream of Mirrors」 lets you 「create」 a mirror as a… probably a「portal」? Have I guess that right?"

"Yes. That's how my Stand works. It allows me to create two separate 「mirrors」, an 「entrance」 and an 「exit」, connecting two places," she started explaining, raising the pocket mirror near him. "I then only have to enter through it and and I arrive to a place I want to go to. That's the only 「ability」Dream of Mirrors can do, so I cannot fight with it, nor are there more abilities other than what you saw."

"Oh, so it's a non-combative Stand," corrected Kakyoin. "Well, even if it's not fit for fighting, your ability is unique nonetheless Goldia-chan. I'm sure that your simple ability can become useful if you know what you can do with it. That's what I've observed from the many Stands I encountered, including myself and my friends. No matter how limiting or simple their abilities are, they can prove to be adaptable or even dangerous if its user are crafty enough."

Looking at her pocket mirror after listening to him, Goldia adopts a thinking look, humming absent-mindedly before nodding in understanding and affirmation. "Maybe you're right, mister Kakyoin. If I know how to use Dreams of Mirrors in other ways, I could become more proficient and useful

" She smiled hopefully.

"A good reasoning, Goldia," approved Emi, nodding in turn. "But please remember not to overwork yourself and use it too much or all the time. It will not be good for your mind."

"I know mother," Goldia said it in a slight exasperated tone, indicating she must have heard it many times from her before and she's somewhat getting sick of it. Nevertheless, she appreciates her advice.

With the gateway to one of the places located only in this dreamscape of Maiden of Glimpses floating before them, bobbing up and down as it waits for them to enter through, Goldia incites Emi and Kakyoin to get moving, seeing they have lingered here long enough. "Come on, you two! Let's go! We don't want to keep them waiting!"

"Alright. We shall proceed to Fleta and Egliette's world," Emi announced. "I hope the other 「three」are in attendance when we arrive. We would be walking a lot in visiting their own domains and ask them if they want to join us."

"Don't worry mother! They said they will be present!" Goldia replied. "All they must be doing is waiting for our arrival, especially Kakyoin."

"Ah, good to hear that," Emi next turns to Kakyoin, who is trying his best following their conversation that came natural to them but is leaving him lost. "Are you ready to move, Kakyoin?"

Coincidentally, he was going to ask what they should do in order to enter one of the places located in this dreamscape, of which an obvious and tempting answer is standing, or floating, before them until Emi answers it without him putting forth a question. Facing her, he nods, stating, "I'm ready."

With his reply, Goldia, Emi and Kakyoin go through the mirror, phasing through the glass like it's made of water that ripples upon contact. One by one, they enter through the mirror, and each time they did, a sound akin to a glass shattering in reversed is heard, echoing within the soon-to-be empty entrance area or "foyer" of the dreamscape once the three occupants disappeared within the mirror.

The same sound is heard when Goldia, Emi and Kakyoin come out, in that order, from the other mirror. Compared to the two who has gotten used to the sound, Kakyoin winces a little due to how loud it is.

As soon as Kakyoin's foot leaves the mirror, causing the ripples surrounding it as long as he was in contact to disappear, the mirror portal glows brightly before shattering into many tiny pieces, then dissipating into nothing. The three have watched it vanish before their eyes, Kakyoin being in awe the most.

"The mirror vanished…" He obviously pointed out, swerving his head back to Emi and Goldia's directions after he's done watching the particles dissolve. "Does that always happen whenever you used it as a portal, Goldia-chan?"

"Actually, I have some control on the mirrors I conjured. I simply cause the mirror to shatter like you saw once you came out from the mirror," answered Goldia. "Oh, and one thing you should know is if another mirror exceeds the five mirror 「limit」, the foremost mirror will dusappear."

"Huh? You can only create up to 「five」 mirrors?"

"Yes. And since another mirror pops up on the other side, that amounts to 「ten」mirrors in total." Goldia added.

Satisfied of her answer, Kakyoin focuses his attention on taking in the new change of scenery. Currently, he, Goldia and Emi are in a garden, the pathway they're standing on becoming mixed with the sea of green grasses until it trails off. Multiple healthy trees with red roses blooming among the leaves each line the narrow pathway leading to a small, grassy steps marked by a hedge arch few meters away from them, of which there seems to be a pumpkin going ripe or still growing besides the archway. Squinting his eyes to see beyond the arch a little, he can see two marble pillars and big stairs past them leading to an elevated platform, of which the pillar nearest to the hedge arch is broken in half. Red petals sway within the wind as it blow pass or through the florae, carrying it in the air or picking it up from the ground if few stayed.

Since he was in a murky, dim room a minute ago, Kakyoin sees the change of place a literal breath of fresh air, feeling himself relaxing just by being near the trees. He bet he would take a liking to his place more if he starts walking. Still, being a newcomer, he has no idea what this place is overall. He heard from Goldia about going to someone else's world so he presumes he's standing in the same world she commanded her pocket mirror to, but he's unsure.

"So uhhh… are we in… some kind of garden?" Kakyoin asked the two. "It's already obvious to me given the pleasant setting, but I want to make sure by asking you two."

"Yes, mister Kakyoin," confirmed Goldia, swiveling on her feet to face him with a comforting smile. "We're in Fleta's backyard garden right now located behind her home. Or as she likes to call it together with her cherished companion Egliette, 「Their Beloved Garden」."

"Well… Beloved is a right word to describe this place," agreed Kakyoin, folding his arms as he continues taking in the scenery. "I'm getting positive vibes just by standing here."

"Then I suppose we should dawdle here no longer," Emi beckoned the two with her hand. "Let us proceed forward. I am sure everyone must have arrived already and is waiting for us."

"Yup! We shouldn't keep them waiting! Come on, you two!"

Influenced by Goldia's excitement and Emi being worried she might trip due to how fast she's running, Kakyoin and Emi follow after Goldia. Passing by the two pillars and the stairs "guarded" and flanked by two pumpkins (Kakyoin asked about them and Emi stated pumpkins are a common sight here in Goldia's dreamscape as a leftover from her past), they come across three statues, two of them overlooking near the edge while the one is situated in the center of a pond guarded by a stone railing covered in vines and flowers. There's also another two statues located at the top of a second stairs depicting, bizarrely enough, two Goldias - one that has a crown on her head with her hands on her lap and eyes closed, and another possessing a single right wing holding a scythe.

When they go up to the second elevated platform, Kakyoin asks why there are two Goldia statues. "Oh, the one that has a scythe is not me," answered Goldia. "She may have my appearance, but she's a separate person."

"…What?" Kakyoin is baffled.

"You will see what she means soon…" Emi stated, moving away from the statues as she catches up to Goldia. After sparing the statues another puzzled look, Kakyoin follows them behind. "Speaking of which… There they are."

The two stop walking once they see four girls sitting on aluminum chairs circling an aluminum table with a wide, circular and flat surface. Kakyoin stops too once he saw they have made it to their destination.

Hmm, who do we have here? With a right hand on his chin, Kakyoin observes the girls curiously.

The first girl he's looking at is seen sitting on an comparatively ornate chair in the center, which makes her seem like a queen or princess and so demands the need to be in the center of attention. A fair-skinned girl with short blond or lemon-yellow hair having dark blue or green eyelashes and green eyes, her outfit consists of a dark pink headband, pink ribbon hanging on both sides of her head, a pink puff-shouldered mini cardigan decorated with a lacy collar hem tied together in a ribbon, fluffy dress with a lighter pink top having two split ribbon ends, whiter skirt with a frilly hem, pink ballerina shoes, white knee-length socks with frilly white tops and lastly, pink ribbons spiraling up to her mid-calf. She seems to be holding a doll in her arms, like her life depended on it.

Regarding the doll itself, it has a royal crown with ruffled rim and crosses attached loosely on each side over its pink hair and two long ears showing a heart-shaped piercing at the end of its right ear. Two golden rings are linked to the heart-shaped piercing, one of which is in the shape of a heart. Its eyes are the most peculiar part contributing to giving it a crazed look, as the left, narrowed eye with eyelashes has pink and light blue eyes while the right, circular and large eye is colored green and red; both pupils are consistently colored yellow and purple, and she has no nose. Her head is shaped like an egg. For attire, it wears a raggedy purple dress with a sewn red patch on its left, worn over a white blouse with small red buttons and bloomers, oversized ruffled sleeves consisting of more crosses and a switched pink and blue color scheme on each side. Finally, tied to its neck is a large red bow.

On the short girl's right sits a refined and self-disciplined girl who attentively watches over the girls, being the taller one of them all. She has long, flowing hair colored either peach or pink, ornamented at the center of the fringe with a blue, striped bow, two small braids restrained with golden cross falling from her sides sitting on her shoulders, gradient and clouded blue eyes going whiter near the bottom, blue eyelashes and fair skin. She wears a short, blue frilled capelet tied with a light blue striped bow (not unlike Emi's own except lacking the frills), a white, long-sleeved ruffled shirt tied at her waist by a blue sash, knee-length skirt with a petticoat patterned by a sole line of white crosses and white tights with blue Mary Jane shoes each adorned with a white cross and blue bows.

The third girl sitting by the pink girl's left seems focused on staring at the table, staying quiet at all times. This one has long, wavy and unkempt blonde hair parted hastily in the middle, adorned by a flowered, lace ribbon on the left side of her head, very pale skin, and violet eyes having a ringed eyeshadow or eyebags below, albeit less prominent. For her outfit, she sports a long-sleeved white blouse with high, ruffled dark purple collars and small, dark purple belts with gold buckles and a lavender rose pin attached to the collar, brown buckled corset, white skirt with dark purple fabrics and bigger, numerous belts sewn and attached into the waistband, two of which are buckled together while other two are left undone, dark purple tights and black ballet-slipper shoes with two more rose pins on top of each shoe laced up to her mid-calf.

The last girl, and one that immediately caught his eyes even before he described the first girl, looks entirely identical to Goldia! Down to having the same attire except colored differently. Her long hair is colored black, her eyes are golden and more upturned than Goldia's, and her clothes consist of white long-sleeved blouse with a frilled collar and cuffs with a gold brooch pinned to her collar, black knee-length skirt held up with black suspenders, bright yellow shoes topped with bows, and white knee-high socks. As mentioned, aside from the different colors, this girl looks like a splitting image of Goldia. If there is one distinct difference between her and Goldia though, it's her stitched or sewn up left hand's ring finger. The identical-looking girl is busy looking up in to the blue sky, swinging her legs lazily with a bored frown.

Due to their elegant and pretty clothing that Goldia and Emi also exhibited, Kakyoin's green gakuran uniform looks simplistic in comparison. Not saying he's not proud of his appearance as he felt his hanging twisting lock of hair and cherry earrings adds a sense of subtle uniqueness and remarkable air to him, but standing in the same place as these women wearing intricately designed attire from about late 17th to mid-18th century made him stand out.

So these must be Goldia's 「alters」, or as she likes to call them, 「sisters」… Kakyoin thought. Each of them has distinct appearances separate from Goldia except for one. They must be living in her mind, observing the real world Goldia is perceiving with her five senses, and apparently, they can talk to her in her mind? I must admit… I never suspected there are four individuals existing in her head until she and Emi-san told me.

As Kakyoin is absorbed in his thoughts, Goldia exclaims excitedly to get their attention, "Everyone, we're here!"

The five snaps their heads to her, and it didn't take long before they begin smiling upon seeing the older and central sister and their precious mother have arrived.

"Goldia!" "Mom!"

The pink girl and Goldia's color-inverted twin get off their seats and run straight into them first, with the short girl dropping the doll ungraciously in her excitement (who landed perfectly on the grass as if it can move by itself) to give Goldia a big hug, nearly pushing her to the ground while the other one choose to hug Emi. Her short height means she only reach up to her waist, not that she cared and neither Emi too.

Recovering from her surprise, Goldia steadies herself as she returns the hug eagerly. Despite the tight hug, she enjoys it as she lets out a laugh. Eventually, the girl stips hugging her as the pink-haired and blonde-haired girls walk up to greet her silently with a warm smile and a nod respectively. The doll is even included, revealing it- err. Herself to be actually alive to the watching Kakyoin's silent surprise as she last walks up to Goldia, emitting squeaks in every steps.

"It's about time you two show up!" The pink girl complained in a childish voice, pouting and glaring at Goldia. "I was thinking of finding you two and the guest together with Egliette here when you three took too long!"

"Hehehehe," giggled Goldia, having the courtesy of being embarrassed a little. "We're sorry for keeping you guys waiting. Hope we didn't made you all wait that long."

"Oh it's fine, my girl," the tall girl allayed with a shake of her head, her voice having the tone of a mature and caring person. "Only three minutes have passed after Fleta and Egliette invited us all here. We were patient."

"We are glad to hear it, Harpae," replied Emi, putting her hand on the black-haired girl's shoulder. "So, how are you my daughters? Everything here within Goldia's dreamscape is doing well as always, I hope?"

"It's as you have said," Egliette, the doll, responded (again, to Kakyoin's more surprise), as Fleta, the pink-dressed girl, carried her back in her arms. "No problems were fortunately found within her mind when she's both awake and asleep. That goes the same to Fleta and everyone else."

Goldia smiles gladly at Egliette while Emi nods in relief. "And I sensed all of your souls are doing well too… I suppose there is no problem as usual."

"You always ask us that question, mom," Goldia's twin told her, her voice sounding similar to Goldia's but with a slightly deeper tone and seemingly younger. "It's becoming a little annoying hearing you ask it every time you see us and having to answer the same thing too, soooo… Can you stop asking the same question mom?"

After pondering about it while tapping her chin, Emi concedes she has a point. "I suppose if I must, Enjel. Goldia herself are doing well many months later. As such, I shall try not inquiring you all with the same question again."

The girls like her statement, either humming or nodding. "I'll be alright mother!" Goldia added, agreeing with her assertion too. "If you're still worried for us though, you can examine our souls. We won't mind it if you did it without our permission."

"It would be rude of me if I did not ask your consent… But I will keep it in mind." She sounded unsure at first but she has faith in her daughters they can maintain their own well-beings. She nods to let them know she understands.

As the four girls smiled at her, the blonde girl turned away from them to see Kakyoin is standing away, apparently staying in the background as much as possible. He soon noticed she was looking at his direction when she speaks up in a slightly shrilly voice. "Hey, you're the guest right? Are you gonna continue standing there and not greet us?"

"Oh! Sorry…" Seeing everyone has their eyes on him now thanks to her, Kakyoin steps forward.

Nearly forgetting he was walking with them minutes ago, Emi and Goldia moves aside as Kakyoin passes them, intending to assist him to abate his little awkwardness. All the while, the elegant girls stare at the taller man with varying expressions. While Harpae smiles at him calmly and Lisette maintains a neutral face while warily looking at him, Fleta and Enjel have exhilarated expressions, moving up to him near instantly once he's close.

"Whoa!" He backed away a little.

While Enjel stares at him with awestruck eyes, Fleta and Egliette examine him up close, moving around him and at one point, stand on her toes to try futilely reach his height. She even raised Egliette up to achieve that. Kakyoin quirks an eyebrow over their antics before eyeing Enjel inquisitively. She seems to notice he's looking at her, so she decides to talk to him.

"You must be mom's friend she made forty-one years ago!" Enjel started, sounding intrigued. "She met you when you were just a short kid, but now you're so tall and grown up! Is it true that you're really a zombie who uses makeup to disguise yourself as human?"

"Uhhh, yes," he replied with an amused chuckle. "I may not been revived by Emi-san, but I'm a zombie all the same."

"A zombie who's taller than mother! Even only a little!" Fleta stops scrutinizing him and steps back to look back and forth at him and Emi to compare their heights. "How come you get so big and tall than all of us!? As the princess of this land, I demand you to give us your secret!" She insisted haughtily.

"Princess?" Kakyoin parroted.

"It's what she wants to be called here. And also," Goldia averts her eyes with an embarrassed expression. "It applies to me, too."

"You may answer Fleta's question if you like to," advised Emi. "Though I believe she would not take no for an answer."

Deciding to indulge the girl's fantasy a little and get this over with, here is Kakyoin's response. "Uhhh… Workout? Plenty of good sleep? Oh, don't forget to eat healthy foods, like… green vegetables!"

Fleta stares at him with a scrunched face, seemingly considering his answer. "Isn't that what you told me some time ago, Egliette? Can exercise and healthy foods make me taller?" She next whispered to the doll.

"…" Egliette appears to be silent, but in truth, she was also whispering quietly to Fleta.

"Ohhhhhh, I see!" With a satisfied smile, she expresses her gratitude to Kakyoin. "Thank you for your advice, Cack-yo-ween! If I follow your advice, maybe I'll grow as tall as Harpae!"

"You're… welcome?" He replied unsurely, preferring to ignore her butchering the pronunciation of his last name because it's hard to pronounce it.

"Hmm, that's not a bad idea," stated Enjel, raising her hand over her head to gauge how tall she would be. "I'll try doing what you said, Kakyoin!"

"We will never grow up though. And neither Goldia will…" the other blonde girl chimed in. "…because we're 「zombies」."

"…Well you're right about that, Lisette, but since we're in Goldia's dream," She pointed to her. "I will be as tall as you, maybe surpassing you!"

"I doubt it." Lisette shrugged, not taking her seriously. "You will be the shortest one forever. That's how you gained your title, by the way."

"Hey! You take that back!"

"No. You know it's true."

"Well stop rubbing it to my face! Or I'll silence you!"

"Would you dare to try?"

"Make me!"

Before a quarrel can happen between the two, Goldia steps in between them with placating hands. "Please don't fight you two! This is supposed to be a friendly picnic, and mister Kakyoin is watching us! We don't want to make him feel uncomfortable after going through this trouble to have him join us, right?"

"She's right," agreed Egliette. "Quit squabbling, you two."

Fleta and Lisette stared at Goldia before glaring at each other for a while. They then sigh before breaking eye contact, if only to appease her.

"…Ahem! Well then!" Fleta exclaimed, acting like she nearly threw a temper tantrum as she moves in the center. "Like Goldia here said, this is a friendly picnic arranged by me and Egliette. With the esteemed guest present, let us enjoy our picnic and eat to our heart's contents!"

"Well said, Fleta," Emi complimented her softly, moving in to take a seat to the table's left. "Let us not waste more time. Kakyoin, my daughters, please… Take your seats."

Muttering their agreements, everyone obeyed Emi's words and take their seats. Fleta, Egliette, Harpae, Lisette and Enjel return to their seats while Goldia and Kakyoin decide to seat next to Emi, settling themselves beside her so Goldia is sitting between Harpae and Emi while Kakyoin is next to Enjel, who hummed in delight that he's sitting next to her. Additionally, another chair appeared next to Fleta, who plops Egliette on it and let her situate herself snugly.

"Now that everyone here is present," declared Fleta, swerving her head left and right to glance at them in attendance. "I declare this picnic open! So! All of you, including you Cackyoween, what would you like to eat?"

Goldia already knows what food she will get. "I want apfelstrudel and chamomile tea, please!" At her words, a pie and cup of warm tea appeared before her, much to her delight.

Egliette turns her head to Fleta, making a squeaking sound when she did. "Cookie cups, though I'm sure you already know what I shall get." The dessert appeared before the doll's seat like it did to Goldia.

Harpae speaks up next, already sure of what she'll get. "I want rose tea, please. I'm okay with not having to eat."

"Are you sure Harpae? You're not hungry?" Fleta questioned.

"I'm not hungry at the moment. Please don't worry." She shook her head. Seeing she made her choice, a blue cup of rose tea appears and Harpae takes it and sips it gladly with a smile.

"…Guess I'll have apfelstrudel too." Having no favorite foods yet, Lisette decided she'll have the same food as Goldia. It then appeared after.

"I want pumpkin pie! And earl grey tea, please!" Like before, the food materialize after Enjel shouted it, and was about to dig in when Goldia stops her. "Please wait Enjel. Mother and mister Kakyoin haven't got their foods and drinks yet."

Seeing she's right, Enjel plops back on her seat with a pout, looking at Emi and Kakyoin along with Goldia, Fleta, Egliette, Harpae and Lisette waiting for them to make their order. The ghost woman picks up their impatience so she put forth her order. "I will go for green tea." Soon as she said it, a Japanese-styled cup filled with green tea appears within her right hand. She grins before facing Kakyoin and she asks, "What will you have then, Kakyoin?"

Feeling everyone's eyes boring onto him and having already decided what he will get after understanding how they conveniently receive their orders, Kakyoin speaks up. "I think… I'll go for some… cake. With… cherry fillings and… toppings." Immediately, the cake came into existence before him decorated and filled with cherries like he said. He couldn't be happier than ever seeing his food appear just by speaking it out loud. "Great! The order came faster than I expected!"

"Cherries, huh?" Enjel muttered, staring at the cherry cake with watering mouth, wondering it it tastes so good. She remembered something regarding Kakyoin, one that she heard from Emi. She brings it up to the table. "No wonder you are called 「Cherry Boy」! Cherries are your favorite food!"

Kakyoin almost fell on his seat when he heard that dreaded nickname, spluttering in surprise and only preventing himself because he might fall on the cherry cake and make a fool of himself. Hastily straightening his posture, he gawks at Enjel and asks, "W-What? Where… Where did you heard that?! And… How did you know that moniker?!"

"Oh, I am the one who told them that," Kakyoin turned to Emi again with a disbelieving look. "Remember, I kept watch on you and your friends for many months, so I ended learning the nicknames you refer each other while in public shows. Judging by your reaction however…" Emi tilts her head with a concerned look. "You do not like the nickname Kotaro gave you? Cherries are your favorite food as Enjel said, so I believe that moniker fits you."

Remembering she told him that as to why she knows what they were up to during her hour-long explanation earlier, Kakyoin lets out a defeated sigh before nodding to Emi. "Admittedly, it does. But it feels so embarrassing having to be called that, like… my pride is being attacked. I would like it if it wasn't my nickname in the first place and Tatsumi-san chose a better one. But unfortunately, it stuck on."

"So you do not like it being called that…" Emi seems ashamed she put him in quite an awkward spot. "I apologize for having to explain that."

"N-No no, it's okay! You and Enjel-chan don't need to say sorry," he assured her and Enjel, who tries averting her eyes upon realizing she agitated him. "I was just overreacting. I mean, if my identity must be protected for as long as Tatsumi-san hopes, I wouldn't mind being called Cherry Boy. I only want not to be called that when I'm not in public."

"Is that so?" Goldia questioned. "Then we will call you by your last name! Is that okay, everyone?"

Thankfully, the rest lets out murmurs of agreement, with Enjel apologizing too for making him feel embarrassed in spite of his words. Goldia nods in contentment after hearing them.

"So!" began Goldia. "Let us all eat! Our foods are going to get cold if we keep stalling."

For the next few minutes, everyone enjoys the outdoor picnic and it didn't take long for the lively atmosphere to manifest around the assembled party, relishing in their drinks and foods stuffed in their mouths. Of course, such an enjoyable get-together between four sisters, an animated doll, a serene woman and levelheaded guest wouldn't feel complete without any chatter thrown around.

The group talks or discusses random topics regarding the state of this dreamscape and the outside world, whatever that interests them. Being the original personality of which the four girls and one doll emerged from, Goldia usually initiates a discussion by mentioning some odd curiosities she saw in the real world, specifically around Saga Prefecture. This time, she brings up Franchouchou's upcoming concert taking place in a big venue called Arpino, which they and Emi are keen on attending and witness the local idol group's concert after only hearing their songs through radio or Emi's smartphone. Since a certain bodyguard is sitting with them, it didn't take long for them to hound him about what song Franchouchou will perform.

"Sorry girls. Tatsumi-san wouldn't like me leaking it," he stated with a sly grin. "Even if I learned all of you are Franchouchou's eager fans, I'm keeping my mouth shut."

"Awww, you're no fun!" Fleta whined, glaring at him with pouting cheeks.

"I was hoping you might tell us because you're living together with them and with your groupmates," Enjel also complained, also pouting.

"You two just have to wait. There are only few days left before the concert happens." Lisette reminded after taking a bite from a piece of pie and swallowing it.

"What Lisette said." Harpae agreed with a giggle.

The conversation then shifts on who's the best member of Franchouchou overall. Goldia can't help but join in, citing Number One as her favorite and best idol, which Enjel challenged by stating Number Two because she was endeared of her charisma. Lisette and Fleta both argued for Number Four and Number Six while Harpae and even Egliette believe Number Five and Number Three are the best members. Not wanting to be left out, Emi chooses Number Zero due to the fact her unawakened status means she's liable to commit crazy stunts and how she seems to be growing out of her shell slowly but surely.

"…What about you Kakyoin?" Emi asked him next after drinking from her green tea.

"H-Huh? Me?" He pointed to himself in surprise. "Well… My lips are sealed."

"Nuh uh! You're not doing that again!" Fleta insisted, pointing her finger to him. Everyone, including Goldia, agreed and pestered Kakyoin for his answer, until he eventually relented and answers Number One could be the best idol among Franchouchou because of her "potential" she's yet to tap into and being the only one who doesn't have a "legendary" title, something he shares.

After the topic of Franchouchou was done, they next talk about unrelated and minor topics that fancied them. Kakyoin and Emi idly listen, tuning their ears to their lively talk filled with laughter, giggles and surprise shouts. Even if they aren't planning on interjecting in soon, they won't hesitate to say something as a comment or response whether they are prompted to or not.

As long as it's anything unrelated to Kakyoin's line of work.

"You know, I've been wondering…" Enjel began, finishing the last of the pumpkin pie. "I still don't get the reason why there are clocks sitting atop some of the trees in this garden. Do they actually work so we can tell what time it is?"

"There are clocks on trees here?" Kakyoin inquired, having not seen them.

Egliette turned to Enjel, her expression unreadable as always until she speaks. "We've already gone through this. The clocks are only there for decoration, not to let me and Fleta see what time it is."

"Yup! What she said!" Fleta added.

The girl raises both hands to calm them down with a shake of her head. "I know, I know. I can't help but be curious again on the purpose behind the clocks sitting atop the trees. I mean…" She grinned mischievously as she leaned forward from her seat and says, "I don't want to tick you guys off."

"Then I suggest that you shouldn't-" Harpae caught the words in her throat upon realizing what Enjel said. Narrowing her eyes when turning to her seat, she asks, "Did you… make a pun?"

"Oh? Did I? Whoops!" Enjel smacks her right fist with her tongue out. "Guess I should stop… tocking about it!"

Her undeniable pun attempt elicits groaning from Fleta and Lisette while Harpae and Enjel stared at her like she's out of her mind. Goldia, on the other hand, laughed heartily with her hands on her stomach due to how she finds her joke clever and funny. Good thing she swallowed first or else she might get choked and spit out her good, which is unladylike of her.

"Hahahaha! T-That's… That's so funny!" She exclaimed, trying to contain her laughter because she's going to fall on her seat if she continues laughing like this.

"I know, right?!" Enjel exclaimed with a smile, falling back to her seat.

"Indeed," Even Emi agrees, putting her hand delicately over her mouth as she giggled. "I never know you have a talent for making a joke. Were you inspired by the talking pumpkins Enjel?"

"Yup! I wanted to amuse everyone, so I came up with the joke on the spot!" That got Egliette to look, or maybe glare, at her.

"We're not." Lisette corrected with her arms crossed, resisting herself to glare annoyingly to her.

"W-Well, whether it is funny or not," interjected Kakyoin, producing a chuckle from his grinning mouth. "It is a clever pun." Gyro-san would have loved to hear it.

Enjel likes his response and would have cherish in his compliment if Fleta didn't make a fuss that she made Goldia laugh, telling her to know her place. This didn't endear well to Enjel, who says it's only a joke. This prompted the two to start arguing, or they would have until Harpae, Goldia and Egliette stopped them, the latter banging the table loudly than her size suggest.

"You two, no squabbling!" The doll exclaimed. "This is a peaceful outing, and Emi and that man is watching us!" She pointed to Kakyoin. "So be on your best behavior! Don't me say it twice."

Fleta and Enjel relented with a sigh before sitting back. With the impending quarrel resolved quickly, Goldia lets out a sigh of relief. She doesn't like to see any of her sisters having a fight over a petty reason. It is true her relationship with them has been healthy and her dreamscape is in stable condition, but their clashing personalities can often result in fights. Thankfully, they only seldom happened and in the end, there are no hard feelings between both sides.

"Sorry," apologized Fleta, looking at her empty plate regretfully. "I almost lose myself again."

"Just don't do it again, please Fleta?" Harpae lightly scolded her. "That goes for you too, Enjel."

"Yes. I'm sorry too…"

Staying quiet until now, Lisette look at the forlorn-looking Goldia. Worried for her, she asks her, "Are you okay Goldia?"

"Oh, I'm fine," she looked up and assured her. "I'm only relieved no fighting happened. You all know I don't like seeing some of you fighting." She feels her right shoulder being rubbed by a delicate hand. Turning to her right lets her see its Emi, wishing to comfort her with a gentle look in her eyes.

"Then say no more. I am sure they relearned their lesson."

Goldia nods. "Okay mother."

As the atmosphere become relaxed again, it just occurred to Kakyoin that he has yet to know a little more about Goldia and her sisters sitting before him and the dream world he was invited into. For a short time after he sat here, he already observed and studied the five girls and a doll enough to remember their appearances and attitudes. Knowing they are Goldia's dissociated personalities means that the red-eyed girl must have some kind of history concerning creating the girls derived from herself and being adopted by Emi. Maybe… Maybe this is the right time for him to learn about the girl known as Goldia die Heilige.

"You know, seeing you girls interact with each other with the knowledge that you are all Goldia's personalities… It makes me curious," began Kakyoin, his words bringing their attention. "I fear I might be prodding on your privacy but… Can I get to know more of you and your sisters, Goldia-chan? Is that… okay with you all?"

Like he rightfully expected, his question proves touchy enough that Goldia averted her eyes off of him with a miserable expression. This applies to the rest of the girls too, with Fleta picking up Egliette and hugging her tightly in her arms with an uncomfortable look, Harpae closing her eyes solemnly, Lisette sighing while moving her face away from him and Enjel looks down to the table with quivering mouth and twitching hands gripping her skirt. With the way they're struggling not to cry, Kakyoin fears he might have brought it up too early despite having considered his words carefully to lessen the impact.

Uh oh. I spoke too soon. Attempting to salvage this, he quickly comes up with a response. "U-Um, I'm not… forcing you to tell me. If you don't want to, please forget I asked."

"N-No, it's… it's alright, mister Kakyoin," Goldia faced him again, putting up a brave front. "As you're a friend of our mother and how much trust she's putting on you… You have a right to know my… 「our」backgrounds."

"Are you sure?" Kakyoin is hesitant and feeling regretful for asking her about it, and was thinking of declining the request.

"It is alright, Kakyoin," Emi cut in. "You want to know more about Goldia and her sisters. You are curious the whole time, right? I am sure you must be wondering why Enjel here 「looks like」 Goldia and how her dreamscape came into 「being」 the whole time you were sitting there."

Taking one look at Goldia's self-assured eyes as well as the other girls and a doll sharing the same expression as hers, albeit to some degree, and seemingly bearing him no ill will at all in spite of his perceived touchy request, Kakyoin decides to indulge in his curiosity. "Yes. I wanted to know who Goldia is." He nodded affirmatively.

"Very well," after hearing him, Emi turns to Goldia and says this, "Goldia, you can get close to me if you are feeling miserable as you recount your life story up to your tragic death, orchestrated by Ira. I know it is not for the faint of heart, and nothing makes my heart ache than seeing you so sad." Her right hand hovers over her chest with morose eyes.

"…Thank you. I would really like that, mother." Goldia smiled a little, glad to hear she's always considerate of her well-being and feelings.

"「Ira」…" Kakyoin repeated the name of Emi's aunt quietly. The one who nearly made him her unwitting servant after she kidnapped him towards the tail end of his summer vacation back in 1977. Even to this day, he can feel his spine tingling because of the fact he nearly walked in Death's open door. Breathing deeply to ward off the thoughts away, he says, "Alright… I'm ready to listen."

"Okay." Taking a sip first from her refilled cup to calm her nerves, Goldia begins explaining her backstory.

BGM: Hexen (Pocket Mirror OST)

"…I was born on July 16, 1862 in Austria to a wealthy family as the youngest of the twins. My father was a sergeant named Roman die Heilige, my mother's name is Elise and lastly, my twin brother is Henri."

"Austria, huh?" His hands are touching his chin and elbow as he listened. "I suspected you were from outside Japan given your foreign name. And you said you were born on 1862, huh…" He trailed off at the end when a thought crossed his mind, making him blink his eyes twice and widen them. "Hold on, you were born many years earlier than… Emi-san. Does… Does that make you… older than her?"

Goldia somewhat expected he would say that, so she nods. "Mmhmm! It's amusing that I'm actually older than my adoptive mother, right?"

"Uhhhh, yeah… For sure." Kakyoin conceded, trying not to let the fact Emi's adoptive daughter is technically older than her overwhelm him. He's yet to calculate what ages Goldia and her sisters are, but there's no denying that it's pretty absurd.

"That goes the same for us, too!" Fleta added with a smug grin.

"Um, I do not see the problem with Goldia being older than me," sincerely added Emi. "Am I supposed to find it… funny?"

"Don't worry. It's not really significant," she assured her before continuing her recounting, "Anyway, back to what I was saying… Even though I was born in a wealthy family, everything about my family is anything but normal," she looked down to her tea with a forlorn look, which the other girls imitated. "My father was always participating in the war while my mother, Elise that is, was both physically and mentally ill who would spent her time looking at the wall bemoaning how she doomed her entire family or her true love she sacrificed to achieve the wealth and fame she desperately wanted. As such, my brother and I both suffered under a dysfunctional and distant parents."

Goldia stops speaking briefly to let Kakyoin absorb the info to his head, who is listening attentively with a slightly worried look. "So Elise didn't actually love her husband? And her true lover was sacrificed to… Let me guess," connecting the dots based on little info he heard, he dismally stared at her and says, "Your mother made a 「contract」 with Emi's aunt, 「Ira Essence」, to gain wealth and privilege at the cost of her true love, right?"

"You have it right," nodded Emi with sad eyes. "Elise has no choice but to sacrifice a woman named Rozenmarine to Ira's jaws in order to achieve her dream of escaping poverty, a choice she heavily regretted for the rest of her life due to her leaving the few friends she made in her home village."

"Oh? She was in love with a woman?" He pointed out curiously.

"That is what I said." Emi affirmed.

"P-Please don't take my words the wrong way," he quickly clarified. "I don't mind someone being in love with someone of the same gender. I do approve of her freedom to choose who she really loves. I only want to confirm the facts."

"We all understand, mister Kakyoin," reassured Goldia, glad and relieved he has no problems with her mother loving a female. "And like you have guessed, Elise made a contract with Ira to achieve her dream. But that's not the only price she has to pay. Sacrificing her true love isn't enough payment for the vile woman to 「complete」 my mother's 「contract」 with her. Ira required a 「second」 payment that she will later claim in order to complete the contract…"

She swallowed the lump in her throat, aware that what she'll say will be the most difficult part, something the girls agreed with and even averting their gazes like Lisette and Enjel had done.

"What's… the second payment?" Kakyoin knew he would regret asking that, expecting he would not like her answer.

"A 「name bathed in gold」," revealed Emi, moving her eyes away from her refilled green tea to rub her daughter's back after sensing her discomfort. "That is…" She looks up to Kakyoin and clarifies what she said, "Goldia herself."

! !

"What!?" Kakyoin is shocked beyond belief that the second price Elise must pay after Ira granted her wish is her biological daughter. His shock gives way to anger and disapproval thanks to her mother's selfish wish. "That's…" He takes a breather before expressing his feelings to this fact. "That's so cruel! Hearing your father and mother was distant to you and your brother contributing to a dysfunctional household is one thing, but dooming you to Ira's clutches over a selfish wish she desperately want above else?" He shakes his head with a sigh. "I… I don't have any words to best describe it except… that it's… too cruel."

"I expected you would react that way. And to be honest, I felt the same after I discovered her letter when I was young," admitted Goldia. "But despite what she'd done, she really regretted her decision that doomed her lover and her family. Up that point however, it's already too late. She had committed a great sin that would haunt her until her death few years later. I was still a child then."

"Regarding the letter I found, I did not take it well learning a 「demoness」 will come to me and claim my soul when I came of age," continued Goldia, pushing away her mounting discomfort and leaning in Emi's reassuring touch. "Eventually, my mental well-being became unstable and strained as the years went by, eventually disassociating myself into three girls you're seeing before you and have them function into different roles in response to my dysfunctional parents and inevitable future."

"You mean… They represent 「facets」 of your life? And by extension… your 「personalities」?" He turned to them, starting to slowly understand them.

"That's correct."

"Hmm, what about Egliette and Enjel?" He inquired. "Since they're here too, would you consider them 「part」 of you?"

"You're right that Egliette is part of me because she represents the doll I used to own. But Enjel… From the start, she was actually not part of me."

"Huh? From the start?"

"I may look like Goldia, but I wasn't part of her mind when I was 「created」," Enjel admitted. "I was like a parasite invading her world to steal her pocket mirror so I can live in the real world I came to admire."

Kakyoin turned to Enjel, then back to Goldia before he scratches his head with a very confused expression. "I still don't understand…"

"Rest assured Kakyoin," Emi placated him understandably. "It will make sense later when you fully learned the ordeal Goldia went through. Please be patient, for she has not gone past the beginning yet."

He's feeling the opposite, though he ignores it and sighs, "Well, guess I shouldn't interrupt Goldia from now on and let her explain everything."

"Worry not, mister Kakyoin. You will soon understand," Goldia reassured him again. "So, after Fleta, Egliette, Harpae and Lisette were created and they, as well as my fractured mind, influenced my entire life in the die Heilige family to detrimental effect, tragedy struck my parents. Elise died from an unknown cause, my father became an alcoholic in response to her death, which also resulted in his death, and Henri, he… he made a contract with Ira and became her servant in order to escape the unstable household he couldn't take anymore."

Kakyoin can feel himself squirming in dread over what he's hearing and the events that will soon follow as Goldia continued solemnly with prickling tears in her eyes and restraining her quiet sobs. "As part of the contract, Henri most likely 「sacrificed」… father. Possibly shortly after that, Ira changed him into an entity that would haunt me during my journey of self-identity after I was admitted to a mental hospital in 1878 at the age of 16 where I stayed for two years. He would be known as… the 「Strange Boy」."

"Strange Boy…" he parroted quietly, unsure if he should be disgusted or pity Henri for his decision.

BGM: Minuten (Pocket Mirror OST)

"For the journey I mentioned, I first woke up with amnesia and… having aged to at least thirteen-years-old like you're seeing me now," she looked to her sisters again and examined their expressions. They silently urge her to continue and trusting her and Emi, so she continues with a deep breath. "I don't know who I was and where am I, other than the pocket mirror that was given to me by my mother, telling me to 「hold it close to my heart」 and never letting go of it. What I didn't know at that time was it was given to me like a gift… The last gift I ever received from her… in order to protect my 「soul」 from Ira and Strange Boy, both of whom decided to send Enjel, whom she was actually her creation like she told you, to retrieve it under the pretense that stealing it from me would grant her freedom to the real world when in reality, she was nothing more than a pawn to be disposed once she's done."

Enjel has a remorseful face as she turned away from her to hide her tears.

"With the pocket mirror in my hand at all times, I ventured deep within my dreamscape, exploring surreal places derived from my delusions and encountering Egliette, Fleta, Harpae and finally Lisette. Even though I don't recognize them and wished to be friends with and help them, they didn't treat me kindly; Egliette wanted to execute me, Fleta insulted me and threw tantrums when things didn't go her way, Lisette attempted to kill me using a pair of sharp scissors, and even Harpae is obsessed in making me rely on her all the time while restraining my freedom, even slapping me at one point. In spite of what they've done to me, it is a miracle my compassionate blank self didn't break under pressure," she mirthlessly laugh on that part. "And because I was so focused on learning who I was, I didn't get to appease them and so they suffered a terrible, gruesome end before shattering before my eyes."

She remembered Fleta becoming far gone in her tantrum that she wouldn't listen anymore to Egliette's words, who starts reopening her wounds and ooze black fluid or blood, culminating with the Queen shattering the Princess before she can kill Goldia out of anger, Harpae gouging her eyes out messily in despair over failing her perceived role, pitifully telling Goldia to stay away from Lisette as she shatters, and Lisette herself being cynically correct that the amnesiac Goldia is as selfish as Elise and she always treated her as the scapegoat like she did before. She may not have died gruesomely, but her scathing words took its place to make Goldia regret heavily her choice.

BGM: The Unnamed Maiden's Burial (Pocket Mirror OST)

Tears begin to pool in her eyes, compelling her to scoot her chair up close to Emi who laid her hand to her shoulder and squeeze it comfortingly. She's sniffling and letting out hiccups between sobs but she still continues with a brave front. "A-At the end of my harrowing journey, Enjel, who I believed is my only friend and may have wanted to help me escape, decided to drop her nice act and attempted to claim my pocket mirror by force. Despite my best effort, she succeeded… And that's where Ira and Henri, n-no… *sniffs* Strange Boy… abducted both of us in their domain where I was forced to watch a… horrifying theater show mocking Egliette, Fleta, Harpae and Lisette before they were killed in gory ways again… I couldn't move out of the chair and my mouth was stitched shut, so I have no choice but to watch with terrified eyes."

She remembered again Fleta beating herself up and slamming her face against the door while Egliette watches, spewing blood from her eyes, nose and mouth and staining her face and clothes, Lisette crucified on a blood-stained cross and grinding grisly against the rough wood, causing blood to spill from her forehead where a thorny vine was wrapped around on before being pelted by tomatoes and beaten up by an invisible force, and Harpae suffer through another gruesome death by having five swords pierce and slice her upper and lower body in half with all the gore and blood that entails.

"…D-Due to my inaction, I couldn't do anything except watch Fleta, Egliette, Lisette and Harpae be killed again. Unfortunately, that was not the end yet when Enjel herself lastly appears against her will, where Ira reveals that she was created by her and tells her she cannot go to the real world because she lacked a physical body, only using her as a disposable pawn, before killing her when… a whole trunk of y-yellow roses with t-t-thorny vines crawled out of her mouth along with a mouthful of blood possibly coloring the trunk. And… *deep breaths* a-and then… she finally… c-claimed… m-my soul…" Goldia stopped speaking with a hurried breath, her face full of streaming tears, stuttering or panting and looking so drained after she recounted the horrible first half of her past.

Kakyoin stared at the traumatized girl being hugged by Emi with wide eyes and open mouth, horrified and shocked so much any words he want to say is caught in his throat. He had expected Goldia's past is an unhappy one, but learning how she was cursed from birth thanks to Elise's selfish contract with Ira and suffering under an unstable household and as a mental asylum patient before her soul was claimed after a futile adventure of discovering who she is, on top of witnessing many gruesome sights for her innocent eyes, are all too much. If he wasn't feeling sorry for her then, he should be now, except multiplied tenfold.

"I…" He began speaking, slowly getting out of his shocked stupor. "I don't know… what to say. Just saying your life story as horrible isn't enough to describe how you… suffered so much, even for a sweet girl like you," he adopts a sympathetic look to her. "I'm so, so sorry you have to go through all that."

Goldia didn't say anything as her eyes pooled with tears, but she smiled in response to him, grateful of his empathy. She turns away from Kakyoin to see how the others are reacting to her story, and sure enough, they are not taking it well whether influenced by her or not.

Fleta hugs Egliette more tightly, sniffling and trying but failing not to cry so hard while the doll wraps its short arms around her waist to comfort her.

Harpae appears composed, but closer inspection reveals her body is shaking even a little. Her eyes are closed to stop more tears she shed a little from pouring out.

Lisette seems focused on not looking straight to anyone's eyes as her shadowed eyes stared intensely on the table, her arms shaking due to her hands gripping her clothes tightly.

Enjel is already crying before Goldia finished recounting, being the most affected among them. She would wipe the tears off her eyes with her sleeves, but that didn't matter when more tears come pouting out. She sniffled and hiccupped, truly expressing her sorrow.

"Everyone…" Goldia whispered, sensing their emotions.

No one dared say anything for many minutes as she, Kakyoin and Emi wait for their tears to dry. Though they didn't stop crying yet, they have calmed down after taking out their suppressed melancholy.

BGM Ends

"It is true Goldia did not lead a happy life up to her accursed death," they heard Emi begin speaking, so they turned to her, expecting she's next to narrate the next set of events. "Once her soul was claimed, Ira planned to make Goldia her second servant like Henri became before she traveled back to the present and resumed her plan to kill me and destroy Saga, so assured of herself she will succeed. However!" She looked up with eyes full of relief and happiness shining upon it in spite of her expressionless face. "It is because she claimed Goldia's soul that I managed to rescue her from her hands… But not before killing her and the Strange Boy just as they are about to enact their scheme."

Sensing he will learn how Goldia came to be Emi's adoptive daughter, Kakyoin straightened his posture and says, "Returned to the present day Saga? Through Ira's 「Stand」, right?"

"Yes," confirmed Emi, having told him about Ira's Stand during her entire explanation surrounding Saga's secret. "And unlike the many times I have to search Ira by unfortunately following along the carnage she inflicted to mock me for being always too late to save anyone, I sensed her impending arrival and ventured to her location quickly with Hartzler and Lynn. After the two ambushed her and Strange Boy, I doused their bodies with Bring Me to Life's intense flames and as they burned, I indifferently gazed at them and did not respond to any of their mocking words. It all happened in a secluded location, so no witnesses were in the scene…aside from Goldia, who fell unconscious when Ira died."

"And that's how you met her." He surmised, anticipation welling up in his chest.

"Correct," Emi continued with a small grin. "When I saw her fall unconscious, I was intending to burn her too under the belief she was another servant of Ira like Henri was. But then, I sensed her soul calling out and begging someone, anyone, to help her. The intense emotions behind her silent words that appeared in my very soul, telling me even before I learned her suffering, grief and a wish to be given one happy day in her miserable life… I realized then she was the victim of Ira's ambition. My decision was already made once I guessed the wider picture behind the unconscious Goldia."

Kakyoin felt he didn't need to spell it out loud over what she did next, and judging by everyone's mood being lifted up as they admirably looked at their kind rescuer and adoptive mother, he can feel his worries gradually give way to triumph and relief.

"After I told Hartzler and Lynn to stand guard around me and Goldia, I transferred my consciousness inside her mind, unaware that I shall experience the most complicated soul restoration process, especially since it was the first time I am reviving a human. Armed with my Stand, sharpness and determination to succeed, I ventured through Goldia's flickering soul housing her shattered mindscape, walking along the exact same locations she travelled on during her failed journey to rediscover herself. Vanishing the monsters possibly spawned due to Ira's influence, I stumbled upon her shattered personalities lingering within her mindscape, sensing each of their souls identical to Goldia's. That's when I pieced together what I need to do to properly revive Goldia back from the brink of death…"

BGM: Promise (Pocket Mirror OST)

"So with 「Bring Me to Life」, I sewed Egliette's doll body back after restoring her soul," The Puppe Regina nodded in appreciation. "Disciplined Fleta regarding her troublesome behavior after I restored her next and threw tantrums when I won her games, but not without reassuring her I would not leave her behind in spite of it," The Liliputian Princess beamed at her, and does feel ashamed over her childish actions and afraid of Emi's calm temper she didn't want to see again. "Told Harpae to stop overworking herself in being a reliable girl at the expense of herself. That she is more than that and how she should not be afraid to rely on me from now on because it is not a weakness," The Maiden of Pristine Eyes puts her hand on her chest, giving Emi an appreciative smile. "Gave the insecure Lisette a sorely-needed hug from me, whispering to her ear that she would suffer no more as long as I am here with her," the Sleeping Maiden of Horrors also smiled at her, the first smile she did after she was restored and during this outing between them, Emi and Kakyoin. "And lastly, even if she was not part of Goldia and created by Ira as a disposable pawn, removed the thorny vines out of her mouth, restoring her soul and body, and promising her she will see the real world with her own eyes…" The Cherubina of Shed Wings happily glanced to her, having already seen her as her real mother due to her benevolent nature.

"Now that their own souls were repaired, I told them what I am currently doing to Goldia's body outside her mindscape and my earnest wish to revive her after I did the same to them, which I believe should pull me closer to her own soul. Out of gratitude and concern for Goldia, they start telling me where I could find Goldia… but all of a sudden, I got snatched away into a different area."

"Snatched away? By who?"

"By me," Kakyoin turns to Goldia in surprise and confusion. "Or rather… the delusion I created once I learned Fleta, Harpae and Lisette are all reflections of myself but never found out who I am still. The persona I was poised to take when Ira made me her servant if she succeeded. While I didn't remember what I did while I was in that form, I know what it called itself… 「Platinum」."

BGM: Platinum (Pocket Mirror OST)

"Correct," sighed Emi. "This Platinum pulled me away from them with the intent of purging my very soul out of her world and away from Goldia's body. Figuring out Platinum is Goldia under a delusion, I tried to talk sense with her, only to be refuted each time with mellow words masking her condescending tone. Even her angelic appearance I was greeted with did nothing to hide how… uncanny she became. Seeing I have no choice but to fight, I engaged Platinum, hoping to weaken her enough that I can gaze into her eyes and fully mend Goldia's soul and get rid of the Platinum persona. However, since I was in her domain, she overwhelmed me with her power, and even worse, my Stand energy was running low after restoring the girls' souls, especially Enjel because she had no body at first."

"Despite my best effort, I was soundly beaten by Platinum," she shakes her head with a sigh. "After mocking me for going through all the trouble of reviving Goldia only to fail, she began erasing my soul painfully. Fortunately, Lisette and Enjel interfered, attacking Platinum whom they deemed as a mockery of their original self, allowing Fleta and Harpae to pull me to safety. Platinum quickly overwhelmed the two however, throwing them to us and visibly furious. She was going to assimilate four of her personalities while erasing Egliette and myself out of this world, but help manifested for a second time through Hartzler and Lynn appearing at the last minute to severely weaken her. I had foreseen this possible scenario and relied on those two sensing I was in trouble to come to my aid. After the four eventually weakened her, an opening is made so I did not hesitate to take it. Before Platinum can do anything, I successfully gazed upon her eyes, restored and retrieved Goldia's soul back to the surface, and as a result, the Platinum persona and its world shattered, putting all of us to a black void. In the place where the deluded being once stood, Goldia herself showed up along with her pocket mirror that Lynn catches in its talons before it landed on the floor while I caught her simultaneously."

BGM: The Name Bathed in Gold (Pocket Mirror OST)

"After I woke up to the sight of everyone looking down on me worriedly," Goldia decided she will be the one to finish explaining. "Mother told me everything what happened and all the hard work she undertook to revive me back from the dead. Thanks to the repaired pocket mirror and her efforts, I managed to learn who I am… before apologizing to my other selves for every misdeed I committed whether they were accidental or not, and promising to better myself and my relationships with them. Though Lisette understandably do not accept my apology immediately, she's willing to give me a second chance. With my entire soul restored, mother, Hartzler and Lynn returned to the real world, and the next day, I finally woke up as a zombie subservient to Emi. And that… is my whole story and how we were adopted and cared for by Emi Lea Essence."

BGM Stops

Releasing a lot of air she didn't know she contained for the entirety of her recounting, Goldia sips the last of her chamomile tea, muttering a satisfied "Ahhh" after lowering the cup. Her nerves had calmed down and is feeling satisfied she let out her life story to someone she can place her trust whether they are friends with Emi or not.

"I see," Kakyoin nodded, lowering his hands down off his chin and elbow now that he didn't have to listen intently. "Having listened to your entire story Goldia-chan, and learning the amount of misery you experienced due to factors out of your control… getting revived by a benevolent zombie woman as your adoptive mother is the best possible outcome you could ever have after your bleak existence challenged your sanity. I am happy and relieved for you, and your sisters." He puts a smile on his face to show he means it.

"Yes… It's nice to hear that from you again, mister Kakyoin," reciprocated Goldia, choosing to remain sitting directly beside Emi. "I'm just glad that it's… finally over."

"Indeed. Thank goodness we're all in safe hands thanks to mother," Harpae sighed in relief, no longer having to think on coming over Goldia's side and comfort her even with Emi by her other side. Still, she's worried for her, so she turns to her and asks, "How are you feeling my girl? Are you still distressed after giving an account of your entire story to mister Kakyoin?"

"I am fine Harpae," she answered honestly. "Even though I haven't lived a great life, it's all in the past. We can take comfort to the present being cared for by our mother."

"She's right!" Enjel chimed in. "Without her, we wouldn't be here in the first place, living together and bonding like friends and sisters!"

"Emi has made our lives easier," agreed Lisette, flashing a small smile to Emi. "I can take comfort in her vow that no harm will fall upon us and that we have changed."

"Correct," the woman nodded after sipping from her green tea. "As long as I exist, I shall do my utmost best to continue giving you all a better life you were denied thanks to Ira."

"And kill that hag eventually, right?" Fleta reminded eagerly.

"Aye… When she inevitably 「returns」."

A chuckle is heard beside her, prompting her and everyone to turn to Kakyoin clamming his mouth up when he noticed their stares. Nonetheless, he's smiling at the amount of trust and bond each of them shared, which felt natural to him.

"What's so funny?" Egliette inquired.

"Nothing," Kakyoin raised one hand in a stop gesture. "I'm just… happy watching you all put so much trust in Emi-san and feeling protected by her serene gaze. After listening to Goldia's terrible upbringing and how it affected her and all of you, this outcome is the most favorable one that could ever happened to you, Goldia-chan. Like I said, you deserve it after suffering for so long. And again, I apologize for making you remember it just to sate my curiosity of who you and your sisters are."

Liking his sincere words, Goldia shakes her head and says, "You don't need to apologize Kakyoin. Please don't feel bad I have to remember my previous life. As I said earlier, it's all in the past."

"Well… if you insist, then alright," he added. "I can rest assured I learned everything about you and your sisters."

Goldia giggles at his statement, "Now that you know everything about us, I hope you won't get so confused again."

"Ha ha ha, yeah, I hope so… after I organized the facts in my head," he jested, rubbing his head to ease the little headache he got over learning so much information than he liked. Goldia and Enjel laughed at his little joke, Harpae and Fleta giggled that he'll need his head to calm down to process properly. Even Lisette and Egliette, who are not fans of joking, admit he has a point.

"Now that Kakyoin properly knows who my daughters are," Emi began speaking, finishing her refilled green tea before settling the cup aside and place her clenched hands on the table as she stared at them each with a gentle smile. "I believe we can enjoy our time here in Goldia's dreamscape, together with Kakyoin. So then, is there anything all of you would like to do? Anything that makes you happy and so Kakyoin enjoys his last night with us after being in a coma for two days?"

Listening to her, Fleta lets out a shout as she stands up eagerly, pushing the seat backwards. "Oh! Since Kackyoween is here, he will have to play with us! This is my order as your princess!"

"Hey, he doesn't get to say yes, yet!" Enjel chided her lightly, not wanting to make her beloved mother's friend uncomfortable. She turns to him with a pleading look and asks, "Do you want to play with us Kakyoin? It will be a fun time for you!"

"Hmmmm…" After pretending to consider it, Kakyoin nods favorably. "Sure. It would be rude of me to decline after Emi-san and Goldia-chan personally welcomed me here and you five has taken a liking to me even if this is the first time I met you all and… I'm still digesting all your backstories."

Goldia clasps both her hands in delight to his response. "Great! Thank you for agreeing mister Kakyoin! You'll have a good time spending time with us more!"

"Heh, I look forward to that. Oh, and by the way, please refer me only as my last name," he told her and everyone. "I'm not really old to be called mister."

"And yet you add a san suffix to Emi's name every time you address her?" Harpae pointed out his little hypocrisy.

"Well… she is older than me. I have to be respectful to anyone above my age." he reasoned, not denying her point.

"He is right," conceded Emi. "While I am over a hundred years old, my body I was born in was stated to be 20-years-old. That said, I do not mind it if you choose to keep addressing my name with a san or omit it, especially since we are friends."

"I think I'll keep adding san to your name," he admitted. "Force of habit, in case you want to know why."

"Heeeeeey, are we all gonna play or not?" Fleta is becoming impatient, slamming her hands on the table causing the tableware to rattle under her force. "We don't want to waste anymore, do we?"

"Sorry Fleta," Goldia giggled. She stands up from her seat, which the others except Emi follows, with Kakyoin and Lisette stretching their body to loosen the knots. "Are you all ready to have fun? What game should we play first?"

Egliette raise its high-pitched but pompous voice first. "Since we're outside and there are six chairs already, may I suggest we play… musical chairs?"

Goldia likes her suggestion. "Yes! How fitting for this location! Should that be our first game?"

"Yeah!" Fleta, Egliette and Enjel shouted, raising their fists up in unison. The rest who didn't simply nodded to Goldia with a smile.

"Looks like everyone has decided," announced Emi. "We shall play the musical chairs game…after I finished drinking this refilled cup of green tea." She takes a sip from the cup and lets out a satisfied sigh as the liquid traveled through her throat, unbothered of how steaming hot it felt.

For some reason, the girls turn to her in silence, their vacant look locking daggers at her. Kakyoin sees this sudden change in their behavior as odd, so he can't help but ask. "Hey, what's wrong? Why are you six staring at Emi-san as if she did something wrong?" His question pulls Emi out of her reverie, now noticing they're looking at her.

"…"

"…"

"…"

"Mother, how many cups of green tea did you drank?" Goldia questioned.

"How many cups? I believe… This is my sixth cup."

"…"

"…"

"…"

"Your sixth cup will be your last one, mother," sighed Goldia, looking exasperated peculiarly. "You already filled your daily quota of five cups a day earlier. You must learn self-control."

"But… But… This is my… favorite drink…" She weakly defended, feeling herself shrinking under her stony gaze as she clutched her cup protectively with a pitiful expression.

"We know," reminded Harpae, standing up from her seat and walking near Emi's side. "You may be a zombie, but you're not adverse to various effects humans have, both good and ill. Please abstain from drinking more than five cups a day, mother. That's the only beverage you ever drink other than water."

"I am drinking water too! It was just… mixed with powder! That is all!"

Goldia and Harpae are undeterred, so they choose to closely monitor the green tea-addict woman to make sure she doesn't take another cup after she's finished drinking it, which she's taking it slow to savor the taste as much as possible. Seeing Emi acting like a sulky child is amusing yet unexpected all the same to Kakyoin, having been familiar with her unemotional attitude hiding her benign heart that always pop up.

"…What was that about?" He asks the four girls and a doll.

"She loves green tea." Lisette replied simply.

"Loves green tea? Oh, that's right. I remembered hearing from her that green tea being is her favorite drink when I was a kid. However, I never knew she was so addicted to it." Kakyoin chuckled, deciding to watch a sulky Emi taking her sweet time sipping her green tea slowly, but Harpae and Goldia told her to speed it up because Fleta and Enjel are getting impatient, much to her sadness.

BGM: Kleine Beere (Pocket Mirror OST)

For the next hour, Goldia, Fleta (holding Egliette), Harpae, Lisette, Enjel, Emi and Kakyoin play many games together, like musical chairs, a card game, catching butterflies, hide and seek, and racing. While they mostly played in the Dollhouse of Fleta's world, the last two games has them transporting to separate areas where Harpae, Lisette and Enjel reside in. These required a lot of physical movement, and since Fleta herself suggested them and vouched by Goldia and Enjel, it lead them to suspect she is following Kakyoin's advice seriously by doing as much exercise as possible. Additionally, Goldia, Emi and Kakyoin used their Stands to gain unfair advantage, like Emi turning invisible during hide and seek and Hierophant Green adding a lot of range for Kakyoin during the butterfly catching game.

However, everyone have a great and fun time playing with each other, becoming competitive and indulged in scoring a win. They laughed and hollered during all these, especially around intense moments when they were about to win or lose as a festive mood hovers over their heads. Even if some complained or whined that they lost, they never took it hard. All that mattered is they enjoyed themselves and everyone's company. In fact, Goldia and her sisters got to see Hierophant Green in action, which Kakyoin noticed it and decided to amaze them with its abilities, and he gets to visit other locations and its associated places in this dreamscape, which everyone are happy to give him a brief tour during intervals between games.

During the impromptu tour, Kakyoin gets to learn more about Goldia's sisters based on their environment and their worlds. He was surprised Harpae is blind, remarking how impressive she was for having no or little difficulty traversing around and is able to enjoy hobbies like reading literature, painting and sewing, unnerved of the many Lisettes loitering in the circus section of Lisette's world thanks to the girl "purifying" herself by removing negative thoughts out of herself through splitting (she has stopped doing it ever since Goldia made an effort to better herself) and amused of Enjel's question if "Nail Jockey" or "Spin Cowboy" can let her ride their horses once she meets them, given how she likes carousels so much.

This was also the first time where he witnesses Emi's oddball behavior that have been her notable trait since after over a hundred years of existence; like climbing the stairs' railings in Harpae's manor (inspired by an eccentric man doing the same in a TV show), recite a Shakespearean line and have a staring contest with her reflection, which went on for five minutes until the loser cowed (They try not to think too hard about who won and lost). Kakyoin might have remembered a little she exhibited odd behaviors back then, but now that he's witnessing it up close, he's not sure if he should be worried of her… or be amused. He chalked it up to Emi being created in an adult's body and never experiencing growing up like a human, thus having a tenuous grasp on reality. In spite of her eccentricity and acknowledging it, Emi genuinely doesn't understand why they find it odd, or maybe she took it in a stride. At least everyone didn't mind it, citing those traits as what makes her unique not just because she's a zombie creation.

That does not mean they can't get exasperated when she pushed her eccentricity too far, though.

After they are done playing due to being tired or having enough of excitement in their bodies for one night, everyone takes a rest up on top of the hill in Lisette's world. The bright, giant full moon looming over the graveyard in the purplish sky, pristine white flowers filling the spaces of the cross-shaped tombstones and across the hill, their detached petals swaying and dancing with the breeze and an Austrian town or village etched in the background all combine to create a beautiful, ethereal sight that has Kakyoin held his breath in astonishment when he first set foot here. While everyone frequently visit this place, they never get tired bathing their eyes with the picturesque scene.

BGM: Awakening (Pocket Mirror OST)

"Wow. I never expect a place like this exist in your world, Lisette," applauded Kakyoin, settling himself on the patch of white flower next to Emi. "I am glad I get to see this place that are similar to the scenic locations I only saw in books."

Though she has gotten better in socializing and receiving compliments, it still feels surreal for Lisette to hear pleasant words. Perhaps it's because of this that she avert her eyes off of him, but not maliciously since she did like his statement, "T-Thanks…"

"Please don't be shy, Lisette," assured Goldia, making herself comfortable kneeling between Fleta, Egliette and Enjel while Harpae and Lisette sits behind them as they keep themselves close to Goldia. "I'm sure we are all thinking the same."

"Yeah… I'm a bit jealous. Wished my garden was filled with so many white flowers and has a dim lighting." Fleta admitted without adding a backhanded statement.

"There's no need to change it, Fleta," stated Egliette, who is being held in Goldia's arms for now so she gets to see everything. "Our garden is fine as it is."

"One that fits each of us!" Enjel exclaimed to Goldia's right ear.

"And it does give variety to our respective domains." Harpae added.

Smiling at their words, Emi turns to her side to see Kakyoin really admiring the sight with a smile. So far, he's reveling every moment no matter small here in Goldia's dreamscape, only made possible thanks to her and Emi. Out of curiosity and concern for him, she chose to ask him anyway. "Kakyoin, are you truly enjoying yourself? How are you liking it so far?"

"All I can say is… It's great!" Kakyoin responded with a growing smile. "I can no longer worry that my last night here with you and Goldia-chan will be boring or unremarkable. It's like… I became a kid during Christmas day opening presents!"

"We are happy to hear that, mister Kakyoin!" Goldia turned to him and smiled widely. "I hope you enjoy your time here more and our company and appreciate every moment we have!" Her sisters agree as Fleta, Enjel and Lisette give him an appreciative nod.

"I will," he simply replied. "I have an experience to tell my friends about. Oh, by the way, if it's possible…"

"Oh, I'm considering it! You only have to ask for permission nicely!" Goldia guessed that he wants his friends to visit her dreamscape.

Kakyoin beamed in delight and gratitude. "Great! I hope all of you and Emi-san meet my friends once I returned home!"

"Maybe tomorrow, when we personally see you off." Emi proposed, then she resumed watching white petals flutter around up in the purple sky that everyone followed.

As silence settles in, Emi, Kakyoin, Goldia, Fleta, Egliette, Harpae, Lisette and Enjel continue admiring the scenery for the next three minutes, hoping the scenery watching continues longer, maybe up until morning…

…

…

…

"Meow!"

"Hooo, hooohoooohooooo! Hoooooooo! Hoooohoooooooo!"

BGM Stops

"Huh?" Emi perked up when she heard those calls below and beside her face. As she acknowledged those sounds, she next realized there is something lying on her lap and her right shoulder is being pricked with something sharp. Her confusion only took two seconds before she moves her head to see the tabby cat and great horned owl looking up to her and from her side respectively. "Hartzler? Lynn? You two… came back earlier than I expected.

Everyone is made aware of the two animals' sudden appearance as they get off her and move behind Emi with a sense of urgency in their movements.

"Meow! Meooooow!" "Hooooo hooohoooooo! Hooooo! Hooohoooooo!" They called out again, their panicking tone being audible to their ears this time as they stand up and face them.

"What?" Emi blinked after she heard them again. "There is something urgent you two need to tell me? And… Kakyoin must also hear it too?"

"M-Me?" The mentioned figure pointed at himself. "And wait… Can you understand what they're saying, Emi-san?"

"It's because our souls were 「linked」 to her, alonside Hartzler's and Lynn's," explained Goldia. "Since we only knew German language, it was convenient that Emi's knowledge of Japanese language transferred to our minds. That goes too for Hartzler and Lynn, though oddly, we can somehow understand their meows and hoots."

"Hmm… I suppose I can't understand Hartzler and Lynn because I wasn't revived by Emi-san," theorized Kakyoin, unsure if he should be disappointed or relieved.

"Everyone, please be quiet," Emi told them as the cat and owl grow agitated with each passing second. "I need to hear what the two has to tell me so urgently."

With everyone clamping their mouths shut, Emi listened to Hartzler's frantic meows and Lynn's rapid hoots. Their urgency transferred to their body movements with Hartzler walking back or forth or in a circle and Lynn flapping their wings so fast three feathers were plucked out from her wings and either laid on the ground or carried away by a gentle breeze.

Once they're done, Emi gasped with a shocked and alarmed look on her face. "Are… Are you two certain of what you saw!?"

"Meow!" Hartzler replied, which sounds like he's saying "Yes!"

"And… And that he… he kidnapped her to a place not in Karatsu…? In front of her… 「manager」?"

"Hooo hooohoooooo! Hoooooo! Hoooohoooooo!" Lynn answered.

ゴゴゴゴゴゴゴゴ

In spite of their shocking responses only she understands, Emi takes a deep breath to recompose herself before looking at Kakyoin with a serious look. "It appears… you must return to your friends sooner than you expected in order to rescue Sakura, who was kidnapped."

Everyone looked at her in surprise and puzzlement. "H-Huh? What are you talking about, Emi-san?" Kakyoin asked her, becoming a little alarmed. "What did Hartzler and Lynn told you that warrants my crucial attention? A-And wait… you said Sakura was… 「kidnapped」?!" Emi goes silent for a moment to adjust her thoughts before she reveals what the two animals told her.

"Shino was 「found」 in the Kagamiyama Observatory Deck where 「Kotaro」 and 「Sakura」 were visiting in. He, for a lack of an appropriate word… 「kidnapped」Sakura and took her somewhere."

Screams and gasps came out from everyone aside Emi, Hartzler and Lynn, with Kakyoin taking the shocking news the hardest.

"WHAT!?"

To be continued

Stand Analysis:

Dream of Mirrors (Stand Master: Goldia die Heilige)

Destructive Power: Null
 Speed: C
 Range: A
 Stamina: C
 Precision: B
 Developmental Potential: D

Manifesting as a pocket mirror, Dream of Mirrors only power is to let Goldia create up to five mirrors and enter through the glass to go from one place to another, like it's a portal connecting two places at once. Having gained her Stand from her experience during her living years, comatose dream and near-death experience, Dream of Mirrors is indelibly linked to her dreamscape where her "sisters" are living in and all objects that were created in.

Finished!

Invited to the dreamscape by Goldia and Emi, Kakyoin got to meet the former's personalities living in her head as her "sisters" - Egliette, a living doll christened as a Queen, Fleta, a Princess who can be a spoiled brat at her worst, Harpae, a well-mannered blind woman, Lisette, a reserved and vigilant girl hiding a malevolent side and Enjel, an outgoing girl having Goldia's appearance when she was 13. Taking a liking to each of them due to their varied personalities, he gets to enjoy an outdoor picnic with them, Goldia and Emi, listened to their story, play games with them, given a tour of their own worlds by them and lastly, resting in a beautiful place together with them. All is well and good as they enjoy each other's company… until Hartzler and Lynn appeared in the dreamscape to tell everyone of a pressing news: Sakura was kidnapped by Shino!

With the lore of Pocket Mirror integrated in this fanfic, I am proud and happy everything about the game made it to Living Things! It feels surreal seeing a third work added to the existing lore of both JoJo and Zombie Land Saga, all because of a spontaneous thought that I grown interested and cannot let myself go of, similar to Sakura being a potential Stand User that crossed my mind spontaneously too when I first wrote the first chapter due to being an interesting plot point and a consequence of JoJo being crossed over.

If you knew about Pocket Mirror and its remake and noticed certain things in its lore have been changed as a result of being a crossover taking place in one universe, allow me to emphasize what changed and explain them:

- In the original game, the Strange Boy is the main antagonist and a demon who attempted to claim Goldia's soul to complete the contract he gave to Elise as her second payment. In this fanfic, Ira Essence, Emi's aunt and the next main antagonist for the sequel of Living Things, took over his role in (successfuly) claiming Goldia's soul and relegated Strange Boy to be her servant instead. As a side note, Ira's not a demon and was only called that due to her inhumane actions.

- Speaking of Strange Boy, Goldia's twin brother Henri was not only made as Ira's servant after making contract with her (itself derived from the secret bad ending of Pocket Mirror), but was transformed into the eponymous demon by Ira and have aided her in collecting Goldia's soul and being successful in doing so until Emi burned him and Ira to ashes and rescued Goldia. Making Henri as a Strange Boy isn't too hard really because there was a disproven theory that Henri is the Strange Boy in the original game because they look alike, only for him to be actually a separate entity who just looked like Henri.

- Goldia has a Stand named Dream of Mirrors. I thought it would be interesting she gets a Stand formed after her own experiences and personality. In turn, I decided to have her pocket mirror be the Stand, especially since it apparently houses her soul and we all know Stands are psychic projections of their souls.

- The ending I chosen for the events happening on the Pocket Mirror side is the worst ending you can have in the game, titled ? ? ? Ending ~ Witching Hour. It's depicted in detail on the chapter proper above.

- Lastly, with Ira supplanting the Strange Boy's role, this also applies to Pocket Mirror's prequel, Little Goody Two Shoes. Let me say that Ira does have a role in the prequel's story and how Elise searched her to make a contract that kickstarted the original game's events, but for now, I will not reveal it in this fanfic.

I hope you like how I meshed the lore of Pocket Mirror to the combined world of JoJo and Zombie Land Saga. The world of JoJo is already bizarre as it is, so having one crazy producer create an idol group made out of seven zombie girls to save Saga and one Austrian girl with four girls and one doll living in her head originating from a dysfunctional family with implied magic background over a century ago fit so well it may have been a normal Tuesday.

The next two chapters will focus on the events of episode 11, where Sakura go through a depression after her pre-mortem memories came back right when the Arpino was around the corner. And as you read above, Shino will be involved in the tail end of the next two chapters adapting episode 11 that will lead to the final battle. Hope you look forward to the next two chapters, everyone!

Adieu for now, my readers! Please stay safe and have a good day/night!