episode_0256

Nix walked along the forest path.

It was, literally, as comforting as a mother’s embrace. The Forest of Illusion, where she was born and raised, was calm and quiet compared to the bustling human world.

The Forest of Illusion is protected by a large-scale barrier magic. This is to protect the World Tree, which can be called the mother of all life. Spirits themselves tend to stay in one place rather than wander around. Several conditions combined to create an atmosphere that repels outsiders.

Of course, the barrier magic doesn’t affect Nix, who is not an outsider. Instead, the forest opens a path for her. Since Nix wasn’t exactly banished from the spirits’ sanctuary, her return was welcomed by all the forests and her mother.

Nix quickly reached the innermost part. The moment she stepped into the spirits’ sanctuary, all the mana around her reacted. The wind blew, the grass swayed, the lake rippled, each emitting a bright light to welcome the family’s return.

She immediately headed towards the lake in the center of the sanctuary. Her unwavering advance had a clear purpose. It was to meet her mother in front of the Lake of Life.

Flutter-

A small petal fluttered towards Nix. She reached out and caught the petal. The petal, which seemed to be pure white, contained various colors simultaneously: red, yellow, green, blue. The colors brightened and darkened repeatedly, shimmering wildly.

My mother’s color. She knew it at a glance.

“It’s been a long time, my daughter, Nix.”

A warm call enveloped Nix’s body. Looking up, her mother stood right in front of her.

The Great Spirit, the mother of all life, the Earth Goddess. Gaia, the World Tree with aurora-light hair, appeared before Nix.

“Mother!”

“Hee hee, how have you been?”

“Yes, every day is so enjoyable. Hee hee…”

They stood a certain distance apart. Physically, they seemed to be simply gazing at each other. However, they were connecting their mana waves. It was a greeting between spirits. Intertwining the very essence of their souls is the most intimate way of communication between spiritual beings.

A subtle current flowed between the mother and daughter. Nix recounted her many experiences among humans, and Gaia smiled warmly as she listened to her story.

“I’d like to talk more leisurely… but my daughter seems to be very busy.”

“…That’s right. How did you know?”

“I’m your mother. It’s harder for me *not* to know.”

She didn’t add that she noticed immediately because she wasn’t joking around as usual. This was because, in Gaia’s eyes, Nix seemed utterly serious.

She decided not to bring up unnecessary things for now.

“Let’s hear what’s going on slowly.”

They sat down at the base of the huge tree and began to talk.

. . .

“That dream… the flow of the dream was truly strange. As if it were being suppressed by this world itself.”

“You’ve really grown up, Nix. To be able to notice that already.”

“Really… is something going on…?!”

Nix leaned closer, her eyes wide. This was a very important issue for her. Even if nothing unusual happened to Nari immediately, she couldn’t know what fate awaited her in the future. For Nix, ignorance was also fear.

“Hmm… have you ever heard about that child’s mother?”

“Yes, I heard about it before. They said she was an incredible person…”

“Hee hee, she was incredible. Lea was the first friend I made in this world.”

“Wha- a friend?!”

Nix was startled. When she heard the story from Nari, she just took it for granted. After all, the person Nix considered the most incredible was Nari.

But hearing it from Gaia made a difference. The figure who had seemed distant suddenly felt close.

“Nix, how much do you know about cause and effect?”

“Cause and effect… is it also related to Nari’s fate?”

“Yes. This world follows predetermined cause and effect. Of course, it changes slightly depending on everyone’s choices, but the larger framework rarely collapses.”

Nix exhaled black mist. It was a natural phenomenon. Whenever she concentrated, she was enveloped in black mist to enhance her thinking. This was usually the case when unknown information surfaced. She exerted herself in transferring and analyzing every word Gaia uttered, trying to understand them.

“But why are you suddenly talking about this…?”

“When I say it rarely happens, it doesn’t mean it’s absolutely impossible. Lea did it. At the last moment, she performed a miracle equal to mine.”

“Equal to mother’s means…!”

Gulp-

Gaia nodded gently to Nix, who swallowed hard.

“Lea was infertile. To be exact, just like your destined partner, she was unable to reproduce from birth. Androgynous beings are complete in themselves; therefore, they don’t need to have children.”

“…But Nari was born.”

“That’s a miracle. Transcending the very basic cause and effect of two beings coming together to create life, she created life on her own. Just like I give birth to children.”

Nix continued to absorb information. This was like an exam. Her mother’s words were the questions. She had to carefully read and understand the meaning to arrive at the answer herself.

Her black mist billowed as instinct dictated.

“As a result… no, that’s not important right now. Of course, Lea paid a price. But remember, no matter how much they pay, ordinary people can never change cause and effect.”

“Does that mean Nari… Nari can do it too?”

“She already has the power. She’s also qualified.”

Surrounded by black mist, Nix slowly rose into the air. It was the process of combining gathered knowledge piece by piece. Some parts shimmered quickly, while others were calm. Some shone brightly, while others were dark and murky.

When Nix retracted all the mist and returned, Gaia rose from the tree roots.

“Tell me… what kind of cause and effect awaits Nari? What… is strangling Nari…?!”

“I can’t tell you everything. I’ve already told you what you need to know.”

“Just one thing… yes, a hint…!! Just a little more clue…!!”

Nix clenched her fists. She was frustrated. Even with all her knowledge, even with Gaia’s guidance, it was impossible to illuminate the path of her loved one. She had given up everything. It was that desperate.

Gaia reluctantly opened her mouth.

“There are many kinds of cause and effect. The qualifications to twist them are also met in various ways. For example… if there is a knot tied between two beings, not just one.”

“…If there is?”

“Untangling that would also be extremely difficult. What matters is your will. If you don’t make a choice with your own will… you can’t overcome cause and effect.”

With those words, Gaia left Nix. She returned to the World Tree to continue her work protecting the forest. It meant that she had told her everything she could.

‘Can I… do nothing?’

Nix, still sitting on the tree roots, sighed in despair. She was frustrated that she was not a special being capable of twisting cause and effect. The fact that she couldn’t help her loved one was so heartbreaking.

‘…No. Information has been given.’

So she refused that fact. All the stories were observed from Nix’s perspective. There might be unseen aspects. She might still find a new answer she didn’t know.

The unknown is frightening. Paradoxically, therefore, it must be confronted.

‘The cause and effect woven between more than one being… The nature of the phenomenon that emanated from Nari’s dream, that’s it.’

Qualifications can be met in various ways. Nari and Nari’s mother were both special beings.

So Nari isn’t the only one who can twist cause and effect.

‘I will find it… Nari’s counterpart in cause and effect.’

The next day, Nix left the Forest of Illusion and scoured the continent. She went to Nari every night she slept to check if she was still dreaming.

She focused on seeing cause and effect. Even though it was a difficult phenomenon, she did not give up.

And Nix finally found it. A person carrying a very heavy cause and effect.

That person was swinging a sword in the academy’s training ground as usual.

. . .

“Long time no see?”

Nix, changed into her academy uniform, moved slowly. Her usual black dress would have been too conspicuous. But the unfamiliar attire gave a strange feeling to those who knew her.

“…Another new game?”

“Well, something like that… Keh heh. How have you been, Eve?”

“Fine. I’ve been fine.”

Despite saying that, Eve’s expression was icy. It was very different from when they were adventuring together. She had heard from Yuri that Eve was gradually returning to her old self, but the Eve Nix saw today was colder than when they first met.

“Were you training?”

“Yes.”

“…….”

Aspira might have been able to continue the conversation with Eve’s curt answer, but Nix didn’t have that ability.

So she coldly analyzed the situation. The mana around Eve was distorted. She seemed to have been practicing unusual magic.

‘…Eve already has established magical techniques, so she shouldn’t need this kind of challenge.’

Everything a person does has a reason. Eve wouldn’t have tried something new without any thought. Why was she trying to bring something out of herself?

After complicated thinking, a simple answer came.

‘It’s because of Nari…!’

She seemed to be studying Nari’s pure white mana, trying to imitate Nari’s power. Nari’s ether, which could be considered a unique magic system, couldn’t be imitated by just anyone.

But Nix could. As a master of magic, she might be able to offer appropriate guidance.

“Shall I help you?”

“…….”

Eve fell into thought for a moment. That alone made Nix sense success. It meant there was room for consideration. If she thought it was unnecessary, she would have rejected it outright.

Nix drove the point home.

“You shouldn’t just try to split it.”

“…!!”

“For example… the more colors you mix, the darker it becomes, but the more light you mix, the brighter it becomes, right? Instead of chasing down inconceivable non-attribute mana, try mixing all the attributes you can use and try something new.”

Inspiration was closer than she thought. Her mother’s color, seemingly pure white yet multicolored aurora light. Perhaps combining four attributes of mana might reveal the secret of ether.

That was an offer Eve couldn’t refuse.

“…Spend some time with me.”

“Anytime! Keh heh-”

Nix became Eve’s magic training partner, and at the same time, she gradually peeked at the knot of cause and effect tied to her.