[-1 Infinite Mirror.] A System message flashed in my right eye as I gaped at the town of Lomb bathed in morning light.

I looked down. My hand pawed at the empty air. The black, purple-eyed kitten was gone. I looked up at Agatha’s concerned face.

“What’s wrong?” Emmy asked. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Also, your pupils went all wide and then folded back into little slits again.”

“I… I went back…” I exhaled. “I’m still alive.”

“Still alive?” Agatha tilted her head. “Did you have a terrible vision of the future in which you died? The way your pupils expanded and contracted sort of resembled a Seer's trance...”

“Back on Earth,” I uttered. “I’m still alive out there. I saw my best friend again, told him everything about my life here on Andross and said goodbye. I didn’t see the future. I saw the past.”

“You went back… to Earth?” Agatha looked at me like I was insane. "So it was a vision of the past?"

“Yes, I went back. No, it wasn't a vision - I was an active participant there,” I nodded, my eyes staring at nothing. I was still in too much shock, trying to process what I had learned.

“Right,” Agatha’s eye twitched. “More impossible things. May I depart to the tower? My makeup is all over the place and I need a shower.”

I nodded at her. The eldest princess marched back to the tower. I heard her angrily muttering under her breath about how I was violating every known magical law just to screw with her.

“Thank you, Pavel,” I whispered, staring up at the pink-tinted, silver-blue sky. “Thank you for your advice. Thank you for listening to me and not just thinking that I’m insane.”

“Who are you talking to?” Emerald asked.

“Myself, mostly,” I smiled.

“I see. Are you feeling better?” she inquired tentatively.

“Yes,” I nodded. “I saw exactly what I needed to keep going.”

“I’m glad,” the young princess smiled. “Please excuse my sister’s rude behavior. She’s got a bit of a wardstone up her butt when it comes to violating the tenets of magic or whatever. Are you still going to Nemendias with me?”

I nodded.

“Great,” she grinned.

"Mis… err… Juni, you left your knife on the bed," Voltara spoke up. "Do you want it back?"

I nodded. The maid handed Endy back to me and I slid my knife into the leather sheath on my side.

We got off the bench and walked back into the station.

“Do you want to help me clean up Undertown for your first noblesse oblige project?” I asked, turning back to the chimera princess.

“Aren’t we supposed to be enemies?” Emerald asked, rubbing her chin.

“True,” I muttered. “Well, you can clean up half of it, claiming that you can do a far better job than a lowborn loser like me. It could be a competition between our teams. We could get lots of people on board this way.”

Emerald’s squinted at me.

“I’ll make you a cendai-mask like mine so you won’t have to smell anything down there,” I offered. “Also, I’ll get my artificer to make you a lawmaker’s armacus, so you can be extra safe in Undertown.”

“Hrm,” Emerald glanced at her armacus.

“Did an artificer of your mother make yours?” I inquired.

“Yes,” Emerald nodded.

I stared at her armacus in the Astral. The device wasn’t anywhere as perfect as the one Antoine made for me. It was sucking a lot of magic out of Emerald and leaking it into the Astral. There were hexagrams inside that I didn’t recognize, a few of them pulsating suspiciously. Shit.

I ran into Lambert’s office with the princess and the maid following after me.

Lambert was already behind his desk, sipping on his coffee.

“Morning Inspector,” I said.

“Morning Juni,” Lambert replied.

“Is staying in Lomb going to be a problem?” I asked. “Emerald’s armacus might contain a tracker.”

“It does. A very weak one,” Lambert nodded. “The absolute shield is blocking the pulse, but the Baroness will figure out where her children are if she’s actively searching for them.”

“Is… Lomb safe?” I asked him, my heart beating quickly.

“For now,” Lambert nodded. He opened his grey suit to reveal the painting of Dawn underneath it, sewn into his undershirt. Dawn looked like an older version of Lambert.

Dawn-Lambert waved at me as Lambert buttoned up his suit once again.

“You’re wearing a copy of Dawn?” I stared at him.

It made sense that Lambert already attached Dawn to himself. He was actively feeding her and figuring her out!

“The tower can predict my future, but Dawn is way better at it. It's good to have backup,” Lambert nodded with a wink.

I glanced back at Emerald. She looked very worried. She clearly didn't want to return to the Amadea Estate.

“Let's go talk to your sister about this,” I said.

Emerald and I went to the stairwell heading to the pilot’s room. Agatha was already out of the shower, looking refreshed. I looked down at her armacus. It was also imperfect, not matching her personal magical resonance.

“Does your mother know where you and your sister are?” I asked the eldest princess.

“Yes. I just called her,” she nodded. “I told her I’m showing you two the lands surrounding Illatius and that we spent the night in the Hedstadt Barony area. She didn’t seem to mind too much… but she did want to talk to you.”

I sighed. I didn’t want to talk to Amadea.

“Is your glider safe?” I asked. “Could it have recorded our conversation? I would prefer it if the Baroness didn’t know my secrets.”

“Mother did install a recorder and tracker in it… for safety reasons,” Agatha nodded. “But it records nothing but engine hum, unless I allow it to record conversations. The tracker's signal is thrown off by about ten thousand elbows. I’m not an idiot. I can see magical currents pretty well. I modified the recorder and tracker in Galissi a long time ago.”

“What about your armacus?” I asked.

“Same thing,” Agatha said. “There are magitek tools at Nemendias that allowed me to modify my armacus. Mother doesn't know our exact position nor is she privy to our conversations.”

“What about the one your sister is wearing now?”

“Errr,” Agatha stared at Emerald’s armacus. “Yes. There’s a tracker and a recorder there. It can't broadcast much because Ems is so young and low level. We’ll have to get into to Nemendias to modify her armacus.”

“I have a better idea,” I said. “I can make the local artificer craft you two far better armaci that won't have trackers in them.”

“How?” Agatha inquired. “Mother spent nearly three hundred thousand obliss on mine. I'm sure that Emerald's one was just as expensive."

“Your armacus does look expensive, but it still sucks compared to the one I’ve got,” I showed off the magitek device on my wrist. “I can get yours to be in perfect resonance with your soul.”

“Perfect resonance?” The eldest princess tilted her head. “How?!”

“Cut off some of your hair,” I smiled.

Agatha looked at me like I was mad.

“Trust me,” I said. “You too Emmy.”

“Eh?” Emerald blinked.

“I want a big lock of your hair,” I said.

“How exactly are you paying for two new armaci?” Agatha demanded.

“With my own hair,” I grinned at her. "It's quite expensive, you know."

Agatha pinched the bridge of her nose, looking very annoyed.

. . .

Having attained a bit of hair from both of the princesses, I went into Saccy and shredded their crystalline-organic locks into a very fine powder, placing each into a small, labelled glass flask. I showed the flasks to Agatha.

“Your hair is very similar to mine,” I explained. “It’s made from mana-containing, crystalline-organic microstructures.”

“I’m aware,” Agatha nodded. “I looked at my hair at Nemendias under various mag-scopes.”

“Well, what you’re probably not aware of is that a talented crystal-artificer can make an armacus focus out of your hair,” I said. “A foci that matches you perfectly.”

“Oh,” the eldest princess blinked. “I… didn’t think of using my hair in such a manner. Are you certain that we can trust this… artificer of yours with our hair?”

“Lambert trusts him with Lomb’s tower,” I shrugged. “I trust Lambert's Scrutimancy skills. Also, you can interview Artificer Antoine like you interviewed me.”

Agatha sighed.

“Look Agatha,” I said. “You have to learn to work with and trust people if you want to be free from your mother."

“I know,” she nodded. “I’ve been alone for almost my entire life. I’m having difficulty… adjusting to your methods.”

"I understand," I said.

“Shit,” Agatha growled.

“What?” I asked.

“Mother’s calling again,” she hissed. “She really wants to speak to you."

“Fine,” I said. "Is it possible to lie through an arcmacus-conversation?"

"It is," Agatha said. "Truth-telling runes can't evaluate voicecast speech."

"Great," I smiled. “Put me and Emerald on. I have questions to ask the Baroness, the answers to which your sister will want to hear. Plus Emmy can ask to go to Nemendias.”

Emerald nodded. I saw that her hands were shaking. She was terrified of her mother.

"You can do it, Emmy," I said. "I believe in you."

The little princess nodded at me.

Agatha tapped her armacus to ours. I saw the connection flash in my right eye. I accepted it.

[Greetings, my dear high-cendai Juni,] Amadea’s overly-sweet voice purred in my head.

“Do you need something, Baroness?” I asked briskly.

[Oh, nothing much,] Amadea replied. [I just wanted to check on you and my youngest daughter. My Arch-Maid notified me that you, Agatha and Emerald left our Estate yesterday with two of our maids. Is Agatha treating you well?]

“She is,” I said. “She said she can get me into Nemendias by helping me out at the interview. We are practicing for it, learning everything about each other."

[Excellent,] Amadea said. [Now… I understand your excitement at making friends and exploring the Baronies… but I really insist on us having lunch.]

“No,” I said.

[Why not?] The Baroness asked.

“I’ve had enough tests from Eunice,” I said with a growl. “I don’t want to be attacked with magic again.”

[Eunisii wants regular reports from me,] Amadea said. [You are her youngest cendai. I understand that being tested is difficult, but I must do as my Goddess commands.]

“I’m busy taking over humanity,” I said. “I don’t have time for pointless magic tests.”

[I really must insist on us having lunch,] Amadea said.

“What does she have on you?” I asked. “Why must you distract me from my work?”

[A very tight leash,] Amadea’s voice grew cold. [I was young and carefree like you once, spent years lounging in the lap of luxury. I understand how you feel… but, please don’t fight with the orders of our Goddess. It is best that we cooperate and both do our parts. Eunisii gives each of us as much freedom as we desire, especially in the beginning… but if we disobey, spend too much time on fun and games, the leash will tighten. It is best that we do not disappoint her, trust me.]

“One week,” I said. “I’ll have lunch with you in a week. Let me spend time with your daughters, let me figure out how I can take over Undertown, what resources I can harvest for my mission from the Baronies, etc."

[Very well,] Amadea sighed. [I shall meet you wherever you are in exactly one week. Expect Bliss to pick you up.]

“Bliss?”

[My personal warship,] Amadea clarified.

“Got it,” I said.

I looked back at the very pale, terrified faces of Agatha and Emerald.

“I do have a question for you, Baroness,” I said. “Why are your Dominion branches inside of your daughters?”

[They’re my backup - extra anchors to the physical.] Amadea replied. [I cannot fail the centuries-long mission my Goddess bestowed upon me.]

“So you intend to take over their bodies in the future?” I demanded. “What’s your plan for them? I’d like to work with them for as long as possible. They are very bright and capable.”

[They are indeed. I… I care for my daughters very much and I am glad that you like them too,] the Baroness said. [I would prefer it if I didn’t have to take either of their bodies. Yes, they are the phylacteries for my soul. However, I believe that I can live forever in my current human shell by continually maxing my Anima. As long as my current human body doesn’t fail me and Agatha becomes Empress and strengthens humanity's belief in Eunisii, I won’t have to take her body. The same goes for my little Emerald.]

Emerald gulped.

[You’re old enough to learn the truth, Emerald,] Amadea said. [Rise as high as you can and bring Eunisii into the hearts of humanity and you will live forever and have whatever you desire... just like me.]

“M-may I apply to Nemendias with Juni this year, mother?” Emerald asked, her voice trembling. “I wish to study with our youngest cendai, learn from her as much as I can.”

[You may,] Amadea replied.

"Thank you, mother," Emerald exhaled.

“One more thing, Baroness,” I said. “The armaci you gave your daughters are inferior.”

[Oh?] Amadea asked.

“I believe I can improve on their design, make them better ones,” I said. “They will be able to rise higher if they can do magic better. Emerald will most likely fail her interview at Nemendias unless she’s able to unlock her full potential. Your dominion branches are messing with her growth.”

[Very well,] Amadea said. [I will permit this. Will you give me their old armaci?]

“No,” I said. “I will have them destroyed.”

[Destroyed? Why?]

“By figuring out how to take apart a couple of expensive armaci with my magic, I’ll be able to gain better understanding of how to damage human magitek weapons with greater efficiency,” I explained. “I got struck down by an armacus spell a few days ago, if you recall. I don’t want this experience repeated.”

[Fair enough,] Amadea said. She seemed a little disappointed, but she didn't demand the old armaci.

I reached out and touched Endy.

Sorry, I left you alone, got mad at you. You’re just a tool. My lovely tool. Soon… I will feed you very soon. Together, when both of us grow stronger, we will slice apart the web that Eunice weaved over her cendai and humanity.

[Is there anything else you wish to ask me?] Amadea inquired into the silence.

“Yes,” I said. “Did Eunice give you a soul-cutting, artifact knife?”

[She did not,] Amadea replied. [I had to make one… out of my own bones. It was… incredibly unpleasant.]

“How long did it take you to become a high-cendai?” I asked.

[Three decades,] the Baroness said. [You are lucky Eunisii let you go so quickly. I came to Illatius after thirty winters. My chimera body has but a few years left in it. I kept myself Still for over two hundred and twenty years. I cannot afford to have another daughter. Please make sure that my two precious gems are safe and I will treat you like my own, third daughter.]

“I will take care of them,” I said. “Did Eunice give you an artifact when you left the chimera village?”

[She gave each of us an arcane artifact. All eight of us were granted incredibly rare, exceptional magical tools that Eunisii had found deep in the Dungeon during her ascension from the deep. What she gave each of us... is an artifact that fits our affinity best,] Amadea replied. [Mine magnifies my Vitality a hundredfold. I’m assuming that yours is that little black knife that can cut apart magic spells.]

“Yes,” I replied.

[Keep on using it,] Amadea said. [There is great power in affinity specialization. Grow your link with your artifact. Entwine it with your soul. Make the knife yours. Our goddess gifted you your divinely-blessed item because it is part of your destiny. Someday in the future our Goddess will ask you to use it for her, to aid her in some special way, to help her ascend even higher.]

I knew it then.

Endy was mine alone. Endy really came to me through Eunice from the depths of the Infinite Chasm. Endy wouldn't work for anyone else. Endy cut my soul not because Eunice wielded her, but because I allowed it! Eunice could never use Endy herself. My Master needed me, because only I could use the knife to destroy her future enemies or to open up doors that could not be opened by any other means. Eunice gave the knife to me because for her it was just a paperweight, a specialized tool that didn't respond to her.

“Got it, thanks,” I said. "That's all I wanted to know. I will see you in a week, Baroness."

"Good tomorrow, high-cendai Juni. Good tomorrow, my lovely daughters," Amadea said, disconnecting the call.

I hung up too.

"That's how you are doing it," Agatha whispered. "You have a divine artifact from the chimera Goddess!"

"Eunice isn't a goddess," I shook my head. "She didn't make this knife. Humans did."

"Believe whatever you want to," Agatha said.

"Let's go to Antoine's shop," I said, ignoring her sour face. "Time to get you new, better armaci!"