III.

1. More Unreachable Than An Empress

It started with a soft muted purr, making Madoka stir ever so slightly, then began to evolve into something like a seismic roar. Then, the roar maintained itself and bothered her, undulating like a sine wave bariolaging itself in her ear drums. She did not know what her thoughts were even coming up with. Were any of those even real words? The rumbling ignored her and carried its chaotic rhythm. Wheels, she determined without opening her eyes. Based on the whiteness smothering and attempting to claw itself through her tightly shut eyelids from the outside, she dared not even attempt to wonder what situation she has found herself in. The wheels crushed the tracks below her and another horid noise rang above the chaos, a melodic and persistent swooshing followed by a clanging… chooing noise.

Choo-choo!

It screamed for her to open her eyes and rattled glass beside her like a persistent ghost, so Madoka begrudgingly willed herself to wake. The first thing that greeted her was a stinging brightness. The second was not sight attacking her eyes, but the foreign feeling of cold and smooth cheap leather scratching underneath her palms. She knew this disorienting feeling all too well, however, it still felt just as bad every time and this time was no exception.

Madoka knew she was dreaming up one of those strange kind of visions, but the question was whether this scenario was going to end up as a nightmare or not. She was in a train barreling away from a city of some sort as if it was a snake shedding away old skin in retreat or perhaps some other reptile cutting loose its own tail to escape. She knew why this air of desperation mixed in with the cheap scent of indoor smoke from cigarettes battling the sterile scent of clean, uncomfortable coach seats for her nose's attention. Yet, Madoka did not know or care to know how she knew what any of these descriptions meant or the things all around her were. Glancing to the side, she saw her. A tiny girl, but safe at last. This train has firmly placed a barrier between the two of them and the cold hearted people the girl was apparently running away from. But who was she in this dream?

Audrey glanced at her nervously, clutching the notebook to her chest as if it was a life jacket keeping her afloat. It was quite fitting since the cab was quickly dowsed in rain water as the train let out its melancholy and mechanical horn again. The droplets wobbled in their paths as the glass shook again, swiftly distorting the view of the desert outside. A few rows ahead of them, someone was chatting quite loudly on a phone or to another person, but other than that they were alone.

"I'm… I'm free," Audrey hesitated. Her voice was devoid of any shred of the girl's normal quirky and scheming confidence. Instead, a quiet fortitude replaced it. "We're finally out of that damn place."

"Mm," Madoka found her dream self agreeing silently. "You made it."

"I have a plan, not just bullshitting. This time it is for real," Audrey declared as if Madoka had doubted her before. Her voice raised slightly as courage began to break through. "I swear."

"I know, Audrey," Madoka agreed to whatever she was saying. "They don't deserve you, not even a thought of revenge."

A tear threatened to slip out of Audrey's slightly reddened eyes, but it did not. She peered at the notebook again. Checked it twice and Madoka eventually heard the book shut like a coffin lid. One chapter in the middle concluded with finality, but here in this cab was a brief respite before the writer inevitably had to open it and begin recording once more. Madoka wondered if she knew who she was going to end up being, whether as a Princess or someone completely else. She stared out the window as they whirled by a wreckage from the war. Another unknown memory slipping inside her mind, a vision or scattered unnecessary detail tucked in this dream of hers.

Audrey mentioned this lucidity was brought on by magic, making Madoka realize the meaning of the phrase she used: "Just be there. All along for the ride."

Fitting, since she was a passenger on a train right now.

"I kept track of every penny they spent on me over the years, you know," Audrey finally said. The thump of her fingers on the worn out cover was more satisfying to hear than the raindrops' incessant pounding. "Every dollar. Doesn't even match a single one of their trips abroad in terms of cost. Not even close."

She felt the wheels beneath her chair smooth to a slow halt. A ding rang over the intercom, signaling the end of the ride for Audrey and solidifying the barrier between those people and her forever. Madoka stopped her. She knew that this also meant the dream would end the moment the girl stepped outside into the downpour.

"What do you want to do now?" Madoka asked her curiously. Audrey snorted as she stuffed the notebook into her backpack with so much force that the snap straightened the maid up into her seat.

"This isn't about me. Not even about revenge," Audrey withdrew another piece of paper out and held it. It was a document notifying the expiration and subsequent termination of relations between her and them. "Those parents of mine can watch me all they want. They just don't want to move out of the way when I crash back straight towards themand then shoot by before they realize it. Revenge isn't about showing them who's who in the relationship. Or even if love is conditional or unconditional, written on a stupid so-called contract they had for me. Even if my father was alive to witness all what his terrible wife did to his daughter, it's not about that."

Madoka wondered if this was how Audrey became who she was today and pondered the meaning behind her words. From her standpoint, revenge was not really in the cards for her at all but for Audrey the possibilities for her extended beyond that. The girl stuffed the paper back into the bag and steeled herself as she glanced out into the downpour once again. The door of this train swung open and nothing but a barren desert and the storm awaited out there. Even the person on the phone seemingly vanished, leaving the two alone with each other.

"Revenge, and all that can shove it. Comparisons, living up to others expectations? I was never one to ever stoop that low. Maybe I am just a dumb and useless rich kid. Maybe that's why they deprived me so badly. Maybe, just maybe, that's why my stepfather put his hands on my neck. 'Cos I was never good enough or maybe too much for him to control. I want you to remember this okay? Revenge and all of those kind of emotions to me, is this: You live for yourself, get to a point where they don't even have the ability to reach you. Got it?"

Madoka's ears were buzzing too loudly at this point and threatened to drown everything out completely. Audrey looked at her and even if she was much shorter, her eyes made the maid feel small. She knew that the princess was destined to fulfill what she promised. No one in this lifetime could reach her; the ones who looked down upon her could only watch her as she soared further and further upwards, that is. What about her? Madoka could only nod and accept that this dream had come to an ending.

The next thing she saw was Audrey turn slowly and deliberately into the rainstorm.

"Wait, Audrey!" Madoka reached for her, but found herself unable to stand from her seat as if some unseen force kept her in place. The princess's silhouette blended completely in the shadows cast by the night's deluge out there, leaving her uttering one final plea. "What about me? You didn't even ask me to follow you into the dark."

Madoka woke at that very moment. Her head was surprisingly clear from all the noise in that dream. No crashing of steel wheels screaming against groaning tracks outside, no buzzing of the train cab's light itching her ears and those alert dings, no strangers speaking too loudly and rudely, and certainly no awful rainstorm around to break her eardrums down to a pulp. Only a soft and cool tranquility remained, with a comfortable mist covering her skin. Sunlight came through the window in dew-smeared streaks, distant thoughts of the horses chattered and snorted from outside, and a quiet, steady breathing that was not her own came from beside her.

Madoka lay under the sheets calmly, yet she was slightly unsettled by the haunting and taciturn reality that the dream's finer details were indeed slipping quietly from her mind as quickly as the dream ended. Only the girl's final words about living for oneself and becoming… What was it again? Madoka frowned. Someone untouchable by those who once looked down on you?

The exact words she spoke faded, but the general idea of her words and the look of sheer determination on the girl's face remained like a new sapling freshly buried in Madoka's heart. Surely another dream later would help it grow into a tree. A branching and completely new point of view would stir within her, guiding her to a newfound sense of confidence. If it even existed hidden deep within herself to begin with. A twitch twisted her lips suddenly into a wry and embarrassed mood. What was with her and this strange imagery in her head all of a sudden? Even the way she spoke was morphing into something new. Different. Even thoughts of independence unlocked themselves in her mind. Ever since the Uracksheegal, she has been different. Maybe, she stirred. Maybe even before that her personality started to change.

The breathing beside her jerked and the princess's snores lifted abruptly into a gasp. The mattress she was lying on sunk suddenly on the side as Audrey sprang up with a ragged appearance all of a sudden. Dark circles were visible under her eyes, immediately making Madoka alert. She even forgot to check herself as she also sat up to inspect Audrey.

"Audrey?" Madoka held the girl steady by the shoulders frantically as she looked Her Tiredness up and down. She was quite roughed up from waking unexpectedly, but otherwise she was fine…? Still, she had to ask. "Are you alright?"

"Uh," Audrey looked like she fell through a thousand tree branches, her breathing matched such an ordeal as well. "I— I had a dream. But it wasn't a dream. It was like… real. Too real."

Madoka knew exactly what she meant and nodded before releasing the princess, who slumped back into bed. Instead of telling her to get up, she simply observed the girl. Actually looked at her. It has been some time since she last studied her. The girl's hair cascaded into tangles on the pillow everywhere. She was still adorable and also slightly taller now, but there was this new air about her. She would not call that new trait "maturity" although it felt like she was growing up all over again. The memory of her refusing to give Madoka away to that Noble publicly suddenly came to her mind. That moment instantly filled her with warmth, which in turn overwhelmed the cold atmosphere that was intertwined both with morning air and Audrey's aura. That was a warmth worth cultivating. If she noticed Madoka's admiration for her at the moment she did not show it and that was fine. Audrey continued.

"I was back in the Uracksheegal though I don't know how I knew I was back there. I found myself lying under a lot of stars, on someone's lap—" Audrey suddenly got defensive, as if she was bracing for Madoka to be angry over her dream self's actions. The mention of someone's lap did stir something within her, but not one of anger. It was a startled recognition. Audrey hurriedly tried to explain, though that was probably due to the shocked look on Madoka's face. "It wasn't Arudite, or yours, or anyone's… Was not like anyone else's lap. It was a… woman's. She smiled at me… Not like a creepy nightmare way, but a genuine one. A warm one. Which, I guess was quite creepy now that I think about it."

Madoka knew whose lap Audrey was lying on. She knew that smile she was speaking of. She knew the serenity brought on by the goddess's presence, but she simply remained silent and let the girl process her dream. Gechick had visited her last night, but why? Did Madoka even have the right to question a kind goddess like her?

"She was like an oak, warm and old, but gentle and had shade for me," Audrey sounded like she was reminiscing and more gentler now. "I— I don't know why I felt like I couldn't part ways from her. She did not even say anything until shadows covered us completely. The night ate me, but before I woke up I finally heard her say something."

Audrey looked at Madoka with a bewildered expression, who also probably had an odd and curious look of her own on her face. Silence hung in the air for a brief while. Neither dared to ask or answer each other. The only remnants of the conversation that lingered were just exchanged looks; tense faces carried hidden meanings behind their eyes. Then finally Audrey spoke yet again.

"She said to me: Protect her," Audrey concluded in a whisper. "What do you think that dream means?"

Madoka could only give a perfunctory and helpless shrug. What could she say? She dreamed of a Goddess who clearly had her eyes on… her unworthy self. Audrey groaned, then flopped onto the bed as if the world struck her down.

"Waaah, you're no help at all!" Audrey flipped on her stomach and pounded weakly on her pillow. "

"So dramatic," Madoka also gave a groan, then pulled the sheets off of her. "Giddy up, we got stuff to do today!"

"Nae waaah!" Audrey screamed, but then suddenly stopped. Madoka followed her gaze, which landed on her bag. Suddenly the girl willingly got up on her own and snatched a loose paper poking out of the pack. The image of her dream self standing there with that notebook in her open backpack overlapped with the Audrey standing there looking at the Bill of Sales with a goofy grin on her face. "Hehe! It's all ours, Madoka."

"What is?" Madoka hesitated to ask.

"This is only the beginning of our Empire, my dear Madoka," Audrey gloated to no one in particular. "This is the only god I worship, you see? Cold dollars. Heh."

She laughed to herself, as if she was making a strange joke. Madoka was not laughing, though. She was considering the possibility of Her Highness finally returning to her Royal status. An Empire was indeed worthy for Audrey to rule. Being an Empress would be at a suitable height to make all those who dared to stand against her unable to even reach her feet.

"I thought that was the coins, not the piece of paper," Madoka mumbled instead.

"You don't get it. Some trophies are better left unseen," Audrey sighed, tucking the scroll delicately back inside her pack. A slow, yet unstoppable, smug smirk formed on her lips as she peeked at the scroll again as if it would slip away like a scared little rodent. "Our first step, you see. Better than those stupid taxidermied idols of dead animals in the Truth Guild's Acquisition Chamber or the big ol' head of an ugly Ogre sold to a stinky foreign Nobleman at a higher price than normal. Those are too easy to get, but scrolls recording milestones? Priceless."

Madoka considered this as she got ready briefly, but then a knock at their door broke her concentration and prevented her from being able to ask further questions. They both ignored it for a moment. Madoka instead simply chose to pick up Audrey's shining Silver tag. She watched it gleam in the light as she wrapped it around the girl's neck. It was not any of the gaudy ones in the Palace, but the girl still had a satisfied and smug smile on her face anyways for unknown reasons. The knocking grew slightly more impatient. With a nod from Audrey, Madoka opened the door in her full height, making it obvious that they were quite annoyed at the rude offender's insistence. It was Ilalune, for some reason, standing a few heads shorter now that Madoka used her magic to increase her size. The cat girl was shocked for a moment, but regained her composure quickly like her true and infuriatingly professional servant self had trained for.

"Lady Dalion," the Cherish woman spoke. The sarcasm and rudeness in her Reverent Noble was not missed by Madoka and a growl began to rumble in her throat. A smack on the shoulder made her stop, followed by a thump and disturbance of the floorboards beneath Madoka's towering form. The girl behind her had to jump to reach her shoulder, she groaned. "Lady Arudite has requested your assistance with the Truth Guild's Magic Trees. And… Madoka, a Lady Eena is awaiting your company downstairs."

2. What He Did To Her

"My House," Eena said slowly as they walked. The Sovos woman's short blonde hair swished in the sunlight in tandem with her tail. It was early in the morning, but it was quite bright out. Summer was approaching, was it not? Madoka mused, catching a brief wave of warmth within the air. "Is just me."

She laughed a soft chuckle bitterly. Madoka stopped to listen to her. Even though she thought Audrey would be happy with Arudite, her mood shifted when she saw Lady Eena. The girl simply delivered a scoff before trotting away behind the researcher in a huff. Madoka found it quite odd that there was no longer any feelings or urges to defend herself. Moreover, it was actually easier than she thought to let the girl separate ways. It was only for a simple day. The world seemed to have moved past them in that instant with the wind and made her sleeves flutter.

"Just like yours," Eena looked at her directly. Madoka could only muster a single nod. She expected the horrible memories of Fiara's destruction to hurt harder than they actually did when they arrived to her mind, only offering an additional, futile punch in the wake of recent events. "The Prince of Esmerald came by my mountain one day, seized every man. Brothers, fathers, friends and their sons. All gone in an instant. Then the women were left tied to trees until the rest of the men were found. Then came… Him. He came to me with his blade. Balthgor didn't even look at the others hanging on that tree."

Eena checked her wrists nervously. Madoka could see all the deep poison scars running down her arms though she knew that the faint marks from the binds that used to be wrapped tightly around her wrists were more prominent and painful. They must have stopped her from watching her loved ones be stolen away, tying her to a tree with the others to despair in their powerlessness. The Knotting Strands coursed along them like a river in a valley regardless, making no distinction between scar or mark.

"Those bastards," Madoka growled under her breath. She had no idea why this Noble was the first one she truly trusted and already had a terrible impression on anyone from that country. The prince of that Esmeralda must be as corrupt as Audrey's brother! "And your…"

The Knotting Strands around the Noblewoman manifested, either out of her slipping control or rising anger. Yet she did not say anything. The clenched fists granted enough truth to Madoka.

"The old Houses are falling completely, I think. Most of the ones I knew who ruled Mountains have all since disappeared because of Esmeralda's war. Times are changing. Madoka. When a man or woman of status offers things you can get on your own," Eena growled, pausing to make sure Madoka heard her every word. The Noble Aura made the air shimmer a bit, but it was not as intense as Audrey's. For someone who looked so delicate before, the sudden passionate display was jarring to Madoka. "Do not go with them. They only intend on giving you to the Abyss."

The Artisan Guild's Forge was behind the shops and attached to the Adventurer Guild, but she did not find that out first by seeing its massive dome shaped roof even though its shadow covered them as the Sun rose fully to welcome the day. It stood tall and defiant to time, being built of metal and stone as opposed to the prettier and uniform concrete orange tiled rooftops standing beneath it. She smelled and heard it. Smoke clogged her nostrils and the ruckus of hollow metal clanging reached Madoka's senses, but excitement settled on both of the women instead of being worried by the accompanying grime. Eena stopped at the door. It was a towering gate made of metal, yet her chest tugged the moment she saw it.

Right, Madoka halted. She realized that if she did not pay attention to her Crystal, this gate before her would become fuel for it. For that reason, she hung back and allowed the Noble to take the lead. Stealing a door would probably be bad, she mused. It was her only reasoning why she did not open it for Lady Eena.

"The Terros beyond this gate is a right bastard," Eena spoke evenly. Madoka was not sure if she was warning her or simply stating it plainly like the weather. "But he is kind on the inside. He had taken me in when Balthgor left me to die when he found out I was worthless. Forgemaster Thribelt is a Master in the Way of the Forge, but he is strict."

Way of the Forge? She could not ask since Eena had already thrown the door open. Upon entering, what Madoka saw drew her in almost immediately. The scene was quite lively and vastly different than the controlled and clean environment of the Palace or the neat cobblestone streets of the city outside. She felt like she entered a different world entirely. Heat sweltered against her like a warning sign and Knotting Magic pulsed freely in the air. She saw a gigantic hearth with multiple molds stacked on top each other and huge bellows towering over the whole place. She also realized that the area was, in fact, a pit dug out and that they were on a balcony. Somewhere a weapon was dunked in a tank, hissing violently, as Sovos adventurers below ran around. The sights of them bumping into each other reminded her of the Lower Maids back in her Palace days. Her first instinct was not to run or hold her nose in disgust at this messy room for once. It was amazement. Someone's angry shouting and hollering interrupted her observations.

"Eena! Whose doll did you bring to this here forge?"

It took awhile for Madoka to realize that first, she was being called a doll and secondly, the source of such an odd compliment was right beneath her nose. A short and plump old man pointed his finger directly at her nose. A dwarf? She believed Audrey called that other man that. Yet Lady Eena called him a Terros, so she was more inclined to lable him that. After a pause with neither of the women speaking, the fat man lost his temper. He was not actually fat, his oily and charred smith clothes revealed sheer muscle beneath them.

"WHADDYA DOIN' HERE, GIRL?"

The outburst barely stirred Madoka's attention, but she shrugged and let Eena do the talking. The Noblewoman suddenly matched his tone with equal energy, fully waking Madoka up.

"THIS GIRL NEEDS A NEW WEAPON," Eena hollered back.

Fired up for some reason, Madoka withdrew the Serpent Blade from her Storage Talisman and snapped it in half. In hindsight, she probably should not have done that, but she never was one to actually think about what she was doing besides the task at hand. In her mind, breaking the sword easily with her strength was simply a natural part of the task of getting a new weapon or an upgrade. The Terros eyed that shattered blade with a mixture of shock and awe, then disdain cracked his sweaty face. Its green Aura faded quickly as if the soul of the Serpent was finally released from a prison. Eena glanced at the pieces then nodded at him.

"Then I, Thribelt, will whip the dollness off your face!" Master Thribelt bellowed and then pointed a thick gloved finger at her, his fingernail glinted from the hearth's blasting fire out a small hole at its fringes. The pointed finger alternated itself to his beard and Eena. "And don't even think about calling me by my name. From now on, I'm Boss. And she's also Boss. You will work under me and her like the rest of them."

"Yes, Boss," Madoka said seriously, taking her cloak off and shoving it eagerly into the storage talisman. She was ready for work. The Terros eyed her with a new look this time. The inspection was not of disapproval or underestimation, but the eventual acceptance and a dawning revelation that only her burns, scars and muscles could reveal to him: She was not a doll at all, she was something to craft into a new piece of work or weapon. The Knotting magic in her chest thrummed with energy, threatening to reach out and absorb any piece of metal within her chest. Then, a pair of goggles and gloves slapped themselves into her face, followed by a heavy apron.

3. Way of Madoka

Madoka found herself lined up with several "fresh faced" Iron and Silver rankers, now finally wondering what she just got herself into. Despite the initial gusto brought on by the Terros's intensity, her interest quickly died down as she watched both Eena and Thribelt — er, the Boss— pace back and forth explaining how the Forge works. It was not that she expected any sort of special treatment, rather, she found it all kind of hopeless. A weapon would break eventually and besides, she had the Crystal inside of her that could form into anything her mind could come up with. Still, as she watched Eena shake a tong in her hand she could not help but feel nostalgic. Her manner and expressions reminded her how the Head Maid loomed over her and the other girls in the Laundry Room like a storm cloud, barking orders this way and that.

"Madoka!" Thribelt thundered, clanging the hammer on an anvil near him to get her attention. "Pay attention to the Boss!"

"Yes, Boss!" Madoka shouted back. Based off of the look the Terros gave her, she guessed he was not pleased with her performance. They did indeed go over a list aloud of certain information, so she did what she always did when she had to remember her chores: She simply counted on her fingers and assigned a task to each one. Therefore, she did not need any reminders. The Boss did not seem to believe her anyways and soon dispatched them to the mines to fetch ores in order to get to work.

The place she eventually got to was outside a ways from a lengthy tunnel between the Guild and this open field, but she did not find the walk taxing. She was placed in a group of Iron and Silver adventurers that could follow the Way of the Forge, something she barely knew anything about. Each member had dreams of their own, but Madoka did not pay attention to them. The ragtag group was then assigned to construct a practice weapon on their own and assist each other at the Forge. Her team members soon found that she was incredibly useful after watching her carry an entire wheelbarrow back to the forge by herself full of various metals or what she assumed was shiny enough based off the Knotting strands' reaction to it. The other groups balked, but Madoka found herself helping them out as well. Soon, the Forge had new wheelbarrows full of metals to train on. The Boss scrutinized each chunk of metal with an unreadable countenance.

"I've seen better," he remarked with a hint of sarcasm.

Madoka did not recall asking the Boss for his opinion, but everyone was helped out anyways. Soon, shouts of celebration arose when the rest of the members had their metal, signifying the first step of acquiring some kind of ore to work on was finished. Now, after consulting her finger list of chores, she found that she was supposed to shove massive tree logs into a giant drum that rested near the Hearth, make charcoal and after enough of it was built up. She did not follow the specifics or need to. The hearth was indeed sophisticated, but was able to burn charcoal for the ores regardless. After she easily completed the process for the team, they set to work on the ore until enough metal was created for everyone. Thribelt explained that Knotting Magic could only last for so long before losing Resonance and whatever metal created from it would fade to dust. Therefore, metal had to be crafted, then the Knotting magic would come in later to reinforce it even further. When she reached the next step of hammering the pieces of hot metal together and making the parts fit, she found smashing things precisely was quite a difficult task for her.

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"Clumsy, useless doll-hands of yours!" Thribalt roared, waving animatedly at all the messed up pieces of the forge. "How are you supposed to kill a beast or something if you can't even do this right?"

Each strike shattered the iron beneath her blow, then when she heard that insult she realized her blow completely smashed the anvil in two. Then another one also was destroyed when she thought she got the hang of it. The others gawked as they dragged the second anvil's remains to the side. Through it all, she did not mind failing or Thribelt's incessant yelling at first, but soon it got tiresome to hear. The work here initially was all quite amusing to her in a slightly detached way. Madoka did not understand why she felt like that, but could not help it. Her teammates were puzzled on what to do with her, but decided to escape to other duties and let her face the Boss's wrath. She was fully used to it— she has been scolded by the Head Maid countless times. She was worse than this short man's temper and far more intelligent. Her ways of punishment for Madoka were degrading and sharp like a stabbing, while Thribelt just said meaningless noise.

By now, other groups have caught up to them, but Madoka was unaware that she was apart of a race to finish a practice weapon first. Even the fact that her group was originally in the lead escaped her, despite her group's zealous and competitive spirit brought on by her natural strength by the first hour. She did not care, for she had nothing to prove.

If Madoka was bad at forging a weapon, she could simply find someone else who was in the future, right? She enjoyed the menial work, but she really could not find any real reason why there was so much urgency in this place. This was her day off, after all. Her other group members each worked on hammering their own weapon shapes and avoided her, though casting side eyes at the wreckage from her own failed attempts. There was a piece of hers left mangled and disproportionately shaped from a step called "welding." Another attempt at an axe head lay in shattered chunks like a dropped dinner plate. It was apparently too brittle after she left it in the cooling liquid too long. The chipped edges on the blade was what sent Thribelt over the edge and he once again launched into a tirade, of course, expressing himself liberally over each and every flaw with the other pieces as well.

"Your team members are relying on your work and you're just mucking around breaking stuff," Thribelt ranted and raved. His belly flopped and flowed as he paced, renewed passion flaring up inside of him like the stoked flames in the hearth. "Have you no shame? Is there anything behind your eyes controlling those Doll Hands of yours? If what you make is failures, think of who will have it worse: You or the poor sod who gets killed because of your pathetic excuses for weapons! They depend on you, Madoka, sit down and reflect!"

When he finally caught Madoka not paying attention, well, she found herself sitting on a barrel in a relaxed manner while he stormed off somewhere deeper in the Forge. Footsteps approached her, light yet full of purpose. A barrel dragged itself next to hers and creaked as someone sat on it. Madoka knew who it was. Still, she remained aloof, swishing her feet as she sat.

"Don't take Thribelt's harsh words to heart," Eena spoke to her, as if she was trying to comfort her or saw her as seething. Madoka shrugged, contemplating several things about the broken scrap metal. Firstly, each of them, no matter how awful they supposedly turned out to be, glowed yellow. This indicated to her that they were of Tier 2 quality. Second, the Crystal in her heart thrummed as if it was hungry for them. Had Eena not showed up, she would have indulged in testing what could happen if she did indeed absorb it like she did with the ship's metal in the Leyline. "Everyone starts out with pieces like these."

Madoka glanced at the woman, who was completely unbothered by her disheveled appearance. Grime and sweat coated her, making the maid want to wash her off immediately. Ignoring that urge, she turned her head back silently to the pieces on the floor. Madoka guessed he was correct, even if he was quite a troublesome character. She did not want to admit it to Eena, he was making her feel down. Her gloves were wearing thin despite being restored by Knotting magic multiple times during her stay here, soon to crumble into dust or whatever Knotting strands do when they "fizzle out.". She should be careful and make the most of this time here, should she not? The thought of others relying on her, looking at her, and otherwise having expectations for her seemed to strike her nerves, however. She did not want others to need anything from her— she was selfish. She did not need anything from others, too. She stopped swinging her legs.

There was only one person was an exception to her selfishness. The only one who she wanted relying on her all the time appeared in her dream last night. Even if she said some odd things about revenge, Madoka seemed to grasp an idea out of it. She would have to build a weapon, but it could only be in her way. If she did then no one could reach her and yell at her for being wrong.

Master Thribelt would never understand this truth of hers. So, she needed to prove him wrong somehow. Not because he was an enemy or an annoyance— though he was— but because of the genuine desire to be of use for only one person in the world. Still, these busted pieces would not do. Madoka needed to rethink how to make a weapon her own way if she did not want others to even think about reaching her or yell at how she is doing something wrong. Without thinking, she reached out to the closest failure and smiled to herself. Then Eena's voice startled her.

"Why are you smiling over these?" She asked. Then she realized her tone was harsher than she intended, probably because she had been yelling at everyone this whole day. Madoka did not mind Eena's wilder side at all, but could not help but marvel at how different her presumptions on the Noble woman were from reality. Perhaps the weak side she displays outside of this forge is merely an act or all of the magic ringing out freely inside of this place gave her the strength to be herself, no longer requiring her to maintain distance with other people. After all, everyone here seemed to be focused on the Way of the Forge besides Madoka. Eena lowered her voice, threatening to slip back into that shy demeanor of hers.

"I was just curious, that's all. Nothing more."

Madoka ignored her questions and picked up one of the pieces. She wondered if Eena could see how it shimmered defiantly in the dark Forge's flames. Its golden hue stood out as if to declare it belonged in her hand, it had a purpose and was not a failure unlike what the eyes of others. It spoke in whispers and hums of a singular promise. Her broken metal part will be used as a stepping stone towards becoming unreachable like Audrey said.

"What did your House do?" She asked instead. The Knotting magic strands danced all around her hand holding the failed axe. Eena seemed taken aback at the sudden question, but relaxed after reading something in Madoka's eyes.

"We were… Jewelers," She spoke softly. Again, she took that strange step backwards into the shadows. "Before it all went down. My Father was renowned across Mountains for his mastery over the Way of the Ruler."

"Way of the… what?"

Eena's eyes followed a loose strand of Knotting magic zigzagging in the air like a feather, but Madoka realized that the Lady could not actually track it well. She suddenly snatched it, then, moved her arms carefully and rapidly as if she was spinning a web with her fingers. The Knotting magic seemed like it wanted to escape her, but followed her movements and coalesced into a small jet black sphere. The little gem floated in the air for a moment then dropped onto her palm.

"The Way of the Ruler," Eena spoke calmly. "It never resonated well with me. Don't you get it?"

"I'm a slave," Madoka said apologetically, choosing her words carefully to not expose her true past. "Maybe it's too much for someone like me to ask of you about such things. I was not found to be able to use magic until this year. I grew up quite sheltered before the war happened."

Eena looked at her for a moment. Had she forgotten that Madoka was far beneath her in Status or did she forget who she was to others? The Noble still had a bright Aura despite whatever she did here in the Forge. That is precisely why people like her and the adventurers hung their heads when she yelled at them.

"Knotting Magic has four different Ways. Like all magic flowing along the River Goêt, the strands course through all things in many different ways," Eena attempted to explain. "So, like Domineering and their Schools, the Mansion magic and their Dream Estates, even Substance and their Trees— Knotting Magic has its own categories from that Celestial being above us. No one knows who or what that being actually is, but you see the Child's work everywhere. Especially up there."

Eena manipulated the strands jolting from the black droplet like the way Lady Fate changed Madoka's Iron Adventurer tag into a Silver one. The gem expanded and became bulky, soon settling as a cube. She instantly knew what the Noble Lady was referring to. So those cubes were also a part of the Link and that being onboard the Uracksheegal who called her the Holy One. It was all too much, she sighed, but the clamoring hubbub of the Forge masked it well.

"Knotting magic courses through Life its own way. It's said that those who are born with Knotting magic make the choice on which Way resonates with them early on. Most don't even remember choosing. It's saidThe Way of the Song changes how something could sound. The Way of the Guardian can alter the body size and its form. Like wings or growing taller. The Way of the Ruler, well that pertains to changing the shape and material of something into another. My Father could change a piece of wood to a dazzling emerald, weave golden necklaces around my mother's head from the dirt. Some of his pieces still remain intact today, but my attempts are like this."

Madoka followed her bitter look down to her hand holding the tiny black cube. The strands, once obedient to Eena, dissipated and untangled themselves from the form her palms shaped for them. Soon, the small box seemingly melted into a faint golden light — then nothing remained.

"When he found out I couldn't make him rich, he hit me," Eena growled, as if that pitiful noise could keep the painful memories at bay. "When he found out the Way that resonated within me the most belonged to the Forge, he made me work there until I gave him that sword. I thought then, he would love me and let me back home. I thought that he wouldn't hit me. I thought that, even if I was unable to provide a sparkling piece of jewelry— one that could shine in the night like my father's pieces— he'd see me as… someone. Or anyone. Well, he's dead."

Madoka considered each word the Noble spoke, not realizing that Eena drew closer to her. The woody and ashen smell of charcoal from her apron nearly smothered her, so she took a slight step back and held the broken metal in her hand as it it was a shield between them.

"What would you want to do, now that he is gone?" Madoka whispered under the clang of a hammer striking a hot ingot singing nearby over sizzling coals. Eena suddenly smiled too, a weak one, like candlelight next to a forest fire. Her face held slivers of shadow and orange flickering across it as she laughed mockingly at herself.

"I would like to forge more jewelry," she sighed. "Not as a Noble, but really. I'd like to make things for me and perhaps someone I truly like."

"Like Eraziror?" Madoka suddenly asked. The name made Eena's illuminated face darken, making her stammer out an apology. "F-Forgive me, I—"

"Pallas Eraziror doesn't understand me," Eena spoke, like she was warning him instead of Madoka. "He never did. He came to me last night, worried all over, but then spoke of all the hopes and dreams he had for me. Not what I wanted, only expectations of a life together I didn't ask for. I heard the same from Balthgor, except that bastard was more honest with his intentions."

"I see," Madoka said, but she found herself struggling to agree. Eraziror did not seem like a bad man like Balthgor. To her, having her life planned out by someone confident was perfectly fine. Perhaps, this was the difference between a Noble and a maid like her. Even the fact that she was here was quite a strange feeling. Therefore… Heat rose in her chest as she finally allowed the Crystal's humming to commence. Eena noticed the golden blaze manifesting in the center of Madoka's chest, backing away slowly.

"Madoka?"

"You've seen me do this before, right?" Madoka spoke calmly, but her eyes were no longer focused on Eena. Instead, she was watching the Knotting Strands dance in the air along every piece of dust and each gust of smog. "If I can't do it right like the Boss says, then I guess I'll have to do it my way to make it work."

With that, the Crystal came out of her chest in a stream of golden particles, completely enveloping the scrap. The energy ran into her skin at full speed and sent her hair straight up as if the wind hit her head on, only making her want to tear the whole place apart. Eena looked at her with a mixture of fear and anticipation, barely hiding her stare. Madoka's way, she mouthed. Fitting. It was never about her to begin with. Even through the rapid beating of her heart and the thunderous electrical power of the strands overpowered the Forge's bustling chaos, she heard the Crystal's quiet voice clearly.

I am with you! Let us create our own way. Forge a weapon only you can use. Forge a weapon only used for her sake.

For once, she agreed with the Annoying Crystal. So she set off to the piles of ore lying around and got to work. Her eyes were covered in a golden hue that even her goggles could not obscure away. She only knew it meant the Crystal was once again helping her as it did back in the Leyline, highlighting only important things she could use to craft such a weapon. Digging through the piles of ores, she found nothing at first until a particular slab resting on a shelf caught her attention. That will do… She snatched it without hesitation. Gleaming a deep purple aura, heavy, even though it feels like a rock. Yeah, this will do.

"What in the blazes are you doing?" Thribelt roared. It was evident that the commotion she was causing had already caught his attention. She shut him out, but not without catching one thing in the middle of her brisk steps to the anvil. "That there is Cherish Starmetal! If you don't put that down— Hey! If you break that I'll cast you into the Abyss myself!"

Cherish Starmetal? Was this the same type of metal the first axe she got from that man… Who was he again? Madoka waited on the Crystal to tell her at what point to take the metal out of the forge, when and where to strike. Even the parts of the metal where she was supposed to smack with the hammer glowed gold and the Knotting strands arced towards them. Her arms instinctively swung and matched their guidance.

Here! Now! I am with you! This shall be a worthy companion for you! Take it out of the cooling tank now!

By the time the process was complete and with the Crystal's assistance, she had a perfect axe. It was not like any of the axes she saw in the shop thus far, but it was hers. Made for only her, by her, and would be the ultimate tool to separate people from reaching the person she cared about. Even though it was incredibly heavy, she knew that it would not break. It was then Madoka remembered who the Cherish man that trained her all last Spring and Summer was. The same man who rose tough rocks that she smashed with the similar axe he gave her back then.

"Lord Leopride," Madoka murmured reverently, clutching the axe. It glowed an ominous purple, but she herself did not even know what tier it could be. He told her that axes broke people and for a brute like her they were a fine weapon. Cheering suddenly erupted around her. A crowd was gathered around her and she had not even noticed, startling her.

"An axe?" Thribalt waddled over to her. "Give it to me here."

"Yes, Boss!" Madoka held it out to him. The moment she released it into his hands, the entire axe nearly broke his arms as it crashed into the ground. Everyone gasped in shock.

"Kind gods!" The Boss yelped, shaking his arms all over. "That is Cherish Starmetal for ya."

Rather than attempting to lift it again, he inspected the axe as it stood stubbornly inside the concrete floor. A few adventurers attempted to wedge it out and lift it, but it seemed to be immune to their attempts. Thribelt did not care, nor did Madoka.

"It's rough and hardly could be called a proper weapon. Yet, it's a Tier 5 axe all the same. Fitting for a screw up doll like you," the Boss Terros concluded. "It'll cost you more than your life!"

"Oh, really," Madoka pondered for a moment. Her Highness would not mind her buying this, would she? She pulled out the bag they got from the Artisan Guild from her storage talisman before the Terros even could laugh at her in disdain. "How much coins? We made this amount yesterday."

"A Tier 5 weapon takes months to make, yet you made it in an hour," Eena gawked. A month or two? She recalled Gold coins equal to a year's worth in value.

"There's five gold coins inside of this bag, Boss," Madoka asked. The Terros looked at the bag and shook his head.

"Idiot," he growled. Madoka sighed and pulled the axe out with her free hand. She made this thing, so therefore no one is going to deny her it. Asking how much was simply being polite. Before Madoka could retort and finally blow up at the man who has spent the day yelling at her, he grinned. "You take it for free. I couldn't be bothered to toss the sordid metal out of this shop, you're doing me a favor, Doll Hands! On one condition: You name it."

Madoka gulped. Naming things was something she really had trouble with. She slung it around her hips which weighed her down a bit, but she would get used to it. Perhaps it could aid her in training, she murmured. The Crystal sent her an image of a white flower, reminiscent of the glowing ones she had seen before in the past, giving her the name of them.

"I think I'll call it Magnolia," she replied to the Terros. He simply grunted, acknowledging that it was hers. How confusing, but at least she did not have to come up with one on her own. The gold aura that tinged the corners of her vision receded as well.

"Boss, she skipped Resonance," someone called out. Madoka was ready to leave now that Magnolia was by her side, but the Terros stopped her.

"Doll Hands has skipped that step somehow, fine by me. She's been here enough for one day, but she can observe you lot on her way out," he urged them to get moving with his stout arms. Madoka guessed Doll Hands was the nickname given to her by him, like she assigned strangers she did not necessarily care for by hair color. "What say you?"

The consideration caught her off guard. Madoka wondered if this was some trick of his, but rather than bothering to here him yell she nodded and then shouted.

"Yes, Boss!" She hollered at the short man even though he was right in front of her.

The groups surpassed her former team then moved to the Resonance step. Madoka found herself up on the balcony, watching at the massive structure responsible for the Resonance and the men scurrying around under it. It was the part that made her a bit nervous before creating Magnolia, since that was the step that would have to use Knotting magic in order to strengthen the weapon. Conveniently enough, the Crystal allowed her to stand above the men below and watch the show. The tower had two heavy hunks of metal suspended in the air by chains pulled by them beneath it. An apparatus winded up the chunks up in the air with a shrill clinking. The chains clicked into a locked place and then Madoka found out what was behind the loud banging emanating from the building was. The apparatus released after its huge lever was pulled and down swung the Resonant Gongs, slamming into each other with a floor-shaking violence.

Madoka's feet felt a bit wobbly, but she saw the massive explosion of Knotting magic untangle erratically from the center where the gongs smashed. She recalled a smaller version of this tower at Livertorjan's Forge where Master Koj and his goose were. However, the men there transformed the earth directly into metal. Like she did with the metal sphere. Maybe there were different approaches to smithing weapons or this roaring tower allowed them to strengthen the weapons deeper since ores were more abundant.

The accompanying hooting and hollering excited Madoka. The movements of guiding the Strands towards the weapons were led by Eena, copied by the eager adventurer. She noticed the aura from the strands infused within Boss Eena's weapon glowed green, like the Serpent Blade. Unfortunately they were not as efficient as Eena. Only one yellow Tier 2 weapon was crafted out of the entire group.

Madoka knew that the Artisan Guild measured the weapon's magic strength in Tiers, but she did not know which number went to which glow's color. Therefore, she knew only that the purple glow was Tier 5. Magnolia looked plain, but since it was made of Cherish Starmetal its power was undeniable. She shifted weakly as it tugged at her hip like a powerful hand dragging her down. It felt as heavy to her like the first day she trained with Lord Leopride's axe. One day, she would get used to it.

Right?

Madoka found Eena waiting for her after the Resonance step was finished. She was no longer interested in the Forge, so she slipped away before the Terros could spot her. She did not even pay him for Magnolia. Walking with it was quite a task, but the way Eena looked at it with a mesmerized expression of reverence made it worth it. The night air brushed against her soot stained skin, refreshing her even though she tucked the goggles, gloves and apron into the Storage Talisman on her way out.

"I've said before about the Ways of Knotting magic," Eena did not seem to mind that Madoka was dirty, let alone herself. "But you— the Knotting strands don't set the Way for you. It's almost like they…"

"They follow my movements," Madoka confirmed. "I don't know what Way my Knotting Magic resonates with or whatever you say."

"It's not just that," the Noble marveled. "It obeys you. Knotting magic is very particular about movements, yet, when I watched you shape Magnolia, the Knotting magic followed your every swing. When I watched you command those strange cubes, the Knotting magic was guided into them by your fingertips. Even the steps you took between stations, the strands that I could see followed you. Everyone who watched said that. It's how I knew you were Godtouched. And... I can't help but ask why? They all wonder how you, a mere slave, are able to perform such miracles at your age and Status. Yet it is I who only falls deeper in my admiration of you."

"I follow things my way," Madoka responded without committing to a definitive answer about her past. Several gods, including Ares, have indeed spoken to her. She did not know about what Godtouched specifically meant or its conditions were to be considered as such, but she understood she was unique compared to others. It was a slow and unsettling process she still had to get used to even to this day. Therefore, she was certain that Eena was only infatuated with her power like the rest of the Nobles she encountered so she simply ignored the woman's feelings and most certainly would not reciprocate them. "Nothing more, nothing less."

"I— I won't speak to anyone of this, not even to your—"

"Do not say her name," Madoka cut her off. This was the first time she interrupted a Noble. "Now I must take my leave. Good night, milady."

"Hai… Good night, Madoka," Eena said dejectedly. When the maid strode off, she heard her mutter to herself. "I swear I will be strong enough to stand by your side."

It was then Madoka realized, she did not even mention anything about Audrey to Eena this whole time. She had to hurry back to the Inn and get washed!

4. A Preliminary Player Versus Environment Event Invitation

"You look like you have been cooked alive!"

That was the first thing Audrey said to her after gawking at her for good measure. No mentions of Arudite or what she had been up to for today. No pretext or context to reason over, just a pure shocked princess. Based off her clean appearance, it was clear that she did not spend the day getting yelled at and getting dirty. She was not wrong with her observations. Madoka smirked then requested to get washed. There was a small barrel outside for washing and Madoka's Crystal barrier made sure that it was private enough for them to get cleaned between the twin moons' light and the whinnying horses in the stables next door. Despite the small tiny purple and crimson thought-shards accompanying the water magic Audrey had, Madoka found that she could ignore them easily. Perhaps, their size made a difference or was a measure of the vision's details contained within them, therefore the tiny shards did not bother her mind. Additionally, the water was warm on her skin despite the girl's cold Aura. Apparently, she could control the temperature of her water magic now.

"Perks of leveling up."

Audrey laughed when she explained the newfound ability. Then she said something that made her feel horribly uncomfortable. Tomorrow, she will show her a taste of what her magic is like. Her smile grew more wicked when Madoka insisted she did not have to do that and passionately defended her trust in the princess's magical prowess. While they bickered on the way to their room, a familiar white scaled Sovos adventurer stood at the entrance to the Inn.

"S-Sir Drezgor!" Madoka greeted him, stepping ahead of Audrey in a protective stance. Moonlight gleamed off his skin and each moon reflected in his crimson eyes as he watched the two for a moment. She noticed that he was eyeing their Silver tags with some regard.

"Yo," he greeted them finally. "Congrats on the promotions, you two. May I have a word with you two in my office?"

They could only nod. Audrey elbowed Madoka on the way to the Adventurer Guild Hall. She glared at the princess, who shrank, but immediately pointed a finger at her.

"What did you do to get called to the office today?" She asked with a playful and suspicious tone. Madoka shrugged, but suddenly felt guilty. She must have looked like it, since Audrey's tone became incredulous. "Seriously, what did you do?"

Madoka shook her head. What if he heard that she stole that Cherish Starmetal from Thribelt and was mad about it? What if the Boss regretted giving her such a weapon? Heh, she suddenly thought. Serves him right. Drezgor simply ignored them, not saying a word, until they were sitting in his office. Not the one Lady Fate used, but the one he first spoke to them in. He stood in front of the window, while both girls were momentarily distracted from the situation. They were competing for even a glimpse of a certain orange cat.

"I'm once again the Acting Guild Master. Got some work for you two," he eyed them. It was clear that this was not a request. "As you've probably heard by now, Cel'Row are going to begin invading Petal 4 in swarms. Even now, packs of those persistent beasts have already been sighted early, despite the Sky above attacking us."

"When you say the Sky above…" Audrey peered out the window. "You mean those people who…"

"The Walk," Drezgor confirmed. "Though this time, people somehow made it back from it. Dead and alive. The survivors could not remember anything and our dead refuse to speak."

He sighed, then continued. Audrey scribbled notes down in her journal, then snapped it shut and tucked it away. It appeared that even he did not know or realize they were aboard the Uracksheegal and from the looks on Her Highness's face it was clear she did not intend on sharing that information. Madoka decided to remain silent.

"With the earthquakes from the Circle of the Labyrinth and the One Above moving together, disaster is soon to come," Drezgor shook his head. "None of that concerns you two. For now, Fate has once again gone to the Circle's center. You two are to accompany other Silver Rankers to clear out a Goblin settlement in Petal 4. Since the One Above struck Gladeban, they've been acting aggressively. Normally Iron and sometimes Copper ranks use them to train, but there's quite a few of them. Get rid of them, then we'll be able to set up the defenses necessary for the Cel'Row migration."

"Cel'Row are…" Madoka felt her stomach. The meat from them was delicious.

"Tasty, so the more you kill, the more meat you get from those flying buggers. Got it?"

"So kill a bunch of goblins, then kill a bunch of flying cows," Audrey noted. "Got it."

"It will be easy, Lady Dalion," Drezgor suddenly smirked and glanced at Madoka. "Your servant there has a new friend, haven't you?"

Madoka grunted half-heartedly, taking Magnolia off of the side of her hip and resting the weapon on the desk. It groaned in protest, threatening to sink into the floor under its weight. Audrey stared at it as if it was a snake. Drezgor nodded in approval. She had enough of the pleasantries, so she stored Magnolia in the talisman. There was not even a sign of the Orange Demon anywhere in the room. Losing interest, she stared off into space again.

"The parties will embark two days from now. And Madoka," Drezgor suddenly called her name out. "A certain Lady Eena will be joining and has sought you out for something. Speak to her when the time comes. Ceghinort's blood within us."

"Bah," Audrey could not help but let out a dismissive groan when they left. The wind felt comfortable as they walked on the streets. "Eena this, Eena that. I'm going crazy!"

"Why?" Madoka knew why, but she felt like teasing Audrey. The girl clutched the sleeves of her robes, bit her lips and looked like she was going to explode.

"I…" Audrey sighed. "I can't really pretend as much as I thought could. I really don't know what I'd do without you."

"I'm yours forever, Audrey," Madoka sighed. "Don't you forget that."

"But, but, but," Audrey nearly pleaded. Madoka was not in the mood to defend herself, so she copied Drezgor and gave Her Jealousness the silent treatment for the first time in her life. When they entered the Inn room finally, she could not take it anymore. "How did you even make that thing? It looked heavy as hell. I thought you had bonked your leg, you had me worried for no reason!"

"A-Apologies," Madoka bowed instinctively. She already felt guilty from ignoring her the whole way even if it was a short walk, but Audrey seemed barely inconvenienced by that and was instead eyeing the Storage Talisman around her neck.

"Gimme, gimme! I wanna see! I wanna see!"She cried like when she was a kid again. Madoka groaned, palming her head and keeping her an arms length away from her to prevent her from being troublesome with her hands.

"Trust me, you would not be able to lift it at all," Madoka struggled to keep the girl away from her. She swatted a hand aside, but the other quickly snuck past her guard and got dangerously close to her necklace.

"Come on, let me see! I helped kill a dragon, a bear, and I can even lift a giant slime ball," Audrey struggled against Madoka's grip. "Well, like shove it uphill about a foot. What could a tiny axe do, huh?"

In the middle of the struggle, Audrey tumbled on top of Madoka and her hand missed, aiming squarely at the middle of her chest. Suddenly, a surge of emotions and visions nearly blinded her, but through it all she saw Audrey's hand plunging directly into her Crystal's Core. It was absorbing her!?

"Audrey!" She cried out weakly, but her mind was instantly swamped with chaos.

Madoka was immediately plunged into a realm of dark colors. Flames streaked above her and the ground rapidly became the sky and alternated from the top to the bottom of her visions as she flipped. She suddenly became suspended like a puppet and the sudden stop jerked her stomach into her throat as she dangled. When she recovered, the horizon beneath her was divided in two; one half an expanse of endless ruins and the other half was a barren desert with only a lonely trainwreck strewn across the sands like a stray black line of ink on a canvas. Before she could scream out for Audrey again, the force holding her in place released her into yet another tornado of color.

The next thing she saw was two elderly couple of humans arguing in a language she could not understand in a dimly lit room, then suddenly the man disappeared in the next vision. Dirty trash piled up everywhere and roaches raced along the floor from one bag to the other, but she did not seem to mind. Madoka gagged. This horrible place was Audrey's old home, was it not? Then that means this wretched beast was her mother! The woman clutched a box of photos and somehow Madoka could see them clearly. The old woman spoke to no one in particular.

"It was my fault, all my fault," she cried out, her tears staining the photo of a young girl. "I'm just as guilty that she's gone. I'll be… I called the police. They'll be here to pick me up."

Before Madoka could yell, she felt a force pull her out of the chaotic mess of memories. Or perhaps, they were not memories at all. She breathed heavily in a jagged rhythm, clutching onto the bedframe as if she was trying to hold her head above water. Audrey was lying on the floor in no better state than her own, yet Madoka managed to struggle out her name.

"Audrey?" Madoka choked. The princess clutched her rapidly rising and falling chest as she struggled on the floor. Her blue eyes reflected the starlight through the window, but were eyeing her with terror and confusion.

"W-What in the hell did you just do to me," Audrey gasped. Her hands gripped the floorboards so hard that they somehow managed to shatter within her fists. Madoka could not answer that, nor did she do anything on purpose.

"You… stuck your hand inside my—" Madoka's breath hurt her throat, as if she stood over the Forge's coals and inhaled deeply. The pair of girls remained in that state for some time, struggling. Audrey tried to wave Madoka off and managed to say something to her before she succumbed to whatever wave of nausea struck her.

"Not… your… fault," she mustered up those final three words before she passed out. Madoka felt herself slipping into darkness as well, hoping that what the princess just told her was true.

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