Liza faced Merlina right after they all gathered around the magical bonfire, which was burning brightly. Merlina's powers amazed Liza. She thought she was lucky they'd met—first with Akira in the real world, and with Merlina in the Dreamscape.
Merlina stood in her pointed hat behind the wondrous fire, the flames dancing in her eyes.
Merlina: "Got something on your mind, dear?"
Liza shied a little, then gathered her courage to once again thank her.
Liza: "I'm just amazed by what you've done for us, Lady Merlinaza!"
Merlina chuckled warmly.
Merlina: "Ho-ho, girlie! Not 'Mel' this time for me?"
Liza: "I never meant any disrespect, I just... I'm feeling lucky to call you my mentor in this dream world!"
Merlina: "Oh, you sweet little sugar, come here!"
She spread her arms for a hug.
Liza dashed toward her, and they embraced as two old friends reunited.
Liza: "Also... Merlina, your hat is so large! I should get something like this in the real world."
Liza raised her head. Merlina's height surpassed both hers and Akira's.
Merlina: "Ha-ha! My girl, we'll definitely figure something out—just for you! As well, a great opportunity to ask our freshman to present it to you as a gift!"
Liza blushed bright red and hissed under her breath.
Liza: "You know I can't ask him that!"
Merlina laughed loudly.
Suddenly, a spectral projection of Esmeralda appeared behind Liza.
As usual, Esmeralda wept softly, her ghostly form shimmering in the firelight as she faced Liza like she still held a debt to her.
Esmeralda: "Lady... Lady, you promised... You promised me... What you will find — my Quasimodo..."
Liza quickly turned to Esmeralda.
Merlina: "Ugh, poor girl."
Liza: "Esmi! I know. And I never said I stopped searching! I think I know what we must do!"
Esmeralda wept quietly, her eyes pleading but hopeful.
Liza: "I know! Once we stop this 'evil wind' from holding us here, we can travel back to the Barghest and ask that owl toy there to find him!"
Esmeralda's face brightened slightly, though the sadness lingered in her eyes.
Arthur, who had been standing with Cleo nearby around the fire, stepped forward and approached.
He knelt before Esmeralda with a quiet reverence.
Arthur: "Lady Esmeralda, this is not the first time we have met, but our first impression was disrupted, as we were in the rush of battle. Let me introduce myself; my name is Arthur..."
Akira and Zhenzhen came closer to the bonfire where everyone stood.
Akira whispered irritably.
Akira: "I swear, this knight..."
Zhenzhen gave him a slight gesture not to interrupt Arthur's introduction.
Akira: "...Fine."
Zhenzhen nodded with a polite, knowing grin.
Arthur rose to his feet.
Arthur: "...And I believe I may know where to find your acquaintance—Quasimodo, was it?"
Liza glanced at Arthur nervously, like he might be her last hope to calm Esmeralda.
Liza: "Yep, that's his name all right. I wonder how you even know who he is in the first place?"
Arthur nodded slowly.
Arthur: "Aye, I believe I met him in our knighthood realm."
Esmeralda's ghostly eyes widened.
Esmeralda: "Knighthood realm..."
Arthur: "There was a curiously enormous fellow among our knights who said it was important for him to volunteer. He was twice my size, though I never saw his face—he always wore a full plate helmet."
Esmeralda's gaze widened even further.
Arthur: "He was a giant gentleman, with a hump... a hump that prevented him from walking upright."
Esmeralda: "This... This is him... Maybe... This is him..."
Liza lit up, beaming toward both Arthur and her summoned companion.
Liza: "You bet he is! Just like Merlina said—this is destiny!"
She crossed her arms proudly across her chest.
Akira faintly snorted.
Liza caught him in the act and shot him a death glare.
Liza: "Got something to say, Senpai?"
Akira: "I hope this time Arthur actually means it—and isn't just trying to sugarcoat your manifestation, Liza."
Arthur turned to face him.
Arthur: "I understand you may not fully trust me yet, but it is not in my nature to tell lies."
Akira: "Our priority right now is waking up. Hard to tell how we're even supposed to do that, since none of our portals can reach any of our pocket planes. I wonder if we could enter the in-between planes and create a tunnel..."
Merlina cut him off with a sharp bark.
Merlina: "Don't even think about it, freshman! I still remember how we followed that idea and almost got ourselves killed!"
Akira shrugged, unfazed.
Akira: "But it worked out in the end."
Merlina narrowed her eyes at him.
Merlina: "I said forget about it."
Akira: "If you say so. I can enter it alone."
Merlina threw her hands up.
Merlina: "Oh, Allah be praised, this boy!"
Arthur: "I swear on my honour, Lady Esmeralda. I promise—once we break free from this foul place, we'll find Sir Quasimodo as soon as possible."
As he spoke, he bent the knee once more.
A glimmer of hope flashed in the ghostly green woman's eyes.
Esmeralda: "Quasimodo... Let's find him together?"
Arthur: "Aye! Knight's promise, Lady Esmeralda."
Esmeralda appeared to be charmed by Sir Arthur's noble posture and manners, as she clasped her hands in a sign of prayer, glanced at Liza once more, and faded.
Cleo blinked a few times as she returned and faced everyone. She tried to get used to the Dreamscape again by taking a short walk around.
Cleo: "Does something happen?"
Liza let out a satisfying grin.
Liza: "I promised Esmeralda we'd find her boyfriend. I mean... I hope he's her boyfriend and not just some guy she swore to strangle to death or something..."
Cleo: "Oh..."
Akira: "Yeah, and Arthur gave her a promise. I hope he is about to keep it this time."
Arthur smiled at him amicably, then vanished before Cleo.
Cleo: "Mister Akira, why are you still mad at Arthur? He did nothing wrong; it was all my will. I just want to protect you, like you protect me! I just wanted to help..."
Merlina couldn't stand her sincere little speech.
Merlina: "Oh, dear, dear."
Akira sighed.
Akira: "I mentioned it previously, Cleo, don't do anything like that again. Anything happening to you here, happening in the real world as well... with grave consequences."
Liza and Zhenzhen glanced at both of them but kept silent.
Cleo: "What do you mean, Mister Akira?"
Akira: "I wonder what do I need to do for you to stop calling me - Mister..."
He paused.
Akira: "Everything we faced so far was not just a game, Cleo. You understand it already. But... Then you will wake up, and you will realize the damage that you receive here will follow you to the real world."
Cleo glanced at him with a saintly gaze, covering half her face with one hand.
Cleo: "It's just a scratch..."
Akira: "I can't believe you, Cleo!"
In reality—or rather, in the Dreamscape—Cleo Williams stood before him, half of her pretty face marred by a massive bruise. The sight was jarring: one side of her face had been brutally damaged, nearly beyond recognition. From the corner of her small mouth, a long wound traced down to her chin. Though no longer fresh, it was still a wonder the gash hadn't split her face in two—whatever magic had mended it had worked just in time.
Akira shook his head in disbelief. He raised his hand and faced Merlina.
Akira: "Merlina, anything you can do before we wake up?"
Merlina sat in front of the magical bonfire and extended her left hand.
Merlina: "We summoned this holy circle for all of you, lad. It'll hold for a couple of days. I've done everything I could for her. I'm sorry."
She gestured toward the transparent amber dome that surrounded them. The skies above were growing darker—as it was evening in the real world—the 'evil wind' couldn't breach the magical barrier cast by Merlina and Sir Arthur.
After a moment's pause, Merlina signaled for them to gather near the fire.
Merlina: "Cheer up, children! Don't look so sad."
Akira sighed and sat down by the fire, his sword floating gently behind him.
Akira: "Easy for you to say."
Zhenzhen: "And we're not children, Lady Merlina."
Merlina: "To me, you are, laddie! Do you even know how old I am?"
Akira chuckled.
Akira: "In your cat form, you still sound like a little girl."
Merlina let out a dramatic sigh.
Merlina: "You vagabond..."
Liza also sat down, adjusting her overskirt as she settled beside them.
Liza: "Well, what are we going to do now?"
Zhenzhen: "We'll try to wake up, obviously."
Liza: "Yeah, I get it. I mean... are we even allowed to? I wonder what four-eyes and the onion boy are doing right now."
Akira: "Still fighting their way through the tunnels, probably. Something tells me they've got troubles of their own."
Liza sighed and pointed faintly at nothing in particular.
Liza: "Maybe..."
Akira raised his eyes again, glancing over at Merlina.
Akira: "Look... Merlina. You told me you'd explain more. What was that about you and Arthur being full of yourselves earlier?"
Startled, Merlina doffed her pointed hat, displaying her pale lavender hair, and placed her hat softly on the snow.
Merlina: "First of all, freshman, we weren't 'full of ourselves' like you said. Secondly..."
Akira interrupted her with a sarcastic grimace.
Akira: "Uh-huh."
Merlina: "Oh, stop it, you goblin! She's the Light of Heavens, you baboon!"
Liza blinked, confused.
Liza: "Light of what now?"
Merlina threw up her hands.
Merlina: "The Light of Heavens!"
Liza tutted.
Liza: "I get it—Light of Shmeavens. But what exactly is it?"
Merlina: "One of the few of her kind awakened like this in the Dream Realm. She's not just an awakened paladin type, Liza dear — she's immensely gifted!"
Liza glanced at Cleo.
Liza: "Wow, Cleo, did you hear that?"
Cleo hugged herself tighter, trying to hide her face behind her messy blonde hair.
Zhenzhen tossed a small stone into the magical fire, watching it disappear with a quiet spark.
Cleo sat farther away from the others, quiet. They all were, for a moment.
Akira glanced toward her. Guilt twisted in his chest—he could tell she'd pulled away mentally, distancing herself.
Akira: "I'm obviously not blaming you, Cleo. We all know you're strong. But you don't have to push yourself so hard just to protect us."
Cleo whispered softly, more to herself than anyone else.
Cleo: "It wasn't my choice to be awakened in this world, Mister Akira..."
Akira rolled his eyes and stood. He walked over and extended his hand.
Cleo looked up, hesitating. She seemed painfully shy, her shield and sword lying beside her like forgotten burdens.
Akira: "Cleo, you're our friend. I'm not saying it was your fault. And I don't want to insult Arthur either, since you trust him so much. But you've got to understand—everything we do here has consequences. Not like you didn't already know, but... let's do everything we can to be careful. Next time."
Cleo felt herself flush with embarrassment. Her golden eyes flicked up and down, unsure.
Cleo: "I..."
Liza stood too and joined them.
Liza: "Bah! Forget about drama queen Senpai! I'm with you, Cleo! Even if you go full CRAZY mode, I'll go crazy with you! Ha!"
She beamed at her with her usual radiant smile.
Zhenzhen stepped forward as well, folding his arms across his chest.
Zhenzhen: "Just like Akira said. We'll be careful next time, Cleo Williams. I don't want to lose my course mate in this frozen waste."
He gave her a warm smile.
Cleo started to cry, just a little.
Liza: "Oh, sister..."
She pulled her into a hug.
Cleo: "I'm sorry, friends."
Akira moved closer too, now standing beside her.
Akira: "Don't be like that, Cleo. We're here for you."
Merlina stood up.
Merlina: "It is time, my children. Come closer, all of you."
Liza offered her hand to Cleo and helped her up gently. Cleo gave her hand, albeit weakly.
Merlina: "Gather around the fire and hold hands—all of you. It's very important."
Akira: "What are you going to do with us?"
Merlina: "Oh, freshman, you ask like I'm some mad magician about to suck out your marrow. What Arthur and I are doing—we've done it before, with real people from your world. We're sending you back to your real bodies. You'll avoid the in-between and transcend directly. That's all."
Akira gave a brief nod.
Akira: "If you say so, Merlina."
Merlina widened her eyes, exasperated.
Merlina: "I swear, this boya, always the skeptic!"
Liza turned to Merlina with a grin.
Liza: "Mel, I forgot to mention—Cleo's one of us now!"
Merlina arched one brow, confused at first.
Merlina: "One of who...? Ah, that's what you meant."
Cleo glanced between them.
Cleo: "I told Liza I didn't even know you, Lady Merlinaza."
Merlina: "Oh, you sweet strawberry. We already know each other. We fought those scary things together. Call it a baptism of fire."
Liza gave a little hiss of excitement.
Liza: "Told ya! You're one of us now!"
Merlina chuckled.
Merlina: "One of us indeed."
She raised her hands, extending her arms toward the gathered Ars Goetians. Her palms began to glow, radiating magical light.
Merlina: "Good luck in your real world, my good friends. Return here when you're ready—all of you."
She gave Cleo one last look, her motherly smile warm and full of pride.
And right after all of them closed their eyes, they all woke up.
Akira opened his eyes with a startled gasp.
Akira: "Cleo!"
His phone started ringing the moment he awoke. He shut his eyes again, trying to reconnect with the pocket plane. The image was blurry and distant, though still lingering in his thoughts. A clearer vision pushed itself to the front of his mind, uninvited. He saw all of them standing like dolls around the fire, their eyes closed. The angle made it feel as if a hidden, magical camera was floating above them, silently capturing their bodies from above.
Akira sat on his bed, rubbing his eyes from sleep.
He slapped his forehead lightly and closed his eyes once more.
Akira: "Merlina... Merlina, do you hear me?"
Merlina stepped into the 'magical camera' angle, right where he could see her.
Merlina: "O-ho-ho! Just woke up and already missed me. What a scandalous boya!"
Akira hissed under his breath.
Akira: "I hate you, disastrous puss!"
Merlina smirked and made a face like she hadn't quite heard him.
Merlina: "You said something, freshman? Something on your mind?"
Akira opened his eyes again, still trying to talk to Merlina.
Akira: "Is everything fine there? Do you see anybody who could hurt you?"
Merlina: "I don't think so, freshman. Every last one of those creatures ran away, probably. If something began to happen, you would be the first one to know that."
Akira: "What about others? Are they woken up too?"
Merlina again faced the 'magical camera' above her.
Merlina: "I don't think so, Akira-boy... But don't be worried! They are all alive and well, I can sense it from here. Like I said, if something happens, I will tell you. I need to keep maintaining the circle, or the time of its use will be reduced to a couple of hours, and we all end up in real trouble, my boy."
Akira: "Understood, Merlina."
He paused.
Akira: "What's with this thing floating around and showing me you and our bodies in Dreamscape? I mean, it looks unnatural, the picture of my pocket plane is not as twisted as this one."
The vision in his mind appeared within a darkened circular frame, showing Merlina and the snowy realm tinted through an amber prism.
Merlina: "Ah, this... Well, it's a wisp—mine's golden, compared to Liza's green one. And smaller at that. So, if you need anything, ask, but don't expect I'm going to babysit you in the real world as well!"
Akira choked as he was receiving a punch in his gut. He mumbled.
Akira: "You got me this time, Sensei. Who babysits who, huh?"
Merlina giggled softly and gradually withdrew from the vision in Akira's mind, where spectral Ars Goetians gathered around the fire.
Akira stood up and drew the curtains aside, letting the morning light flood the room. He started dressing up, although it was still too early to go to the RIU. His mind was still on what had happened the night before—his father hunting Ota, right in Ryoto's double.
As he pulled on his pants, he glanced out the window several times. He froze, barely able to believe his eyes—snow was falling from the sky.
Akira raised an eyebrow.
Akira: "Snow in September???"
Merlina's voice echoed in his head, distant from their spiritual bodies but still reachable.
Merlina: "What did you say, freshman? I'm a little busy here."
Akira focused, projecting his thoughts strongly to reach her.
Akira's Mind: "Sorry, Merlina. Something urgent came up in the real world."
Merlina: "Ah... alright."
She sounded older than usual. Since she hadn't shifted back to her cat form, her voice lost its usual playful tone and now carried the wiser, more mature quality of her human self.
Akira decided it was best not to mention the snow falling right now. Maybe it is just a coincidence?
He scolded himself.
Akira: "Argh! I don't even want to think about this word!"
He tried to quiet his thoughts so Merlina wouldn't overhear them.
Akira's Mind: "Coincidence? No way."
Snow in some regions of the world isn't unusual, but in Japan, snowfall in September was almost impossible. Yet here it was, drifting silently down from the skies.
Akira finished dressing in his RIU male uniform, gathered his things, and muttered to himself.
Akira: "What am I supposed to wear now, if it's snowing out there—an umbrella?"
With his slim document case and phone in hand, he opened the door. As he stepped out, he hesitated, fumbling with the key as he tried to lock up.
He mumbled irritably.
Akira: "I don't know who's behind this 'frozen wasteland' nonsense, but this is the weirdest thing that's happened to me recently in the real world."
He took a breath to calm himself.
Akira's Mind: "Snow. In. September."
Merlina began to whistle in the back of his mind—a quiet, playful melody.
Akira: "Whatever. Hopefully, we'll deal with the source of this in the Dreamscape... First, I need to find Ota. But before that—an umbrella."
He descended the stairs. The usual familiar view greeted him.
Miss Mariko was watching TV near the reception desk. The funny part was that she was watching a weather broadcast with her palms crossed near her waist.
Akira: "Good morning, Miss Mariko."
He gave her a small bow as he approached.
Miss Mariko blinked in surprise, then bowed back quickly.
Miss Mariko: "Master Yamauchi! You won't believe what—"
Akira gently cut her off.
Akira: "Snow in September. I opened the curtains. Also, you've got a window right there, so... yeah."
She giggled, a little embarrassed. It was obvious he'd noticed already, but she'd still wanted to deliver the "urgent" morning news.
Akira: "Anyway, Miss Mariko, any chance you've got an umbrella I can borrow?"
Her eyes widened even more. 'Master' Yamauchi had finally asked her for something—how could she possibly refuse?
Miss Mariko: "I've got a few! Wait here, Master Yamauchi!"
With a sense of mission, she disappeared through the closet door behind the desk and quickly returned with a clear, closed plastic umbrella in her hands.
Akira took the umbrella and bowed to her again.
Akira: "Miss Mariko, you're a lifesaver. Thank you so much!"
Tears of joy seemed to roll down Miss Mariko's cheeks—yet her face remained dry. She wore only the expression of pure happiness, without a single tear.
He gave a slight shrug and smiled.
Akira: "Sorry, I've got to head to RIU."
Miss Mariko: "But it's only 6:20 A.M., Mister Yamauchi!"
Akira tilted his head, suddenly remembering he'd need to fabricate a story if he was ever going to bring Ota here—and hide him in the attic of this apartment complex.
He flinched a little, then raised a finger and said.
Akira: "I'm meeting my uncle today. We agreed to meet early this morning... Yes."
Miss Mariko: "No way—Mister Yamauchi's brother?"
Akira gave a faint nod, flashing another apologetic grin.
Akira: "Something like that—gotta go!"
He hurried off, trying to outrun the awkwardness, bolting right out of the building, leaving poor Miss Mariko behind, as if reading fortunes on coffee grounds. Did Todo Yamauchi even have a brother?
Akira dashed toward the Barghest, hoping Liza would wake up there. Near the crossing, the Black Dog cafe sign swung lightly in the breeze.
Surprisingly, Liza shut the door of the Barghest cafe right in front of him, fumbling with the keys in the doorway.
Liza: "Close, damn it!"
She kicked the door with a dull thud.
Akira could barely recognize her. She wore a small hat with two long pom-poms and a beautiful green scarf, but otherwise, she was dressed as usual, which was strange, since she was still wearing her university skirt and uniform.
She turned her head, wearing the expression of someone who sensed a person behind her—and didn't like it.
Liza's voice growled like an old biker.
Liza: "Look, pal..."
She paused. Then, facing Akira, her tone shifted dramatically back to something more feminine.
Akira: "Oh... Senpai, ha-ha. What are you doing here so early in the morning?"
She briefly paused again, but interrupted him before he could say anything else.
Liza: "BUT FORGET ABOUT THAT! Whatever happened to us last night, huh? I've never experienced anything like that before... Okay, sure, we entered that megaron-shmegaron thing together before, but above that—HOW CAN ANY OF IT POSSIBLY BE REAL? And look at that..."
She pointed up at the sky.
Liza: "SNOW IN SEPTEMBER, SENPAI! SNOW. IN. S-E-P-T-E-M-B-E-R!"
Akira sighed wearily, a grin tugging at his mouth.
Akira: "I can answer only one question at a time, Liza."
She wrinkled her cute little nose.
Liza: "You forgot to say hello!"
Akira chuckled and smiled warmly.
Akira: "Hello again, Liza..."
Liza interrupted him the moment he finished and hugged him.
Liza: "Hello, Senpai!"
She instantly released him, though she kept a firm grip on his arms.
Liza: "I can't believe we were fighting those beasts. Still feels like a freaking dream! You know that feeling—like it was just your imagination, but deep down, some part of you knows something was off about it..."
Akira smiled tiredly, nodding.
Akira: "I know exactly how it feels, Liza. And I'm sorry you're part of it now."
Liza playfully waved him off before turning back to the door, trying again to lock it.
Liza: "Forget it, Senp! Like you said, we're in this together. I wonder if it's somehow connected to the snowfall today. I mean, it's not that unusual where I come from, but still... this counts as an 'anomaly', right?"
Akira nodded again.
Akira: "Something like that. I'm fully convinced it's directly connected. Still... hard to believe we're going to confront the real 'Hades' in there."
Liza: "Bah! Some God-Shmod confronting us? No biggie, Senpai. I bet you'd just talk to him and he'd give up!"
Akira: "It's not going to be as easy as it was with Alloces, Liza."
Liza: "Still wondering what you're doing here so early this morning."
Akira: "I wanted to ask you the same thing."
Liza leaned against the door, clearly tired of fiddling with the lock.
Liza: "Well... you know I live here—I mean, spend the night. Until you invite me to your castle, ha-ha!"
Akira comically choked.
Liza: "What was that, Senpai? You're totally not about to tell a lady 'no', are you?"
Akira: "It's kind of embarrassing to even invite you to the apartment complex, Liza. It's just one small room where I live. At least you've got a proper kitchen."
Liza: "Well, yeah... and a big black sofa, by the way. Maria, let me sleep in the back after work. Until I can afford an apartment. But with rent prices in this city? That's not happening anytime soon, I think..."
Akira: "I'm actually on my way to find Ota again. He's a wanted man now—not officially, but my father wants his head on a pike. It was a good thing you weren't with us when we entered the Ryoto double."
Liza raised a brow.
Liza: "The Pops? Again? I can't believe your father would hunt down some simple beggar."
Akira: "He's an ex-official of the city, Liza."
Liza: "Well, he seemed like a good guy—the Pops, I mean. A bit crazy, though... but still a swell guy."
Akira got a little tired watching Liza struggle with the lock on her own.
Akira: "Want me to help?"
Liza tried turning the lock again, then sighed and gave up, leaving the keys inside and stepping aside to let her Senpai try.
Liza: "Be my guest. This lock is cursed!"
Merlina, from the back of his thoughts, sang softly.
Merlina: "I told you-u-u, this pla-a-a-ce is cursed!"
Akira: "Yeah, yeah—shut up already!"
Liza: "Is it Mel again? You know, I can see her now every time I close my eyes. It's so bizarre, Senpai."
Akira gave it a solid effort and finally managed to close the lock on the second try.
Liza beamed, facing him.
Liza: "Thanks!"
Akira: "You're welcome, Liza. What are you, yourself, doing so early in the morning?"
Liza: "Well, I... After yesterday... You know what happened, right? About the alcohol and all that. So then I was waking up from our crazy journey in your crazy world, and my phone was ringing loudly, so I just answered the call—and it was Maria. I promised her I'd help reorganize the trash storage behind the cafe. Also, I need to clean an area at the back of our cafe, yep."
Akira: "Understood."
Liza: "You sound like a robot just now, Senpai."
Akira smirked.
Akira: "I need to find Ota, as soon as possible, after that I could help you do what you must do, if you want me to, Liza."
Liza's eyes widened with a beaming smile.
Liza: "For real?"
Akira nodded.
Akira: "Yeah."
Liza: "Yahoo! But... Are you sure we can find him quickly?"
Akira: "It's not far away from here, but I think I know exactly the place..."