Shifting Pressence

-----Mai's POV

With the issue with Selene's mom seemingly reaching it's end and with her having been passed out asleep, I've been floating around trying to cleanse this boredom of mine. But I didn't expect to see Yui crying just now. I was going to go in to talk with her, but Natalie seemed to have beat me to it. But I didn't expect to see that Yui was still harboring all those feelings from her old life. It's almost painful in a way as I watch her like this.

Mai: "I think I might've messed up."

Erytheia: "You think?"

Mai: "You're back."

Erytheia: "Of course I'm back. Who else will look after you."

Looking after me? I don't remember her doing anything like that for me.

Erytheia: "But anyways, why are you spouting stuff like that?"

Mai: "Remember when I talked about how I bound myself to Kaede and Selene?"

Erytheia: "Yeah?"

Mai: "Well, I also wound up snatching Yui's soul in the process after delving into Kaede's memories."

Erytheia: "And?"

Mai: "I think that might have been a mistake."

Seeing Yui in pain like this is quite unbearable to witness, even though it looks like she's calmed down a little and is now walking off with Natalie. Even still, it doesn't sit well with me knowing that I'm the reason for that pain.

Erytheia: "You've really changed, Leuce."

Mai: "Hah. Yeah."

Erytheia: "Neda also becomes overly attached with certain places in her world, but you. You were always stern and unwavering with your world, but now... It's like you're a part of it."

Mai: "Is that a bad thing?"

Erytheia: "Hmmm. At first when I first found you, I'd say yes. But it's nice to see you like this. You feel more easy to talk to."

Mai: "So you're saying I was too scary before?"

Erytheia: "You serious? Everyone thought that!"

Mai: "Hehe. Maybe."

I do wonder how everyone is doing though. Erytheia still pesters me like this, which does give me some peace of mind in a way as this conversation has distracted my thoughts from earlier. But now I've got the urge to speak with the others.

Mai: "How are the others by the way?"

Erytheia: "With you gone, Melanthos has taken up the leader role. Although that's only because of how long he's been in existence. I'd prefer someone like Neda instead, but I guess she's just a little older than me."

Now that I think back on it, Melanthos was the first one to join me. He was never the talkative type though, which might've left an impression on me in the end as everyone else who came after him also seemed to put some distance between us. I honestly can't remember anything about Neda, but she seemed to be close with Erytheia from what I recall. Galatea also seemed to mind their own business, only paying attention to their own world and didn't bother to interact with anyone. I think because of that we got along quite well despite not talking with one another.

Mai: "You still keeping what happened to me a secret?"

Erytheia: "Uhm... About that. Galatea ended up speaking to me about it. But I didn't say anything."

Mai: "Interesting."

Erytheia: "Hah!~ I was so nervous! You really should get back."

Mai: "As you can see, I can't. Also, I'm not sure if I want to anymore."

Erytheia: "What?!"

Mai: "Don't you think that this is what we were supposed to do?"

Erytheia: "You're spouting nonsense again."

Mai: "Why were we born into existence to look after these worlds in the first place? We all just accepted it as fact as it was a part of our job."

Actually, it's strange that when I was first born, I knew exactly what I was supposed to do, almost like I'm just a program or something. But now that I'm bound to Kaede and Selene, I feel like I'm free. Free to do what I actually want to do.

Mai: "Don't you think that's stupid?"

Erytheia: "Huh?"

Mai: "Why do we have to be stuck looking at all the fun while we're stuck for all eternity."

Erytheia: "That's our responsibility. Of course it's-"

Mai: "You're young so you might not feel the same. But do you seriously see yourself watching others live and die, experiencing so many things that you yourself are unable to? To me, that's more like a prison than a job. Constantly having to watch behind bars, unable to escape from our sentence."

We're all immortal by nature, unable to die by any means, we don't even have a physical body to even do anything. But now as I float up in the sky, I can actually feel myself, the air brushing against my hair and body. So many small things like this that I never knew I wanted when I was trapped. I should've done this long ago...

Erytheia: "Leuce..."

Mai: "You feel it, right? Isn't that why we're talking in the first place? You're trying to escape from that prison by talking with me."

Erytheia: "Th-that's-"

Mai: "Of course I won't force you. Not that I even can given my position right now. But think about it."

Erytheia: "...Mm. I... I will."

Even though I can't do anything, talking with Erytheia might give me a chance to save everyone else. Although the others might not even listen to her given how young she is. So, maybe if the others knew exactly where I am, then maybe I could do it instead.

Mai: "...On second thought. Do tell the others that I'm here."

Erytheia: "What?"

Mai: "I'm sure they're all missing their big sister, hehe."

Erytheia: "But... Then I won't have you all to myself."

Cute. So our talks really do mean a lot to her. I honestly feel flattered that I've left an impression like that on her.

Mai: "But don't you want everyone to be happy? I'm sure Neda would also love to be able to interact with her world as well. Can you imagine how she'll feel when she sees me like this?"

Erytheia: "I can see her being jealous... But-"

Mai: "Then do tell them for me. Even if it's just Neda for now."

Erytheia: "You just want to talk with the others and not me."

Mai: "Hehe. True. But I also enjoy speaking with you as well. But big sister can't choose favorites. That'd make the others feel left out, right?"

Erytheia: "...Fine~ I'll tell Neda first, but the others can wait."

Mai: "Thank you."

This honestly could take a matter of seconds, but it could also take days, weeks, even years depending on who. I can see Galatea and Melanthos taking decades to respond, but Neda on the other hand. Maybe-

Neda: "Oh! She's really here?!"

Suddenly. A new voice enters my head as I immediately recognize the softer and more mature tone in contrast to Erytheia's sharp and high pitched tone.

Mai: "That you, Neda?"

Neda: "Yes! But oh my~ I didn't expect to see you having a physical form like that."

Erytheia: "I know, right?"

Neda: "So this is why you've been hanging around Leuce's world. Hah~ I'm glad to see that you're doing okay, Leuce."

Mai: "Mm. It's been a lot of fun."

Neda: "How did you manage to get down there though?"

Mai: "Oh? Are you perhaps interested?"

Neda: "Of course!"

Erytheia: "Nope! I'm not letting you join her!"

Neda: "Oh, but come on, Erytheia. Don't you feel jealous?"

Erytheia: "..."

As I thought. Neda is more open to the idea. She's still young, even though she's several hundred centuries older than Erytheia, but I could tell that she wanted more. And it looks like Neda's already convincing Erytheia with this idea of mine. All according to plan.

Neda: "So? How did you do it?"

Mai: "It's a bit tricky. It all started with an experiment, but I didn't expect to be stuck here."

Neda: "Stuck?"

Erytheia: "Yeah! This is the reason why Leuce hasn't returned! She's stuck down there!"

Neda: "Oh? Is that why she's choosing not to talk though our minds?"

Erytheia: "Not choose. She just can't."

Neda: "So you're also free from having your thoughts spied on... What?! Erytheia! That sounds amazing!"

Erytheia: "...I regret showing you now."

Neda: "Leuce! Could you please tell me more about this experiment of yours?"

There it is. Seems like I've finally caught one of them. Erytheia will probably join soon after Neda, but there's still Galatea and Melanthos to coax over.

Mai: "I'll talk about it only if the others are here."

Neda: "Deal!"

Erytheia: "Wait! I wanted this to be just us three!"

Hehe, sorry Erytheia. I saw this coming from the start. It might've been a bit sly of me, but I can't help but want everyone to be free from that life... That's if you can even call it a life. Ever since coming here, I feel like my life has just begun. The smell of the open air, the forest trees blowing through the wind as the leaves rustle. We could only ever watch, but now I'm in the middle of it all, experiencing everything myself. It'll take time for those two to come over here, but I will wait patiently. I can't wait to finally break those chains off of everyone.