The scene shifted from the guild's sterile nursery to the warm, noisy interior of a small tavern nestled in a bustling corner of Arcadia. The air was thick with the smell of roasted meat and ale. Shiro pushed a piece of stewed tuber around his wooden bowl, his expression sour.
"Cheer up," Rael said, his trademark grin firmly in place. "You didn't actually die from the mission briefing. Though your fainting was a nice dramatic touch."
Before Shiro could retort, the tavern door opened, and a figure in the refined robes of the Royal Council stepped in. It was Hikaru. He slid into their booth, his expression grave.
"The disturbance we sensed has a locus," Hikaru began without preamble, lowering his voice. "The Royal Palace itself. We believe the remnants of the Cursed Doll's energy, or perhaps its creator, have infiltrated the highest levels."
Shiro groaned. "Let me guess. Another monster to punch?"
"Not exactly," Hikaru said, placing two intricately drawn scrolls on the table. Each was inscribed with a complex, shimmering magic circle. "Infiltration. You two are going undercover. These are Soul Transition circles. They will alter your appearance on a fundamental level, making you unrecognizable to any magical scan."
Shiro picked one up, examining it with deep skepticism. "They gave us two magic circles," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Wow. I feel so much safer."
Rael snatched the other scroll, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "No, this is something better. A classic!"
"Doesn't look it," Shiro grumbled.
"Behold!" Rael declared, unrolling the scroll. It glowed with a brilliant white light, enveloping him. When the light faded, Rael was gone. In his place sat a woman with sharp, intelligent eyes and dark hair tied in an elegant braid. The grin, however, was unmistakably Rael's.
Shiro stared, his jaw slack. "What kind of cheap trick is this... AH! WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?!"
He looked down at himself. The Soul Transition had taken hold. His frame was shorter, softer. His hands were wrinkled, his back slightly hunched. He caught his reflection in a polished metal tankard: he was an old woman, a granny with a shock of grey hair and a deeply unimpressed scowl.
"I look like an old hag!" Shiro screeched, his voice now a higher, raspy octave.
Rael—now in his female form—tilted his head. "I think it looks fine. Very distinguished."
"Undo this right now so I can punch you!" Shiro demanded, shaking a frail-looking fist.
Rael just threw his head back and laughed, a surprisingly melodic sound.
Hikaru cleared his throat. "But you still need a royal pass to enter the palace grounds."
Shiro turned his furious gaze on the councilman. "Ain't you gonna give us the royal pass, then?"
Rael waved a hand dismissively. "Well..."
Hikaru stood, a faint smile on his lips. "No, that's for you to acquire. I have other business to attend to. Good luck." And with that, he was gone.
Rael shrugged. "Well, I guess we're gonna give up."
Shiro, now Eunice, narrowed his elderly eyes. "Not quite."
The scene shifted to the opulent main gate of the Royal Palace of Arcadia. Two figures approached: a sharp-faced woman and a hunched old granny.
Rael walked with a confident sway. Shiro, however, shuffled his feet, muttering under his breath. (Why am I doing this??? This is the most undignified mission in the history of... everything.)
They were greeted by Prince Kai himself, a young man with a warm but weary smile. "Welcome! You must be the renowned twin sisters, Rael and Eunice, here to consult on our architectural stability."
Shiro (Eunice) shot a look at his partner. (Why is Rael using his real name?!)
"Indeed, Your Highness," Rael said with a graceful bow, which Shiro clumsily attempted to mimic.
Inside the Royal Coronation Hall, a grand feast was underway. They were seated at a lavish table laden with food. Shiro (Eunice), his metabolism screaming from his earlier battles, immediately began devouring a platter of roasted meat with a speed and ferocity that belied his frail form. The royal chef watched from the kitchen doorway, his face a mask of terror and awe.
Two well-meaning courtiers approached and handed Shiro a linen napkin. He grunted, snatching it and roughly wiping his greasy mouth.
Rael leaned over, his smile sweet but his voice a deadly whisper. "Hey. You forgot to say thank you."
"So what?" Shiro grumbled. The two courtiers looked heartbroken, their chivalrous gesture seemingly rejected.
Rael's smile didn't falter as he brought his heel down sharply on Shiro's foot under the table. "Say. Thank you," he repeated, his eyes promising immense pain.
Shiro forced a grotesque smile onto his wrinkled face. "Thank you," he said, the words strained and overly formal. The two men smiled dreamily and promptly fainted.
Flustered, Shiro got up and stalked toward the hall. As he walked, a man, emboldened by wine, slid a hand onto his—her—buttock. Shiro's forced smile returned as he spun around and drove a surprisingly powerful fist into the man's face, sending him sprawling.
As he returned to the coronation hall, his eyes fell upon Zuzu and Luna, the daughter of the palace, both wearing breathtakingly beautiful dresses.
"Damn," Rael whistled appreciatively.
(Why this time? And why am I here again?) Shiro lamented internally.
Zuzu and Luna glided over. "You must be the special guests, Eunice and Rael, am I right?" Luna said, her voice like chiming bells. "Yes... welcome."
"Thank you," Rael said with perfect courtesy.
Shiro (Eunice) just nodded. "Yeah. What she said."
Rael reached over and gave him a sharp thump on the head.
Luna's gaze, however, lingered on Shiro. She stepped closer, her head tilted. "Don't I know you from somewhere?"
Shiro puffed out his chest—a disconcerting gesture on the old woman's body. "That's because I'm well known. Architecturally."
"Hmm," Luna murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Come on, Luna, let's go," Zuzu said, tugging her friend's arm.
"Okay," Luna said, though she cast one last, suspicious look over her shoulder as they walked away.
Shiro let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. "That was close."
"You almost blew our cover, you oaf," Rael hissed.
Their cover, however, was about to become the least of their problems. As they entered the main hall, a wave of corrupted energy washed over them. There, standing amidst the panicked nobility, was Nihilastra—or what was left of him. His eyes glowed with the same familiar purple haze, his body moving with jerky, unnatural motions. Behind him, a massive, shadowy giant made of corrupted energy began to form, its sightless gaze turning toward Prince Kai.
"Rael!" Shiro yelled.