After Hinami returned to China and withdrew from her program, only Arianne remained in the Philippines.
Not to study.
Not to socialize.
But to understand the mystery that clung to Anathasia.
The same mystery that had shattered Mei. The calmest, most rational among them, right before their eyes.
Arianne stood alone on the balcony of her seaside residence. Waves rolled endlessly below, white foam breaking against dark rock as the sea wind brushed against her skin. She reached up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze fixed on the horizon.
"I just need to understand what you really are…" she whispered.
"Anathasia."
—
Two days later
After class
Arianne, Kyle, and Anathasia filed out of the lecture hall together.
"I swear, Professor Wang is just out to get me at this point…" Anathasia muttered, rubbing her temple. "Like, seriously. Just because I missed four deadlines doesn't mean I'm innately lazy."
She scoffed, crossing her arms as she walked beside Kyle.
"It's kind of your fault he keeps finding new ways to poke you," Kyle replied calmly.
"I remind you to finish your work days before the deadlines. I'm almost amazed you still miss them despite that."
He sighed, shaking his head.
"It's gotten so bad I sound like your mom."
On Kyle's left, Arianne let out a small chuckle as she listened.
"Well, Anathasia does seem like she's quite the free—"
"How's it going, y'all?"
A familiar voice cut her off. Noah jogged up from behind, slightly out of breath as he stopped beside them.
"Seriously…" he started, glaring at both of them. "You two said we'd eat out after class, and you didn't even wait for me, you jerks."
Kyle just smiled. Anathasia mirrored him and casually rested a hand on Noah's shoulder.
"You're an athlete, right? Catching up to us should be easy."
She tilted her head, smiling sweetly.
Arianne watched quietly as Anathasia ducked behind Kyle, still teasing Noah.
She's just the same as always…
I'll uncover everything today.
Then I'll go back to Mei and Hinami once I do.
"Arianne?" Kyle suddenly said, glancing at her while holding Anathasia's face in place as she tried to bite Noah.
This time, Noah was the one hiding behind Kyle.
"You're spacing out. Is something wrong?"
?! Was I—?
Arianne quickly composed herself, her expression softening into a polite smile.
He's sharp. I was sure I didn't let it show.
"No, not at all. It's just… you three seem quite close, don't you?"
Kyle blinked, surprised.
"Well… Noah and I have known each other for years."
He released Anathasia, who finally stopped her feral attempts to bite Noah.
He grabbed Noah by the shoulders and turned him toward Arianne.
"Noah, this is Arianne—"
"I know who she is," Noah interrupted flatly.
"Who wouldn't? Arianne Auclait. Future Matriarch of the Auclait Royalty of France. Also a Fleur-de-lis model, right?"
He pulled Kyle's hands off him and bowed.
"Noah Dela Vega. It's a pleasure."
Behind him, Kyle and Anathasia exchanged looks that screamed shameless.
They leaned together, whispering just loudly enough to be heard.
"He's totally trying, isn't he?"
"Yeah… but aiming that far out of his league?"
"Hey, everyone's allowed to dream."
Noah's eyebrow twitched.
"You two realize we can hear you, right?"
"That's the point," Anathasia replied cheerfully.
Noah froze.
Anathasia just smiled.
—
After a short walk towards the family restaurant they agreed to eat on, the group eventually reached their destination.
The glass doors opened quietly as Kyle gently pushed it open, letting the other three enter first before proceeding to find their own table.
[Kyle.]
Anathasia's voice slid into his mind as they took their seats.
[Keep her busy with Noah. I'll handle the rest.]
Kyle glanced at her, a quiet unease creeping up his spine.
[Anathasia… you're not planning on—]
[Breaking her mind?
No. I already planted the preparatory seeds. Everything will be fine.]
She gave him a small thumbs-up.
[Seeds?]
[Information manipulation layered with perception manipulation. My official files, remember?]
Kyle swallowed.
[And you know what my other form does. Mortals can't comprehend it. If they stare too long… they break.]
A chill crept through him.
[So what does that mean for Arianne?]
[Just enough for her to realize there are things people shouldn't know. Then I erase the memory.]
Anathasia glanced at him, smiling softly as she slipped her fingers between his under the table.
[Don't worry. I won't do anything drastic.]
"So," Anathasia said aloud, her smile never wavering, "what does everyone feel like ordering?"
[I will send Arianne's consciousness to a dimension I create, and I will deal with her there.]
"Saucy ones sound nice," Noah said, "but I'll stick with the chicken inasal."
Arianne continued scanning the menu, oblivious. Anathasia flipped through hers as well, as if nothing were amiss.
Kyle's grip on her hand tightened.
[What… do you mean by that?]
"I think I'll go with fried chicken," Anathasia said casually, turning to him. "And some rice. What about you?"
Kyle hesitated before forcing a smile.
"I'll just get whatever you're having. Same price, y'know?"
"Alrighty then."
She raised her hand to call the server over, beginning to list their orders while Noah and Arianne remained completely unaware of what was about to happen.
[I will forcibly remove her consciousness from her body while leaving just enough for basic autonomy,]
Anathasia continued softly in his mind.
[When I'm done, she'll only feel like something is missing.]
"Mhm… this one, and this one as well," she said aloud, pointing at the menu.
[Just like what I did to you,] she added gently,
[when you first saw me as the First Outer God.]
—
Minutes later, their orders finally arrived. Kyle himself tried to stay calm, knowing well that Arianne's fate was already sealed.
As the server set the food gently on their table, Kyle simply stared at the dishes.
[Anathasia,] he whispered in his mind. [What exactly will happen to Arianne…?]
Anathasia on the other hand, just casually served some rice on her plate then at Kyle's like normal. Then proceeding to place a few pieces of fries chicken on the side.
[I won't remove who she is, only the memory of seeing the me as the First Outer God.]
She casually continued bantering with Noah and Arianne across from her.
[I know what I'm about to do is a complete violation of her existence… but that doesn't change the fact that she could end up just like Marianne if we don't give her a reason to stop.]
[This won't… ruin her life retroactively, right?]
Anathasia didn't answer immediately.
She only smiled at him.
Soft. Gentle.
The kind of smile meant for someone you love. Even as she prepared to commit an existential atrocity.
[It won't. Just trust me. I rarely fail. Remember?]
Kyle said nothing.
And once again, he was forced to remember something he tried not to think about:
that no matter how much influence he had over Anathasia…
the choice was always hers.
He was the only one she would never let fall.
Everyone else was optional.
———
Why am I suddenly feeling cold…?
Arianne pulled her cardigan tighter around her shoulders as she began to eat. Her gaze kept drifting back to Anathasia, quiet, measured, searching.
There's really… nothing…
How? Why…? Was Mei overreacting?
Her knife paused halfway through cutting the meat.
That's impossible… Mei would never—
She looked at Anathasia again.
And then—
The world went grey.