Flamira frowned as she looked at Iris and Ludmint. Those two sat too close, looks too natural. Their presence complemented each other like a real couple. Their shoulders touched; their clothes mingled. Iris should have slightly shifted her position to avoid skin contact. Flamira, an aspect of her main body, knew she was conscious about it.
Had Iris changed? Flamira suppressed her blasphemous thoughts.
“Dark clouds of rebellion cover the Tentoid Empire. This temporary peace will not last. Still, our mansion is in the territory of the Hastinda Warrior Family. Even if the war breaks out, we will not be in grave danger.”
“Who spread the rumours about the decline of the Seven Goddess Church?” Ludmint said. “Why would anyone believe such ridiculous notions?”
“Lady Ludmint, you didn’t know about the Crusade.” Artium pinched her fingers and blew at the hole between them. An illusory bubble emerged from the air. Its flickering surface depicted the map of the Sunken Dark Forest encircled by the troops of the Crusade.
Inside the vast forest, a few locations shone. They were the cave in which Iris used to live, Vilia’s grotto, the Labyrinth of Love, and a few other hideouts of the Monster Girls.
“The Sinking Dark Forest?” Ludmint’s eyes shone. She leaned toward the projection as if trying to get inside. “Why would the Churches attack a Forbidden Location? There must be some secrets behind the operation Crusade.”
“They organised an army to hunt down the hiding Monster Girls. However, midway through the Crusade, this happened.” Artium traced her index finger around the Sinking Dark Forest. A wall of light emerged and pushed back the Monster Girls and the Wild Beasts.
“A formation that could cover the entire Sinking Dark Forest? It is even larger than the Evil Punisher Grand Formation. Even the Condensation Phase Monster Girls would not be able to destroy it.”
“Indeed. We Monster Girls faltered in front of it. Our alliance quickly crumbled. It was also the time when Flamira, Serinda, and I headed out of the Sinking Dark Forest. Nevertheless, the most interesting thing has not yet happened.”
Artium gracefully bowed and left the centre of the focus as Flamira clapped her hands, then created strings of holy light, threading them into a screen depicting the past. During the escape, Flamira gazed at the sky. Clusters of energy exploded and imploded throughout the firmament, which cracked, mended, and distorted into infinite shapes.
The vision merely lasted a few seconds before crimson dye covered it. When Flamira averted her gaze, she glimpsed a few figures hovering at the centre of all chaos. Their divine presence shrouded the world, flooding the vision with all-reaching whispers.
Flamira rapidly terminated the spell. Her delicate fingers snapped the golden threads which made the screen. She trembled as the sacred energy inside her boiled, glowing golden under her skin. She almost lost control of herself.
Even Iris, behind two astral projections, shivered from the oppressive presence of the transcendent. If not for her depleting her Faith, she might have lost control once more. She channelled her Corruption Power and stabilised herself. Noticing the commotion, Ludmint also helped.
“Such divine presence. Mortality no longer bound them. They are transcendent,” Ludmint said. As the strongest, she could clearer than others feel the petrifying majesty. “That move is risky. If you terminated it slower than you did, you would have been in trouble.”
“You’ve hit the bullseye.” Flamira coughed. “I once tried to simulate their presence, but the moment I conceived one of them, they acted against me and almost materialised. Thankfully, my instinct is better than most.”
“It seems you have a handful of secrets within you, Iris.” Ludmint turned to Iris. “When will you tell me, or will I have to force it out of your mouth?”
Iris moved away from Ludmint, her hands covering her mouth. “Remember what I said?”
“I mean, please continue, Miss Flamira. I apologise for teasing your main body.” Ludmint laughed.
Flamira narrowed her eyes but decided against asking. She feared getting the wrong answer.
“So, that is why many people believe the rumours. Though we don’t know the result of the mythical battle, the implication of such a battle is already enough. The Evil Cults had struck the Church of the Seven Goddesses, and though the other Churches came to rescue, the Seven Goddess Church still suffered much damage. Even a branch of theirs got flattened.
“However, the predicted outrage did not arrive. The Church of the Seven Goddesses stayed silent. Their Holy Maiden didn’t act. In fact, she has yet to appear since.”
“What about the other forces? The rebellion will not succeed without the backing of the Secret Organisations and the nobility of the Tentoid Empire.” Ludmint clicked her tongue and then stared at Errenia. “Your name is Errenia, right? You are a daughter of the Hastinda Warrior Family, which I presume is one of the upper nobilities of The Empire; which side is your family on?”
Errenia puffed her chest and grinned. “Of course, we are on the side of Iris!”
“We are on the side of the rebellion.” Serinda giggled. “Errenia is one of the candidates for succession. If she hadn’t fallen for our charming Iris, she would have become a great Family Head. Unfortunately, she is now one of us.”
“I’m not yet the decision-maker of my family.” Errenia shook her head. “I cannot control my family. The Secret Organisations have struck a deal with us, and the Holy Bloodline has always been looking to suppress our influence.
“Moreover, the Broken Empire has put immense pressure on the Tentoid Empire. After losing one of its most important Ambassadors, it focused its attention on revenge, enabling the internal unrest to rupture. Beside the Tentoid Empire, the Ladimon Kingdom, a smaller, conservative kingdom worshipping the Goddess of Redemption, also faced immense pressure.”
Ludmint wanted to ask, but Iris covered her mouth. “What about my other clone?”
“We can’t find any hint of her existence,” Flamira said. “We’ve tried our best, but she is like us, hiding somewhere unreachable.”
Iris closed her eyes and fell silent. Flamira quietly stared at Iris. Within that stillness, they had exchanged thoughts through their contemplation. After a while, they revealed a smile, the same knowing smile.
“There is no need to keep searching. She doesn’t want us to find her just yet; you all should focus on your safety.” Iris lightly clapped her hands. “Flamira, I’ll have to trouble you to research the situation of the eastern part of the Central Continent and the sea route to the Eastern Continent. As for the rest of you, get stronger.”
Iris reached behind the screen and rummaged through her stacks of books before taking out a few condensed notes, each one for each Monster Girl, tailored made according to their speciality. She laid them in front of the projection.
By reading these notes, Flamira and others would have an easier time chasing their paths. They would no longer be unsure of their destination.
“Let me give you a welcoming gift, too.” Ludmint raised her right hand. A quill and a few pieces of yellowish papers manifested in her palm. She wrote a few paragraphs on each and labelled them with the names of Iris’s friends.
After touching up a few mistakes, she revealed the content to the projection. “Though it isn’t as comprehensive, it is as valuable. I’ve compiled a few key experiences from the Transformation Phase Monster Girls whose innate talents take similar paths as you all.”
As the Monster Girls read the content, Iris turned to Ludmint. She thought for a moment before, gritting her teeth, she made a pleading face and leaned onto Ludmint.
“Dear, where did this wondrous information come from?” Iris said. “I suppose there is also one for me . . . I’m your girlfriend, after all.”
“What . . . about mine?” Flamira said. “There is a note for Errenia, but not me? Is my constitution unlike her?”
“Do you really want to know?” Ludmint tilted her head. “Iris, you can find the experience notes within the main hideout of The Court. As for one suitable for you, we have not gotten any Transformation Phase Slime Girl before. Moreover, your type is unheard of.
“If I were to guess, you need to know others intimately to grow. As Flamira is your clone, the same principle should apply.”
“Know others . . . intimately?” Flamira blushed. “What do you mean?”
“She meant what she meant,” Iris mumbled. “I was hoping for another way, but I found none. Absorbing exotic materials isn’t good enough for us unless they contain sentiments. Holy-attribute material will help more than others, but they cannot compare to others’ touches of tenderness.”
“Impossible. Main Body, how could you have—” Flamira pursed her lips. “Have you, have you fallen?”
Serinda, Artium, and Errenia looked at each other, then at Iris. She silently tilted her head, her cheeks faintly pink. She said nothing, but her manner said everything. The guilt in her clear, modest eyes shimmered and coated her silhouette with a new kind of charm, one which, despite being a Monster Girl, could entrance even Flamira herself.
“We cannot escape our desires.” Iris glanced at Flamira. “I’ve changed, Flamira. I am not the perfection you seek. The current me is, against my previous conviction, changing. I have no excuse, and I shall not apologise.
“But I have one thing to tell you: Remember, Flamira, you are me but also not. You are Iris, but your essence is of Flamira. Do not let me restrict your freedom; you must live when I am no longer.”
As quiet greeted the projection, everyone sank into their thoughts. Even Ludmint and Artium mused over Iris’s words. For a moment, they glimpsed at another side of Iris, the side she rarely expressed.
“I understand.” Flamira smiled. Her broken smile carried with it determination. “But Iris, you are our pillars. Heavy responsibilities rest on your shoulders; Is it not irresponsible if you were to abandon everything and leave by yourself?”
“I’m merely preparing for the future. Maybe the Tentoid Empire will become the second Broken Empire, or maybe the Broken Empire will fall. In either case, we need to prepare ourselves.”
Iris was about to continue when the projection wavered. The hazy threads of starlight gradually dissipated, returning to the night sky. Iris’s Faith had been on the low since she depleted it in the Cathedral of Deliverance; it could no longer sustain the mystical projection.
Iris sighed. “My power is waning. Take good care of yourself, everyone. And you, Errenia, I’m sorry for not being there. Please don’t be too harsh on Flamira. She is someone made of my and your essence, our daughter, perhaps.”
Before Flamira could object, the projection shattered into sparkles, and the study room regained its ordinary air. Everyone blinked before eyeing Flamira, their thoughts showing on their playful gazes.
"Being a total prude" is an unfortunate inheritance. But Ludmint suddenly has a much better understanding of what's going on both in the world and with Iris. I hope she remains true.