- Neri -

I'm constricted.
These creatures surround me.
Strings are wrapping around my body and binding me.
Let me go or feel my fangs!

Sccch-aaaaaaah!
Fangs!?
My fangs!?!
No, doesn't matter!
I must keep fighting.
If I don't they will kill me!

These monsters come for me!
Kill them first!
Slashing, biting, slicing.
Aaaah-scchhhhhhh!

Kill!
Kill!
Kill!

Wait, no!
No killing!
Killing is wrong!
Killing is bad!
Argh, thinking hurts!
I don't want to think!

What I want is to get rid of everything that’s in my way and get away from here with my brood!
Let me go!

These others smell of family, but they lie.
They terrify me!
They trap my brood!
They won’t leave me be!
What do they even want from me?!

"Sstk"

I was struck!
I need to defend myself or they'll kill me!
They must die first!

Die!
Die!
Die!

Urgh, whatever that was, it’s making me sluggish.

But no giving up!
End the threat!
Get out of here and escape!
I, I can't die here.
I can't let them catch me!
Not after Mum and Dad...

Mum... Dad...

Suddenly, I feel something soft on my front.
Something that won't put up much resistance to my bite.
It even wraps its thin, weak form directly in front of my fangs.
So easy to tear into.

But why do I hesitate?
I'm weakened.
I need to feast or I'll become too weak to fight these assailants.
Still, I somehow can't bring myself to bite and pump all of my venom inside this prey.

Why...not?

"Neri! Please stop! Just calm down and hear me out, please!" (?)

Huh?
That voice?

My name?
How would this creature know my name?

"Neri!" (T)

What?
Is, is that Talisa?
Nah, it can’t be.
She always calls for someone else.

"Neri!" (T)

Wait, it is her!
And she’s calling me by name, my real name!
Since when does she use my actual name!?

Huh, my name?
Right, of course I have a name.
But I'm...
I'm...
Oh my god!
I’m a s-

"Please, Neri! Come back! I want to talk more with you about humans!" (A)

Akasia?
Human?
Yes, I'm human.
At least somewhat.
Not, not just... this.

"Sister! Snap out of it! I know you can do it! I believe in you!" (M)

Hah, Masiabi.
Always so overbearingly supportive.

"I-it's okay, Neri. I don't dislike your usual form." (E)

... Guess more I can't expect from Eritu.

"Neri, just listen! You can just turn back. No need to stay like this any longer." (T)

I can?
I, I can just turn back?
I don't need to be like this?
I don't need to stay a monster!

Yes!
Yes, I want to turn back!
Make me go back!!!

Promptly, something shifts.
My legs pull back up.
It feels as if something squishy is spreading from my underside, crawling up my body.
There's a certain softness to this mass, and the surface tingles while everything seems to pull itself together.

Then something starts poking out from below me.
Are those my...
My limbs!
My human limbs are growing back!
They become bigger and bigger, while my other legs slightly retract and move further and further towards my back.

Then the crawling spreads over my head.
The tingling there grows more intense.
Something like a charge sparks there and my eyes rush open.
I become aware that I'm kneeling on the ground, with my fangs extended and these other legs still spreading from my back.

Nooo!
They’re still out!
What do I do now!?
I’m stuck like this!

These limbs begin waving wildly, keeping anyone from approaching.

"Neri! You already know what to do! You are not trapped in that form, simply put them inside!" (K)

I already know?
Oh!
Quickly hiding these fangs back inside my mouth, I then feel for the point in my back.
The strange pressure is nearly gone, making it more difficult to find the correct spot, but eventually, I manage.
Smoothly, without any pain or fuss, the legs slide comfortably into my back, and I can relax at last.

They’re finally gone!
I’m back!
I’m me again!
Which I can clearly see because I’m…naked.

Uh, now I'm panicking for entirely different reasons.
Especially, as everyone's staring at me!

"Good that it worked out. I really wouldn't have wanted to forcefully pull you out of that fit." (K)

Kyroki?
Is that her way of saying that she's glad for my sake?

"Neri! I was so worried about you!!!" (M)

Urgh, these hugs certainly become weird when I don't have anything on me.
And she neither!!!

"Pl-please, let go. I'm embarrassed and... urgh, my head hurts." (N)

"That was surely a bit much for you, Neri. But I'm so glad that you're better." (A)

Again my name.

"It's nice to see that you're alright. I, I didn't like seeing you like this. Ahh, I didn't mean your physical form! That one was really beautiful! But... not if it hurts you, Neri." (E)

Even Eritu?!

"You're all calling me Neri?" (N)

Is that okay now?

"Well, the ban is broken. Talisa used your name herself, so this means it's fine." (M)

Truly, I remember how she used it.
I look at her... uh, very mature form, that in a huge contrast averts from me like a shy maiden.

"I'm sorry." (T)

"Talisa?" (N)

"An apology?" (A)

"Wow! From Talisa?" (M)

"Sister?" (E)

"Were you bitten?" (K)

"Neri… I realize now, I put too much pressure on you. I only wanted you to get used to everything more quickly, but now I see that I was wrong to force it. Changing your name only made things worse. I, I'm a failure." (T)

Talisa a failure?
Seriously, in my view, she's like the very definition of competence.

"Don't be so hard on yourself. You tried your best!" (A)

What am I supposed to say here?
Talisa was always a bit oppressive.
However, she also took so much time to help me out.
She taught me to read and that, well okay, that weaving training was weird, but in total not too bad.

"Yes, she's right. Everything can’t always work out. Sometimes you need to adjust. And then we're all there for you! Right, Neri?" (M)

They are all there for me.
I mean, they're here right now, all for my sake.
Even Talisa didn't mean to hurt me with her actions.
Honestly, I can even stand the presence of my familiars by now.
It would be wrong to hate her just because she cares.

"You, you aren't bad, Talisa. I'm grateful for your help. I'd just wish you'd listen more often." (N)

"Yep, that would be nice." (M)

Talisa seems to think for a bit before she answers.

"I only want to keep our family together." (T)

"I know. Since mum left, you took it upon yourself to take all the responsibility. Without you we would've been in deep trouble. It was you who kept us alive." (A)

"I don't know much about this, but I can see that you're doing your best." (N)

"This is all very nice, but I'd like to mention that Neri's familiars are running wild, and she should call them back." (K)

My familiars?
Now that she said something, I can feel them.
They're almost in a frenzy.

• I'm sorry. Everything is alright. You don't need to come anymore.

It doesn't seem like they're completely satisfied with that answer, but at least they've stopped clawing their way to me.

• For real, I'm better. I'll come later.

This seems to at least have convinced them to return to their place.

"You shouldn't forget your other familiar. She was quite distraught about your emotional distress." (E)

My other familiar?
Oh!

"Oh, oh sorry, Liana! I... Did I... control you? I'm so sorry!" (N)

"I-It was nothing." (L)

Liana seems a little shy.
Maybe not afraid, but reluctant to approach me in the middle of all the others.
Then Talisa comes with a big white sheet that she probably made within the last half minute.

"Here, take this. I know how much you dislike being uncovered." (T)

That's very thoughtful of her.
Quite nice.

I wrap the sheet around me and suddenly find myself in a big group embrace, as everyone, who isn't Masiabi, seems to think that now it's appropriate with this little barrier to my naked form.

They all are very tender with me.
Some of them even shed acidic tears.
Well, foremost Masiabi is bawling her eyes out, but even Talisa seems emotionally affected.

Then there are also Akasia, Eritu.

"Better now?" (K)

...and Kyroki!?!

Whoah, this might almost be the biggest event for today.
I, I feel loved.
They care.
They truly care!

At the start, it was hard to accept this life.
I even contemplated giving up.
But I suppose I don't think so anymore.

Am I unlucky that fate brought me here of all places?
The others may all be very peculiar, but they care for me.
At least in their own way.
This much holds true.

Right now, embraced by all of my sisters who I know would fight the world for my sake...

I feel safe.

I...

"I think I'm fine." (N)