"Yes, dark magic is basically the start of theoretical magic. It's not entirely unstable or unknown but the mechanics around it are not as readily observable in modern life. To create it, you have to be able to understand that it exists and form it solely from that understanding."
"I see." Roko nodded, "So where light is one of the form of matter that serves as a base for reality, dark is theoretical matter that must be understood to be used. Sounds like something with infinite potential."
"That is the thinking behind the 'Infinite Dark' theory. That because dark needs to be defined, it's a magic that can do anything you define it as. Attempts to prove this theory hasn't brought much results so there's definitely SOME sort of rules to it."
"And that's when anti-matter comes into play."
"You're sharp. Yes, the best definition for the dark spell is 'matter that is not like traditionally observable matter'. That includes anti-matter which annihilates traditional matter."
"So that's why the elves had no record of this spell aside from the fact that it exists. They're closely tied to the natural elements so unnatural matter like 'dark' would possibly even be like forbidden magic to them."
"I wouldn't know anything about that." Aranea said as she quietly collapsed the black cube of dark matter between her hands back into nothing, "But that's about what I remember of dark magic."
"I'm surprised you know so much." Roko nodded, "Even the elves had trouble understanding some fundamental mechanics of magic since it was so natural to them. How'd you come to understand magic to such a level?"
"I...had a teacher."
"A teacher?" Roko asked intrigued, "Who are they? Maybe we can reunite you with them once this is all over."
Aranea looked down, the answer she wanted to give stalling at her lips and causing them to tremble slightly. Roko caught on quite quickly and responded,
"Sorry. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. Why don't you go spend some time with Corissa now? I'm sure she could use some help in the kitchen."
"Okay." Aranea nodded, "I'll see what I can do."
"You'll do fine." Roko nodded, "Don't forget your gift. You've been meaning to give it to her right?"
"Mhmm." Aranea said as she picked up a cookbook and jumped off the couch to scurry over to the door, "Bye bye!"
"Bye."
Holding her book in her arms, Aranea began the long journey down from the office at the top of M83 to the kitchen at the very bottom. It was a journey she had made many times but she was moving much faster now thanks to her spider half being free to move much more naturally. Ever since she lost her Spirit Doll it was like an immense burden she had been shouldering had finally been lifted. There were still some mental disconnects since she probably spent more time in her life inside the Spirit Doll than outside but it wasn't like she had forgotten how to walk like a spider. Still, there were some phantom sensations interfering with her bottom half that made some things slightly more difficult like walking down the stairs. Rooms and hallways were fine though. She didn't have trouble walking on them. It was walking through them that was difficult.
As Aranea walked past various Earthbounds, even as they mostly left her alone, she could catch some murmuring about her among themselves. She never dared to focus on any of the words though, their tone was enough to scare her into walking even faster past them. They weren't angry at her, no one really felt actually malicious towards her. It's just a few...disturbed whispers and slight disgust at seeing her scuttling about with her spider half in full display. Even a few kind rebels that used to greet her with wide smiles were a bit more hesitant to interact with her. Their smiles a bit smaller. But they never really rejected her. At least...not when she was around. Aranea pushed her concerns out of her mind as she arrived at the kitchen. There she met with one of the people who had never stopped smiling at her.
"Aranea!" Corissa pulled the young monster girl into another hug, "Good to see you!"
Once Corissa had her fill of the hug and let Aranea back down onto the ground, Aranea held out her gift to the princess, "Here. Present."
"Oooh, a cookbook huh?" Corissa smiled as she flipped though its pages, "Some interesting recipes. Do you want to try and make one today?"
"Okay." Aranea nodded.
"Let's see..."
Aranea waiting as Corissa continued to look through the cookbook she gave her. Corissa was such a good cook that Aranea wasn't sure if there was anything new in there for her to learn. But she seemed to be enjoying her gift regardless which was a relief. Around her were the remaining cooks who were busy making preliminary preparations for the upcoming lunch period. But what used to be friendly chefs were now regarding Aranea with skepticism. Some were just staring, curiously and a bit rudely studying her. Others were gossiping among each other. Their wariness of having a spider in the kitchen was understandable enough. But some of them were whispering about Corissa. About her audacity and favoritism and her arrogance. Aranea's name was still spoken but it was only tangential to how Corissa must believe she was so powerful because she's pretty or had a close relationship with their boss, Roko. It was one thing for people to whisper disgust behind Aranea's back. It was another for Aranea's very presence to cause others to slander her caretakers. This was new for her and this experience brought a whole new guilt to crush Aranea's heart. She wanted to do something but she didn't know what she could do. Corissa didn't seem to notice or if she did, she didn't seem to show it. This only worsened Aranea's guilt and strengthened her desire to say something but before she could decide, Corissa spoke up again,
"Alright then...how about...we make this one." Corissa said, pointing to a recipe in the book, "A gyro!"
"Huh?" Aranea blinked, her panic cut short rather abruptly so she just stammered an agreement without even really looking at the recipe.
"Gyros should be easy to make." Corissa nodded, "All we need is...your friends!"
"Wait, WHAT?!" Aranea was confused and panicked for a second until Naga and Pluteum appeared from behind some counters and walked up to her with warm smiles.
"Yo!" Pluteum waved, "Been a while."
"Firstly, I must thank you for all you did for me a few days ago." Naga said, "I don't know if there's anything I can do to repay you after all you've done."
"No no no, you don't have to thank me!" Aranea said, waving her arms in a panic before covering her face in embarrassment.
"So this is your spider form huh?" Pluteum said, shocking Aranea when she noticed him walking around to look over her monstrous half, "Super cool! These legs look sharp!"
"Sorry!" Aranea bowed, "I'll trim them immediately!"
"Wouldn't that hurt?" Pluteum said as he circled back to the front of Aranea, "I don't think your legs have nails or something."
"It's okay! I'll walk on nubs from now on!"
"You don't need to do that." Naga frowned then nudged Pluteum in the side, "Hey, be tactful."
"I am!" Pluteum said, "I think your spider form's super cool Aranea!"
"Cool?" Aranea looked up, confused.
"Yeah! You're like a human with superpowers! Beating up all the bad guys with your spider powers! And your magic!"
"I thought you hated spiders, Pluteum." Aranea said nervously, "You did run away from that spider while we were cleaning."
"That's..." Pluteum scratched his head, "I was just...copying what Medeia was doing. Y-You know how Argo's a strong rebel and he was acting scared too? We were just copying Medeia."
"Oi." Naga hissed in a not so subtle warning tone.
"What, it's true." Pluteum hissed back.
"Ahem!" Naga cleared his throat, "Regardless, we hope you'll continue to visit and play with us, Aranea."
"Are you...really not afraid of me?" Aranea asked meekly.
"Absolutely not!" the two boys responded with Naga nodding firmly and Pluteum giving her a big grin.
"...But...what about Medeia?"
"I'm glad you asked!" Naga smiled, "Let's ask her!"
"What?!" Aranea cried, panic returning all at once.
But the two boys had already run off, back behind one of the counters and what sounded like a struggle could soon be heard from around the corner.
"Wait, wait, wait, wait wait!"
"Come on Medeia!" Pluteum grunted as he tried pulling her out, "You know what you did!"
"I know! I know, I just...I'm not ready!"
"You said you WERE ready!" Naga said as he joined in on pulling Medeia out.
"No, I said I could MAYBE do it!"
"Come on, we're all friends here!"
"Are we?! I heard what you said about me, Pluteum!"
"What, that I was only copying you?"
"Yeah!"
"Well it's true! I could squash a spider on my own if I really had to!"
"Pluteum!"
"I mean, only if I really needed to!" Pluteum called from around the corner.
"That's not the issue!" Medeia hissed.
"You two can talk about it later!" Naga cried, "Just...get...out there!"
"Waaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiitttt!" Medeia cried out as she was finally dragged out from behind the counter and dragged up to Aranea.
"Come on now, apologize!" Pluteum shouted.
"I'm sorry!"
"Be specific!" Naga snapped, "And look her in the eye while you say it!"
"No please, I'm not ready!" Medeia cried, keeping her head hung low and looking at the ground.
"Oh for the love of..." Pluteum scowled and reached over to grab Medeia's head.
"Wait wait wa-"
But it was too late as Pluteum pulled her head up.
"...Huh?"
"Huh?" The two boys turned to look at Aranea who had just disappeared when she was only moments ago in front of them.
"Uhhhh..." the kids turned to look at Corissa who just smiled and pointed upwards.
Turning their heads towards the ceiling, they found Aranea clinging to the ceiling in a feat that defied logic for how big she actually way.
"AAAAAAAAAA-" Medeia let out a soulful scream, "A GIANT SPIDER!"
In her panic, Medeia managed to break free from the boys and ran off screaming in terror.
For a moment the group stood there in quiet contemplation, processing what had exactly happened. Corissa just stood there with a knowing smile before turning up to shout at Aranea, "You can come down now!"
"Whoa, cool!" Pluteum said as Aranea slowly lowered herself down on a single thread of silk.
"I knew it." Aranea sniffed, "She hates me."
"She doesn't hate you." Naga sighed, "She just...gets nervous around spiders."
"We'll get her to apologize soon!" Pluteum said confidently, "Don't worry about it!"
"She doesn't have to apologize." Aranea said, "She didn't do anything wrong."
"No, she certainly did." Naga said very sternly and firmly, "She threw a rock at our friend after she just saved our lives so she needs to apologize."
"I...I don't want to be a bother..." Aranea shifted uncomfortably.
"I'd love for us to all just get along." Corissa sighed, "But I do think Medeia should apologize first."
"I agree."
"Mr. Argo!" The boys turned around as Medeia's father walked up to their group.
"Kids." Argo nodded towards Naga and Pluteum, "I want to reprimand you all for what you did during our defensive operation. But Roko explained the situation quite well to me so as much as I want to, I can't fault you for trying to save everybody, Naga. And I certainly can't blame you, Pluteum, or Medeia for wanting to protect your friends. Again, as much as I want to. And I sincerely want to thank you Aranea-" Argo turned to the young spider girlm "-for your efforts in protecting everybody, including my dear Medeia but I'm afraid I must first apologize for my daughter's behavior. She never did like anything bug like but as accidental as her attack on you may or may not have been, it was inappropriate and I apologize on her behalf."
"O-Oh..." Aranea looked around anxiously as the grown man bowed in front of her.
"Believe me when I say I don't think Medeia truly wants to stop being friends with you." Argo said as he finally straightened up, "I hope you two can reconcile soon and I want to help with that."
Reaching into his jacket, Argo pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it to Aranea.
"What's this?" Aranea asked.
"It's my duties for the week." Argo smiled, "My Earthbound ones at any rate. Medeia will need this to properly make a schedule for me like she always does. Do me a favor and hand that over to her for me okay?"
"But..." Aranea frowned, his ploy clear for all to see.
"Please!" Argo clasped his hands together and bowed again, "I'm counting on you!"
"...Okay..."
"We'll be done with the gyros when you get back." Corissa smiled, "We'll have one extra for Medeia so be sure to bring her back okay?"
"Okay… I'm not sure where to find her though..."
Medeia was sulking on the ground not far from the sewer exit. She was waiting for her mind to punish herself and she certainly felt bad about everything but no real recourse really came to her mind. She really wanted to be friends with Aranea and she really did understand what she did wrong and felt horrible about it. But...she just couldn't handle spiders. They're so creepy and scary. All those sharp legs and some even have dangerous venom. It wasn't just spiders too. Centipedes, millipedes, roaches, even dragonflies and mantises. Any bug other than ants and butterflies caused deep seizing fright in her. It was perfectly normal, mind you! At least 25% of people have a fear of bugs just like her!
Medeia sighed. But Aranea wasn't just a bug. She was a friend. A really sensitive friend who would be too polite to confront her about her problems or even inconvenience her. That's why she tried to hide in the ceiling just now, so she wouldn't get hated. And yet she responded the way she did. It was frustrating...but even if half of her was perfectly human, her mind just cut that human half off and focus solely on the giant spider half, auto completing it into a giant monstrous spider in her imagination. Even the bravest of people would run in fear if they saw a giant spider glaring at them while drooling venom from their mouth! Not that that described Aranea any. What's that? Pluteum was okay with it? Well Pluteum was a goddamn traitor who was just pretending to be scared of spiders! He only became okay with spiders after reading more about them and thinking they were cool! Boys are always so quick to drop their prejudices once they think something's cool! Who cares about him and his stupid boy things?!
"Hey..."
Medeia looked up and alarm bells starting ringing as a tall adult was standing next to her, cloaked in a fancy mantle with a hood pulled over their head.
"Are you okay young lady?" Their voice dripped of insincere concern and magical voice distortion, "Do you want some help?"
"...Dad told me not to talk to strangers." Medeia said shortly as she stood up.
"Aw don't be like that. Why don't you come with me? I have some candy that might cheer you up."
"No thank you." Medeia turned away from the cloaked figure.
"W-Well how about some toys?"
"No thank you." Medeia replied again, more firmly as she began to walk away.
"Shoot! Alright, better use the intel then." The figure whispered to themselves before clearing their throats, "I have some medicines that can cure your fears you know."
"Really?" Medeia stopped and turned her head around, not quite believing this stranger just yet but it was enough to give pause.
"Indeed. Nightmares, vampires, snakes...even...spiders..."
The word 'spider' struck a chord in Medeia's heart. Her guilt thrashed around inside of her and thoughts of Aranea wandered about in her head.
"...It can make me not afraid of spiders?"
"Oh...most definitely..." the figure's devious smile could practically be heard from under his cloak, "You can give it a try to see if it works before buying it."
This strange merchant was definitely suspicious...but if it could help her reconcile with Aranea, it was worth a shot.
"Alright."
"Good! Come with me then..."
Taking Medeia's hand the figure began to gently guide her away.
From a block away, hiding behind a building, Aranea watched in trembling shock, "Medeia's getting kidnapped!"