CHAPTER 26: ???
Makina hadn't moved for a long time.
The space around her was calm, carefully maintained—like a room holding its breath.
"…You're watching again," she murmured.
Something warm answered.
A woman's presence settled beside her, familiar and gentle.
[Always.]
Makina let out a tired smile.
"…Figures."
The warmth lingered.
Then—
[One of his seals has lifted.]
Makina's smile vanished.
"…Which one?"
A brief pause.
[My seal.]
[The one placed before birth.]
Makina's fingers tightened.
"…Already?"
Makina hugged her arms.
"That seal was layered during gestation," she whispered.
"He shouldn't have reached it yet."
The woman's presence moved closer.
[He didn't break it.]
[He grew until it could no longer hold him.]
Makina closed her eyes.
"…How long has he been training?"
[Long enough to matter.]
The silence deepened.
Then—
Reality stuttered.
Not violently.
Not loudly.
Just… wrong, chaotic.
[oh—]
[oh that's BAD]
[or good?]
[no no no DEFINITELY good—]
[wait wait sixteen??]
[ONLY THOUSAND?]
[HAHAHAHA—]
Makina winced.
"…Please lower your voice."
[I'M WHISPERING]
[THIS IS MY WHISPER]
[he wasn't supposed to TOUCH that yet—]
[—but "I" did]
[and "I" did it SLOWLY]
The woman's presence stiffened.
[Control yourself.]
The chaotic being said
[why?]
[seals are supposed to be tight]
[his are… slipping]
[that's adorable]
Makina stood up.
"…You shaped his body."
The noise twisted.
[yes yes yes]
[but I didn't touch the seals]
[those were yours]
[and hers]
[and those old man's—]
The vast silence pressed down again.
Unmoving.
Observing.
Makina swallowed.
"…If another seal loosens—"
The woman answered immediately.
[Then the balance changes.]
The noise hummed.
[exactly!]
[which is why we should—]
[—TEST! IT!]
Makina shook her head.
"…No."
[relax relax]
[not breaking]
[just tapping]
[a trial]
[small]
[quiet]
[see how the seals respond —]
The woman turned cold.
[He is not a toy.]
A pause.
Then—
[…maybe not.]
[…but he is INTERESTING.]
A presence a man like a light said
"Do as your please"
another an old man with a gray beard, wearing a dark suit and bowler hat, and holding an umbrella
[I have no objection. I'll just observe it]
and they all gone back to their own place
Silence returned.
Makina spoke softly to the woman's presence.
"…He doesn't remember me, right?"
The woman said
[No.]
"…Good."
Far away—
Jay set breakfast on the table.
Unaware—
That one seal had already lifted,
And something chaotic was already itching to poke it.