Leo grasped the shimmering edge. The moment her fingers made contact, heat surged through her body. A tremor ran up her spine, her muscles tensing involuntarily.
"Ugh…!" Leo coughed, panic bubbling in her throat. "F-Flavia… what's happening?!"
"Don't worry," Lucillia said with serene composure. "It's normal. This gate is immensely powerful. And you… currently lack strength. Naturally, it affects you."
A thick, white mist poured from the gate, swirling around Leo as the glow enveloped her.
"Thank you… Flavia," Leo whispered softly, her hand still gripping the gate, a faint smile forming on her lips.
"Wha—?" Lucillia blinked, caught off guard.
"I said thank you," Leo repeated, her voice gentler now. "For helping me this far… I appreciate it."
"Uh… but hey!" Lucillia called just as Leo stepped forward.
Leo froze mid-step. "What?"
"Don't forget. I am a Witch. You'll have to pay me back… once you return to your original form." Lucillia's smirk turned sharp, her lips curling with a hint of mischief.
Leo wiped sweat from her brow, forcing a smile. "Hmph… hey, don't scare me like that, Flavia."
She took a deep breath, eyes narrowing, voice firm and unyielding.
"Fine. Then we'll meet again. And when we do… you will see me as Leo Julius Eros!"
Lucillia's smirk deepened.
Leo turned, her gaze locked on the radiant gate before her.
"Let's see what awaits…" she whispered, determination burning in her golden eyes.
With a resolute step, Leo crossed the threshold. The moment her foot touched the portal, the gate vanished like smoke, leaving only the faint echo of her footsteps behind.
In the Fragment World, everything was swallowed by darkness. Thin, white, glowing lines traced patterns across the ground, like veins of light struggling against an endless void. A thick, black mist clung to the air, curling around invisible shapes, hiding everything in its eerie embrace.
So… this is the Fragment World? Leo thought, her voice barely a whisper to herself. It's… so dark…
She began to walk cautiously, her boots crunching against the faintly glowing lines. Shadows danced just beyond her vision, and the mist swirled like living smoke.
"There's so much mist… I can hardly see anything," she muttered, her golden eyes scanning the oppressive darkness.
Suddenly, a cluster of seven distant lights pierced the gloom—seven soft, radiant glows, hovering like tiny suns in the mist.
"Huh? Seven glows?" Leo murmured, her heartbeat quickening. Without a second thought, she broke into a run. "Uhh… ah… it must be seven doors!" Her mind raced as her legs carried her forward.
As she drew closer, she realized each glow wasn't just a light—it was a massive mirror, framed in a gate-like structure.
"Mirrors?" she whispered, slowing her pace. They floated in the mist, spaced far apart, each one reflecting something… different.
Leo stepped in front of the nearest mirror and peered into it. Her reflection stared back—but it wasn't her current self. It was her old form… yet somehow different.
In the glass, she saw a male version of herself, sharp golden eyes blazing beneath a wavy, deep brown mullet. He wore a black coat streaked with gold, and a faint scar marred his left cheek. He was strong. Commanding. Alive in a way Leo hadn't felt in years.
"Huh!? That's… my real form! But… it looks… different…" she breathed. The reflection mimicked her every movement perfectly.
"That means… in that timeline… I'm like this. Strong," she thought, awe and hope stirring in her chest.
She glanced at the other glows, six more mirrors, each distant and mysterious. But her gaze lingered on this one. Something about it… this mirror… can break my curse. A small, excited smile tugged at her lips. The reflection's expression mirrored her own.
"But wait… how do I enter it? They're mirrors, not gates…" Leo murmured, finger pressing to her lip as she thought.
"Hmm… maybe…" she whispered. Slowly, she raised her right hand and touched the mirror. The reflection followed, its golden eyes locked on hers. Then, her finger passed through the surface.
"Huh?! Just as I thought!" Leo exclaimed, a thrill rushing through her. Her smile widened as she pushed further. The mirror rippled, inviting her in.
"YES! Then it's time to enter," she said, fists clenched with determination. With a deep breath, she stepped forward and pressed her whole body into the mirror. A blinding white slash engulfed her.
When the light faded, Leo opened her eyes.
I… I think I've arrived in that timeline…
She blinked, taking in her surroundings. Rolling green fields stretched to the horizon beneath a bright, sunny sky. Fluffy white clouds drifted lazily above, and birds darted through the warm air. Everything was alive, vibrant, peaceful.
It looks… exactly like my world, Leo thought, awe flooding her senses.
She began walking across the grass, her boots brushing against the soft earth.
"Currently… I'm outside my Kingdom," she said softly. Her eyes sparkled with hope. If this truly is another timeline… then my version… in the Shorein Kingdom… he must be here.
Her pace quickened, heart racing. A flicker of determination danced in her golden eyes. I will find him.