...No, considering it was the Witch King's melody, it's not too surprising that it would have such an effect.
However... soul exchange, such a technique can actually be realized.
Noah quickly realized what had happened. If she had now become Maria, then the one in her own body... was probably Maria herself. Strictly speaking, Stone source art involving souls seemed to have always remained in legend, but considering this was the Witch King's sorcery, the Witch King's melody, it wasn't so strange that it could cause such an effect.
No wonder she could see things and walk; it turned out this wasn't her body at all.
All that joy for nothing...
Noah's inner heaviness lasted only a few seconds. Soon, she put the matter aside for the time being. She was more worried about Maria now, after all, her own body was in terrible shape, and Noah didn't want Maria to continue enduring the pain she had always endured. She leaned against the wall and walked towards her room, but perhaps because she was too hasty and hadn't gotten used to walking yet, after only a few steps, she stumbled and fell directly to the ground.
"...Ouch..." This fall was not light, startling Zofia, who was following behind her. Zofia quickly stepped forward to help Noah up.
"Don't push yourself so hard right after recovering..." Zofia said helplessly. "You look just like that child Noah now."
"...You guessed right." Noah pouted. "I am Noah."
"What are you talking about?" Zofia patted Noah's head. "You look like Maria no matter how I see it."
"It only looks that way. In reality, Noah Guillerette is already inside." Noah shook her head. "We swapped bodies, so now I'm really worried about Maria's situation—"
"…Eh?" Zofia blinked. "That's not funny."
"I'm not joking," Noah replied bluntly. "Maria must be in a lot of pain right now… after all, she has to experience the same thing as me… it's all my fault."
"…" Zofia suddenly brought down a hand chop on Noah's head without warning. "Don't take all the blame on yourself. How is it your fault? Did you want to swap bodies? Although I still think it's a bit far-fetched… but if we really did swap bodies, then it's not your fault. It's just an accident."
"Let's go check on Maria's situation first…" Noah was stunned for a moment, then shifted her gaze helplessly. "This is no laughing matter."
With Zofia's support, Noah finally arrived at her room. Seeing Kuro standing beside the bed, she felt an inexplicable sense of relief. Then she walked to the side of her own bed, looking at herself still in a deep sleep, and a strange feeling suddenly came over her. From this perspective, she looked just like a sleeping beauty. So this is how she had grown up.
She had seen herself in the mirror before, but she hadn't fully matured then. Now she definitely looked much better than in the past…
Ah, this isn't the time to be critiquing herself.
Noah reached out and touched her own forehead. It wasn't hot, there was no fever, and her body seemed to be undamaged. It appeared that Dustworld Sound hadn't caused any physical harm. That's right, she wasn't experiencing any strange symptoms while using Maria's body either, which meant this might just be a simple soul swap? Could they switch back?
If possible, Noah didn't want Maria to endure the same pain as her.
And she was already content with seeing the world once, even if she had to change back…
Change back…
Noah instinctively clenched her fists. Did she have to return to that dark world? It was a darkness like an eternal night. She had spent a long time accepting the fact that she had lost her sight, but now she hesitated because she had seen the world again through Maria's eyes.
Noah's struggle lasted only a moment. Soon, she forced herself to unclench her fists, then stroked the face of the 'Noah' in front of her. "Don't worry, I'll take care of everything."
Something she couldn't even accept herself… how could she let Maria, whom she considered her sister, endure it?
If that were the case, could she still be called… her sister?
"Kuro, where's the music box?" She regained her usual calm and turned to ask, "You must have retrieved the music box, right?"
"…Huh?" Kuro looked at Maria, whose expression was somewhat different from usual, and frowned. "Miss Maria, how did you know about the music box's existence…?"
"I am Noah, Noah Guillerette." Staring at Maria's face, Noah gently touched her chest. "Although I know it might be hard for you to believe, I am Noah. I'm just temporarily occupying Maria's body. I need the Dustworld Sound from the music box to switch us back."
"Noah." Kuro observed Maria, whose temperament was distinctly different. Indeed, the aura Maria was now emitting was exactly like Noah's. As Noah's long-time bodyguard, Kuro carefully observed and noticed that Maria's every little habit was exactly like Noah's, such as the small gesture of clenching her skirt when nervous. However, Kuro thought for a moment, then spoke.
"…I'm sorry, the Dustworld Sound in the music box has disappeared." Kuro took out the music box and placed it in front of Noah. Indeed, it was empty.
But that was Dustworld Sound; it shouldn't have disappeared so silently. Since only she and Maria were within the vibrating range at the time, then…
Noah turned her head and looked at the sleeping 'Noah.' If she wasn't mistaken… the Dustworld Sound should be inside her own body's head.
Noah reached out, trying to sense the presence of Dustworld Sound, but after all, this body wasn't hers, and she wasn't used to using it yet. After closing her eyes and sensing for a long time, she could only sigh and withdraw her hand.
"…I can't feel anything…" Noah was a bit unwilling. Why was this happening… that she and Maria would swap bodies.
Maria… if she knew she had entered the body of a disabled person, she would definitely be very upset…
Noah felt a chill run through her body at the thought of this possibility… If she could, she really didn't want Maria to suffer the same fate as her.
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