"Is this Amphoreus? Why is it so dark and lifeless?"
Amphoreus, a realm shrouded in mystery.
Lumina, cradling the Phantylia Kitten in her arms, materialized in Amphoreus alongside Herta.
Herta, gazing at the pitch-black surroundings, immediately voiced her complaint.
"Madam Herta, are you unwell? Lygus himself explained that Amphoreus is a world of pure data. Of course there's no life here."
Lumina, overhearing Herta's remark, chuckled softly.
"Hmph. Then how do you explain this gloomy darkness?"
Herta, standing on the void, tossed her hair and surveyed the desolate landscape. "Not only is it pitch-black, but it's also in ruins."
"Could we have arrived too late?" she mused, crossing her arms. "Has Amphoreus already been destroyed, awaiting the next reincarnation?"
"I never knew Madam Herta had such a vivid imagination," Lumina remarked, amusement lacing her tone.
"Just stepped into Amphoreus and already decided everyone's fate here?" Herta remarked, her tone dry.
Hearing Herta's words, Lumina shook her head.
In the pitch-black surroundings, Lumina could sense a peculiar force infiltrating her, Herta, and the Phantylia Kitten's bodies. It was attempting to silently slip into their bodies, presumably to manipulate them in some way.
Unfortunately for the force, even if Lumina and her companions ignored it completely, it would still fail to breach their defenses. The two humans and one cat were impervious to its influence.
Yet ignoring it wasn't an option.
Lumina perceived that this force originated from a unique Rule. If left unchecked, this Rule could trigger a catastrophic event when they reached their destination—something that would jeopardize the entire Amphoreus.
Therefore, they had to intervene.
"Herta, get closer. I'm going to conjure something."
With that thought, Lumina first stroked the Phantylia Kitten in her arms with a green-glowing hand, then turned to Herta and signaled.
"What are you doing?" Herta asked, her arms instantly shifting from crossed over her chest to clasped over her shoulders, her face filled with caution.
She looked like a beautiful young woman being cornered by a lecherous old man, fearing something untoward might happen.
"?"
Watching Herta's reaction, Lumina's lips twitched, and a large question mark slowly materialized above her head.
Is it me who's the problem, or is it Herta?
I just asked her to come a little closer. Why is she being so cautious?
Does she really think I, a woman, could eat her, another woman?
Lumina silently scoffed, utterly speechless at Herta's baffling paranoia.
"What are you imagining? Amphoreus has a special [Rule]—I'm here to help you block it," Lumina rolled her eyes, gesturing impatiently for Herta to hurry over and stop dawdling.
"Hmph." Seeing Lumina roll her eyes, Herta's heart skipped a beat. With a soft huff, she obediently moved closer.
She rested her chin in Lumina's outstretched palm.
"Come on, do it," Herta urged after performing this action.
Huh?
Feeling the sensation on her palm, Lumina froze, utterly bewildered.
Girl... Are you losing it, or am I?
I just asked you to come here! The gesture with my hand was just a simple indication—I didn't ask you to press your head against it!
Why are you adding your own drama?
Lumina mentally ranted again.
But truth be told, she didn't dislike Herta's behavior...
With a slight squeeze, she pinched Herta's cheeks between her fingers, forcing her lips into a small "o" shape.
"Ahem."
Sensing Herta's sharp gaze, Lumina cleared her throat and hastily withdrew her hand.
Then, just as she had done with the Phantylia Kitten earlier, she let a green light emanate from her palm and gently brushed it across Herta's face.
"Hmm..."
"Wait, something's not right."
After performing the act, Lumina realized something was off.
Herta initiated this, so why am I retreating?
With that thought, Lumina prepared to retaliate.
"Hurry up and leave. Don't dawdle."
But before Lumina could retaliate, Herta seemed to read her mind. Just as Lumina was about to strike back, Herta strode forward, putting some distance between them, effectively stifling Lumina's rising anger.
Seeing this, Lumina, who was seething with frustration, suddenly lost her playful mood.
Yet she couldn't say or do anything.
"Sigh..."
Defeated, Lumina could only follow after her.
"Hmm?"
As she walked, feeling the warmth radiating from her chest, Lumina glanced down at the Phantylia Kitten nestled in her arms.
"?" Sensing Lumina's gaze, the Phantylia Kitten felt a sudden foreboding.
"Sorry, but you're in my arms right now," Lumina murmured softly, then pressed her hand firmly onto the Phantylia Kitten's head and began to rua it vigorously.
"Meow! Meow! Meow!"
Startled by Lumina's sudden action, the Phantylia Kitten struggled briefly before falling completely still, allowing Lumina to rua its head while radiating the colossal flame burning within its heart like a towering mountain.
Even as Lumina ruaed its head, the Phantylia Kitten remained busy, watching Madam Herta's retreating figure and piecing together what had just transpired between Herta and Lumina.
The Phantylia Kitten immediately understood.
As a Lord Ravager specializing in shattering opponents' minds and dismantling them from within, the Phantylia Kitten possessed exceptional intellect.
With just a few mental connections, it quickly grasped the entire sequence of cause and effect.
Great. You two old marrieds flirt and bicker, and I'm the one who suffers... Am I just a prop in your twisted game?
Phantylia Kitten inwardly grumbled.
She found Herta and Lumina's behavior utterly absurd, silently condemning them with fervent disapproval.
But it was all internal—silent reproaches, silent exasperation, and silent self-pity. Neither Herta nor Lumina were beings Phantylia Kitten could afford to provoke. She could only silently endure the wrath that wasn't even hers to bear...
Lumina, as her mistress, was untouchable. As for Herta, angering her was no different from angering Lumina herself.
Despite her past life as an imperious Lord Ravager, Phantylia Kitten had learned to read the room well.
Did anyone truly believe a Lord Ravager could dispense with social skills?
With an inward sigh, Phantylia Kitten snapped back to reality and began observing the Amphoreus before her.
"That familiar aura... Amphoreus? It sounds... vaguely familiar?" she murmured inwardly, ignoring the hand resting on her head.