Outside Interference

-----Mai's POV

Watching Selene finally spending quality time with Lilith is quite a victory in my eyes. I may be stuck here, but at least I got to witness something beautiful. It does suck that they don't seem to be wanting to try out my experiment regarding Lilith's mana sealing crest, but I guess I can look for another way. Plus I don't think Selene wants me around right now judging by how happy she looks while being near her mom.

Floating out to the top of the house, I star up into the sky, wondering how to help Lilith. There is the option of using mana crystals that could help boost Lilith's current mana supply, but with that crest, it'll just suck out the mana far too quickly. Not to mention that we'd probably need a fair amount which we currently do not have. And that's not even taking into account if Lilith can even harness the mana from the crystals.

Mai: "Hah~"

?: "Wow!~ So this is where you've been hiding, Leuce!"

The sudden voice echoed in my head, attacking me with such a high pitch that causes my ears to ring. I guess she's finally found me... I know this voice all too well. I may not be able to see her, but I can guess that this isn't a bluff and that she's finally found me. I've been trying to lay low after I felt like she's searching for me, but I guess I finally slipped up.

Mai: "Took you long enough, Erytheia."

I try to communicate in the same way I did with Selene, but I actually have no idea if she can hear me. We are on different planes of reality after all. And after a few moments, it seems as though she cannot hear me. I guess that means my contact with Selene won't be spied upon, so I guess that's good news, but now this does make communicating with Erytheia a bit awkward.

Mai: "Took you long enough, Erytheia."

I say it out loud this time, knowing full well that she can hear me this time.

Erytheia: "What the hell are you doing down there?! You do realize how much stress you've put me through? Overseeing two worlds?"

Mai: "It's a long story."

Erytheia: "Are you stupid? What constitutes as "long" for us? You've been spending too much time playing down there, so hurry up!"

Heh, I guess she has a point. To us, centuries is but a tiny speck in our lives, but I guess after being stuck with Selene for all these years, I've grown accustomed to their lives and the people around them. Honestly makes me feel jealous as their time is precious, meanwhile I have no means to die, continuing to live on, for eternity.

Erytheia: "Well?!"

Mai: "I accidentally bound myself to someone. Whether I like it or not, I can't return."

Erytheia: "You?! The eldest made a blunder as stupid as that?"

Despite time meaning nothing to us, I was the first to appear. Erytheia is the youngest amongst all of us, but she's still lived for many centuries by this point. Although she still sounds just as annoying when she first appeared among us. I myself stopped counting my years after 100 centuries, but if I had to guess I'm probably around 300 now, maybe more.

Mai: "Can you stop yelling into my head?"

Erytheia: "Hahaha! Why would I do that? This is your mistake after all!"

Yeah, I want to strangle her right now if I could, but as of right now, I guess I'm just a little toy to her; a mental punching bag if you will.

Erytheia: "So how'd it happen?"

Mai: "..."

I really don't want to tell her as she'll just make fun of me, but I guess if I don't tell her, she'll just scream into my head again. Hah~

Mai: "I took an interest in a couple people here in this world. It was something that was unique, something that had never happened before. But then one of them died before I could properly see how their life would turn out. So... I stole a couple souls from your world that were fresh enough for their body."

Erytheia: "Wait. What?! And did that work?"

Mai: "It was just an experiment, so I was surprised myself that it worked. However, what I didn't foresee was me being bound to the person I saved."

Erytheia: "..."

Her silence is throwing me off, as I can just imagine what kind of face she's making, holding back all that laughter.

Mai: "I know it was a dumb mistake, but this is my current situation. Go on, you can laugh all you want."

Erytheia: "Do you know what happens when the person you're bound to dies?"

Suddenly, her tone shifted to a lot more serious tone, with her high pitched voice now lowering to a more normal one; at least coming from her. But to answer her question... To be honest, I have no idea. I did say to Selene that I'd just return to my original plane of existence just to not have her worry, but in all honesty, I have no idea.

Mai: "..."

Erytheia: "You think you'll die?"

Mai: "I don't know."

A part of me thinks that I would die, since every time Selene gets injured, I feel that pain. Which is why it worries me when she goes and gets herself into danger, potentially dying in the process. I'd say the possibility of me dying would be around 70% as a part of me believes that I will just return to how I was before.

Erytheia: "Who is it that you're bound to?"

Mai: "The white haired vampire just below me in the house."

Erytheia: "Ah, right. Your world has beings like that. Ohh~ She's cute. I can see why you wanted her to live."

Mai: "Pfft, maybe. But I did what I did because of her relationship with her mother. The human next to her."

Erytheia: "Vampires and humans..."

Mai: "Now you see why?"

Erytheia: "Nope!~ It's still ridiculous to bind yourself to someone because of that."

Figures... Yeah, binding yourself is sure to be dangerous as I've now stepped in uncharted territory, something none of us has done before. But I don't regret my decision.

Mai: "I don't regret my decision. I've gotten the chance to experience so many different things because of it. Feeling the comfort of a bed, deeper emotions, excitement, so many different things that I've never experienced before. I've even been given a name."

Erytheia: "You have a name?"

Mai: "It's Mai. Selene gave me it."

Erytheia: "And I'm guessing Selene is that vampire?"

Mai: "Correct."

It's honestly fun to catch up with my "family" like this, even if it's just Erytheia, but I honestly would've preferred anyone else. At least she's stopped yelling at me and has come to understand exactly what my situation is, so I guess that's a plus side.

Erytheia: "Hah~ But seriously. You've really put a lot of work on me."

Mai: "I'm sorry."

Erytheia: "But I have to say, looking at your physical form... You sure look different than what I imagined."

Mai: "Hehe, What did you think I looked like?"

Back before I was stuck here, none of us had a physical form, only appearing as but a mist, with our voice being the only means of communication between us. So it came as quite a shock to see me appear with this figure; not that I really mind of course. But it does make me think of what everyone else looks like. Erytheia fits the image of a small child as far as I can tell.

Erytheia: "I imagined you as a massive, burly guy, taking care of the rest of us."

Mai: "Yeah, I can see that."

Erytheia: "But this body of yours suits you just as good! You sort of look like a mother figure rather than a father figure."

Mai: "Don't tell the others though."

Erytheia: "Of course not! This is "my" secret."

Mai: "I meant about my situation here."

Erytheia: "Oh! Right. Well, I'll try and not speak it, but if the others push for an answer, then I'll have to give it."

Mai: "Very well."

I'm happy with that outcome, although it does feel weird being looked upon and not being able to see her as well. It's a bit unfair...

Mai: "Hmm~ Why not bind yourself with someone here?"

Erytheia: "Not a chance. Maybe when Selene dies and you survive, I'll consider it. But then who would look after both our worlds?"

Mai: "True, you're right. I was just imagining what your physical form would look like."

Erytheia: "Heh, Good luck with that. But I do need to focus on "our" worlds now, so I'll leave you be."

Mai: "Thank you."

I didn't hear anything else come from her after that as I just continue to lay my back down on the roof of the house, staring up at the sky, breathing in the fresh air.

Mai: "Hahhh~ Yeah... No regrets."