111 Unannounced Fate

"Grimhild you're back!" Alice was on her hands and knees, panicking until she saw the face of the emotionless witch. She smiled in relief, shouting "I thought the worst happened to you!" She stood up and hugged Grimhild around the waist, nearly crushing her backside.

"…I handled that situation you asked for." (Grimhild)

"Yeah, I can tell! The voices are gone from my head all of a sudden! I can't hear them communicating with me!" (Alice)

The witch lifted the scythe above her head and watched it slowly fade away, "I won't speak of what happened, but let's just say… they won't be causing you any more trouble." The Captain smiled smugly, dusting her hands off before re-summoning [Savedesba] into her hand, "But it's now safe to use your abilities." Pointing the edge of the blade at Alice, a misty aura ejected from its exterior, slowly seeping into Alice's body.

"Woah… I feel everything returning back to me. You really kept my powers sealed away, didn't you?" (Alice)

"Of course I did. [Savedesba] not only takes away your magic and abilities, but it saps biological functions as well." Grimhild turned around and made her way back to the cafeteria, "Now then, let's finish lunch before the teachers get suspicious."

"Hold on a second, Grimhild!" Alice extended her arms forward, tugging on the captain's coat.

"…What is it now?!" Grimhild turned around with a weary expression but suddenly widened her eyes the moment she gazed upon Alice.

She appeared to be… crying.

"T-Thank you… So much for that! You have no idea… how much it means to me. All my life, I was a nobody. Everyone hated me, despised me… and called me horrible things. Not once in my life has someone stood up for me, and would go to such lengths to make me happy." Alice tilted down her head, sniffling through her nose as she wiped her eyes with her sleeve.

"…Alice." A look of pity warped the witch's face as she approached the crying girl, wrapping her arms around their torso, and hugging them tightly. "You're a strong girl."

Grimhild whispered into her ear, caressing their hair.

Alice stopped her crying, looking at Grimhild as her chin rested against their shoulder.

"You've been through so much, I can tell that you have. I lived longer than you can imagine, so I can spot every minute detail, and see the body language you express. I know it's been hard for you, that's why I'm here for you." (Grimhild)

"G-Grimhild… I…I…" (Alice)

"You don't have to worry about anything. I'm here to protect you, to the very end. We have each other's back, so don't feel lonely and isolated."

Alice sniffled through her nose, nodding her head, "Y-Yes… I hear you, Grimhild. Thank you… for saying that, and for being here with me."

"…Of course." She pulled away from Alice, patting her head, "I may not experience emotions currently, but I know what they're like, and how they affect an individual."

"You don't… experience emotions?" (Alice)

"That's a story for another day." Grimhild smiled, brushing Alice's hair to the side, "Now let's return to the cafeteria."

"O-Oh.. right!" (Alice)

Grimhild Yorgana, known as the Witch of Justice, lived more than 900 million years. Perhaps longer than that. She created the folklore of duality magic, during the age of legends. She's dedicated her life to research and learning new magic. She defeated beings that were deemed impossible at her level.

She was an unstoppable force… but her power defied the order of the world. Not only that of Yggdrasil but even that of the Root World.

With her power alone, she sealed off the Humus from intervening with the Oceanic Abyss and other World Seeds.

Such a thing was impossible, yet she made it possible.

It is said that Everland's desire to stop Orcus was the cause for the Eleven Kabbalah coming into being. She believed that a fairy, giant, elf, witch, human, dragon, god, and demon would defeat the Godhead, Orcus, himself.

But Grimhild Yorgana seems independent from the group.

No matter how many times she dies, the world will restart to give her another chance.

Is it from fate?

Destiny?

Perhaps something more complex?

What was Grimhild Yorgana hiding from the world?

What was she hiding from everyone?!

Her feats of defeating powerful entities, and destroying what needs to be destroyed. She keeps it all hidden.

Grimhild was an anomaly, that not even Orcus could grasp.

***

Elizabeth and Pippy expressed their love for one another. They embraced each other, held each other's hands, and even gazed into one another's eyes.

They were madly in love, however, their heated atmosphere broke apart the moment the demon on the ground spoke, "Elizabeth… you… foolish little girl, have that fairy finish me off already."

Pippy and Liz glanced at Belphegor on the ground. A piercing hole was still inside her gut, holding it with her hand, unable to heal from Excalibur.

"You called yourself, Belphegor, right?" Elizabeth stood up from the ground, marching towards the demon, scowling at her.

"Yes. You don't remember me, I took away your memories of our interactions…" (Belphegor)

"Why would you do something so foolish like that?! If I remember you then maybe we wouldn't be in this mess!" Liz balled up her fists, stomping her right leg forward, "Honestly, I thought demons were supposed to be smart!"

"Hahahaha! How would you know? We demons were wiped out in the mystic age! The only thing you humans can know about us is from baseless rumors." (Belphegor)

"Then… how did you survive the extinction?" Elizabeth tilted her head to the side, confused.

"During our era of extinction… I escaped from the witches and hid in the bodies of other humans who possessed no Mana, known as Non-Mana Borns. They're a rarity, but it is a must to use their bodies because touching one with mana will corrupt them with incurable diseases." (Belphegor)

"You've been hiding all this time in other people, and used my body the moment I was born?! Is that it?" (Belphegor)

"Yes…" The demon lowered its head, "I'm certain you want to kill me for that reason, that's why… I accept my death. End me here and now, for using you against your will."

"Nah, it's okay. You know, you should've just asked!" (Elizabeth)

"…?" Belphegor lifted their head at the cheesing Elizabeth.

"I wouldn't mind if you needed to use my body to survive! You could've just waited until I was older and asked me! I wouldn't have minded, yah know?! Besides, I think it's cool to have a demon living inside of me! It makes me feel powerful." Elizabeth flexed her muscles and gave a playful wink at the demon.

"…Human, are you some airheaded fool?" (Belphegor)

"Nuh-uh. I just know how it is trying to survive out there, definitely if you're hated by a large group of people. I would've protected you and kept you hidden. There was no reason to erase my memories out of fear and anxiety. I bet you did that because you were afraid I would tell someone, huh? Hehehe!" (Elizabeth)

Belphegor was too stunned to speak. She could only stare at the girl… then show her shadowy smile.

"I suppose… that is true. I've been growing up with you ever since you were a baby, I should've known better." (Belphegor)

"You really should've. Jeez, what type of person do you think I am, some evil mastermind?!" (Elizabeth)

"Well, if Elizabeth is fine with the demon staying alive, then Pippy is fine as well!" (Pippy)

"Alright! 100 points for Pippy!!" Elizabeth lifted her arms into the air, excited as she jumped up and down, "Grudges are for losers! Forgiveness is where it's at! This is why I love you Pippy!" (Elizabeth)

The elf would suddenly blush before puffing out his chest.

"P-Pippy is always forgiving!" (Pippy)

That's a lie. He only forgave the demon because Elizabeth did.

"Tsk, tsk tsk. Rebelling against your own mother, when you know your crime against our family, Elizabeth." (???)

Standing in a hole in the wall, a man slowly approached them from afar.

"F-Father?!" (Elizabeth)

"I have to say, I'm impressed. You managed to defeat your mother out of all people with no magic, or perhaps, was it these fools who did it?!" (???)

"Father… please let me talk! Mom gave me no chance to explain myself, you're reasonable, right?!" Liz ran in front of Pippy, extending her arms to the side.

"Reasonable?" The Rozenheart stopped in front of Elizabeth, slowly removing his glasses from his face, "Define reasonable, you insolent child."

"Father… please listen to your one and only daughter!" (Elizabeth)

"Enough excuses. You brought enough shame to our family's reputation! It's time I settle matters with my own hands!" (???)

A magical aura emitted from the man's body as it expanded in a fifty-meter radius.

It was mana. So much mana that it could cause Stage Three Mana Cancer, however, mages with the same amount of mana as their opponent could resist its effects, or if they were Non-Mana Borns.

Elizabeth, Pippy, and Belphegor remained fine.

Even to such a powerful aura.

"I see you two are powerful, next to my useless child. Very well then, I'll eliminate you both first." (???)