Thousands of kilometers away, far from any laughter or breathable atmosphere, the icy surface of Pluto stretched out like a gray desert beneath a vast, black sky. A group of astronauts, clad in white suits emblazoned with a clenched fist encircled by a crescent moon, worked on the surface. Their transparent helmets revealed focused faces, some digging into the frozen ground, others examining a rock with faintly pulsing red veins under the dim light of the distant sun.
"Any readings?" one astronaut asked, their voice crackling through the suit's radio.
"Nothing," another replied, holding a device resembling a scanner. "We'll need to use the XRF."
"Mystie, can you grab it, please?" they added, glancing at a figure moving with light, almost floating steps due to Pluto's low gravity.
Mystie waved in acknowledgment, her movements slow and graceful. She walked to the nearby landed shuttle, the metal ramp creaking under her boots. Inside the pressurized cabin, the air hummed softly. She approached a tool cabinet, retrieving a portable XRF—a compact device perfect for identifying chemical elements in rocks.
Holding the device, Mystie paused for a moment. A sigh escaped inside her helmet, briefly fogging the visor. As she turned, the pale sunlight streamed through the glass, illuminating her fair skin, her green eyes gleaming against the blue hair tied back within the suit.
"Where the hell did I end up…" she muttered, her gaze fixed on the distant sun.
Three years without setting foot on solid ground. Without seeing her friends. Without a cold beer… Homesickness tightened her chest. All because of an unexpected promotion that thrust her into space, searching for the rare "divine fragments"—legendary materials supposedly linked to the Sword of Life. Her mission, alongside the group, was to explore the solar system's edges, where magic seemed to fade, in pursuit of these precious relics.
At the shuttle's door, Mystie stopped, her eyes lost in Pluto's crystalline void. The near-absent atmosphere left the sky clear, a tapestry of unobstructed stars. Suddenly, something caught her attention. A faint purple thread, almost invisible, sliced through the darkness of space. She narrowed her eyes, activating her helmet's scanner. Her vision tinted red, but the purple streak became clearer, pulsing like a living vein.
"Mystie…?" A colleague's voice crackled through the radio, accompanied by an impatient wave.
But she didn't respond. Her helmet beeped, the display flashing: [Warning: Mana Disturbance]. Mystie's eyes widened, her heart racing. At the same instant, the alert sounded in every astronaut's helmet. They exchanged confused glances, scanning the horizon with tense expressions.
"Look!" Mystie shouted through the radio, pointing at the sky.
All followed her gesture, jaws dropping. A streak of light crossed the black sky, swift and brilliant, like a shooting star. Instinctively, they activated their helmets' mana detectors. The red-tinted vision revealed a cosmic aura enveloping the streak, a dense energy that seemed to pierce the ambient mana, forcing its way into the solar system at a terrifying speed.
"What… what the hell is that?!" an astronaut exclaimed, their voice trembling.
"I don't know, but we need to alert Central," Mystie said, already heading back into the shuttle.
"Quick, inside!" ordered Drazil, the group's eldest, his firm voice cutting through the chaos.
They crowded into the cabin, the door sealing with a hiss. Equipment hummed around them, screens flashing with data. A young astronaut with short hair sat at the control panel, fingers flying over the buttons.
"I'm launching a PEM to get a better read," he said.
An electromagnetic pulse fired from the shuttle's dome, rippling through space like an invisible echo. When it hit the object, the young astronaut leaned into a scope attached to the panel, eyes narrowing. He hesitated, his breath catching.
"It's… giving off intense mana signatures," he murmured. "But something's off. The material is… organic?"
"Organic?" Drazil, his face lined with wrinkles, pushed the colleague aside and peered through the scope. "Impossible. I've studied divine fragments my whole life. They're pure mana, nothing more."
He recalibrated the scanner, adjusting the zoom with precise clicks. After a few seconds, his expression hardened.
"My God… that's… a human body?!" he exclaimed, his voice thick with disbelief.
"A human? In space?" an astronaut asked, her tone skeptical as she raised her eyebrows.
Drazil transferred the image to the main panel screen. The quality was poor, grainy, but the outline was unmistakable: a young man, about 20 years old, with flowing black hair. He was naked, wrapped in a pulsing purple aura, hurtling through the vacuum.
"We need to rescue him!" one astronaut said, already grabbing their helmet.
"How? He's thousands of kilometers away," another retorted. "And probably not even alive."
"Doesn't matter, it's a human. Even if dead, we need to retrieve him," the first insisted, securing their helmet.
Before the argument could escalate, a commanding voice boomed through the panel. "[That won't be necessary!]"
All turned. On the screen, an officer's image appeared, but Mystie was already beside the panel, arms crossed, her expression serious.
"I said we should've alerted Central," she said, a hint of reproach in her tone.
"[With the EMP you sent, we got a partial visual. Though the quality isn't great, we've analyzed it and calculated the trajectory. Everything points to it heading straight for Earth, with impact expected in a few months]," the voice informed through the panel.
"Months?! Is that possible? It took us nearly three years to get here!" an astronaut exclaimed, stunned.
"From Pluto to Earth in so little time…" another murmured, hand covering her mouth, her face pale with shock.
"General, at that speed… will Earth withstand the damage?" Drazil asked, his voice steady but laced with concern.
"[Intelligence is working on it. I know it's sudden and abnormal, but I ask that you relax and focus on your mission! Over and out.]" The radio crackled with an abrupt ascension, the connection cutting off with a snap.
A heavy silence filled the cabin.
"He just tells us to relax after finding a human in space?" an astronaut complained, indignant.
"I still can't believe it… how is a body intact in space?" another murmured, eyes glued to the screen.
"That's the least of it," Drazil said, serious. He approached the ship's transparent dome, hand resting on the glass as he watched the streak of light vanish into the void. "A human body with such energy… this is a monumental discovery. We need to wrap up here and return to Earth immediately."
"Woo-hoo! We're gonna be famous!" Mystie shouted, throwing her arms up with a mischievous grin.
"Do you think the impact could destroy a city or something?" the female astronaut asked, her voice still shaky.
"No, they'll probably assemble mages to redirect it to the sea or some desert," another replied, adjusting a control panel.
"I hope so…" she said, her chest tight.
Mystie flopped into a chair, legs crossed, her blue hair gleaming under the cabin's lights.
"But come on, aren't you guys curious about who or what that person is?" she said, her gaze fixed on the now-dark screen.
The other astronauts exchanged glances, silence returning to the cabin. The grainy image of the young man wrapped in purple mana lingered in their minds, an unanswered question hanging in the air.
In the intelligence room, the hum of computers filled the air, mixed with the smell of cold coffee and polished metal. Screens flickered with data, displaying images of startling clarity despite the astronomical distance. At the center of one, a body floated in the vacuum: resembling a half-elf, naked, with ice-white skin and black hair with flowing streaks. But what made the agents exchange uneasy glances was the purple aura enveloping him—a dense, almost living mana, pulsing like a heart in the dark of space.
General Belial, his face etched with deep wrinkles, approached a young space reconnaissance agent. He lit a cigarette, the orange glow illuminating his eyes as he exhaled a cloud of smoke.
"So, can you explain this?" he asked, his deep voice cutting through the silence.
The young agent, caught off guard, adjusted his glasses with trembling fingers.
"W-Well… I don't know, General," he stammered. "I've never seen anything like this. With cosmic rays, an organic body should disintegrate in seconds in that scenario."
Belial raised an eyebrow, taking a drag.
"You think it could be an alien? Or alive?"
The agent gave a nervous laugh, but the General's serious gaze made him swallow hard. He adjusted his glasses again, clearing his throat.
"Haha, General… There's no evidence of alien life. Mana, essential for life's evolution, is limited to our solar system. And as for it being alive… that would be impossible. Plain and simple."
"You sure?" Belial asked, his sidelong glance piercing, the cigarette smoke curling upward.
"W-Well… yes," the agent replied, his tone less confident, his eyes darting to the screen.
Belial gave a half-smile, his expression softening for a moment.
"I think the same," he said, crushing the cigarette butt in a nearby ashtray. He turned back to the panels, the image of the elf spinning in his mind. Impossible… yet here it is.
With a firm gesture, he pointed to a secretary holding a clipboard, her impeccable bun trembling slightly as she scribbled something.
"Arrange a meeting with all the directors," he ordered. "And the marshal too. This is top priority."
"T-The marshal?!" the secretary exclaimed, her eyes wide, her pen freezing in midair.
"NOW!" Belial barked, his voice echoing through the room.
The secretary scurried off, her heels clicking down the corridor as the door slammed shut. Belial stood still, his eyes fixed on the screen. The elf's purple aura seemed to pulse in sync with his thoughts, each beat raising a question: It may not be alive, but… what the hell is all that mana?
The mountain's chill followed Yusha and Astrid to the cabin's entrance, where the snow clinging to their clothes began to melt, dripping onto the floor. They carefully removed their boots, rubbing them against a worn mat before stepping inside. The baskets full of saussureas were left by the door, their fresh scent mingling with the cabin's woody aroma. Yusha began transferring the herbs to smaller jars, her movements precise, almost mechanical.
"Okay, I'll take it from here," Yusha said, her eyes fixed on the flowers. "Go take your bath."
"Sweet!" Astrid exclaimed, her voice buzzing with excitement. She started peeling off her clothes right there, her shirt sliding off her shoulders.
"Hey, do that in the bathroom!" Yusha shouted.
Astrid laughed loudly, darting to the bathroom and leaving a trail of clothes behind. Yusha let out a long sigh, shaking her head. With a half-smile, she returned to her task, sorting the saussureas with the precision of years of practice.
Minutes later, the bathroom door opened, releasing a cloud of warm steam. Astrid emerged, her damp hair clinging to her back, her tail swaying gently. Yusha was already in the kitchen, stirring a pot. Astrid approached, the smell of herbs and meat filling the air. Yusha snapped her fingers, a blue flame flickering at the tip before igniting the stove with a touch.
Astrid paused for a moment, glancing at her own feet. A mischievous smile crossed her face. With a slight push, she began to levitate, floating toward the fridge. She opened the freezer door, her butt sticking out as she rummaged for meat, her tail swaying like a pendulum.
Yusha glanced sideways, raising an eyebrow. Astrid, with her butt in the air, was digging through the freezer.
"You gonna keep doing that all the time now?" Yusha asked, stirring the pot with a wooden spoon. "Your legs are gonna forget how to walk."
"Yup, it's fun," Astrid replied, grabbing the meat and floating back.
Yusha took the cleaver, slicing the meat into precise pieces. Astrid, still using her magic, made ingredients—onions, garlic, a jar of spices—float from the cupboard to the counter. Together, they prepared a dish that filled the cabin with a savory aroma, the food simmering in the pot.
During the meal, the wind outside grew stronger, howling against the windows. Yusha cut a piece of meat, looking at Astrid.
"So, you wanna go to the city?"
"Nope," Astrid replied, her mouth full, chewing noisily.
"And why not?" Yusha pointed her fork at her, frowning. "And eat before you talk."
Astrid swallowed, shrugging.
"It's cool that I could learn magic there and all, but I'd probably have to work to support myself, and that sounds super boring," she said, shoving another hefty piece of meat into her mouth.
Yusha stared at her, eyes narrowing in disapproval.
"My God, you're… Well, you got something wrong. You wouldn't have to work."
Astrid raised an eyebrow, confused, still chewing.
"As I said earlier," Yusha continued, "I have a friend who owes me some favors. She'll cover all your needs."
Astrid paused, meat still in her mouth. She swallowed it all at once, a faint blush creeping up her face.
"All my needs? Like... all of them?" she asked, a grin growing.
"Yes, Astrid, all your needs," Yusha explained, counting on her fingers. "Food, clothes, a place to stay." She shrugged. "Anyway, she won't judge you if, for example, you want to bring five guys to sleep with you, got it?"
Astrid nearly choked, pointing her fork at Yusha, a piece of meat dripping at the tip.
Yusha muttered to herself, hand on her chin: "Though she used to judge me… but anyway! You should go."
"H-Hey! Who said I want to sleep with five guys?!" Astrid exclaimed, her face red.
Yusha laughed, a mischievous glint in her eyes. A deep blush spread across her face, as if warm memories danced in her mind.
She rested her cheek on her hand, a teasing smile playing on her lips."You don't want to?" she said, looking up. "Well… that's because you've never tried something like that…"
"If it's all paid for, it can't be that bad…" Astrid hesitated, still flushed. "But i'm not a perv like you!"
"Geez! I don't want that kind of thing, you old perv!" Astrid shot back, turning her eyes to her plate. "I just want… just want… one person…"
Time seemed to slow. The sound of the wind, the crackle of the fireplace, Yusha's voice—all faded. Astrid looked up, confused, her heart racing. A dense, negative mist, the size of a hand, drifted through the window behind them, floating through the house. It circled Yusha, as if studying her. Astrid froze, her eyes locked on the mist. As it passed between them, something appeared—crimson eyes, deep, identical to hers, staring directly at her.
A sharp pain stabbed through her head, distorted memory fragments flashing in her mind. There was an intense familiarity, as if she knew that presence, but she couldn't place what or who it was. The idea of "having someone" hit her like a trigger, stirring something deep within.
"What's up? Got all excited about a little boyfriend, huh?" Yusha teased, laughing, pulling Astrid back to reality.
Astrid jolted in her chair, as if waking from a nightmare.
"No, I just…" she started, hand on her forehead, heart still pounding.
What… the hell was that? she thought, the crimson eyes seared into her mind. She composed herself, forcing a smile.
"Well, as I was saying, about my friend… her name's Narui, she's an Usagimimi."
"Usagimimi?" Astrid asked, still rubbing her head, her expression confused.
"Yeah, demi-humans with rabbit traits," Yusha explained.
"Oh, got it…" Astrid paused. "But why does she owe you favors? What did you do for her?"
"Er… well, that's not too important," Yusha said, looking away with an awkward smile.
Memories surfaced: the day she met Narui, a sharp, driven woman, at a shareholders' meeting. A valuable connection in society's underbelly, but with dangerous ambitions and deep resentment toward the government. Narui led a military force aiming to challenge official plans, but despite that, Yusha trusted her. Though her methods were questionable, Narui was the right person to protect Astrid's potential. She's not the best person, but she's the most reliable for this, Yusha thought.
After the meal, Yusha and Astrid went to their rooms. The cabin, originally built for one, had only a double bed. Knowing herself, Yusha had rigged two separate beds to avoid any… temptation. As midnight approached, the storm's wind now blew more calmly, accompanied by the soft crackle of the fireplace. Lying down, each sank into their thoughts.
Yusha, in bed, felt a weight in her chest. Over the years, she'd grown attached to Astrid in a way she never imagined. She wanted to stay there, with her, forever. No… I can't be that selfish, she thought, shaking her head. She still has a whole life ahead. But the idea of leaving Astrid alone, even under Narui's care, gnawed at her. Even if she's a Dagon, she's just an innocent kid… well, maybe not *that* innocent… but gentle. Too good for this cruel world.
Oh… my little Astrid, she thought with a long sigh, her eyes growing heavy. She buried her face in the pillow, her fingers sliding over her body almost instinctively, igniting a warmth in her drowsy mind. Confused, sinful images danced in her thoughts as she drifted into sleep with a depraved smile.
Astrid, meanwhile, was far from sleep. Lying on her makeshift bed, her thoughts swirled around the strange event at the table. What was that? A ghost…? The memory of the crimson eyes in the mist sent a shiver through her, but also a strange familiarity, a longing that confused her. Was it because I started using magic…? Yusha's words echoed in her mind: Mana is an element shaped by desires.
Mana is shaped by desires… she repeated mentally, her eyes widening as she recalled what she'd said before the mist appeared: I just want one person… The connection made her shudder, doubt growing like a storm.
No… Could that be possible…? I don't know… Argh, what a mess! she thought, burying her face in the pillow.
"I don't want to date a ghost," she muttered under her breath, pouting.
She turned to the ceiling, her gaze drifting to a photo on the shelf. In it, Astrid and Yusha smiled, holding a dish they'd cooked together. Should I tell Yusha…? she thought, staring at the image. No… it might worry her. She shook her head. Maybe it's not about magic or anything. Her eyes fixed on her own reflection in the photo. Maybe it's some memory from the past.
Until then, Astrid had never cared about her lost memories. Living with Yusha, carefree about the past, was enough. But that mist, those crimson eyes, had sparked something inside her. The familiarity pulled at her, like a trigger for something buried.
With her head full of doubts, she murmured, "Ugh… I need a glass of water."