When Akirito opened his eyes, he found himself once again in Fiona's void — an endless, dreamlike realm wrapped in eerie silence.
Groaning softly, he stood up and rubbed his head. Just a few feet away, Fiona lay lazily on a velvet sofa, stretching with a yawn.
With a teasing smirk, she said,
"So, darling… you lost again, huh?"
Akirito scowled, clearly annoyed.
"Tch. I know! Shut up already! So, which genre am I going to next?"
Fiona sat up, her expression both playful and condescending.
"Still so eager to keep trying? You really don't know how to give up, do you?" she said, resting her chin on her palm.
"You can't win, darling. Just accept it~"
Akirito clenched his fist and raised his right hand defiantly.
"I will win! Even if I've lost twice already, this time I'm not backing down!"
Fiona chuckled with exaggerated amusement.
"Oooh~ so energetic. But before that... come have some tea with me."
Akirito glared.
"Who the hell wants to drink tea with you?"
Ignoring him, Fiona casually snapped her fingers. A tea table appeared out of thin air, adorned with elegant porcelain cups and a steaming teapot.
She walked over to him and, without warning, pushed him gently into one of the chairs.
"Oh, come on. Rest is good for your health."
"Agh! Why are you always forcing me?!" he protested.
She giggled softly.
"Hehe... who knows~"
Taking a seat across from him, Fiona poured tea into both cups and slid one toward him.
"Drink up. It's delicious."
Akirito narrowed his eyes.
"Hmph… did you poison it or something?"
Fiona burst into laughter.
"Oh my darling, why would I poison you? If I wanted to kill you, I'd just erase you completely."
Akirito sighed in defeat.
"Fine, whatever."
Just then, a black portal began swirling open near the table. Both of them turned to look.
"Huh? What's that?" Akirito asked.
Fiona narrowed her eyes.
"Hmm… someone's coming."
"Who!?"
From the portal emerged a girl who looked about eighteen. She wore a white and purple gothic dress, her long violet hair cascading down her back. Her red eyes were cold, emotionless, and piercing. She was short — maybe around 4'2" — with a beautiful but intimidating presence.
Akirito blinked in disbelief.
"Huh!? Who is that? Another… witch?"
Fiona stood up, waving cheerfully.
"Oh hey~ Reatherine, the Daydream Witch!"
The girl's voice was soft and deep, almost like a whisper carried by the wind.
"Hey, Diana Ross Fiona. Is that boy your guest?"
Fiona grinned.
"Guest? Oh no, no~ He's more than that. He's my rival."
Reatherine turned to Akirito, her eyes locking with his. His face tensed under her gaze.
"A mere human… your rival?" Reatherine said quietly.
"Kind of shameful, even for you."
Fiona chuckled.
"Ohoho~ Don't underestimate him just yet. He's quite the entertainment. You might enjoy him too."
Akirito's mind raced.
"What the hell...? They're both witches… and that girl — Reatherine that loli — might be on the same level as Fiona?!
Then Fiona turned to Reatherine and said,
"Well, if you want, you can join us too."
Reatherine smirked.
"Join? Heh. No thanks. I just came here to see what you're up to."
Fiona chuckled.
"Hehe, you're not my mother, so don't act like it."
Reatherine replied coolly,
"No. And we're not friends either."
Fiona laughed again, a sly smirk on her lips.
"Of course, Reatherine."
Reatherine let out a soft sigh.
"Well, I have to go."
Fiona tilted her head.
"Why so sudden?"
Reatherine answered firmly,
"Because I have something important to do. Unlike you, I don't waste time playing with humans for fun."
Fiona feigned offense.
"Oof! Talking like that in front of my rival? How bold of you."
Akirito thought to himself,
"What's going on here? I don't even understand… That girl—she seems even stronger than Fiona…"
As he stared at Reatherine, she looked back at him—eye to eye.
Her gaze was sharp, deep, and calm… like she already knew him.
She smiled.
Akirito's breath caught in his throat. Something about her shook him to his core.
Then Reatherine simply said,
"Well… goodbye."
With a swirl of shadows, she vanished through a dark portal.
Fiona huffed in annoyance.
"Ugh, that girl is so annoying."
She sat down beside Akirito and crossed her legs, smiling.
"Forget her, darling. Focus on the new genre where you have to win. You've already lost to me twice," she added with a teasing smirk.
Akirito rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, I know. So… Reatherine, is she also a witch like you?"
Fiona sipped her tea gracefully.
"Yes. Her title is Daydream Witch."
Akirito blinked.
"Daydream Witch? That sounds... peaceful, even kind."
Fiona nearly choked on her tea, then laughed.
"Hah! No, darling. She once defeated five of the strongest witches ten thousand years ago. She's a monster."
Akirito's eyes widened.
"What!? Ten thousand years ago!? Are you kidding me!?"
Fiona raised an eyebrow.
"Why so surprised? I'm over ten thousand years old too."
Akirito's body tensed.
"What the heck!? These girls aren't young… they're ancient!"
He started sweating.
Fiona leaned in with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"So what, darling~? Are you scared?"
Akirito straightened up.
"No need to panic... Stay cool..."
Then he smirked and said,
"Nope. Just impressed, old woman."
Fiona's eyes went wide.
"Old woman!? Are you serious!? I'm young and beautiful, thank you very much. You should be grateful to have tea with me!"
Akirito grimaced.
"Nah, I feel disgusted. Now back to the topic—what genre should I go to next?"
Fiona crossed her arms.
"Tch, still not giving up? Alright then… try Fantasy."
Akirito nodded.
"Fantasy, huh? Sounds good."
Fiona grinned darkly.
"Don't think fantasy is easy, though. It's not the kind of dream world your human authors write about. Hahaha!"