It was a momentary lapse in judgement...

This was the first time the Museum Manager, who dealt with keeping the remains of very historical remains of Beasts had heard such a phrase, but what he experienced could be summarised as just that. Nothing more nor nothing less.

Why didn't he, Spencer Blanche, Manager of the largest Museum of Lancia, feel the least bit guilty after being tempted by the Mirror Religion? He felt like Gaia herself would mock him for his weak will.

If it wasn't for the riling speech the Grand Hero had made yesterday, perhaps he would've been tempted by the promise of a new experience unlike the things his ancestors had all gone through.

Hah... He didn't want to think about it any further than he has to. Now, it was back to business as usual. He oversaw the Janitors of this place while making sure the large, serpentine skeletal remains in this Museum weren't damaged by anyone.

The man had a lot to do in order to make up for the few days he had left this place unattended.

He knew well of the significance of a Museum and wanted to fulfil his role with great precision.

Everything must be in order... That's what he thought as he reopened the place. He let in Artists and those interested in these ominous records of past events, which were admittedly too few...

This time, he didn't feel too bad though.

He was well-aware that despite not feel valued enough sometimes, his role was special.

There had to be someone managing this Museum, or else...

Suddenly, he heard a rustling sound before someone landed inside the unguarded Museum with a thump. Spencer knew quite well who this mysterious intruder that disturbed him while he was working overtime was... unfortunately.

He sighed with a helpless expression on his face:

"Jasmine, the front door is unlocked and right-bloody-there. Why come through the window?"

"It's more exhilarating this way~" The twin-tailed woman laughed. She lifted her head in pride.

Spencer looked a little like this: (-_-|||)

His eyes narrowed and was wondering why he had to put up with this. The man had enough of this...

He seriously felt like he should have a good talk to this fiancé of his about the importance of coming through the front door. She couldn't be acting like a child forever... Especially in these circumstances.

"Why not sit down?" Though the man eventually just decided to humour her for the sake of convenience. There wasn't a problem with her attitude so long as no one was hurt by it.

"No need. We need to talk...!" Her smile vanished as the temperamental woman stepped on the marble floor. Her eyes slowly turned fiercer with each step, almost as if she would swallow him up.

"...What?"

"You know exactly 'what'."

"Tch, I've been enlightened once again. Don't even think I'll ever enter the Mirror Religion. I'm serious."

"I am as well..." She made a dark face, but was unable to hide her anxiousness as she ran her finger through one of her twin-tails. She started to feel a little frustrated that he didn't understand her.

"What's so great about being a Grave Keeper?"

"I'm a Museum Manager."

"Same thing. All you do is look after useless old corpses of creatures no one wants to remember."

"You can always leave if you want? I'm not forcing you to visit everyday." This answer made her even more irritated. She didn't know what to do about his dismissive attitude; about their relationship.

"Your 'Role' has no meaning!" This cry of her's made his eyes narrow.

Spencer stared at her angrily.

"...Everything has meaning. Even death would have meaning to it." He repeated the words of the Grand Hero that had moved many to return to the side of the Luminous Religion. These simple words deeply resonated with people of Gaia and their way of life.

Gaia Humans had a reason for their existence in this world. They may seem inconsequential, but everyone in the Human Empire believed that their Roles were just as important as one another.

The harmonious atmosphere between people is what initially made people accidentally fall for temptations of doing more than they were responsible for. Creating peaceful relationships with Beasts weren't in their job descriptions!

Spencer expected his words to persuade his fiancé out of her foolishness, but she didn't relent.

There was an unusual smile on her face...

One that he had never seen on her face before.

What's this?

"Heh, you actually believe that?" She expressed an unusual amount of cynicism towards his answer...

"I do... Is there any reason I shouldn't believe these words?" Spencer uncomfortably took a step back.

"We could stay together forever if you come to the Mirror Sanctuary, rather than living a lie."

"The Grand Hero spoke no lies." His words were like a full-stop that ended the whole conversation.

He didn't want to talk nonsense with her.

Jasmine also sensed that he didn't want to speak any further, but didn't give up on him whatsoever.

She turned her head to look at the two enormous serpent skeletons at the centre of the Museum with a deep look. The girl strolled towards it to look at the description written on about the remain:

{Gorgon Sisters- Stheno and Euryale.

Had died by the hands of their youngest sister, the Space Imperial, Medusa, and is a symbol of the very real dangers concerning Ragnarock.}

"Do you believe in 'Ragnarock'?"

"Who knows..." Spencer didn't give a definitive answer. He sat down on some steps behind him.

The interior of the Museum was made to allow guests to relax as they were looking at fossils.

There wasn't anyone who didn't the rumours of the Space Imperial. After all, Medusa could be seen from anywhere in this world just by looking at the eastern skies. The gigantic, serpentine woman petrified in stone had stayed there for many years.

Not much was known about her except that she was the former Ruler of all Beasts... just like how the Time Imperial was the humanity's Ruler. It was well-known that their empire's Royalty regularly renewed the 'Time Seal' to keep her petrified.

Not many were sure how, but the fact that the ordinarily immortal Rulers, who would live forever so long as they aren't killed, always fell ill after renewing the Seal meant a lot to them.

The citizens of the Ruling Kingdom were extremely grateful for every Ruler who saw the end of their lives from saving them...

It was hard to repay this dept.

Anyways, Ragnarock was a term used for 'The End of the World'. From fearing the Space Imperial breaking out of her restraints and destroying the world. No one would be able to resist her at all...

"This Museum is meant to give people warnings using events of the past, but you don't believe them?" The mysterious woman mocked him for his hypocrisy. Wasn't this proving his job was useless?

"We all live in the forever present. If it has yet to happen, then it probably won't any time soon."

"That's an odd thing to say for someone who takes care of a Museum." The woman caught on quickly.

"Is it...?"

"You say there is a meaning to everything, but no one seems to find meaning in the past or future."

"There isn't a reason to do so. It's best to focus on our current Roles." Was his own weak argument...

He too noticed the inherent contradiction, but there was no such thing as a world without some hypocrisies. There weren't many people who found joy in looking at events or people from the past.

"So you don't find meaning in our past?" These words made him realise he had spoken carelessly.

"It isn't like that."

"Liar..."

"Jasmine." He walked out up her and hugged her from behind, which surprised her a little.

"You know I love you." He continued to speak sweet words into her ear, making her blush a bit.

"I know..." Her hand touched the arms that embraced her: "...I'm just torn about this."

"About what?"

"There used to be a time where we could say we knew each other well when we were kids.

We used to say dumb stuff like it's 'because we love each other' that we both liked the same things.

That feeling of knowing you... I miss it a lot."

"Don't... We still know each other. In fact, we know each other even better now." Spencer comforted her with even sweeter words. They were lies she wanted to believe, but knew they weren't true.

"Do you know me better? Do you ever feel like we can read each other the same way as before?"

"We were kids back then. The only reason we were able to guess each other's thoughts was because children are simple. We also liked the same things back then, so there wasn't much to think about."

"...Forget it. Get off." Jasmine swiftly pushed him to escape out of his embrace, turning to look at him.

"Are you going to leave...?" He asked her softly.

"You said that I didn't have to stay." She brought up the words Spencer now regretted saying to her.

"Hah... I can't understand you."

"You would... if you only became an Inner Member like me. We would feel 'oneness' inside us again."

"Oneness?"

"I mean a clear sense of unity."

"I am told that it's brainwashing... and that there is a dark history behind the Mirror Religion. I don't want to get on the Church's bad side." Though Holy Knights were friendly to civilians, they were a lot more brutal towards what was deemed as 'Evil'.

Even if the 'moral greyness' that has been introduced in recent fiction asks Gaia Humans to have bigger hearts and wider perspectives, it still isn't widely accepted in the hearts of the people.

The Museum Manager knew that if it wasn't for the Royal Family standing up for the Mirror Religion and giving them protection, the citizens of the Human Empire might have cooperated to impart justice on these suspicious people fighting The Church.

"I am NOT brainwashed."

"Evil Attribute Spell Slots never know what kind of scheme can be lurking behind behind them giving out free Spells. Trusting people is fine, but people connected with Demons are always up to no good."

"So is that how you see me...?"

"You know that's not what I mean." Spencer grabbed her shoulders and spoke to her clearly.

"Who knows...? I can't read your mind." She shifted her gaze to the side to avoid eye-contact with him.

"Please just trust me."

"Then trust me first."

"Why do you HAVE TO join them?! Haven't you heard what the Grand Hero told us? They're the strange ones!" He still vividly remembered Brandon Volts and how much they should distrust the Mirror Religion. He really wanted her to come back to him.

It was at that point that the atmosphere changed...

"'We' are not strange." Her words caused him to stop holding her shoulders and take a step back.

"What did you just-"

"'We' are not evil."

"You..." Spencer's heartbeat sped up.

He felt something was off about the current her...

"'We' are the reflections." She lifted her head to show the lifeless eyes of a puppet momentarily.

"Jasmine."

"What's wrong? You look like you just saw a monster." She asked as he still staggered back.

"..." Spencer's face was pale. He lowered his head and found it hard to look into those creepy eyes...

"Can you still say that you love me and understand me like you did before? Next time, give me a good answer." Was the last thing his lover spoke. She vanished in a streak of light out the way she came in, leaving only silence behind in her wake.

Spencer didn't know what to answer after seeing that foreign look on her face. He felt like his childhood friend became a mystery ever since she entered the Mirror Religion, and he didn't know how he could split her from that damn Cult...!

Meanwhile, Jasmine didn't seem to be outwardly show her inner chaos. She met up with others.

Outside the Museum was an middle-aged man with a youthful glimmer in his eyes as he spoke to her:

"So things didn't work out."

"Are you happy about it?" His words triggered her bottled up fury, then he suddenly found a sword touching his neck. He knew she was in a volatile state right now after being rejected by her lover.

"There isn't a point in putting your sword next to my neck without feeling any urge to kill, Weapon Mistress." The middle-aged man pinched the edge of the blade pointed towards him and put it down.

"Beast Master, don't get too full of yourself just because you've always had the Lord's favour."

"I won't~ I'm more of a gentleman than that stupid Elemental Master and scary Law Mistress."

"Are you here to drag me back?" Jasmine had went against their great Lord's advice not to come here.

"You haven't done anything wrong. The Lord is just worried about your broken heart, is all. You won't get soft, right?" Beast Master's disgustingly fake smile looked down on the woman in an eerie way.

"I won't. My fiancé is an indoors person, so he won't get caught up in 'it'." She shook her head.

"That's great~ Follow me." The middle-aged man then straight to business as he took her along.

The day was just starting after midnight, and there was a lot to do before morning for others came.

Brandon was about to get a headache...