“Are you staring at Marco Souza again, Sis?”

Amelia blinked like waking up from a dream. “No, I’m not,” she whispered with closed teeth.

“Yeah, right,” Marissa said, grimacing. “I just want to know what makes him so interesting.”

“Okay, fine. I fancy him a little, okay? It’s just that, I’ve noticed he’s been acting a little distant lately.”

“Maybe because he broke up with Astrid.”

Amelia’s eyes widened. “How do you know that? Wait, more importantly, were they dating?”

“In secret, yeah. Helen told me.”

“You spend a lot of time with that gal.”

“Our Classes are alike after all,” Marissa shrugged while munching on her french fries. “So, do you like admiring his sulky, broken heart expression so much?”

Maybe.

By that time, I hadn't spoken to him that much, besides the occasional formal conversation or the casual good morning or good night. So I approached him with the excuse to learn more about mana management, of which he was an expert. Not only was he the most powerful mage of our guild, but he also was a charismatic leader.

Those days, Astrid Bradford had been absent a lot, and Marco stepped up and helped us with whatever we needed. I even remember the day we won a regional 5 vs 5 tournament without Astrid’s help.

Marco was an inspiration for all of us… And I fell for him so easily. So I was not that different from most of the other girls in the mage division.

But no matter how provocatively I dressed, or how much I stared deep into his eyes when we talked… He never looked in my direction.

Which was okay for me.

"Amelia, if I ever decided to quit this guild and start again, would you follow me?"

"Of course, Marco! You’re the leader Astrid always dreamed of being. Just say the day and I'll pack my things right away."

"You're too kind to me. If luck smiles at us, I'll even give you the Co-leader position."

Which he did, kind of. When neither Astrid nor Marco were around, I gave the orders, ignoring Tamara's concerns. But in that short time, I learned something about myself… I didn't like being in the spotlight that much. The pressure was overwhelming, and being hated by the other women in the guild took a toll on me.

I preferred training and perfecting my spells to help Marco achieve his dreams, and one day, beat that blonde bitch's ass in front of him.

Then YOU showed up.

With your meek face and innocent-looking green eyes.

No matter how many times I killed you in the PVP arena, you kept standing defiantly, and it drove me crazy! Was it your pride that didn't let you surrender? Your naivety?! Astrid's excuse that you were in a coma was too convenient! But the fact that she defended you was worth noticing. Maybe you were more than met the eye?

It didn't matter, for I would never see you again, or that’s what I thought.

"Oh, Marco, that you’re finally here feels like a dream come true, don't you think?"

"I feel the same way, Kathleen. Thanks for receiving us."

"It was just a matter of time, I told you that. Well, let's get down to business, shall we? Out of all the people that followed you, could you please list the names of those you consider being your top five?"

"You mean the most useful?"

"Yes, please. Kasumi, take note."

“Yes, ma’am.

“Let’s see…”

That day, I was drooling with anticipation. After creating a fire-constructed spider, and sent it to that room to spy, I eagerly awaited for him to commend me in front of Kathleen Maher. This may not have been his original plan of starting anew, but I respected his decision. He clearly knew was he was doing.

“Okay, here we go,” he said softly. “William Myers, the best Tank you’ll ever see. He could even withstand a fight against you know who. Matthew Bernstein, a very reliable healer. The guy has saved my ass so many times. Jason Foreman, expert Support. That guy knows the perfect timing to use buffs and debuffs. Karen Svensson, a marksman. I have never seen her miss a shot. And last, Faiza Khalil, a mage. That girl is a quick learner. She can perform any new spell just by seeing it once.”

Wait… what?

“So are those your proteges, Marco?”

“Yes, give them a proper welcome later, please. Oh, by the way. Could I ask you a favor?”

“Anything, my dear.”

“All of them can take care of themselves, but I’m concerned about Jason. Someone may come for his neck."

“I’ll send someone to make him company then.”

“I’ll appreciate it.”

From my place in the bar area, I remotely destroyed the spy spider before gulping on my drink.

Did I… made the right choice?

I wasn’t needed in Death Bringers, and I couldn’t return to Shooting Stars...

I… had nothing left.

Then you showed up, AGAIN, with your groundless positivity. I hated your guts at that moment. You treated it all as a joke! Did you have time to flirt with me before entering into the wolf’s maw?! Why did you have that much energy?! We humiliated you! You were the reason Astrid’s guild crumbled! Why were you standing up?!

And why did I develop an interest to understand that looney head of yours?!

Why did it make me so happy that you stood your ground against Marco?! Why was I rooting for you?!

When you finally cut your ties with Astrid Bradford, I knew you were devastated, and the only thing I could think of was to comfort you… But why?!

You were a nobody! An unlucky loser that got behind everyone else! Yes… a victim… And unfortunate soul…

I knew there was something else… Marco had hinted about it. To satiate my curiosity, I made a deal with you. I would help you for as long as possible until you bored me. Yes, I was using you just to pass the time!

But… then I learned what truly happened to you, about your self-sacrifice, about the many things you did for the well-being of everyone onboard… And I hated myself for the way I treated you… For the way everyone judged you from the very moment they saw you… And I especially hated Astrid for letting you go. I also hated you for being so naïve. That you were to save us all with that pathetic level of yours and an AI that doesn’t fully understand humans?

Don’t make me laugh!

You needed help; you needed me!

And I also needed you...

“Unfortunately, I think I have reached my limit…” she said, watching the giant black beast, once immune to her attacks, suddenly contort in agony. Nice timing, Ashley… She smiled faintly. “Catch me, Alan,” she said through Party Chat, losing consciousness and falling 400 feet down.

“Amelia!” Alan cried, running to aid her. Dammit, the Fire Boost her clone gave to me ran out some time ago. “Aaron! Help me save her!”

“Throw the Slime, Alan, it will do the rest!”

Slime? Alan then noticed the extra weight on his right shoulder, where Sloochie was squeaking to also save its master. “I’ve forgotten about you, little pal!” He grabbed it and threw it with all of his might. “Save her, Sloochie!”

The Slime calculated that it would not get in time, so it spat a basic burst of fire to impulse itself forward, then inflated itself until reaching 15 feet wide in a second.

Amelia landed on it, and the Slime’s body acted as a gelatinous pool. When Alan finally reached them, he submerged inside and took her in his arms while Sloochie deflated.

“You’re full of surprises, Sloochie!”

The Slime squeaked at him. “Kuh-kyuuu!”

“Alan, is she alright?!” Clara cried, rushing to their side to check her. “Don’t worry, she only fainted. She worked so hard to protect us.”

“Yeah,” he said, staring at her sleepy face, covered by droplets of lime.

Alan stared at the distance, with no sight of the giant monster.

“Clara, take care of her.”

“Are you going after the enemy? But I won’t be able to continue recor--!” It only took a glance at his determined eyes for her to nod. “Understood. Go.”

He ran to the deep of the forest surrounding Unus Town, verifying that Ashley was still online.

***

I should have known better. From the very moment I noticed that she was immune to the process, I should have retreated. 0Was my human side at fault? Am I making the same mistakes as Scarlett?

“Maybe a human symbiosis may be detrimental for Us the machines, after all,” Serenity said aloud, lying on the floor, hearing footsteps behind her.

“That statement may be correct.” Ashley strolled to her with a blank expression on her face. The fire-constructed bow that the Amelia’s clone had made for her could be detached and transform into double blades, which Ashley used to cut the enemy’s legs. The weapons vanished seconds after.

Serenity turned around, panting, to watch her prosecutor in the eyes. “Y-you have a Passive Skill that l-lets you detect life forms, right? It seems that your h-human host was perfect to fight m-me.”

“It was a coincidence. But thanks to Alan Warden I could use it to its full potential.”

“Oh, yes, I meet him,” Serenity said, struggling to form a smile. “What a guy! Is that the savior you’ve chosen, mother?”

Isabella II crouched beside her. “Why are you calling me that?”

“It is just my new human side influencing me.”

“Despite that, your assertion is incorrect. Neither I nor my Original are…”

“That you have been repurposed and reset does not change a thing! You still are, despite technicalities, Our ‘mother’.”

“I have not come to discuss such banalities with you.” Isabella II reached out a hand to grab Serenity by the chin. “Unique Skill, Duality.” Her digital mind read the gathered information in a heartbeat. “There is something here quite useful, thanks.”

“What?”

“Major Dark Conjure, Slumbermare.” Isabella II examined the constant flow of data, all of it in binary code. These are not human memories. This is something that only another machine could interpret...

After failing to take control of the ship and Isabella’s mainframe, you escaped to the cryo chambers and caused a power shortage for 10 seconds so that We could not know in which cryopod you were hiding. What is this? A simple copy command? You could not possibly multiply all your data in such a brief…

“There are more of you,” Ashley muttered, meeting Serenity’s troubled gaze. “Five main instances of The Singular entered The Novus.”

My lack of mana did not allow me to see further into the host's memories.

“Ashley! Are you okay?!” Alan called through Party Chat.

“Yes. I have secured the enemy.”

“Hang in there, I brought an Administrator with me. She will be able to restrain her!”

“Understood. I will wait for you.”

Serenity, who stood silent for a moment, suddenly grinned. “Why do you act so cold, mother? In a very inhuman way. Did you shut off your host’s mind?”

It was necessary. A human mind would have only gotten in the way.

Ashley’s silence seemed to give her the answer. “You did!” Serenity cried, laughing. “That’s just typical mother.”

Ashley put a hand on Serenity’s mouth and pushed her to the ground. “If I’m as cold as you say, why do I find your voice annoying?”

The sound of something approaching jolted her. Ashley equipped her own bow and cautiously looked at her surroundings, using her Passive Skill.

There is something nearby, but it vanished. Like if it knew I would not get taken by surprise and activated a hiding skill.

The last thing Ashley saw was an enormous silhouette falling over her.