[WHY DO YOU DARE TO INVADE MY WORLD!!!?] Her scream reverberated across the entirety of the realm, shaking it at its foundations. The other voices stopped whispering.
And Tanaka, he felt himself being dispersed across the void, dragged along by her scream. He was getting weaker and weaker, and he could tell that if he didn't do something quickly, he would fade away. He didn't know what would happen to him if he did, and he didn't want to know, so he quickly tried willing himself back to his body.
'Wait, why isn't it working? How do I get back to my body?' Tanaka started to panic. He could feel that he didn't have long. As he faded and faded, Tanaka's mind went blank, his fear taking over completely.
[NO!] Tanaka felt himself being revitalised as he sailed through the void, away from the other voice's scream. He would've been relieved, but he could feel that they were still connected.
[Hahahaha! Your reaction was so amusing.] Her voice now had less hostility to it, but Tanaka could still feel its coldness. 'I need to be careful around her. Maybe it would be best if I quickly found my way back.'
[Oh, come on now, don't give the silent treatment. It's been so long since I last spoke to anyone. Please?~] She seemed to speak with sincerity in her voice, but Tanaka still hesitated to respond.
[Hey mortal, it was just a prank.] She was now more annoyed. [Come on. Just forgive me already. I'll even help you find that person you were looking for.]
Tanaka perked up at that, and unable to miss out on the opportunity, he finally responded: [Can you really help me find Bell?]
[Hmm, of course. Just tell me about this Bell person's appearance, age, heck, even who Bell's parents are. Just give me as much information as you can, and I should be able to find your friend.]
[Huh? Oh, um... I don't know any of those things about him. I just know that he's a disembodied voice like you and that he knows a lot about a lot of different stuff.]
[What? Like me?] She seemed thoroughly confused by this as she went silent for a few moments.
[Mortal boy, what you-]
[Tanaka. My name's Tanaka.]
[...Oh, ok. Um, I guess I didn't introduce myself, huh.] She said [My name's Malefica Caelum, although you can just call me Mal. And regarding your friend, I think you're mistaken about something. There's no way he can be like me.]
Tanaka was shocked. 'Huh, what? But isn't he a disembodied voice like you, or are there different kinds of disembodied voices?' Tanaka thought about this but didn't ask, and just let her continue.
[You see, this realm you're in is Veilora. And what you may think of as just voices are really fallen celestials stripped of their power. And it is for this reason that your friend can't be like me.]
[Oh, is that how it works? Hmm, but I don't think Bell's a mortal like me. He spent years on Earth as a disembodied voice.] Tanaka thought deeply on the information that Mal had given him, then he remembered something, [Ah, he did mention having been to a world called Planum.]
[Planum? That's this world. Hmm? I'm afraid I can't help you, Tanaka. I don't have enough information. There are many people with the name Bell in this world.]
Tanaka felt dejected at her response. He was really hoping that he'd be able to find Bell and just go home. 'I could just ask her, right?'
[Would it be okay if I could ask you for something else then?]
[Of course.]
[Ok then.] Tanaka hesitated, still a bit wary of Mal, but continued. [Would you...happen to know a way for me to travel back to my home world?]
[Oh, that, that's easy. All you have to do is enter the star corresponding to your specific world, and voila, you're home.]
She spoke very casually, but Tanaka felt like she'd left something out of her explanation. 'Star? Does she want me to burn to death? How would I even get to a star?'
[Although...you're too weak for that, aren't you? I can tell you're a human of some kind, but the little mana you have...that's nowhere near enough. How would you get home? Maybe you could find the hero and join their party? But there's no way a hero is chosen now. The Demon Queen of Frost is still sealed...] As Mal continued to ramble on, Tanaka thought deeply about what she'd just said. Something that shook him.
'She can tell that I'm human. How?' Tanaka began to grow fearful. He started to regret coming to this place. 'Now that I think about it, she knew that I was a mortal, was completely unfazed at my being from another world and might even know the names of all the people in Planum. That's an entire world. She was even able to tell that Bell wasn't like her somehow.' Tanaka gulped. 'Who the heck have I gotten involved with?'
[Tanaka!] Mal had been trying to get Tanaka's attention for a while now.
[Huh? Oh, sorry, I was just...thinking about something.] Tanaka felt that he should be even more cautious and immediately started thinking of ways to get back to his body.
[Well, you should pay more attention, especially when I've found a way for you to get back home.]
[Wait, really!?] Tanaka quickly forgot about thinking of a way back to his body as he intensely waited for Mal's response.
[Yes! You see, whilst you might not have enough mana, there is a place you can get it.] Her voice now had a tinge of smugness to it, and Tanaka could imagine the kind of grin she might have had if she had a body. [Your Soul!]
[My what?]
[Mhmm. Someone seems to have jammed an artefact with several worlds' worth of mana. That should be more than enough to send you back to Earth.]
Tanaka froze. 'How did she figure out that I'm from Earth?' Before Tanaka could put more thought into it, he felt himself fading again, prompting him to panic.
[No!] He tried to replicate what he'd done earlier, unfortunately, however he was still fading.
[That's not going to work, sorry, hehehehe~.] Even though her voice was cheerful, Tanaka could feel a deep icy cold reverberating from them. [Now then, Mr Moyo, if you give me access to your soul, I can help you get back to your world, to your mom, to your home. Away from all the danger this world has to give.]
Even though Tanaka knew that agreeing to whatever it was that she wanted to do would probably have a negative outcome for him, he also knew that she'd probably get what she wanted regardless of whether or not he agreed.
[Fine, do whatever you want.]
[Hehehe. Don't worry, Tanaka, I'll be gentle.]
Tanaka braced himself as he felt a chill descend over him. He could feel something deep inside him, screaming. He couldn't feel any pain, but he knew that this might be the end for him. As Tanaka readied himself for the end, he felt the connection between him and Mal sever.
Snap!
Tanaka heard the sound of fingers snapping before he felt himself being dragged upwards. He rocketed at great speed, and before he knew it, he found himself back in the cave. The area around him was covered in frost. He shivered as he crawled away into the darkness, from the spot he had been sitting in, hoping to find a spot of warmth.
...
[Huh? Where'd he go?] Mal was very confused. She had entered his soul and had nearly gotten hold of the strange green stone that was there. With that stone, she knew she'd be even closer to accomplishing her goal. She would no longer cower in fear of the Absolute One. She would be able to achieve all her desires, but now she was stuck, bound to this place.
[Sigh, and to think that I was so close to freeing myself from the hero's stupid seal. I guess I'll just have to wait for my plan to unfold. Or, I could use the Earth boy in my plans.]
Mal was overjoyed as she thought over the possibilities. [Hehehehe, hahahaha!] Her laughter reverberated throughout Veilora.
[Just you wait, Tanaka! We will meet again.]