Akira: "Merlina!.."
He dodged a fireball cast by a blazing gargoyle.
Akira raised his sword again, glanced at Merlina while fending off multiple enemies.
Akira: "Merlina, focus!"
He blocked a few attacks without breaking stride.
Akira: "We had no time to awaken Liza right now!"
Merlina flitted around Liza like a gust-blown flame, then glanced back at Akira. They were in the thick of battle.
Merlina: "What do you mean we have 'no time', freshman? The ONLY ONE who needs to CALM DOWN here is our friend here..."
Liza sobbed, sitting on her knees, hugging herself tightly.
With a look of puppy-like innocence, Merlina responded to Liza once more.
Merlina: "Liza dear - stop crying, please."
Liza's crying was almost comical.
Liza: "But I don't understand what's going on, these demons-they are going to eat us!!!"
She sobbed again.
Merlina: "What am I supposed to do with you, my child?"
Merlina, in her cat form, gently eyed Liza.
Akira: "I will hold them as long as I can, Merlina..."
He dodged another fireball.
Akira: "But you know I can't play cross-dimensional squirrel forever, cat!"
Merlina glanced at him, then turned back to Liza.
Merlina: "You see, dear, he's got this under control."
Liza wiped her nose, still sniffling.
Liza: "Who are you people, anyway?"
Merlina: "I assumed you already knew Akira, sweetie."
Liza: "I thought I knew him... until today."
Liza looked at Akira once more.
He was fighting furiously, trying his very best to protect them.
Liza made a quick sniff.
Liza: "I have to help him somehow, right?"
Merlina: "Oh, forget this rumbling beaver, dear, he manages it without us - even if we decide to help him!"
Liza: "But he's doing his best for us. We should do something, right?"
Merlina: "You are an absolute sugar, my dear, for a witch, that is."
Liza: "I don't understand - you keep calling me a witch, but I'm no witch, magic kitty!"
Merlina muttered under her breath.
Merlina: "Magic kitty this, magic kitty that... This girly, I swear..."
Liza: "I don't even know how I ended up here!"
With a quiet sigh, Merlina began explaining their current situation to Liza.
Merlina: "This is the Dreamscape, dear—a place where anything's possible. Like a magic world... except we can all perish if we don't deal with those gargoyles."
Akira: "Merlina - any resistance spells please..."
Merlina: "Here you go - fire shield. And don't you ever tell me I am-no source of UNLIMITED assistance, boya!"
Akira gave her a grateful nod and sliced another gargoyle.
Liza: "How come they're not attacking us, Merl.. Merlina, right?"
Merlina looked at her with an expression.
Merlina: "He can draw their attacks on himself alone."
Golden sparkles danced around her as Merlina shifted into her human form, stepping from an amber mist.
Merlina transformed from an elegant white cat into a serene, powerful-looking sorceress, adorned in a flowing robe of turquoise and gold. A luminous golden staff rested gracefully in her hand, its soft glow reflecting off the warm, opulent background behind her. Long, bleak lavender hair cascaded down her back in gentle waves, partially veiling her shoulders with a melancholic elegance. Atop her head sat a wide, pointed hat that shadowed much of her face, adding an air of mystery to her already enigmatic presence.
Merlina extended her hand to Liza.
Merlina: "It is Merlinaza Scheherazade, my full name, but you can call me - Merlina, dear."
Merlina smiles.
Akira: "Look who finally STARTS TO TAKE THINGS SERIOUSLY!"
Merlina turned her head to him instantly.
She talked gently to Liza, but this time, she barked at Akira like an angry aunt.
Merlina: "I WILL REMOVE FIRE PROTECTION SPELL, monsignor, if you don't stop interrupting me!"
Akira cackled.
Akira: "This storm is in my hands now, fur ball."
Merlina: "Showing off, I see... Somebody stop this lady killer before he gets too wild again. Don't break a sweat, Mr GODSLAYER!"
Akira: "Huh!"
He defeated another opponent.
Merlina turned to Liza again.
Merlina: "Where were we? Ah Yes! Don't be shy, girl! Take my hand!"
Liza cautiously took her hand. With the help of Merlina, she stood up.
Liza: "You look so beautiful, Mrs Merlinaza."
Liza appeared astonished.
Merlina blinked, feeling flattered.
Merlina: "Oh, you think so, my dear? What can I say, you are much more mannered than our swordsman there. Also, you can drop the official tone with me. You can call me just - Merlina."
She smiles.
Liza hesitated in her speech
Liza: "Merli, then! Or... Mel - did Mel sound nice?"
Merlina thought to herself.
Merlina's Mind: "Mel?! Well, what are you going to do with these youngsters?"
Merlina: "I prefer Merlina, but if it suits you, you can call me Mel - like you said."
Liza stood still like a soldier, ready to salute.
Liza: "As you command, Miss!"
Merlina went behind the back.
Liza: "Wha..."
Merlina takes Liza's hand again and navigates it toward the gargoyle.
Merlina: "Don't be afraid, focus on your target..."
Liza: "But I don't know how to do magic!"
Merlina: "Close your eyes, dear, listen to my voice."
Liza reluctantly closed her eyes.
Merlina: "In Dreamscape - everything is possible, and it all depends on the person's willpower. People such as us are depending on it. If we end up in this chaotic plane, sometimes we need to protect ourselves. You want to help our friend Akira there? Then focus on your hand. Imagine a green flame coming from it. Focus on it again. And... Shoot!"
Liza focused her willpower for the first time and released a blazing ball of green fire from her hand.
The gargoyle in front of Akira starts to burn with green flame.
Akira: "What is this, the Magical Girl Graduation of St. Merlina?"
Merlina: "You always need to spoil all the fun, fool!"
Liza opens her eyes.
Liza: "Senpai! I didn't aim at you! I'm sorry!"
Akira: "You've done perfectly, Liza. Let's see how many of them are still standing."
Akira observes the arena once more.
He sighs dramatically.
Akira: "I think we're done here."
Merlina looks at Liza.
Merlina: "Told ya, situation is under his full control!"
Akira grimaced and turned to them.
They are being transported back to the "gauntlet".
Akira: "How's Liza?"
Liza: "I'm in perfect shape, senpai! Aside from the fact that some SCARY LOOKING DEMONS almost ate us. SENPAI, WHAT IN THE NINE HAVENS IS GOING ON HERE! ARE YOU... Some sort of superhero who saves people at night wha?..."
Merlina turned to her cat form again.
Merlina: "Well, 'Superhero', I think now you can explain EVERYTHING to her, good luck with that!"
Akira grimaced again.
Akira: "It was never my intention to drag you into this, Liza. Until today, I thought only a few people—like Ota, my father, and I—were Ars Goetians. But it turns out there are more of us. We each have a talent that connects us to this world—the Dreamscape. When you fall asleep, you enter your realm of existence—your dream. But sometimes, you get pulled into this place which is—Dreamscape... whether you want it or not."
Liza looked shocked.
Akira: "Yeah... So, like Merlina said here, we now need to proceed forward and finish our business here. I'm not a superhero, I'm just doing what I can to get the lesser key and not letting it into my father's hands..."
Liza interrupts him.
Liza: "Your father - the politician, right - we were at the ceremony?"
Akira nodded.
Liza: "...And what is this 'lesser key' anyway?"
Merlina was standing in front of her.
Merlina: "Lesser Key of Solomon - legendary artifact in the Dreamscape - the only and the one thing that can give you power in the real world, fame, riches, whatever you wish for. Nobody really knows how it works. I myself, in my lifetime, have gotten my hands on a few of these "artifacts" but never ever tried to use them for my own selfish purposes.
Liza: "But you are not real right?! I mean, I never saw you in the real world!"
Merlina: "Aye, that is correct, my dear. I am not part of the material plane, and maybe I will never be again. I being summon here to guide our young Ars Goetian here, by some force that are far beyond me. Maybe it is a coincidence..."
Akira facepalm.
Akira: "Not again."
Merlina: "...Will you stop interrupting me, boya! I TELLING HER - MAYBE IT IS FATE - ALLRIGHT?!"
Akira: "...Or a curse..."
Merlina: "Forget about grumpy beaver Liza dear - he is - a GRUMPY GOAT!"
A tiny laugh escaped Liza's lips.
Merlina: "Above all else - as you can see - our Liza-friend is fine for now."
Liza clenched her little fists with determination, first looking to Merlina, then to Akira.
Liza: "I will try my best not to let you down, senpai! Although - I have no idea how to use this 'power' of yours - how you called it?.. An Arse..."
Merlina quickly interrupted her in unison with Akira.
Akira and Merlina: "Ars Goetia!"
Liza: "Uh sorry, Ars Goetia."
Merlina: "An absolute tragedy with these kids..."
Akira sighed briefly.
Akira: "Our main priority now, Merlina - is protecting Liza, it's going to be your job from now on, I will take the front - you're going to watch her and my back - is that clear?"
Merlina: "Look who has started to be a fearless leader for us now..."
Akira rolled his eyes.
Akira: "Whatever, let's go. Liza, stay close to us, and be careful. It is possible that if anything happens with your here for the first time - it is not lethal, but it still can be... unpleasant."
Liza salutes him.
Liza: "As you command Senpai!"
Akira: "Liza..."
He hesitated.
Liza: "I'm ready for anything!"
Akira smirked.
Akira: "Just... Let's get going."
They exited the chamber of gargoyle statues, taking the only path they hadn't explored. Following the corridor to the right through the winding megaron, they eventually emerged into a hall far grander than any they had seen before.
Akira prepared for another battle, but found none awaited.
All three of them stopped and looked at a person in the middle of the hall.
Akira: "Are you kidding me..."
Merlina: "Oops!"
Liza: "Who is this guy?!"
In the center of the room stood a bald figure, youthful in appearance yet shrouded in an aura of profound calm and ancient wisdom. Though his face was smooth and unscarred, his eyes held the depth and quiet authority of one who had seen lifetimes.
It was a "Buddhist monk" that Akira met while walking along with Cleo on their way to the RIU.
Akira put his hand on the sword.
Akira: "Be careful, Liza, he is not our friend."
Liza looked at Akira.
Liza: "Yeah, but he's a human, right? He is not supposed to do any..."
Monk: "So you brought allies with you, evildoer? I wouldn't expect much from you, but your baseness is beyond my comprehension."
His voice was calm and gentle, with a strangely youthful tone.
Merlina: "I think it's all just a little misunderstanding, respected follower of ordered goodness!"
The cat sounded like she had stolen a piece of trout from the store.
The monk narrowed his eyes.
Monk: "You..."
He continued.
Monk: "I got no deal with you, storyteller, although if you are siding with evil, you are my enemy now, as well..."
The same force that took Liza's confidence before... had now returned it in full.
Liza: "What's with the baldy? Good, evil—does it all seem that simple to him?"
Liza glanced back and forth between Merlina and Akira.
For a brief moment, the monk's aura of ancient wisdom flickered and vanished, making him look just like an ordinary human being.
"B-b-baldy"—that's what his eyes seemed to say.
Merlina let out a tiny roar.
Merlina: "The nerve girl... The nerve..."
Liza: "What? He wants to fight us? Bring it on!"
The roar of a locomotive returned to her voice.
Akira made a step further toward the monk.
Akira: "We have no time for this. Our mission right now is to find the obsessed professor. I don't know if this is your due here, but we have no reason to fight each other..."
Monk: "So you're telling me - you have summoned demons to help people?"
Akira: "I'm not summoning anything here."
Monk: "Then why do you carry a black aura—here and in the real world as well?"
Akira: "Look... I know I might not look the part, but I'm on a mission. Right now, it is very important to free Professor Kikuchi from the duke. This is urgent, more than you know."
Monk sighs.
Monk: "Very well - how about you leave this place with the storyteller, and a girl - I can provide you a safe escape from here now on. And I will be the one who is going to defeat this creature?"
Akira: "How do you know where to find him?"
Monk: "And how do you?"
Akira: "I asked first, but Merlina has him trapped."
Akira paused.
Akira: "So... time is not on our side at the moment. I'm more than confident in my abilities, and you're just a stranger to this land. No offence."
Monk nods.
Monk: "You are right, I'm just a guest here. Yet..."
Monk instantly became hostile. He changed his pose, as he was ready to fight Akira with his fists.
Monk: "I'm not letting a fiend who follows you do what he pleases. Not to worry, though, the girl and the storyteller will be unharmed. If you just surrender here and now. And... like I said - I guarantee you a free passage from this bizarre place."
Akira: "I cannot, I..."
The monk shook his head and shrugged his shoulders.
Monk: "Then you leave me no choice, blackguard."
Suddenly, they were all transported back to a Dreamscape battleground.
The little monk thundered.
Monk: "Fighting these things is my responsibility, not yours!"
He shifted his stance, showing off his clenched fists.
Monk: "Surrender, and I'll show you mercy, and you both, with your allies, can finally return home."
Akira raised his hands, his sword Black Razor hovering before settling into his grip.
Akira: "Another fight then. I'm ready!"
Liza was standing far behind Akira with Merlina.
Liza: "Wha... You're outnumbered, Baldy! Three against one—you're at a serious disadvantage!"
Merlina covered her face with a paw, as if suddenly regretting every life decision that led her to this moment.
Merlina: "A fiasco, mon Chéri."
Monk: "My name is Zhenzhen Mao, and I strongly urge you to stop your foolishness, little girl. Dreamscape is not a place for ordinary people."
Liza: "Who do you refer to as little girl, baldy?! I'm anything but ordinary! IM ARSE GOETIAN AS WELL!"
Three pairs of eyes landed on her, each with a hint of irony.
Merlina released a heavy sigh. Her voice was as dry and harsh as old tobacco leaves.
Merlina: "A tragedy... My children..."
Liza: "Ok now I'm pissed, Miss Merlina - stand aside, now I will chant a largest fireball - this world has ever seen!"
Liza spread her hand in front of her and, uncontrollably, started to imagine the largest green fireball she could possibly summon, in the palm of her hand.
While Liza was at it, her fight with the monk felt almost unreal and cartoonishly distant. Unlike Akira's, which was a fundamental test of his bravery against a far more powerful Ars Goetian. This was his battle—monk against him, him against monk. The ultimate test of his skills.
They charged at each other and shouted.
Akira: "Ars Goetia - Devilish!"
Zhenzhen: "Come forth - Phoenix!"
A vivid blaze of red and black erupted as their powers collided.
Merlina sighs heavily.
Merlina: "Allah help us..."