Once I dreamed of a nice place in Hell where everyone loved themselves just as much as they loved each other.

Something rare, considering everyone has something to say about themselves, unless they're narcissists. Yet, my mother said that it wasn't strange at all. She told me that everyone has flaws and that, despite this, some people are capable of loving someone to the point where they would forget themselves.

"But isn't this a contradiction?" I asked her.

"You think so? I don't think it is," she replied with a gentle tilt of her head.

I shared my dream even with the priest; he told me that such a place would not exist. Hell is a place for the damned, he explained, so no one would be able to truly love in a similar place. But is that really true? I wondered...

According to the priest, the damned go to Hell, while those deemed worthy by the Deities, shall reach Heaven. But what does someone have to do in order to be considered worthy by a Deity? And what, instead, to be considered a damned?

The priest, to my question, could not provide an answer. Instead, he told me to behave like a good girl and not fall into Hell, as there is no way out, no remedy, once you fall into that pit.

Discouraged, and with a long face, I went back to my mother, telling her the conversation I had with the priest. Upon hearing it, she laughed.

"Oh, sweetie. You don't have to worry about that. You can escape from Hell," she reassured me while caressing my head.

"How can you be so sure?" I asked.

"Don't you know the story of the spider's thread?"

"The story of the spider's thread?" I tilted my head.

She nodded. "Rest assured, sweetie. Even if you fall into Hell, as long as you act like your dream, you shall climb out of it by a spider's thread. You can trust mom on this. And should you meet some trouble, I would personally come down there to rescue you."

Her words comforted me, making me feel hopeful. And at the same time, they got me thinking. If I were to be saved anyway, why not explore Hell, while I was at it? Then, I could climb my way out. Somewhere, I heard Hell has seven layers, just like the numbers of the Deities. I always wondered what they might be like.

If Crimson could give me the chance to explore such a place... why refuse?

...

"Felinchant."

Crimson and I jumped off the house as monsters charged toward us. The house, which had been miraculously still standing just moments ago, was now reduced to rubble by giant monsters.

"Aw... shame. I liked that house," Crimson lamented.

"This is not the time to think about something like that," I countered as a monster approached me, trying to strike me with a massive fist. I narrowly dodged moving my torso aside, and struck back with my fist.

I felt my knuckles crunch; these things were tough. I let out a hiss of pain, but I used so much force that I sent him flying to the ground, rolling back. So, it was worth it.

"You're punching them?!" Crimson burst out laughing as she dodged the attacks, following my every move.

"Shut up. I don't have a weapon."

"Still, to punch them! You're more intriguing with each passing second."

Another monster lunged at me; this time I concentrated all my strength on the heel of my palm to push it away; the monster stumbled back. I couldn't damage them, so the best I could do was to knock them to the ground, so as to slow their movement.

"Tripletta," Crimson cast, summoning two additional orbs from the already existing one. Directing them forcefully right into the monsters' 'faces', knocking them off balance and sending them crashing to the ground.

The monsters were so big and heavy that the ground beneath them scattered even more than it already was, causing even more noise.

"We're attracting too many," I warned.

Without a warning, Crimson grabbed my shoulders, forcefully making me look into her eyes. "Argenta, don't you find this entertaining?"

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"Does it look like this is the time to be asking that? Let me go!"

"Just answer the question."

I clenched my teeth. "... Yes. It is entertaining."

She smiled at me, satisfied with my answer. "Good. That is what I wanted to hear. Let's have some fun, shall we?"

This crazy bitch knew how to be convincing. Surrounded by monsters, without even a weapon as they desperately tried to kill us...

Yes. It was exciting. And I was excited. But at the same time, I was frustrated.

"I really want my weapon..." I groaned.

"You had a weapon?" Crimson asked me, casually sending to the ground another monster.

"It was a gift from my mother... but I lost it shortly after arriving in Zafferbridge."

"Oh... I'm sorry to hear that."

As another monster's strike arrived, I ducked to evade it, grabbing its arm and using my body as leverage to throw it aside. It was heavier than I expected, but thanks to my spell, I managed.

"We can't kill them without using spells. They're just going to get back up, and they're even growing in numbers," Crimson observed.

"Then why aren't you using any spells?" I asked, pushing down yet another monster.

"Because I want to enjoy this with you, Snowflake," she said, suddenly grabbing both my arms from behind and wedging her leg between mine, pinning me in place.

"Crimson?!"

One of the monsters that got up was now facing me, furiously charging its fist, aiming straight at my face. I tried to break free from Crimson, but somehow, I couldn't. How?! I had my spell active, yet she still managed to immobilize me?!

"CRIMSON!" I yelled as the enemy released its fist; Crimson forced me down, allowing both of us to evade the attack just in time. She then sent the enemy down with one of her orbs.

I caught my breath, my lungs deflated from what had just happened, while my heart pounded as if it were about to jump out of my chest. I had almost greeted Death. I glared at her. "You... you bitch! You did that on purpose!"

She giggled. "Yes, and it seems my efforts paid off. Look at you; all red, panting... Are you excited, Snowflake?" she asked with a satisfied smug face while lightly grazing my cheek.

I looked away, avoiding her gaze. "Shut up..."

"That was dangerous, wasn't it? You loved it, admit it..." she teased; her voice was dripping with mischief.

"Shut up and let me go," I said, forcefully pulling myself free from her grasp.

She giggled once more. "You're so adorable... I want to torment you so much. But I'm afraid we'll have to end this here..."

Crimson leapt onto her main orb, elevating herself into the air, while the other two orbs orbited around her.

"I'm sorry, Argenta. But more and more are coming. I have to end this now," she said as she raised her hand, as if ordering her orbs to aim at a certain area while her codex hovered open in front of her, emitting a strong light; strong enough to illuminate Crimson's face with a sinister red glow and cast menacing shadows all around. "Archibugio Infernale."

From Crimson's orb, a barrage of flames shot forth, ripping through the monsters like a swarm of flaming arrows, a rain of fire. The monsters stood no chance, slowly going down one by one, consumed by fire, until nothing but their burning remains were left on the ground. At the end of the barrage, a final, wide explosion erupted, sending a shockwave through the area, the flames stopping right before reaching me.

"Wow..."

I found myself at a loss for words. Crimson had always been playing around with me; if she wanted me dead... she could've easily killed me.

"A few more months, and even my spells won't be as effective against these monsters..." she said as she descended, landing gracefully beside me.

And on top of all the destruction she had just caused, she even seemed dissatisfied with her own power. How would I even face her were she my enemy?

Crimson approached me, balancing on one foot as she wrapped her arms around my neck, her eyes locking onto mine. "What do you want to do now, Snowflake? You must feel unsatisfied. Want me to please you?"

"Indeed. In the end, you took all the fun for yourself," I replied.

"Don't say that... I have plenty of ways to make you have fun," she cooed, leaning in until she was nuzzling against me. "Why don't we go to a more comfortable place? Somewhere warm, where nobody can disturb us. What do you say?"

"You left me hanging..."

"Huh... I-I'm sorry... I didn't know you were enjoying that fight so much," Crimson looked genuinely confused by my reaction, almost flustered.

Well, that was an unexpected reaction... I was genuine at first, but now, I decided to play it up. I put on my saddest, most heartbroken, exaggerated expression, lowering my gaze and avoiding eye contact just to see how she would react. "You ruined everything..."

"Huh? No, no. Wait... Don't be like this. I'm really sorry I took away your fun, but I can make it up to you, I promise! I can give you even more danger than this. What do you say? Hey... Come on, look at me."

Oh, yes. This was fun! I did have some power over her, after all. The more I pretended to be sad, the more she panicked, unsure of how to react. It was amusing to see her flustered expression. It would appear that Crimson wasn't used to being rejected; she does seem like someone who would use force to get what she wants. Why was it different with me, though...?

"More danger, now?" I asked, keeping my act.

"Huh, well..." she detached herself from me, glancing around. "If you want more now, we'd have to go deeper into the forest, but it's dark. I don't really think that would be really fun, without being able to see anything..."

"Then how do you plan to make it up to me?" I asked her, teasing some more.

"I told you..." she leaned in once again, her voice softening as her confidence seemed to waver. "What do you say if, for now, we go to a more comfortable place? I'm not leaving you hanging, Snowflake. I shall grant you the pleasure that I took away from this battle. Is that alright?"

I sighed. "Fine... lead the way."

It was faint, but I noticed Crimson's relief when I agreed, it was almost comical to witness. I was enjoying those reactions. It seemed things were about to get strange between us; she basically flirted with me during a battle, so it was only fair that I would have my way, somehow.

Ah, I felt just like my mother... she always loved to tease me in playful ways just to see my reactions, continuously making me pout with her antics. I suppose she did the same with her lover, that purple lady from her story... Now I think I understand why she loved teasing so much; it is fun, and it makes you feel like you have control over the other person.

Hmm, perhaps... just perhaps, I really inherited something from her, rather than just her looks and teachings.