She was unsure. She couldn't make a decision. She really wanted it but her morality and sense of justice was forbidding her. And yet...And yet! She wanted it. She knew deep inside her that if she did not go after it, she would never be able to. She was powerful right now. She was A rank. She was famous, respected and wealthy enough. If she retired, she would never lack options.

And yet-

She also knew. She knew that she would never reach higher by following the path she followed till here. Because there was nothing beyond it. She had reached the highest level. The hardest spells, she mastered some. The strongest ones, she knew a few. However, those were the known spells. Those shared by everyone. Mostly. There was no longer a path in front of her.

But there was one to the side. One that seemed to keep going endlessly. And at the front of this path, she could see it in her imagination. There stood a man with purple air. Taking the first step was always the hardest part. The question was whether or not she would take it. Was she brave enough?

Fortunately for her, she would not need to make the choice. The 'clank' of a glass in front of her brought her out of her thoughts. She turned to the one offering her the drink only to freeze. It was him. The monster. He came to her by himself.

Atem: I could not help but see you, you know? Did you think you were peeping on us secretly?

???: ...

Atem: Are you mute? I could ask someone to cure you if you are. There should be someone with such skills around...Let's see...

???: I am not mute.

Atem: Good! Then, take the drink off my hands. I look stupid with one in both hands.

She took the offered glass but did not drink. She was getting ready to dispose of it on the table and leave it there. She did not trust this monster. Who would if they knew what she did?

He sighed with a grin plastered on his face and said:

Atem: Let's go for a stroll. Oh, and please bring your glass. I couldn't bear the shame of rejection in front of such a crowd.

As the man was urging her silently with a smile, even though she was scared, she decided to follow. If she did not, he might come after her later when she was her party...She could not bring them into this. If she had died, she would die alone.

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Once they were away enough, she said with courage:

???: Kill me if you have to but please leave the others alone. They don't know anything.

Atem: Fufu~ Why would I kill you?~

'Atem: It is so rare to find nice toys after all~'

???: Eh? Aren't you going to silence me?

Atem: What for?

???: I know what you truly are.

Atem: No. You don't. You think you do but with your meager knowledge? You do not.

???: Then why are we here?

Atem: I was curious.

???: About?

Atem: What did you pick? The Hero or the idiot?

???: ...So it was directed to me. I don't plan to choose. I am not powerful to go against you and probably no one else is. I won't tell anyone either, i don't want you monsters to kill people. I don't plan to get involved with you people.

Atem: We don't do that. Unless we are forced to~ That aside, you made the right choice.

???: I did not make one.

Atem: Sometimes, not making a choice is the right choice to make. Anyways, you don't have to be so scared. Feel free to join in the discussions. If you want to act as if nothing is wrong, we will too.

???: I will...But I want to meet your Master. Where is the puppeteer?

Atem: I thought you did not want to involve yourself~ Were you actually an idiot?~

???: No. But I have questions. He...He might be the only one to be able to answer.

Atem: About?

???: Magic.

Atem: You did open your Mind's Eye after all.

???: ... So?

Atem: One, you are talking to him. Two, what made you think we would answer anyways?

???: T-that's-

Atem: Sorry~ I'm teasing you~ Ask away.

???: You can't be the puppeeter. You're a puppet, you're not even alive!I want to talk with the Master. Not with an empty shell controled from afar.

Atem: That is very insulting, you know~ I am alive and my own being, you see~

???: I don't believe you. Lead me to your Master.

Atem: This is getting irritating... What do you know about puppeteers anyways?What do you think you know about them...About us?

???: They use Magic to create thrings to manipulate empty shells like yours to do their biddings.

Atem: Wrong~ So wrong~

???: Then what are they?!

Atem: Puppeteering is a far more Noble art. It has for goal to become God. Creating sentient life. Whoever and whatever you encountered was nothing like a true puppeter.

???: Modest, aren't you? Calling yourself a God while you are nothing but a puppet?

Atem: I am not a God. I am neither a puppet nor a puppeteer either. I have a puppeted body, mind you, but that is it~ I am a Magus. I am my own self. What you are asking for? Someone that were manipulating me? There is no such being. Check for yourself, you should be able to with the Mind's Eye. See for yourself where the strings lead to.

She was not buying his bullshit and his grin was very irritating. As if he was mocking her ignorance and delecting himself off of it. So, she activated the Mind's Eye and watched. And she saw the body made of mana strings. Both a wonder and an horror.

As she looked, she noticed one thing she overlooked before...The strings were not linked to anything.

There were no strings attached to the puppet!