In the Student Council Meeting Room in St. Elicia’s Academy…

“…this is what I propose for this year’s Cultural Festival, Miss Arisa.”

My fellow Student Councillors sit snugly upon comfy armchairs set around a fine oaken conference table as old as the Academy itself. But mine’s the comfiest of all!

Good grief. It’s so fucking cold in here. Every. Single. Meeting. I don’t know how I do it. But hey. Hold up! I remember being in this meeting, for the yearly Cultural Festival. It’s the one day of the year where everyone dresses up in fancy kimonos and the whole school becomes very… well, cultural! Very, very cultural! Hence the name!

This meeting… it took place before I was summoned to Nisha. It was from a time before I joined the Order of Selene, before Anna entered my life, before I was ever a Hero or a Healer. It was when I was just me and only me – Arisa Ishii – Student Council President of St Elicia’s. Still quite a mouthful to say, I’ll admit.

“If everything is alright with you, Miss Arisa... we shall proceed with the arrangements as presented.”

That girl with red hair spun all fancy-like into ringlets who’s talking to me, purple eyes behind big spectacles that make her look like a klutz – she’s Sayaka Meiji – Treasurer of our little Student Council. I know her well enough, and she’s alright. But then again, we don’t really talk outside of matters related to the Council or the running of St Elicia’s. She’s all work and no play – kinda dull like that, but she is who she is.

“I have the proposal in full right here for your final review and approval, Miss Arisa,” Sayaka says as she walks towards me, papers in one hand while the other hides behind her back. “If everything is okay, I need you to sign here…”

I signed those papers, I remember I did. It was a pretty good proposal that I could find no fault with – the Council and I worked on it for weeks, getting the logistics done for the event, down to even the most minute detail. Working with external vendors and the various school clubs, artistes… was a hell of a struggle getting everyone on the same page. It helps that Riko knows people in the city, and that they want to stay in her good graces very badly.

“Hold on for a bit, Sayaka.”

She doesn’t stop. It’s almost as if I’m talking to a statue. Oh! Is it just me… or are her eyes no longer purple, but rather… black? Boy, oh boy.

“Sayaka!”

In the nick of time, I get up from my comfy chair and catch Sayaka’s hidden hand by the wrist, just as she reveals it. In her hand, caught tightly in my grasp as it writhes in shifting shades of black and red, is an eldritch dagger.

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Back in the Highgrove Warrens…

I see clearly now. I’m back in the darkness and the filth. No air-conditioning in here, unfortunately. Might be the worst part of coming back to this reality.

It was all just a Demon’s dream, a Greater Illusion used to trap victims in endless recursion loops of their own memories, reducing them to sitting ducks ripe for slaughter.

It’s dark, though. That’s no good. I think Anna’s in danger! I light up my surroundings with a Candlelight spell of my own, revealing the gleaming edge of an eldritch dagger aimed at my heart, and the Demon holding it – an Imp Master, whose fleshy wrist I have firmly within the grasp of my hand. The little bastard’s not that much bigger or taller than its lesser brethren, but it’s smart enough to use spells. Smart enough to use its kin as distractions to strike at us.

“You little sneaky motherfucker.”

From my grasp, Holy Fire incinerates the Imp Master, turning it into a funeral pyre burning white and blue till nothing of the Demon remains. Unlike its Greater Illusion, the flames of my Holy Fire are very real. So that’s that.

But there’s no time to gloat or catch a breather. I rush over to Anna as quickly as I can. She’s disarmed and slumped against a wall, eyes wide with terror. Ascalon lies on the filth as she gasps rapidly for air, tears flowing down her cheeks.

There’s little time to act, but I know what I have to do. Planting Elizabeth onto the floor, I put out my hand towards her and cast Dispel Magic, unbinding the Greater Illusion afflicting her mind. As soon as the spell is lifted, she falls to her knees.

“Anna! Anna!” I shout as I frantically shake Anna with all my might in a bid to get her to look at me and say something, anything. “Can you hear me!? Anna!”

“Arisa…?”

“Yeah, it’s me! Are you alright?”

“My head hurts! Umm… what happened…?”

“Imp Master tried to get us with a Greater Illusion. But don’t worry, that little bastard’s a goner,” I explain as I bring up a hand glowing white and blue to Heal that headache of hers. “Whatever you saw was just a bad dream, nothing more. You’re safe with me, I promise.”

“To think… I declared that it’s my duty to protect you,” Anna answers weakly as she averts my gaze. “Looks like I still have a long way to go before I can properly do that…”

“You do. But you’re doing good! You did protect me from those shadow parasites, imps and demonic thralls… remember?”

“Umm… I do remember doing that!”

“So I’d say we’re even,” I answer with a wink. “Let’s not keep score, though!”

“But how did you escape that Demon’s Illusion?”

“I guess I’m too strong for the little bastard, and I resisted their spell!” I say with a smile. “If you resist an Illusion – you’ll be lucid within the memories it tries to imprison you with. From there, that’s how you escape and wake up. Worked for me, anyhow. I’m nobody’s bitch!”

That draws a small smile from Anna. I’m glad it did. Despite the filth, despite the stench… we’re still here, still going.

“But is there a way I can do that too?” Anna asks earnestly. “I mean, umm… before I become as strong as you!”

“Hmm… now that your mind’s aware that illusions are a thing… it’ll already be naturally resistant! At least against a Greater Illusion. Aside from that… it’s about Mana. Mind over Mana! But if you ever find yourself trapped in an Illusion of any kind ever again…”

I flash a smile at her. My best smile.

“Think of me. I’ll keep you safe in there, I promise. Just hang tight until I get ya out.”

“Arisa…”

“Okay, that’s enough chit-chat. Let’s get going,” I say as I offer her my hand. “Ready?”

Nodding affirmatively, Anna takes my hand. She retrieves Ascalon, and we press onward into the darkness, Candlelight illuminating our way. Two lights in the darkness, venturing into the shadows where more demons lie in wait.