Chapter 16 — A New Journey and the Doll Girl

The road back to Shadowveil was unusually quiet.

Mina sat inside the carriage.

She wasn't talking.

She wasn't complaining.

She wasn't even looking out the window.

She simply sat there with her hands resting on her lap.

Her eyes were lowered.

For the first time since leaving Saint Lumina...

Mina looked completely defeated.

Nyxhen sat across from her.

Yumiko sat beside the window.

Neither of them knew what to say.

The encounter with Kusuri had left something behind.

Not an injury.

Not a scar.

Something worse.

Mina had lost Blood Shot.

The ability she had practiced since she was seven.

The first technique she had ever truly mastered.

The technique that had carried her through countless difficult moments.

And a God had taken it from her as though it were nothing.

The carriage wheels continued turning.

Clack... clack... clack...

Mina stared at her hand.

She slowly raised it.

“Blood Shot...”

Nothing happened.

Her expression fell again.

Nyxhen noticed.

He opened his mouth.

Then stopped.

Yumiko looked at him.

Nyxhen quietly shook his head.

Not yet.

They both understood.

Mina needed some space.

When they finally returned to Shadowveil, Mina immediately went to her apartment.

She didn't say much.

“I'm going to rest.”

That was all.

She closed the door.

Click.

Yumiko stood outside.

Nyxhen stood beside her.

Neither moved.

Yumiko looked at the door.

“She's really upset.”

Nyxhen nodded.

“She needs time.”

Yumiko lowered her head.

“I want to cheer her up.”

“I know.”

“What should we do?”

Nyxhen thought for a moment.

“Don't force her.”

Yumiko blinked.

“Then what do we do?”

“We give her space.”

He looked at Mina's door.

“But we don't disappear.”

Yumiko smiled softly.

“So we wait?”

“Not exactly.”

Nyxhen crossed his arms.

“We make sure she knows we're still here.”

Yumiko nodded.

“I understand.”

Then she suddenly smiled.

“I have an idea.”

Nyxhen looked at her.

“What?”

“We should surprise her.”

“Surprise her with what?”

Yumiko looked toward the street.

“A carriage.”

Nyxhen stared.

“...A carriage?”

“We've been traveling by rented carriages this whole time.”

Yumiko smiled.

“If we're going to travel together, shouldn't we have our own?”

Nyxhen thought about it.

Then nodded.

“That could work.”

Yumiko raised her fist.

“Then it's decided!”

Nyxhen sighed.

“I suppose it is.”

Inside her room, Mina lay on her bed.

She stared at the ceiling.

One minute passed.

Then another.

Then another.

An hour went by.

Mina hadn't moved.

Nyxhen's words kept repeating in her mind.

You lost an ability.

You didn't lose yourself.

So get up.

Mina closed her eyes.

“...Get up.”

She opened them again.

She stared at the ceiling.

“I lost Blood Shot.”

Silence.

“But...”

She slowly sat up.

“...That doesn't mean I can't learn something else.”

Mina looked around her room.

Maybe she had been thinking about this the wrong way.

Blood Shot had been her first ability.

But it didn't have to be her last.

Her eyes wandered around the room.

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Then she noticed something.

A wooden broom.

It was leaning against the wall.

Mina stared at it.

For a very long time.

“...A broom.”

She stood.

She walked toward it.

She picked it up.

“It's just a stick with bristles.”

She looked at the wooden handle.

Then at her hand.

“If I can control blood...”

Mina slowly placed her palm against the wooden handle.

Blood began flowing around her fingers.

She carefully wrapped the blood around the wood.

Instead of firing it...

She hardened it.

The blood compressed.

It became denser.

Sharper.

Mina's eyes widened.

The blood stretched along the wooden handle.

Then—

SHING!

A crimson blade formed around the stick.

Mina stared.

A sword.

Not made of metal.

Not made of wood.

A blade formed from her own blood.

She slowly moved it.

The blade remained solid.

Mina's eyes widened.

“I...”

She smiled.

“I did it.”

She looked at the crimson weapon.

“Blood Shot wasn't the only thing I could do.”

Mina's smile became brighter.

She raised the blade.

“I just needed to learn something new.”

Several days passed.

Mina spent most of her time practicing.

She wasn't able to replace Blood Shot immediately.

She made mistakes.

Sometimes the blood blade collapsed.

Sometimes it became too heavy.

Sometimes the shape wasn't stable.

Once, she accidentally covered the broom handle so completely that she couldn't remove the blood from it.

Mina stared at the broom.

“...I have created the world's most dangerous broom.”

But she kept practicing.

And eventually...

She succeeded.

The technique became stable.

She gave it a name.

Crimson Blood Blade.

It allowed her to cover an object with hardened blood and turn it into a weapon.

It wasn't Blood Shot.

It wasn't supposed to be.

It was something new.

One afternoon, Mina finally met Nyxhen and Yumiko again.

Yumiko immediately waved.

“Mina!”

Mina smiled.

“Hey.”

Nyxhen looked at her.

“You seem different.”

Mina nodded.

“I feel better.”

Yumiko ran toward her.

“That's wonderful!”

She hugged Mina.

Mina laughed.

“Yumiko!”

“I was worried!”

“I know.”

Nyxhen smiled slightly.

“Glad you're back.”

Mina looked at them.

“Thanks.”

Then she noticed something behind them.

“What are you two doing?”

Nyxhen immediately looked away.

Yumiko froze.

Behind them was a carriage.

Not a rented carriage.

Their carriage.

It was being decorated.

Mina blinked.

“...What are you doing without me?”

Yumiko looked nervous.

“This was supposed to be a surprise.”

Mina's eyes widened.

“A surprise?”

She walked closer.

The carriage had been prepared for their travels.

There was enough space for the three of them.

Their supplies could be stored inside.

It wasn't luxurious.

It wasn't enormous.

But it was theirs.

Mina stared.

“You...”

Her eyes became bright.

“You bought this for us?”

Nyxhen scratched his cheek.

“We thought we'd need something if we're actually traveling together.”

Yumiko smiled.

“And we wanted you to have something to look forward to.”

Mina suddenly hugged both of them.

“Thank you!”

Yumiko hugged her back.

Nyxhen froze.

“...Why am I being hugged?”

“Because you're nice!”

“I didn't do anything.”

“You bought a carriage!”

“Technically, we all—”

Mina hugged him tighter.

“Thank you!”

Nyxhen sighed.

“Fine.”

He gently patted Mina's head.

“I remember your goal.”

Mina looked up.

“My goal?”

“You wanted to travel.”

He smiled.

“Explore the world.”

Yumiko nodded.

“And discover Eternia.”

Mina stared at the carriage.

Then at her friends.

Her smile slowly returned.

“...Yeah.”

She wiped her eyes.

“That's what I wanted.”

She stepped forward.

“I want to see everything.”

Nyxhen nodded.

“Then let's go.”

Later that day, Mina approached Nyxhen.

“Nyxhen.”

“What?”

“Can you teach me something?”

He looked at her.

“Something?”

“Close combat.”

Nyxhen raised an eyebrow.

“You?”

“Yes.”

“You want to learn close combat?”

Mina nodded.

“Because I can't rely on Blood Shot anymore.”

Nyxhen became serious.

“That won't be easy.”

“I know.”

Mina reached for a wooden stick.

She held it up.

Blood began spreading across it.

The crimson substance hardened.

SHING!

A sharp crimson blade formed along the wooden handle.

Nyxhen stared.

Mina smiled.

“I made this.”

“What is it?”

“Crimson Blood Blade.”

Nyxhen inspected it.

“You created a weapon using your blood?”

“Yep.”

He nodded.

“Good.”

Mina blinked.

“Good?”

“You found another way to fight.”

He handed her the weapon.

“Then I'll teach you how to use it properly.”

Mina smiled.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

She raised her fist.

“Training arc!”

Nyxhen sighed.

“I already regret this.”

Yumiko laughed.

A week passed.

Mina trained every day.

Nyxhen taught her how to move her feet.

How to keep her balance.

How to defend.

How to strike.

How to use the chain of Noctesgrave as a distraction.

And most importantly...

How to fight even when she couldn't use Blood Shot.

Mina fell many times.

She complained many times.

She got back up every time.

By the end of the week, her movements had become much more controlled.

Nyxhen nodded.

“You're improving.”

Mina smiled.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Yumiko clapped.

“Mina!”

Mina laughed.

“I still have a long way to go.”

Nyxhen nodded.

“But now you're moving forward.”

Mina looked at her crimson blade.

“That's enough for me.”

Before leaving Shadowveil, the three visited the Adventurer's Guild.

Mina stood at the reception counter.

“We're planning to travel to other kingdoms.”

The receptionist nodded.

“Then you'll need your adventurer identification badges updated for continental travel.”

After checking their records, the receptionist handed each of them a badge.

“These identify you as registered adventurers. They allow you to travel across the kingdoms on this continent while accepting guild quests.”

Mina held hers up.

“Awesome!”

Yumiko smiled.

Nyxhen placed his badge away.

Mina turned toward them.

“So... where are we going?”

Nyxhen answered.

“Eryndor.”

Mina's eyes widened.

“Eryndor?”

Yumiko nodded.

“I've heard it's a large kingdom.”

Mina smiled.

“Then that's our next destination!”

They had earned enough lumens from their completed quests to prepare properly.

Supplies.

Food.

Travel equipment.

Everything they needed for the journey.

But before leaving...

Mina wanted to visit the Shadowveil market one last time.

A few days later, Mina and Yumiko walked through the market.

The streets were crowded.

Mina carried a small bag of supplies.

Yumiko looked around happily.

“Where is Nyxhen?”

Mina sighed.

“Sleeping.”

Yumiko blinked.

“Again?”

“He's sleeping on the roof of the carriage.”

Yumiko stared.

“Why?”

“I don't know.”

They both imagined Nyxhen lying on the carriage roof with his arms crossed.

Mina laughed.

“He said the roof gives him a better view.”

Yumiko giggled.

“He's strange.”

“He really is.”

They continued walking.

Then—

BUMP!

Someone crashed into Mina.

“Whoa!”

Mina caught herself.

“Hey!”

The person immediately ran away.

Mina looked after them.

“Wait!”

Yumiko pointed.

“That person is carrying something!”

Mina noticed.

A piece of bread.

Then she noticed something else.

The person's hands.

They had visible joints.

Not normal human joints.

Mina's eyes widened.

“...A doll?”

The stranger glanced back.

Mina saw her face.

She had white hair styled into twin ponytails.

Yellow eyes.

A black gothic dress.

And clearly visible mannequin-like joints.

Mina pointed.

“You're a doll!”

The girl shouted while running:

“No, I'm a human!”

Mina blinked.

Yumiko blinked.

“She said she's human.”

Mina nodded.

“She's definitely a doll.”

“Don't say that!”

The girl continued running.

Behind her, a shopkeeper shouted:

“Stop, thief!”

Mina looked at Yumiko.

Yumiko looked at Mina.

“She's being chased.”

“Yep.”

“Should we help?”

Mina sighed.

“Of course.”

They ran after her.

The girl eventually reached a dead end.

She looked left.

Then right.

The shopkeepers caught up.

“You stole that bread!”

The girl hugged it tightly.

“I was hungry!”

“That doesn't make it yours!”

Mina stepped forward.

“Wait!”

Everyone looked at her.

Mina pulled out some lumens.

“How much does it cost?”

The shopkeeper blinked.

“Excuse me?”

“The bread.”

She paid for it.

“There.”

The shopkeeper looked at the lumens.

Then at the girl.

“...Fine.”

The shopkeeper left.

The girl stood completely still.

Mina approached.

“You're okay.”

The girl stared at her.

“Why did you do that?”

Mina shrugged.

“You looked hungry.”

Yumiko smiled.

“You don't have to be afraid.”

The girl looked down.

“Thank you.”

Mina smiled.

“It's nothing.”

She looked at the girl's strange joints.

“But... what happened to you?”

The girl immediately became silent.

Her fingers tightened around the bread.

“I...”

She lowered her head.

“I was experimented on.”

Mina's smile disappeared.

Yumiko's expression became serious.

“What?”

The girl sat down.

“My name is...”

She hesitated.

“Actually... I don't know if I should even call myself that anymore.”

Mina sat beside her.

“You can tell us.”

The girl looked at the ground.

Then she began speaking.

“Once, I was human.”

Mina listened quietly.

“I had a family.”

The girl explained that she had been adopted by people who were not her biological parents.

At first, she thought she had finally found a home.

But things changed.

She was treated as a servant.

She was forced to work.

She was treated differently from the other children.

One day, a doctor came to their home.

She remembered being confused.

Then frightened.

Something terrible happened.

Her family was killed.

The girl couldn't bear to continue describing it.

She covered her mouth.

Yumiko's hands tightened.

Mina quietly placed a hand near hers.

The girl continued.

“The doctor took me.”

She remembered being experimented on.

She remembered holding onto a small doll.

Then everything became dark.

When she finally woke...

The doctor was gone.

Her family was gone.

And her body felt strange.

She slowly stood.

She found a mirror.

And looked at herself.

Her eyes widened.

She wasn't human anymore.

Her body had become that of a doll.

She touched her face.

Her arms.

Her joints.

Everything was different.

She didn't understand why.

Then memories returned.

The experiments.

The doctor.

The strange procedures.

The moment she had been left behind.

She searched for her family.

But they were gone.

She didn't know where to go.

She didn't know who to trust.

Then she found clothing belonging to an older girl from the household.

A black gothic outfit.

It fit her strangely well.

So she wore it.

And she left.

Eventually, she ended up wandering through Shadowveil.

Hungry.

Alone.

And afraid.

Until she stole the bread.

The girl looked down.

“And that's how I ended up here.”

Silence followed.

Mina imagined everything she had described.

Her heart hurt.

Yumiko looked frustrated.

“That's horrible.”

The doll girl lowered her head.

“I don't know where I'm supposed to go now.”

Mina stood.

She looked directly at her.

“What's your name?”

The girl hesitated.

Then answered.

“Nemi.”

She looked up.

“Nemi Noiri.”

Mina smiled.

“Nemi.”

Nemi blinked.

Mina extended her hand.

“You don't know where to go?”

Nemi shook her head.

“Then come with us.”

Yumiko's eyes widened.

“Mina!”

Mina smiled.

“We're traveling anyway.”

She looked at Nemi.

“We're going to explore Eternia.”

Nemi stared at the offered hand.

“You'd let me come with you?”

“Of course.”

Nemi looked at Mina's hand for several seconds.

Then slowly reached out.

Her fingers touched Mina's.

She smiled.

“...Sure.”

Mina pulled her to her feet.

Yumiko smiled brightly.

“Welcome!”

Nemi looked between them.

For the first time in a long while...

She wasn't standing alone.

Mina smiled.

“Come on.”

She pointed toward the street.

“We have a carriage waiting.”

Nemi blinked.

“You have a carriage?”

“Yep!”

Yumiko nodded.

“And someone is probably sleeping on top of it.”

Nemi looked confused.

“Someone?”

Mina and Yumiko looked at each other.

Then laughed.

“Nyxhen.”

Nemi tilted her head.

“...Who's Nyxhen?”

Mina smiled.

“You'll find out.”

The three walked through the market together.

Soon, they would return to the carriage.

Soon, they would leave Shadowveil.

Soon, they would begin their journey toward Eryndor.

And this time...

Mina wouldn't be traveling with just two companions.

There were four of them now.

Mina.

Nyxhen.

Yumiko.

And Nemi.

Their journey across Eternia was about to become much bigger.