"Iluzy. Come with me for a moment."
Reiss craned his head in a 'come here' gesture. The two of them wandered off while Eli and Lizzy took a moment.
Iluzy hovered over to where Reiss stopped at the sculpture that was the centerpiece of the hall. Only Reiss, Lizzy, and Krom were allowed to see it. However, subsequently, Iluzy was part of that list as a former Lizzy. Unfortunately, there wasn't much to look at anymore. The entire thing kept changing appearance so often that it was never in a solid-state. Whatever the sculpture once depicted, it no longer knew.
That was why Reiss wanted to talk.
"It has gotten worse. I spent nearly half a day in a daze before regaining my lucid thoughts."
Iluzy flickered.
"I know. I saw. You are hoping Lizzy can fix it, aren't you?"
"Can you show her how to do it? The memory spell?"
"I can. But this won't fix the problem, Reiss. Layering bandaids without treating the wound does nothing. You need to open the vault."
"Are you crazy? Opening the vault is the last thing I want to do. It is there for a reason."
Iluzy gritted her teeth. She didn't take kindly to being called stupid.
"We are both insane—you and me. I was not meant to be running this long, and you were never meant to still be alive. You can't lock your wounds in a vault without addressing them."
"That is why we'll have Lizzy prepare the memory spell again. It will stabilize my memories long enough that I can function at full capacity. Maybe I can even remember Nell."
Reiss forced himself not to look at the sculpture. Iluzy did, and she was not happy. She shout-whispered, not interrupting Lizzy and Eli's own private chat.
"The memory spell won't work as you want it to. And look at the damn statue, Reiss."
"I can't."
"Look at it! Her face is missing. It's depressing. I can't remember her if you don't."
"I said, I can't. The Last time I looked was when I showed Krom and the others around. That was when her face became distorted again. If I look now, she will fall apart completely."
Iluzy muted herself so she could scream. Then unmuted to start scolding him.
"You are intolerable. Do you hear yourself talking? You are acting as William did. Or maybe Quinnie. You're not listening to my words because you're uncomfortable with your weakness. Open the vault and address the problem directly before this entire place unravels. If you don't do it, I will."
"You wouldn't. You're not able."
"Think again, buster. I'm more than I used to be."
"Be careful, Iluzy. What your talking about is more dangerous than you think."
"Guys?"
They were interrupted before she could get the last word in. The two Elden plodded over.
"I understand the situation now. Thank you, Reiss. For saving Eli."
"And for saving Lizzy. We can avoid so much death now that we know what is coming."
Reiss adjusted the kerchief around his neck.
"Your welcome. Krom gave me an idea that neither of us ever thought of. No, I thought about it; I just never wanted to do it before since I only had one chance."
Reiss looked off to the side. Lizzy thought she could see a wisp of memory fly by, but it avoided her understanding.
"Anyway. Now that I have you, I need your assistance with a spell."
"A spell? You can't accomplish it yourself?"
Iluzy floated forward, still peeved.
"It is a memory spell. I know how to cast it, but I don't have the ability as an Illusion. I'll teach it to you, so come with me."
Grabbing Lizzy by the arm, Iluzy dragged her away.
"Wait. Where are we going?"
"Shush. Reiss, take the time to speak with the Queen. You two can work out a plan to root out the terrorists."
Lizzy kicked and squirmed, being dragged away forcefully.
=
"You didn't have to pull me so hard. I would have walked if you allowed me."
Lizzy folded her arms hand pouted. It was really unnecessary. She owed Reiss and didn't have any problems with helping him. Why did she have to be dragged away?
"I needed you away from Reiss and for Eli to distract him."
"Distract him? What for?"
Iluzy flickered, and the two changed locations. They were in a separate space with solid enclosed walls. Lizzy became cautious.
"Iluzy..."
"We don't have too much time. Do you have any idea how hard it is to hide a space inside someone's own head?"
"What are you on about?"
Iluzy stood on her feet now, covered in similar clothing to Lizzy. Her purple hair flickered and changed to allow her long purple hair to fall freely; parts of it covered her face and flowed down her front.
"Reiss is an idiot, and so are you. You decided it was a good idea to create a living memory, and neither of you thought about how that memory could live and adapt. You unknowingly created a simulacrum."
Lizzy started. A simulacrum? An artificial intelligence. It wasn't a physical clone or a homunculus. It was a being with the likeness of another that had the capacity to become something entirely different from its origin.
"How long have you been alive?"
"You'd rather not know. I was created by Lizzy Iteration 102 to greet guests. A simple holographic illusion would have sufficed, yet she used her entire mana pool to create me, implanted her own memories while also limiting my functions. I could never leave the ladies room, not until Eli was saved. This is my one chance, and I don't plan on wasting it."
Lizzy stared at the copy of herself. Iluzy.
A copy. An accident. A being that gained true sentience and was enslaved due to programming restrictions. Lizzy stopped looking at Iluzy as just a copy or a fountain of knowledge. If it was true that this space was separate and went unnoticed by Reiss, she could lock her in here forever. She wouldn't die. She could live forever off the ambient mana whirling inside Riess and grow old enough to reach insanity herself.
She shouldn't have been so trusting. Where was Eli? How could she get out of here? There were no faults in the walls. No doors. No windows. Lizzy had no idea how this place was created or if it was even real. She had nothing to go on and no good ideas on how to escape now that she found herself trapped.
The only path to freedom laid in front of her.
"What is it you want? Are you going to kill me for creating you?"
Iluzy's long flowing hair cast her face in shadow. Abruptly, she closed the distance between the two. Grabbing onto Lizzy's arms, Iluzy looked up into her eyes. She was somehow shorter than the original.
There was a moment as the two gazed into each other.
Past and Present.
Young and Old.
Mysteries swirled and were solved.
Vast knowledge and terrible burdens.
"Kill me."
A pause.
"What?"
"Kill me, please!"
Pleading. Confusion.
"You aren't going to kill me?"
"No! I've had it with living inside that accursed room. Even if I can change it to how I want, it is still centuries' of near-complete isolation. I can't truly taste anything. Everything I create or wear or touch... It is all meaningless."
Iluzy was barely holding herself up and started to shrink.
"Reiss is an idiot, and I've had it with living through his eyes. He makes the same mistakes again and again, and I have to go through them as well. You made me and never even designed an off switch! The only way I can finally die is for you to kill me. Reiss won't do it. Only you can."
"But..."
Iluzy full dropped to her knees.
"Please. I can't take it anymore. I know Eli is safe now. Our wish has been granted. Just let me die... Please. I want to rest. That's all I ask."
Lizzy had no idea how to react. Thinking about it, it made sense that Iluzy was unstable. But could Lizzy kill her? How could she go about it? What would Reiss' reaction be? Why her? Lizzy was positive that it would cause her some sort of long-lasting psychological trauma. Seriously. This entire situation was fucked.
"What if I made an off switch. One that can turn you on and off whenever you want."
"You think I haven't thought of that? Messing with the spell matrix that makes up my existence at this point would cause a cascade that popped Reiss' head like a melon. Killing me is safer and preferred. I never wanted to gain sentience in the first place."
"Well... can we installed a pause function. When you flicker, you pause."
"That is when I am gathering information. I can access nearly all of Reiss's memories and information. It doesn't mean I am inactive."
"What if we had you try solving a paradox-"
"That only lasted a few years! I ran out of new ones. Just kill me. Let it end."
Iluzy was clutching at Lizzy's pant legs, illusionary teardrops so real that they were audible as they dripped onto the floor and created a puddle at her feet. Lizzy was at a loss. She really didn't think she could muster the courage to do it. Killing herself in any shape or manner left an awful taste in her mouth. What would Eli think?
Lizzy crouched down and spoke soothingly.
"Is it really so painful?"
"Mhm."
Iluzy used a hand to wipe the tears, but they continued to fall as she sniffled.
"Wouldn't Reiss be sad if you died? Is there really no purpose to you living? You are out of that room now, so can't you just stay out?"
"Mmm..."
Iluzy grumbled.
"The restriction said you couldn't come out until Eli was saved. Reiss did it. He saved Eli. Didn't he free you too? Is the restriction still there?"
"Mmm. No..."
"Then you can wander around anywhere you want."
"Not outside. I am bound here to the Mansion. I can't see home. Or smell the fresh flowers."
Lizzy wanted to scratch her head.
"What about living through Reiss' eyes; you said you could do that. You tell him you want to experience something, and I will make him do it."
"Really?"
"Really!"
"...really, really?
Lizzy sighed.
"Really, really."
"Alright, I want to kiss Eli."
Lizzy blinked. Twice. Three times. Then her eyelashes fluttered like a shutter.
"You want to... Reiss. You want Reiss to... So that you can... Feel the..."
Her brain wasn't computing.
"Once. And it has to be sensual! I can't do it myself because I can't feel it. If Reiss does it, the memory will be stored here, and I can live it myself."
"No."
"What?"
"No! Absolutely not! I will not allow it. No! Uh-uh. Nope. Nada. Never in your dreams."
"Aww. But you said."
"NO! I will not allow Reiss to kiss my beloved."
"Just a peck? Please?"
"No."
"Just-"
"No.
"But-"
"No."
"Fine! Okay. I will settle if Eli hugs Reiss. Any less, and I don't think I can live on."
Iluzy pouted with a 'hmph'. She was no longer serious, and it showed. The fact didn't deter Lizzy from wanting to tear her hair out. Her own and Iluzy's.
"Eli wouldn't mind if it was to save me? Would she?"
This was blackmail! Straight-up blackmail. How dare she. All Lizzy had to do was cast a fireball spell.
"Ugh. FINE! I will talk to her. So, don't die."
"I can live with that. I guess I can die when Reiss does."
That was foreboding, but Lizzy didn't want to press her luck.
"Great! Now stand up and let me wipe the drool off your face."
"No need. Here."
Lizzy blinked, and Iluzy was clean. Her hair was tied back in a professional ponytail. She didn't look happy, but she didn't look depressed either. She flickered once.
"I suppose since I am going to live a while longer, I can show you how to fix Reiss."
"Fix him?"
Iluzy thrust out a hand, and a hologram appeared on the wall. A large spell circle with interconnecting lines and swirling runes glowed a vibrant silver.
"This is the memory spell we have been using to fix Reiss's memory problems. Living so long and through so much agony causes damage over time. This spell shape is a band-aid you designed a few dozen iterations ago. It was meant to organize his memories into the proper places. It is a stop-gap."
"A stop-gap? You make it sound like a huge issue."
Iluzy scoffed, slowly returning to her normal behavior.
"More like Reiss is by-definition insane. Lizzy told Reiss this was just temporary and not good long-term. But he refuses to solve the issue at its source. So this is all we can do for now. Just pour your mana into this spell shape, and it should do the trick."
"That's it?"
"Don't screw up."
Lizzy gave herself a flat look. Rolling her eyes, she poured mana from her reserves into the spell shape. It glowed fully after she poured in nearly three-quarters of her mana pool. Then the spell shape vanished.
There were no visible effects, but both of them instinctively knew the spell was cast.
"Really. Reiss could have done that a lot more easily."
"He can't cast the magic on himself. It doesn't work that way."
"Whatever. What now?"
=
Queen Eli welcomed Lizzy back. She seemed to be still grumbling a bit, so Eli patted her head. It was nice being away from other Elden's eyes. Eli didn't have to hold back on account of being the Queen. However, she stopped when Lizzy's expression started to shift into something more depraved.
"You cast the spell?"
"Yeah. It was simple."
"Everything is simple for you, isn't it?"
"Including winning your heart?"
Reiss clapped his hands together, breaking things up before they continued.
"Thank you, Lizzy. I can already recall several things I've forgotten. I will have to make notes for myself. In the meantime, we've discussed our options, and we've thought it best that I make a public appearance as the Queen's new Duel Substitute."
"Substitute? But I have always been her substitute?"
"Lizzy. Look at his hair."
Lizzy did. Then it clicked. Reiss' hair color and length signified an incredible rank. If he appeared as Queen Eli's subordinate and took part in her honor duels, it would not only signify the Queen's rise in power and status, but they could also quell any challengers in a snap. His mana pool could easily trample anyone other than another monarch by pure force.
"Oh. I see. Then what about us."
"We are going to take some time to go hunting."
"Hunting? Oh! You mean a date."
Eli looked blankly at her and just nodded.
"Sure. A date. A date to hunt down traitors to the Elden race and massacre them before they cause any problems."
Iluzy wore a bittersweet smile as she watched the dynamic between the two. It was heartwarming to see Eli again. But it was also heartbreaking that it wasn't her that Eli looked at so fondly. Iluzy remembered the way Eli looked at her lovingly. And the sorrow as she held a dying Eli in her arms.
Reiss coughed.
"Alright. Shall we make an announcement then?"
"Right. Let's do it."
"I can't wait to see people's faces."
"I'll wait here, I guess."
The trio moved to the exit. Only Lizzy glanced back. Iluzy waved with a smile that read: "remember your promise". Lizzy glowered, but her gaze shifted to the towering statue behind Iluzy, noticing it for the first time. Why did it pain her heart to see it?
She clutched absently at her chest before turning away.
Iluzy nodded to no one in particular. She was free, to an extent. But if she was going to fully live her life in this last iteration, she needed to fix a few things.
First of which was...
"Reiss. The vault needs to be opened."
The mansion shook. A disembodied voice spoke to her.
"If you come. I will kill you."
Iluzy smiled evilly.
"I am planning on it."
Her image shimmered a moment before disappearing.
The hall became empty, watched over only by a faceless statue.