"You're the nightingale, aren't you?" The nightingale that the dolls had mentioned in the passing. Nox had wondered why they suddenly brought up the topic right before the game started, but after encountering the birds he understood why the nightingale was an abnormality.
Out of all the birds he killed, none of them had black wings. It seemed like the black winged bird held a specific role in all of this... but what?
And Rose, she hadn't try to hide her identity deliberately.
Their conversations ran through his head, highlighting all the details he ignored. At first, he had assumed that she was an ability user like him since she had remained so calm.
However, when he asked her about when the first participant appeared, she had responded 'three days ago,' which suggested that she had either asked them or been there at the time of their appearance. Then there was the way she seemed unaffected by the garden's lures.
But that still didn't explain why the dolls hadn't noticed the nightingale in the trial itself. Not once did the dolls point out Rose's existence as something different from all the other players. It was like they couldn't even sense her presence.
She let out a soft laugh. "So you've figured it out. I imagine it was only a matter of time." Her fingers trailed along the cover of her book. 'Nattergalen.' The story of the nightingale.
Scchk.
Her skirt unraveled itself, dark midnight wings unfurling as they spread out behind her. The feathers shone under the sun, highlighting their healthy sheen as they rustled.
Roxanne was looking at Rose, eyes widened in disbelief.
An object was tossed at Nox, who caught it with surprise. Opening his hands, he found a golden egg the size of his palm, its surface polished and gleaming. With this, they could pass the trial. He pulled Roxanne closer, still unsure of Rose's motive.
With a flutter, the wings rose above her head in an arch, the dark feathers contrasting against the fields of pink and coral behind her. As the two wings touched, their surroundings melted away and they were back at the fountain where the game began.
"I am the nightingale residing in this cage." she confessed, lowering her wings after that grand display. "And a part of this trial itself, in a way. I must apologize for your unexpected arrival."
Roxanne asked, "What do you mean by 'unexpected'?"
For the first time, a small frown graced her face. "The four dolls decided to play a little game because they were bored. They will be punished for their transgressions," she sighed. "I'm sure the overseers will be furious."
Hesitant, Roxanne looked at Nox with a lost look on her face. Nox faltered, because an opportunity presented itself in front of him. He just didn't know if she would answer.
Rose smiled at him encouragingly.
"What exactly are these trials?"
Rose nodded, as if she expected his question. "Your world is not fully merged yet," she shook her head. "The trials are… see it as a test of humanity's strength." She pondered on her next words. "Those who acquire a contract before the ■■ could be said to have strength in luck, and strength in potential. You'll understand more soon, when your world starts to change." Her mouth continued to move.
"What?" Nox stared blankly. "I can't… hear anything." For a moment, he thought there was something wrong with his hearing, but the thought was quickly dispelled after seeing Roxanne's similar bewilderment.
Rose stopped, lips pursed. "I'm afraid I cannot tell you more." Her feathers shook slightly. "Although this wasn't an authorized trial, I am glad to have met you here. Perhaps you won't share my fate."
Roxanne asked, "Are you stuck in this place?"
Rose shook her head, curling her wings around herself back into its skirt form. "I am free to leave if I wish to, but I have no desire to do so." Sky blue eyes glanced at the fountain before them, lost in thought. "I am waiting. Until these springs stop coming, and the flowers all wither away in this eternal illusion." Her way of speaking changed whenever she had that faraway look in her eyes.
Before they could ask any more questions, a poof of sparkles appeared and the black haired doll appeared. Along with her, the thin boy that won the first game also emerged, bloody hand clutching a golden egg. His clothes were in a similar state of ruin to theirs, green eyes reflecting the exhaustion he felt. He was limping slightly, his brown hair in disarray.
The doll seemed surprised to see Nox and his group. 'Done already? But how did you find your way out?' Without waiting for an answer, it continued. 'Oh well, let's get on to the final stage! We're out of time!'
"Out of time?" Nox echoed in confusion. Rose had already melted into the background; out of direct sight from the dolls, who didn't notice the nightingale in their midst.
'Yes, out of time! I will call the others here!' With a small sound akin to a bell ringing, the other three dolls appeared as well.
One of the teenage girls appeared, her two wooden arms full of holes as if the birds used it as their own pecking board. Her face held a number of wounds as well. There was a dull expression on her face as she appeared without her friend.
The baby faced man came as well, with a shockingly large wound bleeding from his abdomen. He stood unsteadily on his feet, swaying to and fro. Nox shuffled away as discreetly as possible, pulling his greedy ability away from absorbing the blood. The other contestants didn't appear.
'The last game is a guessing game!' The black haired doll took the lead again. 'Guess who is Master's favorite! Whoever guesses correctly ends the game!'
All the contestants exchanged a look of dread. This wasn't a simple request. They never met the 'Master,' and the dolls only bickered about their Master's affection between themselves. Getting out might be more troublesome than it seemed.
And there was the whole deal about them being 'out of time' too…
The brunette doll pointed to the teenage girl first. 'You start guessing!'
Fearful, the girl stood there quivering for a few minutes. The dolls urged her impatiently, so with a trembling voice she pointed at the black haired doll. "Then, that one?"
The black haired doll twirled around in delight at being chosen, her porcelain face showing her delight. 'I'm Master's favorite, I'm Master's favorite!' The girl let out a sigh of relief. It was a logical guess, since the doll did repeat that line over and over again.
But the girl overlooked one thing- although the black haired doll said that phrase the most, it might've been its own wishful thinking.
With a quiet click, her leg was replaced with a wooden one. The surroundings descended into silence.
"Uwaahhh!" The girl cried out in shock, staring at her third wooden limb.
Right now, it wouldn't be wrong to say that they were essentially in a human sized doll playground, where they were the real dolls who had no control. But the dolls didn't have full control either- rather, it was the unseen 'Master' and the rules of this space.
Remembering the forced movements of the players from before, like marionettes on strings dancing to the puppeteer's whims, Nox felt his stomach turn unpleasantly.
The thin boy's face became white as a ghost as he stared at the teenage girl's limb. Roxanne turned her face away from the scene, looking queasy.
The black hair doll pouted in disappointment. 'I'm Master's favorite though! Is this game broken?'
The other dolls crowded eagerly, looking at the girl's wooden limb like it was a valuable treasure. 'This means that Master's favorite is me!'
'No, it's definitely me!'
They turned on the baby faced man next, who was sporting a green face.
'Who's Master's favorite?'
He shook his head desperately, refusing to answer.
The dolls collectively frowned.
'Who is it? Who is it?' They urged, spinning around his head in a circle. The baby faced man already had three limbs replaced. A fourth one would mean that both his arms and legs would become doll limbs. Shaking his head, the man backed away, looking around for an escape.
Ding.
A moment later, he puked, wood arms grasping his leg. Nox noticed the wooden chestnut color exposed from the man's short pant leg.
'Refusing to answer will result in the same punishment!' The brunette doll scolded, its small mouth twisted in displeasure.
This time, the ginger haired doll spun to look directly at Nox, its blue glass eyes staring at him in anticipation. 'Tell us then, who is Master's favorite?'
Four pairs of eyes turned in his direction.
...Dammit. Nox took in a light breath, surveying the eager dolls floating in front of him, ignoring Roxanne's anxious look. The black haired doll could be automatically ruled out.
"Can I ask a few questions? Whoever answers best will be your Master's favorite."
The dolls immediately clamoured around him, nodding their heads eagerly. So trials could give players some advantages too. Although, the extent of those advantages was still unclear.
Nox addressed the brunette doll first. "What does your Master like about you the most?"
'Oh...' The doll fell silent for a few seconds before answering. 'Master changes my limbs the most out of everyone.' It was made of wood, after all.
"What about you?" This time he asked the ginger haired doll. This doll had wheat colored skin, giving off a healthy shine almost similar to human skin.
'My singing. He loves my singing voice the most.' It demonstrated with a few notes. The melody drifted pleasantly in the air.
'He likes my dancing!' The third doll said with enthusiasm, twirling in a spin.
Finally, Nox asked the black haired doll. It responded in a cheerful tone, 'Master likes my face the most.' It turned its clear blue eyes towards him, elegant features painted on the porcelain surface. 'Master especially likes my eyes!'
... He was confident in his answer now.
"The one your Master likes the most…" The dolls crowded in eagerly. He pointed out the only reasonable choice. "...is no one. He loves you all equally."
This was the right answer.