"So you're tellin me, we were both blessed by the God of our respective races? And that your people worship a false God? Why are you even telling me this?!"
Aveline could only smile as she peeked up above Lyla's perky ears. A small three pulsed inside of a heart.
'Whatever they did, Hika reactivated the system I had made. To think Lyla loves me already.'
Lyla began to drop her ears.
"H-hey! You never had an issue with them before! Are they that ugly to you now?"
Aveline flinched, then lurched forward. She grabbed Lyla's hands.
"Stop it! None of that now. I wasn't staring at them! I was just thinking about something, and they fell into my sight. They are cute!"
Lyla turned a little red as Aveline got closer, but didn't shy away.
"W-well, with what you told me, my sister was also blessed?"
Trying to change the subject, her ears began to perk back up.
"Should be. So you have a twin?"
Lyla shook her head.
"She is a couple years younger. Her name is Anya. I haven't seen her in... hehe, a while."
Aveline had to bite her tongue.
'Her sister is THE Oracle!? So Lyla was the lost sister that never got put into the game?'
Trying to calm herself, Aveline gripped Lyla's hands a little tighter.
"Then let's get you home too! We can find a way to remove your collar and everything!"
Lyla touched the collar, a slightly sad look on her face. Those amber eyes slipped back onto Aveline's.
"If I get this one removed, can you replace it? I'll stop being a slave, but I feel like I'll regret it if I'm not..."
Her voice trailed off as she looked off into the water.
["You should heal her ears."]
Aveline nearly shrieked as a system prompt appeared. The format was different, but she could tell who wrote to her.
'So I can talk to you whenever I want, now?'
["No. Only near holy objects with my energy in them. Such as this lake. I also will not be inside your Soul World at all times."]
Aveline glared at the screen.
'Care to explain my new tattoo?'
She got no response, so she sighed a little before getting to her feet. Lyla looked up, but was immediately silenced by Aveline's fingers tracing her damaged ears.
"I can't tell you why I think this will work, but bear with me. I only want to help you now."
Her hands began to radiate Water Aura. The effect began to slowly spread into the scarred skin. Lyla began to close her eyes as the soothing feeling began to pulse into her body.
"A-Aveline... whatever this is, I think I can get addicted. Don't stop..."
Her mumbles slowly faded into soft snoring as she leaned against Aveline's legs. Squatting down, she was able to pull the taller girl's head into her lap. As she settled, she began to peek through the fur covering the ears. Soft, fleshy, pink skin.
"I think I did a good job as a Healer. Hehe. Will she be happy when her fur grows from these patches of skin?"
Aveline leaned down, kissing the fox girl's forehead.
"I haven't said it yet, but thank you. You will forever be my precious friend, Lyla."
One ear flicked, nearly slapping Aveline, however what shocked her wasn't the ear. It was the heart hovering in front of her face. A small four had sprouted in place of the three.
'N-no way! She's...'
["In love. You made this complicated... I mean, one is knowing. Two is liking. Three is loving, but family love. Four is in love, like she really wants to be with you now. Five... why do you even have a five? Are there actually girls that will get to that point? Possessive, obsessive behaviour?"]
It was Aveline's turn to ignore Hika, though she couldn't stop the spread of red going across her face and reaching the tips of her ears.
["That mark... it is something that will help you. Not just as a power boost, but much more. I will go into more detail... soon. It is hard to talk about, for mow."]
A moment later, the screen broke.
["For now! How the hell did you type with this thibg?! Thing! How do I erase mistakes!?"]
Aveline had to hold her mouth as she nearly burst into laughter. Hika continued to freak out, while Aveline had calmed down enough to enjoy the scenery. Her eyes wandered for a while, the bright lake mesmerizing her until she realized what her hand had begun to do.
"Eh?"
Her thumb was slowly stroking Lyla's cheek as she slept. Her rhythmic breathing entranced Aveline for a moment before her own breath caught. Darkness veiled her eyes, breaking way to show light. From behind her, a deep and booming voice echoed.
"I have felt your prayers, O lowly sheep! You shall bend to my orders, follow my commands and-"
Aveline realized she was in her older form as this voice continued to speak. She got to her feet, noticing an angry twinge in the voice.
"You dare disobey your all mighty God?!"
["Ave- you need- mark!"]
A shattered message appeared in front of her, but it's remnants were enough to explain what she had to do. She took a soft breath before feeling the mark on her back and shoulder.
"Y-you! Why is someone like you here!? That accursed demon should never have reawoken! I-I need my, my Hero! Where is he!?"
Almost immediately, a magic circle was sprung into existence. It's light shown brightly for only a moment, before a young man appeared at the center. Familiar hair and eyes allowed a seething rage to finally be unleashed from within Aveline.
'Murderer, tormentor, evil bastard. I'll cripple your soul!'