*
"..." (Lastia).
Pelenia did something, but Lastia didn't know what. The Remnant's resistance weakened and the orb ran through its core, it had multiple forms. When it was the black death embodiment of fog, every bit of mist was its core. When it turned into that humanoid salamander Trace, it was far more similar to a normal Trace, containing a core.
The core contained magic logic circuits, it was essentially their brain and the means to process their own skills into phenomena. It was more evident in stronger Traces because they had a lot more advanced magic logic circuits to centralise. It was a means of efficiency and protection, keeping it in one location meant that it could all be destroyed at once, or not destroyed at all if the opponent missed.
Traces don't usually have blood, so they don't have need for a heart or brain. Thus far, Lastia had been defeating them by destroying their bodies so thoroughly that their regeneration could no longer cope with the damage, which ends up in them dissolving into the air. The Remnant having a core wasn't something she was aware of either, the orb she created had disintegrated as it melted through the monster's exterior and reach the deepest ends.
***
"... There's so much life around here. It looks like we're back to where it a all started." (Pelenia)
{Gratitude} was her intense longing to return a favour, mostly by way of healing. To return something to its 'ideal' state, so it brought her and the Remnant back to one year in the past. Who was this ideal for? She deemed it ideal for the world, but was that really the case? Did the world up and decide, 'these humans have to be saved'? She was the one who decided what was ideal, she was now the world.
Her own existence blinked between imaginary and concrete, breaking the rules so haphazardly caused her being to be in the grey zone. No longer black nor white, distinct nor ubiquitous. The Remnant's fist lands on her torso, her body takes the brunt of the attack, travelling along her spine and into her mind.
"Nothing." (Pelenia)
She was now the world and vice versa, before her existence dissolves into the imaginary sea, the resting place of concepts, she will defeat the Remnant with absolute power. Her lab coat and dark blue one piece dress had turned black. Frills extended and grew from her wrist and ankles. With a single leap, she escaped its sight and launched a single punch. A tremour vibrated across the city for a short while before settling down.
The Remnant had completely disintegrated. Perhaps her body too, it begun to fade. Her flesh bubbled and dissolved into the air, escaping into the unknown. She didn't feel anything, her entire body was vanishing. Ever since she used her magic to return to the past, she knew it had been a one way trip.
"If the world itself had a will, whether it's an individual or a gestalt... I'm going there.
If we ever meet someday, you can count on me." (Pelenia)
She spoke to no one in particular. Out of her sight, a younger Pelenia caught a glimpse of her. A beautiful lady in a black coat that dragged to the knees, underneath lay an elegant dress full of frills below her exposed clavicle and neck, painting an intricate pattern around the edge. Its texture was soft and silky, yet it clung to her skin and accentuated her somewhat noticeable curves.
With a single blink, she was gone. This Pelenia would realise the threat before it was too late, and go on to get help from other residential zones. The black death embodiment of fog was safely defeated.
***
So was it goodbye? Lastia pondered. She was ready to sacrifice herself too, to complete the final step. She had complete trust in Pelenia to keep her safe when that happens, when she loses her memories. Instantly concentrating the remainder of this Lastia's lifespan into a single moment, using the memory wipe of the curse to relieve her mind of the immense burden.
A remnant of the orb is left, compared to before it only had the outer surface left. Its contents were empty, like a bubble. Pelenia vanished, Lastia wasn't even aware that she had merged with the world. Was it truly possible to save her? The city was still in ruins, if Pelenia changed the past, she had simply split it into another path. If Lastia had simply forgotten about Pelenia, which the curse would inevitably cause, the world would become consistent and the timelines would merge. There would be no dead city, this residential zone would be as lively as it was a year ago.
However, this Lastia wanted to remember her. She would go on to build a simple grave outside her home. Arriving back in zone 2A in late afternoon, she was greeted by the hugs of two individuals. She didn't know them, but it felt unbearably warm. Her arms wrapped around their backs, cherishing the moment. Did they not mind the sweat and grime that had accumulated in her clothes?
Even if becoming a magical girl could keep one healthy from disease, that didn't mean that they were automatically sanitised by magic. When she transforms back to normal, the sweat and other fluids would remain on her skin. Her clothes would be clean but that didn't safeguard her skin.
"... I'm back." (Lastia)
She was too exhausted to question anything. These two could be hugging the wrong person for all she knew, but it didn't matter to her. The affection coming from them, she could feel it regardless if it was directed at her or not.
"Welcome back, Lastia." (Sariel)
"Did you have fun, Tia?" (Arin)
She silently calmed her heart, knowing they were the right people. All she had on hand was a thin wallet with a card, a minimal amount of cash and scraps of paper with information written in them. This Lastia wouldn't discover their ability to instantly memories information, since there was no particular need for good memory on this trip.
"Yeah, I did." (Lastia)
A flower bloomed.