Mistress Of The Evil Forest

*****

''...''

I wake up to a still ceiling.

The subtle, flickering light coming from outside the window gently illuminates my surroundings, and for some reason, I have a feeling it is not the moonlight.

''Aurora! Are you awake?!''

Almost as soon as I open my eyes, a blond girl rushes into my field of view, grasping my hand. Feeling that warmth spreading across my body, memories of what happened before I lost consciousness flood back.

So, I frantically spring up and gaze out the window.

Inexplicably, an image of hell comes to my mind. Of that bright, crimson sky, with despair and cries filling every corner of the continent.

Yet, none of that remains.

What my eyes register is a dazzling aurora borealis that stretches far beyond the horizon. The star-filled sky, calming spinning, and... a colossal crack at the zenith of that sky.

''We won.'' Chloe bitterly smiles, patting my shoulder. ''Everything is okay now.''

''...How?''

Ignoring my aching throat, I ask.

Then, as if expecting such a question, Chloe diverts my attention to the slightly obscure desk in the corner of the room. As my head turns, I can't help but feel every hair on my body standing up.

What is this strange sensation? 

''Hi.''

''...!''

My heart tightens. The person—no, the creature before my eyes bears a profound resemblance to that of the void—utter, endless void. It takes the shape of a woman whose long, straight black hair pours into the darkness, melting, churning like molten rivers. It wears a thin, soulless smile, eyes as empty as space itself fixed on me.

And worse, its face is identical to mine.

Somewhere, a familiar feeling remains. Yet, the otherworldly aura the creature emanates screams something other than a mortal.

''Who... are you?'' I inexplicably ask.

''Sit down first.''

The creature's voice, light as a feather and deep as the ocean, rings playfully. Without any other real option, I carefully get off the bed and walk toward it.

Two chairs are placed in front of the table—one for me, one for Chloe.

Looking to the side, I see my best friend's expression—not as confused as I am, but still nervous.

''Now then... let's start with the introduction.'' The creature lightly hums. ''I am Aurora, an entity that has transended mortal.''

...Even its name is the same.

''People used to call me the God of Nihility, even though that's only half true.'' Aurora continues nonchalantly. ''That's my only formal title.''

All of a sudden, a certain doubt in me vanishes. There's nothing too logical behind it, just... it feels right that this person is the God of Nihility. Perhaps the familiarity I have with her also stems from the source of our powers.

Still, many questions remain.

''Half true? And what do you mean by 'used to'? What are you called now?'' Chloe speaks up before I can, but our curiosity is shared.

Should I be glad that this person doesn't hold any hostility? Considering the sort of prowess she holds, I can quite confidently assume that she was the one who resolved everything.

She defeated not only that dragon, but also the moon.

I can ask for the details later. Let's hear her answer to Chloe's questions first.

Subtly weaving her gaze to the side, Aurora sighs, ''People often misunderstand me for the God of Nihility. That entity was said to be a primordial existence, but my origin is a human. It wasn't even real in the first place.''

''What was...?''

''The god. People mistook black holes for a living being—that's all. I did take on the title afterward, however, since I ended up absorbing the power of infinite mass for myself.''

Even as fiction, it sounds ludicrous. The God of Nihility is... black holes?

''But what about the 'used to' part?'' I reiterate the question, to which Aurora seems welcoming enough.

''By the time I truly became worthy of the title, this civilization had long perished.''

Somewhere—just somewhere in her empty countenance, I sense an ounce of sorrow. The way she speaks tells nostalgia, and most importantly, longing.

Perhaps wanting to escape that topic, Aurora gently taps the table, gathering our attention.

''Enough of that. Let's get to the point.'' She says. ''Are you ready to hear it?''

Chloe and I glance at one another. Whatever this person might tell us after this... I'm not sure. What I know is that this must be an important turning point in our story forward.

So, I want to hear it carefully.

''Good.''

Aurora's smile deepens, and as she stares at us,

''Your transmigration was indeed my doing. Everything—down to the details—was intentional, and yes, I am another version of you who has traveled back in time.''

'''' ... ''''

''It's not too hard to understand. To begin with, the summoning process was originally done by Neveah.''

Following where my opponent is looking, I notice a silhouette lying still on Peln's... well, I guess it is Aurora's bed. Either way, I didn't notice she was there at all.

''She's recuperating.'' Aurora noticeably softens her voice. ''But the first time around, I was also called to this world by her with a mission to defeat HIM. It didn't go so well, however, so here I am, giving you a helping hand.''

''Time travel... how on earth did you manage that...?'' Chloe mumbles.

It is novel. If I weren't feeling so attached to this world, I would have stopped myself from being summoned. Putting myself in her shoes, of course. I guess she really is me.

''What exactly happened in the first... run?'' I ask instead. ''Did you fall to the Heavenly Demon?''

Unexpectedly, Aurora shakes her head, ''No. I defeated HIM... but not before losing just about everything to our enemies. That's why I went back—to change my own fate—your fate.''

Regret and determination. Honestly, I'm amazed that such an empty person holds emotions so rich.

''Now you know everything. From this point onward, it is your turn, my past self.'' Aurora utters, ''Go. Defeat HIM and bring forth salvation to yourself and to this world.''

''I...''

''Just so you know, I won't take no for an answer.''

''...I never refused. That was what I resolved from the beginning anyway.''

Hasn't she been inside my head as Peln for the longest time? Thinking back, maybe those scenes that flashed through my mind were her memories.

But she should know my thoughts.

And perhaps so, as Aurora poses a slightly mischievous look.

''I have one last gift for you for the time being, that being Efil's disguise. That demon is weak by itself, so you should have no problem.''

''Sure.''

Right when we are about to have a conclusion to this conversation—

''Wait.''

''Yes, Chloe?''

Chloe flinches at Aurora calling her so familiarly, but nonetheless strong, ''Why didn't you deal with the Heavenly Demon yourself? I mean, you're strong enough to...''

As the blonde's voice fades away, Aurora gingerly sighs, ''The universe is infinitely vast, and its principles are absolute. Even the mightiest deities will find themselves humbled before the very nature they are born in and depend on.''

''...''

''Which is to say that my attempting to swim back on the current of time is not well-liked by the universe. I lost most of my power—a price I was willing to pay. And I gained an opportunity.''

Weaving her ghastly hands together, Aurora takes a brief silence,

''I barely recovered enough to cover the butterfly's mess that resulted from my traveling... but now that I have met you like this—now that you know of my time traveling... what do you think might happen?''

...A time paradox.