"Are you alright, brother? I gave it my all and found the box with the Oracle Cards in record time! Did Cyrene work you too hard?"
"Shhh—keep your voice down, she's coming downstairs." Phainon said, gently nudging Phaethon in the ribs with his elbow.
Cyrene had returned to her usual composure. She hummed a light little tune as she approached with brisk, light steps.
"♪~ You worked hard, Phainon~ Let me see this box... Hm? What's this? There's only a letter inside?"
Phainon pointed to a small paw print at the end of the letter. "This handwriting... looks like it's from one of the little Fairies in the Membrance Maze!"
"Oh? Really?" Cyrene's eyes lit up. "It seems it's been far too long since we last went to play with them!"
"Speaking of which, Phaethon, do you still remember the way to the Fairies' village?" she asked Phaethon casually, though her tone carried a hint of expectation.
Phaethon, ever the carefree one, replied, "Of course I do! Only an innocent child can enter the Membrance Maze—it was the highest honor of our childhood!"
"Haha, that's great!" Cyrene laughed happily. "Well then, no time to waste! Let's set off immediately! Last stop, the Membrance Maze ♪" She finished, squinting her eyes with a smile before turning and heading towards the backyard.
...
In a corner of the backyard, the trio stood before a hollow in a tree.
"This is it," Phainon cleared away the weeds around the hollow. "So, who's going in first... Why are you both looking at me?"
"Because you have the largest build, Phainon. If you can fit, we all can," Phaethon replied quietly.
"Ah, huh? O-okay, then." Phainon scratched his head and crawled into the tree hollow.
"What a reckless fellow," Cyrene remarked, looking at the hollow. "Don't you think so, Phaethon ♪"
"Indeed. So, I should be the older brother," Phaethon smiled. "Let's go. Phainon is probably already waiting for us on the other side."
...
"We're finally in. Mmm~ It really is just the same as always, hasn't changed a bit."
Cyrene took a deep breath, soaking in the familiar atmosphere around her. She gently smoothed her pink hair, which cascaded over her shoulders like a waterfall, a faint, gratified smile playing on her lips.
Phaethon, standing beside her, straightened up and stretched his slightly stiff body, brushing aside some of the vines obstructing his view.
He looked at Cyrene and smiled wryly. "But we've changed quite a lot. I almost didn't manage to squeeze through that hollow."
Just then, a figure appeared at the end of the passage. Phainon stood there smiling, and beside him was a lavender-colored Fairy.
The creature's ears twitched slightly with its movements, its large, round eyes gazing happily at Cyrene and Phaethon.
"You're finally here. I've already asked the Fairies," Phainon's voice echoed in the passage. "The 'Oracle Card' folio is with Granny Village Chief."
Hearing this, Cyrene's eyes sparkled, and she quickly stepped forward. Her gaze fell upon the lavender Fairy, her smile widening. "Well, hello there~ Is that you, Relimem? It's been so long ♪"
"Little white is here? Mem~. And Little Cyrene is here too? And... Little Whitey? Relimem is so happy today, mem~"
The lavender-colored Fairy stomped its feet excitedly in mid-air, then floated daintily in front of Cyrene.
Phaethon rubbed his nose. Even though he'd been called that as a child, he still felt a bit offended by the 'Little Whitey' moniker.
He cleared his throat. "Ahem, ahem. Perhaps we should go find the Village Chief and get the folio back first. We can catch up on the way."
...
A wide, plaza-like open space.
"Chief! Little Cyrene, Little White, and Little Whitey have come back to see us, mem~!" Relimem chirped happily as it flew up to another greyish-white Fairy.
"Ohoho, children, it has been far too long, mem~." Dolimem, the village chief of the Membrance Maze, beamed with a kindly smile, greeting the three standing before her with a warm, affectionate tone.
Cyrene's lips curved into a gentle smile. "Chief, it's wonderful to see you're still so full of energy!" Her voice held respect and fondness for the little Fairy.
Then, as if remembering something, Cyrene quickly added, "Ah, that's right, Chief, the reason we've come this time is…"
However, before Cyrene could finish her sentence, a book radiating a brilliant azure light materialized in her hands. It was the Oracle Card folio, identical in appearance to the "As I"ve Written" item from the game.
Dolimem looked at the folio in Cyrene's hands and said, "Take it, child." Her tone carried a hint of apology. "I am sorry for summoning you back here in this manner."
Hearing this, Phainon couldn't help but feel puzzled, a frown creasing his brow. "Huh? Is something about to happen, Chief?"
The Village Chief slowly shook her head, her expression growing solemn as she began to explain the details to the trio. "Lately, I have received a divine oracle from Oronyx. It told me that a great calamity approaches the world outside…"
As the Chief spoke, Cyrene's gaze occasionally drifted towards Phaethon. However, Phaethon seemed somewhat distracted, his attention not fully focused on the Chief's words.
"If that's the case... Cyrene, what about our plans to journey out..." Phainon's face became a touch more serious.
"I have a proposal. Why don't we have Cyrene perform a card reading for us right here and now?" suggested Dolimem. "Let us consult the oracle. If fate is willing to reveal its hues to us, it would set our minds at ease, would it not?"
"But what if the result of the divination is... less than favorable..." Phainon asked with some worry.
"Then we'll just swap all the cards in the folio for good ones and do the reading again," Phaethon replied out of habit, then froze, seemingly surprised by his own words. "Ahem, my apologies."
"Uh... it's fine? But only a sincere inquiry will receive a response of equal weight." Cyrene opened the folio. "Phainon, would you like to go first? Or…"
"Let's do it together. If Phainon ends up taking all the good cards, I won't accept the result," Phaethon said, unusually earnest. He reached his hand towards the folio.
"Although the order of drawing doesn't affect the outcome, if you insist, brother. Then together it is." Phainon also reached his hand towards the folio.
I wonder what card I'll draw? Phainon is definitely getting the 'Savior' card, no doubt about it.
Please don't let me draw something terrible... Actually, thinking back, my results were always different every time we did a reading before. Meanwhile, Phainon always got the 'Savior'...
Hiss? Why is this card pulling so hard? Feels like it's trying to get away! Did I actually draw the 'Sojourner'? Does that mean I'd have to take Cypher's place getting attacked by Phainon after his rebirth? You gotta be kidding me?
"My, my~ I didn't expect to receive so many responses. Let me see what each of you drew…" Cyrene's voice was full of surprise, but the next moment, she seemed to short-circuit, her little mouth hanging open, unable to produce a single word in response.
Huh? Phaethon stared dumbfounded at the 'Savior' card that had appeared in his hand—and also, simultaneously, in Phainon's hand.
This... this isn't how the script is supposed to go! Shouldn't it be Phainon embarking on the path of salvation alone? How…
RIIIP—
In a flash, Cyrene snatched the 'Savior' cards from both their hands, and before either could react, she tore the two cards in half, then shoved one half back into each of their hands.
(Savior Card: Gah! Cyrene, you fiend! How can you be so selfish? I spit on you!)