The process of magical beast transformation was actually not that difficult. As long as one could hear the note-like messages emitted from the depths of another's heart, they could arrange and combine them to form a "rhythm" or "frequency" almost identical to their own, miraculously turning a human into a magical beast.
The halo atop Elcalan's head was also a signal of her being controlled by the Demon King.
“Ah...”
Another hoarse cry escaped Elcalan's throat, but this time, it sounded even more heartbreaking.
Tina had originally thought the transformation process would go smoothly, but Elcalan suddenly began to resist. This was not a conscious resistance from her currently controlled mind, but a subconscious rejection of Tina's chaos energy.
“I'll kill you, Tina! I...”
A glimmer of clarity returned to Elcalan's eyes. She utterly refused to become a magical beast, clearly understanding what was happening.
Just as every program could have a "bug," Elcalan was clearly one of the bugs in the magical beast transformation process. Her obsession stemmed from a deep-seated hatred for magical beasts, the agonizing pain of being unable to confess her true feelings to her beloved, and her self-blame for her own cowardice. Yet, the root of all this was actually her fear of magical beasts.
Would she end up becoming the very magical beast she loathed?
...
It was highly unlikely.
Tina suddenly felt the transformation grind to a halt, stuck at a certain stage.
A few black lines emerged on Elcalan's face, but that was all. She did not turn into a magical beast.
A minor issue had occurred while coordinating the "notes"... She was currently in a perilous state.
If a mistake was made, she might die right then and there.
No, it was because Elcalan refused to become a magical beast that she was choosing death.
“Let go... of me, Tina... Let...”
Elcalan tried to use her strengthless hands to push Tina's shoulders away, though it was a futile effort.
Tears welled up in her hollow eyes and flowed down.
“Let... go of me...”
Tina frowned slightly.
She had never anticipated this scenario. It was as if someone were launching an attack on an enemy while asleep; Elcalan was doing something very similar.
Ultimately, she still did not understand magical beasts well enough, nor did she understand her own self.
“Elcalan,”
Tina suddenly spoke.
At the same time, she tried to piece together a brand-new fragment from the emotions Elcalan was radiating, forcibly injecting it into her mind through the halo.
It was like pulling her into an illusionary space, allowing her to see a completely different scene.
Then, Tina entered as well, diving into the illusionary space along with Elcalan's consciousness.
It was just like when she had read Elcalan's memories, except this time, Elcalan could actually see Tina inside the illusion.
This place did not belong to her memories either.
It would not happen in the past or the future, and it seemed as though it had never even existed.
They stood in a quiet mountain village.
Ash-gray brick walls, rugged mountain paths, and dilapidated houses nestled under the shadows of wildly growing trees, peaceful and secluded.
Occasional chatter could be heard from the village. As the sun rose, wisps of smoke drifted lazily from the chimneys.
Like a paradise on earth, a place far removed from conflict, it was extraordinarily quiet.
“Where is this?”
Having been pulled into the illusion, Elcalan regained her senses. She looked at the village, then glanced back at the dragon girl, Tina, who was following behind her.
Tina flicked her tail, brushing off a leaf that had stuck to her scales.
“Elcalan, aren't you curious at all about why I know the Silence Style?”
“...I have no curiosity toward magical beasts. Perhaps you are simply a magical beast who is good at learning.”
Elcalan seemed to have forgotten what had transpired in reality. She rubbed her head, trying to regain her rationality, but failed. This place was similar to a dream, except it was far more stable, and the scenes here were entirely controlled by Tina.
Before Elcalan could say anything more, she suddenly sensed a familiar presence approaching from the distance.
Gazing toward the outskirts of the mountain village, she saw a young girl walking slowly along a winding, undulating path.
The girl had long, dark blue hair and wore a grayish-brown cloak. She walked with her head down, picking up her pace.
If not for her familiar appearance, Elcalan would have taken her for a run-of-the-mill merchant or a traveling girl passing through the village by chance.
Yet, she possessed the exact same face as the magical beast standing right beside her.
She was Tina.
If there was any difference, it was that this girl felt incredibly weak. There were barely any traces of magic on her, making her look like a genuine ordinary person, or perhaps a noble daughter who had run away from home in a fit of pique. Curiously, though, she walked in a straight line, like a steadfast pilgrim.
“So magical beasts really were once humans, just as the texts of the Magical Beast Cult claimed...” Elcalan's voice had recovered significantly, though it still carried a distinct fragility and fear, completely lacking her former confidence.
“You don't think this is an illusion of my own creation this time?” Tina asked with a smile, but Elcalan did not answer.
...
As Tina—the Tina of the illusion—drew closer, the Holy Academy shawl she wore underneath her cloak came clearly into view.
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out, one that made Elcalan's eyes widen in disbelief.
“Hello there~ Beautiful girl, where are you headed?”
The person speaking was clearly not Elcalan, yet she possessed the exact same voice.
It was a woman sitting atop a low wall. A bamboo hat shaded her eyes, and she wore shorts paired with a loose gray jacket that revealed her long, pale legs. She looked like a cynical, free-spirited heroine.
Tina looked up slightly.
“Estar, ten kilometers away.”
“What are you going to a place like that for? Haha, that place is even poorer than this one—a total backwater. If you want to buy a piece of candy, you'll have to walk miles just to find a market!”
The Tina in the illusion let out a bitter laugh and looked up, yet her attitude remained optimistic and open-minded.
“The scenery is quite nice. Better than the Holy Capital.”
“What are you going to do there?”
“Bishop Sheffield is sending me there to herd sheep. Want to come along?”
This response amused the woman. She covered her mouth and chuckled for a good while before hopping down from the wall. Stepping up to the girl, she cheerfully patted her head.
“Sure, I'll go with you.”
“There aren't many idle jobs over there. If we're late, there won't be any left,” the girl continued to joke.
“You're the only person I've ever met who could describe exile so elegantly. You're a student of the Holy Academy, aren't you?”
“Ten years on the east bank, ten years on the west. Never underestimate a poor young girl.”
“Haha, I'm Elcalan. And you?”
“Tina.”
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