Chapter 26: Abrupt Transfer.

  Guanyu couldn’t react in time, as Nemu and Celia vanished. Sighing, Guanyu went to go read, as she assumed that her wife would, as always, solve Nemu’s sleep mystery.

  In A Different, Familiar Place.

  Nemu: “Celia, did you know…” Her words stopped there.

  Celia: “I don’t want to hear this, Nemu. You know that.” She interjected in a weak tone.

  Returning to a location that she never wished to see or visit again, Celia was back in that empty void, where all Mana flowed. Now a Highest Goddess, Celia was able to see even more streams and shapes of Mana, making the darkness practically no longer exist in her vision.

  Nemu: “Denying yourself is… would be your greatest sin, Celia.” She seriously scolded.

  Celia: “How can I not? A sin… this sin is one that, to continue my life, I shall wholeheartedly accept.” She replied with an upset tone and expression, not resolute in her words.

  Nemu: “Accept it, your reality, you must do this. Or you will cease to exist in time. Or rather… this you, a large portion, will be erased.” She lectured with a sigh.

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  As Celia wallowed in her emotions, Nemu played with the Mana surrounding them. Seeing this… Celia felt even further pain.

  Nemu: “I came to terms with who I am long ago. But…” She spoke with a wistful tone, leaving the second part of her sentence unfinished.

  Celia: “…”

  Nemu: “I did that too late. From my resistance, I kept myself, what I was and am, but lost the position that I was born with.” She continued with an eerie smile, now looking at Celia, gazing into her very soul.

  In the next second, Celia was granted Nemu’s memories, her regrets, what she felt and how Nemu lived her life prior to meeting Ruina. A suffering… similar to what Celia has experienced before, making it all the more painful to be given.

  Nemu: “I tell you this now, reject yourself for long enough, and this burden will be passed onto someone else. I know who you are, so I shall add… it will, of course, be another woman.” She warned, not looking at Celia, playing with the Mana once more.

  Celia: “…”

  Nemu: “Don’t make the same mistake that I did, Celia. This identity isn’t something bad, nor does it invalidate your personhood.” She further warned, softer this time.

  Celia: “Can Mana… truly be alive, be a Human, a person?” She asked with a shaky tone.

  This… was what had been hidden from me? Celia is… Mana, a person originating from it. Unique, strange, though… I don’t share Celia’s confliction over this.

  Nemu: “Stop getting hung up about yourself, what you are. When you accept your identity, nothing will change. We’re two of a kind, but that doesn’t make us any lesser or more than our family.” She answered with a smile.

  Celia: “…Truly?” She replied with a hopeful expression, wanting to believe this more than anything else.

  Nemu: “Of course, why wouldn’t this be the truth? Ah, Celia, if you ever tried to get any of your wives pregnant, your offspring will be of our race.” She replied with a haughty laugh.

  Celia: “( ’-’ ~)”