I snapped ake, half-formed memories of curses, pain, and gunshots flashing through my mind.

A suffocating scream disappeared in my throat as I sat up, and the dryness of my throat turned the sound into a hoarse cough. When I woke up from sleepiness with a blink, tears welled up in my eyes, and it took a while for my vision to become clear.

I was in ...... Bedchamber? Everything in a room without lights is a soft white and gray, giving the room a bland, professional feel.

There was a huge widescreen TV hanging on the wall across from me, and the bedside tables were on either side of the bed I was on. The wall to my right was covered with curtains from top to bottom, and it was a large window. Several watercolors depicting pastel landscapes were placed around the room, helping to complete the small furniture and a few lamps. There were two doors in the room, one of which was open, but I couldn't see where it leads.

There was an IV stand next to me. Hanging on it was a bag of blue glowing liquid, and a thin tube led from the bag to a needle on my right arm, just under the rolled-up sleeve.

Confused, he found himself wearing black long-sleeved pajamas with a purple rabbit head pattern repeated on the pajamas. And, I also have a white furry thing sitting on my lap. It almost looked like a stuffed animal, like a rabbit, but—

[You have fifteen pending notifications!] ]

The blue translucent message made me jump slightly, and the figure sitting on my lap moved, the fox's tail spread, and Selina stood up. Her crescent-like pupils looked up at me, her drooping ears twitching, and her tail began to gently swing back and forth behind her.

[Good morning, Mai,] her soft, clear voice echoed in my head. [Glad to see you wake up.] ]

I looked at Selina and then at the room around me, and a dozen questions came to mind. One of them rose from the ground and burned so violently that I felt my heart beat hard. I took a deep breath and ended up coughing again as the air exacerbated the dryness of my throat.

[Water for you,] Selene instructed me.

I reached for it with my left arm, and—

I stopped, looking down at my left arm with wide eyes.

I have arms.

Emotions began to boil inside me, rising from my chest to my throat. I pushed them down desperately, grabbed the water bottle with trembling hands and opened it. I hurriedly drank some of the water, some of which ran down my chin, and Selina nodded slowly.

[Okay.] Now, I'm sure you have a lot of questions -]

"Shelter," I interrupted. "Is the shelter alright? Lily is ...... Is it?"

My heart was beating wildly, and despair made me tremble. My memory became blurry, and the entire battle at the shielded station became blurred. I know I pressed the button, but what happened after that? Has the shelter been saved? Was the plan a success?

[The shelter is good,] Serena was quick to reassure me. [You successfully rebooted the station and restored power to the emergency shield.] Despite the severe drain of the battery, the shelter is enough to last a day in low power mode. However, it turned out to be unnecessary, because shortly after the shield was reactivated, the usurpation was lifted and the shelter was rescued. ]

I stared at Selina, but the stuffiness in my chest didn't go away.

Refuge...... Rescued?

It doesn't make sense.

No, it does, but it can't be that simple, can it?

"But what......" I fumbled, squeezing the water bottle tightly and starting to crumple it. We're surrounded...... Attack on Arcadia...... Hmmm......"

I stammered, fidgeted, and tried to put into words the hopeless uneasiness of not being able to leave my body.

[Mai," Selina whispered, her voice soft. [You restart the shielding station.] You saved them, and some magical girls saved you. You fight with everything you have, and you win. You did it, Mai. You saved your friends and hundreds of others. Now it's all over. All. ]

Slowly, as her words deepened, my heartbeat began to slow and the tension disappeared from my body. At the same time, I felt the emotions churning in my chest begin to boil, and I looked at the bedroom door.

"Is there anyone out there?" I didn't believe my voice and said to Selene.

[No, it's just us now," Serena replied.

I nodded and took a deep breath.

Then I started sobbing.

The memories of the battle, the memories of my stomach being cursed mixed up, the memories of trying to keep Brian safe, the memories of knowing that my friend was about to die, the memories of my arm being twisted and crushed, the memories of cutting it off, the memory curse of my desperate battle against the enemy, the last words I said to Selina...... All of this seemed to be flashing through my mind at the same time, and it was just too much!

Every moment was filled with constant tension, like shards of glass scattered in my heart, digging deeper with each passing moment. Every breath was measured, but not a single one completely filled my lungs.

A kind of despair? In fact, at every moment I have a clear, indisputable goal in front of me, pushing me forward like never before. But now it's all ...... Gone. I woke up and it was all over like it had never happened. I know it's stupid and I should be glad everything went well, but I just feel empty.

What did it leave me?

So I sobbed. The cough doesn't stop. Selina assured me that there was no one around, so I allowed myself to give in. Every time I thought I was almost done, a pang of empty pain would echo in me, and I would start all over again.

I don't know how long I cried, until finally I was exhausted. I felt all my strength disappear with tears and my body trembled. I wiped my eyes and looked up at Selina with a sniff. She lowered her head and leaned limply on the bed with her tail.

[It's okay.] You've been through too much, too fast. I apologize. I don't know how best to comfort you. If it helps, know that every day as a magical girl isn't what you're experiencing. ]

Magical girl. That's right, I'm a magical girl now......

It's strange just to think about it. Maybe it's because I've never shapeshifted or used magic, but I don't particularly feel like a magical girl. Sure, I have heads-up monitors, but even then, it doesn't feel any different.

I absentmindedly glanced up at my health and mana bar, and found that while my mana bar was full, my health was only 83%. Considering the extent of my injuries and the fact that I still have a vein left in my arm, I don't think it's too surprising. But it does make me wonder......

"Serena," I frowned, looking at the glittering liquid in the IV bag, "what...... What happened? Where am I? ”

[Hmm...... Maybe we should start with the last thing you remember? ]

"I ...... Well. We fought in the shielded station, and I ran to the terminal. And then..."

I trembled and put a hand on my chest. I groped for the wound that should have been there, but felt nothing but the softness of my pajamas.

"I was hit...... But I kept pressing the button. After that..."

The thought of the conversation with Selina makes my throat tighten. I was in a semi-coma from my injuries, I know now, but what I said to Selina made my face heat up. To make matters worse, I didn't know how to talk about what I was going to do when the curse surrounded me. At the time, it made sense, but what do you say now?

"I...... The glass dome shattered," I concluded, skipping the part, hoping that Selina wouldn't bring it up, "and some magical girls fell. They cleared the curse with magic and then ...... Put me to sleep? ”

The last part of the memory, especially what the magical girls had said, was blurred, but Selena still nodded to me, her tail wagging excitedly.

[The Guardian who saved you wants to have a few words with you. Selene clarified. [A lot has happened during your coma, and there are some things that we need to discuss with them. In addition, you will also need to unlock astral transformations, which they have the ability to do. ]

I hesitated. They went out of their way to save me, and I know I owe them a lot.

[These aren't just the Guardians, Mai.] They are a commando team, a team that has signed up to become an elite defense force in Arcadia. What's more, E

o

Machi

a is the man who sent them, and he trusts in them.

Dark Magical Girl ......

I shivered, and Selina tilted her head at me curiously.

[What's wrong?] ]

"It doesn't feel real," I admit calmly. "None of them. I don't feel like a magical girl, like I'm working with A

athema fights the same. It's as if everything was just a dream. ”

[A certain amount of separation is to be expected,] Selina bowed her head. [It's common for new Guardians to struggle with their new identity, and it's no surprise that after all that you've been through, you're not feeling well.] If you wish, we can hold off talking to the Guardian while you deal with recent events. There is no particular rush and this hotel room is for use as you see fit. ]

I bit my lip and thought about it. Sometimes a breath sounds good. Everything was one thing after another, and I never really had time to think about what it all meant for the long term. I mean, I usually only spend one day at a time anyway, but that changes everything......

Or did it? Does being a magical girl really make any difference? I mean, I should keep going out and fighting monsters,

I'm still just...... I. Am I not?

I realized that the problem was that I didn't know what it meant to be a magical girl. Sure, I know what it means to fight the curse, and I know some of the activities they participate in, but what does that really mean for my daily life?

"Hmm." I licked my lips. "Can I talk to the Guardians now? I really want to know what's going on. ”

[Totally justified,] Selina nodded. [Outside this room there is a living area with chairs and sofas that we can use to talk.] Should I contact them now, or do you want to take a few minutes to freshen up? ]

"I ......" I stopped myself, frowning in confusion, my stomach suddenly rumbling, the hollow of hunger opening up inside me. I bit my lip and tightened my abdominal muscles, desperately resisting the sensation. I lifted the bottle in my hand and quickly drank the rest of the water, hoping it would dispel my hunger pangs as usual.

[Ah, of course, you've been treated by magic.] Food is needed to replenish the body's reserves. I can ask the Guardian to bring some food. Do you have any preferences? ]

"No, it's okay." I said quickly. "I can get some later."

The debt I owe to this group of Guardians is beyond my ability to repay, and if that wasn't bad enough, it's clear from the room I'm staying in that it's not a cheap hotel. I don't know what the price to pay, but—

[nonsense,] Selina shook her head. [You need to eat, wheat.] Magic always has a price, and the price of receiving magical healing is that your body needs nourishment. While the nutrients you get from IVs help, there's nothing better than real food. And, you've been sleeping for a week, so-]

As my stomach fundus was descending, I missed the rest of what Selina said.

I blinked a few times, and her words rang in my head. My heart stammered, and then began to speed up as these hints flashed through my mind. I felt my body tense and I gasped, terrified.

[Mai?] Selina gasped. [Your vital signs-]

"A week?" I whispered numbly. "I've been sleeping for a week?"

[Today is the seventh day, but don't worry! Guardian Command and Commando assisted me in crafting a proper cover story for your disappearance. ]

My heart beats incessantly as I look at Selena. Even as I tried to calm myself, I could feel something cold slipping through my lungs, a transcendent fear enveloping my heart.

"I, uh......" I stammered. Yes...... Does it work? Has anyone tried making a phone call? ”

[Of course, we took the initiative to contact your family.] Selene responded. [Now, they believe you injured your leg while saving Brian and are recovering in the hospital.] We could have discussed this more with the commandos, but the story seems to work. Your father calls twice a day to ask about how you are doing and when you can be discharged from the hospital. Currently, he believes that you are being held for magical healing from the Guardians, as the wound proves to be problematic. ]

I stared at Selina and the story made a lot of sense, I injured my leg and walked into the shelter on the first floor, but that's not the problem. I tried to tell myself that everything was going to be okay and that I could handle it. Really, things can't be that bad. I left for a good reason, didn't I?

Closing my eyes, I forced myself to breathe slowly and steadily. The cold feeling of doom never completely went away, and the tense tightrope wrapped around my body, but it didn't matter. I'm used to having trouble breathing and a tight heart. It's not something I don't know how to deal with.

Selina began to speak, her voice a little hesitant. [I know we've been together for a short time, but if there's anything wrong, you can tell me.] Of course, it's your decision, but I'll help you with anything you might need. ]

I cringed a little inside and I realized that I had allowed myself to slip. Soon, I opened my eyes and forced myself to smile at Selina and concentrate on relaxing the muscles in my face. With a little bit of force, I forced myself to relax my posture.

"Sorry...... I was just a little surprised, "I lied." "Seven days of sleep is a long time. I'm afraid this will raise suspicions. ”

[Ah...... Well, don't worry about that. If I say so myself, the cover story we made up is pretty good. ]

As Selina spoke, I kept an eye on her tail to see if they deviated from their normal expressions. They never stopped rocking back and forth gently as they usually maintained, and I slowly breathed a sigh of relief when I nodded to Selina.

"Okay...... So can you find the Guardian? ”

[Of course.] I'll ask them to bring a variety of food so you can choose. ]

I opened my mouth to reassure Selene that I was okay, but she had already jumped away. She made a quick two leaps to reach one of the two doors, then jumped in like nothing, her movements only slowing slightly as she made her way through.

I sighed and jot down the fact that I had to find a way to repay the Guardian for the food he bought me. I started to get up from the bed and slowly put my weight on my feet to test the strength of my muscles. It was only when I was confident that my legs would hold up that I stood up and put some of my weight on the IV pole, just in case.

The hardwood floor was cool on my bare feet, and I shivered as I walked to the door. The IV stand has small wheels attached to it, so I carry it with me, not sure if I can remove the thread from my arm.

When I reached the door that Serena had walked through, I was able to see a bathroom through another doorway. It's huge, and the countertops are all tiled and look expensive-looking marble. It has a shower and a bathtub large enough to accommodate multiple people. How expensive is this hotel exactly. I walked into the room, held my breath, looked in the mirror, and turned on the light almost nonchalantly.

I cringed. His hair looked particularly messy, and his eyes were red and swollen from crying. Maybe it's my delusion, my face also looks very thin.

The pajamas I wore fit very well and were very soft to the touch, which was ......

I was healed by a magical girl and I was given a change of clothes.

My jaw clenched tightly, my teeth ached, and my throat contracted in panic because of the meaning of the words. I carefully lifted my left sleeve, only to find ......

But what does that mean? Magic healing only affects the most recent wound.

This means...... It should be fine, right?

I bit my lip and fidgeted in front of the mirror for a moment before turning on the faucet and starting to wash my face. My heart was still pounding, but I wasn't sure what I could do other than prepare. So I washed my face and wet my hair, hoping it would make me look less rough.

When I'm done, I make sure to comb the edges of my hair to help hide my right eye. Hopefully this will make them more comfortable talking to me and avoid them staring at me.

Satisfied, looking at least a little better, I left the bathroom, opened another door to the bedroom, and walked inside. When I entered the new space, I stumbled a little and my jaw dropped.

It's big and obviously expensive. I was in a living-room-like area, surrounded by three dark leather sofas and a glass coffee table, surrounded by knick-knacks. There is also another large TV above the fireplace, and a number of small coffee tables dot the room, decorated with sculptural art lamps. Next to the table is a small Xiaoice box, and elsewhere there is a countertop with a fine coffee machine, microwave and assorted cups.

The door to the other bathroom, which looks like a jacuzzi, and the shutters are drawn on the large window on one side of the room, all of which indicate that this is a very nice hotel, but expensive.

I've been here for a whole week?

This...... How can I afford this? I'm already indebted to the magical girls who saved me, and it's only adding insult to injury. If that wasn't bad enough, the glowing blue liquid in my veins showed that they were clearly spending points on me, but-

Await. I have points now, too.

I felt my eyes widen. No, I have to have a lot of points. When this is all over, the system should reward me for everything I do. I got a reminder saying I have fifteen pending notifications, so some of them have to be rewards, right?

Before I could open the status menu, Selina reappeared, jumped in the door, jumped onto the table in front of me and sat down.

[Well, the Guardians have been notified, and you can talk to them in ten minutes.] Selene said, with a hint of dizziness in her voice.

"10 minutes?" I asked.

[Well, I guess before we talk to them, you should take a look at your notification!] Selina said, her tail wagging excitedly behind her. [Looking at all the rewards you've received should make you feel like a real magical girl!] Also, I think by looking at them now, you can ask the upcoming Guardians any questions that may arise. Their advice on how to use your points can be very valuable. ]

I hesitated before nodding. I don't want to owe them more after everything they've done for me, but Selina was right. I don't really know what I'm doing or what my future holds. Any help they give me is invaluable.

[Great!] Selene cheered. [So let's get started.] ]