[Major Spoilers for "An Alchemical View on the Presence of Deities in the Universe"]

The room was filled with a flash of light, entering every small crevice and corner, chasing out any darkness. In the center, there sat Edward, his calm demeanor was overshadowed by his maniacal cackling.

Auria came bolting through, smashing into the door with her shoulder, “Dad, dad, don’t do it! It isn’t worth it!” She whined through the door, still trying to unhinge it.

“Don’t try it, Auria, I’ll bring your mother back, just sit tight there!” Edward exclaimed before turning his attention back to the transmutation circle that surrounded him.

Edward bit into his hand, hard enough to make himself bleed and began to fill his chalice with the blood. He closed his eyes before pouring it all over the circle, the chalk turned to blood and his ingredients began to levitate around him.

Edward’s eyes were filled with such wonder, he had never seen such an amazing sight in his life, “Ah yes, it’s finally coming to fruition!”

As soon as it began, the light faded. His transmutation circle had failed, and just as it had, Auria finally broke through the door.

“Dad! Dad, no!” Auria cried out as she ran to Edward, “Dad, dad, it’s…”

Edward looked to Auria, his face a blank mess, “Oh, Auria, my daughter, I’m sorry… Your mother isn’t coming back…” He murmured as he just faded to dust.

“No!” Auria whined, “No no no!”

Auria stood in the transmutation circle, “I don’t care what it takes, bring back my father! He’s my father and he’s all I’ve got left! Bring him back to me! Take whatever you want from me!”

Auria dropped to her knees, eyes full of tears, and placed her palms on the circle, she’ll give whatever she needs to… To bring her father back, it doesn’t matter. She closed her eyes and began to think. however, as soon as her palms made contact with the circle, she was whisked away elsewhere.

Upon opening her eyes, Auria was greeted with a sight she was unfamiliar with. If she looked to the sides, up, or down, she just saw stars, she saw the cosmos, however, standing right in front of her was a tall woman, sitting in a cage.

Auria took a few steps forward, towards the woman, “Excuse me… Where…” Auria sniffled, “Where am I? Who… Who are you?”

The woman looked back to Auria, “Another human… Here to transmute a person, I presume…”

Auria was taken aback, what was this person? She obviously wasn’t any ordinary person, so what could she possibly be?

“I… I just want to bring my father back! He’s all I have left, I don’t wanna lose him,” Auria explained, “I don’t care what it takes, I just want him back…”

“Miss Crane…” The woman said, “Come closer, won’t you?”

Auria complied. She wiped her eyes and listened to the woman, though she did still sniffle a few times here and there.

“You said anything, right?” The woman asked.

Auria gave a simple nod, “Anything,”

“Then from now on, in exchange for the life of your father, your soul, it will be mine,” She said, “When you die, you will spend all of eternity with me, do you accept?”

“Yes!” Auria exclaimed, “I accept! I accept that!”

“Then the contract is signed, your father is waiting for your swift return now… Run along now,”