Later that day, Molly confronted Alistir.

[Molly]: “I think I've been demon possessed. We need to go to church.”

[Alistir]: “You've met Myllo, haven't you?”

[Molly]: “You knew?!”

[Alistir]: “Yeah. That isn't a demon. You can trust her. I think.”

[Molly]: “I… ok.”

[Alistir]: “She should be fine. What did she say?”

[Molly]: “Stuff about fulfilling the Mechanomicon to heal a rift between us? It was super weird.”

[Alistir]: “I see. So that's how it'll be.”

Alistir then proceeded to explain his encounter with Myllo to Molly.

[Molly]: “Yuck… that's just, like, wrong. It's my body!”

[Alistir]: “Apparently it's hers too.”

[Molly]: “So I'm sharing now? But she can take over me whenever she wants!”

[Alistir]: “I also don't trust her fully yet. I think we must go along with her demands for now.”

[Molly]: “I guess so-”

[Molly]: “...”

[Alistir]: “Molly?”

[Alistir]: “No… Not again!”

[Myllo]: “Ta-Da! I've returned!”

[Alistir]: “Dammit! What is it?!”

[Myllo]: “Again, you're so mean! Didn't you listen to me last time? I'm on your side!”

[Alistir]: “It's not that. You blatantly destroy her privacy! It'll interfere with her everyday life!”

[Myllo]: “Hmm… you have a point. Well, let's just take this time to discuss a plan.”

[Alistir]: “A plan? What is it?”

[Myllo]: “Continue your research with the Mechanomicon. We are playing the long game.”

[Alistir]: “I was doing that already.”

[Myllo]: “You were? Sorry, I didn't know. I can only work with Molly's memories, after all.

[Myllo]: “Our next objective is to get Bailin on our side.”

[Alistir]: “I was thinking the same. He values the harmony and stability of the system. It'll be hard, but he'll be able to work within the system to lessen the influence of our nation's Clergy.”

[Myllo]: “Well, well, speak of the devil!”

[Alistir]: “What?”

[Bailin]: “Alistir? Why is Molly with you?”

—------------------------------ 

There wasn't enough time for Myllo to revert to Molly. That process would take a few minutes and Bailin would know something’s up. She would have to pretend to be Molly.

How would Molly behave in this situation? She's sassy, isn't she?

[Bailin]: “You should know that Molly is far too young for all of this!”

[Alistir]: “S-She just wanted to see her late father's work, that's all.

[Myllo]: “Yeah dude! Mind your own business!”

Alistir almost fainted. What is she doing?! Molly does not act like that!

[Alistir]: “Mind your manners!”

[Myllo]: “That's not how Molly acts?”

[Alistir]: “No!”

[Bailin]: “What is she talking about?”

[Alistir]: “It's nothing.”

[Bailin]: “Well, it's fine that she's in here, just keep an eye on her.”

Bailin grabbed some books and left.

That was close. Bailin is a strong proponent of anti-demon magic, and works closely with the Church. If he found out about Myllo, there would be no end to her persecution, even if she wasn't a demon.

[Myllo]: “Seriously, Molly isn't sassy?”

[Alistir]: “She is, but behaves when she needs to.”

[Myllo]: “Let's get back on topic. Molly goes to the Hero Program in the Capital in just under two years, correct?

[Alistir]: “Yes, that is correct.”

[Myllo]: “Since I am the strength and she is the smarts, she should focus on learning, and me on magic and fighting.”

[Alistir]: “What do you mean? To me, you've been the smart one this whole time.”

[Myllo]: “Molly's just a kid, you know?”

[Alistir]: “Uh huh, and you're not?

[Myllo]: “I'm not a kid, I'm Myllo!”

[Myllo]: “On a more serious note, she has far more potential smarts than me. Trust me on this.”

[Myllo]: “She gets it from our dad. And I get my power from… our mother.”

[Alistir]: “I don't have the slightest clue who your mother is.”

Myllo didn't know, either. The timing of their birth was strange, too. It was so long ago that their dad could still go on ‘vacations’ and walk on his own. Myllo could only ever remember a bedridden father.

[Myllo]: “We could search for clues in the book.”

[Alistir]: “Why would there be clues in there?”

[Myllo]: “I wonder if he left anything behind for us.”

Alistir pondered on that idea. There was no telling what that heretic was thinking. There were blank pages at the back of the book. Perhaps there is a way to read invisible writing?

[Alistir]: “I like that idea.”

[Myllo]: “Well, I'm getting tired. I'm gonna let Molly take over, so guard the body for a few minutes.”

[Alistir]: “...Got it.”

—-----------------------------

Molly came to at a nearby desk.

[Molly]: “What happened? Did Myllo take over again?!”

[Alistir]: “Yes.”

[Molly]: “Gross! What did she do to me?!”

[Alistir]: “Don't worry, I was with her the whole time.”

[Molly]: “...Oh. What did you two talk about?”

[Alistir]: “The Mechanomicon.”

[Molly]: “That book? Again? I know it's my dad's book, but I don't see why we should focus on it!”

[Alistir]: “Don't you want your memories back?”

[Molly]: “Not really.”

[Alistir]: “Don't you… want to change the world?”

[Molly]: “Change the world?”

[Alistir]: “Your dad… he was brilliant. This book will change the world for the better. You cared deeply for it before you forgot. I believe he left it for you to use.”

[Molly]: “Me?”

[Alistir]: “He might have meant for you to continue his work.”

[Molly]: “That's not for him to decide!”

[Alistir]: “I think he knew that.”

Right there was when Molly realized something. The book would be used by someone regardless. If she threw away her father's invitation, it would be like wasting this… gift. A gift to become a part of something bigger. For her to make a difference. For her to make a mark on the world.

[Molly]: “So… I can change the world and become awesome and famous and rich?”

[Alistir]: “Yes, pretty much.”

Molly felt a swelling in her chest. A chance to be a hero, right before her. A grin began to form across her face. 

She would fulfill the challenges. She would become strong.

She would go down in history.

And makes everyone's lives much better and easier. That too.

[Molly]: “Ali.”

[Molly]: “I'm excited.”

[Alistir]: “You are? So, you're going to help out?”

[Molly]: “Yeah.”

Alistir remembered that grin on her face. It reminded him of that smirk that the author used to make.

But something was off with it.

At the time, he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

[Alistir]: “Follow me.”

—---------------------------------

Alistir took Molly to an unremarkable ditch.

[Molly]: “Ali?”

[Alistir]: “Look away.”

Molly looked away. She heard digging that gradually got muddier as he went deeper.

[Alistir]: “You can turn around now.”

What Molly saw confused her. A blue and silver cloak or cape, without a single smear or stain on it. Beside it was a pair of dirty glasses.

[Molly]: “Alistir… what's in that hole?”

[Alistir]: “You probably already know.”

Molly stepped back. This is where he was? Here?!

Her throat started to hurt as sadness began to well up within. How many memories did she lose with him? Shouldn't she be crying?

[Alistir]: “Well, if you're going to finish his work, you might as well take these.”

The cloak and glasses were too big at the moment, but Molly thought that she could barely fit by the time she went off to the Hero Program.

This is where her journey begins. A grand adventure to change the world, and to be its hero.

Molly's excitement began to overcome that bit of sadness. Her heart began to race. Her eyes glistened in the moonlight.

She started giggling into the night sky.

End of Arc One