Unusual alliance

In the aftermath of the battle, the sight of Harley and Kitty, bandaged and bruised, was a stark reminder of our limitations. Their assurances did little to alleviate the guilt that weighed on me, the feeling of helplessness from the day’s events lingering like a shadow.

In the absence of Sissi, a heavy silence enveloped us, punctuated only by the occasional shuffle of discomfort. It was an awkward situation.

“Is your world really using this to sit on?” Ember questioned, her tone laced with incredulity as she perched on the peculiar chair. Its S-shape design, reminiscent of half a guitar, was as much a statement of art as it was a functional piece.

“No, I didn't even know these strange things around here existed. What makes you think that a place just a five-minute walk from the fight is a place to talk?" I replied, my tone laced with confusion and a hint of amusement.

“You didn’t want to go through my portal so I had to pick a random place. Don't worry, I've reinforced this place anyway. And according to my research about your world, the love hotel is the place where the secret things are done. Plus the chains and oddly-shaped objects around here would be very useful as weapons,” she explained with a nonchalance that belied the absurdity of her statement.

She wasn't wrong when she said this kind of place was where 'secret' things were being carried out. Cultural differences and language barriers often led to misunderstandings, but here, they were inconsequential. The language barrier, which could have been a significant hurdle, was rendered moot by the magic that allowed us to understand each other effortlessly. It was Harley and Kitty who chose to learn my language, a gesture of their care that touched me deeply. Their willingness to connect with me in such a personal way filled me with joy and astonishment. It deepened my appreciation for their kindness and strengthened my resolve to pay them back.

I was also confident that the objects Ember referred to weren’t intended as weapons. Her knowledge source was a mystery that piqued my curiosity. Yet, what truly unsettled us was her revelation about learning of our world.

The most pressing question lingered: Did any other manga characters, besides us, know who they truly were?

The tension in the room shifted with the creak of the door. As one, we turned, alert to the intrusion.

“No one is affected by any spell,” Sissi reported to us.

“I told you, I just made them think we were their guests,” Ember said.

Even if Ember was telling the truth, caution remained our watchword. Her use of magic on the hotel staff had raised alarms; we feared for their well-being. Sissi’s investigation was crucial, a necessary step to ensure their safety.

“I'm sorry, I don't have much mana left to help,” Harley’s apology was tinged with fatigue.

“It's okay. How's Kitty?” Sissi gently patted Harley’s head.

“Her wounds are slowly being healed with her energy.”

“That's good then. But why is she lying on top of the bed like that..." Sissi’s voice faded as she took in the sight of a questionable lying pose presented by Kitty.

“Who wants some tea?” Ember offered while taking the liberty of making tea nearby.

“Ah, give me one,” Sissi replied.

The aroma of steeped tea filled the air, a fragrant balm amidst the tension. They sat, sipping tea calmly as if nothing had happened. Harley and I exchanged glances, our thoughts mirroring each other’s. Did they forget there was something bigger going on? Ember, a high-ranking general of the Demon Lord, engaging in the most mundane of rituals - drinking tea.

“Nyan, I know that our story has comedic elements, but is it to this extent?” Harley gently tugged on my shirt and whispered.

"What’s wrong?" Out of nowhere, Ember chimed in, her proximity so intimate it blurred the lines of personal boundaries.

We both shook our heads in refusal.

“Ah yes, one must tread carefully around foes. It would be very bad if this tea was poisoned,” Ember said, lifting the cup to her lips.

“I'm sorry,” I muttered to Harley, my hand veiling my face.

“Eh?” Her expression melded surprise with confusion.

“However, I suppose it's not a coincidence that you're here?” Sissi posited, setting her tea aside to address Ember.

“As expected of a hero, your senses are truly out of this world. However, this is far from a trap. Those two were not my pawns,” Ember remarked.

The possibility of being shadowed was not lost on me; I was well-versed in the capabilities of my manga characters. Should Dragon Island's denizens be here, the Demon Lord's underlings would swiftly pinpoint us. Ember's thoughts, however, remained an enigma. Amidst worry, curiosity, and trepidation, Harley and I stayed quiet and listened to the unfolding drama.

“So how would you like to explain your lone arrival? If I remember correctly, you are supposed to be in a place where security cannot be breached. Not to mention, being here is impossible for you,” Sissi pressed.

“That's something I’m also looking into.”

Knock knock. The sound echoed ominously through the room, sending a ripple of tension among us

“You know my defenses aren’t easily breached,” Ember told Sissi, her voice steady.

With deliberation, Sissi approached the door. We overheard, hearts thrumming with anticipation.

“Nyan, she asked if you needed extra protection?” Sissi relayed the hotel staff’s question to me.

Protection? What protection? Before I could grasp the full meaning, Ember spoke up.

“Of course we do, we need all the strength we can muster in these times.”

The hotel staff handed over four small packs labeled “Protection” to Sissi and left, leaving us to our privacy. I was baffled by the exchange but mentally noted to give the hotel’s service top marks.

“Nyan, how do these work?” Sissi held up a pack, curiosity in her eyes.

“Magic in a pack, that’s amazing! I didn't know your world had such wonders,” Harley chimed in, peering into one of the colorful “Protection” packs.

“That's great, I wish I knew how to use it too,” I pretended not knowing its usage, “but what exactly are we defending against?” I tried to steer the conversation in a new direction.

“The Demon Lord and beings from your other manga,” Ember interjected.

The Demon Lord. The words hung heavy in the air. As Harley had mentioned, the dark forces were on the rise. After…

Wait, wait, hold on, I didn't just mishear, right? Glancing at Harley’s sweaty reaction, I doubted my ears were playing tricks. I didn’t know how to react at this moment. It suddenly felt like a game show with four answers appeared:

A - Overreacting reaction like a viral video thumbnail.

B - Panic and smile in silence. “Haha, what a funny joke. You’ve got me there.”

C - They must have referred to someone else.

D - Yeah, they must definitely refer to someone else.

But no matter what I chose, I had a feeling none of them would be the right answer.

“Beings from other manga?” Sissi asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

Panic surged through us as we heard her words.

“We’re not the only ones who came into this world, are we?” Ember’s gaze, icy and piercing, swept over me and Harley.

The revelation added a new weight to the conversation. We had never considered the possibility that other manga characters might be aware of the truth behind our reality beside us. The existence of more dangerous, enigmatic entities lurking in the shadows had already kept us perpetually vigilant. Now, before us stood Ember, the Demon Lord’s formidable general, who was also believed to be on our trail. Her knowledge of the truth added layers of complexity to an already intricate predicament.

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Harley's temple, her fingertips emitting a faint glow as she channeled her magic. Her hands trembled, betraying her indecision. When I reached out and clasped her hand, it was a silent promise that I was with her, come what may.

“It's not a good idea to stir trouble when unknown threats may be watching, Harley,” Ember warned, without breaking her cold glare.

“Nyan,” Sissi's call pulled my attention, “isn't your real name, is it?”

Her words struck a chord, and the grim reality set in - they knew. Our worst fears were confirmed. Without hesitation, Harley seized my hand, drawing me and Kitty into the swirling vortex of a space portal.

We emerged amidst the lush greenery of my garden, the tranquil sound of the pond’s flowing water a stark contrast to the turmoil we had just escaped. As the magical mark on Harley’s hand faded into nothingness, I couldn’t help but marvel at its design - a sigil not of my making, yet eerily reminiscent of the communication channel from this morning. It all clicked into place; Harley had foreseen the need for a swift escape, crafting an instantaneous, one-way teleportation spell for such perilous moments beforehand.

“I know you might be skeptical, but I'm on your side,” squatting next to me, Ember said.

My scream pierced the air like a startled teenager's. I leaped to my feet.

"How did you..." Harley, equally startled, could only stammer upon seeing Ember and Sissi in my garden.

“You still have the communication dimension open over there,” Sissi pointed towards the still-glowing magic circle.

“Ah…” Harley’s face fell as the realization dawned on her - she had forgotten to deactivate the communication channel.

Like this morning, the workings of the magic communication channel eluded me. My only guess was that they located us through the channel's ability to divulge the positions of those in communication. It was a troubling thought; the very tool meant to aid us had become a beacon for unwanted guests. Despite Harley’s defensive spells, our sanctuary had been breached. A scenario we hadn’t foreseen, leaving us uncertain of our next move.

“I can't presume to know your thoughts, but I'm deeply thankful that my existence and Dragon Island are mere fiction.”

Ember's voice was a soft interruption to my reverie.

“The trees and leaves are bathed in colors, life thrives in harmony, this is truly a beautiful world. And I'm glad that this is the reality,” she mused, her back towards us.

As a gentle breeze stirred the leaves in my garden, setting them adrift like wisps of cotton, I pondered the irony. The comedy woven into the fabric of Dragon Island was meant to be a balm, a respite for readers from the harshness of their realities. Yet, within its pages lay elements that belied that joy - shadows that mirrored the very ugliness it sought to obscure.

Why did a story crafted for laughter harbor such somber threads? Was it to evoke empathy, to etch a lasting impression upon the heart of the reader? I couldn’t be certain. Yet, I understood that, much like the multifaceted nature of reality, a story too bore a spectrum of shades. And Ember, like all characters birthed from my imagination, lived a life painted in those very hues.

In this peculiar twist of fate where fiction breached the bounds of reality, I found a silent solace. The unfinished arcs of characters like Ember, once confined to the margins of Dragon Island, now unfurled in a realm of endless possibilities. And within this absurd new reality, I saw the chance for an alternative narrative - one where the dark undertones of their past could be recast in the light of hope.

"Perhaps doubt still clouds your judgment, but I have my own reasons to protect this world,” Ember said, her tone steady and cold.

She knew I was her creator. While I grasped their traits and problem-solving inclinations, fully comprehending my characters' inner workings remained elusive. For Ember, a character shrouded in cunning, allying with the hero defied her nature.

“And how can I trust you, Ember?” I questioned.

“Action would have been taken at the outset if that were my intent. Hesitation has no place in my strategy,” she responded, her back still turned to us, her silhouette outlined against the fading light.

“And you have no business helping us.”

“Indeed, I don't. This is but my choice, and I’m doing it for myself.”

As she pivoted to face us, her hands outstretched. Harley, ever vigilant, conjured a spell, poised to unleash her power at the slightest provocation. Adorning Ember’s wrists were two sigils of a sealing spell - one dampening her magic’s potency against its caster, the other a binding mark nullifying select spells. Such marks were a mutual pact, set only with mutual consent.

“These sigils, the very work of your comrades, also linked to your hero friend over there. My life rests entirely at the mercy of her blade. Should I make even the slightest move against you, your sorceress companion can easily tell,” Ember disclosed, her gaze unwavering.

Harley grabbed my sleeve tightly as they exchanged gazes.

The seal's authenticity was unquestionable. It wasn't merely a spell but a covenant forged by many. It was her life that teetered on the edge of a knife. For someone whose loyalty was not irrevocably chained to the one she served, the risk of concocting a plot so perilous, wagering her very existence, was not a decision made lightly. Defeating the caster wouldn't sever the bond either; these arcane shackles demanded the caster's living consent for release. Such a gamble was uncharacteristic for a general of the Demon Lord, devoid of any discernible logic.

“A lot of things have happened, will you listen to our explanation?” Sissi interjected.

Left with little choice, I acquiesced with a nod. Together, we retreated indoors, the tangled skein of their tale hanging in the balance of our precarious alliance.