When Lucia woke up from her coma, the first sensation was a feeling of constraint all over her body. Her eyes snapped open to an unfamiliar ceiling and simple furnishings. Just as she was about to struggle, she was stopped by a slightly childish voice.
"Don't move around. You'll hurt Big Sis's body if you do that."
"Who is it?"
Lucia turned her head and saw a brown-haired little boy sitting on a chair opposite her, holding a steaming bowl of noodles and eating with relish.
The tempting aroma of the noodles drilled into Lucia's nasal cavity like invisible threads, tickling her taste buds. She swallowed unconsciously, a faint gurgle sounding from deep in her throat.
Noticing Lucia's gaze, the little boy walked over with the bowl. Using chopsticks, he carefully picked up a... half-strand of noodle and gently brought it to Lucia's lips.
"Hungry, right? Eat some."
Lucia's body reacted before her consciousness. Her small mouth opened slightly, accepting the feeding from the boy.
"Delicious! More... Wait! You... you're that brat who can use Healing Magic! Where's Big Sis Blake! I want to see Big Sis Blake!"
"Wait till I finish eating."
Tike polished off the large bowl of noodles in a few bites, then clapped his hands.
Almost simultaneously, Blake, dressed in a maid outfit, walked in and stood respectfully beside the boy with her head bowed.
"Master, I am here."
Lucia's pupils contracted sharply, somewhat incredulous: "Big Sis Blake! Didn't you say you would never become anyone's slave again?"
A trace of humiliation and helplessness flashed across Blake's face. She lowered her head slightly, her voice barely audible: "But if I don't do this, I can't survive."
Lucia's gaze swept back and forth between Tike and Blake, finally fixing on Tike.
"Big Sis, did you lose to this brat? Is that why that uncle's control was broken?"
Blake nodded gently, tacitly agreeing.
Lucia's gaze changed abruptly, flashing with a dangerous light.
Sensing her sister's intention, Blake took a step forward, blocking the space between Tike and Lucia.
"Lucia! He isn't someone you can control!"
(Hmm... I'm not human.)
Tike silently retorted in his heart but didn't forget the business at hand.
"Leave Big Sis Erza's body quickly, or neither Blake nor you will survive!"
Lucia made a face.
"Heh! Believe it or not, I'll take this guy's life right now!"
"Go ahead and try if you can. I will definitely save Big Sis, but when that time comes, I won't show any mercy."
This wasn't a bluff; he truly meant what he said.
"..."
After a moment of silence, Lucia finally compromised.
"I can do that, but you have to prepare a usable body for me. Big Sis Blake won't do; she can't coexist with me."
Lucia had died seven years ago.
On that same day, she awakened her magic, which allowed her to attach her soul to other objects. However, without a host, her consciousness would gradually dissipate.
"No problem."
Tike was prepared. He walked to a corner of the room and lifted a canvas cover.
Beneath the canvas was a female wooden puppet with long silver-white hair.
"I created this with Maker Magic. Make do with it."
"Did you tamper with it?"
"I did."
"Tch, not even trying to hide it."
Lucia curled her lips. However, when her gaze fell on the puppet's face, which was indistinguishable from Blake's, a light gradually lit up in her eyes.
(If I were still alive, would I have grown up to look like this too?)
With a thought, Lucia detached from Erza's body, turning into a translucent phantom floating in mid-air.
Tike's gaze followed, staring straight at Lucia.
Lucia was startled and couldn't help asking, "You... you can see me?"
She was currently in a soul state. Even Master Hades of "Grimoire Heart" could only detect her existence through special magic.
This little boy could actually see her directly with his naked eyes?
Tike didn't answer her question but slowly moved his gaze back to Erza.
(An illusion?)
Lucia temporarily put this question aside, concentrating her mind and slowly injecting her soul into the wooden puppet.
With the injection of the soul, the puppet—now Lucia—slowly stood up. She moved her limbs, revealing a novel and excited expression.
Although it was a wooden body, it moved surprisingly flexibly. There was no stiffness at the joints, just as if she were alive.
She looked down at her new body, her gaze landing on her chest, and immediately showed dissatisfaction: "Hey! Did you make them too small?"
"It's a wooden puppet; what cup size do you want?" Tike rolled his eyes irritably. "Aren't you afraid it'll be uncomfortable?"
"Hmph, Mother Queen's were huge! Father King also said big is good! Of course, I want them just as big!" Lucia retorted righteously, with a hint of undeniable pride.
"Fine, you win. I'll find two apples to stuff in there later."
"I want papayas!"
"..."
Erza, slowly waking up, looked blankly at Tike bickering with a wooden puppet, her brain temporarily short-circuiting.
"What's the situation? Can someone explain?"
---
After listening to Tike's explanation, Erza sorted out her messy thoughts and asked, "So what are we going to do next?"
"Uncle Chill has already contacted the Guild Alliance using the Communication Lacrima provided by Blake. According to their plan, we are preparing to go to Hargeon Port to meet up with people from other guilds. We'll form a coalition army and head to the Tower of Heaven together to rescue all the captured people!"
Speaking of this, Tike revealed an expectant expression.
"Mom Ur will also go. I'll be able to see her then!"
"And your Big Sis Ultear, right?" Erza teased with a smile.
Over these few days together, besides Ur, the person Tike mentioned most was Ultear. Erza could tell he liked them very much.
However, to Erza's surprise, when she mentioned Ultear, Tike's expression froze slightly, followed by a soft "Mm."
He said no more, just took Erza's hand and walked straight out of the room.
Watching Tike close the room door, Lucia turned and leaned close to Blake, putting her lips to her ear and whispering in a voice only the two of them could hear: "Big Sis, do you really intend to compromise like this forever?"
Blake bit her lower lip tightly, forcing the words through her teeth: "Of course not!"
"Need my help?" Lucia asked further.
"No need, I..."
Just as Blake was about to say something, the closed door creaked open again.
Tike poked his head in and casually tossed the empty bowl in his hand to Blake.
"Wash the bowl, then go to town and move bricks."