ZZZ:Through the Frosted Mirror

Ellen lay in the vast field of flowers, her arms wrapped securely around IX, who nestled deeper into her embrace. The warmth between them was undeniable, a silent understanding passing between their souls. The flowers surrounding them pulsed softly, their petals shifting in color, mirroring the enigmatic presence of the Aeon cradled in Ellen's arms.

A feeling stirred in Ellen's chest—something foreign yet familiar. A weightless pressure, like the feeling of being observed. Her instincts sharpened, her shark-like senses honing in on the disturbance. Slowly, her gaze lifted to the endless night sky, searching, scanning. And then, she saw it.

Suspended in the void above, a massive, mechanical red eye peered down upon them. It was colossal, overwhelming in its sheer scale. The sight of it sent a shiver down Ellen's spine, not out of fear but out of the sheer intensity of its presence. A head—no, a vast construct of metal and knowledge, an astral computer of incomprehensible design—watched her. Patterns of glowing circuitry pulsed across its structure, the grand design of something beyond mortal comprehension.

The Aeon of Erudition, Nous.

It did not move, nor did it speak. It merely observed, its ever-calculating gaze analyzing the impossible—Ellen and IX, intertwined in an unexplainable bond. A bond that defied reason, that logic itself could not quantify. The being of omniscience studied them as though they were an anomaly in the grand equation of the universe.

Yet, IX did not stir. In Ellen's arms, it remained still, unmoved by the colossal entity looming above. It did not acknowledge Nous' presence, did not so much as glance in its direction. As if the vast world around it did not exist. As if, to IX, only Ellen mattered.

Ellen's grip around IX tightened ever so slightly, her own thoughts swirling. Why was she being observed? What did Nous seek to understand? What was it seeing that even she could not grasp?

And yet, despite the weight of Nous' gaze, Ellen did not falter. Her fingers traced gentle patterns against IX's back, grounding herself in the moment, in the connection that existed solely between them. Whatever Nous sought to comprehend, Ellen had already accepted—this bond, this closeness, was something beyond the confines of logic. Something beyond the paths of the Aeons.

A voice—smooth, confident, and carrying an air of nonchalance—broke through the stillness.

"Hmph. Not bad. I didn't think someone like you would catch his attention. Let alone mine."

Ellen's sharp instincts honed in on the newcomer, her eyes shifting away from Nous. Standing before her was a woman of striking appearance—taller and far more mature than the puppet form most associated with her name. With long ash-brown hair that framed her face, deep purple eyes that held a mix of boredom and intrigue, and an elaborate black, white, and purple corset-style dress, she carried herself with an effortless authority. A large, wide-brimmed hat, adorned with purple flowers, shaded part of her face, adding an air of mystique to her presence.

Ellen took in the detached sleeves, the golden key necklace resting just above the frilled jabot, and the translucent black tights marked with a black "hand" wrapping around one thigh. It was all calculated, precise—an aesthetic choice, perhaps, but one that suited her well. In her grasp was a scepter, shaped like a key, further enforcing the image of a whimsical yet commanding figure.

The woman placed a hand on her hip and smirked. "You should be honored, really. Not only have you managed to catch Droidhead's attention—" she gestured lazily toward Nous, "—but you've also earned my full attention. And that? That's not something that happens often."

Ellen remained still, her arms still securely wrapped around IX as it nestled closer into her warmth. There was no reaction from IX to the woman's presence—only to Ellen, as if nothing else in existence mattered.

Ellen exhaled slowly, her voice flat. "And you are?"

The woman raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed by the lack of recognition. "Herta. Number #83 of the Genius Society. You've probably heard of me. Or maybe not. Either way, that's your loss." She waved a hand dismissively, then leaned in slightly, her eyes narrowing in a mix of curiosity and calculation. "Now, tell me, little girl—what exactly are you?"

Ellen barely had a moment to process Herta's sudden appearance before the woman launched into a rant, giving her no chance to reply.

"Imagine my surprise," Herta began, tossing her hair dramatically, "when I was in my tower, minding my own business, conducting a small experiment—just something to keep myself from getting bored, of course—when suddenly, I get summoned. By the Droidhead himself!" She gestured to Nous, who loomed silently above, its vast, mechanical eye unblinking as it observed the scene. "Of all people, me! Naturally, it makes sense. No one else could possibly comprehend the importance of what's happening here. But still, even I was intrigued."

Ellen remained seated in the field of strange flowers, her arms still wrapped around IX, who nestled against her as though nothing else in the world existed. Unlike Herta, who radiated excitement, Nous remained quiet, a silent observer in the sky, its gaze fixed on Ellen as if attempting to calculate something beyond comprehension.

Herta continued, completely enraptured by her own words. "The Aeon of Nihility—IX—views the universe as nothing but a waste of space and time. It believes in nothing. So much so, in fact, that it doesn't even acknowledge its own existence. It is the literal embodiment of nothingness. And yet—" she jabbed a finger in Ellen's direction "—here you come, and do something impossible. Something so absurdly outside the bounds of logic that even Nous can't make sense of it. And that is why you should be honored, Ellen. Because when something as unfathomable as this happens, even the Aeon of Erudition takes notice. And it didn't just take notice. It came to find you. And it brought me along for the ride."

Herta crossed her arms, smirking. "That makes you something that no one—not even it—has seen before. Ellen Joe, the anomaly."

Ellen, still holding IX close, simply stared at her. The wind rustled through the flowers around them, the only sound between the two before Ellen finally spoke.

"...Huh."

Herta scoffed. "That's all you have to say?!"

Herta's eyes twitched as she threw her hands up in exasperation. "You have the Aeon of Nihility curled up in your arms like she's your daughter, and you have not only the Aeon of Erudition in front of you but also its Emanator—AND THE ONLY THING YOU HAVE TO SAY IS 'HUH'?!"

Ellen remained utterly unfazed, her expression blank as ever. Herta let out a deep sigh, pressing her fingers against her temples as if warding off a headache.

"Of course," she muttered to herself, inhaling sharply before exhaling in a controlled manner. "I should have expected this. If it were me in your position, I wouldn't be able to handle something like this either."

Without a second thought, Herta stepped closer to Ellen, completely ignoring any concept of personal space. She began inspecting every detail of her, scrutinizing her from head to tail, literally. Her sharp purple eyes trailed over Ellen's silver-blue hair before flicking down to her shark tail, twitching lazily against the flowers.

"Hmph," Herta scoffed. "You don't look like anything special. There are plenty of people with animal traits out there. I don't see how—"

She paused, then quickly fired off a series of questions. "When's the last time you went to the doctor? What's your blood type? And what are those markings on your arms? Do they mean anything?"

Ellen barely had time to process the barrage of inquiries before Herta turned her attention to the small figure nestled against her. She reached forward, intent on examining Nihility's form, but the moment she did, Ellen's grip shot out and caught Herta's wrist with a firm but silent warning.

Herta blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before clicking her tongue. "Tch. Fine, fine. I get it." She pulled back, waving off the unspoken threat. "No need to get all touchy about the voidling. Not looking to start off on the wrong foot with a potential ally."

She crossed her arms, but her sharp gaze remained locked on Ellen, curiosity burning behind her deep purple irises. "You're an Emanator of Nihility. The reason why still eludes me, but one thing's certain—you're an anomaly."

Herta turned, gesturing vaguely towards the looming mechanical presence of Nous, who remained motionless in the sky, observing in eerie silence. "Think about it. Aeons are the embodiment of their Paths. They can't stray from them, or they cease to exist. It's an undeniable, fundamental truth. And yet…" She tilted her head, eyes narrowing. "Nihility isn't showing any signs of disappearing. If anything, it's responding to you, forming a connection with you. A bond, even."

She took a step closer again, peering at Ellen as if looking at a living paradox. "You… You're like a sun caught in a black hole's orbit. You should be falling in, consumed by it. And yet, you remain—circling, but never swallowed."

Herta smirked, the intrigue in her voice undeniable. "You are something that even Erudition itself can't fully comprehend. And that… makes you fascinating."

Ellen felt the weight of sleep lifting, her consciousness stirring as reality began to pull her back. The sensation was both familiar and disorienting, like being dragged upward from the depths of an ocean.

Herta noticed immediately. Her keen eyes flickered with both curiosity and frustration as she observed Ellen's form becoming less defined, like a mirage flickering on the edge of existence. She stepped closer, her gloved hand reaching out, but hesitated. "What... what's happening to you?" she demanded. "You're leaving, aren't you?"

Ellen blinked sluggishly, still feeling the warmth of IX nestled against her, even as the world around her felt like it was unraveling. "Looks like it," she muttered.

Herta huffed, clearly displeased. "Tch! Of course, right when I have a dozen questions! No, a hundred! And you still haven't answered a single one! This is ridiculous. I don't even know why this is happening!"

Nous loomed silently above, its great mechanical gaze fixed upon Ellen, watching, studying. Herta, an Emanator of Erudition, had been summoned by Nous itself to investigate Ellen, yet the more she learned, the more questions she had. Why had Ellen attracted the attention of Nihility? How had she done what should have been impossible?

Ellen felt the pull growing stronger, her body fading from this place. She exhaled softly. "Sorry. Guess you'll have to wait."

Herta stomped a foot, nearly losing her balance in her elaborate heels. "Wait? Are you kidding me?! That's not how this works! I am not a patient person! This is absurd!"

Ellen didn't get to hear more of Herta's rant before the last thread of connection snapped.

The world twisted.

Ellen's eyes fluttered open. The familiar ceiling of Ruby's apartment greeted her. The soft sound of rhythmic breathing filled the air. A warm weight rested against her chest. She glanced down to see Ruby still curled up against her, nestled in Ellen's hoodie, her face peaceful in sleep.

Monna and Lynn were also still fast asleep, though their positions had shifted considerably. Lynn was sprawled atop Monna, her glasses dangling precariously from her lips. Monna, meanwhile, was twisted in an almost comical pose, her arm flung out at an odd angle, lightly snoring.

Ellen sighed, running a hand down her face. The dream—if she could even call it that—lingered heavily in her mind. The feeling of IX in her arms, the weight of Nous's gaze, Herta's exasperated voice—it was all so real. But now, she was back in New Eridu, in her own universe.

She turned her head toward the window, where the first light of dawn crept into the room, painting the city in hues of gold and orange. The skyline of New Eridu stood tall, the hum of a waking city beginning to stir.

Ellen exhaled softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Good morning, New Eridu."

Herta stood motionless, her eyes still fixed on the empty space where the girl had just been. One moment she had her in front of her, and the next, she was gone—disappeared to who knows where, leaving more questions than answers. Frustration bubbled within Herta as she clenched her fists, knowing that she'd have to wait for an unknown amount of time before the girl reappeared. And worse yet, there was no guarantee of when or where their next encounter would be.

A deep sigh escaped her lips as she turned her gaze to IX. The embodiment of Nihility remained in the same position it had been in while in the girl's arms, unmoving at first. Then, almost instinctually, IX began to look around. Its movements were slow, deliberate—searching. No, it was searching for something.

Searching for someone.

Herta took a step closer. "Hey."

IX gave no reaction.

Herta frowned and waved her hand in front of it. "Are you even listening?" Still, there was nothing. It was as if she didn't exist. How rude. She had encountered plenty of beings who ignored her before, but none quite like this.

IX continued looking around, its searching movements becoming more erratic. Then, Herta barely caught it—a sound so soft it almost went unnoticed. A whimper.

Her sharp mind immediately latched onto the implications. That thing just whimpered.

The mountain of questions already piling up in her mind grew even larger. Was it… upset? Was it actually reacting to the girl's absence? She wanted to analyze this further, but before she could form another thought, IX's form began to shift.

Dark liquid rippled from its body, its shape collapsing into an amorphous pool of shadow before suddenly launching into the sky. Herta watched in stunned silence as the blackened mass shot toward the looming black hole above, merging with it as if it had always belonged there.

Then, the black hole began to move.

It wasn't random. It wasn't chaotic. It drifted with a purpose, following a trajectory only Nihility itself could comprehend. A destination that no one—except perhaps IX—knew.

For the first time in a long while, Herta was left speechless.

Silence filled the void until a mechanical hum reverberated behind her. Nous, the Aeon of Erudition, had finally decided to speak.

"Document everything. Leave no detail out."

Herta turned slightly, narrowing her eyes as Nous continued. "I will follow Nihility's movement to discern its intended destination and purpose. In the meantime, gather whatever members of the Genius Society you trust. Do not allow this information to spread until we are certain of what we know."

Herta exhaled, placing a hand on her hip. "Tch. Fine. Not like I have much of a choice." A smirk crept onto her lips, despite the questions still racing in her mind. "This is going to be interesting."

As she turned, her mind was already calculating her next steps. There were theories to test, data to analyze, and—most importantly—a certain anomaly to track down.