The Taste of Mom

In response to Alice’s call, the unconscious Elia made no reaction.

Shifting her gaze away from Elia, Alice forced her eyes open and looked around.

All she saw was endless darkness, without even the faintest sound. It was as silent as a vacuum, a silence that made the skin crawl.

Other than her and Elia, everyone else who had been swallowed remained unconscious, all of them falling endlessly downward in postures of descent, toward a bottom that seemed to have no end.

The magic within Alice’s body was nearly dried up. That she had even regained consciousness was already a miracle.

She felt that if she closed her eyes again, she would never open them—just like the others who remained unconscious, falling endlessly.

Until their lives ended, until even their bones no longer existed, forever trapped in this place.

Alice wanted to resist, but her eyelids already trembled as if they might close at any moment.

‘Am I really going to die here? Even though the one from the prophecy hasn’t been found yet, even though I haven’t saved everyone, even though I still have so many things left undone…’

Her once-bright eyes began to cloud again. Alice could not bear the thought of leaving her life behind in such an unknown place. Yet no matter how desperately she tried to open her eyes, the magic in her body had already been consumed completely.

At last, her vision grew weaker and weaker, about to pass from this darkness into another, eternal darkness.

Her consciousness began to blur, and a tear slid from the corner of Alice’s eye.

‘If the prophecy is real… if there truly is someone perfect who can resolve everything… if I truly share a close bond with that person…’

In the final instant before her awareness vanished, Alice began to pray.

‘If a miracle truly exists, please save the others trapped here. I will give everything I have in return…’

As her prayer ended, Alice’s consciousness disappeared completely.

“……”

“……”

Suddenly, though her eyes were closed, Alice felt a dazzling light appear before her. So bright that even through shut eyelids it stung faintly.

Yet she did not dislike this feeling. More than brightness, she felt warmth—like a child returning to a mother’s embrace, bringing peace to her heart.

‘Am I already dead?’

Alice couldn’t help but think so. That place could never have felt warm—perhaps only in the world after death could she feel such comfort again.

She felt as though she could open her eyes once more. Adjusting to the light, she slowly parted them a crack.

And then…

She saw a starry sky bloom where there had been only darkness.

And within the stars, a pink figure was drawing closer and closer to her.

‘Is that the one who’s come to take me? So this really is the afterlife… In the end, I still accomplished nothing…’

“It’s time to wake up~ my cute little Alice ♪”

A sweet voice suddenly entered Alice’s ears, and immediately the strength of vast magic welled up inside her powerless body.

In that instant, Alice’s hazy eyes flew wide open, and every trace of discomfort vanished.

Only then did she realize—she was still in the same pitch-black space, still falling endlessly.

The only difference was that now, colors had appeared. Like a starlit night sky, they illuminated the entire void.

Thinking this, Alice lifted her gaze upward again.

If what had just happened wasn’t a dream, then that pink figure hadn’t been an illusion either, right?

“Are you awake now ♪ my little Alice~?”

The most beautiful face Alice had ever seen appeared before her, just inches away. It was a pink-haired girl smiling warmly at her.

“Mmm…! Mm…?”

When Alice tried to speak, she realized there was something in her mouth. Instinctively, her little tongue flicked out to taste it—then another sweet laugh reached her ears.

“Hehe ♪ It tickles when you lick like that~ But seeing you so lively makes me really happy~”

Looking down toward her mouth, Alice saw that she was sucking on a slender, delicate finger like a baby.

And the owner of that finger was none other than the impossibly beautiful girl before her.

Realizing she was sucking on a stranger’s finger, Alice’s face flushed crimson. She quickly opened her mouth to let go and stammered,

“I’m sorry, please forgive my rudeness. To do something like that when we’re meeting for the first time—it’s truly unforgivable.”

Her embarrassment made her forget to question why such a dreamlike girl had suddenly appeared in this lifeless place.

Just as Alice was about to say more, Edenia pressed a finger against her lips, stopping her.

“That’s not right! This isn’t the first time we’ve met, little Alice~ We’re so close—have you really forgotten me?”

As she spoke, Edenia’s expression turned sorrowful, as though Alice had betrayed her.

Seeing this, Alice panicked, her face showing the same anxious look that Lofiel once had.

Her mind whirled at full speed, searching desperately through her memories for any trace of the girl before her.

But no matter how hard she tried, nothing came to her.

“Um…”

Just as Alice was about to apologize for forgetting, Edenia interrupted again.

“I wasn’t lying when I said we’re close, you know~ And you are very familiar with me too~

But it seems you haven’t remembered who I am yet.

So, let me introduce myself once more ♪

My name is Edenia Trubis Estelle.

You can call me Edenia, or even Little Eden~”

Looking at the smiling Edenia before her, Alice couldn’t shake the sense of familiarity she felt.

It really did feel as if this girl knew her well, and that they shared a strong bond.

But why… did she have no memory of her at all?