At Roy’s house, Alice sees him sitting on the sofa.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqjR5AEGLf 維尼

“Roy? Where’s your mom?” Alice wondered.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6uc9yCufG 維尼

”My mom went to sleep early today. I think now is the perfect time to tell me about your journey,” Roy said, he fold his feet.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLPDR0s3LI 維尼

Everyone goes upstairs and Alice told Roy everything that happened on her journey in his private room while Phoenix stands watch near the window.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5vChTHkwi 維尼

“Transported to another realm? Does it really exist? I thought that other realm isn’t real,” Roy said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcRO1BbroE 維尼

“It’s true. The world was more than you may think. In fact, there is more than one world. Blue Vine came from the Night realm and he is not a Human,” Alice explained.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡClGdGMAokf 維尼

“Really?” Roy wondered.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcSXwt4eay 維尼

“Yes, I am. Hold on a moment,” Vine said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Uf5mpdKBw 維尼

He struggles in bringing the wings outside after they were folded and his tail with arrow-shaped tip grows from between his feet.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcooCSlAyp 維尼

“I am known as Valkyrie in my world, the Night realm. In that realm, there is no such thing as sunlight. There is only a false moon shining its false light upon us from the night sky. Because of that....the people in that realm have fallen into madness. Anything they saw as suspicious will be banished or in the case for spirits, exorcised just like the spirit of a boy whom Alice met,” he explained.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbiW3yG9zZ 維尼

Roy leans his head to the side. “That world seems cruel. You said that you saw a ghost there?” he asked.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRAkXgGRo3 維尼

“Indeed. That boy had a sad fate. He vanished after he managed to fend off the townspeople mob in the Night realm by himself. I felt like I know him from somewhere,” Alice admitted.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEiABrIkec 維尼

June steps forward. “It’s my turn now to tell you about myself,” she said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYQhwOYVh8 維尼

June’s disguise falls apart and reveals her scaly skin with fins and facial frills.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡv2tL810eDk 維尼

Roy flinched backward after seeing June’s appearance. “Wah! What are you? Some kind of fish?” he asked with a shocked face.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNIgRS6Lcd 維尼

“My name is June and I am a siren from the 20th century. If you need protection, I shall protect you with my life,” June said while holding her sword down with both hands.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qqJUXvYQT 維尼

Roy shows a confused expression. “20th century?” he wondered.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5fmrN62H9 維尼

Alice nods several times. “Remember when I suddenly froze Phil’s dad without using anything? That’s time magic for you. I was following the song of a siren when a hole leading to another dimension opened below us and a hand made of shadow pulled me, Vine, and Marta into another world. Bad luck! The hand pulled us into the sea even though I knew that we are already in another world or should I say “Era”,” she explained.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ap4HgHAKH 維尼

Roy's eyes opened wide when Alice mentioned "Era" term. “Era? Hold on, that hand pulled the three of you into a different time?” Roy asked with a surprised look on his face.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MXfG0JV09 維尼

“Yup,” Alice replied with a nod.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNyY9HzLDc 維尼

“Unbelievable!” Roy shouted in disbelief.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVwIvQSnoN 維尼

“A gateway to another time like that... seems like it really does exist but I don’t think that it can be opened on its own. Someone opened it for us in order to trap us in that timeline and turns out that it was another Siren like June but with snake hairs like a witch named Nagi. Ah, speaking of Nagi....I wonder about those two,” Alice wondered.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡcieRYmD0lp 維尼

“Huh?” Roy gave a perplexed face at Alice’s concern. Alice’s concern over her enemies makes Roy think that she is rather strange yet innocent-minded.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDxiNW4N7M 維尼

“The last time we faced Nagi, she tried to turn us into stone with Stone Beam while Argill tried to send us flying to our death in a whirlpool. Nagi must be still in her statue form,” Martha guessed.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVH3uvZyU2 維尼

“That’s when we met June the siren there and she has been staying with us since then,” Vine said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7THgqBahPA 維尼

“I see...Whoa, I never knew that the world is more than I thought,” Roy admitted.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡEtR81AbChQ 維尼

“Haha, the world or should I say “universe” is far wider than we thought,” Alice crossed her arms.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxG4gOA4zd 維尼

“Also, there was an attack at Magi Village last month and everyone ended up wounded or cursed. I get the curse from those wolfmen,” she added.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVOrEgVCi9 維尼

Roy seems surprised when Alice mentioned “wolfmen”. “Wolfmen? Hold on, the Magi Village was under attack last month? I heard several loud howling that sounded like something is planning a war last month. That was the sound of a wolfman? I thought it was just an ordinary wolf howl,” Roy said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTF12veqGr 維尼

“They’re not any ordinary wolf, sadly. They planned to attack our village and we had to fend them off from the village. Some managed to break through our barrier and we had to fight them directly. Right now, everyone in our village is still recovering from the war,” Marta explained.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTPN1Vvjld 維尼

“If they were really just a wolf, such thing wouldn’t happen to our village,” Alice said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOR1UW1BmQ 維尼

“And you said that they were wolfmen?” Roy asked.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0jLY3Ivkl 維尼

“They called themselves the Silver Moon clan. A clan of humanoid wolf or in mythology, we called them “Werewolf” but I prefer to call them “Lycant”. A monster named Mirage sent them to destroy every one of us. We managed to fend them off and fight Mirage ourselves,” Martha said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡef2p52j1F7 維尼

“I do know what a werewolf is,” Roy said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoXmXcquAD 維尼

Vine turns his head toward Alice. “Mirage must be worried that our presence prevents him from turning our world into the Mirage realm,” Vine guessed.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaDPFCUpn2 維尼

“What’s this “Mirage” realm looked like?” Roy asked.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTlv9lJctF 維尼

“I don’t know for sure but the word “Mirage” itself means illusion. The world will be nothing but illusion if he succeeds,” Alice said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9afaeYyUb 維尼

“So you’re saying---“Roy’s conversation stopped when he heard something.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKU8Myg7OJ 維尼

Vine suddenly felt a terrible goosebump that made him jump out of shock. Marta also felt a goosebump on her skin.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZhNd5mNdf 維尼

“Did you feel that?” Marta asked.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYzQ5GdCmD 維尼

“I heard something like a deep footstep in the snow,” Roy noted.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGaTpP0ZtC 維尼

Everyone looked at Phoenix jumping around in anxiety and keeps banging on the window.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EjuOEZn85 維尼

Alice stands up from her seat. “Something’s coming,” she warned.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmUeyul5JI 維尼

She looks at the window and sees a tall shadow figure standing in front of Phil’s house.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Cc3WrwUCr 維尼

Her eyes widened in disbelief at what she saw. “It’s Krampus!” Alice shouted.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlhrKkXs2L 維尼

Everyone quickly takes a look at the window.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38XcbRCRcy 維尼

“What’s he doing in front of Phil’s house?” Roy wondered.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGP3ZjXXZx 維尼

Marta and Alice remembered something and gasped at the same time.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XBWDHz6J7 維尼

“The talisman’s drawing!” Both shouted.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJEIlyLi6b 維尼

Roy turned his head at them. “What??” Roy exclaimed.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXSvg4k2RR 維尼

“Hurry, we must stop Krampus! It’s going to hurt Phil and his parents for being naughty,” Vine exclaimed in panic.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKL83O9HWB 維尼

Everyone immediately went downstairs and get out of the house.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6rOEAIEUz 維尼

Alice performs a somersault as she shifted into a blue humanoid wolf upon landing after transformation. “He went inside. Quick, get on my back,” she said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzplqrm3P4 維尼

Everyone quickly climbs on her back.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbDox5Twu0 維尼

“Hang on and don’t let go! I'm climbing up fast!” she noted to everyone on her back.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gypnHNSg8 維尼

Everyone holds onto her tightly as Alice immediately climbs the house with Phoenix following them from behind.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡW234PBOagE 維尼

As Alice climbed, she sees Krampus on the second floor approaching Phil and his parents.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoADtrFFkY 維尼

“There he is!” Roy shouted.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeAG1ayHCU 維尼

“Krampus! Stop!!” Alice broke through the window’s glass and jumped into the house.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlloOvmKTi 維尼

Everyone immediately jumps down from her while Alice stands in front of Krampus and wrestles with him as a half-wolf.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnsMxfcCPQ 維尼

Alice grits her teeth. “Grrr! I know that the only way to make them realize is to punish them but this isn’t right!” she said with a hoarse voice.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡB1bMVSgwrV 維尼

Roy, June, Marta, and Vine stand around Phil and his parents to protect them. Phoenix blocks Krampus’s sight and stands in front of them.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DWFDOJqS6 維尼

“Phil, apologize for what you did to your parents and both of you apologize to your son too,” Alice said while holding Krampus.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wUdDfCKiD 維尼

Krampus growls at them and they finally did it out of fear toward Krampus.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NuPkPAbRG 維尼

“Son, we are sorry for everything. We have treated you too hard, forgive us for what we had done,” Phil’s parents said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71Kk4aiYeF 維尼

Phil looks at them and Alice could see him crying.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxMxOHqVLi 維尼

“I...I’m so sorry for everything I had done. Uwah!” Phil cried loudly.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0IbsJBTIb 維尼

Alice could feel Krampus stopped struggling when Phil cried after apologizing to his parents. Alice releases Krampus and changes back to her human form. Everyone kneels one foot and Roy rubs Phil’s head.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2KB1M3lUA 維尼

“Be a good boy next time, understand?” Roy said with a smile.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAzfP6YMmY 維尼

June plays with Phil’s cheeks and kisses his forehead.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡCclBfrGHWq 維尼

“Remember what Roy said, Phil,” June said with a sweet voice.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FYIVRrGGo 維尼

Phil looks at them with tears running across his face. “Boohoo, I’m sorry for everything!!” he cried.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡZK9XllpBsX 維尼

“Now you understand that Krampus came to tell you to be good next time,” Alice said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ruC3bUA8N 維尼

Vine puts his hands midair with shoulder shrugged. “Well, everything went well today,” he said with a smile.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHuCzs7GuN 維尼

Alice looks at Krampus and assumed Krampus’s growl as smiling.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEZ61xACPm 維尼

“Let’s...celebrate together!” Martha cheered.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZnRkpdvou 維尼

“Alright!” Alice and Vine shouted.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9WDutBLfQ 維尼

“Everything is ready for the celebration. Let’s get back to my house,” Roy said and went out.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgFSloEto1 維尼

“Let’s go, Krampus,” Alice dragged Krampus with her much to Krampus’s surprise.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4klcG5CVv 維尼

Krampus gives Phil’s house protection to keep his family safe and follows Alice with an astonished look. At night, everyone celebrated Christmas together with Krampus at Roy’s house much to his mom’s shock that she fell on her back to the ground.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡFi2jPIQ0mX 維尼

“Ahhh!!! W-Who...is this?” Roy’s mom stuttered with a terrified voice.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHF3RH7dI6 維尼

“This is Krampus, the One who Punish Naughty Children,” Alice explained.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPAFAsDdv2 維尼

“He will be celebrating with us tonight, mom,” Roy said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWJqB9mDhL 維尼

Krampus growls happily much to his mom’s fear.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqssA2av5e 維尼

Roy’s mom stands up with trembling feet. “W-Well....everything is ready. Let me just get myself changed,” she said and run to her room.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNiUsnP1Yb 維尼

“Full cheer!” Martha shouted.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡHYEukDmFxC 維尼

Alice raises her fist upward. “Yay, may the Guardians protect us!” she shouted.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡorTNVCnHR1 維尼

Martha and Alice laughed together.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhahbBruqe 維尼

“Guardians?” Roy perplexed.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGE9tXc9MS 維尼

“It’s something they always mentioned as part of their tradition,” Vine said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzxJJGLMcX 維尼

“Is that why they are used to this job?” Roy whispered.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLRnDcecKe 維尼

“Yeah...that’s what I figured out since the day I stayed in the village where they lived, Magi Village,” Vine said while chewing.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aLgzaVG5S 維尼

“The Magi Village? Was it the village that Alice mentioned earlier? Where is it located?” Roy wondered.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMZWQOmKmA 維尼

Vine swallows his food so that he can explain everything. “It was actually an isolated village located deep in the forest nearby this town but despite its isolated status, the people there know human technology a lot. The people there called themselves the “Magician”. The people there consist of magic users from every family. Magician, witch, shaman, voodoo, summoner, necromancer, elementalist, transmuter, melody master, illusionist, all of them are welcomed in Magi Village including non-human kin. Also, the Magi villagers thought of the Guardians as their protectors,” he explained slowly.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmXQee0i4G 維尼

“What do they look like?” Roy asked.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡQGUUOjTygy 維尼

Vine stops and is in deep thought. “To be honest, I’m not sure what the Guardians look like. I doubt that Alice would know about that too,” he said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡOepLnFR9dU 維尼

“Then, tell me about your friends here instead. Hmm..,” Roy looked at Alice and her friends.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLfLF6t7vA 維尼

Roy sees Martha and asks Vine about her,” Tell me about Martha”.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡVv4JfVxjfw 維尼

Vine’s eyes turn at him. “Martha? She came from a family with great strength. Unlike others, her family has been known for generations with the strength of a monster. Man or woman, they are all strong like a barbaric monsters. That’s why she mentioned barbaric in her punch because it could knock out anyone unconscious for a long time,” he explained.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OuyYjzhGV 維尼

“What about Alice? She seems to be the youngest of the villager,” Roy wondered.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yCL4nAPBI 維尼

 “Alice? According to the villagers there, she came from a family known for their mastery in time magic. Her parents disappeared when they left the village and haven’t returned, leaving Alice alone without her parents at 6 years old. They mentioned "toddler" so I thought that she could be 4-6 years old back then. She will be considered an orphan until the day her parents return,” Vine said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZhvgx83lI 維尼

“So that’s why she knows a lot of things for a kid of her age. Must be hard for her to live alone without parents,” Roy said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5B264jztV 維尼

“Well, she saw everyone in the village as her family so I don’t see her feeling sad about it,” Vine said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25Ol9V75rB 維尼

“Why would I cry over that?” A voice said to them.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9F182zDU8 維尼

Roy and Vine turn their head and see Alice approaching them to sit down on the seat beside them.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbhUbKrUC6 維尼

“Alice!” The two exclaimed.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsqg3PS7sW 維尼

“I thought you are focusing on others,” Roy said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvFpe0BbVh 維尼

“What? Ya think that I didn’t hear that? Ya know...I will find my parents one day. They must be somewhere out there, I just know it! No matter the universe, no matter the era, I will find them no matter what. There must be a reason for them to disappear. They could be lost in there,” Alice said while chewing on her food.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfklPfGX6x 維尼

Alice swallows and continues speaking. “You can come to our village if you want. We accept anyone whom we trust. I know....what if they treated you as an intruder? Don’t worry...even though we often face intruders trying to destroy our home, we can fend them off easily. Don’t underestimate us,” she offered.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm4q4nklps 維尼

After the celebration, everyone falls asleep at midnight. Alice, Vine, and Martha slept on the floor with June curl near them like a snake. Roy and his mother slept on the chair with their back hunched. Krampus looks at them with a pleasant growl from looking at Alice, Vine, and Martha’s face.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFfQnL8E1l 維尼

“Look at them falling asleep with those smiles...So innocent,” Phoenix said with a smile on his face.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRGiWetLUf 維尼

 Krampus gives a soft growl and took the talisman paper bearing his sigil from Alice’s hand.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡwbvJVWXfIQ 維尼

“She extracted your sigil from the sign you branded on Roy’s forehead into this talisman. What are you going to do to it?” Phoenix questioned.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wzqymKNlQ 維尼

Krampus puts his black long-fingered hand on the sigil and the sigils glowed with his power.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqrx2iHNVi 維尼

He puts the talisman into Alice’s pocket while she is sleeping. “You may summon me through this talisman now, my child. Call my name and I shall come to your side,” Krampus said for the first time with a heavy deep demonic voice.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fOLs3Klz2 維尼

“You gave her a gift? I’m surprised for you, Krampus. He who punishes naughty children on Christmas gave one child a gift...Krampus,” Phoenix said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64f3qmXx3w 維尼

A man in red with a white beard covering nearly half of his face entered the house.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4e6zTie4FE 維尼

Krampus turns at the man behind him. “Hrmm....Saint Nicholas. Known as the Santa Claus by children,” Krampus snorted.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡsy51DZ2WvF 維尼

“Krampus? Fancy meeting you here...,” Saint Nicholas surprised.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFD8ST7jQz 維尼

“Saint!” Phoenix called.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡnk7306zCIe 維尼

Saint Nichol turned his eyes on Phoenix. “A Phoenix? What a surprise to see a Phoenix living with a human...,” Saint Nicholas said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZNJjlTPkH 維尼

“I am now under Roy’s care as his companion,” Phoenix admitted.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡd39LSaZKVK 維尼

“Ah yes...I knew him. He was a good boy. Hmm....who are these children?” Saint Nicholas asked.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4J6jVqOzSG 維尼

“They are Alice, Vine, and Martha,” Phoenix said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡfk8zR2FRGy 維尼

“So Roy had more friends now...I brought a gift for these children,” Saint Nicholas said.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡrM3TTRE8oY 維尼

He put three presents near sleeping Alice, Vine, and Martha.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7kaWDKnxa 維尼

“It’s time for my leave. Merry Christmas!” Saint Nicholas shouted before he left.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoYxDmNyQB 維尼

Krampus turns his head at Alice, Vine, Martha, June, Roy, and his mother. Krampus growls slowly and gives them protection against black magic as his final gift to them. Phoenix sees Krampus growl at him and vanishes into the darkness upon leaving.8964 copyright protection42ＰＥＮＡＮＡddXWvMgX1N 維尼

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