Lu Yuan’s consciousness felt as if it had been forcibly dragged out from the depths of the ocean; the blinding white light made her instinctively squint.
She subconsciously raised her hand to shield her eyes, only to find her wrists bound by something.
Cold metal cuffs pressed against her skin, making a sharp “click” sound with the slightest movement.
No save file… Did I really not die just now?
“Awake?”
A lazy female voice came from beside her.
Lu Yuan whipped her head around sharply. Her vision was still blurry, but she could vaguely make out a tall figure sitting on the dark red high-back chair next to her.
The woman crossed her legs, the hem of her skirt draping just enough over her raised thigh to barely conceal her absolute territory. Her hand, clad in lace gloves, steadily supported her chin.
Her face was shrouded in shadow, only the black teardrop gem beneath her left eye emitting a faint, dim glow.
“Did you sleep well, little cutie?” She chuckled softly.
Lu Yuan struggled and discovered that not only were her wrists cuffed, but her ankles were locked with special metal cuffs as well. The crystal on her chest was dim, and her magic power felt suppressed by some unknown force, completely inaccessible.
“Who are you?” she bit out through gritted teeth.
“How sad~” The woman tilted her head in mock grievance. “We just met not long ago.”
She slowly stood up, the sharp click of her high heels echoing on the floor.
“My name is Rose.” She leaned forward slightly, her cold fingers brushing across Lu Yuan’s cheek, revealing the full sight of her ample chest. “You can call me Sister Rose.”
Lu Yuan tensed up, instinctively trying to recoil, but the chair remained immovable.
“Don’t be nervous.” She laughed lightly. “I just want to ask a small favor.”
She snapped her fingers, and the room’s lights instantly went out. A screen appeared before Lu Yuan.
It showed a battlefield strewn with ruins—Lu Yuan recognized it as her own home.
Su Li was weaving through the rubble, her expression anxious.
“Your comrades are looking for you.” Rose’s fingertips lightly traced Lu Yuan’s neck, as if admiring a piece of art. “Such touching friendship.”
“What do you want?” Lu Yuan glared at her.
“Want what…?” Rose chuckled.
She reached for the black gem hanging on Lu Yuan’s chest—the Magical Girl Transformation Device.
Rose’s fingers pinched the device and pressed lightly.
“Ding—”
In an instant, Lu Yuan was swept by an icy chill that pierced through her body. The black combat suit disintegrated bit by bit from the neckline downward, the skirt and stockings vanished completely, and finally, even the most basic coverage disappeared.
“Oh my?” Rose feigned surprise, covering her mouth with her hand. “Why are you completely exposed inside?”
Lu Yuan curled up suddenly, but the restraints wouldn’t let her cover herself. She could feel the cold air directly against her skin. Even worse was Rose’s teasing gaze.
“Hmph, humiliating me like this, what exactly do you want?!” Lu Yuan snapped angrily.
Rose chuckled softly, tapping Lu Yuan’s nose with her fingertip, as if teasing a puffed-up cat.
“Humiliate you? How could I?” She tilted her head, black hair cascading down. “I just think… you’re such a ‘special case,’ it’s worth studying you carefully.”
She straightened, her high heel landing sharply between Lu Yuan’s legs.
“After all, it’s rare to find someone who can dodge my ambush.”
***
Rose turned toward the black curtain on the other side of the room.
“And…” She glanced back with a smile, “you’re not my only ‘guest.’”
“Whoosh—”
The curtain was pulled aside abruptly, revealing a massive glass cage.
Inside weren’t animals or monsters, but people.
Three or four Magical Girls wore tattered uniforms inside the cage.
Their wrists and ankles were locked with special metal cuffs as well. Except for one, most of them had vacant expressions.
The blue-haired girl who seemed somewhat alert looked up. When she saw Lu Yuan, a flicker of shock passed through her eyes.
“Rose… you’ve gone after other Magical Girls again?!” she said.
Rose didn’t respond to the blue-haired girl. Instead, she leisurely enjoyed the look of surprise on Lu Yuan’s face as she strolled over to the cage and tapped the glass lightly.
“Let me introduce you—these are my ‘collections.’” She smiled sweetly. “Every one of them is a Magical Girl whose crystal I personally ‘plucked.’”
Only then did Lu Yuan notice the display cabinet beside the cage, neatly lined with several Transformation Crystals of varying colors.
A chill ran down Lu Yuan’s spine, but she still retorted, “You’re sick! Stealing others’ Transformation Devices isn’t any kind of skill!”
“Stealing?” Rose leaned in close enough for Lu Yuan to feel her breath. “I took them openly and aboveboard.”
“The Transformation Device obeys only the will of its owner. Otherwise, I couldn’t have gotten my hands on it. These girls willingly gave them to me after I played with them enough.” Rose lifted Lu Yuan’s chin. “And you, my new toy… how long do you think you can last?”
Rose’s fingers curled lightly, snapping the metal cuffs loose. Before Lu Yuan could struggle, an unseen force lifted her and tossed her into the glass cage like a piece of luggage.
“Bang!”
Lu Yuan crashed heavily onto the cold metal floor. Before she could get up, the cage door slammed shut and locked.
“Welcome home.” Rose gracefully bowed outside the cage, her black skirt swaying. “I hope you all get along well.”
***
As the sound of high heels faded, Lu Yuan finally had a chance to look around.
She pressed her Transformation Device again. Her combat suit reappeared, though she couldn’t access her abilities, at least she had clothes on.
The cage was bigger than she had imagined. In the corner, several Magical Girls huddled, all seeming lost in a daze.
Only the blue-haired girl sat hugging her knees in the shadows. Her uniform was torn in several places, and the exposed arms bore fresh scars.
Lu Yuan rubbed her sore shoulder carefully and inched closer to the blue-haired girl.
“Um… are you okay?” she asked softly, wary of startling her.
The girl visibly flinched and buried her face deeper into her knees, only her reddened eyes watching Lu Yuan cautiously.
Lu Yuan noticed the crystal on the girl’s chest was still intact, whereas the other Magical Girls’ crystals had disappeared. She instinctively touched her own still-glowing transparent crystal, feeling a pang in her heart.
“My name is Lu Yuan.” She sat down at a safe distance, lowering her voice. “Although it might not look like it, I’m a Magical Girl too now.”
The girl’s eyelashes trembled, but she said nothing.
Lu Yuan thought for a moment and pulled out a crumpled fruit candy from her uniform pocket.
“Want some candy?” She placed it between them and slowly pushed it forward. “Orange flavor.”
The girl stared at the candy for a long moment, as if worried it was drugged.
“Then I’ll eat half first?” Lu Yuan quickly unwrapped the candy, broke off half, and popped it into her mouth, exaggerating a smacking sound. “Mmm~ so sweet!”
That seemed to break some invisible barrier. The girl’s tense shoulders relaxed a little, and she hesitantly reached out—but pulled back suddenly before touching the candy, like a frightened little animal.
“It’s okay.” Lu Yuan nudged the remaining half candy forward. “That perverted sister isn’t here right now.”
The girl finally took the candy and shoved it into her mouth. Her eyes widened at the sweet and sour taste, giving her expression a flicker of life.
“My name’s Lin Wan.” She spoke quietly—her name.
***
“They…” Lu Yuan gestured to the dazed Magical Girls behind her.
Lin Wan’s eyes instantly dimmed.
“Their… crystals were taken.” Her voice was barely audible. “Those who lose their crystals… end up like this…”
Lu Yuan felt a stab of anguish.
She inched closer and tentatively extended a hand. “Do… you want a hug?”
Lin Wan froze.
“It’s a bit embarrassing to say,” Lu Yuan scratched her head awkwardly, “but whenever I’m scared, I always need a hug to feel better.”
The next moment, a cold little body suddenly dove into her arms. Lin Wan’s hands clutched tightly at her collar, tears instantly soaking into her uniform.
“Save me…” She cried like a lost child. “I want to go home…”