Maria sighed, and leaned back against the old wall. She lifted up her hand, and looked at the ring frozen to her finger.

What exactly was going on?

She had been out grocery shopping, when all of a sudden something had come whizzing towards her, enveloping her in yellow smoke. When it cleared, she was here, in this dilipidated building.

A clunk sounded behind her.

"Who is it?"

A snow-white feather drifted in from the doorway.

A bird?

"Hehe...who would have thought that my next encounter with you would be with your past self? But still...it's here! It's really here!~"

Maria spun around to find a skinny young woman in a heavy white jacket and glasses. A snowy white owl enveloped in red flames flapped beside her, and she held a short stick alight with red flames.

She flipped her long braid out of the way.

"Let's begin, little Maria."

Maria blinked.

"...Who?"

"My name is Shreenithi. From your appearance, it appears that you've never time travelled before. It's kind of like Alice finding her way into Wonderland, don't you think?"

Maria frowned, confused.

"What?"

Shreenithi sighed.

"You're such a scrawny brat. I prefer the you you become in this era. But..."

She darted forward, like a white blur, and grabbed Maria's hand."

"Hmm...it's frozen. So that's why you didn't show up on the radar...But it's the real one. The ring, the Carbonara Ring!"

Maria yanked her hand back.

"It hurts!"

Maria yanked her knife out of its sheath in her bag.

"Get out!"

Shreenithi smirked.
-----
"Eh?"

Yiernoshi peered at the screen in the tech room.

"This is Maria?"

"Yes."

"But...she looks so different!"

Sam sighed.

"Ten years ago, shortly after the Ring Battles, Maria's two sidekicks were captured and killed in an attempt to capture Maria herself. Maria was rather deeply shaken by the death of the two she considered close friends, and as a result, she lost all her self confidence."

Yiernoshi squinted at the screen.

"But she's wearing a skirt!"

"School uniform."

"She goes to school?"

"Of course. She is, after all, your age."

Yiernoshi frowned thoughtfully.
-----
Maria dodged Shreenithi's stick and rolled to one side, wincing in pain at the two burns on her face.

"Magma!" she gasped. "Erupt from the floor!"

Immediately, pillars of fire erupted, sending chunks of floor flying everywhere.

Shreenithi smirked, walking straight through the fire.

"Very impressive. But this is only an illusion. Are you still going to use these childish tricks?"

She bounced a box in her hand.

"Like teacher, like student, I see. Both very pathetic."

"What?"
-----
Yiernoshi looked at a picture of a woman on the screen.

"And who is this?"

"We believe this is the one who taught Maria her skills, Eva Moore. She was rumoured to be one of the strongest illusionists ever. However, six months ago, a rumour was passed around that she had been defeated."

Sam pressed a button, and the picture of a lady with a long braid appeared on screen.

"The one that defeated her was the Captain of the White Tomatoes Eighth Squad, Shreenithi."
-----
Maria glared at Shreenithi.

"There's no way Master Eva could lose!"

Shreenithi smirked.

"Your knowledge is only up till ten years ago, hmm? Then allow me to show you...the magic of this era!"

Shreenithi's box opened, and the owl came soaring out. It flapped its wings, and a giant storm appeared, washing over Maria's fire columns.

"This is reality."

Not good...

Maria fumbled around on the ground, picked up a rock, and flung it at Shreenithi, hitting her nose.

Taking Shreenithi's distraction as an oppurtunity, she ran out.

She ran to the emergency shelter that had been there even when her friends were still alive. Panting, she crouched, hoping that Shreenithi wouldn't find her.

Her eyes began to close.

Don't sleep, little student.

Maria spun around.

Just now...that was Master Eva's voice!

Shreenithi laughed cruelly.

"Still running away? Coward."

I'm sure I heard Master Eva...

Turning around, she squinted into the darkness.

"Master Eva?"

Shreenithi snorted.

"She's dead, silly girl."

I'm over here. I've been behind you since earlier.

Maria spun around.

"Huh?"

The owl frowned at her. Suddenly, its golden eyes seemed to crack, revealing one blue eye and one brown eye.

Master Eva's eyes.

Now, let's begin, Maria.

Shreenithi frowned. What was that girl staring at?

Oh, yes. Her magnificent owl. It was grand, with that red aura...

"Wha?"

The red flame flickered. Suddenly, it wasn't red any more. It was...

...indigo.

"What?"

The owl swooped straight at Shreenithi.

Maria, take this chance. Run up the stairs.

Shreenithi stared at the owl.

"Those eyes...you're Eva Moore!"

The owl landed on a patch of rubble.

"Very good, Shreenithi. You grasped the situation pretty quickly."

"I will not stand for something so absurd! I've heard that you have the power of possession, but..."

Eva laughed quietly.

"Don't you remember? In the last battle, I scratched your little owl, didn't I? And you do know that just one scratch is good enough for possession...for me at least."

Shreenithi scowled.

"You...you...who's ever heard of possessing a box?"

"Well, I've done it, so what can I say?"

Meanwhile, Maria was crouched at the top of the steps.

Listen, Maria. For various reasons, I am unable to use a large amount of energy. Also, I do not think it is possible for you to escape. So...you will defeat her.

"Ok..."

You'll be fine. You have the Carbonara Ring.

Maria looked down at her finger.

"The ice...it's thawing..."

That Mist Ring will lend you all the power you need.
-----
Fixit gasped.

"We've picked up the signal of a new Ring!"

Yiernoshi peered at Fixit's screen.

"Isn't that Maria's hideout? It could be Maria with the Carbonara Ring!"

Kah Yunn frowned.

"Analyze that data. Now."

"Yes ma'am!"
-----
The owl was thrown out, and smashed into the wall next to Maria.

"Master Eva!"

I'm fine. But you should get rid of that nuisance first. Draw out the power of the Ring.

"The power of the Ring?"

Feed it your resolution.

Maria frowned. On her hand, the Ring burst into indigo flame.

She stretched out a hand.

"Erupt!"

Just like before, giant pillars of fire erupted.

"Incredible...but still fake."

"It didn't work?"

Make your illusions stronger. Like a proper illusionist. Do not say anything out loud, but instead imagine it.

"Okay..."

She frowned.

Multiply.

Immediately, a hundred or so knives appeared, encircling Shreenithi.

Shreenithi frowned.

"This is an illusion for sure...but which is the real one...?"

Maria held out her hand, and with a sudden movement, clenched her fist tightly.

The knives all flew towards Shreenithi...
-----
The wall of the old building exploded, and a bloody body flew out.

A shadow moved in the bushes.

"Am I too late? I hope she's alright..."

"Meow."