I haven’t talked to Liana for quite some time.

  Actually, I’ve been trying to stay out of her way, given how every time I interact with her, I seem to involuntarily force some kind of command on her.

  The familiar link is just that good at catching up on every little intention.

  As I couldn’t seem to get this under control and any form of practice would leave Liana on the receiving end, I have instead been trying to prevent a situation from happening in the first place where I would screw with her mind.

  Since Liana hasn’t tried to reach out either, giving her the space she desires seems to be the best course of action.

  However, I'm slightly concerned if she really is alright.

  She is in an unfamiliar environment and has no one to talk to.

  As weird as this might seem for me, I at least have the sisters to talk to, and they're all kinda nice, to me at least.

  Liana, on the other hand...

  Maybe I should talk to her.

  I have some kind of responsibility towards her, don't I?

  Finding Liana is comparatively easy.

  The creepy familiar sense I possess is rather convenient in the regard that I can always tell in which direction I may find my familiars.

  While I can very roughly tell if they are far away or close, I don't get the exact position.

  However, as it also allows me to single Liana out, following this sense leads me directly to her.

  When I draw closer, I feel how she's going in another direction, but ultimately, she stops.

  Possibly because she noticed that I'm heading for her.

  Yet, how are you supposed to start talking to someone you're basically stalking behind?

  "Neri? What do you want?" (Liana)

  Well, I'll take that as an opener.

  "Talking, I guess? Sorry, there's something I wanted to discuss with you." (N)

  "Is it important? I had something of my own to do." (L)

  What exactly?

  She's stuck here just the same as I am.

  Aside from the library, entertainment is quite scarce in the sanctuary.

  "Liana, I, I believe that you're avoiding me." (N)

  "Maybe because I am? If I don't, I might again get literally caught up in your thoughts. I, I don't want this, okay?!" (L)

  "I promise I wouldn't do this. Please, you know me. I'm not like this!" (N)

  After all, we are linked.

  Though, that's also part of the problem.

  I actually have even now to be careful that none of my words can be interpreted as an order that would force her to agree with me, but I'm sure I can work this all out for her.

  "Oh, you mean something like forcing me to throw myself in front of you and fight your terrific, monster sisters only because you got a bad time? Something like that?" (L)

  This did actually happen, didn't it?

  I don't even want to imagine how that might've been for her, this total loss of control.

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Sigh, I definitely have to tell her about the upcoming emergence.

  But for now, we have to first sort out our already existing issues.

  "You know that wasn't intentional! I would never force you to do anything on purpose!" (N)

  I mean, I didn't want her to risk her life.

  It's just not up to me to decide that my fear makes her want to protect me.

  I have no control over that.

  "Is this supposed to make it better?! I'm a slave to your thoughts, Neri. I mean, I knew that, but what happened back then showed just how little of a choice I have on that matter. I couldn't even try to say 'no'. Before, I had at least a semblance of control, but back then, I couldn't fight the urges that overwhelmed my mind. It was like my own self wasn't even there, just a puppet for you to command. I know, you don't do this intentionally. I can't blame you for this. But... But I'm so petty that I still do." (L)

  "Uh, right. Sorry. Could-" (N)

  "Please. Please, don't say, 'forgive me'." (L)

  Yeah, even something like this isn't quite her decision.

  I can't even fathom how much that would suck.

  "Look, I need to find myself something to eat in the forest. You may not know, but familiars have to provide for themselves, and while I theoretically can eat that goop together with the others, I don't find that all too appealing. So would you now please allow me to go?" (L)

  Personally, I don't find anything wrong with said goop.

  However, having to eat together with all the spiders would truly be an issue.

  Furthermore, I'm not sure if the others are making sure that no humans are mixed into Liana's portion.

  ...I wouldn't bet on it.

  Nonetheless, I have to tell her about what’s coming.

  Yet while I was thinking, she already began walking away.

  "Wait, Liana! Please, I..." (N)

  Abruptly, I become aware of what I just did.

  Liana stopped in her tracks, hesitant to take another step, before slowly turning towards me.

  The look in her eyes tells that she's anything but pleased.

  "So much for that." (L)

  "S-sorry. Y-you don't have to, but I... there was something important to tell you." (N)

  "Please, get it out, or I won't be able to move freely." (L)

  Does it work like this?

  Anyways, I should hurry.

  "I, I'm going to have my emergence soon. That's, uh, that..." (N)

  "Neri!" (L)

  She's snapping.

  I can't hold it back from her.

  "That means many spiders are going to crawl everywhere out of my skin! I, I think this is going to be rather hard on me, and I fear this will affect you as well!" (N)

  "Oh, wonderful. Something else to look forward to." (L)

  "I'm sorry. I know this isn't fair to you." (N)

  "No, it's not. But life was never very fair to me. So who cares if more gets dumped on me? Now I'm stuck here, and I don't even have..." (L)

  Why did she stop so abruptly?

  "Liana?" (N)

  "You know, it doesn't matter. Please, let me go. I need to be alone for a bit." (L)

  Right.

  I can't push myself more onto her.

  If she doesn't want to talk, it would be wrong to force her.

  "Okay." (N)

  "Fine. Thanks." (L)

  So she briskly walks away.

  Probably to be out of earshot.

  After all, my connection grows weaker the further away I am from my familiars.

  From an intense connection that tells me all there is to know about them, to merely where their presence is located if they're farther away.

  I didn't quite test it yet, as my familiars react very well to mental commands, but if my hunch is right, then I'd say that the mind control part is less effective as well.

  So to say, Liana might not be as affected if she gets called from a greater distance.

  I'm now a bit down.

  I just don't know how to handle Liana's anger, and it doesn’t help that it’s reasonable.

  I'm not proficient at this.

  If I'd only have help from someone with experience on that matter.

  Yet I wouldn't really know who.

  The sisters aren't all that helpful in that regard either.

  Masiabi is too blunt, Kyroki is a bit distant, Akasia doesn't understand humans that well, and Eritu only sees things from the spider's perspective, not caring for a human's issues.

  Well, that leaves...

  "Neri! There you are! I heard you were coming out of your seclusion again. So I was looking for you!" (T)

  Talisa!

  "Uh, hi. Yes. I was told that it would be better for multiple reasons." (N)

  "I'm so relieved to hear this. When you buried yourself in the library, we all got extremely worried. Even your familiars were affected by the mood. So it's nice to see you're walking around again. Don't want you to become a cave spider, right?" (T)

  Is she in any way aware of how inappropriate that was?

  "You said you were looking for me?" (N)

  "Absolutely! It's very important!" (T)

  What is it?

  At this, she procures a silk sac she had attached to her waist.

  "Here! You need to try my newest creation! I worked the whole time on this!" (T)