"Neeeriiii!!! I was so worried when I heard you went alone to the border of the forest! Even without your familiars! That was so dangerouuuus!" (M)

  "Hello, Masiabi. I see you made it here first." (N)

  Don't really know what to say to her.

  I don't think that her presence will be of much help to Liana.

  Of all the sisters, she's probably even the most problematic if it's about having a grounded discussion.

  "Don't you worry, the others are already on their way here! I came as soon as I got the alarm signal! Oh, I was so worried!" (M)

  "Was it so bad? You were probably all directly behind me, and it's not the first time that I’ve walked around in our territory." (N)

  "But you didn't have any familiars with you! They usually protect you from all harm! To make it worse, while there are always the monsters, here there is also the keep-off order! I wouldn't have known how to handle it if my familiars hurt you!" (M)

  "Wait! That could happen? They could've attacked me?" (N)

  "Uh, the order to prevent anyone from crossing here is quite general, and my familiars ain't used to putting much thought into whether or not they should follow their orders. They just do." (M)

  So basically like trained dogs?

  "Just good that we didn't cross then. Your familiars only scared us a bit." (N)

  And with a bit, I mean a lot!

  Seriously, those two are literal hulks.

  They could certainly shove a carriage down were they to really give it a try.

  Even Masiabi looks slightly concerned at them.

  She must know best what they're capable of after all.

  "Uh, yes. Right. But still, you shouldn't do such reckless things, Neri. You're not a fighter, and we can't protect you if you run off alone to dangerous places." (M)

  Yeah, I guess she was truly worried about me.

  "But I had to reach Liana! What if what you worried over had happened to her?!" (N)

  "Ehm, Neri..." (L)

  At this, I become aware that Liana, until now, gave it her all to stick behind me and didn't say a word.

  Supposedly, so she wouldn't get into the focus after her just now failed escape attempt.

  Which she now gets from Masiabi, thanks to me shifting the attention to her.

  "Sooooo... You were going to snitch on us?" (M)

  Oh no, I need to do something!

  If Masiabi attacks her, I won't be able to stop that bundle of pure muscle!

  "She didn't! She didn't want to snitch! She had an important reason for leaving!" (N)

  Actually, I don't know.

  She might also have very well reported everything that happened to her while she was already in town.

  "Sigh. Neri." (T)

  Talisa?!

  And Eritu and Akasia as well.

  Before I can quite process what happens, two large, black spiders rapidly rush in our direction.

  I close my eyes and turn away, only to get startled once I perceive a shriek from Liana.

  When I look there, I see that the two spiders spun silk around her whole torso.

  She can barely walk, wrapped up like this.

  "Talisa, treating a familiar like this doesn't seem right." (E)

  "This is merely a precaution. It's not even particularly tight. But it will become so, were she to struggle." (T)

  Akasia steps a bit closer.

  She doesn't seem quite as convinced of her treatment.

  "I'm sorry, Liana. We'll handle this and get everything over with as quickly as possible." (A)

  "Neri, we should leave the border. Please, tell your familiar to return to the sanctuary. We will decide there on the verdict." (T)

  This wasn't just a request.

  It's also meant to see how well I can control Liana.

  But if I do this, everything that Liana is so horrified about.... I would do just this to her.

  Yet they might kill her if I don't.

  "L-Liana. Is that okay to you?" (N)

  "Sigh. At least you're asking. Don't have much choice on the matter. Just... please be careful. I'm not sure how my mind will react to more extensive requests." (L)

  I know what she means.

  Her thoughts are, for some reason, clear to me.

  We won't get back very fast, so the order will be active for quite some time.

  If now something were to happen or I were to give another conflicting order during that time…

  Merely being controlled for so long isn't great.

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  "Okay... Please, Liana, come back with us to the sanctuary." (N)

  "Urgh. I feel it take hold. Pinches in my mind, driving me to stick with you." (L)

  In accordance with her words, she stumbles towards me.

  "Can we please go? I don't want to keep Liana like this for too long." (N)

  "That's part of the issue. But you're right. We can't stay exposed here like this." (T)

  For now, it seems like they at least don't plan to outright kill her.

  This is soothing in a way, but I'd still like to hurry.

  So we head straight back to the sanctuary, even using a shortcut I didn't know about yet.

  However, even like this, it takes far longer than I'd like it to, with regard to Liana.

  I can feel how uncomfortable she is about her standing order, and every time I get too far away from her, she feels inclined to put in an effort to catch up, which she hates.

  But gradually, her resistance fades, which becomes clearly apparent when I stray ahead the next time, wanting this journey to end as quickly as possible, as she tries to run, falling to the ground as the shackles trip her.

  Even as I realize my mistake and rush back to her, she continues to push herself towards me on the ground with her feet, the desperate need to get to me flooding her thoughts.

  Thoughts that turn to fear as the urge dissipates again, bringing small tears to her eyes.

  "N-Neri, please, please don’t do that! I can’t fight the order any longer, and, and don't know what to do when you run ahead!" (L)

  "I-I’m sorry! I didn’t want this!" (N)

  Maybe I can convince Talisa that this is enough?!

  Yet when I look up, she already stands near me, a mixture of compassion and determination on her face.

  "It is good to see that your familiar listens, as Kyroki said. But this is not yet enough, Neri. We must be certain your wishes are followed for the duration."

  She then puts her hand on my shoulder, and her tone becomes gentle.

  "Yet if you desire to make it easier for her, as her matriarch, I suggest you stay close." (T)

  I suppose this is truly all I can do in this situation.

  From then on, I pay attention to never be more than ten steps away from Liana, always trying to stick close.

  So we continue, and at length, the trek ends.

  As we travelled in the corridors, I can't even tell how late it got by the time we reach the sanctuary.

  When we enter, Liana immediately stops and lets out a sigh as my command ceases to force her actions.

  Yet then she looks at me anxiously, and I can feel her worry.

  I know what this is about, and quickly make some decisive steps away from her, to truly bring it to the test.

  Thankfully, relief begins pushing out her concerns as she remains still, though it isn’t till I’m a considerable distance down the hall that her fear truly calms, and she follows me.

  "Oh, thank god! It's finally over. I was scared it wouldn't end with just that." (L)

  "I’m glad. I wouldn’t want that for you either.” (N)

  "I know… Thanks." (L)

  Talisa then leads our group straight to a chamber with a table that looks like its purpose is to discuss things.

  This is further supported by Kyroki already waiting here.

  "What did you call me for? Can't you deal with a single issue by yourself?" (K)

  "I know we all got quite caught up in this, but before you retreat to your chambers, I wish to discuss the matter of Neri's familiar." (T)

  "She didn't want to harm anyone! Please, don't be so harsh to her!" (N)

  "We cannot afford to be lenient, Neri. If she intended to go to the humans, this certainly wouldn't be good for us." (T)

  I know that there's a risk for the others.

  It's a tall request to ask them to be lenient here.

  "I can understand her notion. Humans are exciting!" (A)

  "That isn't the point here! She wanted to sell us out!" (E)

  I know that it must look like this to them.

  Although I'm sure she was genuine about her keepsake and intentions, I fear Liana could still have done this as well.

  "I know you are averse to killing her, Neri, and I genuinely want to address your needs, but as things present themselves, I demand, at the very least, that your familiar have a permanent order going that will prevent her from fleeing or harming anyone within the sanctuary." (T)

  At this, Liana's face contorts in horror.

  "Please no! You don't know what you're doing to her with this! Her, her mind isn't made for this. The orders hurt her!" (N)

  At this, Kyroki stares unbearably fierce at me.

  Not even her childish looks can alleviate the intensity.

  "You made that choice, Neri. You claimed her as yours. It shouldn't be a surprise that there come consequences from such a decision." (K)

  "But Liana never had a choice! She wasn't just transformed! You took away her freedom! This, this isn't fair!" (N)

  "Well, she does have a point. Becoming an Arachne is a lot better than just a familiar, and it's not like she got much in return." (M)

  Great, Masiabi is on my side.

  She’s always struck me as one who enjoys doing as she pleases.

  "She can be glad she became a familiar instead of dying as an ugly human! She shouldn't cry over something stupid like this." (E)

  "Yet not being free with oneself isn't great if you aren't for it. My familiars are fine with it, but I would hate it if I always had to do as Talisa says." (M)

  "Hey, why am I the bad example?!" (T)

  "Reasons." (M)

  Even Liana has to fight a smirk at this display of a sibling's quarrel.

  "But while I can understand her, we cannot allow for stray familiars to wander off and hunt outside our territory. It's part of our deal with the forest." (M)

  Ehm, people can make deals with forests?

  Or is that spider-exclusive?

  I have so many questions.

  "She didn't want to hunt! And what's that about a deal with trees?" (N)

  At this, Masiabi looks at Talisa.

  "You didn't tell her?" (M)

  "Our relationship to the living world around us wasn't covered in her education yet." (T)

  "Well, then, let me do it. Listen, Neri. The forest is alive. I mean really alive, like a person. It has thoughts and feelings. Our family basically got a deal as keepers of this part. We stick to the territory, deal with intruders, and don't cull too much non-predator prey. In return, it doesn't do anything about our presence. That's about it. Therefore, the forest doesn't like it if we hunt outside our allocated territory." (M)

  So the forest is like a king and assigned the spiders' territory like nobility?

  What am I even supposed to answer here?!

  "But I said she didn't want to hunt." (N)

  "Sure, because she wanted to snitch on us." (E)

  "No, she didn't! She only wanted to get something that's very important for her." (N)

  "Oh, retrieving a human trinket? Now I'm interested!" (A)

  "You believe her? She's obviously lying! We should've never trusted her." (E)

  "She isn't lying!" (N)

  "How would you know?!" (E)

  "Because she's my familiar and I can hear her frickin' thoughts!" (N)

  Now it's Liana's turn to be startled.

  I probably should've told her this in a less sudden way.

  "Y-you can?" (L)

  Then it's Kyroki who erupts.

  "Interesting! Tell me more about it! What kinds of thoughts? Do you witness them as actual words, pictures, or more of a generic sense of associations and feelings? How would you define 'truthfulness' if you were to sense it?" (K)

  A barrage of questions ensues that I have trouble answering.

  The others seem kinda perplexed at my statement, which confuses me deeply.

  "Uh, I guess all of them. If I concentrate on Liana, I can hear her thoughts like my own. The way she speaks to herself in her mind. I don't think she'd lie in her own mind. I'm not so sure about pictures. But I could see through her eyes! At least, I think I did when I ran towards her. Why are you asking me this? Isn't this a normal, familiar thing?" (N)

  Their gazes convey a clear 'no' to this matter.

  "We perceive the usual from our familiars. Position, general state of being, but there's no connection to hear anything more detailed. They can understand intentions and direct commands to a degree, but that's it." (T)

  Weird.

  I could always tell what kind of prey my familiars would drop next, right at my feet.

  It's not like I ever dared to look directly.

  "Well, this can be tested." (K)

  Kyroki steps between me and Liana.

  "Neri, tell me how many fingers your familiar can see behind my back." (K)

  That sounds like a really simple test.

  But if it helps.

  I concentrate on Liana, and suddenly my view shifts.

  Well, not quite, rather it splits into my own and... one right at Kyroki's back.

  Where right now four of her thin, yellowy legs are poking out!

  "Ehk! Why do you have them out?!" (N)

  Especially, only halfway, which makes it worse!

  "Well, I guess that confirms it." (K)

  "Shared vision. That's highly unusual." (T)

  "Because our dear sister is so normal, or what?" (K)

  "Oh, oh! I have a great idea! One that will solve all our problems!" (A)

  Why is Akasia suddenly so excited?

  "Akasia, your look concerns me. What do you have in mind?" (T)

  Now Akasia comes closer, takes my hands, and kneels down to my height.

  "Say, Neri. Why don't we go on a trip together?" (A)

  Ehm, what!?