I stare in disbelief at what just can't be.

  "Hey, would you stop the barrage for a moment? I'd like to go over there to those two." (?)

  Even without her request, I'm already so stunned right now that I just drop everything.

  A third one of that kind right here.

  It's hopeless, isn't it?

  How many of them are even out there?

  What stuns me the most is that I truly didn't notice her until she said something.

  Absolutely nothing.

  I'm at the moment so highly focused that I should have.

  Just like this Nimue before.

  But I didn't.

  She was just there.

  The two take notice of the fact that I ceased my attacks.

  "What? Did she already give up? I thought she'd stick to it for at least two more hours." (V)

  "No... No, that was something else." (N)

  "Heyo, you two!" (?)

  The new arrival is waving excitedly at the two of them, in the way I saw Chiaki do so often.

  The way you approach an old friend.

  I guess all water angels are in some way familiar with each other.

  Might come with their age.

  "What the heck are YOU doing here?! Get lost!" (V)

  Apparently, this doesn't necessarily mean they like the other.

  "Ahem, I feel a lot of hostility there." (?)

  "You weren't supposed to be here! This was my assignment! Don't just show up and disturb everything!" (V)

  "You seriously shouldn't! You have your own duties." (N)

  The other two don't seem too pleased.

  While not quite as emotional, her stern voice and cold look are in some way worse.

  "Well, sorry. I just couldn't quite hold on to myself."

  "You couldn't-?" (V)

  "Splsh"

  Veo kicks her leg so hard that it splashes at the impact.

  While obviously not hurt, this girl makes a show of holding her already reformed knee in, obviously feigned, pain.

  A chance the prim and proper one uses to bonk her head with a full fist that literally makes it burst.

  "Yeah, sorry. I just had to take a look myself."

  This didn't have any lasting effect either, but the new girl apologizes, while rubbing her struck head and giving them the same goofy smile I already saw so often when Chiaki messed up in some way.

  The kind of smile where you can be sure that they didn't learn their lesson.

  "I can't believe you just came here!" (V)

  "Hey, Nimue came as well. Didn't she? Why aren't you upset with her?" (?)

  "Because someone needs to make sure that things stay in order. And this apparently isn't you." (N)

  "And I was upset about this. But you're so much worse!" (V)

  "I'm not the worst. There are others. If Atris were here, she wouldn't leave a single speck of dust intact. Or Sin! Ohh, Sin. Brrr." (?)

  The two look at each other, then back at her.

  "No. You're the worst." (V/N)

  "Ouch. That's quite harsh, isn't it?" (?)

  "No, it isn't! Is there, in this endless multiverse, seriously nothing else you can do?" (V)

  She truly doesn't seem to have the best standing with the others.

  But what does that imply for me?

  "Well, this one is kinda important, isn't it? The birth of an outer god. Well, maybe a month late, or so." (?)

  "But it was still my job to deal with her! What's about this distrust?!" (V)

  "There is none. It's merely on me that I had to come here. The temptation was too strong. Sorry." (?)

  Could I maybe just leave while they're distracted?

  But they're inside me.

  So I don't think that would even work.

  "Then what's the point of assignments then?!" (V)

  Though, having to wait and listen to them bickering away with each other is kinda awkward.

  "Well, they give a focus of orientation, don't they?" (?)

  "You can't just make this stuff up as you go, Io!" (V)

  "Yeah, I said I was sorry. How about I get you a vacation, one cosmic decade or so." (Io)

  Vacation?

  What does a vacation entail for beings such as them?

  Do they have islands to chill out on?

  Also...

  Wait.

  How did Veo call that new one?

  "You can't just send her on vacation! She's scheduled for the next three millennia!" (N)

  "I'll cover for her." (Io)

  "I know your 'cover'! It means everything falls on me!" (N)

  "No, no. I'm sure I'll find a way to get by." (Io)

  "Your system is shit! Before I came, it was pure chaos, existing from one day to the other!" (N)

  "It kinda worked." (Io)

  "Purely by miracles that you certainly aren't responsible for, you failure of a goddess!" (N)

  "Okay, sorry for this, Nimue. Though, may I add that our current host is right now freaking out?" (Io)

  "As she rightfully should be with you being around. That anyone ever associates you with order is beyond me!" (N)

  "To be fair, it's supposed to be balance. Can't do anything about the marketing team." (Io)

  While I'm still too stunned at this development to even form coherent thoughts about what transpires here, there's suddenly a palpable shift in the atmosphere.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  All the weight of attention I do not want laying itself over me.

  "Anyway, I think it's time for a talk, Iori Nomia." (Io)

  She's looking at me.

  The goddess is looking at me!!!

  I already met deities, Soraja and Aureas, but this one is a whole other caliber.

  While she's deliberately slowly walking in my direction, it seems like she gets slightly taller, her hair growing further, while her casual stride turns into one of domineering elegance.

  This is when I see her face.

  Her already wide eyes open.

  Again!

  As if a veil is lifted from them from the center out.

  In them shimmer all colors that exist and not exist.

  Existence beyond recognition and truth.

  The inevitability of my fate!

  She's coming to take everything!

  As people do when confronted with the undeniable, I lash out.

  A hastily, but nonetheless most massive wall of doom that I throw together with my arm towards her side.

  It's going to crush her so all-encompassing it is.

  Surely she has countermeasures, but I can escape while she's at it.

  Just let me get away from here!

  "Snap"

  Wh-what just happened?

  It should have reached her, but the moment it was about to connect, she just snapped her finger against it, and now all that's left are some glittering specks of dust.

  Again!

  "I get that you're upset, but this isn't going to solve your troubles." (Io)

  "Snap"

  This time she didn't even touch!

  It just... vanished.

  All encompassing, extinct to the roots.

  C-can she do this with me?

  Even with my regeneration?

  "Plop, plop"

  She comes closer, her steps strike the ground with wet thuds, and the panic makes me raise all kinds of little things.

  Anything that just may pose the slightest obstacle to her.

  "Snap"

  They're gone before they even fully form.

  I want to get away from here.

  Anywhere!

  Anywhere else!

  ...

  Why?

  Why am I still here?!

  I cannot teleport!

  Why?

  "Plop"

  But one look forward makes it clear.

  Because of her.

  Because she's denying it.

  This is my end.

  I'm going to end here.

  That's it.

  I didn't sign, and now I'm a threat to the multiverse that has to be dealt with.

  "Plop"

  She's so close.

  One touch and that will be it?

  I'm petrified, unable to even move a millimeter.

  "Plop"

  Right in front of me.

  I don't want this.

  I don't want to see this.

  I close my eyes and await the inevitable.

  "Snap"

  Ouch!

  My forehead!

  That was completely unnecessary!

  And why this grin?

  "Don't be so stiff. It's all good. No need to freak out." (Io)

  She just snapped my forehead!

  And I'm... I'm still here.

  So she didn't want to eradicate me?

  I was almost sure.

  "First things first! Introductions! Me first. My name is Io. By my nature, I'm one of the four primordial pillars of the greater multiverse. Actually quite the confusing term, given how many minor multiverses there are and that none of them actually refers to the entirety. How about we call it 'oververse' instead? Ah, sorry, I tend to lose track. Back to introductions. I'm also the ultimate manifestation of water, absolute instance for everything related to souls, maintainer of balance, as well as mother of my cute little angels." (Io)

  At this, she waves to the two.

  One clicks with her tongue, the other rubs her forehead.

  I don't quite get what she's playing here, feeding me with unrelated information.

  She's so casual about it, it's crazy.

  "Anyway, you can call me Io! Wait a moment. No, no, that doesn't quite work. I mean, your name is already Iori. I'd assume a colloquial connection somewhere, but this doesn't quite help us with how awkward it is to both bear so similar names." (Io)

  What is wrong with her?

  How does any of this relate to our current situation?!

  Is she telling me that she's got something against the name my mother gave me?!

  "Nothing of the sort. Just saying that it's awkward. Yet I suppose this is unfair towards you. Okay, how about this? I'll make an exception and allow for myself to be referred to as "Aio" in our context. Actually, that's, at least in the local tongue, my full name. It refers to 'alpha in omega' yet I generally prefer to just focus on the essentials. You get it?" (Io)

  What the heck is she talking about?

  I thought this was about doing something about me because I'm so dangerous, but now she rambles on and on about her name!

  "Good, then that's decided! In the context of any interaction with you, I'm now to be referred to as 'Aio'." (I-

  "Snap"

  "Aio" (??????????I???????????????o????????????-???????????A?????io)

  "Better." (Aio)

  Ehm, did something just happen?

  It kinda feels like something pretty significant happened.

  Do I even want to know?

  No, I think I'd rather abstain, for now.

  "Alrighty, Iori Nomia. Now that we got through with the first part, I think we need a clarifying consultation. Would you be open to this?" (Aio)

  Why so polite?

  She basically let her goons beat me up and just now finished me off.

  I lost all the fight I had left in me.

  It just pisses me off how she keeps up that smile while I'm sure that she can read my thoughts.

  "Whatever. Just get it over with." (I)

  "Great. So, what I gathered was that you don't want to sign the eternal accord. Is that so?" (Aio)

  "Does it matter?" (I)

  "Of course it does! Your wishes are important after all. Which doesn't change that this puts us in a bit of a bind here." (Aio)

  Whatever transpired here was like the opposite of my free will!!!

  "You see, I don't do this to bully you. It's simply the mere fact that a rank six devourer effect running free is a huge issue that has to be addressed. This is the best I can do." (Aio)

  The best in what regard?

  I don't even understand what she's saying there.

  What even is a devourer effect?

  It all feels just completely...

  "Yeah, I get it. I know, it's not fair. On the other side, the very point of the accord is to maintain a certain sense of fairness. First, to the basics. You know already that the accord exists in the first place to maintain balance in the oververse. This, among other things, foremost means to prevent that each and everyone can do as they please and force it onto those not as big as them, on whatever metric that applies." (Aio)

  "But I am not like that!" (I)

  "Did I imply that? No, this is more of a general safety net that's also supposed to prevent involuntary transgressions. In the first place, I think you have a very off idea regarding what signing the accord in particular entails." (Aio)

  "My sub-mind told me enough. It's a shackle. One that will bind me forever." (I)

  "Ehm, yes and no. Though I'd rather say no. The thing is, it actually won't do a thing." (Aio)

  "You don't seriously think I'm gonna believe that after what happened here." (I)

  "She's got a point!" (V)

  "Not helpful, Veo. But yes, you are right in so far that signing the accord serves two major functions of extreme importance." (Aio)

  "Now you'll tell me which ones those are?" (I)

  "That was the plan. First, it's gonna make itself known to you that you are about to break any terms of it. It may also erect a small mental barrier, but not in a way that it would actually prevent you from going through with it. Rather, it's more like a little mental yes-no sheet to ask you twice if this is really what you intend to do now, as you'd get them when you're about to cancel an online subscription. Second, if you actually go through with breaking the accord, it's gonna send me a message that you did. You can be certain that it won't take long from there till I, or one of my daughters, will confront you and ask you to explain yourself. Yet if it's a good one, they may overlook it. That's basically the whole deal." (Aio)

  Does she think I'll just believe her on this?

  A little warning sign, and that is it?

  "Whatever, I don't have a choice, so just get through with it. You don't need to trick me." (I)

  "But I’m not. This is essentially the whole deal. After all, I'm not the kind of being who would opt to take someone's freedom." (Aio)

  "Ahem!" (N)

  "Oh damn. You know, that's a completely different thing and all are as free as they can be!" (Aio)

  "That's a very wide interpretation." (N)

  "Groan! Back to the topic. What I'm really trying to convey here is that it's not going to take any form of action away from you or influence your thinking. Only make you recheck your intentions. As if anyone but me could even oversee the number of possible cases. I swear to you on all of creation that nothing but what I told you is going to happen if you sign." (Aio)

  "Which is kinda pointless." (N)

  What?

  Pointless?

  Did she lie?

  "What does she mean?" (I)

  "Not what you think. Nimue is just referring to the fact that I truly never lie. I never spoke a single falsehood, which makes all my oaths pointless, as I meant them to be in the first place." (Aio)

  "So I'm supposed to believe you that you're not lying about the fact that you're not lying?" (I)

  I don't even need eldritch knowledge to be aware that this puts us in a loop.

  Yet instead, she pulls out the accord and holds it out towards me.

  "If you want, you can check the accord yourself. Last page, right above the line. 'The contract only comes into existence in accordance with the intentions of the signing parties. If any straying in understanding from the original contract is to be found, the agreement is null and void. In other words, the contract can only apply to you in the way you think it does, well, aside from anything that goes beyond it. If you read it, your mind should tell you the same." (Aio)

  It kinda does.

  No matter how I think about it, nothing off comes from the line she was referring to.

  It feels truthful.

  Could that all truly be?

  It certainly feels off that, after everything, it actually won't be such a big thing.

  "So would you sign? Please? I, sigh, I don't even want to consider other options. I guess Veo was quite right in her approach. We simply can't leave here without you agreeing to rein yourself in. There's just no other way to balance the different interests." (Aio)

  Sigh, as if I have a choice.

  "If I do this, will I not be bothered any longer? Can I then live my peaceful life with my family?" (I)

  "I can't promise this. There are infinite options swirling around, impossible to contain. I can only promise you that neither I nor my daughters nor the accord will keep you from this. That is my truth." (Aio)

  Must be good enough.

  Well, guess I'll sign.

  Just one little logistical problem.

  "How am I supposed to do this?" (I)

  "Putting your finger on it should do it. You can also write your name with it on the sheet if you want, yet that's not a condition here. Originally, cosmic contracts would require a kiss to become enacted, but as quite a variety of beings have to sign it, it had to be adjusted." (Aio)

  Okay... Well, here goes nothing.

  Once it comes into contact with the parchment that certainly is no parchment, the tip of my finger turns into a deep purple-black blotch whose liquid creates shapes and forms that seem to move and flicker on the surface.

  Promptly, the whole thing shines and evaporates into golden runes that all come flying straight at me.

  I close my eyes, but still feel the assault.

  It doesn't hurt, it's just there.

  And promptly gone again.

  Not even an afterimage remains.

  No, that's not quite true.

  If I focus really closely, it lingers all too deep inside me.

  Yet while it bothers me, it truly doesn't seem to do anything to me or prevent anything from happening.

  "Great! Thank you so much! What a relief. I'm glad we could solve this. And just to soothe you, I didn't lie in any way. Now that you signed it, nothing about it will be different from your expectations." (Aio)

  I guess that is somewhat soothing to hear.

  Finally, I might be able to be by myself again and get rid of them.

  Ehm, why is that goddess sitting down in front of me?

  "What?" (I)

  "Why don't we talk a bit longer? Isn't there anything you'd like to know from me?" (Aio)