Intertwined Souls (Michel and Michal)

Intertwined Souls (Michel and Michal)
Date of Cutscene:	19 January 2026
Location:	Michel's realm, Amagi household
Synopsis:	A sick god and an ailing girl face their own weakness, along with the care and uneasy connections it provokes.
Cast of Characters:	Michel, Seira, NPC-Michal, Rihito Amagi, Coco Kiumi

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Winding staircases, rising up and up towards the top of the realm's only tower, filled by the flutter of his wings, and the quiet stare of Michel’s gaze, up to his usual residence. Every once in a while, a window breaks the wall’s monotony, and he is bathed by the golden pillars looming all throughout the land.

Passing through the realm’s tower, he glances at his reflection in a window, sighing at his paler complexion. How come?, he thinks with a frown, averting his gaze from the image. For how long do I have to stay this weak? He has been trying to absorb as much magical energy as he can, but Fuku’s suggestion hasn’t really been any worth. Must he really feed off the souls of those they are trying to reinstate?

His hand closes into a fist angrily. He is a God, he is supposed to be better than this! He is supposed to be perfect, make this world perfect. And yet he can’t even be rid of his own imperfections.

After your sleep, you didn’t wake up right, Lord Michel. You were much too noble, gave too much of yourself away.

Fuku’s words echo in his mind, with that same apologetic shrill that drove him up the wall then. What good are her apologies? Are they supposed to make him all better? They can’t even do that. Nothing can. Not even…

He stares up at the empty pedestal where the Great One usually resides. No signs of the dancing flames, or of the crackles of his heat. He had no idea where he went at times like this? Maybe to obtain ingredients for his “medicine”?

Whatever. He can do as he pleases.

He sighs, and reaches out to the air. The next instant, his flute is circled by Michel’s finger, and the angel brings it to his lips, breathing deeply. The air comes out, flowing out of any opening the angel’s fingers allow. The melody hangs quietly in the air, till the notes fall off, when Michel draws a breath too short, and the music quivers.

His expression twists into a grimace, as he clutches his chest. His heart begins to pump fast, and his hand reaches for the windowsill, scratching it with clawed fingers.

With a flurry of wings, he tosses himself at a nearby table, grabbing bottle after bottle for a taste of water, anything to relieve the burning rising up in his throat. Empty, empty, empty, empty, empty!, he keeps thinking, tossing them all over the floor.

He turns around with a scream that dies directly in his wounded throat, his wings flare with bright white, and there is a pressure in the air as they lash out, piercing through the walls fruitlessly as the burning in his throat deepens.

“Michel…?”

“Stay out of this, Mermaid Princess. It doesn't concern you.”

He tries to ignore the feeling of her orange eyes staring deeply at him. His knees bend, and his fingers tremble as he picks up the flute, but a jolt of pain runs through his hand, and the instrument clatters to the ground.

“You shouldn’t do this. What are you getting from it?”

Michel’s head pulses at Seira’s words, and his teeth grit. “Stop. Go play, or whatever it is you do.” He pushes back against her presence, and there is only a moment of resistance before the orange princess seems to give up and retreats.

The room changes, and the white light from his wings mixes with a light crimson, as flames erupt from the pedestal, and a person’s silhouette blurs and dances with the flame. “Another fit, I see. Come, Michel, I have your remedy.” The voice that emerges from the flames is rather deep and gravelly.

The angel looks up with eyes reduced to a slit, and watches the flames leaning towards him as if tending a hand. He can never get a moment, can he? When it’s not one, it’s another, and he can’t chase him away. “Fine”, Michel grumbles, his voice coming out rough and distorted, and that single word burns in his throat, making him wince. Let’s just get this over with.

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Elsewhere, Michal is taking steps down the stairs of her home. The creaks fill the silence, around her, contrasting the animated chatter coming from the room in the corner her eyes. Her fingers slide down the cool railing, ready to leave it behind. Just as soon as she places her foot on the floor, however, her head spins and she tries to hold on it, but her hand only brushes against it, and flows away from its security.

Her knees buckle first, and she stumbles down the last step. Her heart races, marking every passing second, and her open palms smack against the floor at the last seconds, brushed by the carpet's fibers. Even as her breathing gets cut short, she doesn't react, and simply stares at the beige fabric blurring in and out of focus.

“Michal.” Rihito's voice reaches her with the creak of a door, and she can soon feel his arms warmly wrapping around her shoulders, guiding her to lean on him.

“Ah… Brother… I fell. Again”, she complains, and her right hand clings to his shirt, averting his gaze with a bite of her upper lip. She can feel the thumps in her chest slow down with Rihito near, and the comfort tugs her lips upwards. “I didn't think-”

The door opens again quietly, and Coco steps out, walking closer to the siblings. “Michal-san? Did you get hurt?” The brunette’s voice drops, peeking at her with the corner of her eyes. “No, I am… fine. My brother… He got me.”

Michal's frown gets passed over and met with a smile. “I am glad. Were you coming to us? We were having tea.” Coco opens the door again, letting the delicious aroma float out invitingly. “I’ll bring you some. You can have it later.”

Michal’s expression falters, and she looks at Coco. “I will. I want to rest for now.” She breathes in a little more deeply, and clings closer to her brother, calmed down by the close warmth. “Can we go?”

“Yes, don’t worry”, Rihito replies warmly, and he looks down at her legs. “Can you walk?” He reaches towards Michal’s arm at the same time the girl starts standing up. Her heart starts thumping faster, and her hands shut into a fist around Rihito's shirt.

Quickly, he grabs her, and with good reason: as soon as she tries standing up, Michal feels the room spinning, and she slides forward. Only Rihito’s grip prevents her from falling all the way.

“Don’t force yourself”, he comments, putting her arm around his shoulders, and sliding his across her back. “Let’s walk together, ok? Lean on me.”

Coco watches quietly as Rihito slowly walks up the stairs with Michal, and gets back inside, letting the door close behind her.

The siblings turn around to the next flight of stairs, and when they reach the top, Michal’s free hand clings to the rail. “Can we stop? Just for a moment.” she says in between breaths.

Rihito gives her an understanding gaze and just nods. Catching her breath, Michal looks away from him. Why can’t he always be with her, if he really understands? Michal thinks. Instead he got himself a girlfriend. He was doing just fine all this time.

“Can we go now, please?” she asks, and Rihito smiles at her. “Your bed awaits you.” They pass two windows, and finally Rihito pushes her door open. Helping Michal settle on her bed, Rihito kisses her forehead, then gives his sister the bottle on top of her drawer and her pill.

“Sleep well, Michal”, he says, retreating from the room, and switching off the light after the girl takes her medicine, pursing his sleep slightly at the familiar coughing that always follows the pill. Before the door closes, Coco comes up in the hallway, holding the cup of tea she promised, and the sweet smell of rhododendron fills the room as the blonde girl places it on her bedside table.

Michal’s eyes grow heavier thanks to the medicine, and as she falls deeper into sleep, her dreams fill with large white wings, rising farther away, growing smaller, yet remaining vividly clear.