Reincarnated Into A Dead Woman's Body In Another World-Chapter 293: Interlude - 12: Magics of the Mind

Their work continued hour by hour. Asobi worked upstairs, playing with tropical birds of all colours whenever she had the chance.

While Jotou was eventually given a ferret to bring to a few guests within the lounge. It seemed quite friendly and fluffy in Jotou’s arms before it climbed onto her shoulder.

"There you go buddy," Jotou handed the ferret to the guests and it leapt off.

"Yeah, they’re setting routes to Trailon."

Jotou caught part of a conversation from some other table. The dusk was upon them and two working men had seemingly come here after their shifts.

"New opportunities," the man sipped his beer.

"You’d have to be pretty desperate to start a business there."

"It’s definitely risky, but it has to happen at some point—formal trade between Trailon and Galuvit."

"Ha! You know how much they jacked up the ’taxes’ when they had a part of Galuvit? They were goin’ around like a gang collecting money, you think it’s all gonna go over smoothly now? Trade’s gonna be shaky as hell."

"That’s why the council’s on it, right? Even the Azure Firefly’s assisting with the trade routes and licenses apparently. That’s a good sign."

"Maybe. But who in their right mind would want to trade with Trailon after all the years of shit, council backing or not?"

Jotou left it at that, with a little proud smirk upon her lips. "Hi Ana," Jotou turned to the exit of the lounge.

"Serene, hey."

She had her handbag slung and uniform off, "How long have you been working?"

"How long have you hm?" Jotou raised a brow.

"College and rent isn’t cheap you know," she chuckled. "You should get off before they stick you with the cleaning duties."

"Yeah, I probably should. I’ll get Amelia and head off home," she clutched the menus in her arm.

"Well in that case, want to go get some coffee and something to bite later?" she played with the strap of her handbag.

Jotou pondered for a second and then grinned, "Sorry to shoot you down, but I’m already taken."

"Aww... Can’t blame a girl for trying," she shrugged. ...She then laughed, unable to contain it any longer.

Jotou raised a brow.

"I wasn’t actually asking you on a date. You’re pretty, but I wanted to know more about your sister."

"Oh." Jotou blushed, "Sorry."

"It’s okay, but now my plans are ruined; your big sister instincts are gonna kick in, so no info to be gleaned from you now; what a shame," her fangs poked out in a grin. "I’ll be off then; have a good night," she turned and waved.

"You too; and nice try," Jotou shook her head. ’I’m not even sure if Asobi- The hell!?’ Jotou felt a spark go down her spine, her illusions flickering near the entrance of the lounge.

She knew that warning all too well. Fortunately no one saw her as she fled the scene, searching for the source. "You," Jotou spotted the mouse-girl around the corner running off.

With a huff, Jotou dashed towards her target. Around the corner, the part-human in heels was not quite fast. Jotou caught up to her and grabbed her by the wrist before she could flee any further.

"Gh!" Iridina came to a halt, the two in a secluded hallway where the barks of dogs in kennels was not too far off.

"TCK!"

"Efh!"

Jotou pushed her against the wall and pinned her neck to it with an arm, "Are you trying to piss me off? Cause it’s working."

Iridina flailed her arms, grabbing onto Jotou’s arm to try and escape, but it was completely fruitless, "So rough~" she played off with a smile.

"Enough!" Jotou said as quietly as possible. "What’s your game here? Why do you keep trying to read my mind?"

Her thin tail was trapped against the wall; her ears folded back. "You’re such an oddity."

"You better answer me properly..."

"You’re no fun, you know that?"

Jotou glared down and she pushed her arm harder, "I’m gonna show you ’fun’ if you keep dodging my question."

"Please, what are you gonna do? You think this is the first time I’ve been trapped against a wall in some hallway?"

...

Jotou’s lips curled and her eyes sparked a smidgen, "You’re really barking up the wrong tree. I have no problem snapping your neck to hear that sweet sound of it crack right here and now..."

"Torture? Really?" her smile cracked just a little.

"More like sudden death. But I can accommodate for that if you want~ It’s always fun to see a body squirm and writhe as volts of lightning tears apart their nerves, limb by limb," little sparks began flying off of Jotou.

"Come on, you’re the Thundering Blade. Kria’s hero, helped in Hartamat and in the Last Stand. You’re not gonna kill me for something like this."

"Try me. You’ve only seen me in the papers after all."

The sadistic smile she wore began to seed worry in Iridina. "Y-you’re bluffing." Her heartbeat raced as sweat formed above her lips.

Jotou drew her face closer, "It’s scary isn’t it? Not being able to read my mind, not able to know my next move. You have not, the slightest, clue, of what I’ll do right now. So, you’re just begging for your thoughts to be reassured~"

Iridina shut her mouth tight and held her breath; her amber eyes darted all around her, trying to ignore the imposing presence.

"Who do you think would care? Someone died here, got killed maybe. They blame Anastasia and Amelia, the ones who won’t be seen ever again; because they don’t exist~ Just like you’re about to go poof!"

Sparks overtook her head, making the illusion of black hair and cat ears flicker in and out of view. The blonde watched as Iridina took a light gulp.

"It’s a shame you pissed the wrong person off. Red’s bound to stick out in that pretty white hair of yours~ Oh well, if you want to keep playing around and find out, then you’ll get your wish," Jotou’s hand began to spark.

"Okay! Okay, okay, okay," Iridina whimpered and winced her eyes. "I’m sorry, I’m sorry, please! I’ll stop messing with you! I was just trying to figure out why I can’t read your mind!"

"By just trying to read it again? Bold move."

"There’s, there’s this weird enchantment over it. I can feel your thoughts, but just can’t break through. I was trying to use brute force; I could feel it weakening, but it wasn’t working much at all. That’s all, that’s it, I swear!"

Jotou kept glaring... Her sparks died down and she removed her arm off of her neck. Iridina took a deep breath and panted, keeping her eye on Jotou.

"I hate having to do that," Jotou sighed. "Why didn’t you just tell me that?"

"Wait, so you really were bluffing," Iridina replied.

"We’ll never know. You were smart to give up."

Iridina caught her breath. "... ..."

"...I like pissing people off, so maybe I get where you’re coming from-"

"I, was trying to get your surface thoughts—I couldn’t. I knew it was going to anger you, so I ran off, but once you caught me, I was, I was gonna have a little fun as I try to tell you everything, but then you pinned me to the wall, I..."

"I’m, sorry." Jotou kept her glare, "The last time something kept probing at my head, my emotions were all over the place. So I don’t appreciate anything trying to get into my head. Are you hurt?" Jotou examined.

Iridina checked her neck, "Not really. You, were actually quite gentle despite it all... I knew you were a good person," she exhaled. "But it was hard to believe that for a bit there."

Jotou side-eyed Iridina then gazed back to the hallway. She crossed her arms; her brows knitted together as her eyes softened watching the floor... She closed her eyes then sighed. "Why do you want to know what’s in my head?"

Iridina shuffled around to face her, "I’ve, just never been able to not do that. This is the first time I can’t read someone’s mind."

"Feeling inadequate then?"

Iridina pouted, "Perhaps. But, I have a few more questions; you don’t have to answer them—you probably won’t."

"Try me."

"Okay... Did you get your mind enchanted?"

"Somehow sure, but I’m not the one who did it."

"Then who did?"

"I have no clue."

Iridina furrowed her brows, "You mean it just happened then? When?"

"...At the start of June, last year. I’m sure you know the Psyching Dread?"

"Uh, no."

"Guess the papers didn’t cover her. She’s responsible for the Velatos Case in Kria and an elite soldier that we faced in the last stand. She could read people’s negative thoughts, but couldn’t ever read my mind.

I was told by the acting chief of Kria’s Maleficos Ordinate, that my mind was protected by an enchantment of sorts; or at least, that’s what he could report."

"I’m, surprised you’re willing to tell me all of this."

"I’m telling you all of this, because this information is useless to me. I barely know how it works and what it does, but nothing beyond that. If you’re just gonna keep poking at my head, I might as well tell you."

"I see... Allow me to correct one thing; the enchantment on your mind, doesn’t seem like a ’protection’. I can hear your thoughts, even now; they’re just, muffled like they’re behind a wall.

If it was an enchantment that protects from spells designed to invade the mind, I wouldn’t hear anything. My ability would just, come to a stop," she explained.

"And you would know this how?"

"You’ve seen Daksh before, no? Do you recall him having a hat? A purple one?"

"I do."

"You see, it’s enchanted with a protection spell against magics that affect or manipulate the mind. He was extremely paranoid after he met me and hired me on a few years ago."

Jotou narrowed her eyes, "So what exactly are you trying to say? If it’s not protecting my mind, what’s the alternative? A curse?"

"No. How do I put this... It’s like your mind’s tainted—coated in that magic; like moss has grown to cover it. It’s not protecting, but fighting back.

So when I use my ability, it feels like there is an entrance I can break through. Of course, I’m stopped and pushed away by that layer.

Take it from a psychic who understands the magic around the mind. It’s my best explanation from what you’ve told me," the mouse-woman affirmed.

"Then, I may know a little more," Jotou paused. ’There’s no real harm in telling her. Besides, her telling anyone really has no benefit either.’ "I’m not from this world."

Iridina blinked a few times, "What?"

"I died in my world and ended up existing here like this," Jotou swished her cat-like tail... "Well, as what you would’ve seen me as in the papers—I’m sure you’ve seen at least one picture.

I don’t know what brought me here or how and I’ve only got bits and pieces of info here and there. Whatever’s around my mind, is related to whatever brought me here. So I know for a fact, that it’s been here since I woke up in Kria."

"Different, world..." Iridina’s jaw hung, till her eyes fluttered back to reality. "You know, if I hadn’t seen a million dreams, I would not have believed you..."

"I don’t care if you believe me or not; I know it’s the truth. I’ve told you everything there is to know about it, so now leave me and Asobi alone. We’re not gonna be here for long, don’t worry," Jotou uttered with uncaring eyes and turned around.

"Wait," Iridina halted Jotou’s steps. "I’m genuinely sorry... I really was just teasing and messing with you just now. I’ll, make it up to you, I promise."

"Your word doesn’t mean much to me."

"It should. I promised I wouldn’t read Ms Asobi’s mind and I haven’t ever since. I may be... different tomorrow, but my word I’ll keep."

’What’s that supposed to mean?’ Jotou didn’t turn her head. "We’ll see. Good evening Iridina," without another word, she left.