Chapter Text
Maomao looked Kris up and down, her analytical gaze scanning the crisp, unfamiliar fabric of the robes they were suddenly wearing.
“Are you.. A eunuch?” she asked flatly. She took note of Kris's outfit.. It was changed to one of a eunuch.. With a seemingly high rank?
“....I mean.. Yeah?... I think,” Kris stammered, looking down at their own clothes in mild confusion.
“What do you mean you think?” Maomao’s brow furrowed, her suspicion growing by the second.
“....I dunno.”
There was a small, awkward silence between them, save for the ambient rustle of leaves in the courtyard. Maomao crossed her arms, her sharp eyes studying the bizarre newcomer. “...Did you fall from the sky to the northern part of the palace…?”
“...Is it that obvious?” Kris sighed, brushing some grass off their new sleeves.
“Mhm.”
“...Could you keep it a secret?” Kris pleaded, offering a tired, helpless look.
“...I mean.. I can?” Maomao replied slowly.
Who even is this kid.. They look younger than me… No way they're a eunuch, Maomao thought, her mind immediately jumping to the medical and political headaches this situation could cause if the guards caught wind of it.
“I should take you to Master Jinshi…” she decided, gesturing for Kris to stand up.
“Oh… Great,” Kris mumbled, dreading the impending interrogation from the palace’s most notoriously beautiful supervisor.
Kris followed Maomao through the winding, ornate corridors of the inner palace. Bright silks and elegant women passed by, but Kris barely glanced at them. Their mind was still completely stuck on the world they had just been ripped away from, missing a certain sharp-eyed Duke far too much to care about any of this new scenery.
“Oh, Apothecary! Who is… this?” a smooth, melodic voice suddenly called out.
Jinshi appeared as if on cue, practically radiating his usual sparkling charm as he stepped into the corridor, his loyal attendant Gaoshun hovering just a step behind him.
“...Someone who was found unconscious on the north side,” Maomao answered flatly, giving her usual minimal-effort bow.
Jinshi tilted his head, his exceptionally beautiful face shifting into a look of gentle concern as he inspected Kris’s high-ranking eunuch attire. “Oh… Poor thing.. You seem pretty young.”
“Hmm,” Kris grunted, crossing their arms and offering a thoroughly unimpressed stare that matched Maomao’s usual energy perfectly.
“May we have your name?” Gaoshun said politely, his deep voice breaking the brief silence as he looked at the strangely dressed youth.
“...It's Kris..”
“..Hm.. Interesting name,” Gaoshun replied, adjusting his stance. He exchanged a brief, calculating look with Jinshi. It wasn't a name native to the Li clan's territory, nor did it sound like anyone from the surrounding regions.
Jinshi hummed softly, resting a hand on his chin as his sparkling eyes scanned Kris's face. "Kris, is it? Well, Kris, finding a high-ranking official's attendant wandering around the northern side without a proper explanation is quite the puzzle. Which pavilion do you belong to?"
“I don't remember,” Kris said, keeping their expression entirely blank.
I can just pretend I have amnesia and not remember anything other than my name they thought, leaning into the lie. It was a classic excuse, but given how they had just practically fallen into this universe, it was the safest bet they had.
Maomao glanced at them out of the corner of her eye, her sharp gaze narrowing slightly in skepticism. Amnesia was convenient, but in a place like the Rear Palace, convenient stories usually meant hidden danger.
Jinshi, however, simply blinked, his beautiful features softening into a look of exaggerated pity. “Oh dear… Amnesia? To forget your own home and duties… how terribly tragic.” He turned his head slightly toward Gaoshun. “We can't exactly cast a high-ranking youth out into the streets if they don't know where they belong, can we?”
Gaoshun sighed heavily, already anticipating the extra paperwork and headaches this was going to cause. “No, Master Jinshi. But we will need to verify their identity with the registry eventually.”
“Your arms are covered in scars.. do you need bandages?” Maomao asked Kris, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took a closer look at their exposed wrists.
“...I see,” Kris replied quietly, pulling their sleeves down to cover the marks. “No, it’s fine. They’re old.”
Maomao stared at them for a second longer, her expression unreadable, before she let out a small huff. “If you say so. But if they start hurting or opening up, you’re coming straight to the medical room. I don't need an untreated infection causing trouble around here.”
Jinshi watched the exchange, his playful demeanor shifting into something a bit more observant. “Well, regardless of the past, we need to find a place for you to stay while we sort this out. For now, you can assist Gaoshun with some basic administrative tasks around the office. It will keep you out of trouble.”
Kris nodded, keeping their face entirely blank as they fell into step behind Gaoshun.
I need to get out of here.. the thought repeated like a mantra in their mind.
The high-walled courtyards, the meticulous politics, the sweet-smelling incense, it all felt like a gilded cage. They didn't belong in this palace, and they certainly didn't belong in these robes. Every second spent playing the part of a nameless, memory-wiped servant was a second wasted.
As they walked away from Jinshi and Maomao, Kris subtly checked their own hands, waiting for any sign of a familiar, glitching spark. They needed a way to trigger the jump again, or at the very least, a map of the outer walls to figure out how to escape the grounds unnoticed.
We need to be careful around them.. Maomao seems skeptical about them… and her conjecture is normally never wrong… Gaoshun thought to himself, his expression remaining perfectly stoic as he led Kris through the winding corridors toward the administrative pavilion.
He glanced down at the youth walking silently beside him. There was an edge to them, a strange, heavy quiet that didn't fit the typical demeanor of a palace servant.
“..Do you remember your last name?” Gaoshun asked, his deep voice carrying a calm but firm authority.
…
“No,” Kris replied flatly, staring straight ahead at the stone path.
Gaoshun slid open the heavy wooden doors to a spacious office filled with neatly stacked scrolls and the scent of ink. “Sit here for now,” he instructed, gesturing toward a desk near the back corner. “I will bring you some documents to organize. If your memory starts to return, you are to inform me immediately.”
Kris sat quietly at the desk, staring down at the columns of neat characters on the scrolls.
If they try to look at my biology… it'll give them a headache… I was born with.. literally nothing and.. is this Chinese?.... hm
For a fraction of a second, Kris's mind went completely blank, the foreign script blurring before their eyes. But then, their instincts kicked in. A strange, deep-seated reflex took over, and their hand moved on its own, dipping a brush into the ink with perfect, practiced precision. Without even consciously thinking about it, they began to read and organize the documents with ease, their body moving purely on autopilot.
They kept their head down, completely aware that Gaoshun’s shadow was still absolutely motionless outside the paper screen door. They were being watched like a hawk, meaning any sudden escape attempt right now would instantly blow their cover. For now, blending in and letting their body handle the paperwork was the only choice they had.
Meanwhile, back in the central pavilion, Jinshi rested his chin in his hand, looking out the window toward the administrative building.
“So.. you found them unconscious?” he asked, his tone dropping its usual playful lilt, replaced by a much quieter, sharper curiosity.
“Yes, that is precisely how I found them..” Maomao replied, her voice flat as she sorted through a fresh batch of dried roots on the table. She didn't look up, but her brow furrowed slightly. “Though 'unconscious' might be a generous term. They looked more like they had simply dropped out of thin air, completely disoriented. And those clothes... the fabric is exceptionally fine, but the cut doesn't match any official uniform I've ever seen.”
Jinshi hummed softly, tapping his fingers against the wooden desk. "A high-ranking uniform with no master, a name that belongs to no known clan, and a total loss of memory... yet Gaoshun tells me they are currently handling the palace documents without a single mistake."
Maomao paused, a piece of licorice root hovering in her fingers. "They can read the imperial records?"
"Fluently, it seems," Jinshi said, a faint, intrigued smile playing on his lips. "Whoever our silent little guest is, they are certainly far from ordinary."
“Hm..” Jinshi murmured, a playful yet calculating glint returning to his eyes.
“I have an idea.. how about you take them in,” he suggested, leaning forward slightly with a brilliant smile.
“Excuse me,” Maomao questioned, her voice dropping into a deadpan, thoroughly unamused tone. She stared at him as if he had just suggested she adopt a stray poisonous snake.
“You can find out stuff about them,” Jinshi insisted, waving a hand dismissively. “You have a knack for observing details that everyone else misses, Apothecary. If Kris is hiding something, or if their biology truly has some unique affliction causing that memory loss, you’re the perfect person to figure it out.”
Maomao let out a long, heavy sigh, looking back down at her herbs. Great. Just what I needed. More uncompensated overtime as a babysitter for a mysterious sky-kid.
“Why should I? I'm still a servant,” Maomao countered, her voice flat as she continued to sort her herbs, completely unmoved by Jinshi's pleading look.
“..Please..” Jinshi begged softly, leaning in closer and turning on the full force of his devastatingly handsome charm, a dazzling aura practically radiating from him.
"No," Maomao snapped instantly, looking away without a single hint of hesitation. The beautiful face had absolutely zero effect on her.
"You'll get paid more," Jinshi offered, holding up a finger with a knowing smirk.
"...Fine," Maomao muttered after a short, painful silence. If there was one thing that could overcome her desire to avoid extra work, it was a guaranteed raise and a bigger budget for her eccentric medical experiments.
A short while later, Gaoshun slid open the door to the office where Kris was still silently organizing scrolls. "Kris. Step away from the desk. Your living arrangements have been changed. You will be staying with the apothecary from now on."
…
Maomao stepped quietly into the small room, her soft footsteps barely making a sound on the floorboards. She carried a small bundle of herbs, intending to set them down, but paused when she saw Kris slumped over the side of the low bed, completely exhausted and fast asleep.
Gaoshun was already there, standing over the sleeping youth with his usual stoic expression. He didn't say a word, but he carefully shook out a thick woven blanket and draped it over Kris’s shoulders to keep out the night chill.
“...Hm,” Gaoshun grunted softly, stepping back and adjusting his posture.
Maomao walked over, her sharp eyes scanning Kris’s peaceful face. The tension that usually gripped the kid's shoulders was gone, replaced by the heavy, deep sleep of someone who had been running on empty for far too long.
“They didn’t cause any trouble while organizing the records?” Maomao whispered, glancing up at the tall attendant.
“None,” Gaoshun replied quietly, his voice a low rumble. “They worked in total silence. If they are hiding something, they are exceptionally disciplined about it.”
Maomao looked back down at Kris, watching the steady rise and fall of their chest. For all the mystery and the strange clothing, right now they just looked like a tired kid who had reached their absolute limit. “Well,” she murmured, setting her herbs on the table, “at least they’re quiet. Let them sleep. We’ll see what they remember in the morning.”
“I feel like they shouldn't be sleeping on the desk,” Gaoshun stated, his brow furrowing slightly as he looked at the uncomfortable angle of Kris's posture.
“I do it, it's fine,” Maomao replied flatly, waving a hand dismissively. She knew from plenty of personal experience that a wooden surface made a perfectly acceptable bed when a breakthrough in research—or sheer exhaustion—demanded it.
Gaoshun let out a small, defeated sigh, realizing there was no point in arguing with her logic. He carefully shifted Kris just a bit so their head was resting more securely against their folded arms, ensuring they wouldn't wake up with a completely stiff neck.
“Just ensure they don't wander off during the night,” Gaoshun reminded her quietly, taking one last look at the sleeping youth before turning toward the door. “The inner palace is dangerous for those who don't know its rules.”
“I know,” Maomao murmured, sitting down at her own table to continue trimming her medicine. “Go back to Master Jinshi. I'll keep an eye on them.”
Maomao watched the sleeping youth for a few more moments, the quiet flickering of the oil lamp casting long shadows across the small medical room. *What an odd kid..* she thought, turning back to her herbs, her mind ticking through the possibilities of what could cause such a strange situation.
Beneath the heavy blanket, Kris shifted uncomfortably, a low murmur escaping their lips as their mind drifted deep into a restless sleep.
Kris’s dreams were just them.. covered in.. some kind of blood
…no..
And there were ice shards reflecting the dim light of a ruined throne room. The bitter, biting cold of Fortress Meropide seemed to seep right into their bones, a sharp contrast to the warm air of the Rear Palace. They could still hear the faint echo of a heavy fist striking a frozen wall, the sound reverberating in their chest until they suddenly jolted awake, breathing heavily in the quiet room.
Kris sat up quickly, the blanket sliding off their shoulders as they stared blankly at the unfamiliar wooden floor. The room was quiet, save for the soft sound of Maomao trimming her herbs a few feet away.
“I need to get home..back.. to Hometown.. with Susie..Noelle.. and.. Ralsei…the dark world.. the prophecy," Kris mumbled under their breath, their voice shaking slightly as the names rushed out in a desperate whisper.
Maomao paused, her scissors hovering just above a stalk of dried medicine. She turned her head slowly, her sharp eyes fixing on Kris's distressed expression. She didn't recognize any of those names—they sounded foreign, completely alien to the lands of the Li clan—but the sheer panic in the youth's voice was unmistakable.
"Hometown? Susie?" Maomao repeated quietly, setting her tools down on the table. She poured a small cup of lukewarm water and held it out to them. "Drink this. You're talking in riddles, and your breathing is completely uneven. Whatever dream you just had, you're awake now."
Kris took the cup with slightly trembling hands, nodding briefly. “Hm.”
They tilted the cup back, drinking the lukewarm water down in a few quick swallows. As the liquid settled, a wave of relief washed over them. It was strangely comforting, carrying a faint, earthy taste of carefully blended herbs that instantly soothed the tight knot of anxiety in their chest. The bitter chill of the nightmare began to fade, replaced by the steady reality of the small medical room.
Maomao watched them closely, noting how the color was slowly returning to their face. She took the empty cup back and set it on the table.
“Better?” she asked, her tone pragmatic but not unkind. “Your pulse was racing. If you keep pushing yourself that hard, you're going to collapse again, and I don't feel like explaining to Master Jinshi why my new assistant fainted on day one.”
“...Hm? Assistant??” Kris asked, their brow furrowing as they looked up from the empty cup.
“Yeah,” Maomao replied flatly, already turning back to her table to pick up her scissors again.
“....How.. Huh?? Why?” Kris sounded thoroughly confused, their voice cracking slightly as they tried to process how they had gone from a high-ranking official's clerk to a local apothecary's helper in the span of a single nap.
“Ask Master Jinshi,” Maomao said without looking up, the steady *snip, snip* of her shears filling the quiet room. “He’s the one who decided you needed to be watched, and the one who offered to pay me more to do it. So, until your memory miraculously comes back, you’re stuck with me.”
“Hm.. Joyous,” Kris muttered sarcastically, resting their chin in their hand.
“Just a quick question.. Do you know anything about poisons and medicine?” Maomao asked, her entire demeanor suddenly shifting. Her eyes sparkled with an intense, almost frightening gleam of curiosity as she leaned forward across the table.
“...Little bit.. I did eat random things when I was younger…” Kris admitted quietly.
Maomao gasped softly, her face lighting up with genuine excitement. For the first time since they had met, she looked completely thrilled. "You ate random things? Plants? Minerals? Did you ever develop an immunity? What kind of symptoms did you have?"
Kris took a subtle step back, suddenly realizing that admitting to weird childhood habits around a certified mad scientist apothecary might have been a terrible mistake.
“Plants.. mostly..” Kris mumbled, shifting uncomfortably under her intense gaze.
“What kind??!” Maomao pressed, leaning even closer over the table, her eyes practically sparkling with academic fervor.
“Uh..” Kris hesitated, completely unprepared for this level of interrogation over childhood weirdness.
“Xiaomao… please.. don't scare them,” Gaoshun said, peeking back into the room with a heavy, long-suffering sigh. He had clearly heard the commotion from just outside the corridor and felt compelled to intervene before the apothecary completely terrified their new guest.
Maomao blinked, huffing slightly as she straightened her posture and reluctantly pulled back. “I am merely conducting a preliminary medical intake, Gaoshun. It's important to know if they have any hidden tolerances.”
“I mean there was a time where I ate buttercups and got myself sick..” Kris murmured, looking down at their hands.
“I see your memory is starting to come back,” Gaoshun stated, crossing his arms as he watched them from the doorway.
“Childhood memories.. mostly,” Kris replied quietly, their voice trailing off.
Maomao’s eyes widened slightly at the mention of the yellow flower. “Buttercups? Those are toxic. They cause severe gastrointestinal distress and blistering if consumed raw. The fact that you’re sitting here completely fine means you either didn't eat much, or your body handled the toxin remarkably well.” She tapped her chin thoughtfully, a small smirk playing on her lips. “Fascinating.”
I hated that day.. the fear in Asriel’s eyes… what if I died.. what if I never woke up from the coma… what if i-
“You thinking about something Kris?” Maomao asked, breaking the silence as she noticed the distant, troubled look on their face.
“...No,” Kris replied quietly, shaking their head to clear the intrusive thoughts.
The memory of Asriel’s terrified face and the sheer panic of that day 9 years ago always left a bitter taste in their mouth, but dwelling on "what ifs" wouldn't help them now. They were stuck in a completely different world, and right now, they needed to focus on surviving the intense curiosity of the palace apothecary.
Gaoshun gave Kris a long, measuring look, sensing the emotional weight behind their sudden silence but choosing not to pry. “If you are well enough to remember your past, then you are well enough to assist with tomorrow’s duties. Rest for the remainder of the night.”
“...Okay,” Kris muttered, their tone completely flat and uninterested as they slipped out of the chair.
“You can come with me.. Your room… has been ready and is much more comfortable than a table,” Gaoshun said, gesturing toward the open door with a polite but firm nod.
“...Okay,” Kris repeated quietly, adjusting the blanket still draped over their shoulders.
“Also Xiaomao, you may also follow,” Gaoshun added, glancing back at the apothecary.
Maomao gathered her remaining bundles of herbs with a quick, efficient sweep of her hands and fell into step right behind them. The small group walked in silence down the dimly lit, labyrinthine corridors of the Rear Palace, the cool night air rustling the paper lanterns overhead as Kris was finally led toward their new quarters.
Meanwhile, back in the quiet, tree-lined streets of Hometown, the atmosphere was suffocatingly heavy.
Inside the Dreemurr household, the kitchen felt entirely too large and entirely too quiet. Toriel sat at the wooden dining table, her hands tightly gripping a cold mug of tea. Her eyes were red, staring blankly at the empty chair across from her.
A soft knock at the door broke the silence, and Carol stepped inside, her usual stern expression softened by an uncharacteristic look of exhaustion.
“Have you found anything?” Toriel asked, her voice cracking as she immediately stood up, looking for even a shred of hope.
“No.. because someone went into my office and stole the camera footage..” Carol admitted, rubbing the bridge of her nose in deep frustration.
“Who would do such a thing?” Toriel gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.
“...I don't know,” Carol replied quietly, looking out the window. The trail had gone completely cold, leaving behind nothing but questions and a town wrapped in a tense, uneasy mystery.
Toriel sank back into her chair, her shoulders slumping as the last bit of nervous energy drained out of her.
“Has officer Undyne found anything?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
“No… she.. she's looked through this town high and low,” Carol replied softly, leaning against the doorframe. “She’s been out since yesterday evening checking the woods, the lake, even the old bunker. But there's just no trace.”
Toriel wrapped her arms around herself, looking down at the worn kitchen floorboards. The entire town was searching, yet it felt like Kris had simply vanished into thin air, leaving a void that no amount of searching could seem to fill.
….
Kris was sleeping peacefully in their bed until a knock at the door woke them up
Kris rubbed their eyes, adjusting to the dim light of the corridor as the heavy wooden door swung open.
Maomao stood there, looking completely unfazed by the late hour. She held a small lantern that cast a warm, flickering glow over her neutral expression.
“Lady Yinghua wants to know if you wanna come with us tonight?” Maomao repeated, tilting her head slightly.
“Huh?” Kris mumbled, their voice thick with sleep. They blinked, trying to process the request. "Go... where?"
"A banquet in the inner gardens," Maomao explained practically. "There will be plenty of food, high-ranking officials, and more importantly, a chance to observe people. Lady Yinghua thought it might help jog your memory, or at least keep you busy. Are you up for it?"
“...Oh… um..sure?” Kris mumbled, still a bit groggy but nodding anyway.
“Good… also here.. Jinshi made this for me, to give to you.. I don't know why..” Maomao said. She reached up and carefully tucked a silver-wired hairpin into Kris's hair. The delicate metal was expertly twisted into the shape of elegant leaves, catching the dim lantern light.
“..I see,” Kris murmured, reaching up to lightly touch the cold metal of the ornament.
“It's only temporary until your memory comes back,” Maomao added, pulling her hand away and dusting off her sleeves. “In the Rear Palace, an ornament like that signifies a certain level of protection or at least tells people you belong to a specific household so they don't try to cause you trouble. Get dressed quickly, we shouldn't keep Lady Yinghua waiting.”
“Aye..” Kris muttered softly to the empty space as the door clicked shut.
Maomao walked back down the corridor, the lantern swinging slightly in her hand. I just noticed.. their accent is quite odd.. as well.. she thought, reflecting on the strange rhythm and unfamiliar words Kris used when they spoke. Eh.. who cares. She quickly pushed the thought down. As long as Kris could handle the paperwork and didn't accidentally poison themselves with any more wild garden plants, their strange way of talking wasn't her problem.
Inside the room, Kris stood in the quiet darkness, the silver leaf hairpin catching the faint moonlight through the window. They took a deep breath, straightened the unfamiliar fabric of their uniform, and prepared to face whatever the imperial banquet had in store.
“...A dress?” Kris muttered, holding up the layers of fabric in disbelief.
“I couldn't decide what gender you were,” Maomao said bluntly through the closed wooden door, her voice echoing slightly in the corridor.
“...I see,” Kris replied, staring down at the garments. It was a light green hanfu with yellow accents, the silk smooth and cool against their fingertips.
...It's always these colors... Kris thought, a bitter, ironic smile tugging at the corner of their mouth. Green and yellow. It felt like a running joke across the universe at this point—a striking reminder of the striped sweater waiting in a drawer all the way back in Hometown.
With a quiet sigh, Kris began the confusing process of figuring out how to put the many layers together, adjusting the silver leaf hairpin to make sure it wouldn't fall out.
Kris carefully adjusted the leaf hairpin, pinning it securely alongside the flower hairpin in their hair. They looked at their reflection in the polished surface of the mirror, a faint shadow crossing their features.
I can't believe this has lasted this long.. Eri.. hmm. I hope the people there are doing alright… eh… not like I can see them again.
Reaching down into the folds of the green and yellow hanfu, Kris checked for their familiar knife. Slipping it out of its sheath, they blinked in surprise. The blade had changed. Carved cleanly into the metal were two distinct new symbols, a star and a snowflake glinting subtly under the dim light. The craftsmanship and the distinct temper line of the steel made it look exactly like a miniature Nichirin blade. Well, not a full sword... more like a Nichirin knife.
Kris sheared it back into hiding, the added weight a strange but grounding comfort.
"Kris? Are you ready yet?" Maomao’s voice called out from the corridor, followed by a light rap against the wood. "We need to move."
"Coming," Kris called back, smoothing down the unfamiliar silk of the dress before opening the door to join her.
Maomao gave Kris a quick, evaluating look from head to toe, nodding in approval. “Hm.. I see you managed to figure it out..”
“...I guess,” Kris muttered, pulling slightly at the unfamiliar collar of the green and yellow hanfu. It felt incredibly strange to walk around in so many layers of flowing silk, but at least the hidden knife was secure.
“Come now.. I think Lady Gyokuyou would like to meet you," Maomao said, turning on her heel and gesturing for Kris to follow her down the long, red-pillared hallway toward the higher-ranking pavilions.
“Hm,” Kris grunted in agreement, falling into step beside her. The cool night air brushed against the silver and flower hairpins in their hair as they prepared themselves to face the high society of the Rear Palace.
The pavilion of the Jade Consort was breathtakingly beautiful, bathed in the soft, warm glow of numerous silk lanterns. Lady Gyokuyou sat elegantly upon a raised dais, her crimson hair framing a gentle, curious smile as she watched the two approach.
“Lady Gyokuyou… this is Kris..” Maomao introduced, stepping aside and offering a polite bow.
“Oh? Jinshi did say you had taken in someone..” Lady Gyokuyou said, her eyes resting on Kris. Her gaze was sharp but deeply kind, taking in the green and yellow hanfu and the intricate silver leaf hairpin nestled alongside the flower ornament in their hair. "He was quite mysterious about it. It is a pleasure to meet you, Kris."
Kris offered a quiet, awkward nod, their hand instinctively brushing against the hidden folds of their skirt where the knife was secured, keeping their guard up in the unfamiliar splendor of the palace.
“They’re going to help me with herbs and my examination of your pregnancy,” Maomao explained calmly, completely oblivious to the internal panic she was causing.
…..I didn't sign up for that… …I don't have a choice.. so.. I'm just not gonna speak about anything.. Kris thought, staring blankly at the floor. The idea of being dragged into royal medical examinations, especially when they barely knew the difference between a common weed and actual medicine, sounded like a recipe for disaster. Keeping their mouth shut seemed like the safest possible strategy.
Lady Gyokuyou giggled softly at Kris’s intensely stoic expression, tapping her fan against her chin. “My, Jinshi wasn't kidding. They certainly are a quiet one, aren't they? Well, any assistant of Maomao’s is welcome here. I hope you enjoy the food tonight, Kris.”
Kris bowed down politely, keeping their eyes trained on the fine rug beneath their feet to maintain the respectful gesture.
“Thank you,” they murmured, keeping their voice steady and quiet.
“Maomao, make sure to show them around whenever you get the chance,” Lady Gyokuyou requested, her tone warm and encouraging as she waved her fan slightly.
"Of course, Lady Gyokuyou," Maomao replied with a nod. She then nudged Kris lightly with her elbow, signaling that it was time to step back and let the consort rest before the evening's festivities truly began. Kris gladly took the cue, retreating into the background where they could blend into the shadows of the elegant pavilion.
They seem to know how to behave politely.. Maybe tomorrow… I can find out more about them… Maomao thought, keeping a watchful eye on her new companion.
Kris just stood there… completely zoned out.
The chatter of the court ladies and the gentle clinking of porcelain cups faded into background noise as Kris stared blankly at a pattern on the floor. Between the bizarre wardrobe choices, the hidden knife with its strange new carvings, and the sheer absurdity of being drafted into imperial medical duties, their brain had officially hit its capacity for the day.
"Kris," Maomao whispered, nudging them slightly. "Don't fall asleep standing up. We're moving to the courtyard."
“Is Lady Gyokuyou gonna be out?” Kris asked quietly, their voice barely carrying over the murmurs of the pavilion.
“No.. to hide the pregnancy,” Maomao replied in a low whisper, her eyes scanning the courtyard for any prying eyes or suspicious behavior.
…This place is kinda weird.. but.. whatever.. Kris thought, giving a small, indifferent shrug under the heavy layers of their green and yellow hanfu. Secret pregnancies, hidden knives, and imperial politics were a far cry from the quiet streets of Hometown, but at this point, Kris was getting used to rolling with whatever bizarre situation the universe threw at them.
"Stay close," Maomao added, stepping out into the open air where the banquet was beginning to come alive with music and light.
…
Meanwhile, in a completely different world altogether, the atmosphere inside the brightly lit office at UA High School was thick with confusion.
Principal Nezu adjusted his spectacles, staring intently at the glowing computer monitor displaying a series of complex genetic sequencing charts. “Hm.. Aizawa, take a look..”
Aizawa stepped forward, slouching slightly with his hands buried deep in his pockets. He leaned over the desk, his tired eyes narrowing as he scanned the data on the screen. “...It looks… pixelated..?”
“Yeah,” Nezu replied, tapping a paw against his chin, his sharp eyes reflecting the strange, blocky patterns of the sequence. “It defies standard biological structure. It's almost as if their very genetic code is rendering from an entirely different reality.”
““Like they said.. they weren't originally from this universe… wait…”
Aizawa’s eyes sharpened as a sudden realization hit him. He walked over to another terminal in the corner of the lab, his boots clicking softly against the floor. His fingers moved quickly across the keyboard, bypassing security layers until he brought up a strange, hidden file that had automatically generated in the system.
The file name read: Delta.Rune.EXE.
“When we uploaded their DNA sequences… this popped up.. it's a few videos,” Aizawa said, his voice dropping an octave as he stared at the glowing icons on the monitor.
Nezu hopped down from his chair and scurried over, leaning in closely. The file was pulsing faintly on the screen, completely distinct from any quirk-related data they had ever processed before, waiting to be opened.
Nezu leaned forward, his black eyes fixed on the screen as the video began to play.
The audio hummed with a light, staticky buzz, and the colors on screen had a strange, slightly crushed quality—vibrant but distinctly blocky, matching the unusual signature they had detected in the DNA sequence.
On screen, a younger Kris was walking down a dirt path surrounded by thick, autumnal trees. They wore a familiar striped shirt, though they looked much smaller, their bangs casting a shadow over their eyes just like they did now.
“Kris! Stay close,” a bright, teasing female voice called out from behind the camera, the lens shaking slightly as the person walking followed after them.
“Oh shut up Dess,” the younger Kris mumbled on screen, kicking a stray pebble into the grass without looking back.
Aizawa crossed his arms, his brow furrowed in deep thought. "Dess... That name isn't in any of our databases. And look at the trees. The vegetation doesn't match any known region in Japan, or anywhere else on our maps."
"Fascinating," Nezu murmured, tapping his paw against the desk. "Let it play. Let's see what else this timeline has to show us."
On screen, the camera panned slightly as a younger, blonde deer-like monster girl jogged up to catch up with Kris. She looked nervous but determined, her tiny antlers just peaking through her hair.
“Kris, why must you wear that horned headband?” she asked, tilting her head as she looked at them.
“To match your antlers, Noelle,” the younger Kris replied smoothly, not skipping a beat as they adjusted the cheap red plastic horns sitting on their head.
In the video, Noelle immediately blushed, her face turning a bright pink as she looked away, flustered. From behind the camera, Dess let out a loud, wheezing laugh that shook the lens.
Back in the UA office, Aizawa’s eyebrows shot up. "A deer heteromorph? No... the quirk factor analysis would have flagged that. Her biological structure looks completely organic, but entirely non-human."
"And look at the interaction," Nezu added, his eyes narrowed as he watched the screen. "There is a deep familiarity there. This 'Noelle' and 'Dess' are clearly a massive piece of Kris's puzzle."
….
Kris blinked, pulled out of their thoughts as Maomao nudged them gently with her elbow.
“Not fun, huh…?” she murmured, looking out over the crowd of chatterboxes and politicians mingling under the paper lanterns.
“Yeah,” Kris agreed quietly.
The heavy, multilayered green and yellow dress felt entirely unnatural, and the weight of the silver leaf and flower hairpins made them feel like a decorated doll. They subtly shifted their stance, ensuring the hidden Nichirin knife remained secure and completely hidden within the folds of the fabric. Standing around pretending to be an ordinary assistant in a grand imperial courtyard was exhausting, but for now, blending into the background was the best option they had.
“...okay.. I'll walk you back,” Maomao said, turning on her heel and gesturing toward the quieter walkways leading away from the pavilion.
“You're acting like a security guard,” Kris murmured, matching her pace as they gladly left the noise of the banquet behind.
“Someone has to make sure you don't wander off and get into trouble,” Maomao countered practically, her lantern casting long shadows against the stone path. “Besides, Lady Gyokuyou’s pavilion isn't a place where people can just come and go as they please. It's better to be safe.”
Kris didn't argue, simply pulling the layers of the green and yellow hanfu slightly closer to block out the cool night breeze as they walked back to their quarters.
Maomao opened the door to Kris’s quarters, stepping aside to let them slide into the quiet room.
“Goodnight,” Maomao said, lowering her lantern slightly as she prepared to head to her own room.
“Hm.. you too,” Kris murmured, the heavy silence of the room a welcome relief after the crowded courtyard.
As the door clicked shut and locked, Kris let out a long, exhausted sigh. They reached up, carefully unpinning the silver leaf hairpin and the flower ornament, setting them gently on the low wooden table. Slipping the hidden Nichirin knife out from the folds of the heavy green and yellow dress, they placed it safely beside the hairpins before finally collapsing onto the bed, staring up at the dark ceiling as they drifted off to sleep.
Their dreams didn't offer them any sweet relief..
The forest was dead silent, the towering evergreen trees blocking out any glimpse of the sky. Kris looked down at themselves, realizing they were finally back in their own clothes, the familiar, slightly scratchy hand-sewed green sweater with its single yellow stripe, and the comfortable weight of their baggy maroon pants.
But this wasn't the woods behind the graveyard in Hometown. The air was too cold, smelling sharply of pine and old damp earth.
As they walked forward, the ground crunched strangely beneath their boots. That's when they saw it.
Half-buried in the dirt and overgrown with moss was a small, stone statue. Kris knelt down, brushing away the dead needles to get a better look. It was a bizarre, geometric shape, a perfect triangle, carved with a single large eye in the center, sporting a dapper little top hat and extending a stone hand forward as if offering a deal.
The statue felt unnervingly cold to the touch, casting a strange, heavy shadow across the forest floor.
Kris's hand hovered over the stone fingers as the whispers in the woods grew louder, urging them to just reach out and take it.
Before their hand could make contact, Kris snapped awake.
They sat up quickly, gasping for air in the dim light of their quarters. The stone statue and the eerie evergreen forest vanished, replaced once again by the quiet room in the Rear Palace. The green and yellow hanfu lay folded nearby, and the newly carved Nichirin knife sat silently on the table beside the hairpins.
Kris rubbed their face, trying to shake the lingering, unsettling echo of the voices from their mind.
“what.. who??” Kris muttered to themselves, rubbing the sleep from their eyes.
They sat on the edge of the bed for a moment, trying to piece the dream back together, but the details were already slipping away like water through their fingers. The strange forest, the statue... it was all a blur now. But who cares. Dreams were just dreams.
Turning their attention to the day ahead, Kris looked over at the two outfits laid out neatly in the room.
On one side was the simple, practical servant's eunuch outfit. On the other was the elegant, layered green and yellow hanfu they had worn the night before. Kris stared at both of them for a long minute, weighing whether they wanted to blend in as a low-profile worker today or deal with the heavy layers of courtly silk again.
Choosing the much more practical servant's attire, Kris slipped into the eunuch outfit. It was far lighter and easier to move in than the heavy silk hanfu from the night before.
They gathered their hair up, wrapping a hair tie around it securely to keep it out of their face.
“..My hair isn't as long as most people here.. it only reaches my lower shoulders… but it works,” they muttered to themselves, checking the reflection in the polished copper mirror.
With the simpler outfit on, it was much easier to conceal the modified Nichirin knife along their waistband. Kris picked up the silver leaf and flower hairpins, tucking them safely into a small pouch since they didn't exactly match the low-profile servant look. Ready for whatever tasks Maomao was going to drag them into today, Kris headed for the door.
Knowing exactly where to find her, Kris navigated the quiet corridors and walked straight into the bustling kitchen. The smell of boiling water and medicinal herbs already filled the air.
Maomao glanced up from a mortar and pestle, looking Kris over in the practical servant's attire. “Oh? You also wake early?”
“Mhm,” Kris murmured, leaning against a nearby wooden pillar and adjusting the fit of the eunuch uniform.
“Interesting,” Maomao said, a faint glint of curiosity in her eyes as she went back to grinding her herbs. “Since you're up and dressed for actual work, you can help me stoke the fires. We have a lot of prep to do before the rest of the pavilion wakes up.”
“Are you even allowed to make medicine?” Kris asked, watching her meticulously measure out a powdery root.
“No, but since you're here.. I can blame it on you,” Maomao replied with a completely straight face, not even looking up from her work.
“Hm?” Kris grunted, tilting their head.
“Your voice sounds masculine.. so anyone who questions me, I can just say you made it,” she explained practically. In the Rear Palace, a eunuch or a male assistant carried a different kind of authority—and more importantly, a different set of rules, than a mere maid messing with poisonous plants.
Kris stared at her for a blank second. Great. I’m the medical scapegoat, they thought, though they didn't actually protest. They grabbed the kindling and tossed it into the hearth, letting the fire roar to life as they accepted their new role as Maomao's official shield.
“...My dad is going to be at the doctor's office..” Maomao said, her tone softening slightly as she kept her focus on the boiling pot.
“Hm,” Kris acknowledged, leaning against the counter and watching the steam rise.
“I'll introduce him to you later,” she added, giving the mixture one final stir.
Kris simply nodded. Meeting Maomao’s father, the eccentric Luomen, sounded a lot more interesting than dodging court politics or wearing suffocating layers of silk. It meant more medical talk, but at least it was a break from the usual chaos of the Rear Palace.
Later that day, Maomao led Kris toward the medical office, the familiar smell of dried herbs and simmering tonics growing stronger as they approached.
“Dad.. this is Kris,” Maomao said, gesturing toward them as they stepped inside.
Luomen turned around from his desk, a gentle, kind smile lighting up his weathered face. “Oh.. hello there.”
Kris offered a polite, characteristic nod, their hands resting comfortably at their sides.
“Also I am here to make Moxibustion for Lady Gyokuyou,” Maomao continued, immediately shifting into her professional element as she looked around for the necessary mugwort leaves and supplies.
While Maomao focused on preparing the mugwort for the moxibustion, Luomen watched her work for a moment before turning his gentle gaze back to Kris.
“You're quite like my daughter..” he noted softly.
“Oh?” Kris murmured, their interest piqued just a bit.
“Quiet, observant, and thinks through problems,” Luomen explained, a warm, knowing smile crinkling the corners of his eyes. “You have that same way of watching everything around you, processing things before you make a move. It's a rare trait in a place as loud as this.”
Kris shrugged slightly, though they appreciated the sentiment. It was true enough,whether dealing with the strange politics of this palace or navigating a bizarre dark world back home, keeping quiet and watching closely was usually the best way to survive.
The official doctor of the Rear Palace walked into the room, his round face lighting up with his usual cheerful, if slightly oblivious, demeanor.
“Oh? Did the little lady bring a friend?” he asked, looking between Maomao and the newcomer.
“..I'm Kris.. currently Maomao’s assistant until my memories come back,” Kris introduced themselves smoothly, keeping their tone polite but brief.
“Oh, I'm Guen… and this is Maomao,” the doctor said proudly, gesturing downward with a bright smile.
“Huh,” Kris muttered.
Kris looked down, their bangs parting just enough to reveal their eyes as they stared at a tiny, fluffy kitten sitting right by the doctor's feet. It seemed the doctor had misunderstood the introduction entirely, or he was just completely distracted by the little feline.
“Heh,” Kris let out a rare, quiet chuckle, leaning down slightly to look at the kitten, who offered a small, quiet mew in return.
Loumen stepped out of the office to attend to his duties, leaving Guen and Kris alone in the quiet room with the little animal.
“Do you want to pet her? She's pretty friendly,” Guen offered, a warm smile on his face as he watched the little kitten stretch its paws.
“Oh.. sure..” Kris murmured, kneeling down slowly so as not to startle the small creature.
Kris gently rubbed the kitten behind its ears, the fluffy fur slipping easily through their fingers. “Soft..”
Suddenly, the cat’s ears twitched. With a sudden burst of energy, the kitten bolted across the room, scurrying right past Guen’s legs and climbing straight up the fabric of Maomao's clothes, clinging tightly to her sleeve.
Maomao paused her herb-grinding, looking down at the furry intruder with a deadpan expression.
“Hehe.. Maomao on Maomao,” Guen chuckled, clearly delighted by the coincidence.
Kris let out another quiet huff of amusement, watching Maomao carefully detach the little kitten from her shoulder without breaking her professional concentration.
Maomao carefully packed the containers of moxibustion supplies and the jar of disinfecting alcohol into her basket, checking the seals one last time.
“I'm also going to be taking disinfecting alcohol with me..” she noted, lifting the handle of the basket.
“Do you need me to go with you?” Kris asked, standing up from where they had been watching the kitten.
“No.. just go to your chambers when you're ready, I'll meet you there,” Maomao replied, adjusting the strap on her shoulder before turning toward the door.
“Okay,” Kris nodded.
After giving the little kitten one last gentle pat on the head and offering a polite nod to Guen, Kris stepped out of the medical office. They took their time walking back through the winding corridors of the Rear Palace, enjoying the quiet moment alone before heading back to their room to wait for her.
But she never returned
Jinshi’s usual playful demeanor was entirely gone, replaced by a sharp, tense expression that immediately put Kris on high alert.
“Do you know where the apothecary went?” Jinshi asked, his voice low and urgent.
“No? She was heading to the school at Loumen's request, she said she'll be back in a little bit,” Kris replied, sitting up quickly on the edge of the bed.
Jinshi’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of genuine worry crossing his features. “She never arrived at the school, and she hasn't returned to Lady Gyokuyou’s pavilion. Something is wrong.”
Kris's hand instinctively drifted toward their waistband where the modified Nichirin knife was hidden beneath the eunuch uniform. The quiet peace of the afternoon vanished in an instant. Maomao wasn't the type to just wander off or skip her duties, if she hadn't shown up, someone had taken her.
Kris kept their face completely blank, masking the sudden jolt of recognition. They knew exactly what was happening right now. They had watched the show; they knew about the hidden storehouse, the old switch, and the danger Maomao was currently walking into.
But altering the timeline now could cause a ripple effect they couldn't predict. To make sure the story played out the way it was supposed to, they had to play dumb.
“I haven't seen her in a bit.. sorry.. go ask the medical office,” Kris said, keeping their tone perfectly neutral and detached.
“Right,” Jinshi said, giving a curt, tight nod before turning on his heel and sweeping out of the room, his long robes billowing behind him as his guards followed close behind.
Once the door clicked shut, Kris let out a slow, measured breath. They gripped the hilt of the hidden Nichirin knife through their fabric, calculating exactly how much time they had to wait before they could slip out and ensure things didn't go completely off the rails.
Then.. the world around Kris didn't just fade… it tore.
The familiar wooden walls of the Rear Palace began to distort, fracturing into jagged blocks of static that flickered between blinding white and deep, empty voids. The scent of drying mugwort and burning kindling was instantly replaced by the sharp, metallic tang of ozone. The reality they had just carefully calculated, the timeline, Maomao's safety, the delicate politics of the court, was being forcibly ripped away.
“.. goddamnit.. at the worst time too.. welp.. onto the next world... hopefully it's my world..” Kris muttered, their voice glitching and layering over itself like a corrupted audio file. "Oh who am I kidding...? It's probably not"
They reached down, grasping for the weight of the Nichirin knife at their waistband, but the fabric of the eunuch uniform was already dissolving into pixels. The sensation of falling upward took over, a violent yank that pulled them out of the fabric of that universe entirely.
When the blinding light receded, the sudden change in atmosphere hit them like a physical blow. The air was crisp, biting, and smelled of autumn leaves and something faintly magical, like melted wax and ozone. They weren't standing on solid ground. Instead, they were plummeting through a vibrant, chaotic sky. It was nighttime, but the dark expanse was painted with deep swirls of purple and indigo, illuminated by a massive, glowing moon that looked far too close to the earth.
Before the panic of the freefall could truly set in, a sudden rush of wind approached from their left.
"I got you!!" a cheerful, energetic voice hollered.
A hand snapped forward, catching Kris firmly by the collar of their top. The abrupt halt made their teeth rattle, but the momentum shifted seamlessly into a steady, gliding motion. Kris blinked through their tangled bangs, realizing the heavy, restrictive layers of the palace garments were entirely gone. They were finally back in their own clothes, the familiar, comforting texture of the hand-sewed green sweater with its single yellow stripe, and the loose, durable maroon baggy pants.
Looking up, Kris found themselves staring at a wide, toothy grin and a pair of bright, enthusiastic eyes. Their savior was riding atop a gliding wooden staff topped with a small, carved avian figure that seemed very much alive.
Kris's eyes widened slightly as the pieces connected. The strange sky, the living staff, the boundless, chaotic energy of the person holding them up, they weren't in Hometown, but they certainly weren't in the ancient imperial palace anymore. They were somewhere entirely different, soaring through the night air of the Boiling Isles.