We reached Erika's home with my father and Erika after walking across the village. Erika seemed slightly nervous now. We had come here for the sake of Erika's family. As she wanted to meet her mother, she had to get the approbation of her father if she wanted to get more information about everything, and probably ask his help at speaking with the Duke regarding this entire situation.
Her father was very weak and old, and he might die before Erika could even meet her mother at this point… This is why it was important to try to convince him.
When we entered the house, her father was awake, sitting near a desk where he was crafting something that resembled an arm. It was most likely a doll's arm, probably something he was making through his fantastic magic and spiritual techniques which allowed him to create Erika's body to the level of realism it has.
Erika approached her father, as the old and gentle man smiled.
"Ah, dear, how was it? Did you behaved in front of the Duke?" He wondered, petting his daughter's head, and giving her a kiss in her cheek.
Suddenly, her father noticed the two of us behind her.
"Huh? Joan? Blake? Is there a reason you came here? Do you need something?" Wondered Erika's father.
"Enriko, I came to help out the kids." Said Joan.
"Huh?" Erika's father seemed confused altogether.
Erika ended slowly explaining what had transpired with the Duke.
"What?! Erika…! You did what?!" Her father was shocked. "You have to know that your existence shouldn't be known to the Royal Family… Your mother… she… Well… She thinks you're dead. If they were to know you're somehow alive right now… There might be a conspiracy against you or something… ugh…!" Enriko began to suddenly panic, as he felt a strong pain on his chest and began to gasp for air.
"Father!" Erika, hugged her father as he was too tired.
He probably almost had a stroke.
I quickly moved to his side and used Ki to relieve his stress and also make his blood flow normal again.
"Hahh… Erika… I'm sorry for being so incompetent…" Her father cried. "I just… I am afraid of what might happen to you if they get their hands on you…"
"Why? What would happen?" Erika timidly asked.
Erika's father looked at my father for a few seconds.
"Because of your body… they might say you're a fake, or something worse, just a monster in the appearance of my daughter… Your mother is… someone emotionally unstable, she'll… if she finds out you're not truly made of flesh then… a fate worse than death might await the two of us…" her father said while panicking.
"Ah…! What? What have I done?!" Erika cried, realizing the situation she had created.
However, I had already planned countermeasures to such a situation, which I had previously predicted long ago.
"Don't worry, I'll find a way out of this." I said with all my confidence.
"Eh? Blake?" Asked Erika and her father at the same time.
"I've already made up my decision to protect and help Erika. She's like my sister, my family. There is no way I will let her suffer this much. I've already planned things out, and I've also allowed her to ask the Duke all of this because I am confident." I said with a nod.
"Huh…?" My father quickly wondered what was going on, joining Erika and her father in their trio of confused expressions.
"However, I will need the aid of Erika's father for the last touches." I said.
"What?" Asked Erika's father.
"Blake, what are you talking about? How can you possibly just solve this enormous problem?" Asked my father. "You may be strong but this is clearly out of your scope-"
"Father, alchemy is a wonderful thing, isn't it?" I asked.
"Alchemy?" He wondered.
"The Holy Spirits have spoken. They had said Erika is an important figure in this world. They had guided me and told me what I must do to help her in such a predicament. You've trusted me before; can you trust me once more?" I asked my father, looking straight into his eyes.
"Blake…" My father muttered, suddenly feeling filled with emotions.
"W-What do you have in mind?" Asked Erika's father.
Of course, I couldn't make a Homunculus yet, I lacked the tech, materials, and above all, the level of magic power required for such a task. And alongside that, I've also changed my mind about the homunculus plan, and wanted Erika to acquire other body that wouldn't risk her soul through a transference.
I wanted to, instead of replacing Erika's current body, reinforce it and make it evolve into her own thing, while also still being recognizable as a human.
"I will need to learn some of the secrets behind your Illusion Attribute Magic first." I said.
For starters, we'll need to solve this problem soon, as soon as possible, therefore, the modification of her body, which will be a gradual change I will monitor myself, must be delayed a bit more.
"W-What? How did you know I can use such an element?" Asked her father.
"Erika has begun to develop the element as well; it was obvious you used it to create her body." I said.
"Ah… You're really a magic genius." Erika's father said. "…Very well if it is for the sake of Erika… I will do anything."
"You're a good father." I said with a nod.
Erika seemed confused through this entire exchange of words, she didn't knew what would happen from now on, but her life might give a new turn altogether. Now that I've grown strong enough, I suppose I can begin the creation of this item, a special pendant made through alchemy.
It is a mystical item I've used in my previous life to deceive others, an item named after a God of Deception and Trickery… Loki's Necklace.