This time was no different than any other. The same speech, the same building, the same lack of anyone Kaede missed. Those absences still sat like cold wounds in her chest. And the Chimera was going to disperse at the end--but someone spoke to her first. An ear turned in the direction of the voice before she looked.

"Guess so," the Monster said, her voice neutral.

...that voice, though. She'd heard it recently. With a frown and a flick of her ears, Kaede turned to look. The face didn't match with a name immediately, but she did know that face.

"...you again."

Her eyes were much sharper than they had been, in that nightmare; unclouded and focused as cut crystal. Her movements were far more fluid, her tail and ears twitching after the occasional sound or passing thought.

And there was no collar around the Chimera's throat, not even a wound or scar indicating its nightmarish presence.