Erice was silent before sighing. It wasn't hard for her to figure out that she'd heard true.

With a very quiet curse, she just reached her hand out to him. He could see the markings in her arm and hand clearly, but she didn't care. She knew her mana was needed for this.

"Go bsck to who you were." She told him before giving a date, and not saying anything more.

She didn't know if she could make as succinct a wish here to have her current state improved.

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫

Erica was silent.

"Just... " She stated before giving a date, the same that she'd given before.

"Please... just get... get me back to that, physically." She managed to get out after a few seconds.

"Because... you... you have problems."

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫

Erica didn't say anything for a few seconds, just taking in how she didn't feel like she was too weak to even breathe for the moment.

"Yeah... Ithink I can." She answered as she sat up, having been lying on her bed previously.

".... Would you mind giving me a chance to get properly dressed, though?" She asked after a moment or two, having covered herself with her blanket as she'd moved.

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫

It didn't take her too long, only about seven minutes, before Erica stepped out of her room. She definitely looked more put together, although it wasn't hard to tell that she could definitely benefit from a shower. She realised she didn't have the time to worry about that though.

".... May I make use of what you are?" She asked after a moment or two.

". . . because I fear I don't have time. You have serious problems and I think I'm the only one that can rightly fix it all." She added with a bit of a heavy sigh.

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫

Erica nodded.

". . . . I wish I was as clean as if I had just had a shower." She said after a moment or two, knowing she didn't have th eimte to actually do that. Hal just looked her over before nodding and snapping his fingers. She, after a few seconds, felt the dirt and grime vanish.

She wasn't the freshest, but she was most certainly cleaner than she was before. She needed to have a shower still, but it wasn't as crucial now.

"Thank you, so much." She then said.

"Anyway. I have... no keys or anything. I'm willing to bet the bitch that has been taking my name." There was venom to her voice, and more than he likely would have expected to ever hear from her.

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫

Erica nodded before pausing for a moment.

". . . any chance I can use your phone?" She asked. Hal nodded before handing her his mobile, making sure it was unlocked. Once she had it in her hand, Erica navigated to the calling app and sighed as she punched in a number.

"Hey, Cain?" She started after he'd answered the phone. She didn't have it on speak, though.

"Look, do you happen to have what was used for the tether before?" she asked. "Because I could really make use of it now."

"I think so, yes. Well, should be some left, anyway. Haven't disposed of it, MOm said it could be useful." Cain responded.

"Cool. Can you bring me some?" Erica asked.

"Sure. When do you need it?" was his answer.

"As soon as you can physically get here. I'm at the Unit, and will meet you at the entry."

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫

"I do. Either follow, or stay here." Erica answered with a sigh.

"I'm heading to the entrance. I will clean up this mess." She added before taking a deep breath.

"With Cain's help, I can make it that I don't have to hunt through every room of this building." With that, she headed off out of the office, making her way to the entrance. She knew that they were close, the head office needed to be after all.

She stepped into the room and sighed before looking around, wondering where Jake was... and how he would react as she was sure that the one that was parading around as her was leaving her mark.

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫

". . . What about it?" Erica asked, almost hesitant.

"It seems.... wilder? I guess? I can smell how the mana wants to run rampant." Jake answered.

"Well.... that's a thing." Erica said with a light sigh.

"Just.. be careful, all right? I don't know how hellish it is in here, as the path here was pretty empty, but ... just be careful." She wanred.

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫

Erica accepted what he handed her before meeting Cain's gaze, her expression serious.

"Long story short - .... I ahven't been here for ... I don't even know how long." she admitted.

"So I need this," shemotioned to what she'd been given, "in order to find the bitch that has taken my name."

"remind me... just a drink? Or was there more to it? or what? I ... honestly, with what I've been through, I think I'm doing well to recall this thing even exists, if I'm being honest."

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫

Erica nodded berore sighing.

"I'll answer questions once I'm able." She stated simply before closing her eyes, remembering this didn't taste good at all, and doing as she needed to. She cringed at the taste, before closing the bottle again and waiting.

It didn't take long, about thirty seconds, before they all saw the tether that formed. It did the same thing it had done before.

". . . Well, I know I can find her now." She handed the mix back to Cain.

"Thanks." She said before heading off at a dead run.

♫Born of graves and left below ♪ Painted ashes, painted snow♫