A dark miasma.

It was like the mana that emanates from a wizard’s body when casting spells. But on the continent of Karav, it was the corrupt energy that flowed from the bodies of demons when they used their power. And now, that very miasma was seeping out from the small girl standing before me. Her entire form was soon shrouded in that dark energy, and the image of the little girl Lize vanished without a trace.

In her place appeared a woman with twin pink pigtails reaching her shoulders and dressed in a black dress with lace ending just above her knees. Hovering slightly in the air, she transformed, her heels tapping as she landed, her enchanting eyes fixed on me. She was no longer the innocent girl she had been moments ago—she looked more like a high school student, with a seductive smile and a playful lick of her lips.

"Lize… No, who are you really…?"

I quickly rose to my feet, assuming a defensive stance at her transformed appearance. I didn't attack right away, sensing she wasn’t an immediate threat—at least not strong enough to face all four of us at once.

"I am Jerry… Jerry von Perlion."

The woman smiled with an air of nonchalance and answered smoothly.