"My, Illya, what's wrong?"
As her consciousness sank into the depths, Illya heard an incredibly familiar voice.
Irisviel's voice.
She raised her head and looked at Irisviel, dressed in a black gown.
For the first time, she began to doubt the mother who had always existed in this dream.
"...Are you really my mother?"
She did not go over to her immediately. She merely stood at a distance, looking at the black-clad Irisviel.
Two facts now lay before Illya.
The first was the mother who had always been by her side in this dream.
The second was Anno's memories.
Most of the details of the previous Holy Grail War had been fully recorded, so Anno's memories could not have been false.
Illya felt she could tell what was real and what was fake at a glance.
So...
"Why would you ask something like that, Illya?"
Irisviel looked somewhat heartbroken.
"If I weren't your mother, why would I only appear in your dreams?"
"Illya, my child, are you really going to doubt your mother?"
Black-clad Irisviel looked utterly devastated. With her hands folded over her lower abdomen, she turned her head away. She truly did look somewhat pitiful.
Seeing her "mother" like this, Illya could not help feeling at a loss.
"I just have some questions."
That was all she could say.
Black-clad Irisviel immediately revealed a delighted expression.
"I knew it. My child would never doubt me!"
She trotted over and gently hugged Illya, burying Illya in the crook of her arms.
A mother's embrace was naturally warm.
Even Illya could not help wanting to lose herself in it.
But...
She remembered the white-clad mother from Anno's memories.
She remembered that strong, gentle expression.
As though she had been electrocuted, Illya suddenly pushed away the black-clad Irisviel who was holding