"Me?"

"That's right— you're an Accommodator."

Mary didn't know what to think about this revelation. On one side, it explained why her appearance changed four years ago, but it also created even more questions. Why was she an Accommodator in the first place? How did she transform into that beast? Why couldn't she remember anything?

Mary was utterly confused. Taking a breath, she readied herself to ask Maria a bunch of questions.

"How could I have become an Accommodator?" She asked.

"Well, you came into contact with an innocence somehow," Maria replied.

Mary could only think of one instance that could've happened.

The incident.

The green crystal she saw on the beast.

"Four years ago..." Mary started. "I found an enormous beast with a green crystal lodged in it."

"That must have been where you got it," Maria said.

Mary nodded in agreement. To the young girl, it was the only explanation. But she still had more questions.

"I reached out to touch the crystal, and then there was a light." Mary frowned. "I couldn't and still can't remember most of the details. And even if you're right about me transforming at the fire, I remember nothing."

The platinum-haired woman hummed.

"That is odd." She put her finger to her lips, deep in thought. Then, she spoke up.

"Typically, when innocence is dormant, strange phenomena will happen. That could be the reason you don't remember what happened when you first got your innocence, and maybe even why you don't remember transforming three days ago. But something still intrigued me."

"What? What is it?" Mary didn't exactly understand all the words she said, but the young girl was curious.

"Typically, when an innocence affects the entire body, like yours, it's not possible to revert to such a humanoid form. You really are a special case."

Mary wasn't sure if she liked that she was a 'special case'.

"Maybe it would've been better if I stayed that beast." She mumbled under her breath. At least, then she wouldn't have been bullied.

Maria frowned.

"Oh, don't be like that, dear." The older woman put a hand on her shoulder.

"If you'd stayed as the beast, you would've never met that friend of yours, would you?" She said

Mary sighed. "I guess you're right."

Maria sat down on the chair next to the side of the hospital bed, crossing her legs. Only now did Mary notice just what the woman was wearing. Her outfit was nearly all black except for the gold accents. Her long, coat-like dress had golden trimming and golden buttons. The biggest thing that stood out to Mary was the cross on the left side of her chest.

Noticing the periwinkle-haired girl's stare, Maria smiled.

"Like you, I am an Accommodator. One with a parasitic innocence."

"Parasitic? Like a parasite?" Mary titled her head in confusion.

"There are two types of innocence. Equipment types and parasitic types. Equipment innocence forms a physical weapon that you can use, while parasitic innocence, like the one you and I have, attaches to a part of our body. So yes, like a parasite."

"Ok... I think I understand." Mary nodded.

Maria continued. "Many Accommodators, including myself, work for an organization called the Black Order. We're called Exorcists. As Exorcists, we destroy the Akuma that try to harm people."

"The Black Order..."

"We're an organization whose mission is to protect humanity."

'Protect humanity, huh?' Mary thought.

"We do also have other goals, but that's our biggest one. Either way, if you come with me, I can help you learn how to use your innocence."
"Really?"

Maria smiled. "Yes, really. We might not have the same innocence, but I do have experience with parasitic innocence."

"What innocence do you even have?" Mary asked. She couldn't see any type of markings on Maria as she herself had.

"My innocence affects my voice." The tall woman said. "I can manipulate it to do many things."
"Oh."

Mary shot up in realization.

"Is that why I heard singing before I blacked out?" She asked the woman, leaning towards her, eager to hear her answer.

Maria nodded. "That's right. With my voice, I sang a song that stopped those Akuma from moving for some time."

"Wow..."

Mary looked down at her feet, thinking about Maria's offer. If she went with Maria, she'd probably have to face more Akuma. But now she had an innocence, albeit one who threatened her life, that she could use.

'Besides,' Mary thought, frowning. 'If I don't go with her, I'll probably be thrown into an orphanage again.'

Mary got down from the bed, wincing at the lingering pain in her legs. Now on her feet, she turned towards the woman.

"I'll go."

Maria grinned.

"Then that's a deal."