...Something...Something really bad happened to Circe-chan, I think...

[Madoka said, wiping her eyes, while Lizard Homura squeaked worriedly in her pocket.]

[Madoka's parents looked at each other, then.]

...Who's Circe-chan, Madoka?

[Madoka's eyes widened, then. Wait, how had she known the Magical Girl's name, anyway? She shook her head, a images of a beautiful place filled with laughing Puella and Puer Magi flickered through her mind, and then disappeared.]

...I...I...

[Madoka wiped her eyes, then, and got off the horse, patting it awkwardly.]

She's a...She's somebody that could have been a friend, if I'd had more time, I think...

[And in the meanwhile...]

[What was left of Circe's human self was staring blankly around her, as the Witch Barrier went up.]

[...So this was what it was like...to be a Witch.]

[And in the meanwhile, outside the Witch Barrier, Eight was staring at a crystal in his paws, and grinning.]

- Oh, good - I'm getting better and better at stealing all kinds of energies, it seems!

[And that was when a cream colored critter with mussy hair came up to him, and slumped over him.]

...That's still only a small fraction of the energies you'd get if you were actually doing the Contracts yourself, you do know that, correct?

[Eight sighed, then - And then, he smiled and nudged the other Incubator back.]

- Sure, sure, but there's a reason we only make Contracts very rarely anymore, remember, Seven? I mean, when's the last time you did one?