[You're in luck, Franziska, because Iris would neither complain nor attempt to protest such a notion. She wouldn't even bat an eyelash at the whole "perfect" thing; clearly, this young woman was confident enough in herself that Iris should be meant to feel confident as well.]

[...a confidence which, in due time, seemed to be rewarded.]

An entrance made of...sand?

[And only sand?]

How...strange. But you're right. I'll follow your lead.

[ Yeah, Franziska's really lucky Iris is easy to speak to. She doesn't mind her company even if Iris did get charged with a few crimes. ]

Maybe it'll lead us to the exit we seek.

Let's go onawards, Sister Iris. If there's anything dangerous, you needn't fear. I can defend us with my whip.

[She had seen that whip in action before. She knew the younger girl's words to be true.]

[Though her smile was still slightly sheepish as she allowed Franziska to lead her up ahead to the aforementioned sandy entrance. Pausing just long enough to take in the sight once they were close enough.]

It...

It really is made of sand, isn't it? I thought it might have been covered only, but...it looks like...one of those castles that I've seen children building in the snow.

[Because beaches weren't all that common up in the snowy mountains, and Pearl wasn't the only young acolyte they'd ever had visit.]

That's right, you lived up in the mountains near the temple. Therefore, it was more natural for you to see snow rather than sand.

This must be quite the experience for you as it is for me.

[Franziska lived in Germany for most of her life. She did fly overseas occasionally but it wasn't like she went on beach vacations all the time. She's just as baffled by this as Iris is. ]

[Oh, Franziska, you have no id--actually...did she have an idea?]

It's been...um...

Forgive me, but I have to ask. Have you...encountered anybody else here you know? Or someone who might...know you?

I have. Miles Edgeworth, Phoenix Wright, Larry Butz, Maya Fey, and Athena Cykes. While I haven't spoken to her up until now it's clear that Miss Athena Cykes is from our own world.

How about yourself, Sister Iris?

[ That was such a mouthful, she could have made things simple and just referred to them by their first name. ]

[A nod to start, confirming she was aware of all those people. And then some, but she would get to that later. If she remembered.]

So then you know about the...memory issues. That some of them have memories we don't.

I'm fully aware of our current state. For me it has been two months since your trial. [ Iris wasn't charge with murder, but she did play the role of an accomplice. That in itself is a serious crime. ]

What's the last thing you remember?

The...trial, actually. [Speaking of] Well...a couple days after, I think. I'd been brought back to the detention center and was awaiting my other trial. The one for...aiding in Mr. Godot's plan.

[Despite that, a small smile tugged at her lips.]

Feenie...he and Mystic Maya came to visit me. And...my little sister. She was with them as well.

[Smacking poor Phoenix every time he looked at her a little too longingly for the ultimate Phoenix/Maya shipper's heart.]

Oh? Then I'm not too far off from your point in time. That's somewhat of a relief to me. You do look the same as I remember you back then.

Fee-I mean, Phoenix Wright is apparently from nine years into our future. It's quite the leap.

[ And it's also concerning. ]

[The smile Iris gave at that...was both sad and unsurprised. One such as Franziska--clever, observant, and also an active participant at the trial, and thus, familiar with their history--might be able to understand why, even before Iris spoke again.]

Yes. I know.

We've spoken. Many times since. He'd told me...a great deal about what's happened to him in all that time.

You're familiar with some the events to come. Good work, Sister Iris.

Perhaps in due time you'll experience it for yourself.

[ That also applies to Franziska who was behind the times. ]

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

I...haven't forgotten where I'm going back to. And I don't know how long I'll be there while everyone else continues on with their lives.

Not to worry.

We have enough things on our hands currently. The future can and will catch up to us.

[ Not even CERES can stop that. ]

[As she continued walking along the...strange palace...Iris spared the younger girl a sheepish smile.]

Yes. I know.

Mr. Edgeworth...he said something similar when I first asked him about it. I...wanted to make sure he was alright with me being out of prison while we're here.

He did? That sounds just like him. [ There's a faint smile on her face, it's hard to catch though. ]

When we get a formal judicial system in these parts then you'll be able to continue your time.

[At that, Iris' expression...notably faltered.]

[She had accepted her fate and punishment before, and was still fully prepared to return once they were all home again...but the thought of having to continue her sentence while still in Cerealia?]

[Temptation to argue was...a lot strong than it might have been. There were points to be made. Of her crime having been committed in a different realm. Of the fact that she had technically already been tried, so it wasn't as if they could re-try her here. Of the fact that...she had been trying so hard to make amends for her crimes in other ways...]

I...suppose that is true. If that day comes, I will...have to accept it.

[All fleeting thoughts overcome by the realization that to argue otherwise simply wouldn't have been fair.]

Yes, perhaps. We're in a unique situation. Use your freedom wisely.

[ Franziska has no power over anything here unlike before where she could control the courtroom rulings at her will. Now everything's so circumstantial there's no telling what could happen. ]

Your companions are here, are they not? They'd probably prefer it if you were in a safe place.

[ She can be nice sometimes! Like now!!]

I will. I have been.

[Franziska was quite nice, in Iris' opinion. Perhaps not as gentle and openly friendly as some of the others she knew here, but there was little animosity between them. And she knew Franziska was one to be trusted, which meant even more to her than niceness.]

C...companions? Do...you mean Feenie and the others?

Because they know I go into the ViViD games sometimes, and none of them have yet to try and stop me.

[Not that she ever gives them the chance before going in.]

Of course I mean them.

Have you ever tried asking them to go inside of ViViD with you? They do seem like the foolish sort who would head straight into danger blindly like a fool.

[ ViViD isn't exactly the safest place, but who's to say that Iris can't pester Phoenix or Maya to come along? ]

[...well, she wasn't wrong about that.]

I...wouldn't want to bother them, if they were busy with other things at the time.

Besides, there are many games that I've been able to manage myself. [She wasn't a fighter by any means, but a lifetime of manual labor and intensive meditative training had left her both physically and mentally stronger than many gave her credit for.] And even if I can't...there are other people I come across who are willing to help me.

Almost everyone I've met in Cerealia has been very kind.

You are rather lucky things didn't end differently. I have met many fools here although some of these fools are kind just as you say.

[ It's thanks to those fools that she's still safe even after being tossed into a brutal simulation. ]

By all means, please pester your companions more. I assume that they have nothing better to do.

Oh, I'm sure that's not true.

In the actual city, there's been a lot to do. Between the jobs they assign us, and many projects that others have undertaken as well, it's a wonder the days don't seem to go by much faster than they do.

That's right, many of us here are employed.

Even so, we can't practice formal law in these parts. I can no longer work as a prosecutor nor can Phoenix Wright work as defense attorney.

What is your current job, Sister Iris?

I've been working as a meditation instructor. There are many techniques used in the Kurain method of training that can be applied to those without any affiliation to the Fey family, regardless of abilities.

[Or lack thereof, as she could personally attest to.]

And you are partially right. Feenie might not be able to work as a defense attorney, but I know he's been working on a school of sorts to teach law.