Living in a village near the border of Balzac's dominion, Eriza cared for a boy named Niko who lived a blissful life despite being simple-minded. But when Eriza finds Niko had died one winter night while clutching to a strange item, she was devastated and took the item in memory of him. But when Eriza learns that a Mandragora is growing from Niko's lifeless body, she considers it the boy reborn and resolves to protect it as she willingly allowed herself to be infected. Eriza proceeds to infect the rest of the village, placing the villages in utter bliss. But when Balzac learned of the Manrdragora, he send his men after it and only managed to get half of its heart.