Act 22- Formula of purity

Seirei Gensouki 22 - Junpaku no Hootenshiki (精霊幻想記22.純白の方程式)

## Synopsis:

* English
* Japanese

The white mage’s awakening spreads a new ripple through the world...

Put under the restriction of God’s merciless rules, Rio decides to use force to save his important people from their predicament even if he has to take risks. In a situation where aside from his familiar Sora no one should remember him, she certainly said “Rio”. Meanwhile, the one who appeared before Miharu and her friends living in the Kingdom of Galarc was ...

"Hey ...... I met you again, Miharu"

What will bring about the burning with love flame hero’s unexpected visit, while the mechanism left behind by the seventh wise God Lina begins to turn?

白き魔道士の覚醒は、世界に新たな波紋を広げる――

無慈悲な神のルールという制限下、リスクを負ってでも大切な人たちの窮地を救うべく武力介入を決めたリオ。
己が眷属であるソラ以外の誰もがリオのことを覚えていない筈の状況で、しかし、彼女は確かに口にした――「リオ」と。
一方、ガルアーク王国で暮らす美春たちの下に現れた人物は……

「やあ……また会えたね、美春」

七賢神リーナが遺した仕掛けが廻り始める中、恋心を燻ぶらせる炎の勇者の予期せぬ来訪がもたらすものとは……？
## Content

### Prologue: The rules of God known by Rio.

1. Every time a transcendental uses their authority the residents of the world will forget their existence. So the people don’t find that strange their memories will be conveniently complimented if needed. Only another transcendental or their familiars can remember the transcendentals. Every time anyone forces themselves to remember a transcendental their thoughts will be stopped and the next time the burden on the brain will increase.
2. Those who become transcendentals will become an existence that has it hard to leave an impression on people. The residents of the world can be aware of and have a conversation with the transcendentals while face to face with them, but once separated they will forget to have had contact with them.
3. The transcendentals can’t give preferential treatment to a specific person or group, if they break this they will forget the person or people they wanted to help.
4. The familiars are similarly bound by God’s rules just like the transcendentals. But when not accompanied by the transcendental the second rule will be weakened.

### Chapter 1: The battle in Rodania’s sky.

In Rodania, at the street leading to its magic ship docks, Rio looks dumbfoundedly at Celia while asking himself why, while she was crying sadly her body began to shine and a magic circle appeared around her just like if some magic had been activated. “Success, everything is impossible right now but I will entrust you with the things that I couldn’t give to that girl.” Celia looks around herself searching for the source of the voice who told her that. Then a lot of information enters Celia’s mind. At that instant Celia enters a trance, even if her eyes point at Rio she isn’t looking at him she just spaces out while surrounded by the shining magic formation. Next to her, her father Roland shakes her shoulders while calling her name. Sara, Orphia and Alma also look worriedly at Celia. Everyone else around them looked at her with surprise too. But they aren’t in a situation where they can just stand around being surprised, the army lead by Duke Arbor continues its attack, their griffin riders are in front of them and his magic ship fleet is coming closer. Rodania’s griffin riders are enduring and earning time but that won’t last long, that’s why all of the refugees even while looking at Celia don’t stop moving towards the docks. After some tens of seconds the magic formation around Celia disappears and…

Celia finally comes back to herself but her expression is sad and tears go down her cheeks, Roland asks Celia what is happening to her, Celia can’t explain herself well, rather that explaining things to Roland she shakes her head while cleaning her tears then, almost if saying that she won’t forget again her red and swollen eyes send a look full of resolve towards Rio. Rio also looks at Celia just like he is being sucked into her gaze. At the same the two continue looking into the other’s eyes while keeping a distance of several meters between them, Roland looks at the two in wonder after feeling the bond between them. Meanwhile Sara asks Rio who he is in a low voice, Orphia and Alma next to her look fixedly at him too, Rio tells them his name to check their reactions. Orphia and Alma ask Rio at the same time if they have met somewhere before. Rio thinks it is as expected, that they don’t remember him but seem to feel something is off, after confirming that Rio tells the three that they are imagining it and to hurry, that he will escort them until the docks, Celia accepts Rio’s suggestion and tells everyone to keep going because Christina’s group is already going there. Rio and Celia begin to walk the way to the docks and Sara, Orphia, Alma and Roland follow after them.

Rio sees some griffin riders flying over Christina’s group and prepares to intercept them but stops when he realizes that Stewart is one of them. Rio wonders why did they separate themselves from the rest of their squad and descended. Stewart approaches Rio and asks him who he is. Celia tells Stewart that it is fine because Rio isn’t someone suspicious, that rather than that, Christina and Flora are ahead of them, that they should be escorting them. When Stewart says he understands and decides to leave a group of enemy griffin riders surround Rio’s group thinking there must be a VIP among them if Stewart’s group is with them. Sara and the rest prepare their weapons but Rio tells Sara that he will stop the enemies and that he leaves everyone’s escort until the ship to her, then he takes the vanguard before she can answer him, Sara looks at Rio with confusion wondering why he knows her name. Sora tells Rio she will stay with him, Rio thanks her and tells her to not let any enemies that get past him proceed to the docks while he takes the front, Sora agrees.

Celia calls out to Rio anxiously, she looks at him like a lost child wondering if he will just disappear if things continue like that, Rio tells her that it is fine, that he will go meet her later. After he sees Celia nodding Rio kicks the ground and advances on his enemies, Rio shoots a great ball of wind at the griffin riders, swallowed by it they are shaken in every direction by the air currents inside the wind ball until they lose control of their griffins and are left hanging from them by their lifelines, then they fall together to the ground. The enemies outside the range of Rio’s technique are now focused on him and decide to eliminate him by raining light bullets on him. Rio extends a hand forward and creates a magic barrier, the closer they get to the barrier the more kinetic energy the light bullets lose until they stop in front of it. Then all of the light bullets begin to go back the way they came from towards their casters. The enemies panic and try to dodge the light bullets. Rio does his best to just hurt his enemies so they have to assign as much personal as possible later to rescuing them instead of pursuing the refugees, he also needs to mind that the harder he fights against his enemies the harder the rule that forbids to favor just one side in a conflict between normal people will affect him, Rio expects that leaving his enemies alive can be a factor in lessening the impact of his intervention since he won’t be altering the power balance that much after all but…there are too many enemies, against an army so big Rio’s effort might be like pouring water on a burning stone.

Rio looks calmly over the battlefield while paying attention to the mask’s wear. Controlling uncountable light bullets at the same time, they attack the griffin riders from above, below, left and right. If the enemies get close they will form a wall that stops them, if they try to go past Rio the light bullets will fly after them. If they come at him in groups Rio would shoot down part of their griffins so the rest have to rescue the fallen ones. Rio is changing the flow of the battle as much as Renji did before, now all of Beltrum's forces begin to focus on taking him down while Restoration’s knights are using the leeway they gained for regrouping and reorganizing themselves. In the middle of all of that Rio feels something is off, not in a bad way but in a good one. Even for him controlling individually so many tens of light bullets would require a lot of concentration but now… Rio asks himself if his ability for controlling techniques is higher than before, he wonders if it is due to awakening as a transcendental, Rio feels that the current him has leeway for using even more techniques, that if is like that … Rio creates hundreds of additional light bullets in response to the enemy reinforcements and tells Restoration’s knights to prioritize escorting Christina’s group and the rest of the refugees.

The commanders are surprised when Rio uses spirit arts to make his voice reach them, they don't understand who is talking to them but when they look at the ground and see Christina’s group they decide to do as told to them. Beltrum’s knights try to go after them but Rio’s light bullets stop them in their tracks, Restoration’s knights continue going their way to the docks after thanking Rio. One of Restoration’s commanders approaches Rio and asks him if he can continue to count with his cooperation later, Rio tells him that he can, the commander asks Rio if Christina and Flora are really on their way to the docks, Rio tells the commander that they are and that Hiroaki and Hugenot are with them too. The commander says that it is enough with knowing that much. Rio tells the commander to go to the docks while he stops the enemies and to conserve their strength for the time being. The commander asks Rio if they can’t defend the city if he joins forces with them. Rio can’t answer, a part of him wants to do precisely that after all, but then his mask makes more cracking noises, reminding him to not forget his place as a transcendental. Rio tells the commander that he won’t be able to fight for that long, that he won’t last until the city is recovered.

Rio thinks the most likely there are more troops coming to the city, that he might be able to repel them if he doesn’t mind using up the masks, but that as long as he doesn’t take care of the root of the problem, Duke Arbor, Rodania will be attacked again. But that would be changing a country’s history, Rio doesn’t know how many masks he would need or if he wants to do that much or not. Rio thinks what he wants to protect is Celia’s group and not Rodania. The commander, not knowing about the transcendentals, thinks Rio means that his magic power won’t last that long. Rio tells the commander that there is no time and to go without correcting his misunderstanding, then he flies towards Beltrum’s troops alone. Restoration’s griffin riders wonder who is Rio and how he can fly while on their way to Christina’s group.

Meanwhile Christina and Celia’s group continue to make their way to the docks with the rest of the refugees, everyone is making worried faces but they aren’t panicking, the sight of Rio stopping Beltrum’s army alone is giving them some peace of mind, everyone looks at Rio in wonder while boarding the ships, Christina and Celia have to hurry everyone into the ships so the line doesn’t get slower, around them Sara, Orphia and Alma keep an eye on their surroundings to make sure that no enemy sneaks up on them. Kouta and Rei who needed to carry Hiroaki into the ship with Flora and Roanna are looking at Rio fighting, Kouta looks at Rei in exasperation when he compares Rio to some anime character, Rei asks Kouta if he is wrong, he says that Hiroaki would surely agree with him when seeing that all-range attack. Orphia sees a group of griffin riders and prepares for intercepting them, Christina stops her in a hurry after seeing that they are allies. The commander lands alone next to Christina and she asks him to report the situation to her. The commander tells Christina that from now on every soldier will be in charge of protecting the docks because as she can see the front-lines are being held.

Christina says she understands, the commander asks Christina about Rio’s identity, Christina says she doesn’t know, the commander asks Christina if even she herself doesn’t know, Christina confirms it. Christina asks herself why. Why does she feel something is off while looking at Rio fighting in the distance? What is this feeling of déjà vu? Aside of the feeling of reassurance, what are the feelings of guilt just about to crush her chest. Celia calls out to Christina and she asks her what it is. Celia tells Christina that no more refugees are entering the docks and that the ones who came are almost accommodated in the ships, the commander tells Christina he didn’t see more people coming from the sky earlier either. Christina hardens her expression and looks at the five ships full of refugees in the docks, then she gives the order of preparing to depart towards Galarc’s capital once all of the refugees are on board the ships. The soldiers salute and Christina tells the commander he will lead the ships’ escort until they are away from the city, the commander says he understands. After all of the griffin riders go back to the sky Christina tells Celia to board the magic ship too with Sara’s group because from now on the soldiers will be in charge of protecting the ships, Celia says she understands.

The bridge of Beltrum’s flagship. Helmut screams at no one in particular to not fuck with him and asks what is happening while seeing his griffin riders running away in desperation from Rio’s light bullets, a soldier next to him tells him that they can’t secure the air superiority, Helmut tells him he understands that just from watching, he is seething in anger. Thanks to Renji’s surprise attack they should already have the control of the sky and be able of going to the city’s docks through the shortest way for cutting off the enemy’s retreat. But at this rate the enemy will escape and he won’t be able to recover the Regalia. The ship’s captain asks Helmut if they can change the fleet’s course so it isn’t damaged by Rio, Helmut growls full of indignation but accepts the suggestion and orders the fleet to divide itself in two and to surround Rio. The ship’s captain asks Helmut what to do about Rio. Helmut tells the captain to use the griffin riders for keeping him busy, that the magic power for the stunt he is pulling shouldn’t last that long anyway, that if they can’t defeat him they just need to keep their distance and make it a battle of endurance, the captain obeys the command. Helmut tells the captain that taking control of the docks is their priority, that if he sees any ships moving he can shoot them down. The captain tells Helmut that it is possible that the princesses are evacuating in the ships. Helmut tells the captain that it is fine and to give the order already. The soldiers begin to act on Helmut’s orders while he murmurs resentfully while looking at the sky that he won’t let them escape.

Rio looks at the movements of Beltrum’s fleet, looks at the ships just about to take flight and he soon realizes the fleet’s aim, he thinks at this rate Helmut’s ships that are already at their cruising speed will easily catch up to the ships in the lake that haven’t picked up speed yet. Sora calls out to Rio for checking if he realized the danger, Rio says he saw their movement, Sora asks Rio if she should sink some ships, Rio asks awkwardly while smiling wryly at Sora’s radical ideas if that wouldn’t clash too much with God’s rules. Sora says that it would but that she doesn’t think the enemy will stop if they don’t do this much, Rio agrees and takes a moment to think, then he tells Sora that he has an idea, Sora says that as expected of the dragon king. Rio thanks Sora with a bashful smile for her trust and praises while feeling awkward because he didn't tell her the plan yet. Rio says that for the time being he will take care of the enemies in front of him but that the burden on the mask will be big. Rio gathers around him all of the light bullets he has been using until now. The griffin riders tremble while guessing Rio’s intentions, the order of retreat is given but it is too late, Rio makes all of the light bullets around him fly in every direction but without aiming carefully this time. The enemies fall to the ground one after the other and the fortunate ones who escaped the attack go to their rescue in a hurry. The mask is cracking more and more while losing some fragments. Rio reflects on his gained understanding of what he needs to do for reducing the burden on the masks and what makes it worse and thinks the next time it will be easier to adjust accordingly. Rio tells Sora to follow him and flies towards the lake where the magic ships are just about to take off.

Time goes back a little, Christina is notified that all of the refugees are on board and that the magic ships are ready to depart. Christina then orders to take off and the ships begin to move over the water. Flora calls out to her worriedly, Christina tells everyone that they can’t be at ease yet and asks for a situation report. Hugenot tells Christina that the enemy fleet is approaching them from behind both left and right flanks. Christina orders the griffin riders to protect their rear and the ship’s captain to rise the ship’s speed as much as possible. The ship boarded by Christina’s group raises its speed but it isn’t enough, Beltrum’s fleet is getting closer. Christina is notified that they will soon be in the enemy’s magic range. Christina and everyone harden their expressions.

At the same time Helmut orders to open fire on the fleeing ships, he orders his mages to rain fireballs on Restoration’s ships instead of using his main armaments because he can’t risk destroying Regalia if the princesses are inside the ships. The commander of Restoration’s griffin riders orders his men to be a shield for Christina and to have all men stop the enemy fireballs, but they are too outnumbered, their counterattacks can’t catch up to the enemy’s offensive. Sara tells Orphia and Alma to go to the ship’s sides and to make a barrier with spirit arts if it comes to it. They agree and prepare to go but Celia tells them to wait while pointing at the city. Then the four see Rio and Sora flying their way even faster than the fireballs. Everyone is stunned by their flying speed.

Rio stops himself one hundred meters away from Restoration’s griffin riders just above the lake’s water. Rio makes his magic power flow from his feet into the water while telling his mask in his mind to endure one last attack. Everyone is speechless seeing the mass of water change form. Flora asks if that isn’t Hiroaki’s technique, but unlike Hiroaki’s, this is a perfect water dragon with a body and all of its tails and heads being thirty meters long. While everyone is being intimidated by Rio’s technique, Sora praises it with shining eyes, she tells Rio that it is cool, that it is as expected of the dragon king. While Yamata no Orochi is taking on by itself all of the enemy fireballs, Rio tells Sora to continue like that towards the sky. Now he changed to control the technique from where he has a bird’s eye view of his enemies. Due to Rio’s speed just Sara, Orphia and Alma realized that he took to the skies again. They have problems believing that there is such a powerful spirit arts user outside their village, next to them Celia also looks silently at the sky.

Rio begins to move his hands and Yamata no Orochi’s heads move in concert with them, the eight heads aim at the enemy ships while opening their mouths, everyone loses their words looking at the eight water pillars rising to the sky faster than the speed of sound. The water jets pass through Beltrum’s fleet just scratching against them, then they order the retreat in a hurry completely taken by fear. Helmut doesn’t blame them for acting without his orders, he agrees with their actions but is full of vexation, Christina was just a step away. Helmut hits his desk with his fist at the same time that his frustration changes into anger and curses while watching Christina getting away.

Rodania’s noble district, Reiss says that he is rampaging quite much. Lucci and Arein are next to him with the still unconscious Renji being carried by Lucci. Arein asks Reiss if it is fine for them to do nothing, Reiss tells him that it is, that not matter how they look at it that isn’t something they can handle, that it is like a natural disaster. Lucci agrees and asks Reiss who is doing it. Reiss thinks Rio is the only one who can be doing that but that he can't say that because they don’t remember him. Reiss tells them that maybe Hiroaki awakened after being driven into a corner, that Renji can also do that much if they drive him into a corner. Arein says that the heroes are outrageous while looking worriedly at Renji. Reiss tells him that he is their needed fighting power and to handle him carefully. Both agree while Reiss thinks Rio’s mask shouldn’t be something so easy to mass produce, that now that he knows that Rio won’t ignore the predicament of his former allies he decided on his future actions.

Rio and Sora watch the retreat of Beltrum’s fleet from the sky, Sora asks them while laughing what they think, she says that this is the dragon king’s power. Rio says that it would be fine if the enemies lose their fighting spirit. Sora tells Rio that it is impossible otherwise, that those fellows are already turning tail and running away. Rio tells Sora that he wasn’t sure he would be able to scare them without sinking any ship. Rio thinks Yamata no Orochi’s appearance is perfect for intimidation, that because he already used it once it was easy to visualize and the presence of the lake made things even easier for him. Sora agrees, she tells Rio that it is a wonderful design just because it was thought by him, that majesty, that divinity, that she thinks it isn’t her imagination that it resembles a dragon. Rio tells Sora he just imitated someone else’s technique and thanks Sora while laughing awkwardly. Sora says she understands, that that person must be a spirit arts user with quite the taste. Rio tells Sora that that person is riding the ship right now and that it would be fine if everyone believes it was his doing.

Rio asks Sora what it is when he sees her looking at him with shining eyes. Sora asks Rio if he decided to use that technique while thinking that much ahead. Rio asks Sora what she means by that much ahead. Sora asks Rio if he thought he could lessen the penalty of God’s rules making his actions look as someone else’s for the residents of the world, if it wasn’t that the reason why he moved to the sky so fast that no one could see him. Rio tells Sora he thought maybe the impact of the rules would be lessened if he didn’t have the attention on himself. Sora asks Rio if everything is for reducing the mask consumption. Rio says he doesn’t know how effective it will be but that he thought it is better doing it than not. Sora reassures Rio, she tells him that it will work. Sora praises Rio for realizing so quickly that his actions could enter in conflict with the second rule too instead of just the third one and maybe putting an extra burden on the mask despite his short time as a trascendental. Rio thanks Sora and tells her that he wants to minimize the mask consumption as much as possible, that the one he is using now is already in half after all. Sora says that after such a big intervention it is quite good for so much of the mask to remain. Rio says that thanks goodness then. Sora tells Rio that the effect will continue until the mask disappears completely and that he should still be able to continue the fight. Rio says he wants to wish for the fight to stop. Rio thinks he wishes for Beltrum’s army to stop the pursuit with this, that he doesn’t want to burden the mask any further. After a while looking at Beltrum’s army taking distance from Yamata no Orochi while Restoration’s ship get away from the city Rio releases his technique and leaves the city with Sora.

### Chapter 2: Reunion.

Everyone in Christina’s ship look wordlessly at Yamata no Orochi disappearing and falling back inside the lake, Christina asks in a hurry where is Roana, a young noble lady next to her tells her that Roana was attending to Hiroaki after he was carried inside a cabin and that she will bring her here. After some minutes Roana arrives and Christina asks her about Hiroaki’s condition, Roana tells Christina that Hiroaki didn’t wake up yet. Christina pauses wondering who controlled Yamata no Orochi if it wasn’t Hiroaki and tells Roana to inform her when Hiroaki wakes up and to go back to him. Roana says she understands while bowing to Christina and leaves. In a corner of the ship’s deck Sara, Orphia and Alma look at the clouds over the lake that Rio is using for hiding his retreat, Orphia says that it seems he has gone somewhere. Sara says that he was an incredible spirit arts user, one at a level that can’t be found at their village. Alma asks who he was. Next to the three Celia and Roland look worriedly at the lake. Celia asks herself anxiously in her mind where did Rio go. She is scared, until just a while ago she had completely forgotten about Rio, just like a painting with a part left white only her memories about Rio were gone and it didn’t feel strange. Despite how important he is for her, despite how special of an existence he is for her, despite all of their memories together, he should be an unforgettable person to her. Celia asks herself if she will forget about Rio again. Celia gets more anxious while those thoughts fill her mind and asks the rest if they remember about Rio. The girls just tilt their heads curiously, the name doesn’t tell them anything, Celia tells them about all of the things they used to do together but nothing comes to mind yet, they just exchange worried looks not understanding what Celia is talking about.

Celia asks herself what is happening and since when it has been like that, she thinks back to when she last saw Rio, about the battle with Erika, about when just before the memory cut the earth’s beast controlled by Erika turned into something unimaginable, then Aishia… Celia realizes that not just her memories about Rio were gone, she had forgotten about Aishia too. Celia asks the others in a hurry if they remember about Aishia. The name Aishia doesn’t tell them anything either. Celia tells them that Aishia was a humanoid spirit contracted to Rio and that she also lived with them. Sara tells Celia she doesn’t remember, that rather than that, if there had been such a person she thinks she wouldn’t have forgotten. Alma and Orphia agree with Sara. Celia asks them if they remember about the battle at Gregory’s dukedom. They say that they remember the battle but… Celia asks them if they remember thinking something was strange when the battle ended before they realized it. They think back to that moment and remember the feeling of strangeness. Celia explains them about Erika and the beast she controlled, about the beast turning into something unimaginable at the last moment and the earth tsunami that made it look as if the heaven and earth changed places, about Aishia and Rio being the only ones who didn’t give up and went alone to stop it, about the great white light who covered everything and erased the earth tsunami. Celia tells them she is sure it was Rio’s and Aishia’s doing, but that then they forgot about Rio and Aishia and were left there wondering what have happened, that despite being saved by those two they…

Celia tells them until just a while ago she didn’t have her memories either but that she remembered so they too… for a moment the serious faces everyone was making while listening to Celia’s talk come undone, they enter a trance like state. Celia freezes watching this unfold and asks everyone what happened while looking at them who are clearly out of their minds in worry. When everyone comes back to themselves they apologize to Celia for spacing out and ask her what she was talking about. Celia explains their talk until now but three other girls don’t remember about it. Celia asks them if they forgot their talk until now. Sara asks Celia what she means by their talk until now. The other three girls try to remember what they have been listening to but they just make empty expressions for a moment again. Celia asks herself what is happening completely terrified. She is getting more and more anxious, this is strange, clearly abnormal, it goes past disquieting to scary. At that time someone touched Celia’s shoulder from behind, she turns around and sees Rio, she almost screams his real name by reflex but Rio stops her putting a finger on her mouth. Celia grunts with a red face. Rio whispers to Celia that he will explain the reason why Sara and the others are acting like that and tells her to talk somewhere without other people around, then he takes Celia’s hand and walks away from the others with her. Celia lets herself be pulled away, after a while the other girls finally come to themselves and are left there wondering about Celia’s whereabouts.

Rio walks with Celia through a corridor until they arrive where Sora is and are told by her that the room next to her is empty. Sora opens the door to what seems to be one of the ship’s storage rooms, Rio thanks her and tells Celia to enter. Celia obeys while wondering about Sora’s identity. When Rio can’t see her anymore Sora sends Celia a glare that seems to say “what are you looking at?” and “what are you doing holding the dragon king’s hand?”. Celia receives Sora’s hostility with a rigid smile not knowing its reason. Rio asks her what is wrong. Celia tells Rio that Sora is cute and Rio introduces her to Celia. Celia introduces herself and tells Sora she will be in her care. After a short pause Sora tells Celia the same and bows still wary of her. Rio tells Celia that Sora is a bit shy but a good child. Then Celia hugs Rio. Sora lets out a surprised scream. Rio says that as expected and asks Celia if she remembers about him. Celia says she does and tells Rio that her memories came back just a while ago at the time of the battle. Rio tells Celia he understands while wondering why Celia is the only one who remembers with a worried face.

    Celia asks Rio what happened, why did they disappear so suddenly, why were they forgotten so suddenly and where Aishia is. Rio tells Celia that Aishia is at the Galarc Kingdom watching over everyone there. Celia thanks Rio for continuing to protect them despite being forgotten. Celia touches worriedly Rio’s exposed cheek while asking if he is hurt, wondering if some attack broke his mask. Rio tells Celia that he is fine, that it wasn’t an enemy attack what broke the mask. Celia asks Rio what happened to his eyes while approaching her face to his. Sora asks Celia screaming who does she think she is for hugging the dragon king for so long and begins to separate the two of them. Rio tells her to calm down. Sora puts herself between Rio and Celia while inflating her cheeks. Celia tries to hug Rio again but hesitates to push Sora, a child, who uses her body to stop her. Both stand in front of the other while sulking at the same time. Rio tells Celia with a troubled smile that a lot happened, that he understood a lot of things and that he will explain everything including about Sora’s identity, then he asks Celia if she will listen to him despite his story being one full of crazy things. Celia tells Rio that of course she will, that because such strange things are happening nothing will surprise her anymore, she tells Rio to let her listen to his story. Rio begins to summarize what he discovered to Celia.

Rio tells Celia that in the world there were once some high ranking existences called the transcendentals, that one of them called the dragon king was his previous life, that Aishia was a temporary container for the dragon king’s power, that at the end of his fight with Erika he used that power, that Erika was also acknowledged as a transcendental the moment the great earth’s spirit inside her used his own power, and that now both are bound by a set of superior laws that exist within the world. Rio asks Celia if she can’t believe him when he sees the surprise on her face. Celia tells Rio she believes in him and asks him if he means that he became an existence similar to a God’s. Rio tells Celia that a god’s existence seems to be different but that he seems to be an existence extremely close to one. Celia says she understands. Celia tells Rio in a murmur so low he can’t listen that he is becoming an existence more and more distant. Celia looks down while biting her lips and with wavering eyes full of complex emotions, then she rises her face and shows Rio a resolved expression.

Rio tells Celia that his consciousness as a transcendental is weak, that his self-consciousness as human is still stronger, but that it is certain that he is bound by their rules, that because of that he was forgotten by everyone, that he can’t make contact with the residents of the world either, that that is the kind of situation he and Aishia are in now. Celia asks Rio if they disappeared because of that. Rio says they did, he tells Celia that the contact itself isn’t forbidden but that because of certain rules it is a situation similar to that. Celia says that it looks like the person who created the rules wants to hide the transcendentals from the world, making everyone forget about them and forbidding them to contact anyone. Rio says that as expected of Celia, that the rules seem to exist for not letting anyone identify the transcendentals' existence, that because every transcendental has a powerful authority resembling God’s, God seems to have made the rules so the transcendentals can’t interfere with the world so easily. Celia asks Rio what an authority is. Rio tells Celia to think about it as a kind of special power that every transcendental has, that in his case he has a power called annihilation that lets him emit a light that erases his designated target, that that was what he used for erasing the earth tsunami. Celia remembers about the light and lets out an understanding so that was what happened.

Rio tells Celia that it was then when the world acknowledged him as a transcendental and that Aishia who used the power alongside him seems to be receiving the same treatment, that the reason Erika was forgotten too was because her last attack was created by a transcendental’s power. Celia asks if that is the reason why they were all forgotten. Rio says it is, he tells Celia that just a few exceptions could remember about the transcendentals, Celia asks Rio if she became one of those exceptions. Rio tells Celia he wanted to talk precisely about that. Celia asks Rio if he doesn’t know why she can remember about him. Rio says he doesn’t and asks Celia if everyone else hasn’t forgotten about him. Celia tells Rio they did, that Sara and the others don’t remember him yet, that the ones in the Galarc Kingdom are the same, that even if they are explained about him they begin to space out and… Celia asks Rio if that is because of the rules too. Rio tells Celia that it is, that it seems it will happen anytime someone tries to stimulate anyone’s memories, that if he tries to force someone to remember about him at that time it will put a great burden on their minds, so because of that he can’t get close to them but…

Sora tells Rio she has an idea of what is happening, she tells Rio that Celia resembles the homunculus woman. Rio asks Sora if she means Lina’s familiar. Sora says she does. Rio tries to tell Sora that Celia is a normal human born and raised in the Beltrum Kingdom. Sora tells Rio that it is impossible for that to be a coincidence, she asks Rio if she doesn’t know that that woman had the power of looking into the future, that for a woman who resembles her familiar to recover her memories in such a way, that there is no mistaking it, that Lina’s future sight must be involved. Celia asks Sora what she is talking about, if by homunculus she means the ones from fairy tales, she also asks who Lina is. Rio tells Celia that there is one more wise God aside of the other six, that Lina is the seventh one, that she had several familiars and that one of them seems to look just like her. Celia says she understands but realizes something and asks Sora why she knows that and from what era is her story from. Rio tells Celia that Sora is a child who used to be the dragon king’s familiar.

Sora hits her chest proudly while Celia looks incredulously at her. Sora asks Celia what is that look in her eyes for. Rio tells Celia that despite her appearance Sora has been alive from an era way prior to the divine war, that becoming the dragon king’s familiar seems to have stopped her physical and mental growth. Celia asks Rio if he means that Sora is ageless and says that it is incredible. Sora says that of course she is incredible, that she is the great dragon king’s familiar. Rio tells Celia that Sora’s strength is incredible too, at a level where she can fight equally with Aishia. Sora says that she is the stronger one, that if she gets serious she won’t lose. Celia tells Rio he got a reliable ally. Rio says he did, that between the transcendental and the familiar exists a special bond, that the moment he recovered the dragon king’s power that bond was restored, that Sora explained to him a lot of things and now are traveling together. Celia says she understands and looks at Rio and Sora wondering about the meaning of that special connection. Rio tells Celia that it is something related to the memory loss, that only the other transcendentals and their familiars can remember about the transcendentals. Celia tells Rio that she shouldn’t be either of the two. Rio agrees and says that he is curious about Sora’s story. Celia asks Rio if she became Lina’s familiar and Rio asks Sora if it is like that.

Sora tells Celia that the familiars are bound by the same rules that the transcendentals and asks Celia if she was forgotten by the people with her. Celia says that everyone remembers about her. Sora says that if it is like that then she can’t explain what is happening, that she just became someone who recovered her memories despite not being a transcendental or a familiar. Rio says that that means that Lina must have done something while anticipating the future then. Sora says she agrees. Rio asks Celia about the light that came out of her body when she recovered her memories. Celia tilts her head curiously while thinking back at that time, then she makes a surprised face, she asks herself what is that thing. Rio asks Celia if she is alright. Celia says she is. Rio asks her what happened. Celia tells Rio that somehow she now knows how to use a lot of spells she knows nothing about, that her thoughts are incredibly clear, that it is like having several of herself thinking in parallel, that if feels disquieting. Celia loses her balance and is just about to collapse. Rio grabs her shoulders and asks her if she is really fine. Celia says she is fine, that if she focuses on it she can make it stop. Rio caresses his chest in relief when Celia stands by herself again and Sora calls out to him. Rio asks her what it is.

Sora tells Rio that the parallel thinking and the accelerated thought are the skills of the wise God’s familiars, that the same way she can wrap herself in her spirit body for turning into a dragon the wise God’s familiars get an extraordinary brain, that using that brain they can think about several things at the same time, that the familiar she used to be acquainted with used that parallel thinking for activating several spells at the same time. Rio says that is incredible, he thinks even if it is possible to activate the same spell several times simultaneously with enough skill people who can use different spells at the same time are unheard of. Sora tells Rio that she, the dragon king’s familiar, is more incredible than that, that she can repel magic and spirit arts if he wraps herself in her draconic body. Rio nods while laughing. Celia thinks looking at the two feels like looking at a parent-child pair. Rio apologizes for sidetracking the talk. Rio asks Celia if the magic formation around her when she recovered her memories was something she could control. Celia says that it wasn’t, that the spell appeared by itself. Rio tells Celia that Lina seems to have used the magic for transcribing memories then, that she also used that for giving Aishia a part of her memories when she made Aishia reincarnate alongside his soul one thousand years ago.

Celia asks Rio if he means that she had that transcription magic used on her. Rio tells her that he doesn’t know, that maybe there is another magic that can duplicate memories aside of that one that was used on her. Celia asks Rio, when, from where and how did Lina did that, she asks Rio if Lina doesn’t exists in the world too. Sora tells Celia that Lina was a woman with an authority that allowed her to know the future, that she can make a spell that will activate after a time limit or any other condition and cast it one thousand years ago. Celia is completely astonished because she understands how much it escalates the difficulty of a spell setting that kind of condition. Sora tells Celia that if it is that woman she can do it. Celia says that as expected the wise Gods are incredible. Sora asks Celia if the transcription magic is among the spells she learnt, if she has any magic that can recover lost memories. Celia tells Sora she doesn’t know herself well yet, that she isn’t sure about the information that came to her mind being everything she was given, that she isn’t that confident in it, but that there doesn’t seem to be a magic like that. Sora curses at Lina calling her useless seventh wise God.

Celia is surprised and tells Sora she said something horrible. Sora says that the useless seventh wise God is the useless seventh wise God, that despite doing things like guiding people and wanting them to do something the information she gives is too scarce, Sora asks screaming what is Lina thinking. Celia tells Sora she can’t answer her even if she is asked. Rio thinks it is just like Sora says, that the information given is too scarce despite Lina seemingly wanting to have the reincarnated him do something, he asks himself why and thinks of two possibilities. Lina couldn’t give the information or didn’t give it despite being able to. Rio wonders if the transcription magic has any limit or if she was worried about the future changing if she gives too much information. Sora asks Celia if all of the information she was given was about magic, if she wasn't given any order or hint about something. Celia tells Sora she feels like she heard someone's voice back then. Sora asks Celia what that voice said. “Success, everything is impossible right now but, I will entrust you with the things that I couldn’t give to that girl.” Celia tells Sora that she was told those words.

Sora asks Celia if she doesn’t mean that she couldn’t entrust to instead of giving to. Celia tells Sora that it is troubling if she asks her that. Rio tells Sora to calm down and tells Celia that he wants to confirm something, he asks Celia if Lina told “success”. Celia says she doesn’t know if it was Lina’s voice but that it did say that. Rio asks if in that situation, context-wise, isn’t natural to think success means the fact that Celia recovered her memories and learnt the spells. Celia agrees. Rio asks if that doesn’t mean that the voice’s owner was watching if it was a success or not from somewhere. Celia agrees. Sora praises Rio’s deductions. Rio says that if it is like that then it is possible that Lina isn’t the voice’s owner, Sora freezes in surprise when she remembers that possibility. Celia asks why, Celia says that if she resembles Lina’s familiar it is natural to think it is Lina’s doing. Rio tells Celia that that should be impossible. Celia asks why. Rio tells Celia that just like the dragon king reincarnated into him Lina reincarnated too. Celia asks if it is like that. After some doubt Rio decides to not tell Celia that Miharu is Lina’s reincarnation. Rio tells Celia that it is Aishia who told him that Lina reincarnated too, but that there are some complicated circumstances, that he will continue this conversation at another time and asks Celia if it is fine for him to talk about another thing now. Celia agrees and asks what it is.

Rio says he wants to talk about the future. Celia tells Rio to say it if there is anything she can do. Rio tells Celia to stay by everyone’s side for the time being. Celia says she understands and asks Rio what he will do with a lonely face. Rio tells Celia with a face as lonely as hers that he wants to be with everyone again, but because he is saying what he wants to do instead of what he will do Rio has his own lonely face. Rio tells Celia he can’t do that because God’s rules are in the way, so it won’t do if he doesn’t do something about that first. Celia asks Rio how he will do it. Rio tells Celia that she remembering him gave him hope, that who gave her back her memories should know the way. Sora agrees, she says that it is like that, that the answer must be the magic formation that came out from Celia’s body. Celia says that among the spells she learnt there is a magic for analyzing magic formations, that using it she might be able to analyze it. Sora tells Celia to say it sooner if she has such a convenient magic. Celia tells Sora that the spell can’t be used on anything alive, that it is different if she uses the spell while the target magic formation is being used on someone. Sora tells Celia to activate the magic formation from back then once more then.

Celia tells Sora that the magic formation might still be inside her but that she wasn’t the one who activated it, that it is possible too that the magic formation disappeared the moment it was activated, that she will try to research it but that she doesn’t want her to have expectations. Sora says that it is fine even like that, she tells Celia to give it a try. Celia agrees when Sora’s desperation for recovering the dragon king’s memories was transmitted her, she tells her she will give it a try once they arrive at the Galarc Kingdom. Rio asks Sora and Celia if he can ask something of them. Both accept. Rio asks Sora if she can accompany Celia to the Galarc Kingdom. Sora is surprised and doesn’t understand Rio’s intentions, Celia says she doesn’t mind. Rio tells the two that explaining everything will take time but that Sara and the others should have already realized Celia’s absence and might come looking for her. Celia asks Rio with a lonely face if he won’t come to Galarc’s castle too.

Rio says that it would be fine if they stay together in the same place for a short time but… Celia asks if it is because of the rules. Rio tells her that it is, that because of becoming a transcendental the current him seems to have become someone who has it hard for letting an impression on people. Celia asks about that. Rio tells Celia that the moment he stops showing himself or people stop being conscious of him the symptoms will appear, that it might be possible to avoid it if someone is always awake or always thinking about him but that realistically speaking it is impossible and asks Sora for confirmation. Sora says that it is like that, that the moment they stop being a little conscious about Rio they will forget about him, that if the people outside were to see him they shouldn’t remember to have been saved by him, that at maximum they would just remember to have been saved by someone. Celia says that it can’t be when she realizes that even if Rio goes to the mansion, every morning when everyone wakes up they would ask “who is that?”.

Rio tells Celia that it is because of that that he can’t go with her. Rio asks Sora if he can ask her to explain to Celia everything that he can’t explain now. Sora says that of course, to let that duty to her who is the dragon king’s familiar. Celia asks if it is fine for Sora to live with everyone then. Rio tells Celia that it is, that as long as she isn’t with him Sora is harder to forget. Sora tells Celia that the familiars’ main duty is to appear in front of the world’s residents instead of the transcendentals when it is needed, that usually they are equally bound by the rules but that this is the only exception. Rio tells Celia that if it is her he is at ease letting Sora in her care, he tells Celia that Sora knows the rules better than him and to ask if she wants to know something. Celia says she understands. Rio bows to her and tells her that he leaves Sora in her hands. Celia asks Rio to take off the mask and show her his face. Rio says that she is right, that he still has it on and then takes it off. Celia asks Rio if his hair is whiter than before, she also comments on Rio’s red eyes. Rio tells Celia that his hair and eye colors changed to his current ones while confused about how to explain the reason. Celia asks Rio what he means by changed. The moment Celia’s face is changing into a worried one the room’s door is opened.

Christina, Sara, Orphia, Alma, Vanessa and Roland enter the room. Vanessa is telling everyone that the current room is the only place where they haven’t searched but freezes when she sees Celia with Sora and Rio not knowing what is going on, everyone else looks at the three equally surprised. Christina asks Celia what she is doing in a place like the storage. Celia tells Christina that she found a kid walking alone and after listening to her story she seemed to be a lost child. Sora says she isn’t a lost child in protest. Celia tells everyone that despite her words it seems she got separated from the person she serves under. Celia asks Sora with her gaze to match her story if she is going to accompany her. Sora agrees begrudgingly while pouting. Christina asks Celia if she knows the family name of Sora’s master that she will try to look for him. Celia says that Sora’s master seems to be a foreign merchant that was visiting Rodania today, avoiding giving a name from the Beltrum Kingdom so the lie isn’t discovered. Christina is convinced, she says she understands now why she never saw clothes like Sora’s. Celia agrees awkwardly. Now Christina asks about Rio. Rio introduces himself with a bow, Christina asks Rio if he doesn’t have a family name, Rio says he is a commoner serving the Rodin family. Christina asks him why he is in the ship’s storage. Rio says he was told to carry luggage inside the room they are in now so they have more empty rooms, and that while he was doing that Sora entered the room and Celia after her.

Christina says she understands and asks Rio if they met somewhere. Rio tells Christina that it is the first time he sees her while tilting his head curiously. Christina asks if is like that while looking fixedly at Rio. Celia asks Christina if she needs something of her in an attempt to take her attention away from Rio, Christina says she does, that she wanted to talk about something with Celia. Celia asks Christina if they should go talk elsewhere then. Christina says they should. Celia asks Christina if she minds if she takes Sora with her, that she promised to look after her until her master appears. Christina says she doesn’t mind and tells Celia to follow her. Everyone is just about to leave when the noise of Rio’s used mask falling to the ground stops them. Rio makes it look as if Celia was the one who dropped it, picks it up and gives it to her. Celia thanks Rio rigidly not understanding his intentions yet. Rio tells Celia in whispers to analyze the mask as much as she can. Celia is confused because of Rio’s lacking explanation. Christina asks Celia with doubt why she isn’t following the rest. Celia says she will go right now. Rio bows to everyone leaving, all of them leave without paying attention to him and just Sora bows to him before going with them, after being left alone Rio leaves the magic ship in secret.

### Chapter 3: The sister’s bond.

The previous day, Centostella’s magic ship has just arrived at Galarc’s capital. Charlotte goes alongside Miharu, Satsuki, Masato and Lilianna at the castle gates for watching the arrival of Centostella’s delegation. Charlotte says that it looks like they came while looking at the carriage leading the group surrounded by escort knights. The carriage stops in front of the group and its gate opens. Satsuki asks the people inside if they won’t come out. After a moment Takahisa gets down hesitatingly while pulling Aki’s hand. Miharu murmurs their name with surprise, next to her Masato looks cautiously at the two. Satsuki says that they came awkwardly while looking in alternation between the two pairs of people. Satsuki thinks it is obvious that they came, that they are Masato’s siblings and would be worried about him, but she also thinks about how complicated things became due to the kidnapping. Satsuki tells Miharu to step back while putting herself between her and Takahisa and Aki. Lilianna reminds the two of them that they shouldn’t have permission for contacting Miharu without her's or Masato’s consent. Lilianna prepares herself to tell the two to go back if they try to make an excuse like “it was because Masato and Lili disappeared” and waits for Takahisa’s answer with narrowed eyes.

Takahisa lowers his head and apologizes repeatedly, Takahisa with his head still lowered apologizes to Miharu and everyone, he says that it won’t do if he doesn’t apologize, he tells Lilianna he asked her father to let him come to apologize to everyone, that he really doesn’t know how he could do something like that or why, that he really wanted to apologize, that he did something really terrible, he says he is really sorry. After Takahisa, Aki also lowers head and apologizes repeatedly to Miharu while crying. Takahisa says he doesn’t think he will be forgiven with just this much, but that he really thought it wouldn’t do if he doesn’t apologize properly, that he just wanted to say that, then he tells Aki to go back just the two of them while patting her back comfortingly. Satsuki tells them to wait and scolds them for just deciding to come say their piece and leaving on their own without listening to their answer. Lilianna tells Masato she leaves to him the decision about Takahisa and Aki. Satsuki asks about Masato’s opinion too. Masato says that Miharu was the one troubled the most by the two of them, that it depends on their aptitude, but that if Lilianna plans to accept their actions he has nothing to say. Satsuki asks Miharu what she will do, that she will respect her opinion because she thinks she is the one who has the right to decide to forgive the two of them or not, that she will be her ally, that it is fine for her to tell them to go back or to stay and talk.

Miharu thanks Satsuki for her support and takes some time to think while looking at Aki. She thinks about their relationship since they met until the present, Aki is like her family to her, she won’t forgive them just because they are family, but because they are family she can’t easily cut her off, she doesn’t think she can cut Aki off, that there are times when despite being done something unforgivable by a stranger that relationship continues, she also thinks Takahisa can’t be separated from Aki. Miharu says that she wants to talk with Aki but that she doesn’t know well yet if she wants to forgive Takahisa or not, but that Aki is her important little sister. Miharu thinks about the corner of her thoughts that Aki occupied since their separation, about all of the times she wondered if she was doing fine. Aki cries more listening to Miharu's words. Satsuki says she understands and that she thinks like Miharu. Satsuki tells Charlotte and Lilianna that they want to talk with Aki but… while looking dubiously in the mansion’s way. Charlotte tells Satsuki to take Aki to the mansion, that she will prepare a guest room, that Gouki’s group is there too. Satsuki says she understands when she realizes Charlotte’s words have the hidden meaning of them saying it will be safe there even if Takahisa does something, Satsuki asks Miharu if she is against it. Miharu shakes her head.

Charlotte asks Lilianna if she is against it because they would have to be separated from Satsuki’s group while they participate in the audience between François and Centostella’s delegation. Lilianna says that she will participate in the audience as scheduled. Charlotte tells Satsuki that they will go their separate ways now and asks her if she doesn’t mind being left in charge of the two. Satsuki says she is fine with it. Charlotte tells Lilianna and Centotella’s delegation to follow her and leave the group of five behind with some of Charlotte’s escorts. Satsuki wants to lead the group to Rio’s mansion but Aki is still crying and Takahisa standing awkwardly and unmoving. Satsuki asks Takahisa if he wasn’t listening. Takahisa asks her if it is fine for him to go too. Satsuki asks Takahisa if he didn’t listen to Miharu before. Takahisa says he did but... Satsuki tells Takahisa that thanks to being Aki’s and Masato’s brother his sentence will be postponed but that he wasn’t forgiven, that they will take a look at how he acts for the time being, she tells him to thank his siblings because if not for them it wouldn’t be out of the question to reject him outright. Takahisa says he understands and thanks Aki and Masato. Masato tells Takahisa that he looks like he changed his personality since he was summoned to the Galarc Kingdom.

Masato remembers about the Takahisa from before the summoning who always had arguments with him and was always locked in his room. Masato thinks Takahisa’s change really feels more disquieting than refreshing. What happened? Did his personality really change? It makes him feel he needs to be more cautious. Takahisa agrees with Masato, he says he thinks the same but that when he and Lilianna disappeared he was really worried, that then it really came to him to ask himself what he had been doing until now. Masato says he is happy about it if he is really worried about his disappearance, but that the current him has lost everyone’s trust, that he needs to show the change in his attitude with actions and not words, that if he doesn’t he won’t trust him in the slightest. Takahisa agrees. Masato thinks Takahisa looks like the him from when he was in Japan, that more than having changed maybe his personality has regressed. Satsuki tells Takahisa they will kick him out the moment he does something strange and to get going if he doesn’t have anything else to say. Takahisa says that of course and apologizes again. Satsuki asks Takahisa if that apology is for her while looking at Miharu, showing her annoyance because he hasn’t talked or looked properly at Miharu yet. Takahisa tells Miharu that he is sorry. Miharu nods awkwardly and Takahisa tells her that he is really sorry. Miharu tells Takahisa to stop with the apologies and instead to absolutely not do anything that saddens Aki and Masato again. Takahisa says he understands.

Miharu approaches the crying Aki and calls out to her. Aki trembles when her name is called but doesn’t look up, she just continues to look down while crying. Miharu asks Aki if she won’t raise her face. Aki still doesn’t answer. Miharu asks Aki if she doesn’t want to talk with her after so long. Aki tells Miharu between her crying that she isn’t qualified for that. Miharu asks what qualification she is talking about. Aki tells Miharu that she did something horrible to her, that it is bad to simply accept her kindness, that she doesn’t have the qualification for that. Miharu tells Aki that she doesn’t hate her and that she wants to get along with her again because she is her older sister. Miharu asks Aki if she doesn’t think about her as her big sister anymore. Aki says that she does but… Miharu hugs Aki and pats her back soothingly while apologizing. Aki asks her why she is apologizing. Miharu tells Aki that they just had a sister’s quarrel and that that’s why they will be make up for sure, that they will properly talk together about what was wrong and about what they could have made in a different way, because she also has a lot of things she thinks she could have done, that if there is anything she thinks she should have done back them she wants her to say it. Aki apologizes again while crying in Miharu’s chest. Miharu nods while listening to Aki’s cries. Satsuki tells Takahisa that she doesn’t want to tell him this, but that what he sees is the result of what he did, because he was the one who dragged Aki into his mess. Takahisa agrees while looking down with a bitter face. The group waits until Aki stops crying and goes to Rio’s mansion.

Latifa welcomes the group into the mansion, then she screams Aki’s name in surprise when she sees her. Seeing the Takahisa she knows nothing about Latifa hesitated, but after seeing Aki who was doubting if greeting her back because of her guilty feelings she hurriedly hugged her. Aki calls Latifa’s name in surprise after the hug. Latifa tells Aki in whispers that while in the mansion she is going by the name Suzune and to keep her real name a secret. Aki is confused by the sudden request she understands nothing about. Latifa reminds her again that she is Suzune now. Aki nods confusedly to Latifa’s words. Satsuki asks the two what they were talking about. Latifa says that it is a secret and Aki nods hesitatingly. Latifa asks Aki if she had been doing well and Aki nods. Latifa tells her she was worried about her because they got separated without a proper farewell. Aki apologizes. Latifa tells Aki that she doesn’t need to apologize for that. Gouki arrives at the entrance with Kayoko, Komomo, Sayo and Aoi and asks if they have guests. Satsuki tells Gouki that Takahisa and Aki are Masato’s siblings. Gouki introduces himself and his group to Aki and Takahisa. Takahisa asks Gouki if he is japanese. Gouki tells Takahisa that Satsuki asked him the same thing, but that he isn’t japanese. Satsuki tells Takahisa that Gouki’s group are the acquaintances of some friends that are living with them, that Gouki is really strong and something similar to a japanese samurai and that he has been training her and Masato.

Gouki tells Takahisa and Aki that he and his group are in charge of protecting the mansion, that they will take care of them during their stay and that it is nice to meet them. Takahisa greets Gouki back. Gouki tells the group that they can leave them alone if they want to talk just among friends and to call for them if they need something. Satsuki stops Gouki who is just about to leave and he asks her what is it. Satsuki tells Gouki that Aki and Miharu will be talking with just the two from now on and that she wants to talk about something with him and Kayoko while looking at Takahisa and Masato. Gouki guesses that Satsuki doesn’t want to leave the two of them alone and tells Komomo, Sayo and Aoi to guide the two of them. Komomo accepts the job with a happy smile. Satsuki tells Komomo that she will join them after her talk with Gouki and Kayoko and asks her if she is fine with having Takahisa and Masato in their care until then. Komomo says she is. Miharu thanks the three girls too and Komomo tells her that she doesn’t need to do it. Latifa tells Aki to talk with her about a lot of things later. Aki nods and then the different groups go their ways.

Takahisa and Masato follow Latifa, Komomo, Sayo and Aoi until the mansion's dining room. Sayo leaves the room to prepare tea and snacks. Latifa tells Takahisa to take a seat and he obeys nervously. After sitting herself too, Latifa tells Takahisa that she is Suzune, Masato’s friend. After a sigh Masato tells Takahisa that he must have understood looking at them before that Latifa is also Aki’s friend, that they were in her care after being separated from him the day of the summoning. Masato thanks Latifa for keeping them company with his gaze, he thinks he would be in silence or arguing with Takahisa if not for her presence. Latifa tilts her head curiously not getting the meaning of Masato’s gaze. Latifa tells Takahisa that the other two girls are Komomo and Aoi, and the one in the kitchen, Sayo. Komomo introduces herself and Takahisa does the same. Latifa tells Takahisa that he looks like he wants to ask something when he sees him looking curiously at everyone, she asks him what it is. Takahisa tells Latifa that their names sound like the ones from their country, that the black haired girls look specially japanese-like, he asks her if they really aren’t japanese. Latifa says she understands then she exchanges looks and nods with Komomo who is sitting next to her.

Komomo explains to Takahisa that they are from the Yagumo region. Takahisa says that the name Yagumo also sounds japanese-like, he asks Masato if he thinks otherwise. Masato agrees with Takahisa. Takahisa tells Masato that maybe their home world is connected to the one they are in now. Masato says that maybe, but that he already talked about that with Satsuki and Miharu and they concluded it must be a coincidence. Takahisa says that it would be fine if there was any clue about how to return to the earth but… Komomo says she understands Takahisa’s feelings of wanting to go back because she also comes from a distant land. Takahisa asks about the distance to the Yagumo region and the difficulty of the trip. Komomo tells Takahisa that it is a pathless and life threatening trip, that the wilderness is completely uninhabited because the majority of the land has an environment harsh on human beings, that even an experienced warrior might need years for crossing it. Takahisa asks Komomo if there isn’t an air route, that he heard that the sea ones were undeveloped because the sea creatures were too dangerous, but that maybe a magic ship could do it. Masato tells to Takahisa that in the past the Galarc Kingdom made some exchanges with a country from the Yagumo region, but that going by magic ship was realistically impossible, that the wilderness’ flying creatures were dangerous too and that they would run out of magic stones for fuelling the ship midtrip. Komomo tells Takahisa that in the Yagumo region neither magic tools or ships exist and that as Masato says the air routes are dangerous, that beginning with the demi-dragons there are a lot of dangerous flying creatures in the wilderness.

Takahisa praises Komomo for setting foot in such a place despite being a child. Komomo tells Takahisa with a cold face that it isn’t like he says, that in the country she comes from there are girls who are given responsibilities since the age of ten years, and that she has been trained as the daughter of a house of warriors by her father from an early age. Masato tells Takahisa that Komomo is strong, that in a match without body strengthening it usually is his loss. Takahisa widens his eyes with surprise and asks Masato if he lost. Masato tells Takahisa with a smirk to have a match with Komomo himself then, that he will probably lose. Komomo tells Takahisa that she will do it gladly if he wants to. Takahisa says while laughing that if there is a chance, not taking it seriously because they were a child’s words. Sayo comes back and serves tea for everyone. Takahisa thanks her calling her name. Sayo is surprised at having her name remembered. Takahisa says he was always mysteriously good at remembering girls’ names and that Sayo is cute. Sayo thanks Takahisa for the praise and Latifa tells her to sit next to her. Sayo nods and sits down. Takahisa asks Komomo if she isn’t lonely coming abroad from such a distant place. Komomo says that there are times when she feels lonely because her elder brother is still in the Yagumo region, but that she is with a lot of people close to her, and that it isn’t like they can’t meet again in the future. Takahisa says that Komomo is strong despite her age and makes a self-deprecating smile while comparing his past attitude with Komomo’s.

At the same time Miharu takes Aki with her to her room and makes her sit in the bed next to her. Miharu calls out to Aki but she can't talk because of her nerves. Miharu tells Aki to not force herself to say something because it looks like the inside of her head is blank right now, that she will wait until she calms down and gathers her thoughts. After a moment Aki says that she wants to talk now and Miharu says that she will be listening then. Aki tells Miharu that she doesn’t want to betray everyone’s trust again, that she doesn’t want to ever do again something like betraying and deceiving Miharu, that she wants to live together again while being able to look in the eyes everyone who continued to treat kindly the her who did something that can’t be taken back. Miharu says she understands but that she doesn’t think she was betrayed by Aki. Aki says that she did, that she betrayed Miharu's trust, that she was an accomplice of Takahisa’s plan despite understanding that it was against Miharu’s wishes. Miharu says that is true that she was taken by force, but that that was surely because they didn’t talk things through enough, that they never talked enough about it despite understanding what both wanted to do and what both wanted the other to do, that they wanted to be accepted despite realizing that they could be expecting too much from the other, that she never broached that topic, that at least it is like that for her, that she forgot to tell Aki her feelings.

Miharu tells Aki that she doesn’t love Takahisa as a man and that depending on Aki’s choice it could be impossible for everyone to be together in the future. Aki accepts Miharu’s words with a pained face. Miharu apologizes to Aki, she tells her she knew that she was trying to pair her with Takahisa, that she realized that was the ideal couple she had in mind but pretended she hadn’t realized, that she never tried to refuse because she didn’t want to disappoint her. Aki tells Miharu that it is fine, that the truth is that she already knew that Miharu had someone she loved. Miharu is surprised at Aki’s words. Aki tells Miharu that she doesn’t need to hide it, that she knows that she still loves Haruto. Aki feels strange saying Haruto’s name, the irritation she always felt just listening to it isn’t there anymore. Miharu feels strange for a different reason, she thinks it is true that she always loved Haruto, that she always treasured their promise and memories together, that she still has those feelings. But then why? She feels there is something missing, there was a feeling inside her head telling her that she loves someone else besides her childhood friend Haruto, then Miharu makes a dumbfounded expression while spacing out. Aki asks Miharu if something happened to her then the image of a person just about to appear inside Miharu’s mind disappears like mist. After coming back to herself Miharu tells Aki that she still loves Haruto.

Aki tells Miharu that despite how much she used to hate Haruto now it looks like she doesn’t do it anymore. Miharu asks Aki if she had some change of heart. Aki tells Miharu that at the moment of the divorce they were both seven and four years old, that in truth she always understood that it wasn’t Haruto’s fault, that he couldn’t have done anything about it, but that until a little while ago she couldn’t accept that, that she thinks she finally realized that she was hating him without a reason. Miharu says she understands, that she also tried to not talk about Haruto in front of her because she realized about her hatred, because she thought that would have hurt her, but that she should have told her that she still loved him despite her hatred. Aki denies Miharu’s words, she says it is her fault, that everytime she tried to tell her she was the one who refused to listen, that Miharu just read the mood after seeing her getting angry after listening to his name. Aki says that she took advantage of that kindness for trying to pair Miharu with Takahisa, that she tried to impose on Miharu her ideal of having her older sister and brother always together. Miharu tells Aki that that was because it was painful for her to be unreasonably separated from him when she was just four years old, that she knows that back then she really loved Haruto. Aki says that she tried to make Takahisa into Haruto’s replacement, that that was why she tried to put him into Haruto’s place, Aki says that that was rude with both Miharu and Takahisa.

Miharu says that if she is honest about it, there were also times when she thought that Aki was thinking of replacing Haruto with Takahisa. Aki says that it is as expected, she isn’t surprised about being seen through. Miharu tells Aki that she is misunderstanding, that at those times she quickly changed her mind, that she doesn’t think she was trying to replace Haruto with Takahisa. Aki asks why. Miharu says that it is because she thinks Aki really loves Takahisa. Miharu says that Haruto’s existence maybe had some effect, but that the current Aki for whom Haruto’s existence disappeared should really love Takahisa, that he is a real older brother for her, that because she had been with her until now she is sure that Aki doesn’t love Takahisa just because he is Haruto’s replacement. Then Miharu says she might be angry about just one thing. Aki asks what it is. Miharu says that she is Aki’s sister even if she isn’t paired with Takahisa, that at least she thinks like that herself, that even if they aren’t blood related she always thought about Aki as her real little sister, Miharu says that she really doesn’t want to ask that question, but asks Aki if she thought otherwise. Aki denies it in tears while clinging to Miharu and apologizing repeatedly. Miharu apologizes about the weird question while hugging Aki. Miharu thinks the Aki who have just lost her family surely just wanted safety, that she wanted a bond visible and easy to understand, that that was how she came to want to pair her with Takahisa. Miharu tells Aki that Haruto and Takahisa are unrelated, that she will always be her sister, that listening to the little sister’s whims is also the older sister’s duty, that it is fine for her to be spoiled because she won’t hate her for something like that. Aki thanks and apologizes to Miharu in a loop while crying in her chest. Aki cries until she falls asleep, Miharu lays her in the bed and then goes to meet with Satsuki’s group.

    In one of the mansion’s rooms, Satsuki has just explained the circumstances around Aki and Takahisa to Gouki and Kayoko. Satsuki tells them that she might need to use them in a lot of ways, that she will be in their care. Gouki says that if it comes to it he will cooperate in any way he can, that if needed he will gladly play the villain or the caretaker. Satsuki thanks him but is hesitant about asking Gouki to go too far. Gouki tells Satsuki to not mind it and to use them as she needs to, that they are just freeloaders. Kayoko agrees. Satsuki tells them that they aren’t freeloaders because they are like family. Gouki says he is happy to listen to that and tells Satsuki to not hesitate on relying on them if she means it then. While being moved Satsuki listens to a knocking noise in the door and tells Miharu to enter after she tells her she is the one knocking. Satsuki tells Miharu she has just finished explaining things and asks her how it was on her side. Miharu says that fine, that her feelings were properly transmitted, that Aki probably hadn’t been sleeping well and because she looked tired she left her to rest. Satsuki says she understands while being relieved because things went well. Miharu says that if possible she wants Aki to stay in the mansion but… Satsuki tells Miharu she thinks it is fine but that she wants Takahisa to go back later. Miharu thanks her. Satsuki tells Miharu she trusts her if it is about Aki, but that she will have Takahisa around just until dinner because she also wants to have a talk with him.

After having dinner with everyone in Rio’s mansion Takahisa says that he feels like it has been a long time since he had such a fun time. Satsuki then tells everyone it is time to end the reunion. Takahisa loses his words, he thinks it is already dark outside and that it would be a lie if he said he didn’t hope to be allowed to stay but… Satsuki says that it was decided that Aki will stay the night but that Takahisa has a guest room prepared for him at the castle. Takahisa agrees meekly while being attacked by a feeling of loss. Charlotte tells Takahisa with a small laugh that she arranged for his room herself, to relax and enjoy because it is the castle’s prided guest room. Satsuki sends an exasperated gaze at Charlotte while thinking that her bad hobby already came out. Charlotte doesn’t break her smile thinking it is fun and that it won’t do if she doesn’t put Takahisa in his place a little more. Satsuki apologizes to Takahisa without any real feeling and tells him that men are forbidden in the mansion. Takahisa asks about Masato and Gouki’s group being allowed. Satsuki says that that is the difference in trust. Takahisa says he understands. Lilianna tells everyone that tonight she will also sleep in the guest house because she needs to talk with the members of her kingdom’s delegation, that she will guide Takahisa until his room, then the two leave.

### Intermission: The heroes’ decision.

Some time after Lilianna and Takahisa left Rio's mansion. Takahisa sits alone on his bed with the lights off while thinking about things. Takahisa thinks back to Lilianna asking if something happened on their way to the guest rooms, he thinks it is an obvious question because the him of just a little back was really out of it. Takahisa thinks he doesn’t understand why he was so anxious and impatient during the evening party. Takahisa thinks he loves Miharu but… he thinks he was too forceful, that he can just believe that he hadn’t thought at all about the future even if he had succeeded, he doesn’t understand what the past him was thinking about. He asks himself if the him from back then was that mentally unstable. Takahisa thinks back to just after the summoning, when he was pushed into the role of hero while completely alone without family, friends or Miharu for supporting his heart with, then when he finally met them again they couldn’t be together, Takahisa thinks it is for certain that he was horribly mentally cornered till the point of not having any leeway for accepting reality. But Takahisa can’t find an answer to the reason for his state back then, after all God’s rules don’t let him put in its place the missing piece of the puzzle, the existence called Rio.

Takahisa asks himself if he is that mentally weak, that despite the normal him absolutely understanding that it is obvious to be rejected if someone is so forceful… he thinks he would have never done something like that in a sound state of mind. What did he do to his beloved Miharu? Why did he do something like that? He really can’t understand it. He doesn’t believe himself a human being capable of those things. He really believes he is someone with a proper sense of values. And he is as long as Rio and Miharu aren’t involved. That’s why the him without memories of Rio can’t understand himself anymore. He can’t imagine he would discard his ethics for the sake of getting Miharu. After all, he would destroy his relationship with Miharu if he did that, that thinking about it with a proper mind is perfectly understable, that after all currently his relationship with Miharu is the worst right now. Takahisa thinks he can’t just think about the past him, he tells himself to think about the future him, that he will recover the lost trust, that as expected he loves Miharu, that he wants to make it so he can be with her again. That he wants to be with her as much time as possible. Takahisa tells himself that not yet, that the real thing is from now on, that he wants to protect Miharu. Takahisa spends a sleepless night engraving that into his heart.

The next morning, thanks to Rio’s secret efforts, a few of Restoration’s ships manage to escape Rodania's raid and are on their way to Galarc’s capital, in one of those ships Hiroaki finally wakes up. Flora, Roana, Kota and Rei call his name worriedly. Roana asks Hiroaki if he feels pain somewhere. Hiroaki says he doesn’t while incorporating himself and Roana sighs with relief. Hiroaki curses when he realizes he lost to Renji and apologizes for worrying everyone. Hiroaki asks what happened after that, he asks how they escaped. Rei tells Hiroaki that it was incredible that a knight from somewhere came to their help, and that when the ship was taking off Yamata no Orochi appeared. Hiroaki makes a suspicious expression while listening to the name of his technique. Rei tells Hiroaki that he means his technique, the one he showed him once, he asks Hiroaki if he wasn’t the one controlling it.  Hiroaki says he didn’t control anything and that he was sleeping and unconscious. Roana tells Hiroaki that no one but him can use that technique with some doubts because she was the one who was taking care of the sleeping Hiroaki.

Hiroaki asks himself in his mind if he did control the technique, he asks himself if it means that he used it while asleep, he asks himself if he awakened to the power of the sleeping hero or something like that. Flora tells Hiroaki that now everyone is having the same doubts as him. Hiroaki says that it is something typical inside stories but… Rei tells Hiroaki that everyone in the ship is thankful to him for the escape. Hiroaki says he understands. Rei asks Hiroaki if he isn’t happy about it despite it having become his achievement. Hiroaki says he isn’t, that there isn’t a feeling of reality and… Hiroaki refuses to say that he lost against Renji. Kota asks him and what but Hiroaki says that it is nothing. Hiroaki asks about Restoration’s future plans. Roana tells Hiroaki that they are on their way to Galarc’s capital, that after their arrival Christina should ask François for refuge. Hiroaki says he understands and tells Roana to tell him if there is anything he can do. Flora and Roana hold their breath while exchanging looks. Roana tells Hiroaki that Restoration is really blessed just by having him. Flora says everything will be fine for sure because Christina is also there. Hiroaki says he understands and takes a deep breath.

Hiroaki scratches his head while thinking putting effort towards a goal or working hard for someone’s sake isn’t his style but… looking at the people younger than him working hard like that makes him ask himself what he can do. Hiroaki thinks maybe it isn’t time for leisurely writing light novels, then he changes his mind, he thinks he will finish that light novel for sure but… Hiroaki asks himself what can he do, he thinks he needs to think calmly about what he will do in the future, Hiroaki asks himself if he wouldn’t be more influential as a hero if he gets stronger, but more than anything he hates to have lost against that chuunish Renji. That’s why Hiroaki is resolved to beat Renji the next time they fight and decides to get stronger from now on.

Rodania’s noble district, Renji wakes up while leaning against a house’s wall, Lucci asks him if he woke up with Arein standing next to him. Arein reminds Renji of their names and scolds him for forgetting them again and again so quickly. Lucci agrees and asks Renji who he thinks that carried him until where they are. Renji says he understands and apologizes for forgetting. After the other two exchange satisfied looks Renji asks them where they are. Lucci tells him that they are in Rodania. Renji says he knows that and asks what happened. Renji thinks back to the fight with Hiroaki, he remembers defeating him but… Lucci tells Renji that a strange bastard came and defeated him. Renji says he understands and remembers his fight with Rio, but for some reason he doesn’t remember his face or any other trait, he remembers his opponent’s arms and legs and a great pain behind his head, he thinks that must have been what defeated him. Arein tells Renji that he looks like he doesn’t remember his opponent well either. Renji asks them what they mean. Lucci tells Renji that until they left the place they should remember about him too but somehow they don’t know anymore what kind of bastard defeated him or any trait of his. Renji asks what is happening. Arein says he doesn’t know, that Reiss said he must have had some powerful recognition obstructing magic tool. Renji asks if such a convenient magic tool exists. Lucci says he doesn’t know, that there isn’t anyone in the world who knows each and every magic tool, that there are a lot of ancient magic tools that no one knows how to use, that it isn’t strange for magic tools that can do this or that to appear.

Renji says he understands and asks where is Reiss. Lucci tells Renji that he is with Duke Arbor, that because he couldn’t capture Christina now they are talking about what to do in the future. Renji asks if she really ran away in such a situation. Arein tells Renji that after he lost consciousness there was another scandal, that a monster made of water appeared from the lake and protected the princess’ magic ship, that Reiss was wondering if their hero pulled out his sleeping powers. Renji frowns while listening about Hiroaki and asks if it was his doing. Lucci tells him that it seems that he manipulated the water with his divine weapon, that after the ship went away the water went back to normal, but that it let out a ridiculous breath attack that looked like it could destroy a city, that it was a good match in scale for his special technique. Renji says that regardless of the scale the water element can’t beat the him who manipulates the ice. Renji thinks he will become even stronger, that there isn’t time for being defeated by some unknown opponent hiding his identity, Renji thinks that power will be what proves him right. Lucci tells Renji while showing him Lucius’ former sword that he will keep him company if he wants to get stronger, that it won’t do if he doesn’t get better at using his sword either, Renji frowns looking at the sword while remembering his defeat at Lucius’ hands. Lucci asks Renji what's wrong, if he is scared of the sword that Lucius used for beating him. Renji says he isn’t scared and that he will train with Lucci, but that if he is so useless he can’t use the sword’s power well the deal changes. Lucci says he will do it, he will pull out the sword’s power, that it won’t do if they don’t find the bastard who killed their captain and take revenge, that he will show him how he pulls out the sword’s power without fault. Renji thinks Lucci’s sword is good for attacking blind spots, that it is the perfect training partner because he was defeated that way. Renji thinks he won’t lose again.

### Chapter 4: Celia’s return.

That evening, in Galarc’s capital, the forest next to the lake where the magic ships arrive and take off. Rio, who arrived a little before Restoration’s ships, picks up from inside a tree hole the mask he left behind in case Aishia could need it. Rio is relieved, if the mask is there and still intact it means that Aishia didn’t need to use it, in other words, nothing happened in his absence. Then Aishia appears next to Rio and greets him. Rio tells Aishia that it seems that nothing happened in his absence. Aishia makes a small pause, doubting about explaining about Takisa and Aki or not, then she tells Rio that there was no big problem without going into detail and welcomes him back. Rio says he is back. Aishia asks where is Sora. Rio takes out the rock house and tells Aishia that Sora will arrive later, that the magic ship with Celia’s group is on its way, that a lot happened and that he will explain everything now. Aishia agrees to Rio’s idea of entering and talking, she says she has changes to report too.

After some minutes Rio is finally done explaining Rodania’s events to Aishia. Aishia is surprised at Celia’s recovery of her memories but also really relieved. Rio agrees with Aishia’s feelings and tells her that he plans on having Sora live for several days with Celia at the mansion, he wants the two to be able to exchange information and Sora to meet with everyone there. Aishia says that if Sora is there Celia’s group will be safe and that Sora is also safe with Celia. Rio agrees and asks Aishia if she can visit the mansion at night because Celia wanted to meet her. Aishia accepts, she says she also wants to meet Celia. Rio asks Aishia what she wanted to tell him. Aishia tells Rio that Aki and Takahisa are in the castle. Rio asks how things look there. Rio is surprised but seeing Aishia’s calmness it seems nothing big happened. He feels worried remembering about Takahisa’s actions, but rather than that Aki worries him, he somehow guessed that Haruto’s existence was the cause of the fracture in her relationship with Miharu, he doesn’t know what he can do about it, he doesn’t think the current him, who lives as a different person despite having Haruto’s memories can mediate between the two, he feels frustrated and sorry.

Aishia tells Rio that the two of them reflected and apologized to Miharu’s group and that Miharu and Aki made up. Rio says that it is fine if things are like that but it still feels unreal for him because he didn’t see it with his own eyes. Aishia says that Aki is probably fine already. Rio asks if it is like that. Aishia says that it is, that she has been watching over them, completely certain of her words because she peeped on Miharu’s and Aki’s talk. Rio says he understands. Rio thinks in the end he could do nothing but that Aki and Miharu still made up, that he didn’t need to do anything or that it maybe went well precisely because he did nothing. Because Aki hates Haruto and has really complicated feelings about the him who has Haruto’s memories. While making a lonely face, Rio thinks if his awakening as a transcendental erasing the knowledge of him having Haruto’s memories helped them to make up, maybe being forgotten can have a little of a meaning. Aishia tells Rio that he is wrong, that despite having forgotten about him Aki still remembers Haruto and that Aki has finally overcome her feelings for Haruto, that she thinks Aki’s answer wouldn’t change even if she were to recover her memories about Rio. Rio says he understands and makes a wry and relieved smile when his worry eases a little.

Aishia tells Rio that Takahisa is in a wait and see state. Rio says that it is because the fact that he kidnapped Miharu didn’t disappear after all. Rio feels it is a naive attitude but that everyone must be taking that approach with Takahisa in consideration of Aki’s and Masato’s feelings and the authority that a hero has. Aishia tells Rio that Takahisa might be the most affected by the memory loss, that it seems like he just was able to reflect on himself after losing his memories of Rio, but that she doesn’t know what to make of it. Implying that she doesn’t know if Takahisa would go back to his previous self or not if he recovers his memories. Rio says he understands and the worry hardens his expression again. He thinks it is unreasonable to just somehow punish the Takahisa who has lost his memories when he hadn’t caused any new issues just because of his anxiety. Rio thinks the current him, who has his actions restricted by having become a transcendental can’t do a thing for preventing Takahisa’s reincidence. Rio says he will have Celia watch over things for a while when she returns to the mansion, he asks himself if maybe he won’t have to do anything if it looks like there isn’t any problems.

Some tens of minutes after Rio’s arrival, Restoration’s ships have just finally arrived at Galarc’s capital. It is still unknown if the refuge request will be accepted, that’s why it was decided that for the time being just a small group of representatives will go to the castle. A carriage is taking Christina, Hugenot, Roland and other important people to the castle while Celia, Sara, Orphia and Alma who usually live there go in another one with Sora. Celia tells the girls that she will accompany Christina during her audience with François. Sara says she understands, that they will go back to the mansion first and explain everything to everyone. Celia thanks her. Sara asks Celia what to do about Sora. Celia tells Sora that it is fine for her to go ahead to the mansion. Sora asks “what?” with apprehension and reluctance, she asks Celia if she really plans on sending her alone to a place full of strangers. Celia tells her that she isn’t alone, that she is with Sara’s group and she asks Sora if she is shy. Sora says she just hates being made to talk while surrounded by strangers, that she just dislikes multitudes and that she isn’t shy, she tells Celia to look after her because she was the one entrusted with her by the dragon king. Or so Sora says, but her reaction and the fact that she spent one thousand years alone in a mountain make more than obvious how shy she is, added to her childish appearance… Orphia tells Celia with a smile that Sora seems pretty fond of her. Celia asks if it is like that but Sora denies it hurriedly. Alma says with a smile that there are children of that age that aren’t honest too. Sara tells Alma that she was also like that and she denies it while pouting. Sora says she is honest too with her own pout. Celia tells Sora that it is fine, that she can accompany her to the castle, but that she might be made to wait alone inside some drawing room until the audience is over. Sora says she won’t do that and asks Celia who she thinks she is.

Sora was left alone inside a waiting room, meanwhile François is meeting with Christina, Flora, Celia, Roland, Hugenot, Roana and Hiroaki. François says he didn’t think Rodania would fall with a complicated face. Christina says with a frown that she didn’t think either they would aim at their moment of relaxation after signing the agreement. François says he feels it was too forceful and hurried, he says he wonders if they have any goal important enough for not caring about appearances. Christina catches François’ hidden meaning and tells him that she secured the said article and has it on her. François says he understands. Christina tells François that it is the truth that they attacked a fortified city with its defenses ready, but that she thinks it is because they were that sure of their victory, that the power of the hero with them was overwhelming enough for securing the victory, François asks Christina about Renji’s attacks. Christina explains about Renji killing hundreds of Restoration’s griffin riders with just one attack. François asks if it is really at that level. Christina says she doesn’t know of any magic that can do so much widespread damage, that if used against foot soldiers in a tight formation it could kill thousands. François asks himself if that means that the heroes’ power was just as told in the legends.

François tilts his head mid sentence, he has a sensation of déjà vu, he knows the heroes’ power is menacing but he feels something similar has already occurred. Christina looks curiously at François’ state, she asks him if something happened. François says that it is nothing after the feeling of strangeness goes away, he says he has a question for Hiroaki. Hiroaki asks what it is. François asks if he can use an attack like Renji’s. Hiroaki refuses to admit that it is impossible for him, he says he doesn’t know, that Roanna once told him that his Yamata no Orochi was as strong as the highest degree of magic, but that he doesn’t know if he can’t cover the sky with it like that shitty kid’s attack did. While François ponders about Hiroaki’s words Hugenot asks him if he doesn’t have too the power for shooting an attack like that, that the water dragon that appeared in the lake wasn’t less powerful that Renji’s attack. Hiroaki says that maybe, but that he doesn’t know anything about the time he stayed unconscious, that he would have to give it try but… Hiroaki thinks he is already pretty serious when using Yamata no Orochi, that he has no confidence in managing something with several times that size and power. Celia thinks it was Rio’s attack but that it would just complicate things further trying to explain, so she decides to stay quiet.

François says that come to this point it seems necessary to confirm how powerful the heroes are, that he will try talking to Satsuki too, he asks Hiroaki his opinion and says he is sorry about his words sounding like he is testing him, but asks Hiroaki if he can’t help them with the verification, if he doesn’t want to know how powerful he is. Hiroaki accepts and asks François what he will do about the location, that if he wants him to not hold anything back he can’t recommend doing it inside the castle. François says that that is obvious, that they will do it in the capital’s outskirts, then he asks Christina if she is fine with it. Christina agrees with the plan. François says he will arrange things then, but that he wants to do the verification as secretly as possible and asks the present ones to please be quiet about it.

François thinks if he is honest about it he is reluctant and sighs. François thinks he knows people can suddenly change after obtaining power, that as a king he knows that when someone incredibly powerful appears inside a group that power can affect that group, he thinks he was reluctant about using the heroes militarily because of that, that not having needed Satsuki to fight was part of it, but that he feared how would people change after knowing that Satsuki had a power too strong, he thinks there would be a factional fight for obtaining Satsuki’s power, he thinks Satsuki can end up being forced to fight, that he couldn’t look her in the eye if she ends turned into a demon, that it would be a breakship of the piled up trust. But it isn't anymore the time for saying things like that, that besides not knowing when Renji’s power will be pointed at the Galarc Kingdom, as a kingdom’s head it won’t do if he doesn’t prepare a dissuasive countermeasure, that it isn’t healthy to burden a single individual with a country’s dissuasion, but the situation is becoming one where he might have to ask that to Satsuki.

François asks Christina about Restoration’s future plans. Christina says that as long as the one thousand refugees in the ships are there with her, or even if she ends alone she will continue to fight against the duke Arbor. François says he understands, he thinks Christina’s will to fight is still intact while looking at her eyes. Christina says that precisely because of that she will swallow her shame and make a request. François asks what it is. Christina lowers her head and asks François if he can provide a place where to base their activities now that they lost Rodania and have nowhere to go. The rest of the present ones also lower their heads, even Hiroaki and Roland who aren’t obligated to standing-wise lower their heads. François takes a moment to think. He can’t give an immediate answer, accepting them is the same as becoming Beltrum’s enemy, a tough decision. Watching François’ hesitation Christina tells François that all of the refugees are people with a high degree of education and that she will see that they are of service to the Galarc Kingdom until their return to Beltrum. Christina begs François with a trembling voice, she thinks about being rejected by François, she thinks the refugees will have it hard regardless of them continuing the fight while ruined or surrendering to the Beltrum Kingdom.

François, thinking the likeliness of a conflict with the Beltrum kingdom is high even if he rejects the refuge request, promises to arrange for lodgings and jobs inside his possibilities. Christina thanks him with relief and happiness. François tells her that it is too soon to rejoice, that he will just mediate for those who stay in Restoration and that their lives will be worse than in Rodania. Christina says that those are obvious conditions. François says he will give them a few days for thinking, that they will be lent some guest houses for that time, that he wants each of the refugees to decide if they will stay in Restoration or not after understanding that it might be impossible for some of them to keep their dignity as nobles in the future, that he will prepare more detailed conditions during that time. Christina thanks François again with her head lowered.

Roland asks for permission to talk and François nods. Roland says he will go back to the Beltrum kingdom, everyone is surprised at those words when Roland has already evacuated from the Beltrum Kingdom to the Galarc Kingdom. Roland explains that he needs to investigate how things are going on that side, that he is the only one with enough freedom of movement for that. François asks Roland if he says it because of the agreement. Christina tells Roland that it is doubtful that they are willing to keep the agreement when they attacked Restoration by surprise without letting them keep their part. Celia also looks anxiously at Roland. Roland says that maybe, but that the longer he stays in the Galarc Kingdom the easier it will be for them to accuse him of leaving his neutral position, that it is better for him to go back. Celia asks Roland if her stay isn’t complicating things for him then, that if it is like that… Roland tells Celia that the two of them being together is the problem, that they can be accused of using their neutrality as an excuse for having people from both sides with them. Celia is worried. Roland says that it is fine, that the her who just spent her time researching since she was a child doesn’t know that many faces, that in the current situation she can’t do much anyway. Celia can’t deny it. Roland tells Celia he is the most fitting for the role and that she should also have things that only she can do, he tells her to do her best at what she can do. Celia says she understands. Roland says he will leave in the morning then and asks Christina if she is fine with it. Christina says she understands and the talk ends.

An hour later, at the dining room of Rio's mansion, Sara’s group has finished their explanation about the attack on Rodania, the mood is heavy and no one knows well what to say. Gouki asks them if they feel bad about it, that despite not planning to get involved in a war, that despite being unrelated to it, but then when they realize it, it isn’t a stranger’s business anymore. Gouki asks everyone if they aren’t feeling that way. Satsuki tells Gouki that it is exactly as he says, that she never expected that Celia’s group would get involved. Latifa tells the girls that she is really happy about their safe return and thanks them for making it back. Sara, Orphia and Alma thank Latifa. Takahisa, who followed Lilianna until the mansion, says full of anger that he can’t forgive it, that it is bad, that it is really bad, that during a war in a normal day a lot of crimes are committed, that it is absolutely incorrect to casually kill a lot of people and to make your opponent summit by force. Satsuki says she agrees about the opposition to the war without commenting on Takahisa’s hypocrisy. Takahisa says that the murder is bad, that it is absolutely bad, that the war that affirms those murders is absolutely wrong too. Lilianna asks Takahisa if something is wrong thinking he was entering a dangerous state. Takahisa makes a surprised face after coming back to himself. Takahisa says he was thinking “why did they begin a war for their own gain?” and “why can they casually choose to kill people?” that it must be absolutely wrong to enjoy killing people for oneself’s gain, he asks if it isn’t a heresy that destroys the order.

Lilianna says with a troubled face that she can’t completely deny his words, but that even like that wars occur, that it is a verified truth that humanity walks through a history stained with blood, then she asks what they can do to make conflicts disappear. Takahisa says that the ones starting wars must be fellows who can’t understand a stranger’s pain, that it won’t do if they don’t live thinking more about others, that there are too many unscrupulous people that laughs happily after a battle despite people having died. Satsuki says that it isn’t like she doesn’t understand his point, but that there are as many ways of looking at and feeling about things and degrees of strength of the heart as people, that not just during a war, that during all kind of dark events there might be people who force themselves to ignore things and laugh if they want to go back to their daily lives, that it can’t be said if they are happy or not just looking from the sidelines. Latifa asks with a worried face if it is fine for her to be happy about the return of Celia and Sara’s group.

Satsuki tells Latifa that there isn’t a way that that is wrong, that she thinks it is fine for her to rejoice and laugh because her important ones came back alive, that she doesn’t think she is making light of anyone doing that, that the ones who decide by themselves who is unscrupulous and get angry without listening to the others’ words are the ones starting the fights, that those things won’t be known without trying to listen to the other… when Satsuki doesn’t know what else to say Gouki tells her and Latifa that it is fine for them to be happy, that rejoicing about a friend’s return is compatible with mourning the death, that being happy about a friend’s return doesn’t mean you feel nothing about the dead ones. That there are those who die fighting to protect something, that if there are people who lived because they were protected the ones gone will be honored, that they have the duty to bless them, that otherwise the dead will be forgotten, that at least a certain someone thinks like that. Satsuki says that as expected of Gouki, that she feels refreshed now. Gouki says that it is nothing, that he just lived longer than them, has participated in wars, seen off people going to them and killed people during them, Gouki apologizes for the crudeness of his last words. Kayoko tells him that besides that it reeks of sermon and took him too long and apologizes to everyone for letting Gouki lecture them. Gouki says laughing that it pains him to hear that.

Satsuki fires herself up and tells Latifa that it won’t do if they don’t show Celia that they are happy to have her with them when she comes back. Latifa agrees. Miharu says she will be more serious than usual with tonight’s dinner. Orphia says she will help her. Miharu asks if she is fine with it, that it is supposed to be a meal for celebrating their safe return. Orphia says that it is fine, that she also wants to cook with her, just like usual. Miharu says that she understands and nods. Latifa says she will cook with them too then, she also asks Aki if she doesn’t want to cook with everyone after a long time. Aki agrees and joins in. Lilianna and Masato, seated by Takahisa’s sides, are the only ones who heard him murmur enviously that inside the mansion feels really nice, that everyone is warm and kind like a family. At that moment Celia, Roland and Sora arrive at the mansion. Celia says she is back and makes a relaxed smile seeing everyone in the dining room, everyone tells her welcome back with warm smiles. Celia asks what happened, kind of sensing a special mood in everyone. Charlotte says that they are just happy about her safe return. Celia thanks Charlotte. Charlotte greets Roland next to Celia and invites him to stay the night and have dinner with everyone. Rolands accepts and thanks her for the invitation.

Satsuki asks Celia about the child hiding behind her. Celia asks Sara if she didn’t explain yet about the child. Sara and the others realize that they didn’t tell anything about Sora and make surprised faces. Celia’s wonders if God’s rules are already showing its effects seeing them like that. Celia tells the three that it is fine, that she will explain herself, she tells everyone that the child is Sora, she repeats the lie about Sora being a child that got dragged in Rodania’s attack and got separated from her guardian, she tells everyone that she will take care of Sora for a while and asks them if they mind it, that she will have Sora sleep in the empty bed in her room. Sora hides behind Celia trying to take herself out of the center of attention. Satsuki and Latifa introduce themselves to Sora and tell her that she is cute. After those two Komomo also introduces herself, everyone makes a circle around Celia’s group curious about Sora, especially the people from the Yagumo region because they think Sora’s name, traits and clothes are like theirs.

Sora tells everyone that they are too close, to not come closer and to not look at her, she grabs Celia’s body and tries to use her as a shield. Everyone tries to convince Sora of their friendliness while Celia protests about her treatment, Sora just hisses at them like a wary stray cat, but it just makes everyone fall more for her cuteness. Celia tells everyone that as they see Sora is a little bad-mouthed but not a bad child and asks them to please take care of her, then she scolds Sora, she tells her that it won’t do if she doesn’t ask herself too. Sora accepts begrudgingly to ask everyone to take care of her. Satsuki tells Charlotte to make the decision. Charlotte says that there is no problem, that the mansion is also Celia’s home. Celia thanks Charlotte while insisting to Sora to do the same. After that Sora asks everyone if there is someone called Ayase Miharu among them. Miharu says she is the one with confusion because her name was called before she introduced herself. Sora approaches Miharu while thinking about the fact that she is Lina’s reincarnation. Sora asks Miharu if she really forgot, if she doesn’t remember anything while trying to glare menacingly at her but failing because of her small size. Miharu asks Sora what she means, more confused than before. Sora murmurs to herself that Miharu really seems to be a different person. Everyone freezes, why does Sora know Miharu’s name? What is she talking about? Celia tells everyone that she taught their names to Sora before and asks Sora what was she talking about. Sora says that it is nothing.

Gouki tells Sora that her clothes look like the ones from the Yagumo region and asks her where she got them. Sora says she bought them at a market somewhere during her travels, she obviously couldn’t say that she bought them in the Yagumo region after all. Gouki says that then there must be somewhere in the Stralh region people who descend from past emigrants. Celia asks about Aki’s presence. Orphia tells Celia that they were surprised to see her too when they came back to the mansion. Miharu tells Celia that she arrived the previous day. Celia realizes Miharu must have made up with Aki when she sees her patting Aki’s shoulder and standing next to her. Celia says she understands and that she is happy to meet Aki again. Aki apologizes to Celia for the troubles she caused. Celia tells Aki that if she made up Miharu she has nothing to say, that that’s really good. Takahisa asks Aki who is Celia. Aki tells Takahisa that Celia is someone who took care of her until just before the evening party. Celia is surprised when she listens to Aki calling Takahisa onii-chan, after all Aki’s brother should be the one who kidnapped Miharu. Takahisa introduces himself to Celia with a refreshing smile without realizing her surprise, confusion and worry.

Celia introduces herself while asking herself in her mind what is happening, what is this? Why is this person acting so casual and friendly despite what he did? Celia is just about to panic but hides it after a false smile. Celia asks herself if Takahisa is like that because he forgot about Rio and if he was allowed inside just because he was with Aki. After regaining a little of her calm Celia greets Takahisa in a noble-like manner. Takahisa tells Celia that he doesn’t need to call him something like hero, that she can call him just Takahisa and asks if he can call her Celia-chan. Aki tells Takahisa that Celia is older than him and that he is being too casual. Takahisa asks with surprise if it is like that. Celia tells Takahisa that she is twenty-one and he looks at her wordlessly and incredulously. Roland introduces himself to Takahisa too, Takahisa greets Roland back with awkwardness when he sees him putting himself between him and Celia while letting out a ferocious aura. Satsuki asks Celia if Christina and Flora are doing well. Celia says that both are doing fine but that it might be a lie if she says that they aren’t in shock. Satsuki says she understands with a worried face, the rest of the girls are also anxious about the sisters, the two are people who they hang out with at the mansion from time to time after all. Charlotte tells everyone that they have to invite the sisters to the mansion to cheer on them, that those two are also her friends. Celia says that they have to do it without fault, that the two will be happy about it.

### Chapter 5: Secret talk.

That night, after everyone had dinner and took a bath. It is finally time for going to sleep. Celia enters her room with Sora in tow and tells her to use the free bed inside her room. After Sora nods and sits on her bed Celia does the same and asks her if she thinks she can get along with everyone in the mansion. Sora says she has no intention of becoming anyone’s friend. Celia asks Sora if she wasn’t absorbed in eating, saying that this and that was delicious and asking everyone about the food. Sora says in stutters that the prepared food had no sin and that it wasn’t like Celia said, that she was just being bothered by everyone. Celia tells Sora in an exasperated voice that she isn’t honest. Sora says that rather than that, that they are finally alone without interferers, that she should have a lot of other things she wants to talk about. Celia agrees with a sad sigh. Sora asks her why she is sad. Celia says that it is because everyone really forgot about Rio, that after spending the day with everyone it really dawned on her that she is the only one who remembers, that she really felt alienated at times but… Sora asks what it is. Celia says that Rio, Aishia and Sora who were forgotten by everyone, can’t meet with them and had their bonds severed are way lonelier than someone like her.

Sora says she will be fine as long as she has her bond with the dragon king, that as long as the dragon king is there she won’t be lonely. Celia asks Sora what she did until she met with Rio, if it hadn’t been one thousand years since the dragon king died in the divine war. Sora says she just kept living just like usual. Celia asks Sora if she was always alone. Sora asks what of it, that even if the dragon king disappeared she, who is his familiar, was still bound by the rules, that it is obvious. Celia asks if it wasn’t incredibly lonely. Sora says again that it wasn’t, that she won’t be lonely as long as she has the dragon king. Now Celia is the one making the lonely face. Sora tells her to not put such a face and asks Celia if she is pitying her. Celia denies it, that she just… Sora asks what it is. Celia tells Sora that she just thinks she wants to get along better with her, she asks her if they can be friends, no, they are already friends. Sora lets out a surprised “ha?” at Celia’s words not understanding her. Celia says that they have the deep connection called Rio, that a friend’s friend is a friend too. Sora asks Celia what is that bad scatter-brained logic of hers. Celia tells Sora that friendship doesn’t have something like logic, that if they want to get along they will. Sora asks Celia if she wants to get alone with her. Celia tells her that she does, that rather than that she already told her that they are already friends.

Sora tells Celia she is a fellow that really does things on her own. Celia tells Sora that she is, that she decided by herself that they are friends and wanted to tell her just by herself. Sora thinks Celia’s attitude resembles Lina’s. Sora asks herself why, “aren’t we already friends” Sora remembered that there was already a fellow who said something similar in the past. Celia asks Sora if she can think of her as a friend already. Sora says she will do what she wants, that not thinking of her as a friend is something she does by herself too and looks away from Celia. Celia tells Sora that she is a stubborn one but that that is fine for the time being. Sora tells Celia that she is a strange fellow and too casual. Celia says she has just one thing she has to tell her. Sora asks what it is. Celia tells Sora that her name is Celia not just “you/omae”, that she just uses people’s names from time to time, that it is better for her to stop just calling everyone “you/omae”. Sora says that the dragon king is the only one who she shows respect to.

Celia says that the respect is unrelated, that it isn’t good manners to just use “you” while talking to someone, that she can get into trouble if she calls “you” anyone of important status, to at least add the honorifics to someone’s name like princess Charlotte or princess Lilianna. Sora tells Celia that she reeks of lecture. Celia says she does, that she is a teacher to begin with, that she even was Rio’s teacher. Sora asks if it is true with surprise. Celia reminds Sora that she is Celia not “you”. Sora repeats the question changing her wording annoyingly. Celia tells her that she was Rio’s teacher for five years when he was as small as her. Sora tells Celia that she isn’t small and to not treat her like a child. Celia agrees, she says that Sora is older than her after all, she thinks she now understands the feelings of the people who mistake her age. Sora tells Celia to stop looking at her like a child again, that if she wants to make it a matter of bonds that existed for long then hers with the dragon king has existed for more than one thousand years, that it is something completely different from hers who appeared later. Celia scolds Sora for using “you” again. Sora says that that aside, it is bad to treat her as a child, that the only one who can treat her like a child is the dragon king. Celia says she understands, but that in exchange Sora has to put effort into adding honorifics to the names of important people, that if she isn’t a child she should be able of that. Sora says this and that are different things. Celia asks Sora if she wants to cause trouble for Rio, Celia tells Sora that Rio will be troubled if she makes any trouble for herself. Sora agrees reluctantly.

Celia says that fine and tells Sora to begin with the serious topics, she asks her why is Rio’s mask is broken. Sora tells Celia that it is a special magic tool for avoiding the rules’s effects. Celia asks Sora if everyone isn’t still forgetting about Rio and Aishia. Sora says that it isn’t for eluding that rule, that it is for avoiding the penalty that the transcendentals receive if they interfere with the world. Celia asks Sora to be more detailed. Sora tells Celia that the transcendentals who have power at a level that can change the world can't thoughtlessly take a side, that God’s rules forbid the transcendentals to favor groups or individuals and if they break it… Celia asks what happens if they break it. Sora tells Celia that the transcendentals forget the people they wanted to help. Celia loses her words and Sora explains to her that God thought that it was unfair if the transcendentals, who have powers close to God's were to support concrete groups or individuals, so the rule exists to prevent that. Celia asks Sora if she means that Rio and Aishia would forget about them if they fight for their sake, if it isn’t just about everyone forgetting Rio and Aishia. Sora says she means that.

Celia says that that is bad, that it is absolutely bad. Sora tells Celia that the reality won’t change no matter how many times she says that it isn’t good. Celia asks Sora if it could be that the mask is broken because… Sora tells Celia that Rio decided to protect them despite the risks, that that’s why the mask is broken, that as long as the mask remains it is fine, that Rio can fight for someone’s sake without losing his memories, but that including that one they have just five masks right now, that if he continues to fight for their sake the way he did they will soon run out and then he will have to fight at the price of his memories, but that if it is Rio it seems he will help them even like that. Celia tells Sora that she understands Rio well despite their short acquaintance. Sora tells Celia that she should have already told her that her bond with the dragon king is beyond the one thousand years, that she can understand that the reborn dragon king is the dragon king. Celia apologizes to Sora for underestimating her and says that she understands it now. Sora tells Celia that it is fine if she understands it.

Celia says that it won’t do if they don’t make something, that it would be the best if Rio and Aishia didn’t have to fight anymore. Sora says that they wouldn’t have it hard if they could do that because all of them are weaklings. Celia says that because they have always been protected by Rio until now the current her can’t retort to that but… Celia looks fixedly at her hand while thinking with the spells that were put into her mind earlier she might show a strength incomparable to what she did until now, but she doesn’t denies Sora’s words in the spot, Celia thinks it would just look like she is acting brave right now, that she will prove herself with her future actions instead. Sora tells Celia to put herself together, that her strength aside she has some, a little bit, just a little one, of expectations for her brain. Celia asks if it is like that while amused at the Sora who refuses to acknowledge her honestly. Sora tells Celia that it is vexing, but that the seven wise God’s and their familiars’ brains are real, that she who resembles the homunculus who was Lina’s familiar seems to have inherited that trait alongside the awakening of her memories, that she might have the key to elude God’s rules, and that there is Ayase Miharu too.

Celia asks Sora why she knows Miharu’s name when she didn’t tell it to her and what was she on about before. Sora says that it is as Celia says, that she didn’t tell that yet, then Sora explains to Celia that Miharu is Lina’s reincarnation. Celia loses her words. Sora tells Celia that there might be some connection between her and Miharu and asks her if something comes to mind. Celia tells Sora to wait and asks her if by Ayase Miharu she means Miharu, if Miharu is the seventh wise God’s reincarnation. Sora says she is saying that and asks Celia if nothing comes to mind again. Celia says that even if she asks her that she doesn’t know what she means and asks Sora if she is for real. Sora tells Celia that it was Aishia who said that, that she said she was an existence created for the dragon king’s sake and that Miharu is Lina’s reincarnation, that if she isn’t lying then that is the truth, she asks Celia why she doubts it so much. Celia tells Sora that it is because Miharu is just a normal girl while the six wise God’s are the object of adoration of the Stralh region. Sora says that she remembered now that those fellows used to have themselves called like that in the Strahl region, but that Lina was the seventh one who was exiled by the other six, not her object of adoration, that the damn wise Gods weren’t real Gods to begin with, that they were just entrusted with the duties of one by the real God.

Celia asks Sora if by that point they aren’t real Gods already. Sora tells Celia that what to believe is everyone’s freedom, because the dragon king is like a God for her after all. Celia says that come to think of it Rio’s previous life, the dragon king, was an existence equal to the seven wise Gods. Sora asks Celia if she properly understands the fact that the dragon king is a very, very great person. Celia asks laughing if she is speaking about Rio. Sora says that it looks like Celia doesn’t understand at all. Celia says that something like Rio’s previous life being the dragon king and Miharu’s the seven wise God is a story so much above the clouds that it doesn’t feel real. Sora tells Celia that she is right about the dragon king being too much above the clouds, then she tells Celia to at minimum be aware that Miharu might be the reincarnation of Lina the unloyal Goddess and that she herself might be the reincarnation of Lina’s familiar. Celia says that the part about her previous life is speculating a lot but fine, that what she has to do doesn't change. Sora tells Celia that it is fine to be motivated but asks her what her plans are.  Celia says that in the first place she will analyze the mask and aim to duplicate it if possible, then checking if there is any strange magic formation imbued into her body because there may be a clue about why she recovered her memories despite not being a transcendental or a familiar. Sora asks Celia if it looks doable. Celia says she won’t know without trying but that her chances aren’t zero because she got some convenient looking magic alongside her memories.

Sora tells Celia to analyze the mask quickly then, then she turns towards the window while looking like she felt something and someone knocks on the window. Celia asks who it could be. Sora approaches the window while telling Celia to step back and when she opens the curtains the masked Aishia was there. Celia is happy and Sora opens the window for Aishia with annoyance. Aishia greets the two. Sora asks Aishia what is Rio up to while searching around the window for him. Aishia says that she came to meet Celia because Rio already explained everything to her and that Rio is at the rock house, that she came alone because it would be bad if they come together. Sora clicks her tongue. Celia tells Sora to not be like that and tells Aishia to enter, she says that she missed her. Aishia tells the two that in truth Rio also should want to meet with them and asks them if they want to come to the rock house. Celia asks if it is really fine. Aishia says that it is fine as long as no one in the mansion discovers them. Sora is already in the window’s frame saying that she will leave them behind if they don’t hurry before Celia could accept Aishia’s offer. Celia tells Sora to wait until she turns off the room’s lights and then the three left the mansion.

The three have just arrived at the rock house, Aishia tells Rio the reason why she brought the other two with them and Rio laughs awkwardly. Celia apologizes for the surprise with embarrassment. Rio tells her to not to apologize, that he is also happy about meeting her again. Rio thought the risk of being detected by Gouki’s group was larger being in a group or two, but that if it was going to be like that he could have gone with Aishia from the beginning. Rio says he thinks it is better if they go back quickly but that they should talk now that they already came and tells the three to follow him to the house’s livingroom. Rio asks Sora about her time at the mansion while walking, if she thinks it can go well. Sora says that it is fine, that she will show him how she fulfills the duty given to her. Rio says that he understands, that it is reassuring to have her with Celia, and thanks her for that. Sora laughs happily while saying that she is doing the obvious. Celia tells Rio that Sora explained her a lot of things and that it was helpful. Sora tells Rio that Celia is a fellow with a lot of good points. Celia tells Sora she will let her off this time because she is in a good mood. Rio says that it is good that they seem to get along and tells everyone to sit down.

    Rio sits next to Sora and Celia sits in front of Rio. Sora protests when Aishia sits by Rio’s other side, she asks her what she is doing sitting next to Rio, she says that Rio’s side belongs to his one and only familiar, that there should be a limit for brazenness too. Aishia says that she is also Rio’s one and only contracted spirit. Sora tells Aishia to not lump them together, she asks her if she wants to go at it, that she will destroy her. Rio tells the two to calm down, that the sofa is big enough for the three and to take a side each. Celia looks silently at the three of them, Aishia and Sora compete to make an appeal of their existences as both of Rio’s hands, she thinks they have the skills for that, that they should be among the world’s strongest, but she won’t lose because of that, she doesn’t want to or has any plans of losing, she asks herself if she should have tried to get one of Rio’s sides too but changes her mind, she thinks her current seat is fine for talking and that she wants to have Rio looking at her.

Celia makes a relaxed smile trying to show that she has leeway and tells Rio that he got another ally with a strong personality. Rio says that he did but that thanks to that things got lively. Celia says she understands. Rio asks her how things on her side are. Celia tells Rio, while looking down because the current state of affairs is too painful for her, that everyone is healthy. Rio says that everything is fine then. Celia asks Rio if he knew about Aki’s and Takahisa’s arrival. Rio says that he heard about it from Aishia, that there doesn’t seem to be any problem for the time being, especially in regards to Aki and Miharu, that they properly made up. Celia agrees about Miharu’s and Aki’s relationship being the same as before, that Aki might have grown up, that it might be because of her guilt towards Miharu, but that it feels like she learnt to keep a proper distance, that she isn’t as clingy as before, that if there was a problem it would be Takahisa despite his calm appearance. Rio asks Celia if Takahisa did something. Celia says that he did nothing, but that after forgetting about him Takahisa is doing as if nothing happened, that the problem is that Takahisa still loves Miharu now, probably, no, that he absolutely does. Rio agrees, he doesn’t think Takahisa’s feelings could have disappeared.

Celia nods, she says she can understand it by looking at him, but that she knows that Miharu’s feelings aren’t pointed at Takahisa. Celia looks at Rio after saying that as if urging him to realize who Miharu loves. Rio stays silent. Celia says that that’s why she thinks Takahisa is the only one who is a latent problem, but that she can just wait and see because he seems to have reflected about what he did for real and because the current him hasn’t done anything yet. Rio apologizes to Celia for troubling her by thoughtlessly disappearing from everyone’s memories. Celia tells Rio that he doesn’t have to apologize for that and that it won’t do if they don’t do something quickly for having everyone remembering about him and Aishia. Rio agrees.

Celia tells Rio that Sora explained about the mask and Miharu’s previous life to her. Rio says he understands. Celia thanks Rio with a sad face for using his important mask and risking his memories for their sake. Rio says that that isn’t something he needs to be thanked for. Celia tells Rio that she doesn’t want him and Aishia to lose their important memories with everyone. Celia asks Rio if she isn’t one of the possible candidates to be forgotten about, that even if they won’t forget about the transcendentals and their familiars she is neither of them, that it is absolutely the worst to be her the forgotten one now that she finally recovered her memories of them. Rio agrees, he says he is also scared of forgetting about everyone with a lonely smile. Celia tells Rio that she thinks they must avoid fighting as much as possible to prevent that. Rio says he will do his best. Celia says that she and the others are the ones that it won’t do if they don’t do their best, that she already heard from Sora that they will run out of masks soon if things continue like until now. Celia asks if she can keep the one she was given, she says she will try to see if it can be replicated. Rio tells Celia that she can, that he thinks it should be fine with the broken one because the effect remains until it comes completely apart, but that she should say if she wants an intact one. Celia says she is fine with just the broken one for the time being. Celia tells Rio that she planned on beginning her research in the morning but asks him if he wants her to make an attempt right then. Rio asks Celia if she can do it.

Celia says she probably can do it but that it will be the first time she uses the magic. Rio tells Celia to give it a try by any means. Celia says she understands and casts the spell “code analysis” and a magic formation envelops the mask. Rio asks if it is being effective. Celia says that it is, that it is incredible, that a lot of information is entering her head, but that understanding it is a different matter, that she has to concentrate a lot. Sora says that Celia’s magic is probably the one Lina and her familiar used to use, that she has some expectations because she saw them use it. Celia says that going by the feeling the spell gives it seems that the analysis will take longer the more complicated the magic formation is and that the spell in the mask is a pretty complicated one. Celia stops the magic while apologizing, she says, with her face full of sweat, seemingly due to the burden of taking in the new information, that continuing the research like that might be hard. Rio asks Celia if she is fine. Celia says she is fine and tries to continue after taking a deep breath but Rio stops her. He tells Celia that she doesn’t need to force herself, that he doesn’t mind if she can’t duplicate the mask. Celia tells Rio to wait because she is fine and tries to take back the mask from him. Rio is still reluctant. Celia says she is fine, that it will be fine as long as she does the analysis bit by bit and that it might take her a lot of time. Rio says he doesn’t mind if it takes time but… Celia tells Rio that she is really fine and to let her do it.

Rio tells Celia to absolutely not force herself and allows her to continue. Celia tells him to leave it to her. Rio says he leaves it in her care and then Sora asks Celia if she can’t use the magic chantlessly. Celia asks Sora if the chant isn’t something needed when using magic. Sora tells Celia that that should be a safety mechanism for the mediocre ones, but that if it is the her, who got the traits of the wise God’s familiars and can analyze their magic tools, it should be possible to use chantless magic. Celia asks Sora how to do that. Sora isn’t sure about how to explain it and decides to make a demonstration instead, Sora puts her index finger in front of her face and makes a really focused face, then a very simple magic formation appears above her finger creating a small flame over it. Celia tells Sora that it is incredible again and again while Rio just looks at her wide eyed. Sora tells Celia to not praise her so much with a happy face.

Celia asks Sora how she did it, she asks her how is it that she used magic instead of spirit arts. Sora says that the her who uses spirit arts can’t use magic, that what she did is simple, that she imagined the magic formation and made it surface, that the magic formation was the one controlling the technique. Celia asks Sora if she means that she created a magic formation with spirit arts and then she let it activate the spell by itself. Sora says that it is something like that. Celia asks if it isn’t impossible for the her who is a mage if it is like that, that she can’t use spirit arts. Sora tells Celia that there is just one kind of spirit arts that the mages can use, the magic formation’s drawing and operation. Celia nods to Sora’s words while Rio and Aishia also listen to her curiously, this is also their first time listening to this. Sora says it is different from just drawing the symbols and patterns with light, she tells Celia that the magic formation shaped light that appears when activating a magic is the magic formation’s drawing and that the operation is to change that light’s shape to the one of a different magic formation’s afterwards, but that Lina used to say that strictly speaking that wasn’t a spirit art. Celia asks herself if that means that the mages can use it because it isn’t really a spirit art, she says that she understands the logic but not the reason why it isn’t a spirit art. Sora says that Lina said something complicated-sounding like “the magic formation itself is a formula for obtaining the solution called event and not the event itself”. Celia makes a thoughtful expression wondering about something.

Sora tells Celia that the way of activating it is also different from the normal spirit arts’. that when using spirit arts even when just putting a vague image in the magic power the mana will take it and activate the event, but it is impossible to do the magic formation’s drawing with a vague image, that the magic formation has to be perfectly memorized and visualized in the brain. Celia asks if that isn’t too hard, that she thinks the spirit art users are faster when they make events occur because their interaction with the mana is more direct, but that for mages it should be faster to chant the spells than not. Celia thinks with how complicated the magic formations get with offensive magic it sounds too complicated to imagine all of them perfectly. Sora says that it is as she says, that it is incredibly bothersome, that it is faster to directly create the fire with spirit arts, that normally she doesn’t do that kind of useless thing. Celia asks if it isn’t a technique without a practical use. Sora says that things change when the wise Gods and their familiars are involved, because they have monstrous brains that can handle things like parallel thought and accelerated thought, that it seems like advanced magic is faster to use chanting, but that magic below that is faster to use chantlessly, that they said that after one use it was more convenient than spirit arts. Sora says that she doesn’t know if Celia is Lina’s familiar or not, but that if she has her traits she thinks she can do it. Celia says she understands.

Rio says that if it is writing letters and sentences in the air with spirit arts he has done it, that he once thought he could draw a magic formation just like when drawing a picture but that chantless magic seems to take a different approach. Sora tells Rio that it is as he says, that she thinks if it is simple magic formations they can be traced by one’s fingers and drawn using spirit arts but that it is different from the magic formation drawing she described, that the magic formation drawing is a technique for making the magic formation appear completely drawn, that it is different from painting it with a brush. Celia asks Rio and Aishia if they can give it a try if there is any magic formation that they remember and they agree. Rio says that it is complicated after his attempt. He imagines he is drawing the magic formation with his finger but nothing appears. Aishia says that it feels like something technique-like will activate but still nothing for her either. Rio agrees, he says it happens quickly if he just draws the symbols normally but… Celia agrees with the two, she says that the level of difficulty is different from the one of using spirit arts normally but that she feels like she can do something. Sora tells everyone that it also took herself a liiiittle bit of time to learn how to do it. Celia is thinking about what she lacks for succeeding, Sora tells everyone smugly that once they get the gist of it it can be done, she reminds everyone that the key is to imagine with precision the magic formation after watching their struggle, then Celia finally manages to make a ball of light appear above her hand.

Rio and Aishia congratulate her. Sora says that it is impossible, that she didn’t even give any big hint yet. Rio asks Celia if there is any other trick to it aside from memorizing the magic formation. Celia says that the memorization is fine but that it is inefficient if you just try to remember the shape without understanding its meaning, that one needs to understand well the magic they are trying to use, that she managed to do the drawing when she remembered the feeling of using the spell the usual way. Rio says he understands. Aishia says that for them who can just use spirit arts it might be hard to understand the feeling of using magic. Sora panics thinking she will lose the achievement of teaching something to Rio, she tells him she was just about to teach him that, that the way of understanding a magic formation is… Sora gets stuck in her words, she doesn’t know how to explain it. Celia asks Sora if spirit art users can get the feeling of how to use a magic spell if they touch a magic tool enchanted with it, if they can somehow imitate it reading the flow of the magic power. Sora tells Celia with teary eyes that she was planning on giving that advice later, she tells her to read the mood, she asks Celia if she isn’t getting carried away because she caught onto it a little fast. Celia apologizes, she says that in the middle of thinking this could be easier for mages than spirit art users it got funny.

Rio asks Sora if she can teach him and Aishia because they didn’t manage to do it yet and she regains her spirits. Celia says she will draw some simple magic formations in a paper for Rio and Aishia so they can use them to get the feeling of some spells. Rio, who used a similar method for rising the quantity of spirit arts he could use during his academy era got the trick quickly. Aishia also got it thanks to her good sense for spirit arts but… Rio thanks Sora, he says that thanks to her he can draw simple magic formations, but that it is as she says, that it is way faster to use spirit arts normally, that how different it feels from the normal spirit arts makes it hard to use for him and Aishia, that it is too troublesome to memorize every magic formation too, it doesn’t suit them, then he asks Celia how it feels for her. Celia says she quite liked to use it, that she won’t know it without trying a lot of things, but that she has the feeling that she can use intermediate magic faster than when chanting, that she is thankful of being able to use spells chantlessly just like spirit art users. Sora tells Celia she has to do her best because Lina could also use complicated magic chantlessly. Celia thanks Sora for using her name this time. Sora says while looking away from Celia that she just felt like it, that if she doesn't do her best Rio will be troubled. Celia says while laughing that she has to do her best then.

Rio tells Sora that she will still have to stay for several more days in the mansion, that he leaves it to her to teach as much as she can to Celia during that time. Sora says she will do it. Celia asks Rio about his plans for after those several days. Rio tells Celia that the mask aside there might be other clues about how to break God’s rules, that he plans on going on a trip to find traces of Lina and it may take him several weeks to come back. Celia says she understands, that it won’t do if they don’t investigate at the time for it. Rio tells Celia that he plans on leaving Aishia behind in exchange of Sora. Rio doubted which of the two he should bring with him, he might have to investigate the traces of other transcendentals and their familiars aside from just Lina’s during his trip, and Sora is the only one who used to be acquainted with them. Celia says that then she won’t be lonely, she tells Aishia she will be in her care. Aishia nods, she says she won’t be lonely either if she can talk with her. Meanwhile Sora is happy because she will be alone with Rio again.

An hour later, it was time to send Celia back to the mansion. Rio tells Celia to take care and Sora that the return trip is in her hands. Sora nods and tells Celia to get ready to go back, but Celia approaches Rio before Sora can pick her up, she tells him that they absolutely have to do something about God’s rules, that they will recover everyone’s memories so he and Aishia can always be with everyone without worries, that then Sora will join them and all of them will live together again. Rio says that they will absolutely do it. Celia says she will say her farewell now because she can’t see him off the day of his departure, she tells him to have a safe trip and hugs him. Sora is unhappy, she moves to separate them but changes her mind, she clicks her tongue and says that it can’t be helped. Aishia approaches Sora and tells her she is a good kid while patting her head. Sora makes a pleased face for a second but she soon gets red faced and tells Aishia that she is a bother and to not treat her like a child, she turns towards Celia, asks her while sulking for how long she is going to hug Rio and tells her that they have to leave already. Sora separates Celia from Rio and the two go back to the mansion.

### Chapter 6: The heroes’ discussion

The next day, at lunch time, Charlotte and Lilianna are guiding Satsuki, Masato and Takahisa to the castle’s dining room. Christina, Flora, Hugenot, Roana and Hiroaki wait for them inside. Satsuki calls out happily to the sisters and trots towards them. Both stand and greet Satsuki, Christina tells her that it has been a while and Flora that it is an honor to meet her again. Satsuki tells them that she heard about Rodania, that it must have been hard. Christina thanks Satsuki for her consideration, she says that Celia and Sara’s group really helped them and asks Satsuki to please tell them that later. Charlotte tells the two that she will invite them to the mansion at another time and asks them to come by anytime. Christina says that she will go gladly and Flora that she will go without fault. Satsuki tells Hiroaki that it has been a while too and that it is the best that he is safe. Hiroaki accepts the greeting dispiritedly but without any bad feeling. Takahisa greets Hiroaki and asks him if he remembers him from the evening party. Hiroaki remembers Takahisa and asks if Masato is the new hero. Masato introduces himself and Hiroaki does the same. Charlotte tells everyone to take a seat because François is just about to arrive. Everyone takes a seat and then François enters, greets everyone and thanks them for attending, he tells everyone that because some of their topics to discuss are a little dark for being talked about during a meal they should enjoy the food first and talk later. At François’ signal the food is brought in, no one talks because the mood is heavy, thanks to that the meal ends quickly.

After the meal François tells everyone he will get to the main point, that the reason why the heroes have been gathered is the matter of the attack on Rodania, the fact that Renji helped Beltrum’s army to capture Rodania. François tells them that the problem was the power that Renji used, that he killed more than one hundred griffin riders guarding Rodania’s skies with just one attack, that by Christina’s words, if he were to use that power against soldiers in a tight formation the casualties could be in the number of thousands. Satsuki, Masato and Takahisa lose their words listening to those numbers. François tells that if that power can be used just once per battle then it is a great threat for a country that can’t be ignored, but that if he can use it any number of times or an even stronger power, depending on the situation it is then a national crisis. Satsuki asks what does it mean depending on the situation. François says he means if a hero were to aim that power at a country, that they are the owners of a power that can kill people in the thousands, that if they can use that power any number of times, mobilizing an army would be like offering a mass of sacrifices.

Takahisa protests against François' words standing and screaming angrily, he says that they won’t do that. François tells him calmly that he obviously believes that the owners of healthy minds won’t do such a thing, and that he also believes that the heroes present aren't that kind of people. Lilianna asks Takahisa to please sit down again and he obeys with a bitter face. François tells the heroes he doesn’t want them to misunderstand, that he doesn’t consider them a threat, that he wants them to listen to his words while understanding that the only one he considers a threat is Renji, who entered a war among countries and used such a power against the enemy country. Satsuki tells François that it is fine, that she understands that well. Masato says he is the same. Hiroaki shows his understanding by shrugging his shoulders. Takahisa nods with a stern look. François tells the heroes that, as a country’s king, he wants to have a grasp of how strong Renji is, but that of course he can’t ask to Renji himself, François tells them that he already talked with Hiroaki about it, that he arranged the meeting with the hope of getting their cooperation in the matter, he asks the heroes if they can show him how it looks when they attack with all of their power.

Satsuki asks Hiroaki if François’ words mean that he accepted. Hiroaki says he will cooperate, that having Renji as an enemy is Restoration’s problem, that to summarize it is his problem too. Satsuki is surprised at Hiroaki’s change in attitude. François tells the heroes that he wants to make clear that he is making a request and not giving an order, that he won’t force them in anyway and promises to not treat them unfavorably because they refused, that he is ready to wait for several days if they need time for reaching a conclusion and will answer their questions if they have them. Satsuki says she has a question then. François asks her what it is. Satsuki asks François if he couldn’t have verified a hero’s power at any time before the present, at least hers who lives in the Galarc Kingdom. François says that only if she gives her consent. Satsuki tells François that he never asked for her consent or even asked her to show him a hero’s power, that she wants to know why, if he can let the rest of the heroes listen to his reasons despite them maybe having already had a similar talk. François tells Satsuki that she is right, that he could have given a reason like “I want you to show me your power for making sure that you are a hero” despite how obvious it was for him that she was a hero going by the legends and history books.

François tells Satsuki that there are several reasons, that she, the hero, is someone with a standing similar to his, a country’s king, that being in the past or the present, if he wants to have a good relationship with her, making her do things she dislikes is an obvious no. François asks Satsuki if she doesn’t think that it is a vulgar story. If it wouldn’t be rude for her to be asked to show her power when she herself has no interest in simple power, authority or riches. Satsuki says she can understand that but asks if he didn’t need to make sure of how strong she was. François tells Satsuki that his country is prospering, that it isn’t at risk of disappearing in any war, that he has no plans of expanding the country through war. François says that it would be a lie if he said that he wasn’t interested, that he asked himself what to do if he obtained a power that remained in legends in the current pacific situation. Takahisa asks why he didn’t investigate despite his interest. François says that as he said before it was because it would be rude, that people will be less receptive to the rude ones and that he wanted to build a good relationship with Satsuki. Takahisa continues to look distrustfully at François but he accepts it with a cool face. François says that it would be a different thing if Satsuki herself were to be the one to ask him for a chance of verifying her strength, but that he can’t make that request without the person herself having that kind of interest, that there is also the fear of making Satsuki wary of them, that even if the need to investigate appeared he thought it was absolutely necessary to wait until there was enough trust among them for making the request and that the time has come.

François says that there is one more thing he wants to ask. Satsuki tells François to ask. François tells everyone that Satsuki is the only one he had watched over from up close, but that all of them are the heroes who never tried to investigate the depth of their powers, that they seem to have never had the wish of taking all of that power and let it free even when they had the chance, he asks the heroes if they never wanted to use their power. Takahisa appeals strongly to his lack of plans of using his powers. Satsuki says she has no plans of using her powers either, that at least her conclusion is the same that Takahisa’s. Masato says he has no plans of it either. Hiroaki agrees, he says that when he used his power disinterestedly it already came out as an attack that can knock someone out, that he hasn’t any liking to throw himself into risky battles either, that he never knew what he would do with that power if he tried to get it anyway, and that the way of pulling out their power is by intuition, that there isn’t any manual. Satsuki says that in her case she also wondered what would have happened if she said that she wanted to investigate her powers, if she would make everyone wary of her, that she isn’t that uninterested in power but that she thinks being too weak is a problem too. François tells Satsuki while laughing that he likes that consideration of hers. Satsuki says she also has a good image of him as someone who thinks things through.

François tells Satsuki that he will be even more frank if it is like that, he tells Satsuki that if he is honest about it then he was scared, scared of the effects that the appearance of someone too powerful could cause to the country, that the fact that Satsuki didn’t want to use a hero’s real power was convenient for ruling the country, that if he could keep it under wraps he wanted to do it, that even before the hero’s appearance he had no trouble for keeping a stable rule, that he didn’t want to borrow the legend’s power, that it was enough for him to borrow its majesty. Satsuki asks François if it isn’t possible to make it obvious that they are as strong as Renji if they accept his request. François nods. Satsuki asks François if he doesn’t feel threatened, if he isn’t wary of them pointing their power at a country, that she thinks from a country’s perspective an individual with so much power must be terrifying. François says that feeling threatened or not depends on the relationship of trust between both parties, that he has had enough time for judging her trustworthiness, that he trusts her because of that and decided to ask her to use her power while believing in his country, that that is his answer. Satsuki says she understands that he made his decision after thinking it through and promises her cooperation.

François asks Satsuki if she is fine with that, that as he said before she can have time for thinking about it. Satsuki tells François that she believes in him too, that she also thinks Charlotte is a great friend to have, that she will gladly cooperate for the sake of the Galarc Kingdom ruled by them. François thanks Satsuki for her words. Takahisa tells Satsuki to wait, he asks her if she isn’t being too careless, that it is fine for her to answer after thinking more about it, he tells Satsuki that depending on the situation just asking to see their power won’t be enough, that they might ask them to use their power for war and maybe even wanting them to kill a great quantity of people, he asks François while glaring at him if it isn’t like that. François tells Takahisa that in case of being attacked by Renji, if it comes to the worst he might ask Satsuki to be a deterrent, just a deterrent, that something like asking her to use her power against an enemy army is the last of last resources and that at that time the decision will be Satsuki’s, that he has no intention of using a hero’s power in an offensive war, that if he asks her to use her power it will be just on the defensive and as a dissuasion. Takahisa asks François if he is saying that he won’t use a hero’s powers in a war. François says that it is like that, that at worst they will be a deterrent.

Takahisa murmurs with a frown that they don’t have any proof of them being just a dissuasion. François agrees with that, then he asks Takahisa if he thinks countries like warring with each other. François says that certainly some countries are always in conflict, that it depends on their leaders, but that at least he himself dislikes war, that even if he accounts for it as a way of diplomacy he has no wish of starting one. Takahisa asks why. François says that in the first place the cost is too high, that he won’t go as far as calling it a waste but moving an army eats up an enormous quantity of money. That there are too many things that use money like making weapons, recruiting troops, preparing food, deploying the troops and transporting goods. The bigger the war the bigger the burden on the whole kingdom, that the dissatisfaction of people will inevitably pile up, but despite that sometimes the gain from winning will be too small for dissipating that dissatisfaction, that if he includes the cost of the post war just money won’t be enough. That people aren’t thoughtless pieces, that if a group fights and wins there will be talks like “acknowledge our achievement” or “compensate if there are victims”, that at the time of making that decision there will be complaints like “there is favoritism” or “we weren’t evaluated fairly”, that if the person who contributed to the victory is promoted that can become the root of a factional war later. François says the last part with a voice full of disgust.

François says that he doesn’t know the thoughts of other kings, but that if one wants to start a war by themselves they need to prepare something to offset all of those demerits or try to make them as small as possible. François says that in that regard using a hero’s power can make the war effort efficient. Takahisa says that then… François interrupts him, he says that doing something just because he can do it is a completely different thing, that he won’t use a hero’s power. Takahisa asks why. François tells Takahisa again that he will just use a hero’s powers defensively if he ever does it and that he wants to have a proper relationship with Satsuki, he asks Takahisa if it isn’t a completely different matter if a hero plans to destroy a country or not even if they have the power to do so, that a power too big can torment people sometimes, it can have an individual entrusted with a country’s dissuasive power, François says that the mental burden on Satsuki needs to be carefully considered. François says he wants to make special emphasis on him not having any intention of making Satsuki do something against her wishes.

Satsuki tells Takahisa that enough of that, that he might be worrying about her but her decision won’t change. Takahisa tries to persuade Satsuki again but she tells him that she will trust in François as long as he is the king and that if Renji were to attack the Galarc Kingdom it wouldn’t be someone else’s problem for her. Takahisa asks Satsuki if she will fight if Renji attacks. Satsuki says she will, that if she thinks it won’t do if she doesn’t fight she will fight. Takahisa asks why. Satsuki says that because if Renji attacks it won’t be someone else’s problem, that if she is defeated the next in line would be the castle. Takahisa says that certainly it isn’t someone else’s problem but that he doesn’t think that is a reason for them to fight. Satsuki asks Takahisa if he won’t fight when Centostella’s castle is attacked by some enemy. Takahisa says that even if she puts an example so extreme of something that didn’t happened yet… Satsuki tells Takahisa that by the time it happens it is too late already, that it isn’t an extreme example either, that Renji already used his power in Rodania, a lot of people died and Christina’s group had to run away with their lives.

Takahisa asks Satsuki if it wouldn’t become a situation where they have to point their powers at other people, that if they use their powers people will easily die and be killed, that he dislikes that, that something like killing people in retaliation is too barbaric. Satsuki says she understands, she asks Takahisa if he won’t fight because he doesn’t want to kill people. Takahisa asks if it isn’t obvious. Satsuki says that it is, that even she herself doesn’t want to kill people, that she doesn’t fight because she likes it, then she asks Takahisa who is going to protect them if they don’t protect themselves, she tells Takahisa that if they don’t protect themselves they won’t be able to do something like living peacefully. Takahisa says that peace earned by killing people and piling up sins has no worth, that if both sides fight without taking a step back the fight won’t end until one of the two is totally annihilated. Satsuki says that precisely those words are the extreme ones, that peace can’t exist without power, that they need power as a dissuasion if they want to live without having to kill people.

Hiroaki calls out to Takahisa and tells him to imagine a situation where there are ten people and ten weapons inside a room, he is one of them, six people are proper people he gets along with but the other three are selfish humans, he asks Takahisa what he will do if they use those weapons to threaten him and the other six. Takahisa asks what about that new extreme example. Hiroaki tells him that enough of that and to answer. Takahisa says that there are rules called laws, that it isn’t a matter of what he will do, that normal people won’t realize those criminal acts. Hiroaki tells Takahisa that unfortunately in the world there are also idiots who will ignore the law, he asks Takahisa what he will do if those fellows take a weapon and attack him. Takahisa says that before it comes to that he would try to resolve things talking, Takahisa also asks if it isn’t fine to just leave that closed space. Hiroaki asks Takahisa what he will do if the three armed ones say that they won’t let them escape. Takahisa says he will convince them. Hiroaki asks Takahisa what if he can’t persuade them. Takahisa says he won’t give up and that he will persuade them till the end.

Hiroaki asks Takahisa if he is for real, he tells him that the guys will probably get angry and kill him, he asks Takahisa if isn’t like telling them to do as they please if he won’t resist even then, he asks Takahisa if he will still stick to just convincing the guys if there is a girl he likes in the room and they try to put their hands on her, he tells Takahisa that Satsuki and François are saying that they need to have weapons too so the three armed ones can’t do as they please, that they are taking the weapons for protecting what is important to them and that he also agrees with that. Takahisa asks if wouldn’t be precisely at that time when there would be useless sacrifices because it became a kill or be killed situation, that it is idiotic to take a tool to fight for the sake of avoiding a fight, that there should the option of not fighting too. Hiroaki insists on their actions being for the sake of avoiding those useless sacrifices but gives up mid-sentence, he says it is useless, that Takahisa isn’t looking at reality, he asks if he isn’t just trash that doesn’t want to dirty his own hands. Takahisa asks Hiroaki if he isn’t ignoring reality too, that he is making light of people dying and not seeing people as people. Hiroaki tells Takahisa that that is just his impression and stops mid-sentence, he admits that he has been also just telling his impression until now, he asks François if it isn’t fine to leave Takahisa out because his sense of valors doesn’t match theirs.

François says he has had no intention of forcing anyone to participate from the beginning, that he just asked them to use one attack with their full power because it became necessary to measure the heroes’ power, that the dissuasion is a matter for the future, that they don’t need to make a decision on the spot, then he asks Lilianna about her opinion since Takahisa is Centostella’s hero. Lilianna looks emotionlessly at Takahisa and says after a pause that she isn’t either in a position to force Takahisa’s opinion in one way.  François says he understands. Hiroaki says that then it is decided that he and Satsuki will participate and asks Masato what he will do. Masato says he will cooperate too. Takahisa is against it. Masato tells Takahisa that he doesn’t have to take orders from him, that after listening to the conversation he reached the same conclusion as Satsuki. Takahisa asks Masato if he properly understood the situation, that he might have to kill someone. Masato tells Takahisa that that isn’t the important part, that it is matter of how to resist if Renji attacks another country, he asks him what about staying silent if he has no intention of fighting, that is cowardly to criticize the ones fighting when he is just looking from a safe place and despite him being protected by his allies. Takahisa says that it should be everyone’s freedom to say what they want to say, not something Masato can lecture him about, that it is a matter of the people who fight being right or not, that that leads to totalitarianism.

Masato says he knows nothing of that, that no one has talked about the people who fight being right or wrong or about totalitarianism, that they are talking about how to defend themselves from an enemy that came to attack them, that if they are followed even after retreating they will have to fight no matter what and are talking about what to do so it doesn’t come to that point. Hiroaki calls out to Satsuki and asks her if Takahisa and Masato are siblings. Satsuki tells him that they are. Hiroaki asks what is going on with them, that the little brother is the one with the good head on his shoulders. Takahisa glares offendedly at Hiroaki. Hiroaki asks Takahisa if he isn’t the totalitarian one, if he isn’t trying to force his opinion about not fighting onto Satsuki and Masato. Takahisa denies he says he is just… Hiroaki tells Takahisa that unlike him Satsuki and Masato have never tried to force him to fight even once and Takahisa loses his words, he glares at Hiroaki with clenched teeth. Satsuki asks everyone if they can leave it that, that today’s matter is supposed to be if they would try to use the heroes’ power with their all or not, that it is already decided that she herself, Hiroaki and Masato will cooperate with the verification of how powerful a hero is, she tells Takahisa that he doesn’t need to force himself to cooperate because it was said that there isn’t a penalty for not cooperating, that they have already exchanged opinions enough. Hiroaki agrees, he says that he doesn’t care about Takahisa participating or not and that he has no plan of forcing him to either. Takahisa says in murmurs while frowning that he isn’t wrong. François tells the heroes who decided to participate that it would be troublesome if other nobles discover about it and make a scandal, that they need to do it somewhere far for prying eyes, that he is searching for suitable places and tells them to take into account that the test will probably take place several days later, then the meeting ended.

In the mansion, after seeing off Roland in the morning, Celia has been continuously analyzing the mask, after having lunch she immediately locked herself in her room again to continue the analysis while sitting in front of her desk, from behind her Sora tells her that it has already been thirty seconds since she began the analysis. Celia stops the analyze magic while taking a deep breath. Sora tells Celia to rest for an hour. Celia tells Sora that she is getting used to the spell bit by bit, that it is fine for her to take a shorter rest the next time. Sora says that it isn’t fine, that she will keep their current pace, that she will take a look at her and if she is accumulating fatigue she will prolong the pauses. Celia tells Sora that she is quite overprotective, that she expected to be more hurried along by her. Sora says that she was entrusted by Rio with not letting her force herself, and that if she collapses because she forced herself then the analysis will be delayed, and that precisely that would be a problem for Rio. Celia says she understands and accepts to take the rest, she stands up from her chair and lets herself fall face down on her bed.

Sora asks Celia how it went, if she understood something already. Celia tells Sora that she asks the same at every break period, that it is the same as earlier, still nothing. Celia turns her body for talking while lying on her back. Sora says that after all it is a divine magic tool crafted by the Lina who was called a wise God, that she already took into account that it isn’t something that can be so easily analyzed. Celia says she thinks it doesn’t feel like she will be done in a few days, that she doesn’t want to think it will take weeks, months or even years, and tells Sora to pray for her to have understood something by the time Rio and her are back from their trip. Sora says she will have some expectations then. Celia thanks Sora with a happy laugh, then someone knocks on her door. When Celia gives permission to enter to the person behind the door Latifa comes in and greets her and Sora with a friendly smile. Celia asks Latifa what is it.

Latifa tells them that Satsuki is back, so they are going to have tea with everyone, that she came to invite them, she asks them if they won’t come to the dining room with everyone. Celia says she is fine with it, that precisely now she was taking a rest, then she asks Sora what she will do. Sora asks what is supposed to be fun about having tea with a lot of people. The tea lover Celia can’t ignore that sentence, she tells Sora strongly that having tea with everyone and talking friendly with them is fun. Latifa also says strongly that it is like that, she tells Sora that everyone made sweets and that they are delicious. Sora asks curiously if there will be sweets. Latifa tells her that there will be, that they made a lot. Sora says that it can’t be helped and tells Celia to go. Celia goes after Sora while making her exasperation at the child easily tempted by sweets known. Sora asks Celia what do her eyes mean, she tells Celia that the research wore out her mind a lot so making her recover sugar is part of her duty too. Celia agrees while laughing.

The three arrive at the dining room where everyone is waiting for them, Celia welcomes back Satsuki and Masato while noticing that Takahisa and Lilianna are absent, both tell her that they are back. Satsuki asks Celia while pouting if she can’t stop using the honorific with her already just like she does with everyone. Celia lets out a troubled laugh, she asks Satsuki if again with that, that she already told her that position-wise that is a complicated line to cross for her. Satsuki tells Celia that she hadn’t used honorifics with Masato since he became a hero. Celia tells Satsuki that she is right, that it won’t do if she doesn’t call Masato as Masato-sama now. Masato asks Celia to absolutely never use the sama with him. Celia tells Masato that it won’t do if she doesn’t use the sama while in public. Charlotte asks Celia if isn’t fine inside the mansion, that no one is looking and it is also Satsuki’s and Masato’s wish. Celia asks Charlotte if she isn’t using the sama with everyone herself. Charlotte says she is fine because she uses the sama with everyone, that the honorifics aren’t an indicative of her distance with anyone, that there are exceptions like Liselotte but that fortunately it isn’t a problem comparable to “why do you use the honorifics with me despite not using them with anyone else?”. Satsuki says that as expected of Charlotte for thinking so much about it, that she has no openings. Charlotte says that she also tries to show her closeness to someone in ways different from the honorifics, that it allows her to play with someone’s sense of distance, that she is also trying to show more her real nature in front of everyone. Satsuki says that she is a sly one but that she is honestly happy of having her say those things. Charlotte thanks her and tells everyone that she also loves everyone with a naughty smile.

Charlotte tells Satsuki that in the noble society things might get confused if one goes deeply into the matter of the honorifics because everyone has their own hierarchical circumstances, that that’s why it is easier to just stick to the same way of calling, but it doesn’t means that there is a difference in intimacy just because there is a difference in the honorific, that she doesn’t think Celia cares less about Satsuki just because she is the only one who has the sama added to her name. Celia says that it is like that, that as expected of Charlotte, that it is as she says, that because it is like that she will just address Satsuki as always. Charlotte says that it isn’t like that, that those are different things, she asks Celia if it isn’t fine to drop the honorifics inside the house and tells her that looking at her being troubled about it is very funny too. Satsuki tells Charlotte that she ruined her previous good speech while facepalming and sighing. Sora tells everyone that they are strange fellows for getting so worked up about a way of calling, that the sweets are more important than that and asks where they are. Latifa pulls Sora’s hand until the seat next to Miharu’s while she complains about being pulled. Miharu offers the tray with sweets to Sora when she sits down but she begins to act like a wary stray cat when she sees Miharu next to her. Miharu asks Sora why she is the only one who she calls by her full name, Sora says that it is because Ayase Miharu is Ayase Miharu.

Miharu tells Sora that she doesn’t need to force herself to call her full name, that just Miharu is fine. Latifa says that it is unfair, that she wants to be called just by her name two, after those two Komomo, Sayo, Orphia and then everyone else after them says the same. Sora panics watching herself surrounded by everyone, she asks them why they come in hordes and why she has to call them by their names, she says that she came to eat sweets not to do that. Celia tells Sora while laughing that it is good that she already gets along with everyone. Sora says she doesn’t while pouting. Miharu puts the tray with sweets in front Sora and tells her what each type is. Sora talks excitedly about their good smell and taste. Miharu explains what the sweets are to Sora and which of them are tastier with cream or honey. Sora asks happily if she can eat them and Miharu tells her to go ahead. Miharu looks happily at Sora stuffing her cheeks and saying that everything is delicious. Latifa tells Sora that the cookies she is eating are Miharu’s recipe. Sora sends a complicated look to the cookies but still eats them because they have no sin. Miharu tells Sora to drink some milk after warning her that her throat will feel dry if eats cookies nonstop. Sora drinks the milk while doubting if it will match well with the taste of the cookies but lets out a happy scream when the milk turns out to go well with them.

    Latifa says she is happy because it feels like she got a little sister. Aki agrees, she asks herself if this is how it feels to have a little sister, then everyone gets caught up in looking kindly at Sora again. Sora asks everyone whats wrong and tells them embarrassingly to not look fixedly at her. Miharu says that they are sorry, that it is because she is cute. Miharu realizes that Sora’s mouth is dirty and takes a wet cloth to wipe Sora’s face. Sora tells Miharu to stop and to not treat her like a child, she tries to shake away Miharu’s hand but she is used to the job and Sora’s mouth is already clean before she can put up any resistance. Latifa is jealous because Miharu is the only one who gets her name called instead of just “you”. Sora says with embarrassment that she also calls Celia by her name. Celia laughs happily watching Sora like that.

An hour later. Sora went back alone to Celia’s room because Charlotte said that she needed to ask Celia, Satsuki. Masato, Sara, Orphia, Alma and Gouki for their cooperation with something. The rest stayed in the dining room talking. Sora sits in her bed and asks herself what those fellows are while laughing tiredly. Everyone was curious about her and tried to ask her things, what an uncomfortable time. If the sweets hadn’t been delicious she would have left much earlier, she is angry, but then why? When she looks back at that time she feels like she felt things different from anger, she accumulates frustration while not knowing what to call those other feelings. Then Celia comes back. Sora stands up and tells her that she is finally back. Celia asks Sora how she spent the last thirty minutes she came ahead of her to the room. Sora tells Celia that she wasn’t waiting for her or anything and asks Celia what her talk was about. Celia says she was asked to be present at a certain event, that she is forbidden to tell people outside the mansion’s residents but that it is information that it is better to let Rio know, that she wants to tell him but… Sora tells Celia to tell that to Aishia when she comes to check on them then.

Later that night, in the entrance of the rock house. Celia tells Rio that she came again with a red face while acting shy and looking away from him. The previous night she went and hugged him because she couldn’t see him off the day he departs but now there she is again. Aishia tells Rio in her usual tone that she brought them again today. Sora tells Rio happily that she is back. Rio tells Sora welcome back then he thanks Celia for coming again and Aishia for carrying her. Celia apologizes, she says that she wasn’t expecting to come two days in a row. Rio tells her to not to apologize, that he didn’t decide that it was bad for her to come, that he is happy to meet her again. Celia tells Rio that there is something she wants to report to him and asks Rio if they can talk. Rio says they can and tells the three to follow him to the living room. Then Celia informed Rio about Charlotte asking her to be present when the heroes test their powers. Rio says he understands. Celia tells Rio that she was worried about something like the earth’s beast coming out and didn’t know what to do.

Rio tells Celia that the chances aren’t zero but that he doesn’t think something like their powers going out of control will happen and that the chance of something like the beast appearing are low. Celia asks if it is like that. Rio asks Celia if she was already told that the great spirits who are also transcendentals are inside the heroes’ weapons, Rio tells her that their relationship with the seven wise Gods is… Celia interrupts Rio and tells him that Sora already explained to her all of that, the reason why the divine war occurred and that she also knows that the heroes will die if they use the authorities. Rio says he will skip that part then, he tells Celia that so the great spirits can’t resurface, the six wise Gods put a limiter in the output of the heroes’ divine weapons. Celia asks Rio if that is the reason why their powers won’t go out of control. Rio says that it is, that every hero has with their weapons as the medium a special contract called spirit pact with every great spirit, that the hero has the control over the divine weapon, but that if the output rises too much several demerits will appear so then a limiter was set.

Celia asks about the demerits. Rio tells Celia that due to the spirit pact the hero and spirit are in a state called assimilation, rising the weapon’s output also rises the assimilation’s degree, that even if the output can be temporarily risen and lowered, during the period of assimilation the hero is an unstable existence beyond human, that if the assimilation is too strong there is the risk of the spirit taking control of the body of the hero, and that was what happened to Erika in the end, that she lost control of her weapon and its power rampaged. Celia says she understands. Rio tells Celia that because of the limiter it shouldn’t be easy for the heroes to end up like Erika, taken over and made to rampage. Celia asks Rio if he can stop the heroes if they go out of control. Rio says he doesn’t know if he can, that it would be good if there is some kind of limiter in place, that if it isn’t like that they can just pray that the hero somehow regains control of their body. Celia says that as expected the time when the heroes lose control is dangerous, that the great earth’s spirit rampaged like that after all.

Rio tells Celia that if Miharu, Lina’s reincarnation, or Aishia, the heir of her divinity, are close the spirits will attack without listening to anything, that he doesn’t know what will happen if neither of the two is close by, but that the spirits hate the wise Gods who deceived them and sealed them inside the weapons, that it is possible for them to get desperate, that if they rampage like that and use their authorities it will become the worst possible outcome in a lot of ways. Celia asks Rio if the heroes wouldn’t die too besides the great damage, if it isn’t better to stop the verification, that they need to explain that pulling out a hero’s power is dangerous, she says it won’t do if she doesn’t think of a way of explaining the danger. Rio stops her, he tells her that thanks to the limiter it shouldn’t be so easy to raise the weapon’s output to the point where the heroes can be taken over, that it is necessary to know how much the current heroes can do if they use their power seriously, Rio tells Celia that he will be watching over the verification from behind the scenes and to let it happen as is. Celia says she understands.

Rio tells Celia that the heroes are still probably far from taking out a monster like the earth’s beast, that Satsuki obviously isn¡t at that level, that Hiroaki isn’t either, probably because the limiter is still working, the problem is what it is necessary to become capable of pulling out power until going out of control, that he is curious about how Erika reached that level. Celia asks if rising the mastery of spirit arts is the key, that after all the events caused by the divine weapons are spirit arts. Rio asks Celia if she means that the hero's skill would have to match the weapon’s because he also thought of that possibility but… Celia asks if he is worried about something. Rio says that Erika’s way of fighting felt like it completely relied on the weapon’s performance, that that’s why he feels it is weird, that he doesn’t think she received any teaching about spirit arts. Celia says that Rio is right, that there aren't any spirit art users in the Strahl region and that she can’t also think of Erika taking someone’s lessons for learning spirit arts.

Rio says that, contrary to Erika, Renji felt like he rose his mastery of spirit arts, that in his case Reiss probably is his teacher and going by the attack he used in Rodania’s skies he can pull out a lot of power. Celia says she understands. Rio says that that’s why he wants to see how much of the divine weapon’s power the four heroes’ full powered attack can utilize, that he might be able to make some guesses comparing them to Erika and Renji. Celia says she understands and that she will tell Aishia once she knows where the verification will take place. Rio says that from tomorrow on he will have Aishia watching over things in her spirit form then. Aishia tells Rio to leave it to her. Rio thanks Aishia and asks Celia if Miharu will stay in the castle during the verification. Celia says she will, that it should be like that. Rio says that then the day of the verification Aishia will be watching over the castle in her spirit form just in case. Aishia says she understands. Rio says that in exchange he wants Sora to be there and asks Sora if it is fine. Sora says that of course, that she doesn’t mind. Celia tells Rio that she might not be able to take Sora with her, that there is no reason to bring her, that because they want to do the verification in secret she won’t get permission for bringing her even if she asks for it.

Rio says he is planning on leaving on the trip for finding Lina’s traces after that, that he is thinking about having Sora leave the mansion a day before the verification, Rio asks Sora if she isn’t sad or lonely for having to leave when she has just gotten used to the life in the mansion. Celia asks Rio if he asks because in days after Sora leaves everyone will forget her. Sora asks Celia why is she making that lonely face, she tells her that she is fine, that she is used to it, that following Rio on his trip is more important. Rio is doubting about his decision of sending Sora to the mansion, he thinks he just wanted her to meet everyone but that he might have made her go through something painful, he apologizes to Sora, that because of being his familiar she… Sora tells Rio to please to not to apologize, that if not for him she would have died long ago, that the memory loss of this rule is different from the one that comes with using the authority, that if she leaves enough of an impression she will be remembered a little… Rio can easily tell by how flustered is Sora that the last part is an excuse for his sake, he swears to himself to absolutely do something about the rules so he can also properly introduce Sora to everyone one day.

### Intermission: The post occupation Rodania.

Meanwhile, several hours ago, in Rodania. Restoration’s forces have already been completely suppressed, the city is already completely under Beltrum’s control, there are patrols searching for remnants of the enemy in the streets but otherwise life continues as usual for Rodania’s residents. In the noble district there isn’t anyone but Beltrum’s soldiers, there every member of Restoration that didn’t escape was captured and imprisoned without exceptions. Helmut, Charles and Reiss are having a meeting with just the three of them after having dinner. Helmut sighs heavily after saying that things got troublesome. Charles tells him timidly that it can’t be helped if a water monster like that one appears. Helmut clicks his tongue and tells Charles that the problem began before that, that Christina, Flora and Hugenot run away, that there is no doubt that they have Regalia with them, that things would be different if he had captured Christina and Hugenot. Charles says he can’t say anything back to that while lowering his head. Helmut asks Charless how can it be that he has no idea of how they were taken from him. Helmut deepens his frown because Charles claims to not remember who took Christina and Hugenot away. There isn’t a way for him to remember after all, Sora appeared behind his group, knocked them out and left carrying Christina and Hugenot just like that. No one from his group saw her face and the rules didn’t have time for activating either.

Reiss throws Charles a lifeline, he tells Helmut that there was no telling what would have happened afterwards even if they have managed to capture the two, that maybe it was thanks to not having captured Christina and Hugenot that that water monster that should have been controlled by Hiroaki was just used for escaping. At the same time he thinks to himself that Hiroaki wasn’t the one controlling that. Helmut growls with frustration on his chair. Helmut thinks it will be a problem if he doesn’t make Rui use a power similar to Hiroaki’s if even he is capable of that much, that he is a pretty smart and hard to move boy but that it won’t do if he doesn’t think of a way of mobilizing him. Reiss tells Helmut that crying about things that are already over won’t help them, that they already took their base and cut down a lot of their personnel, that now they need to think about their next move.

Helmut says that securing Regalia is the maximum priority, that Christina or Flora using it politically would be the most bothersome, that they don’t know what the cornered fox will do. Charles tells Helmut that Christina can’t rely on anyone other than the Galarc Kingdom, that the chances of her having escaped to Galarc’s royal castle are eight or nine out of ten. Helmut says angrily that he already knows that. Reiss says that the problem is if the Galarc Kingdom will consider Restoration a burden or not but that it will probably accept them. Charles asks if the Galarc Kingdom will really risk having a decisive battle with their country, that the Galarc Kingdom should want Restoration as a breakwater between Beltrum and Proxia and itself, he asks how much will Galarc cover for them now that they lost that role. Reiss says that that is true, that François is smart, and that because aside of being smart he is sensible to loss and gain and passive in battle he has a tendency to make those kinds of judgements, but that because he is smart he must have sensed that the conflict with the Beltrum kingdom is unavoidable, that with things like that it is difficult to say if he will abandon Restoration or not. Helmut says that they should secure a powerful negotiation material for the war to come, he asks Reiss if he thinks the same. Reiss agrees, that if Christina wins the war and takes the political power they can create a great debt, that it isn’t a bad idea to secure one, even more if Christina has the regalia. Helmut clicks his tongue irritatedly, he says that things became really troublesome while glaring at Charles.

Reiss says that as expected, that if the Galarc Kingdom, that lately it is close to the Centostella kingdom instead of the Beltrum Kingdom, is the opponent it will be different from taking Rodania, that they lose in the number of heroes and that Hiroaki must have awakened his sleeping power, that he recommends Helmut to stick to diplomatic pressures for the time being even if they have an excuse for starting a war, that even if he moves his troops now Reiss won’t move his. Helmut asks Reiss if he knows how to pull out a hero’s power. Reiss says he does. Helmut asks Reiss if he can’t teach that method to Rui. Reiss says that it is impossible to do it for free and that currently he doesn’t have anything he wants to ask from them. Helmut decides to not insist this time. Reiss says that he however can let them borrow Renji’s power again as long as they don’t want to use it to invade the Galarc Kingdom. Helmut says he won’t do that, but that just sending the typical letter of protest won’t do anything, that he thinks they need some negotiation material that can intimidate Galarc and the only usable looking piece they have is the captured marquis Rodin but… Reiss asks Helmut what about focusing in the pieces that are easy to take instead of the pieces that are easy to use. Helmut and Charles make dubious faces not understanding Reiss’ meaning. Reiss asks Helmut if the people from the Claire family weren’t selected as neutral messengers between both sides in the agreement previously signed.

### Chapter 7: A heroes’ power.

Five days later, the place where the heroes will test their powers was decided and at the same time it was also decided when Sora will leave the mansion. At noon of the day before the verification. Latifa, Komomo and Aki walk towards Sora with very lonely faces. Sora tells them that they are too close and asks them why are they making that face while stepping back and trembling. Latifa says she will be lonely. Komomo says she will be too despite having come to terms with it. Aki says she can’t believe they will get separated already. Sora says that it can’t be helped because it was a sudden decision, that it is bad if she doesn’t go back to her master. It was just that morning that Sora told them that she would leave, she told them that she and her master have a magic tool that lets them know of the other's location, that she felt her master is near so she will go meet him. Celia tells everyone that Sora seems to adore her master and that for her he is an existence similar to a father’s. Sora says that it is like that, that her master is a very, very, very important person for her. Latifa tells Sora to ask her master to let her come to the mansion again and introduce him to everyone at that time. Sora says she will try to ask him. Latifa offers Sora a bag while guessing by her expression, just like everyone else, that their chances of meeting again might be low.

Sora asks what it is. Latifa tells her that they are the sweets that she said were delicious. Sora looks dumbfoundedly at the sweets. Latifa says that she had Miharu and Orphia help her make them in a hurry because she suddenly said that she was leaving. Aki and Komomo tell Sora that they made the ones that last for a long time. Sora asks if it is like that while looking back and forth between the bag of sweets and the faces of the three girls, she thanks them calling their names in a low voice. After those three Sora also thanks Miharu, Sara, Ouphia, Alma, Satsuki, Sayo, Charlotte, Masato, Gouki and Kayoko. Satsuki says happily to Sora that in the end she properly remembered her names. Miharu scratches her cheek while smiling ironically because she is the only one who is still called by her full name. Sara sighs exasperatedly because Sora refused to show her honest side until now. Sora says she just didn’t bother with their names because she knew that they would be separated soon anyway, that she just doesn’t like farewells. Sora says that putting that side she had been in their care, she asks with an uneasy face then if it is fine for her to come again to the mansion and introduce her master to them. Satsuki says that of course that it is fine and asks if anyone disagrees. All of them tell Sora that it is fine for her to come again. Sora thanks them, she tells everyone that one day she will come to the mansion with her master so she will have no mercy if they forgot about her. Latifa hugs Sora and tells her that they have to absolutely meet again, that it is a promise. Aki and Komomo also hug Sora from the sides at the same time.

Sora tells them repeatedly to not glue themselves to her to no avail, she gives up and says she understands, that she promises it, that at that time they will have to prepare a lot of sweets for her again. Latifa tells Sora while laughing that she really adores sweets. Aki tells Sora that the next time she has to make the sweets with them then. Komomo agrees, she says that that sounds fine. Sora says that she is more specialized in eating but that if it is just once she will keep them company. Latifa says that that is a promise too. Sora tells them that they are fellows who can’t be helped, then she tells them that bye, that she will come again anyway and tells Celia, who is supposed to make sure that Sora meets safely with her master, to leave already. Latifa says that she won’t say good bye, she tells them to be safe and to take care. Celia says she will properly see Sora off so she can meet her master, and that later she will inform them. Sora and Celia ride in the carriage waiting for them in front of the mansion after listening to everyone’s farewells.

Sora hugs tightly the bag with sweets as if treasuring it, she sits down and asks herself while pouting and being embarrassed what are really those fellows. It is the first time for her living with so many people with a sense of distance so small, she has lived until now minimizing her chances of coming in contact with people, she would be forgotten anyway, that’s why she treated everyone in the mansion in the dry way she is used to, but they still didn’t stop trying to close the distance between them at every chance, they were honestly bothersome, but she wasn’t just bothered, when she realized there were moments when she told herself that it was fine to stay with them for longer because it couldn’t be helped, she realized that there were moments when she thought she wanted to stay longer with them that day. While puzzled by her feelings Sora remembers the words the dragon king told her before his departure, “it might be good if you make friends”, Sora asks herself if this is the thing called friend the dragon king talked about. She continues to hug the bag without knowing the answer to her question. Celia asks Sora if everyone there are good people, she tells Sora that God’s rules made them forget but that all of them are people who have a bond with Rio.

Sora says she knows that well. Celia asks Sora if she doesn’t want to know everyone’s relationship with Rio, that she didn’t tell her that yet. Sora says she will make that into the fun for the next time they meet. Celia says she understands. Sora calls out to Celia and she asks what it is. Sora tells Celia that it is necessary to do something about God’s rules, that they need to make those fellows remember about Rio and about meeting her too. Celia agrees. Sora says that she will go on a trip with Rio to find clues about that, so she has to properly do her best researching the mask. After spending a moment being surprised about Sora’s words, Celia agrees, thanks Sora for the cheers and says that the two have to do their best. After some minutes Sora tells Celia to stop the carriage so she can get down. Celia doubts because they didn’t arrive at the agreed place yet. Sora tells her that she will get down and walk from now on. Celia says she understands and tells the driver to stop. Sora tells Celia that until the next time and gets down. Celia nods and tells her the way to the square where they were supposed to stop, then she tells Sora to give either hers or Charlotte’s names if she gets lost or is treated as someone suspicious. Sora tells Celia while sulking to not treat her like a child and runs away. Celia tells Sora to have a safe trip while waving her hand at her. Sora stops her trot just for a second and takes a look at Celia, after that she rises her speed and soon becomes invisible to her, just before reaching the square Sora turns back and spends a moment looking at the castle, she wipes the tears from her eyes with her sleeve, enters a deserted alley and takes flight towards the rock house where Rio is waiting.

The next day, the heroes will be finally checking how powerful they are. A magic ship carries the four heroes until a location an hour away from the capital. Celia, Sara, Orphia, Alma and Gouki accompany them, the ship has just landed in a deserted lake, from there several carriages take the group until a nearby plain. Hiroaki asks Takahisa how is it that he participates too despite how against fighting he is. Takahisa says with a bothered face that he is there because he thinks he needs to know his own power because he thinks it is something that can easily kill people. Hiroaki nods completely uninterested. François tells the four heroes that where they are they should be able to use their power without minding people’s eyes. Satsuki asks who will do it first. Hiroaki says he will take the first turn and materializes Yamata no Orochi, Gouki sends a curious look at the katana in Hiroaki’s hands. Satsuki tells him to go ahead, Masato and Takahisa don’t object either. Gouki tells Hiroaki to take some distance and use his weapon. Sara, Orphia and Alma prepare to protect the group if something goes wrong.

Hiroaki pours his power into his katana while imagining Yamata no Orochi, but the water dragon he creates just has six heads, ten meter long necks and doesn’t have a body or tails. François and Hugenot look in astonishment but the japanese look awkwardly at Hiroaki’s water dragon, they know it is lacking compared to its origin. Satsuki asks if it really is Yamata no Orochi. Masato says with shining eyes that he thinks it looks cool enough even like that. François asks Christina her opinion. Christina says that Hiroaki’s water dragon is splendid enough but obviously inferior to the one in Rodania’s lake, that it also has less necks and can’t compete with Renji’s attack. François says he understands. Hiroaki thinks not yet, that it isn’t enough as is, that Renji’s attack was bigger and asks himself how did he do it. Hiroaki frowns with frustration, he is already doing his best and how to make his technique bigger just doesn’t come to him, until before he tried his best he felt somewhere that he could do this or that too, but reality isn’t like that, he can’t tell excuses like him not being serious, then Hiroaki throws the water dragon at the ground while cursing. The water loses its shape on impact and spreads a lot of water spray, Gouki runs towards Hiroaki and tells him to stop, that it is fine like that and to step back. Hiroaki walks dejectedly towards the group after receiving Gouki’s praises.

Satsuki says that it is her turn now and takes distance from the group after receiving Masato’s cheers. Satsuki materializes her glaive while taking a deep breath, she spends a moment fearing the damage she can cause, fires herself up and points her glaive towards the sky. A fifty meter long tornado appears from the glave’s tip. Gouki calls it absurd. Satsuki swings down her glave protecting herself from her own attack cladding her body in wind, at the same time Sara, Orphia and Alma make a barrier for protecting the group from the wind, debris and dust, after a moment Orphia clears the dust with a light breeze. Masato tells Satsuki that it was incredible. Celia thinks Satsuki’s attack is obviously stronger than Hiroaki’s, that it is as Rio predicted, she asks herself if it is because Satsuki has received instruction in spirit arts as Rio theorized. Hiroaki gets frustrated when he realizes that Satsuki is stronger than him, he thinks it can’t be, that she is definitely stronger than him, the comparison between the places where their techniques impacted is quite obvious, the scar of Satsuki’s attack is clearly deeper. François asks Christina her opinion. Christina says that it is inferior to the Yamata no Orochi in the lake and Renji’s attack, but that Satsuki’s attack is closer to those two things, that putting the wide spread damage aside she thinks Satsuki’s attack is superior to Renji’s when it is about focused damage. Christina asks herself if Satsuki’s attack couldn’t have taken out one or two heads of the Yamata no Orochi in the lake.

Satsuki receives Masato’s congratulations after coming back to the group. Satsuki tells him that it wasn’t good, that she got too caught up on making the size bigger, that she wonders if she looked like a show off, she makes a frustrated face thinking she should be able to focus the damage more. Masato says he understands and that he goes next. Satsuki tells Masato to show her his power and to take care. Masato nods and takes distance from the group trotting. Masato materializes his weapon, a greatsword completely mismatched with his still childish body. Masato stops, fires himself up and prepares his stance with the sword held in both hands and pointing upwards, he takes a deep breath while imagining the event he wants to cause. Masato swings down his great sword, the moment it touches the ground he creates a ten meter high earth wave that expands in a fan shape with him at the center, the wave gets weaker the further away from Masato it gets but it still destroys a fifty meter radius in front of him. Satsuki looks dumbfoundedly at Masato’s attack, she wins in focused damage but Masato is by far the best in the area of effect department. Masato spends a moment looking fixedly at the hand holding his sword while reflecting about the feedback the technique gave him, then he goes back to the group with a happy smile.

Satsuki praises Masato’s performance when he rejoins the group. Masato laughs happily, he says that that is his current strongest attack, he asks what about great slash for a name. François asks again about Christina’s opinion. Christina says that the damage spreading in a fan shape resembles Renji’s attack, that it still loses in terms of scale but that Masato’s attack maybe caused more destruction in the area affected by his attack. François says he understands, that in the case of superlative magics each one certainly focuses on a different aspect, that there ones who focus on spread damage while others focus in breaking through a point, that there is also the differences among attributes to keep in mind too, he asks himself if they are getting too fixated in the scale of the attack. François sighs while making a thoughtful face and wondering about the right deciding factor. Meanwhile Hiroaki curses in his mind because Masato is stronger than him, he thinks now only Takahisa remains. He is impatient, at this rate he might turn out to be the weakest of the four, he sends a look full of rivalry to Takahisa while thinking he can’t afford to lose to him too.

Takahisa says that it seems to be his turn and walks with a somber look on his face. Takahisa materializes his red sword Laevatein. Hiroaki says that its appearance makes one think of the fire attribute and that the name suits the sword too. Takahisa holds his sword pointing upwards with both hands in front of his face and takes a deep breath with his eyes closed. Then Takahisa swings the sword horizontally, a semicircular wave of fire spreads with Takahisa at the center burning a radius of ten and something meters in front of him, the flames continued to burn for several seconds and disappeared, the attack is worthy to be called superlative magic but still weaker than the other three attacks, the affected area is red hot because of the heat but it isn’t as destroyed as it was during the other attacks. Takahisa seems to think the same himself, he looks fixedly at the ground and his sword with a put off face, he wonders if he really gave his all and prepares to give it another try but Gouki tells him to come back. Takahisa obeys dejectedly after being startled by Gouki’s call. François tries to but fails to find a praiseworthy point about Takahisa’s attack. Lilianna thanks Takahisa for his hard work. Takahisa asks Lilianna her opinion about his attack while looking back at the scars it produced.

Lilianna says that it was splendid. After all it really was, if there weren't other heroes to be compared to he would have been praised unreservedly. Hiroaki tells Takahisa with a smile that depending on the application his attack might win when it comes to secondary damage but inside his mind he scolds himself for being relieved about not being the weakest, he thinks it wouldn’t be strange for Renji to be the number one if he had been present, then the face full of leeway he was trying to show to Takahisa becomes a bitter one. Takahisa asks Hiroaki what he means with annoyance. Hiroaki says he means exactly that, he asks if the secondary damage wouldn’t rise the more the burnt area spreads, he asks Takahisa if that isn’t supposed to be the fire’s strong point but that he isn’t sure about it, then he leaves Takahisa alone. Hiroaki curses in his mind, he asks himself if the difference in their attacks is because of the difference between the attributes, he asks himself what is the difference with Renji, Satsuki and Masato and what could help him to pull out more power from his weapon.

Meanwhile Gouki is satisfied with the test’s results, he thinks the current result might be a fair one, that it is the result of the heroes’ daily lives, that the results are showing Satsuki’s and Masato’s efforts when training in both spirit arts and martial arts. Gouki thinks the divine weapons are something outrageous for how much power they give just from being held in the hand of an untrained child, and also terrifying, that it would be good if they aren’t influenced by that power but… he worries about the future, especially Satsuki’s and Masato’s, they already feel like family to him, he thinks in their case, if they wish for it, it might be good to teach them the seriousness of fighting.

At the same time in the sky. Rio and Sora watch over the group. Sora is making a bored face, she asks if the heroes’ level isn’t low. At the same time Rio thinks it is as expected, that there is no mistaking it now, that the mastery of spirit arts is a key for pulling out the divine weapon’s power, but at the same time he understands less the reason of Erika’s way of fighting that was so relying in the weapon’s performance, he asks himself if she maybe learnt spirit arts from someone and what might be the reason if she didn’t, he thinks as expected there must be another way of pulling out a hero’s power aside of rising the mastery in spirit arts, Rio thinks he needs to investigate as much as possible what happened to Erika since she was summoned. Rio tells Sora to go and the two leave the Galarc Kingdom.

### Chapter 8: Celia’s fight.

Three days later, Celia has been summoned by François and Christina, right now Charlotte is guiding her to François' office where she is to meet them. After informing of their arrival and being given permission to enter, Charlotte and Celia go inside François’ office where he waits for the two alongside Christina and Hugenot. Celia wonders about the reason for the summons when she enters, only the tops of both organizations are there and Christina’s expression is especially bad, Celia gets more suspicious of the reason for the summons. Celia sits in front of Christina and François. François tells Celia that a letter from the Beltrum Kingdom arrived. Celia asks what kind of letter and François tells her to read it. To summarize, the letter is a protest against Galarc’s actions and a demand for Restoration to surrender. One, The Galarc Kingdom is to stop sheltering Restoration, Restoration has to be disbanded and Christina, Flora and Hugenot are to be given to them alongside the Regalia that seems to be in Christina’s possession. Two, if the Kingdom of Galarc refuses it can be a reason for a war, the lack of answer can be a reason for a war too. Three. Celia Claire must deliver Galarc’s and Restoration’s answer, she isn’t allowed to have escorts, once in the border between both Kingdoms Celia will be guided by a messenger from their side, that’s why it won’t do if she isn’t alone. Four, the answer is to be delivered to the fortress of the Beltrum Kingdom close to the border within a week. Five, if Celia isn’t the one delivering the letter the conditions of the previous agreement involving the Claire family will be considered invalid and they will stop guaranteeing their safety.

Celia says she understands and puts the letter on the table. François sighs with a bitter face, he says that now that Restoration lost its base and so much of its personnel they will come at them more strongly than before. Celia says she understands and asks if it is fine for her to take the letter to the designated place. Christina tells her to wait and Celia asks what is it. Christina tells Celia that the ultimatum might be a trap. Celia agrees but says that they don’t have proof of that, that she also thought it won’t do if she isn’t the one going, not just because she was designated as the messenger by the other side. Christina tries to insist but Celia tells her that if she doesn’t go she could end up making things worse for her father, that she can’t leave him by himself and apologizes to Christina for acting on her personal wishes. Christina asks Celia why she apologizes. Celia says that if she doesn’t accept the duty here she can cause trouble for the Galarc Kingdom. François tells Celia he has no problem with preparing a different messenger. Celia apologizes again, she says it might be naive as a noble but that she won’t leave her father to die. François says he understands and that then he won’t stop her. Christina offers herself as messenger instead of Celia and Celia scolds her. She tells Christina that that might be Helmut’s aim, that she will be arrested on the spot and Restoration will end, that she can’t show to the members of the organization how she leaves for protecting someone like her, that she just needs to think about leading the organization.

Christina, lowers her head to Celia, she apologizes because the agreement with the Beltrum kingdom should have served for protecting her and her family, that she never thought it would be used against her in such a way. Christina apologizes repeatedly despite her understanding of the wrongness of such acts while in her current position. Celia tells Christina to not apologize and lowers her head herself begging Christina to listen to her words. Christina tells Celia to rise her head but she just stays like that. Celia tells Christina that she will show her how she takes responsibility of delivering Restoration’s and Galarc’s answer to Helmut, read their answer before him and beat her demands into him, that aside from that she will absolutely return, then she begs Christina to leave the task to her if she believes in her. Christina asks Celia repeatedly to rise her head but she refuses to do it until being entrusted with the task of delivering the letter. Christina says that that is unfair. Celia says that her father is in the middle of fulfilling his duty returning to the Beltrum kingdom and that as her daughter she can’t afford to abandon that duty. Christina says she understands, that in the first place she will write her answer and that if during that time Celia’s opinion doesn’t change she will entrust the task to her.

While Charlotte and Celia go back alone to the mansion, Celia asks Charlotte if she can do her a favor. Charlotte asks what is it. Celia tells Charlotte she wants her to not tell anyone that she will deliver the letter to Helmut. Charlotte asks Celia what if she doesn’t come back. Celia says she will absolutely come back. Charlotte says that that isn’t an answer. Celia says that if everyone discovers about the matter of the letter they will worry a lot, that because they are very kind they will treat it as if it was their own problem and try to help her for sure. Charlotte says that that is obvious, that she herself wants to do something to help if the decision depended on her. Celia thanks Charlotte. Charlotte tells her that even if she thanks her with that happy face she is troubled about it. Celia says that it is because she is happy and Charlotte sulks. Celia tells Charlotte that about her previous question, she thinks everyone would be incredibly angry if they discover that she left in secret and didn’t come back, “why didn’t you tell us?””why didn’t you rely on us?” that they will be even sadder like that. Charlotte asks Celia if they won’t be understanding of her circumstances. Celia says they will but asks Charlotte if she doesn’t know herself already that her problem isn’t something that they can do something about. Charlotte says she won’t deny it.

Celia says that if everyone accompanies her and try to protect her from the shadows she herself would be the one breaking the agreement with the Beltrum Kingdom, that she can’t absolutely do that. Charlotte says she admires that loyalty. Celia says that she might still see Christina and Flora as her students because she used to be their teacher. Charlotte says she envies those two, that if someone like Celia had been her teacher her academy life might not have been so boring. Celia says that there are times when it is bad to rely on your important ones because they are important to you, that she is sorry for relying just on her in the current circumstances but that she needs to ask her. Charlotte says she has two conditions. Celia asks what they are. Charlotte tells Celia that she has to absolutely come back. Celia says that of course. Charlotte says that the second one is to reveal everything to everyone after her return. Celia doesn’t understand the reason for the second condition and looks curiously at Charlotte. Charlotte tells Celia that at that time everyone will be pretty angry, and that she will be troubling Celia telling this or that way at that time. Charlotte tells Celia again to absolutely come back and Celia says that gladly. Charlotte tells Celia to go back while pouting a little and Celia agrees. At the same time Celia asks Aishia telepathically if they can talk later about the matter of the letter. Aishia says she understands and the three continue on their way to the mansion like that.

Celia and Charlotte spend the day as usual after returning to the mansion and didn’t tell anyone a word of what happened at the castle, later in the night when it is time for everyone to go to sleep, Celia enters her room and asks Aishia telepathically if she is there. Aishia says she is, still in her spirit form. Celia asks her if they can talk about what happened at noon. Aishia says that it is fine. Celia says that she didn’t think something like that would happen just after Rio left, but that she thinks it might have been for the best this time. Aishia asks why. Celia asks Aishia if Rio can’t afford to forget about her when he still has to do something about God’s rules, that currently Rio and her have a limit to how much they can fight. Aishia says that she will follow after Celia. Celia says she wanted to talk about that, that she can’t be their luggage anymore. Aishia says that Celia isn’t something like luggage. Celia says she is happy about being told that, but that then she wants Aishia to stay in the castle watching over everyone, that the mansion has already been attacked once before. Aishia says that Celia is the one that seems more like something will happen to her, that Gouki and Sara’s group are in the mansion, that she is the one she is worried about the most. Celia says that it is like that, that the her from until now would have had to rely on her for sure, but that that can’t be anymore, that she wants to show then that she can be a reliable fighting force in the future, she asks Aishia if she can believe in her this time and let her go alone. Aishia asks Celia if she is confident in her chances. Celia says that pretty much, that she is full of confidence, that she should have become strong because she learnt a lot of spells. Aishia says she wants to test it then, she tells Celia to try fighting against her.

The next morning. Celia left Galarc’s capital on a magic ship without telling anyone her destination or goal. She arrived to Galarc’s westernmost city where a group of women griffin riders organized by Charlotte picked her up and took her to Galarc’s fortress on the national border and then went by carriage until the point specified in Helmut’s letter. At noon, the border with the Beltrum Kingdom, Galarc’s knights can’t follow Celia any further, Celia’s carriage continues on its way but is surrounded by Beltrum’s knights now instead. Celia yawns inside the carriage while thinking in the end she wasn’t attacked on her way to the fortress, Celia admonishes herself for her careless gesture while thinking she stayed up too late the previous night. After some minutes Celia’s carriage enters Beltrum’s fortress. Celia gets down the carriage after a knight tells her to, at the same time that Celia touches the ground the fortress’ gates close tightly behind her. Celia takes a look around herself. Helmut, Charles, Reiss and Renji stand next to each other ten and something meters in front of her, around her a lot of knights and mercenaries like Arein and Lucci surround her.

Celia thinks it is as expected, that Helmut had no plans of letting her leave freely, she tells him with a frown that he prepared quite the welcome. Helmut asks Celia what is she saying with a demonic face, he recriminates Celia for appearing before them with such a casual face after ruining the marriage with his house. Celia asks Helmut with a relaxed smile if she wasn’t kidnapped from that wedding. Helmut snorts and tells Celia that she has a wild side despite her appearance, he tells her he will give her a chance, that if it is now it isn’t late for her. Celia asks Helmut what he means. Helmut tells Celia to get married with Charles, that if she surrenders to the Arbor house he will spare the Claire family. Celia tells Helmut to stop the joke and asks him if he forgot the agreement with Restoration. Helmut tells Celia that if she believes that the agreement will still stand after Restoration disappears she is beyond what he can flatter, that the reputation of the talented woman who graduated from the royal academy skipping grades as the youngest in history must be revised. Celia tells Helmut that Restoration still exists. Helmut tells Celia that Restoration is a candle against the wind, that that’s why this is her last chance, he tells her to become Charles’ concubine. Celia says she refuses even if she dies. Charles screams angrily after Celia’s rejection. Helmut calls her stupid for refusing when she won’t go back anyway. Next to Helmut Renji asks annoyedly to Reiss why he was made to come just to capture that lone little girl, that if he looks well it looks like her legs are trembling. After Renji lets out an unmotivated sigh Reiss tells him that there was no need of making him come if she is really alone and tells Renji to pay a lot of attention above his head for the time being. Renji says he understands and looks fixedly at the sky.

Helmut tells Celia while glaring at her that he doesn’t care if she thinks negotiations are broken. Celia says that regardless of what is broken she just came to deliver the letter entrusted to her by Restoration and the Galarc kingdom, that she will quickly be done with her business and go back and that she will read it aloud to make sure there are no discrepancies in the communication. Helmut tells Celia that there is no need for that. Celia asks for his meaning. Helmut tells Celia that they will take custody of her as they are. Celia asks Helmut if it is fine for her to assume he plans on breaking the agreement, she asks Helmut if he doesn’t mind to lose his just cause. Helmut tells Celia that they have no intention of breaking the agreement, that he has a legitimate reason like the Claire family being the ones who broke the agreement. Celia asks Helmut what he means. Helmut says that it is as it sounds, that the Claire family will be the one who broke the agreement. Celia says she absolutely won’t do something like that. Helmut tells Celia that she already did, that she will be confessing everything from now on. Celia asks Helmut if he plans of having her make a false declaration, she says she absolutely won’t do that. Helmut tells Celia that they will see if she still says the same after being captured and makes a signal to the knights, then the knights surrounding Celia tighten the encirclement until being just several meters away from her.

Celia says that if they have that kind of plan she will exercise her right to legitimate self-defense, that no matter what she has to do she will fulfill her objective and have them let her go back. Helmut laughs, he tells Celia he can see she is just a trembling child and that it is fine for her to try if she can do it. That Celia is trembling because she is surrounded by a lot of strong and experienced soldiers is the truth after all. Celia tells herself to calm down, she reminds herself her decision, that there isn’t a way she can let Rio and Aishia fight anymore, that she decided that she would be the one fighting so the other two doesn’t have to live continuously fighting anymore, that there isn’t any way she will make them lose their memories. That she doesn’t want Rio, Aishia and now Sora either to forget about everyone, that that’s why she will prove then and there that she can fight even if she is alone. that she already discarded to have Aishia following her for not making her think she will pull her leg or needs to be protected. Celia chants the spell “possession type, swordmaster’s alterego”. Everyone make confused faces while failing to recognize the chant. Reiss who was wary of a surprise attack from the sky thinks it can’t be and lowers his gaze for looking at Celia’s body clad in a really complicated magic formation.

    Helmut orders the knights to capture Celia before she does anything strange. Celia runs towards one knight, uses a throwing technique on him and steals the wooden sword he was equipped with to make sure they didn’t kill her by accident. All of the knights make tense faces at the same time and Celia chants her next spell “thy wish become parabellum”, the magic imbued in the magic swords for strengthening the body, the knights quickly enhance their bodies with magic and run towards Celia but she is faster, she leaves the encirclement and faces the group of knights with the fortress’ wall at her back, the knights’ commander orders to unsheath their swords. Helmut tells the knights to hurt Celia just at the level where she won’t die. Celia runs towards the knights and begins to overwhelm them with her swordplay, footwork and physical ability that goes beyond human limits, making them faint one after the other. Renji is beginning to get some interest in fighting against Celia but Reiss looks at her coldly. He thinks there is no mistaking it now, that she is using several celestial magic spells, that in the past she already used a celestial magic different from the current ones but that he doesn’t know if she has always known the ones she uses now, that if she just can use the ones specialized to close quarters combat it won’t be a problem but…

Celia continues to knock out the knights one after the other while they curse because they can’t understand how they could lose against her. Reiss thinks simple knights won’t be enough against Celia despite their numbers and orders Arein and Lucci to support them and give their all to capture Celia, the two, who were already prepared to go instantly approach Celia, they try to cut her down but she dodges their attacks. Lucci tells Arein to surround and corner Celia and he puts himself behind her, then Lucci asks Celia what trick is she using, that she used to be slower. Celia doesn’t answer. Arein says he dislikes the atmosphere Celia is cladding herself in and asks what trick is she using. Lucci says they will know if they exchange attacks and attacks Celia again. Celia doesn’t try to stop Lucci’s sword with her wooden sword, it is obvious that it would be cut in two after all, and continues to dodge just with her footwork. Arein and Lucci attack from both sides but she keeps dodging with minimum movements. Arein and Lucci are beginning to get worried about Celia’s ability, they can’t grasp it at all. The three run around the fortress at a speed impossible for the knights but the two mercenaries didn’t get a hit in yet.

Helmut says that it is impossible, he asks what magic is she using. Helmut and Charles watch completely astonished how Celia overwhelms a group of seasoned warriors. Reiss thinks it is better to think of Celia as someone completely different from what he knew of the her until now, he asks himself if she is at the great hero level, he thinks it might be better to consider her strength to be familiar class. Reiss’ eyes are getting sharper, Reiss asks himself who did this, he thinks this might have happened after Rio defeated Renji in Rodania, he asks himself if it was Rio who made Celia like that, but he thinks it couldn’t have been him after all. Unlike usual, Reiss can’t grasp what is going on and is beginning to get anxious. Arein and Lucci are getting impatient with Celia’s dodging, Lucci curses at her while Arein says that the knights around them are getting in the way. Celia continues to use the knights for obstaculazing Lucci’s and Arein’s moves while thinking the difference in their weapons is painful, she complains in her mind because she just wanted to give the letter to helmut and be done with things. She asks herself if she can change the battle situation using magic while being wary of Reiss and Renji. She doubts about what to do, she doesn't know what Helmut’s side can make up once casualties appear. Celia resolves herself, she thinks now that it came to this…

Celia runs towards Helmut and he screams in surprise when he becomes the target. He prepares for Celia’s attack but Renji gets in between the two, he stops Celia’s sword with his halberd. Celia stays silent the moment the weapons lock, Renji says that Celia is an outrageous woman, that having to kill her honestly feels regretful. While Renji makes a relaxed smile, Helmut's surprised scream resounds behind him. Renji thinks that it is impossible, that she went and did it in front of him. Renji looks back and sees a stone pillar that has thrown Helmut in the air. Reiss soon understands that Celia has just used chantless magic. Celia creates another stone pillar below herself and throws herself towards Helmut. Renji, Arein and Lucci follow after Celia jumping through the fortress’ walls. When she sees the three surrounding her she says coldly that she turned things around. Right now Helmut is on the edge of the fortress’ exterior walls, a little push from Celia’s sword can throw him down at any moment. The other three are keeping their distance because of that. Arein tells Celia to try, that the moment she pushes Helmut off they will kill her, he asks Celia if honorable deaths are her thing. Celia says she just came to deliver a letter, that she will soon go back the moment she does that. Arein asks Helmut what will he do. Helmut decides to receive the letter while scared of the more than ten meter high fall.

Celia uses her free hand for taking out of her chest pocket two cylinders and gives one of them to Helmut. Helmut says he received it. Celia tells Helmut to open the letter and that she will read it aloud to make sure that there isn’t anything strange in the contents, then he will put his magic seal on it. Lucci asks Celia mockingly how does she pretend to read the letter with both hands occupied. Lucci thinks in her current condition Celia can’t do things as the costume dictates, reading one of the two identical letters to the addressee and then having the one to be taken back sealed and given back to her. Celia says that there is no problem because she memorized the letter word by word, that she will have Helmut seal the letter he has in hand first and she will have him seal too the one she has to take back after that. Lucci asks if it is for real. Celia says she will begin the reading now. Helmut looks silently at the letter in his hands at the same time. He confirms that there is no discrepancies between Celia’s words and the letter while fearing about falling down. Lucci asks if it is for real with an incredulous look when he realized that Celia told the truth. Arein tells Lucci that the ones that can do it will do it, that he is just an idiot and to be more alert.

Celia tells Helmut to pay special attention to the letter’s last clause. Helmut tells Celia to not mess around, he asks Celia if she thinks he will accept the conditions. Celia says she will transmit his words after her return, but that before that she will read the last clause and tells Helmut to be silent. Celia says aloud that Christina Beltrum declares here as the first in the line of succession to the throne. Helmut tells Celia to stop, he asks her if she thinks he will acknowledge that. Celia continues. Christina Beltrum declares her rise to the throne as the Beltrum Kingdom’s queen, her sovereignty will be shared with her father Philip Beltrum, she will prove her legitimacy with the Regalia entrusted to her by her father, as the Beltrum’s kingdom ruler she requests a dialogue with its other ruler Philip the third, due to the current chaos in the Beltrum kingdom she proposes Galarc’s castle as the meeting venue, Roland Claire, head of the Claire house is to the deliver the answer to these summons within a month of the day they were delivered, in case the earl doesn’t appear with the answer to the letter within the month, Philip Beltrum will be acknowledging her rise to the throne.

Helmut asks Celia if they want to divide the royal authority, if they want to make a country with two kings, he tells Celia to not mess with him, he asks Celia if rather than that if they aren’t hiding the Regalia after all. Celia says she has no official authority to answer that question, but that Regalia wasn’t stolen, that it was passed on legaly, that if he has any problem with the enthronement he has to appeal with the mechanisms prescribed in the national laws. Helmut groans frustratedly and silently, he thinks to himself full of anger that it was precisely because of this that he didn’t want to allow the Regalia’s use. Now as Celia said he has to follow the established procedures, that means that until her enthronement is proven invalid Christina has to be treated as a provisional ruler. Not even him the prime minister can skip the procedures despite his authority as the king’s representative, if he tries to deny it by force he will lose his legitimacy, he has no other option than following Christina’s plan here. Celia tells Helmut that she will also inform her majesty queen Christina of the fact that his side tried to put their hands on her and Helmut’s face tenses further. Celia tells Helmut to follow the flow of events described in the letter, that her father should already be back home, that he must give him the letter and have him take it to the Galarc Kingdom, then she tells Helmut to put his magic seal in the letter while putting force in the tip of her sword.

After some seconds of doubt Helmut presses his thumb on the magic formation in the paper while pouring magic power inside. Celia tells Helmut to seal the other one too, after Helmut is done Celia takes back one of the letters and puts it inside her pocket saying that she made sure of it. Helmut tells Celia to do as she pleases, that it is too late for saying those words. Celia tells Helmut that if he has any objections he can say them at the discussion venue, that she will leave now. Arein tells Celia that if they are done with their business he will have her be their opponent now. The three men surround Celia while thinking the real thing comes from now on and putting strength in their weapons. Celia bows and says that she will excuse herself with this and jumps down the wall, Lucci and the others try to jump after her but Celia chants her next spell “force wing”, two magic formations appear on Celia’s back and two wings of light grow from them, while the three men lose their words Celia flies away with the thrust of the current of light coming out from the wings on her back. Arein can’t help it but laugh watching Celia getting away from the fort. Lucci also laughs while saying that she became an outrageous woman. Renji also acknowledges Celia on his mind, he thinks he doesn’t understand why but that he doesn’t hate that type of strong woman. Reiss appears next to Renji and tells him that they will chase after Celia and tells Renji to kill her with his strongest technique, Renji asks Reiss what is he saying, he is surprised by Reiss sudden order, but rather than that, Celia is already more that one hundred meters away. Reiss tells Renji to hurry and that Celia needs to be erased here, then he picks up Renji’s body and takes flight after Celia while carrying him.

Celia realizes that Reiss is pursuing her, she tries to accelerate but Reiss does the same and tells Renji to release his attack the moment he gathered his magic power with a voice full of killing intent. Renji prepares his halberd while complaining about Reiss’ rough treatment, but despites his words he looks like he is having fun. Celia feels the magic power gathering behind her and looks back, she realizes the attack that Renji plans to use, panics and begins Durandal’s chant. Renji tells Reiss that he is ready to shoot whenever. Celia also finishes durandal’s chant and turns back to look at Renji then the two shoot their attacks at the same time, a light slash and cold air slash fly towards each other, they clash and create a huge shockwave at the same time that a great light covers their field of vision.

### Epilogue: A prophetic dream, or…

Miharu was seeing a dream, in her sleeping conscience Miharu knew she was in a dream, then she felt something nostalgic, a very nostalgic feeling, this is, this feeling is, who is that, Miharu tilts her head inside her dream, there is nothing in her field of vision, her field of vision is completely white, then someone tells to Miharu that it isn’t a dream. Miharu is surprised, the voice tells her again that it isn’t a dream. The voice tells Miharu that as scheduled 'that girl' is close by, allowing the unknown voice to interfer with Miharu's consciousness, but there is no time so she has to listen well. Miharu asks the voice’s owner their identity, but they don’t answer, the voice tells Miharu that one day she will be asked to make a decision, an important one, that she will have a very important decision forced on her, that at that time she will think the choice is obviously a bad choice, that she will feel that that choice is absolutely a mistake. Miharu asks the voice what it is saying. The voice tells Miharu that it strongly recommends the choice that she will think it is absolutely wrong, then the voice disappears. In exchange of it now Miharu hears a familiar masculine voice, the voice greets her, Miharu thinks the voice belongs to … the voice tells her that they met again. Then Miharu wakes up with an scared voice, she quickly rises the upper half of her body in her dark room, she asks herself why, she feels like she heard Takahisa’s voice. Miharu looks with fear around the room but she just sees Aki sleeping in the bed next to hers. Miharu pats her chest while sighing with relief and goes back to sleep.

### Next volume's preview

With the things left behind by the seventh wise God Lina as a foothold, Celia awakens as an ancient magic user. Even Reiss was surprised by the hardness of her struggle, she went more than toe to toe with the hero of ice. Meanwhile, what awaits Rio, who left on a trip with Sora in search of a loophole in God’s rules, is…?

“Could it be that the condition for a hero to become able to pull out his power is…”

精霊幻想記23.春の戯曲, Seirei Gensouki 23 - Haru no Gikyoku, Spring’s drama.

Scheduled to be released this winter.

## Short stories.

1. Toranoana - The dragon king's bed: Sora is overjoyed about being able of reuniting with her lord after one thousand years. The next morning, when she opened her eyes Sora was looking at the bed Rio had just used...
2. Melonbooks - Arabian☆queen: By Flora's request Christina will participate in the play "Aladdin and the magic lamp". But her oufit is more daring than she imagined!?
3. Bookwalker - The dragon king's cooking: Sora who is moved by the deliciousness of the food made by Rio. Rio who looks with a smile at the Sora who can eat quite well despite her small size.

## Gallery

V22 coverV22 Drama CD coverV22 clean coverV22 Drama CD clean coverDrama CD box illustrationV22 bonus tapestryV22 SS Clean Bonus IllustrationEh... Ri-?...Thank you, Suzune, Komomo, Aki.Rio using Yamata-no-Orochi Final FormTakatrash apologizes... to the wrong person!Miharu and Aki reconcile.Loli Dragon uses intimidation... It's super adorable!The Dragon King can only be with me!Hiroaki begins to mature... 3rd sign of the apocalypse.Sora enjoys Miharu's cookies.Charlotte gets jealous.Celia joins the battle!