It was the morning of October 1st.
Sunlight filtered gently through the shoji, bathing the room in a soft glow. The autumn air was crisp and clear; from outside, the faint rustle of swaying leaves and the distant chirping of birds reached my ears.
Five days had passed since the night of our moon-viewing party.
The reconstruction of Kyokutou following the damage from the God Summoning incident was finished, and daily life had finally returned to its usual rhythm. Behind the scenes of the recovery efforts, Nagisa, Haruto-san, and the others had been busy identifying and apprehending those connected to the Cult. Piece by piece, the country was regaining its tranquility.
On that night of the moon-viewing, Luna had finally touched the Outside the Principles and become a Transcendent. The recoil from that breakthrough had kept her in a deep slumber ever since. We had been taking turns watching over her, and today, the duty fell to Fuuka and me.
Fuuka sat by the window, quietly enjoying tea and Japanese sweets. Her profile against the rising steam was serene, her expression softer than I was used to seeing. On the opposite side of the room, I leafed through a book to pass the time. Near the bed stood a fresh arrangement of flowers that Shion had brought just yesterday, their petals catching the morning light.
It was then that Fuuka spoke.
"She's waking up."
Her voice was quiet, but her eyes held absolute conviction. She must have seen Luna’s awakening through her Future Sight. I closed my book and moved to the bedside.
Luna’s fingertips twitched. Then, her long-closed eyelashes fluttered. Bathed in the morning sun, her eyes slowly drifted open.
"Good morning, Luna," I said softly.
For a moment, she stared at the ceiling with unfocused eyes. Eventually, her gaze drifted toward us.
"Good morning... Orun-san..."
Her voice was raspy after days of silence, but her words were clear. As she tried to sit up, Fuuka moved quickly to her side and gently supported her back.
"Don't push yourself. It will take a little longer for your body to fully wake up."
"Thank you, Fuuka-san..."
Luna took a small breath to steady herself and offered a weak smile.
"How are you feeling?" I asked.
"My head feels a bit... fuzzy. But my body is fine."
"You’ve been out for five days. Honestly, if you can move that much already, you’re doing great."
"Five days...?"
"Yeah. Today is October 1st."
Luna blinked in surprise. "So much time has passed..."
"The world outside has completely changed into the colors of autumn while you were out."
"I’ve caused everyone so much worry, haven't I?"
"Don't worry about that. More importantly, Luna, how much do you remember?"
At my question, Luna quietly closed her eyes. She knitted her brows as if tracing the threads of her memory.
"We were moon-viewing," she murmured lowly. "Everyone was laughing, and then..."
Her words trailed off, and her fingertips trembled slightly against the futon.
"Did you remember?" Fuuka asked, her voice soft and distant.
"That night, I touched the 'Outside.' I reached beyond the Wall of the Principles of Magic... to the true mana." Luna nodded and clasped her hands over her chest. "And then..."
She took a sharp breath, her voice trembling with emotion.
"I remembered Titania. I remembered everything I had forgotten about her."
The moment she spoke that name, the air in the room grew heavy with significance. Fuuka lowered her gaze in silence, and I placed a steadying hand on Luna’s shoulder.
"I see. You finally remembered. I'm glad."
Luna exhaled a long breath and nodded slowly.
"Yes. There are so many things I need to say to her. I want to go to the Phoenix Shrine right away."
A light of pure, unwavering determination dwelt in her eyes. She looked far stronger and clearer than she had before her slumber.
"I understand how you feel, but can you even stand?"
Luna sat up a bit further and shook her head. "I'm fine. I can do this."
Despite her words, her fingertips were still shaking. It would take more time for her strength to fully return after five days in bed, but her will was clearly set.
"All right. But first, let’s get some breakfast into you. It’s better to head to the Phoenix Shrine once we're properly prepared."
Luna nodded and gave a small smile. "Yes. I understand."
Outside the window, the autumn wind tossed the leaves, and the soft sunlight continued to pour in. Her profile, illuminated by that light, seemed to symbolize the start of a brand-new morning.
After breakfast, I began the trek up the Shrine Approach of the Sacred Mountain with Luna and Oliver.
The sky was high and clear, and the sunlight had begun to mellow. While a lingering trace of summer remained, the wind carried the distinct chill of autumn. The trees on the mountainside were dappled with gold and crimson, their dry leaves rustling pleasantly in the breeze.
Oliver walked in the lead, his back as broad as ever, while Luna followed slightly behind him, regulating her breathing. Her steps were a bit heavy, likely a result of being bedridden for so long.
"My body is... a little out of practice," she admitted with a strained smile.
"Just a little further," I encouraged.
Luna nodded and looked toward the path ahead. Her eyes were bright with anticipation rather than fatigue.
"By the way, Shion-san and Fuuka-san have already visited the Phoenix Shrine, haven't they?"
"Yeah. They both went once while you were asleep."
Luna caught her breath and looked toward Oliver’s back. "Then, Oliver-san, why didn't you go with them?"
Oliver glanced over his shoulder and shrugged. "No deep reason. I just figured you’d wake up soon, and I thought it’d be better if we all went together."
Luna laughed softly at his bluntness. "Hehe, is that so? Come to think of it, it was the three of us the first time we explored the Great Labyrinth of the South as well. This feels like a new beginning for me."
While we exchanged idle talk, the brilliant vermillion of a Torii Gate appeared ahead. Amidst the changing colors of the mountain, the structure stood out with vivid clarity.
"There it is."
"Yeah, almost there."
We eventually reached Tenrei Shrine. The moment we stepped into the precincts, the atmosphere shifted. The wind grew gentler, and the chirping of birds echoed from the shadows of the trees. Fallen leaves had begun to gather around the worship hall, and the sunlight filtering through the canopy painted mottled patterns on the stone path.
"Let's rest a moment," I suggested.
The two of them nodded. Luna sat on the stone steps to catch her breath while Oliver surveyed the grounds.
"The air feels different here," Oliver muttered.
"I agree. You can practically feel the history of this country."
Oliver offered a faint smile at my reply. "Now that you mention it, Orun, you said you wanted to learn about the history of the outside world, right?"
"Yeah. To be precise, I want to study 'culture'."
"Culture?"
"Yes. I believe culture is the manifestation of human existence—it’s the accumulation of people’s thoughts, values, and ways of life. That’s what I want to understand. To find the roots of those things, I have to go to the outside world."
"You’re as prone to overthinking as ever," Oliver said with a shrug.
"It’s just my nature."
We shared a laugh before a sudden breeze swept through the courtyard.
"Thank you for waiting. I’m ready now," Luna said, her strength seemingly restored.
"Alright, let's go."
We walked until we stood directly before the Torii Gate.
"This is the entrance to the Phoenix Shrine," I said. "Which of you wants to open the way?"
Luna stepped forward. "Please, let me. I want to confirm the sensation of shifting the Wall of the Principles of Magic again."
Her voice was firm with resolve.
"Understood. It's yours."
"No arguments here," Oliver added with a nod.
Luna stood before the Torii Gate and gently closed her eyes. The wind played with her hair as the mana around her grew dense. The spirits drifting about her danced in response to her will, swirling toward the gate.
Then, Luna’s lips moved in a silent command.
"Shift."
The air vibrated. The space within the Torii Gate began to shimmer like the surface of a disturbed pond. From the other side, a foreign presence flowed toward us, one so distinct it seemed to change the very quality of the air we breathed.
"I did it...!" Luna’s expression softened with relief.
"Let's go."
We stepped through the gate and entered the Phoenix Shrine.
"It's... incredible," Luna whispered, breathless.
Beside her, Oliver stared up at the shrine, seemingly lost for words.
"I'm speechless. So this is the Phoenix Shrine..."
"I can see why the ancients called this a Sanctuary," Luna added, her voice trembling with pure awe.
"This way, you two."
I led them deeper into the shrine. We entered the Inner Chamber—the room where the Crystal Ball was enshrined. Here, the air felt even more crystalline and pure.
"The room itself looks surprisingly normal," Oliver noted.
"It does," Luna agreed.
In the center of the room, a Crystal Ball sat atop a transparent pedestal. A faint, rhythmic light pulsed within its depths.
"That," I said, my voice turning serious, "is the Principles of Magic."
Luna and Oliver tensed as they slowly approached the pedestal. At that moment, the air shivered. There was no sound or flash of light; only a heavy pressure that brushed against our skin.
"Wait...?"
Immediately after Luna gasped, her figure vanished into thin air.
"Luna!?"
Oliver started to rush forward, but I caught him with one arm.
"Calm down. It’s okay."
"What do you mean, 'it's okay'!? She's gone!"
"Titania summoned her. She only wanted Luna."
At the mention of that name, Oliver’s panic faded into understanding.
"I see... Titania."
"Luna is finally reuniting with her right now."
I exhaled slowly and looked at the Crystal Ball. It continued to flicker with that pale, rhythmic light—as if a heartbeat were trapped inside the glass. We stood there in the silence of the sanctuary, waiting for Luna to return.