"……Where... am I...?"
When Luna came to, she was standing in an unfamiliar place.
Before her stretched a chalk-white horizon, devoid of any obstacles, reminiscent of a frozen tundra. Above, the sky shimmered with the faint, flickering colors of dawn, while further up, a night sky like a deep void spread out.
This was the Hidden World.
In a silence where even the wind, sounds, and her own heartbeat seemed to recede into the distance, her own existence was the only thing that felt clear.
"I am sorry for bringing you here so suddenly."
A nostalgic voice reached her ears from behind.
Luna turned around slowly.
Standing there was a woman completely steeped in white. Her clothes, her hair, her skin, her eyes—everything was so pure that it seemed to melt into the light, as if snow-light itself had taken human form. She possessed a fragility that suggested she might vanish if touched, yet she radiated a warmth that felt as though it could envelop the entire world.
"…………"
Luna's lips trembled, but no words came out. The feelings piled deep within her chest overflowed before she could speak.
"It has been a long time—"
The Fair Lady of White Chalk smiled softly. However, a touch of hesitation lingered in her gaze. After a brief pause, she spoke again.
"Nice to meet you, Luna."
At those words, Luna shook her head slightly.
"……It is not 'nice to meet you'."
Luna finally managed to weave the words as her eyes welled with tears. Hearing this, the Fair Lady of White Chalk widened her eyes.
"…………Ruu-ko."
Tears streamed down Luna's cheeks. She ran forward without hesitation.
"Titania!"
Luna threw herself into the woman's chest. Burying her face there, her tears burst forth like a broken dam.
"I'm sorry...! I'm so, so sorry...!"
Her voice, thick with sobs, bled into the white world.
"I... I had forgotten about you, Titania...! Even though you were so important to me... even though I should have never forgotten...!"
Her trembling hands gripped the hem of Titania's clothes.
"When I remembered, my heart felt like it was being crushed... I... I felt so terrible..."
Inarticulate sobs took over, and her voice cut off. Titania quietly stroked her head.
"It's all right, Ruu-ko," she said, her voice full of affection. "I have no intention of blaming you for forgetting. After all, you made it all the way here to find me."
Each time her fingertips combed through Luna's hair, a white light shimmered faintly.
"When the world's time was rewound, I prepared myself for my own death. I thought I would never be able to exchange words with you again. And yet, here I am, able to hear your voice. I am able to touch you like this, Ruu-ko. That alone makes me so happy I could cry."
Titania's voice trembled.
"Thank you, Ruu-ko. For coming to see me once more."
Titania's embrace tightened slightly. Their shadows overlapped as light shone into the white world. In the night sky, countless stars sparkled, falling over them like a rain of blessings.
◇
Once the tears had subsided and they had both regained their composure, Titania turned a gentle gaze toward Luna’s back.
"……You were always by Ruu-ko’s side. To be honest, I didn't think you would fulfill my wish so faithfully."
Prompted by her words, Luna looked back as well. There stood the Fairy, Pixie, who had always stayed close to her. Luna immediately sensed Titania's intent and whispered softly.
"——Fairy Manifestation: Fairia."
With that quiet murmur, the surrounding air vibrated. Countless glimmers of light gathered around Pixie, flowing like the wind and dancing like flower petals before sketching out a single shape.
When the light converged, a White Chalk Girl stood in Pixie's place. Her appearance was so similar to Titania's that one could tell at a glance she was Titania's daughter. Pixie stared at her hands and feet, testing her new physical form.
"……This... is... me...?"
Having gained a body for the first time, Pixie let out a voice mixed with surprise and wonder. Titania caught her breath at the sight.
"To think you could even perform Fairy Manifestation..."
"Fufu. Have you forgotten? You were the one who taught me this, Titania."
Luna smiled faintly.
—"Ruu-ko, the last thing I can give you is the sensation of this Fairy Manifestation. It will undoubtedly become your strength in the future. So, do not forget the feeling of my manifestation now. Even if your memories of today are lost."
Those were the words Titania had left for Luna shortly before the world's time was rewound, back when she had manifested with Oliver's help. That sensation, which had been lost beyond the horizon of oblivion, was now vividly etched in Luna's mind.
"……I see. So I did leave something proper behind for you, Ruu-ko."
With a happy smile, Titania stepped forward. She approached the White Chalk Girl and placed a hand gently on her shoulder.
"Pixie, thank you for protecting Ruu-ko all this time. Because you were there, she didn't have to be alone. I am truly grateful."
Pixie lowered her eyes for a moment, then looked up with a smile.
"……I don't need gratitude. ……Because it was... fun. ……Queen, you said it yourself, right? That I could act freely, as I felt..."
Pixie continued to speak quietly, opening her heart.
"……I've seen so many things with Luna. The changing of the seasons, people's smiles, their tears, the good and the bad—everything. If the Queen hadn't given birth to me, I wouldn't have had this chance. ……That's why I'm grateful to you."
Pixie paused for a moment, then beamed.
"Thank you for giving birth to me, Queen. ……No—Mother."
Titania's eyes flew open in shock, and then they slowly filled with tears.
"……I never imagined the day would come when I would hear those words..."
The sky of the Hidden World swayed, as if the world itself were weeping with them. Faint Particles of Light began to drift away from Titania's body.
"……Titania?" Luna gasped.
Titania looked at her own hands with a serene smile.
"……It seems I've reached my limit." Her voice was calm, devoid of any fear. "Tell me, Ruu-ko. Do you know what happens at the end of a Fairy's life?"
At the sudden question, Luna cast her gaze down sadly.
"……Yes. I have heard that they leave behind Magic Stones called Seirei Eyes... to serve as a light for others."
Titania narrowed her eyes happily. "Correct."
She stepped closer to Luna and reached out to touch Luna's hair ornament. As her fingertips brushed it, she slowly poured the mana that constructed her being into the accessory.
A faint light dripped into the ornament, turning its color Titania-colored. Titania gazed at the glowing gem with nostalgia.
"……After being defeated by the Evil God, I saw my comrades and friends off one by one... Having decided to be a bystander, I was lonely for hundreds of years. But you see, the one who saved me—was you, Ruu-ko."
Tears streamed down Luna's cheeks once more. "Titania..."
"I am truly grateful. Do not forget—I will be watching over you forever."
Titania's voice was as soft as a breeze. Luna nodded desperately through her tears.
"……Yes."
Titania then turned to Pixie.
"Pixie, you are no longer bound by my wishes. From now on, live for yourself—exactly as you please."
Pixie blinked, then smiled brightly. "……I understand. I will enjoy my life to the fullest."
Titania nodded with satisfaction. Then, as if remembering a final task, she let out a small breath.
"……Ah, that's right. There was one promise I hadn't fulfilled."
"A promise...?" Luna tilted her head.
Titania smiled bashfully. "I haven't told you why I call you 'Ruu-ko' yet, have I?"
Luna blinked.
"The character for 'ko' is composed of 'beginning' and 'end'. In other words, it signifies a single life—a whole life. I was taught this by your ancestor, Stella. She wished to give that character to her own child, but... that wish was never granted. That is why I carried on her feelings and called you, Stella's descendant, 'Ruu-ko'."
Her voice was quiet, but it carried the weight of centuries. Luna smiled through her tears.
"……In that case, Titania, you have fulfilled my ancestor's wish."
"Fufu... it wasn't anything so grand."
Titania laughed softly. Her body was now almost entirely dissolved into light. Luna hurriedly reached out, but her hand passed right through Titania's form.
"……Titania!"
"I—I will carry your feelings and my ancestor's feelings with me! I will live my life to the absolute fullest! So that when we meet again in heaven, I can hold my head high and tell you about it...! So—!"
Luna's voice was choked by sobs. Titania gazed at her, her eyes soft and narrow.
"……That's right. Today is a special day, after all."
"…………Special...?"
"Yes. Today is October 1st. It is your birth month, Ruu-ko. And it is the day you turn twenty. In the old era, one was considered an adult at twenty. As of today, you have officially become an adult. You will be fine without me now."
Her voice was overflowing with motherly love.
"Titania..."
Titania smiled one last time and nodded quietly.
"Ruu-ko... Pixie... You two are my pride. I will wish for your happiness from above, forever."
With those final words, Titania's body scattered into light. Particles like white feathers melted into the starry sky. In the ensuing silence, Luna slowly touched her hair ornament. Residing there was a faintly glowing white gem—the Seirei Eyes.
Pixie moved to Luna's side. Despite the tears on her face, Luna smiled.
"……Thank you, Titania. I will take everything you taught me and carry it into the future."
In the sky of the Hidden World, the stars shimmered. They illuminated the two of them, turning their parting into a blessing from the heavens.