Hellfire bathed the cave in a sinister crimson glow.
The flames erupting from Licia’s palms were seconds away from consuming Sera.
“...Hey, it’s all right if I burn you to ash too, isn’t it?”
There was no reply.
Sera simply stood there, paralyzed. Even the thin sword she had been clutching had slipped from her fingers, clattering to the floor.
“...”
Licia unleashed the flames.
She did so without a shred of hesitation or mercy.
Yet, just before the fire reached its target, the thin sword began to glow of its own accord, pulsing with an indescribable light.
The flames vanished.
“...What?”
Licia’s eyes widened.
She tried again—this time with even more intense fire.
The result was the same. The sword reacted, and the flames were snuffed out.
“Don’t mess with me...”
Her voice shook with pure, unadulterated rage. She wanted to kill her, but she couldn’t. She wanted to incinerate her, but she couldn't. That simple fact grated on her nerves like a serrated blade.
“You!”
Licia struck her across the cheek with all her might, but Sera didn't even attempt to defend herself.
“I’m sorry...” a small, hollow voice whispered.
“I’m sorry...”
“Shut up.”
“I’m sorry...”
“I told you to shut up!!”
Licia’s scream echoed through the cavern.
Despite the outburst, Sera continued to apologize through her tears.
“I’m sorry...”
“I’m sorry...”
“I’m sorry...!”
She was like a broken doll, repeating the same mechanical phrase over and over.
Malice swirled within Licia’s chest. Forgiveness was impossible. This woman had harmed Luca Noctille. She had stolen the light from his world. Licia wanted to burn her until not even a speck of ash remained.
However, the warmth in her arms pulled her back from the edge of that impulse.
“...Luca.”
His body was limp, devoid of all strength. His breathing was shallow, his consciousness gone.
And beneath those closed eyelids, there was nothing left.
Licia’s throat tightened painfully.
“Luca...?”
There was no answer.
No. No, no, no.
She couldn't accept this.
“...!”
Choking back her tears, Licia glared at Sera.
“Can you heal him?”
“...Eh?”
“Healing Magic,” Licia demanded, her voice trembling. She didn't know if it was from rage toward the girl before her or the sheer terror of losing Luca.
“Can you use it?”
Sera cast her gaze downward.
“Only a little...”
“How much?”
“Cuts... minor fractures... only things like that...”
It wasn't enough. Not nearly enough. These wounds were far beyond that level.
“Useless...!”
The word spat from Licia’s mouth. Sera didn't retaliate; she simply stood there with her head bowed, hot tears spilling onto the cavern floor.
It was then that something flickered through Licia’s mind.
Fragments of knowledge and sensations she shouldn't have known—yet they were undeniably a part of her now. The blessings and miracles of the Saint.
“...That’s right.”
Licia’s eyes widened.
“I...”
She was Nana’s other half. She could feel Nana’s soul.
And she could feel the power Nana once held.
“It’s still there...!”
It was a spark of hope. Faint, but real.
Licia pulled Luca’s body close and placed her hands over his. She began to squeeze out every last drop of her mana, leaving nothing behind.
“Please...”
A light was born—a warm, gentle radiance. It was a miracle that enveloped life itself.
Sera looked up, her expression changing.
“Me too...!”
She placed her trembling hands over Licia’s. Their mana merged, and the light intensified.
Lacerated skin knit back together, and the bleeding stopped. The wounds vanished. His breathing stabilized.
Yet, when the light finally faded, Licia realized the truth.
“...Why?”
His wounds were gone. His body was restored. His life was no longer in danger.
And yet...
“Why won't they come back...?”
Only there. Truly, only in that one place, the loss remained.
Luca’s sight would not return. External injuries were one thing, but neither of them had the technical mastery to regenerate an organ as complex as a human eye.
Licia’s shoulders shook. Her mana was spent. Her body was at its limit. She was out of options.
“In that case,” Sera whispered.
“...Use my eyes.”
Silence fell over the cave. Licia’s eyes narrowed into slits.
“...What?”
“I-I'm the one who took them,” Sera said, her voice cracking. “I'm the one who hurt him.”
“Shut up.”
“So—”
“Shut up.”
Licia’s mana wavered, turning volatile and dangerous.
“Do you honestly think you have the right to do that?”
Sera flinched, but for once, she didn't look away.
“I don't... I know I don't...” Her answer was immediate. “I don't expect to be forgiven, either...”
More tears fell.
“But... I want to apologize to Luca...”
Licia remained silent.
“So please, use them! Use my eyes...!”
After a long, heavy silence, Licia closed her eyes and let out a weary breath.
“...Fine.”
Her voice remained ice-cold. There was no forgiveness in her heart.
“But I’m giving mine as well.”
Sera looked up, stunned. “What...?”
“Just one wouldn't be enough, would it?” Licia let out a dry, exhausted chuckle. “One from me.”
She turned her gaze to Sera.
“And one from you.”
“...Yes.”
“This is,” Licia said with a small, brittle smile, “my own atonement for failing to protect him.”
At those words, Sera smiled through her tears.
“Yes...”
Both of them were, for a fleeting moment, imagining the exact same future.
Surely a boy like Luca would do anything for them if they sacrificed their very eyes for him. That was the kind of person he was. Once he woke up and learned the truth, if they only pleaded with him a little...
Everything had reached its breaking point.
As their lips twisted into distorted, crescent-moon smiles, a gripped knife gouged out the two jewels.