"—Who is Titania?"
Luna asked the question with a slight tilt of her head.
It was a question I hadn't expected.
A chill ran through me, as if a cold hand had gripped the depths of my heart, and my mind went blank for a moment.
I had only ever exchanged words with Titania once. It was in Regrif Territory last year, when I had gone to investigate a labyrinth at the request of Count Eddington. Even then, it was nothing more than a fleeting encounter.
As a result, most of what I knew about Titania's temperament and nature was based on inferences from stories Luna had told me. Whenever she spoke of Titania, she had always smiled so happily.
And yet, that same girl was now looking down with a sorrowful expression.
"Why...? I shouldn't even know her... so why does hearing that name make my chest ache like this...?"
Luna clutched at her chest, her voice trembling on the verge of tears.
'Pixie, what is the meaning of this...?'
Using [Seirei Command], I spoke to the fairy who was always by Luna's side.
'...Orun, I... I thought you knew. I thought you knew the Queen's footprints were being lost.'
Though Pixie's small voice wavered, it was tinged with a quiet note of reproach.
"...Her footprints are being lost?"
As the words escaped me, Pixie continued in a strained voice.
'...Cavadele... he used his special ability, [Equivalent Exchange], to rewind the time of this world.'
"I know that."
The rewinding of time was the incident that occurred when I was defeated by the Cyclamen Cult in Tsutrail. My grandpa—Cavadele Evans—had triggered it by trading his very existence.
'...Cavadele offered his existence and ten years' worth of footprints as the price. That is why... everyone perceives him as "someone who died ten years ago."'
I understood that much.
Grandpa had once been renowned as a prodigy magic artificer. However, there were those who resented him, leading to his persecution and eventual isolation. The public narrative was that he had taken his own life, unable to endure the environment.
In reality, he hadn't died. He had come to Tsutrail and watched over me while running a small general store. Before time was rewound, there were at least a few people who knew he was alive.
But after the rewind, even those who should have known better believed he had died a decade ago. I had assumed that was simply the price of turning back the clock.
'...But that alone wasn't enough. That is why... the Queen also offered up her footprints from a long, long time ago... along with the very mana that composed her being.'
So that’s how it was.
Grandpa had paid with his existence and his past traces. If Titania had paid a price as well, it stood to reason the nature of the sacrifice would be the same.
'...The fact that she met Luna when she was small... the words they shared... the Queen paid for all of it.'
Luna looked up with a start.
"...I... I met Titania before?"
'...Yes. That is why you feel so sad right now, Luna... even if you don't understand why.'
"..."
Luna looked back down, clutching her chest again.
As I searched for the right words to say to her, she turned her gaze toward me. Her eyes were sorrowful, yet they held a spark of determination.
"...Orun-san. If you don't mind... could you tell me? What kind of person... was Titania?"
I caught my breath for a second. Her voice was still shaking, but she was trying to look forward.
"...Alright."
I felt that I had to be the one to tell her.
"Most of what I know about Titania is what I heard from you, Luna, but I did meet her once myself. Do you remember when we went to Regrif Territory with my disciples for Count Eddington? It was then—"
Luna listened quietly as I told the story, nodding and offering small responses but never once interrupting. I could tell she was trying to absorb every single word I said.
When I finished, she spoke softly.
"...Thank you."
The words were faint. Despite her gratitude, her expression was still clouded with confusion.
It was understandable. What I had told her were things she herself had told me in the past, but to her current self, they were "memories" that carried no sense of reality. You couldn't restore the shape of something lost with words alone.
Even so, she was trying to reach for the fragments left inside her.
"...It really is strange. The more I hear, the more restless my heart feels. Even though I have no memory of it at all..."
Luna murmured, gently resting a hand over her heart. She closed her eyes, as if trying to confirm a sensation.
"But... I'm glad I asked. To my current self, my childhood memories were only ever painful. But the truth is that there were happy times spent with Titania, too. Knowing that alone is enough..."
She managed a small smile, and I found myself unable to find a proper response. When I thought of the loss and pain hidden behind that smile, any words I could offer felt hollow.
The truth is, I should have protected this before this new future even began.
I’d be lying if I said I didn't feel that way. But voicing it felt like it would just be an excuse.
"...Luna."
I looked away slightly, gazing up at the sky. Even with my memories restored, the powerlessness I felt back then hadn't disappeared. But what was different now was...
"...I don't think the emotions you're feeling right now are fake. If you feel sad or lonely... then you haven't lost everything. There’s something still there inside you. I lost my memories once, too. I didn't realize it at the time, but looking back now, I feel like the important things stayed with me."
Luna’s eyes widened at my words.
"...You don't have to force yourself to remember. You can find the shape of those memories at your own pace, one step at a time."
Luna took a soft breath and nodded. Doubt still lingered on her face, but more than that, there was a clear will to face the truth.
Even if the memories were gone, the feelings remained somewhere. And I believed that by sharing those feelings, they would eventually sprout again.
That was why I wanted to be the one to help her find them.
Thank you for reading to the end.
I have two announcements for today!
1. Book Version Volume 9 is out today!
In the light novel version, I’ve made extensive revisions and corrections from the web version to better depict the flow of the story and the characters' emotions.
Furthermore, it includes completely new, exclusive stories such as an episode featuring Selma and the disciples' entrance exam. I’d be delighted if you picked up a copy!
2. The latest anime news has been released!
In addition to the main PV, a wealth of information regarding the theme song, cast, and key visuals is now available.
You can check the details on the official anime website, the official X account (@kiyou_bimbou), or via my activity reports here. Please take a look!