A white ceiling came into focus.
All she could sense were the smell of disinfectant and a heavy silence.
Celestia immediately realized she was in the Academy infirmary.
"…Ngh."
As she tried to sit up, she winced at a sharp, jolting pain. Her memories were a chaotic blur. If she recalled correctly, she had been attacked while returning to her family’s territory—
"Tia! You’re awake!"
It was Reiji who came rushing to her side. His face was haggard, and dark circles were etched deeply under his eyes. He must have stayed by her bedside without rest, waiting for her to wake.
"Reiji…? Why am I at the Academy…?"
"It was too far to carry you all the way to the Rosemilian manor, so we brought you here. The Academy Director offered his help once I explained the situation."
"I see… Thank you, Reiji."
Celestia let out a long breath and checked her body. She was alive. When she had been captured by that man in the white cloak, she had truly prepared herself for the end.
"As soon as I heard you’d been taken, I met up with the Knights of House Rosemilian," Reiji continued. "We tracked the traces of mana left on the road and searched the forest with the knights until…"
"With my father’s knights…"
"The place where we found you was the ruins of a fortress deep in the forest. There were people there wearing indigo cloaks."
"Indigo?" Celestia voiced her confusion. "Was it not a white cloak?"
"White? No, I didn't see anyone like that," Reiji replied, tilting his head.
A knock sounded at the door. When Reiji called out for them to enter, an elderly man stepped into the room.
It was the Academy Director.
As the head of the Royal Magic Academy, he was a man the students trusted more for his peerless skill as a mage than for his administrative title. Rumor had it he had mastered First Rank Magic. With a wealth of knowledge backed by long years of experience, the Director spoke with a grim expression.
"Based on Reiji-kun’s report, I looked into the group that abducted you, Lady Celestia. A group in indigo cloaks… I found similar descriptions in ancient texts." The Director stood at the foot of her bed, his gaze stern. "I cannot be certain, but they may be the organization known as The Order."
"The Order…?"
"Indeed. A group driven by a dangerous ideology that seeks the destruction of magic civilization."
Why would such a group target her? For ransom? Or perhaps… for the magic dwelling within her?
"Reiji-kun, you did well to rescue Lady Celestia. You truly are a young man of great promise."
"It was nothing, Director. I was just… desperate."
Reiji accepted the Director’s praise with a complicated look. He felt he had only barely made it in time—that sense of lingering frustration was plain on the boy's face.
…That’s right. How exactly was I saved?
A faint memory resurfaced in Celestia’s mind. In the depths of that desperate situation, a single flash of a blade had cut through the darkness. Someone had come for her. Someone had fought to protect her.
That back had been so broad, yet somehow nostalgic. And that firm, gentle voice… that comforting presence had surely been—
"…How is Master Claude?"
Reiji’s eyes flared with sudden passion at the mention of that name.
"That guy… he was the mastermind."
"…What?"
"He set the whole thing up!"
Celestia couldn't process what Reiji was saying. But Reiji was at his breaking point; his anger poured out of him like water through a burst dam.
"That guy… Claude! When he heard you’d been kidnapped, do you know what he was doing?" Reiji’s voice trembled with rage, regret, and pure contempt. "He was eating! Without so much as a twitch of his eyebrow, he sat there elegantly slicing meat! He dismissed us as 'noisy' while we were panicking!"
"…That’s a lie."
"It’s not a lie! He said it himself! He said he was 'bored'! That 'that woman was too tedious to stand by his side'…!"
Having said that much, Reiji suddenly caught himself. He bowed his head to Celestia, who sat with her lips pressed into a thin, tight line.
"…I’m sorry. I shouldn't have said that."
"…No."
His display of consideration only made the story more believable. In truth, there was no reason to doubt it; that claim of being "bored" was exactly what Claude had told her himself when he broke their engagement.
"Lady Celestia. Do you remember anything else?" the Director asked cautiously.
Celestia spoke of one of the fragments she had recalled. "It’s hazy, but… I think the person who saved me held a strange sword. It changed its form as they fought…"
"Hmm. Then it was undoubtedly Reiji-kun." The Director turned his gaze toward the boy.
Reiji nodded. "I obtained a Holy Sword when I fought Claude. Look—this is it, right?"
Reiji’s shoulders emitted a golden radiance. Suddenly, a pair of divine twin swords appeared in his hands.
"The Holy Sword changes shape when it awakens. It was just a single blade at first."
Reiji’s voice held a hint of excitement. When the prophecy first named him as the Savior, he hadn't truly felt the weight of it, but now that the Holy Sword had manifested in his hands, the reality was finally sinking in.
"According to the records, a Holy Sword is a weapon bestowed by the gods. It is a blade that responds to its wielder’s spirit and alters its form," the Director explained. "Currently, the only possessor of a Holy Sword in this world is Reiji Wolf-kun."
There was no doubt that her savior had been the wielder of the Holy Sword. And Reiji was the only wielder. The contradictions in her mind were being resolved with simple logic.
…Then whose back was that? The back she had mistaken for Claude’s? Where had that sense of nostalgia come from? That kindness? Had it all been a hallucination?
"Claude von Einhart was the mastermind. However, it is unfortunately unrealistic to arrest him on circumstantial evidence alone. He is the heir to a Dukedom; any attempt would surely be suppressed."
"But, Director! Does that mean he won't be held accountable for anything?"
"It is frustrating, I know. For now, we have no choice but to remain vigilant."
Reiji’s face twisted in anger. Celestia listened to their conversation blankly, feeling as though she were hearing about someone else's life.
That night, the moonlight woke Celestia.
She had fallen asleep in the infirmary, but the unfamiliar bed had made for a restless night. Despite being kidnapped, she had no physical injuries to speak of and felt physically recovered. Rather than mental exhaustion, she found herself wide awake, her mind racing with too many thoughts to count.
The moonlight flickered for a moment. A single butterfly fluttered through a gap in the window.
Celestia sat bolt upright. This butterfly… this magic…
"Master Claude!"
Without pausing to dress properly, she followed the butterfly out the window. The black butterfly fluttered ahead, leading her onward. Running barefoot through the night, Celestia remembered her days with Claude.
It was during a magic practice session they’d shared. In the gardens of the Einhart manor, Claude had been smiling gently.
—Tia, look. I applied Dark Shot, and it turned into this.
—My, what a lovely butterfly.
—I’m not fond of the dark attribute since it’s so ominous, but this is beautiful. It looks like a swallowtail butterfly.
—A swallowtail butterfly?
—Forget I said anything.
It was the same butterfly he had shown her back then. It was the magic from the days they had spent happily together. Claude remembered those peaceful times. If so, they could start over. Even if he was acting strangely now, he could still come back to his senses.
Believing that, she ran—
"So, you came."
Claude was waiting in a narrow back alley of the Royal Capital. He glared at her with eyes that treated her like garbage. At the sight of him, the hope inside Celestia withered. She had to say something. She had to speak before he could open his mouth—before he could disappoint her even further.
"…Master Claude. I heard from Reiji. He said you were involved in what happened."
"Oh? He’s sharper than I thought."
Readily. All too readily, Claude confirmed it.
"Will you not deny it?"
"Deny it? Heh… for what possible reason?" Claude chuckled darkly. "Celestia. You’ve been hiding it all this time, haven't you? The Secret Rank Magic dwelling within you."
"Wh—!?"
Celestia’s heart stopped. That was her secret—one she had never shared with anyone but her family. The cursed chain that kept her locked in a cage. How did he know? She hadn't told him yet. He had betrayed her right before she had the chance—
"That is what The Order was after. And I, too, found myself interested." Claude took a step closer. Celestia retreated a step in fear. "Did you know? Secret Rank Magic… can be extracted from a corpse."
Within Celestia, the world came crashing down.
Ah… this person is my enemy.
The realization made everything else fall into place. Had his change of heart over the past year—his kindness—all been for this moment?
Celestia slowly pointed a finger at the pitch-black butterfly. She would not let him defile those memories any longer. As she poured her fury into her mana, the butterfly shattered into black particles.
"…What did you just do?"
"This is my Secret Rank Magic." Celestia smiled weakly at her own foolishness. She never thought she would reveal her secret like this. "Its name is Lost. It is magic that nullifies magic."
That should be enough for him to understand. Claude was vile, but he was not stupid. As expected, Claude began to laugh, sounding genuinely amused.
"Hahahaha! No wonder you kept it hidden! That magic of yours could bring down civilization itself!"
Precisely. That was why it could never be made public. In this age, magic was woven into the fabric of life, from cooking to laundry. Celestia’s magic invalidated all of it. It was a power that could destroy society.
"I don't know what you’re planning. But if you try to harm us again… I will be your opponent with this magic."
"The sheltered little lady makes quite a declaration. Fine then—try to stop me along with Reiji!"
Claude laughed as if her defeat were already a foregone conclusion.
"Claude!"
She felt no obligation to use his title any longer. Celestia stepped toward him. She knew she couldn't win yet. In her current state, she couldn't even defeat the version of Claude that had fought Reiji in the Chamber of Prophecy. But she could no longer contain her passion—the mountain of disappointment and the pain of a betrayed heart needed to scream at this man.
Slap!
She struck his cheek with all her strength.
"You’re the lowest of the low!"
In that moment, Celestia felt their final severance. She would never trust this man again. Yet, for some reason… the man before her met her rejection with a look of satisfaction. As if those were the very words he had been waiting to hear.
"…Yeah. I know."
Claude turned on his heel. Celestia watched his receding back.
Why? Why, even though she hated him so much… did his back look so lonely?
『Hey, are you all right?』
"About what?"
『Your right arm. You’re dripping blood.』
I only noticed it when Zest spoke. It seemed I had been unconsciously clenching my right fist so hard that my nails had sliced into my palm. It looked gruesome. But… strangely, it didn't hurt. Perhaps it was because I was hurting more somewhere else.
『You…』
Upon returning to the Einhart manor, I headed straight for the basement. No one was there to greet me in the dead of night. In fact, it didn't matter if it was day or night anymore; no one spoke to me here.
I closed the basement door and let out a long sigh. This was the only place left. The only place I could catch my breath.
『You’re completely drained. We should speak vocally for a while.』
"Why?"
『The telepathy we’re using consumes mana. You need to focus on recovery. Also, release my manifestation. It will be easier for you.』
"I guess so…"
I did as I was told, releasing Zest from my right arm. With a heavy clatter, the pitch-black guillotine materialized and rested on the floor.
"I suppose we’ll talk like this then."
『Heh… this brings back memories.』
I don't actually like talking to Zest out loud. From an outsider's perspective, I just look like a lunatic muttering to himself. But it didn't matter. There was no one else in this basement.
"…I hope Tia stays on her guard."
『She will. You made sure of that.』
The claim that Secret Rank Magic could be extracted from a corpse was merely a theory Zest and I had developed regarding The Order’s goals. According to the future I saw in the Master Eye, Celestia had been murdered by them. They had to have a reason.
"I just hope she stays vigilant against them."
House Rosemilian wasn't foolish. Celestia’s security would surely be tightened from now on.
『…Do you truly intend to shoulder everything alone?』 Zest asked suddenly. 『This path is far too steep. You’re throwing your life away to save everyone… and yet everyone calls you a traitor.』
"Don't say it out loud. It’s depressing." I wasn't invincible. When I was hurt, it stung just as much as anyone else. "The one who will eventually shoulder everything isn't me—it’s Reiji. That’s why I can endure this."
I was the only person in the world who knew what was coming.
"One day, Reiji will have to carry the fate of the world on his back. So, for now, I don't mind carrying this much for him."
『…Is it not painful?』
"Of course it is." I wish he wouldn't ask the obvious. "But it’s better than Tia dying. Tia, Reiji, Chesa, my father, my mother… compared to losing all of them, playing the villain is a small price to pay. If Reiji is the flame of hope that saves the world, I will be his kindling. I’ll make him stronger than anyone."
『…You’re a fool.』
"Sorry for dragging you into a fool’s errand."
『Hmph.』 Zest let out a dry laugh. 『I can hardly leave a fool to his own devices, can I?』
"Thanks for that."
I truly did find him reliable. I’d only admit that now, while our telepathic link was down.
"…Sorry, I’m getting sleepy."
『Rest. You’ve earned it.』
I took him up on that. As I closed my eyes, the day’s events flickered through my mind. …Tia had been crying. When she slapped me, she had tears in her eyes. My cheek throbbed with the memory of the blow, but I knew she was the one truly in pain.
My consciousness drifted. I was afraid of how my heart would feel when I woke up. But I couldn't stop.
I will be his Proud Stepping Stone…
『…He’s out.』
Zest watched Claude as he lay there in a deep, silent sleep. He thought back to the moment they had met. When he first learned he had been created specifically as a foil, he had thought it was some cruel joke. He had resented Claude, blaming the boy for his own existence.
But look at him now.
This boy worked harder than anyone. He loved the world more than anyone and was trying to save its people more than anyone else. The boy lying there, battered and broken, was no mere foil.
This man was a true hero.
『…Gods. Thank you for leading me to this man.』
It was an honor. To be used by a man like this was a source of great pride. Zest watched over the sleeping hero’s profile.
Then—
With a slow, agonizing creak, the door that should have remained locked swung open.
A girl stepped into the basement.
Her eyes were clouded with a thick, murky darkness.