After the teasing finally subsided enough for Sora's soul to stabilize.
Cecilia excused herself.
"I'll leave you three to catch up properly," she said warmly, placing a gentle hand on sora's shoulder before departing. Her footsteps faded down the garden path, leaving behind a softer, more nostalgic atmosphere.
Eleanor clasped her hands, her golden eyes gleaming with genuine interest.
"Now then, my former student. It's been some time since you enrolled and began studying under Eden Academy's prestigious healers. I'm eager to see how much you've grown."
Sora straightened instinctively. The response had been ingrained into her body years ago.
Astra immediately moved aside, visible anticipation sparkling in her cerulean eyes. "Ooh, a practical demonstration."
The eastern garden possessed more than enough space for healing exercises—especially because this section of the estate had originally been designed specifically for Sora's early training.
Several crystalline flowers bloomed near the fountain, their petals faintly glowing with natural mana.
Eleanor raised one elegant hand. A light green magic formation unfolded silently beneath the flowers. Immediately, the petals dimmed. Their mana circulation slowed. Not damage—merely controlled deterioration. A test.
"Restore them," Eleanor instructed gently.
Sora nodded once.
Then—she closed her eyes.
The atmosphere changed instantly. The morning breeze softened. The surrounding mana stirred. Pure cyan luminance slowly began gathering around Sora's body like drifting sacred feathers. Her long white hair lifted gently behind her.
She brought both hands together before her chest.
""Litany of Grace"."
The chant left her lips softly. But the effect was breathtaking.
Cyan rings unfolded around her body one after another, rotating slowly like celestial halos. The surrounding life mana responded immediately, resonating with her voice as if reality itself wished to assist her healing.
Light poured from her fingertips—not blinding, but warm and gentle.
The flowers responded instantly. Wilted petals regained color. Cracked stems repaired themselves. Dim mana pathways reignited with radiant vitality.
But it did not stop there.
The healing light continued spreading through the surroundings. Flowers bloomed brighter. Grass straightened. The fountain water became clearer. Even the air felt fresher. For a brief moment, the entire eastern garden resembled a sanctuary blessed directly by the heavens.
Astra stared openly. Even after all these years, witnessing Sora use healing arts still felt unreal. Because ordinary healing magic repaired injuries. Sora's healing nurtured existence itself.
The spell faded gradually. Cyan particles dispersed into the wind like fragments of sunlight.
Silence returned.
Eleanor blinked once. Then smiled—a genuine smile filled with unmistakable pride.
"Hmm…" she nodded softly. "That was excellent."
Her golden eyes lingered on the revitalized flowers. "Sora, your proficiency in life-element harmonization has increased exponentially."
Astra nodded firmly, crossing her arms with unmistakable pride, "Well, with my junior sister's immeasurable affinity for life and light elements, I expect no less."
Sora immediately shook her head. "Teacher, you're overpraising me. I'm sure I still have much to learn before I could ever reach your level of healing proficiency."
Eleanor stared at her for two seconds. Then sighed with a fond exhaustion.
"Girl," she said wryly, "as always, you are far too humble." She stepped closer and lightly tapped Sora's forehead. "It's only a matter of time before you surpass me."
Sora blinked.
Eleanor smiled softly. "Don't forget," she said quietly, "Don't forget—you are 'The' Saintess. Someone born to heal."
"Exactly, junior sister." Astra stepped closer, her cerulean eyes bright with encouragement. "You should be more proud of yourself."
Then her expression shifted. Mischief appeared. "I'm sure your mysterious boyfriend would agree with me."
"S-Senior Sister!!"
Sora's malfunctioned instantly—a vibrant pink spread from her cheeks to her ears.
Astra laughed, the sound light and genuine.
"Geez, Sora…" Her expression shifted into something softer, almost nostalgic. "When you were still under Teacher's tutelage, you were so closed-off and single-minded."
Her smile turned gentler. "Now you're blushing like a shy girl from the slightest teasing." She tilted her head slightly. "You really have changed, huh?"
Sora's lips parted slightly—then closed again. Because she couldn't deny it. Not anymore.
Before meeting Null, her life had been moving toward something frighteningly cold. Purpose. Duty. Strength. Revenge. Even her kindness had begun carrying exhaustion beneath it.
But now—somewhere along the way—a strange boy from another world had barged into her carefully controlled existence and disrupted everything. And somehow, the world felt warmer because of it.
"…Senior sister," Sora mumbled weakly, cheeks pink again, "can we please not continue this topic…"
Astra laughed again before finally raising both hands in surrender. "Alright, alright. For now, I won't pester you." Her eyes sparkled with mischief. "But that doesn't mean I won't find out about your mysterious boyfriend eventually."
Sora knew this conversation absolutely isn't over forever but at least for now...
"By the way, Sora," Eleanor asked after a moment, "I heard the current first-year class at Eden Academy produced many exceptional prodigies. The most prominent golden generation in the last century, wasn't it?"
Sora nodded lightly. "Yes, Teacher." Her expression turned thoughtful. "There are quite a few exceptional classmates who have already risen to prominence." A small pause. "Some of them possess talent even comparable to mine."
Eleanor nodded calmly. "We watched the mid-term competition livestream." A faint smile touched her lips. "Your peers are extraordinary talents." Then her eyes sharpened slightly with interest. "And yes… there are indeed a few unrivaled talents on par with you."
Unexpectedly, Astra immediately rejected reality. "I disagree."
Eleanor raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"How could anyone compare to my junior sister's transcendental talent?" Astra crossed her arms indignantly. "The comparison itself feels offensive."
"Astra." Eleanor's tone carried gentle reproach. "Don't act narrow-minded. I understand your bias toward Sora—But that doesn't mean you should denounce others' potential." Her gaze hardened. "That's the same as insulting her capable classmates."
Astra hmphed, crossing her arms defiantly.
"I won't, master. When it comes to the discussion of my junior sister's excellence, even your opinion won't sway me."
She turned to Sora.
"The only reason that top-ranked student won the competition is because Junior Sister didn't participate."
Her cerulean eyes sparkled with unwavering conviction. "If Sora had entered, she would've swept the entire competition."
She tilted her chin up expectantly.
"Isn't that right, junior sister?"
Sora looked troubled immediately. "Well… Senior Sister…"
She hesitated. "Even if I had participated. I don't think I would've made it past the semi-finals."
Silence.
Astra stared at her. Then slowly covered her face. "Hah…"
"My junior sister…" Astra muttered melancholicly, "you really are hopeless in this regard."
Sora looked mildly wounded.
Astra lowered her hand and smiled helplessly. "Why do you always detach yourself from the world?" she asked softly. "How many times have I reprimanded you about letting go of the past and livening up a little?"
Sora fell silent. Because Astra wasn't wrong. Back then, Sora truly had lived like someone already halfway separated from the world.
Then Astra's expression brightened suddenly. "Or," she said with renewed cheerfulness, "that's what I would have liked to say—if you were still the old 'you'."
Sora blinked.
Astra grinned mischievously. "But now that you've gotten yourself a boyfriend…" Her cerulean eyes sparkled. "…I'm sure you'll liven up considerably."
"Senior sister—!"
Sora's protest was swallowed by Astra's delighted laughter. Even Eleanor chuckled softly into her sleeve.
And just like that—the morning continued peacefully. Teacher. Disciple. Senior sister. Junior sister. The eastern garden filled with gentle laughter, teasing, old memories, and quiet warmth beneath the rising sun.
In the end, after reconnecting with sora for a while. They took their leave.
****
Later that evening, the Luminous estate had quieted into the soft elegance of dusk.
The horizon beyond the cliffside manor burned with fading orange and violet hues, the last remnants of sunlight melting slowly into the endless ocean below. Gentle evening wind drifted through the estate gardens, carrying the scent of blooming moon lilies and silver roses.
Near the northern wing of the estate—a secluded marble gazebo stood beside Cecilia's personal flower garden. It was a place few people entered casually. Not because it was forbidden, but because it belonged to the duchess herself. And Cecilia treasured peace.
Moonlit ivy curled around the white pillars of the gazebo, while clusters of glowing nocturnal flowers bloomed beneath the approaching twilight. Pale blue astral lilies opened slowly beneath the evening mana currents, their petals shimmering faintly like captured starlight.
At the center of it—Sora and Cecilia sat together. A small tea table rested between them, porcelain cups releasing thin streams of warmth into the cool evening air. Mother and daughter, sharing a quiet evening time.
Sora sat quietly beside her mother, her white hair illuminated softly beneath hanging crystal lanterns. Compared to the overwhelming radiance she carried beneath dawnlight, the current atmosphere around her felt gentler.
Softer. Comfortable.
Cecilia watched her daughter from the corner of her eye while delicately stirring her tea. And inwardly—she felt relieved. Because this version of Sora had been absent for a very long time.
Back then, after that tragedy, Sora had slowly stopped relaxing. Stopped speaking openly. Stopped leaning on others. Even during quiet moments, Cecilia could always sense tension hidden deep inside her daughter, like a tightly drawn bowstring that never loosened.
But now—that tension had eased. Not completely. But enough. Enough for Sora to smile naturally again. Enough for her to blush over someone. Enough for her to sit peacefully beneath the evening sky instead of endlessly chasing something indistinct.
The silence between them wasn't awkward. It was warm—the kind shared only between people deeply familiar with one another.
—
Suddenly—
The serene atmosphere was interrupted by a soft crystalline ring.
The sound came from the arcane communication sphere resting beside Sora's teacup.
A small pulse of pale blue light flickered across its surface.
Sora blinked once.
Then slowly reached for it.
The moment she held it—something changed.
Her heart tightened. Cold. Sharp. Instinctive. Not fear born from logic, but the kind that arrived before disaster.
Cecilia immediately noticed the subtle change in her daughter's expression.
"Who is it, my sweetheart?" she asked gently.
Sora stared at the softly glowing sphere in her hand. "…It's Illiana, Mother."
Surprise colored her voice. Because the timing felt strange. Its only been a week since she returned and had three more days before needing to prepare for the Atlantis Banquet. Normally, Illiana would have simply waited until then to contact her.
But now—for some reason—Sora's growing unease became heavier. Like invisible fingers slowly tightening around her heart.
Cecilia tilted her head slightly. "That only friend of yours? I haven't seen Illiana in quite a while." A faint smile touched her lips. "Next time, bring her with you. I would like to see how she's doing."
"…Alright, Mother."
But Sora answered absentmindedly. Her eyes remained fixed on the sphere. She hadn't opened the notification yet. Because suddenly—she didn't want to.
The feeling was irrational. Yet overpowering. As though opening it would change something irreversible.
Cecilia's expression gradually shifted. The duchess knew her daughter too well. And what she saw now was not ordinary anxiety.
Sensing her daughter's unease, Cecilia frowned. "What's wrong, my sweetheart?"
Sora hesitated. Then quietly admitted, "…Mother… I suddenly feel extremely uneasy." Her fingers tightened around the sphere. "I haven't felt this way since… that tragic incident."
Silence.
The evening wind suddenly felt colder.
Cecilia's smile vanished completely. "…That is indeed concerning."
Her frown deepened.
Because now—even she could feel it. An indistinct disturbance. A subtle wrongness threading itself through fate.
All of a sudden—Cecilia's light blue eyes ignited.
Golden-white radiance bloomed within her irises like revolving celestial stars. The atmosphere around the gazebo shifted instantly. The flowers nearby swayed despite the absence of wind. Tiny strands of luminous mana drifted through the air like threads woven from moonlight itself.
Sora froze.
Because she recognized that expression.
Her mother was reading fate.
Not casually. Seriously.
The golden-white glow intensified.
Cecilia's gaze focused entirely on Sora—on the invisible threads connected to her existence.
The world seemed to still.
One second. Two. Three.
Then—the golden-white glow receded.
But for some reason—Cecilia's expression became extremely pale. Not shocked. Not confused. Fearful. Genuine fear.
How… How can it be…?
Sora's breath caught instantly. "Mother...?"
Cecilia did not answer immediately.
Because for the first time in years—the fate she saw made her wish it wasn't true.
The luminous thread of destiny that had been deeply intertwined with Sora's existence—the thread connected to the person her daughter loved—had disappeared.
Not weakened. Not obscured. Gone.
As though severed from existence itself.
Now—for the first time since the notification arrived—Cecilia became deeply afraid of what was written inside it.
Meanwhile—seeing her mother's pale expression—Sora's anxiety exploded into full panic.
Her fingers trembled.
No. No no no—
Hurriedly, she opened the notification.
The arcane sphere flickered. A projection of text unfolded into the air between them.
And the moment Sora read the lines—the world stopped.
Her pupils contracted violently. The color drained from her face.
"…No."
The sphere nearly slipped from her fingers. Her breathing faltered.
Because the message contained only a few words.
But those words shattered her entire world.
[Null —§ § § § § § § § § § §—assassinated.... § § § § § § § § §????!!]