Today, just like any other day, Faen finished his limit-pushing physical training and sat down on a large rock to rest.
And at that exact moment—
The interface in his mind, silent for fourteen entire years, finally changed.
[System Charging Progress: 99.9%... 100%]
[Charging Complete.]
["Entwined Fate" System Rebooting.]
[Connecting to initial summoned target… Connection Successful.]
[Commencing Summon…]
...
Almost simultaneously—
High above the distant sky, a brilliant blue meteor tore through the sky, as though ripping open the firmament itself.
Faen had seen similar phenomena before over the years.
The elders in the village used to say that such signs marked the descent of a god from Tenkai into the Lower World.
But this time—
It felt different.
That meteor…
It was coming for him.
An invisible thread seemed to bind him to that streak of light across the sky.
Faen's eyes snapped back to the system panel before him. New lines of text were appearing rapidly:
[Successfully contacted summoned entity.]
[Name: The Queen of All Waters, All Peoples, All Laws – the Goddess of Water and Justice, Focalors.]
Before he could fully process the shock—
"BOOM—!"
The blue meteor, trailing a long radiant tail, descended with uncanny precision and struck the clearing not far in front of him.
A column of light erupted skyward, dyeing everything in the surroundings with a dreamlike azure glow.
The surge of energy forced him to squint and raise an arm to shield himself.
Then—
The light faded.
A figure stood quietly at the center of the dissipating pillar.
She had long white hair, tinged faintly with pale blue, as if clear lake water had been blended into moonlight. A cute ahoge stood proudly atop her head, swaying gently in the breeze.
Beneath lashes the color of blue droplets were a pair of unforgettable heterochromatic eyes.
Her left eye was a deep indigo, just like the endless depths of the sea.
Her right eye was a clear, translucent sky-blue.
Her teardrop-shaped pupils lent her an air that was at once sacred… and faintly delicate.
She wore a small, exquisitely crafted crown-like hat adorned with an iris motif. Her tailored blue dress paired elegantly with white shorts and black garters, combining refined grace with a touch of gallant flair.
The familiar appearance,
And the faint yet undeniable resonance within his soul—
Made Faen understand instantly.
This was the very first summon from fourteen years ago.
The one that had malfunctioned and been sent to Tenkai.
The girl looked slightly disoriented. She lifted a hand and awkwardly twirled a strand of her hair around her finger, her somehow beautiful mismatched eyes gazing at Faen with faint embarrassment.
"Ah… um… I'm sorry."
Her voice was clear and melodious, like water flowing over stone.
"I think I… overslept."
Faen stared at her.
At the god who had arrived fourteen years late.
The long wait. That lonely endurance. The frustration and pain he had carried all this time—
In this moment, they finally found an outlet.
The corners of his lips slowly curved upward, forming a genuine, deeply relieved smile.
"It's okay."
He spoke softly, a tremor in his voice he didn't even notice.
"It's not your fault."
"My… Lady."
The system had rebooted.
His god had returned.
There was still time.
...
"Mm-hmm, that's right! I am your Lady."
At Faen's trembling address, Furina seemed instantly invigorated.
The haze and apology from moments before vanished. She straightened her petite frame, placed both hands on her hips, and struck what she imagined to be her most majestic pose.
From now on, you may rely on me without hesitation! Under my brilliant leadership, our Familia shall become the most dazzling and justice-upholding Familia on the entire continent! And I, Focalors—shall one day stand at the top of Orario, adored and revered by all!"
She burst into a string of triumphant laughter she clearly believed to be imposing.
The ahoge atop her head bounced proudly with each exaggerated syllable.
Watching her, the turbulence in Faen's heart gradually softened into warmth.
The smile in his eyes could no longer be concealed.
He gave a slight bow, responding with theatrical solemnity.
"Yes, I understand, Your Majesty."
"Eh? E-Eh?! D-Don't actually call me that!"
The effect was immediate.
Furina's carefully constructed "queenly aura" collapsed in an instant. Her delicate face flushed bright red as she waved her hands frantically.
"I-It was a metaphor! Just a declaration of momentum! If you really call me that, it's— it's way too embarrassing!"
She looked like she wished the ground would open up so she could crawl into a palace of her own making out of sheer awkwardness.
Faen couldn't help it.
He laughed.
The sound was light and genuine, sweeping away fourteen years of accumulated gloom and dissolving the last trace of unfamiliarity between them.
It felt as though an invisible bond had long tied their fates together.
No grand speeches were needed.
The familiarity born from the depths of the soul was enough.
---
After the lighthearted exchange, they sat side by side on the rock.
Faen finally asked the question that had weighed on him the most.
"When you were summoned to Tenkai… what exactly happened? At what point in time was it? And what did you… do there?"
At that, Furina's excitement shifted into mild awkwardness.
She fiddled with a strand of her hair, her gaze drifting.
"Well… it's a bit complicated. Honestly, I don't know everything either."
She spoke more softly now.
"I only remember that when I became conscious, I was already in Tenkai. Somehow, I became the god in this world who holds authority over 'Water' and 'Justice'… and gained an immortal existence."
She paused, searching her memory.
"But… I think I spent most of my time asleep in a very beautiful, very quiet place. The one who truly interacted with other gods and handled divine affairs… was another me."
"Another you?"
Faen caught the key phrase immediately.
"Mhm."
Furina nodded, her expression subtle.
"We're two sides of the same being. She's the rational one—the divine one. I… am her humanity. She maintained the dignity of a god outside… and I was responsible for… well… sleeping? And dreaming?"
Even she seemed to realize how absurd that sounded.
She stuck out her tongue sheepishly.
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