(A year later: 2/6/976)

  Countless fireworks were launched into the sky, and stalls lined the streets around Verlyn. The crowds were denser than ever, a clear sign that a momentous event was being held on the campus.

  Saria stared into the mirror, adjusting her graduation robes with an air of worry. Her brown hair had grown much longer over the past year. Throughout the last several months, she had performed more and more feats as both a Margia and the Child of Light—a sign that her potential was finally beginning to hatch, however slowly. In the middle of her final inspection, a few knocks echoed from the door.

  "Saria, are you done?" a familiar female voice asked curiously.

  "W-wait..! I’m almost done!" Saria exclaimed, her nervousness lingering despite her growth.

  "Be faster, okay! We’re going to be late for the ceremony!"

  Having finished her preparations, Saria opened the door to find Aria. Her friend had grown taller, her red hair longer, and the ponytail at the back of her head much fuller. She, too, wore her graduation robes.

  Observing Saria’s growth and appearance, Aria let out a sigh of relief and shook her head in disbelief. "Time really flies, huh?" she mumbled to herself, leaving Saria momentarily confused by the statement.

  As they walked together down the corridor, Saria suddenly stopped near the library. She found herself staring at an empty pedestal. A slight grin touched her lips as she reminisced about her first interactions with Carol and Aria regarding the missing grimoire.

  Noticing her pause, Aria looked back and saw the empty pedestal as well. She snorted in amusement. "You remember the times when Carol would immediately judge me and think I stole that grimoire again?" she asked Saria, her voice filled with nostalgia.

  "Of course I remember!" Saria exclaimed excitedly. "Although it was a little true. You did say your reason for wanting to steal it was to seal it somewhere safer."

  "Yeah. Although, when I asked Sir Grey about why the grimoire was there, he only said that time would reveal the reason instead," Aria stated. "Honestly, I don’t know if I want to care about that grimoire anymore."

  "Well, it can’t be helped, Aria. The problem is gone, so I don’t think there’s any need to worry about it."

  As soon as Saria finished speaking, someone snatched the graduation cap from Aria’s head, shocking her. She spun around to see Noire passing by, playfully spinning the cap and catching it mid-air. Beside him stood Revir and Rein; all three had grown taller over the year and were dressed in their graduation robes.

  "That bastard..." Aria slightly raised her fist, clenching it in anger. She immediately charged forward, punching Noire in the stomach from behind. He dropped to his knees, groaning slightly in pain.

  "S-sorry for that, okay, Aria..?" Noire apologized. "I just wanted to play with you, that's all..."

  Hearing his apology, Aria snorted in disbelief. "Even after a year, you're still a mess. No wonder you're so lonely."

  Revir quietly chuckled in amusement, while Rein let out a deep sigh. Saria, watching from behind, giggled quietly before a warm smile settled on her face.

  In the main hall, every student had finally gathered, each dressed in their graduation robes. The room hummed with the sound of gossip as students spoke loudly, unable to contain their excitement for their new lives outside of Verlyn.

  However, the chatter died down instantly as a series of heavy footsteps echoed loudly across the hall. A figure ascended the main stage and stood behind the campus lectern. It was Grey; he now wore a thick, neat beard, and despite having lost an arm, he stood with a presence that proved it hadn't stopped him from fulfilling his duties. He was dressed formally, though his coat was draped over his shoulders in a sharp, authoritative style.

  "Everyone," Grey announced into the microphone. "I am truly happy that all of you managed to push yourselves to this very moment. You have proven your worth as Margias, and that is more than enough. I am certain that every lecturer here is beyond proud of what you have achieved. Now, clap for yourselves! All of you deserve it!"

  In response, the students broke into thunderous applause, their emotions running wild as they roared with joy.

  "Now, for the student representative, I would like Saria Wisp to take the stage." The moment Grey spoke her name, every eye in the room turned toward Saria. She stood frozen in shock. Noticing her bewilderment, Aria let out a sigh and gave her a firm push toward the stage. As Saria drew closer to the platform, she snapped back to reality. She glanced back to see Aria, Revir, Rein, and Noire all giving her thumbs-up, which gave her the strength she needed. She focused on the stage, ascended the stairs, and walked to the lectern as Grey stepped aside to give her space.

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  Saria inhaled and exhaled deeply, trying to release her tension. With determination in her eyes, she finally found her voice.

  "Everyone," Saria announced. "I know some of you were scared when we were still first-years on this campus. So much happened in the background, so many problems and so much death on our path to survival. Although the future we’ve waited for has finally arrived, there is still danger ahead. So, I am begging all of you... stay safe and work hard from today onward. Until we meet again, everyone..." Saria suddenly thrust her fist into the air, a gesture to raise their spirits. "...for our paths shall align again later! For our path as Margias!"

  The moment Saria finished her shout, the room froze in shock. Even Grey stood stunned by her sudden outburst. Realizing what she had just done, Saria immediately ducked behind the lectern, cringing at her own boldness.

  However, the silence didn't last long. Arvain broke the awkwardness, roaring as he threw his graduation hat into the air. Following his lead, one student after another began throwing their hats, shouting in celebration. The cheers grew louder and louder until the awkwardness had completely melted away. Noticing the shift, Saria stood up, confused as she watched the crowd embrace her words. Arvain, now on the stage, gripped Saria’s shoulder gently and offered a reassuring smile.

  Grey also drew a smile of relief, at least until the giant clock chimed loudly. At the sound, Grey quietly turned and walked out of the hall.

  In the cold prison of the Teratia Empire, Carol sat with her head buried in her knees. She, too, had grown during the past year, though her transformation was far from neat. Her hair had grown long, yet it was tangled and unkempt like a bird's nest. Her skin was marked with small bruises, faded scars from the harsh labor she had endured as a prisoner.

  In this moment, her suffering finally reached its end. A guard banged loudly against the prison bars, jolting her from a quiet sleep. As the gate swung open, Carol stood up. She walked out of the cell, guided by the guards toward the exit. On her way, she passed the cell where Suzie and her partner had once resided. The two Apostles were gone; only their worn, discarded clothes remained on the cold floor. Sensing her pause, a guard shoved her forward, a silent command to keep moving.

  As Carol arrived at the massive iron exit, the guard pulled out a key and unlocked her handcuffs. Her wrists were bruised a deep red from the constant friction, but the relief of being free was worth the pain. The guard then produced the Ring of Seal, the device meant to suppress the majority of her Leviathan energy, and slid it onto her finger. With the seal set, the guards opened the heavy doors, allowing the radiance of the sun to wash over her skin.

  The further she walked from the darkness of the prison, the more the light blinded her. When she finally squinted through the glare, she saw a familiar figure waiting for her. She took a few more steps toward him, her voice a mere whisper.

  "Uncle... Grey..."

  Her strength finally failed her, and she lost consciousness. Grey moved quickly, catching her in his arms and hugging her with the intensity of a father who had missed his daughter.

  "I’m really proud of you, Carol," Grey said. Tears finally leaked from his eyes, a rare display of his raw emotion. "I really am..."

  Hearing those words for the first time, Carol’s subconscious took hold. Even in her faint, tears began to track down her bruised cheeks.

  "Now, let’s go. Aunt Mary and your big sister, Erika, are waiting for you," Grey said softly to reassure her. Carol, drifting in and out of awareness, responded with a faint smile of relief.

  In the ruins of the former village, a man with long, matted white hair roamed through the wreckage. He wore a worn leather cloak and a long brown scarf wrapped around his neck. When he stumbled upon the discarded grimoire on the ground, now filthy and weathered, he picked it up and channeled his Dark Ender through it. The grimoire responded to his call, transforming into a massive, fractured greatsword of brown and violet. The hilt was completely covered in deadly thorns, yet when the man gripped it, he showed no sign of pain as if the blade recognized him as its one true master. He slung the sword across his back.

  "There's nothing left here, Lord Erlikh," a female Apostle reported, standing beside her were a male partner of hers. "Even the traces of your daughter have already been erased."

  "Is that so?" The man froze in place, his eyes widening with a flicker of horror as the wind around the village turned violent. In that moment, the spirit of Lydia appeared beside the grave. Her expression was somber as she looked upon her husband. Irritated by her spectral presence, the man gripped his sword and spun toward the grave, delivering a single, devastating slash. The graves were shattered into pieces, and the trees behind them fell as if they were made of nothing more than paper.

  "Don't you dare create a replica of my wife, God," the man stated. "I’m going to revive her soon... I’m sure I’ll succeed this time!"

  As he spoke, a bolt of violet lightning tore through the sky.

  "As long as my daughter still lives... as long as my hatred burns hot... we’re going to reunite sooner or later."

  The clouds grew darker, finally releasing a torrential rain to wash the earth. The man sheathed his sword and turned toward the village exit. At the same moment, Lydia’s spirit vanished into thin air.

  "Just wait for me, my daughter, Carol. When your father finally revives your mother, we shall meet again under the merging of the two moons. When that time comes, let us join the Wild Hunt together as a family... for we shall make them hear our requiem."

  The man made his declaration, and the violet lightning responded once more.