CHAPTER 8: The Sapphire Escape

Why does it feel like I’m slowly losing more and more precious ones...?

Why is my luck shredding little by little...?

How much more must I endure...?

A long-eared woman gazed across from her, almost like a goddess. Her eyes fluttered closed, rarely opening as if holding a thousand dreams within them. Her golden hair cascaded endlessly, filling the celestial room with a soft glow. She was...

The Divine Oneness, the creator who sought hope within those who dared to embrace destiny.

“Please bring hope to our destiny.......”

Maika's eyes shot open, her breath hitching as she realized she was still lying in bed. Tears streamed silently from the corners of her eyes, soaking the pillow beneath her head.

“Maika...?” Himeji’s gentle voice broke the silence. She stood beside the bed, leaning slightly forward with worry etched in her gaze.

Maika sat up slowly, removing the tears as they got up to leave for work.

Though the weight of the previous night still heavy on her chest—the sight of Etsuko being consumed while trying to control the Greed still haunted her.

Even now, she noticed Murasaki sitting alone near the garden, absently tending to the plants. Her eyes were distant, hands moving through the soil as if clinging to a routine that could keep her grounded.

Don’t cry... Maika urged herself. Breaking down now could weaken the Elyssence. The last thing they needed was not to lose hope.

She stood from the garden, brushing the dirt from her skirt. Without a word, she turned and walked toward the toilets. The other girls watched her leave, their gazes heavy with unspoken worry. Quiet footsteps soon followed—Himeji trailed behind, glancing briefly at the dormitory door where she had first met Maika before peeking toward the restroom.

Maika leaned over the sink, gripping its edges tightly as she stared at her reflection. Her breath came uneven, shoulders trembling as she fought to steady herself. No one wanted to lose control—not when an accidental spell could lead to disaster.

“Hahh... come on... just breathe...” she whispered under her breath.

Unbeknownst to her, Himeji stood quietly outside the doorway, fingers clutching the fabric near her chest. Her heart pounded as she debated whether to approach.

Maika turned, startled to see her standing there. The air between them hung awkward and thick.

“I-I didn’t see you there...” Maika offered a faint, wry smile.

Still, Himeji didn’t respond. Her fingers clenched tighter, struggling against the nerves that made her chest ache.

“Let’s go,” Maika said, moving to walk past her.

“Wait...!”

Without warning, Himeji grabbed Maika by the shoulders and pressed her back against the wall with surprising force.

“H-Himeji...?” Maika gasped, eyes wide.

“Don’t let it get to you! ” Himeji’s voice was firm, her amber eyes unwavering. “What matters is... you’re still here. We... are going to make it!”

Her gaze locked into Maika’s, close enough that their breaths mingled. Maika could only stare back, her heart racing—not from fear, but from the intensity of Himeji’s determination.

Is this... her way of cheering me up...?

A soft chuckle escaped Maika’s lips, breaking the tension. “I got it.”

Himeji slowly stepped back, her hand resting gently on her belly, which had grown slightly over time. Maika’s gaze softened as she looked at her.

“I want you to take care of yourself too. You’re expecting soon… aren’t you?”

Himeji’s smile warmed her face as she nodded softly.

After a moment, Maika pulled out the clock from her pocket, she noticed it showed only a few more days left. So she took a deep breath.

With the limited time remaining, her mind raced, piecing together a plan she hoped would work.

“According to Shiba, in a few more days the Sapphire Blessing will be held,” Maika said, took a contemplative time. Its the day the Divine Oneness will give me the strength.

“Its a day to commemorate a newly farmed field..” Himeji added as she regained her composure.

“Then.. I’m pretty sure this is our chance to seize the moment and… make our escape.” Maika’s voice dropped to a whisper as she glanced around cautiously before she gazed back to Himeji.

“Himeji, sorry for delaying up so much of your time…”

Himeji shook her head, her eyes softened, glistening with determination. “No.. it’s okay!” she replied with a gentle smile. “After all… this is our truly chance.”

With her resolve renewed, Maika turned and walked toward the dormitory, her footsteps steady with purpose.

But she would make sure they succeeded.

Since The Sapphire Blessing is both a magical ritual and a cultural celebration, the event would naturally provide the perfect opportunity for an escape due to the distractions, crowds, and lowered guard.

The Opening Procession.

At sunset, the Warden, Barons, and Arcane Botanist lead a procession from the capital’s gates to the newly farmed field. Horns and drums echo through the air, announcing the start of the commemoration as lanterns glow softly in the gathering dusk.

The laborers and townspeople line the streets, holding blue lanterns that sway gently in their hands. Among them, Murasaki stands silently, her gaze fixed on the lanterns’ soft glow. Memories of Etsuko and Totsuka linger in her mind. Though she knows the other girls are preparing their escape, she remained still—preferring to stay aloof.

“...I used to exchange letters with her,” Maika’s voice broke the silence as she appeared beside Murasaki, holding her own lantern close. “She told me a little about herself.”

“….Enough grieving,” Murasaki muttered, eyes narrowing.

“Says the one who’s been grieving this whole time,” Maika countered, her brows knitting together. “You’ve been avoiding Yami. Isolating yourself. Barely eating... Is that not grieving?”

Murasaki's fingers tensed around the lantern, her shoulders trembling slightly as Maika’s words hit home. Yet, instead of anger, her gaze softened. "I... never got to say goodbye. She left too soon. Sometimes I wish... I could’ve gone with them."

It took awhile for Maika to stay compose, she could feel Murasaki deeply. Then she exhaled softly, her expression gentler. "…Etsuko left a message for you," she said, unfolding the letter and offering it to Murasaki.

Then Murasaki's eyes widened slightly as she read the words:

"Murasaki... Even if the world turns against us, don’t let the past chain your heart. You still have a future waiting beyond these walls. Keep moving forward... for all of us."

“Etsuko kept her promise for Totsuka that she will make sure us escaped. When she looked at me the other day, she had a high hope on me.” Maika smiled softly before her gaze on the letter.

“Under the spell, I saw what really happened that night,” Maika continued. “Etsuko wasn’t betraying you. The guards killed Totsuka first... and the Greeds reacted to her soulless body before devouring her.”

Murasaki’s breath caught in her throat as the memory flooded back—the fleeting moment when Totsuka shielded them both, a final act of sacrifice. She and Etsuko stood frozen, too stunned and horrified to move as they watched Totsuka’s body torn apart before their eyes. Her soft gaze, paired with a genuine smile, was the last thing they saw before the guards struck her down and the Greed seized her lifeless body, absorbing her essence to grow stronger.

Fueled by its newfound power, the creature tore through the guards, leaving a trail of carnage in its wake. Yet, before it could break free, another Warden—one unlike the rest—arrived, swiftly putting an end to the rampage. In the aftermath, Murasaki and Etsuko were captured, their escape ending in chains.

The commemoration that night continued past them, blue lanterns floating into the sky as the spell was cast. Their soft glow drifted above the crowd like stars, reflecting the crystal tears in Murasaki’s eyes as she clutched the letter close.

“Once we escape, there’s so much we can do together!” Totsuka had said brightly.

“Like what?” Murasaki had asked as Etsuko had exchanged a glance with her.

“Shopping dates, eating all the food we want, traveling the world... So we can conquer it together!”

The warmth of Totsuka’s words lingered in Murasaki’s heart as she folded the letter and tucked it into her lantern. Together, she and Maika released their lanterns into the air, watching them drift upward—symbols of letting go.

Murasaki took a deep breath and turned to Maika. “Let’s get out of here.” It took Maika’s back for a second when she changed her mind. Murasaki’s lips curved into a faint smirk.

“….I wanted to grant Etsuko and Totsuka’s last wishes.”

Maika then smiled “Alright.”

At the center of the field, the Sapphire Heart rested on a platform draped in blue silk, its crystal core pulsing softly with Elyssence’s power.

Maika and Murasaki slipped through the crowd, meeting Shiba in a secluded corner. “This is Shibarashi,” Maika introduced. “She knows the plan and will guide the other girls.”

“Oh... nice to meet you.” Murasaki eyed Shiba warily.

Shiba, leaning casually against the wall with arms crossed, smirked but said nothing.

“Where are the others?” Murasaki asked.

“Blending into the crowd, staying clear of the guards,” Maika replied. “Once I cast the smoke spell inside the guards’ helmets, they'll fall asleep. The crowd will panic, creating cover for our escape.”

Murasaki raised an eyebrow, impressed. “Not bad.”

As the Arcane Botanist approached the Sapphire Heart, the crowd fell silent. With graceful movements, she invoked Elyssence, her voice echoing across the field. The crystal pulsed, spreading energy through the soil as nearby plants briefly bloomed—a sign of the blessing’s acceptance.

The Warden stepped forward, his gaze sweeping the crowd as if sensing something amiss. “This harvest will bring prosperity to the kingdom,” he declared. “But failure will not be tolerated.”

As the crowd clapped in unison, unaware of the danger, the first wisps of smoke began to slip into the guards’ helmets, thin and silent as a whisper.

One by one, they stumbled and collapsed, gasps of shock rising from the crowd.

“Are they dead?!” someone shouted.

Panic erupted as people moved away from the falling guards, some inhaling the sleep-inducing smoke by accident and collapsing as well. Chaos spread like wildfire, caught them thinking they saw a dead body.

“Pfft—look at the rich people, can’t even tell if it’s dead or not~” Yami sneered beside Himeji.

“Now’s the time!” Maika hissed.

Yami and Himeji moved swiftly, cutting the power to the field’s lights. Darkness fell, broken only by the glow of the Sapphire Heart.

The nobles bolted upright in their seats, confusion and fear written on their faces.

“Most of the guards are unconscious, but a few are still awake.” Ryven reported in.

“Secure the nobles first. Gather the remaining guards once the nobles are safe,” the Warden ordered, eyes narrowing as he scanned the darkened field.

Ryven hesitated. “But, how about the people—?”

“I sense the reek of Elyssence on them. It’s not harmful, either. They’re only falling asleep,” the Warden observed, his calm tone laced with knowing. Somehow, he had already pieced together the situation, leaving Ryven stunned.

Who did this…?

Swift and calculating, the Warden disappeared into the crowd as the escape began.