CHAPTER 21: A Name Among the Blossoms

The daylight stretched across the sky, casting soft shadows over the land. The atmosphere felt strangely lighter, almost different this time.

Maika found herself watching Kaziel, who was engaged in conversation with the raven perched on his shoulder. Then, both of them turned their attention to her. His expression was unreadable, yet serious.

"Are you... really the candidate of Divine Oneness?" Kaziel asked, his voice steady.

The question caught her off guard. Her past—her origins—were not meant to be spoken of. Some memories were meant to be locked away. Maika lowered her gaze, her fingers tightening around the clock she held. Kaziel noticed the subtle movement, his sharp eyes catching every detail. Then, to her surprise, he smiled.

"Then, we are honored to escort you, Your Highness." He bowed slightly, crossing his hand over his chest.

Maika’s eyes widened, her thoughts stumbling over the sudden formality. "E-escort?!" she stammered. "Please don’t call me that...! It's embarrassing!!"

Kaziel straightened, a flicker of amusement dancing in his gaze. "Very well, Maika. I find that embarrassing too."

Maika’s pride stung—a hint of offense rising within her—but she knew it was exactly what she had wanted.

Kaziel’s tone shifted, his voice taking on a more serious note. "But that Divine Relic you’ve been holding—it’s something we’ve been tasked to collect as part of our mission. Requested by Her Grace—Amastacia."

The mention of that name stirred something deep within Maika’s mind. Amastacia. The High Priestess of the Selphine Kingdom. Memories surfaced, hazy yet undeniable. She had lived long enough to know these names. And her father—

Her father was the Emperor, the one who had created the Enhanced Sapphire Heart, an artifact of immeasurable power.

As they arrived at the graveyard, a gentle breeze whispered through the air, carrying the scent of fresh earth and old memories. Maika stood among the tombstones, the solemn silence embracing her like an old companion.

She crouched before one of the graves, adorned with delicate flowers. Her fingertips brushed against the cool stone as she whispered a silent prayer.

Kaziel stood nearby, observing the landscape. The field was well-kept, lush greenery replacing the remnants of past destruction. It was peaceful. Perhaps a rebuilt sanctuary turned into a cemetery.

"I hope I buried the right place," Maika murmured, her eyes lingering on the grave.

Kaziel’s gaze shifted, something catching his attention. His eyes widened. "The Enhanced Sapphire Heart...!"

Startled, Maika followed his gaze. There, lying among the overgrown roots, was the artifact—shimmering with a faint glow, its golden border gleaming under the sun’s light.

Kaziel crouched down, studying it intently. "This is what we were looking for. Is this the right one?" he asked, turning to the raven, who gave an approving nod.

Maika hesitated. "I... have never used it much. But I didn't know how important the Enhanced Sapphire Heart to you both."

Kaziel lifted his head, studying her with curiosity. "Really? You didn’t know?"

Maika nodded. "This artifact was bestowed during the commemoration of the newly blessed land," she explained, her voice laced with uncertainty.

Kaziel’s smile returned. "Then I believe there’s a ceremony to be held here, is there not?"

Maika’s expression shifted, uncertainty clouding her features. "But... I don’t think I have the ability to do so. After all, I’m not an Arcane Botanist."

Kaziel laughed softly. "Of course you can. With pure divine energy—untainted by darkness—you can do anything."

He met her eyes, his gaze unwavering. "After all, aren’t you the Divine Oneness’s candidate?"

His words lingered in the air, echoing in Maika’s mind. His reassurance, his unwavering belief in her—

It reminded her of the past.

The time when she, too, had been the one reassuring her friends.

The time when she had promised they would escape this place.

That night, the world was painted in soft blue. The lanterns surrounded them, their gentle glow reflecting off the quiet waters, casting ripples of light across the darkened field. Kaziel had gathered them from the cart earlier, it surprised Maika how many items he got in the cart. Carefully, he was arranging them around the clearing.

Maika stood still, holding a single blue lantern in her hands. The same kind they had used back then. The same kind she had once released with Murasaki beside her, the both of them grieving over Etsuko—the friend they lost too soon.

But now, she was alone.

The friends she once held close—those fleeting moments of laughter and whispered dreams—had begun to fade, lost to time like the flickering of dying embers. Yet, as she held the lantern, the weight of her memories pressed down on her, as vivid as the night sky above.

Kaziel stood beside her, mirroring her quiet sorrow. His lantern cast a soft glow against his face, his expression unreadable.

Maika carefully unfolded the delicate letter in her hands. Her fingers trembled as she placed it inside the lantern—one final message, one last whisper to the past. And then, with a slow breath, she let it go.

The lantern floated upward, rising gently into the sky.

Releasing it felt like releasing everything—her sadness, her regrets, the grief that had wrapped around her heart like heavy chains.

The sky became a sea of floating blue lights, swaying with the wind, drifting farther, higher.

Her eyes glistened, lips slightly parted as she watched them fade into the endless dark. And then—her vision blurred.

A tear slipped down her cheek.

She hadn’t even realized she was crying.

One by one, the memories came rushing back.

Etsuko—who had reached for her hand when she was new to this place, who had made her feel safe when everything was unfamiliar.

Himeji—the one who had stood beside her, believing in her, following her plans despite the risks.

Murasaki—whom she had once fought with, yet also the one she had listened to, the one whose sadness had become her own.

Yami—who would always chat with her about Murasaki, speaking of things only a few would understand.

And the girls she had taught, the ones who had learned Elyssence under her guidance.

Renwick, the one who had saved her, who had given her food when she had nothing.

Each name, each face, flashed before her eyes, burning into her mind, a story unfinished.

She had never met so many kind people before. And yet—they were all gone.

What was Divine Oneness asking of her? What purpose did she still have?

Why had she been abandoned?

Her tears came heavier now, falling freely as she clenched her hands against her chest.

A thousand days.

A thousand nights.

Her bestowed powers extended her time, delaying the inevitable, but it would all break to nothingness in the end.

As the last of the lanterns drifted further into the sky, Maika sobbed.

“…Mother…”

The word slipped past her lips before she could stop it, raw and broken.

Beside her, Kaziel watched in silence. His gaze lingered, his expression unreadable—yet his fingers curled slightly at his side.

He had seen so much of her suffering—the weight of it, the burden she carried alone.

Anna and Helion had uncovered the truth in Maika’s records, had pieced together the story of everything she had endured. But nothing they read could have captured the depth of the pain in her voice now.

The raven shifted on Kaziel’s shoulder, letting out a quiet sound.

From the distance, Anna placed a hand against her chest, feeling a strange pressure beneath her ribs. It was unfamiliar—something she couldn’t quite explain.

Her crimson eyes flickered toward Kaziel.

He was still looking at Maika.

And for the first time, Anna let out a long, heavy sigh.

This feeling—

What was it?

As Maika and Kaziel stood before the Enhanced Sapphire Heart, its gentle glow pulsed in rhythm with the still night. The air was cool and weightless, carrying the distant hum of nature, as if the world itself was holding its breath.

Maika hesitated. Could she really do this?

Her fingers hovered just above the crystal’s surface, uncertainty gnawing at her resolve.

Kaziel, sensing her hesitation, met her gaze. Without words, he gave a small nod and bowed slightly, stepping back—this was her moment.

She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes.

Then, she called upon Elyssence.

A warmth spread from her fingertips, pulsing softly as if responding to something deep within her. The energy curled and glowed, expanding in golden ripples that danced across the land. The words of the ancient blessing came effortlessly, as if they had always been a part of her—whispers woven into her very soul, waiting to be spoken.

The Sapphire Heart responded.

A wave of radiant energy unfurled, expanding across the barren ground like the first breath of dawn. The earth trembled—not in destruction, but in renewal.

The cracked, lifeless soil shifted and darkened, rich with the promise of growth. Tiny sprouts peeked from the dirt, unfurling like silken threads, stretching toward the sky as lush greenery swept outward in rolling waves.

A soft breeze stirred.

The remnants of fallen trees twisted, their withered limbs awakening, branches filling with emerald leaves that shimmered under the moonlight. Flowers bloomed in sudden bursts of color—gentle blues, soft pinks, golden hues—each petal pulsing with life, as if the land itself was sighing in relief.

And then—

Water surged.

The hollowed ground, once a scar upon the earth, began to fill with crystalline clarity. The still water mirrored the endless sky, reflecting the silver moon’s glow in a perfect, untouched serenity.

And as the ripples settled, the world held its breath—

The sakura trees bloomed.

Their once-barren branches burst into delicate pink blossoms, petals drifting like whispers of light, swirling through the air before landing upon the lake’s tranquil surface. The soft scent of cherry blossoms filled the night, intertwining with the crisp breeze, carrying an ethereal sense of peace.

Maika opened her eyes.

Her breath caught in her throat.

Before her, the land had transformed into something out of a dream—a sanctuary of moonlit beauty. The sky stretched wide above them, clear and vast, its deep blue speckled with distant stars. The cherry blossoms framed the pond, their reflection glowing faintly in the gentle ripples.

The soft hum of life echoed in the air, gentle, like the steps of her mother once upon this earth. When she was the candidate for the Divine Oneness, her very steps had brought profound change to the land—change so great that the people named the lands after her,

Caelivara.

Kaziel exhaled, stepping forward as his gaze swept over the transformed landscape. Even he—who had seen countless miracles in his lifetime—was rendered speechless.

The world had not just accepted Maika’s blessing.

It had flourished beneath it.

The earth had embraced her, woven her presence into its very fabric, as if this transformation had been waiting for her touch all along.

Maika reached out, catching a drifting sakura petal in her palm.

Her fingers trembled as she held it close.

“…I did?” she whispered.

Kaziel’s voice was quiet, almost reverent. “You did.”

For the first time—she had created.

For the first time—she had made something bloom.

And for the first time—she had witnessed the true beauty that could come from her own hands.

The realization settled in her chest, heavy yet freeing. The doubts, the regrets, the burdens she had carried—they all faded into the stillness of the night, lost in the quiet, breathtaking embrace of this moment.

Above them, the cherry blossoms continued to fall, drifting gently into the pond, as the night wrapped them in its eternal serenity.

Kaziel was caught off guard as the cherry blossoms stirred, their soft petals swirling around Maika like a celestial dance. The gentle breeze carried them through the night, their delicate forms glowing beneath the moon’s silver light.

And in that moment, as the petals encircled her, she looked like a goddess.

Her soft pink hair shimmered, reflecting the moonlit sky, cascading like strands of stardust. The world itself seemed to shift in her presence, as if bending to her quiet radiance.

She is—the Divine Oneness.

Maika’s gaze lifted toward the sakura tree above, her eyes reflecting the soft glow of the petals swaying in the night air. It was her first time truly seeing it.

Her first time finding something… beautiful.

Her lips parted slightly, her emerald-green eyes shimmering with a quiet, newfound wonder. The sight before her left her breathless, yet she remained still—lost in the moment, as if afraid that one movement would break the fragile serenity.

Kaziel could only watch.

The raven that had been perched nearby suddenly took flight, disappearing into the vast night sky.

And as the fluttering wings faded, the silence between them grew louder.

“…Maika.”

His voice was soft, almost hesitant.

Maika turned toward him, her gaze meeting his. The wind played with her hair, strands of pink brushing against her cheeks as she tilted her head slightly.

“Hm?”

Kaziel opened his mouth to speak, but for a moment, he hesitated.

She was mesmerizing.

“…Never mind.” He averted his gaze, rubbing the back of his neck.

Maika blinked before lowering her gaze, absently catching a single drifting sakura petal between her fingers.

“…Maika,” she murmured. “That name always felt… strange to me.”

Kaziel’s brow lifted slightly at her words.

“What do you mean?”

She twirled the petal between her fingers before exhaling softly.

“I made it up.”

Kaziel’s eyes widened. He hadn't expected that.

“So… what’s your real name?”

She hesitated for only a second before finally answering.

“Ai.”

Kaziel stilled.

“Ai?” He repeated,

"Though Ai... is a common name for vessels like me, it’s also, in a way, my surname." She tilted her head slightly, a strand of hair sliding gently across her face.

A warm smile slowly spread across his lips.

“That’s a lovely name.”

Maika flushed slightly at his response, looking away. “Eh? R-really…? But… I was told to keep it hidden. My mother told me so.”

Her voice wavered slightly, as if the weight of that memory still lingered in her heart.

Kaziel watched her for a moment before shifting his gaze toward the sakura tree,

“Then… how about Sakura?”

Maika blinked. “Sa…kura..?”

Kaziel nodded, a faint smile playing at his lips. "Ai Sakura. It suits you. Like the sakura tree, you’ve weathered the storm, and now your petals unfold, revealing the strength within."

Maika stared at him, his words sinking deep into her chest.

She repeated it softly to herself. “Sakura… Ai… Sakura.”

She had never been named by anyone since her mother.

And now, for the first time, someone had given her a name just as precious.

A warmth spread through her, filling the spaces in her heart she hadn’t realized were empty.

“…Sakura,” she whispered again. Then, without hesitation, she smiled—bright and unguarded.

“Then Sakura it is! My name is Ai Sakura!”

Her voice carried through the night like a soft melody, her eyes reflecting the gentle glow of the lanterns floating in the distance.

The wind stirred once more, sending another cascade of sakura petals swirling around her.

Kaziel stood still, utterly entranced.

She looked almost unreal, as if the very world had chosen this moment to highlight her presence.

The petals drifted upward, carried toward the vast night sky—toward the stars, toward the full moon—until they were no longer distinguishable from the constellations themselves.

Kaziel let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head.

“Then, Sakura it is.”

He tilted his head slightly, his lips curling into a gentle smile.

The warmth of the night surrounded them, the air filled with the soft glow of drifting petals, a moment forever etched in time.

The next day, the sky was bright and clear, a gentle breeze ruffling her hair as she took in the lush greenery around her. The landscape seemed almost new—what had once been the abandoned, cursed farmland now blossomed into the beautiful land of Caelivara.

"Listen carefully. Once you’re outside of here, promise me you won’t use any dark energy. This is a warning." Kaziel lifted his finger, reminding her with a stern look.

She stood at the gate, her eyes still lingering on the place she had entered years ago. It felt like a lifetime had passed. A lingering ache of bittersweet memories tugged at her heart.

A sudden flick of Kaziel’s finger on her forehead snapped her back to reality. She gasped, blinking.

"Sakura! Are you listening?" Kaziel’s eyebrows were furrowed in annoyance.

Sakura gently rubbed her forehead, looking up at him. "What did I do..?"

"You were thinking negatively again, weren’t you?" Kaziel crossed his arms, his tone firm but not unkind. "How many times do I have to tell you that you are loved and cared for?"

Sakura tilted her head, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Am I?" The question felt like it escaped her before she could catch it.

Kaziel paused for a moment, his gaze softening, and something gentle flickered in his eyes. "Yes."

Sakura’s eyes searched his face, still puzzled. "Who?" she asked, her voice quiet, almost as if she weren’t entirely sure what she was asking.

Kaziel blinked, stunned by her question. For a brief moment, a wave of shock crossed his features. How could she not know?

He opened his mouth to answer, his mind racing to say the words. "It was..." But just as he began, he was interrupted.

A raven suddenly swooped down, its wings rustling the air, landing with a light thud on Kaziel's head. Its claws dug into his hair, and he grimaced. "Ow! Ow! Anna...!"

The bird shifted its weight, causing Kaziel to stumble slightly, but he quickly adjusted. "What was that for?" he muttered, trying to shake the raven free, but the bird hopped easily onto the carriage, unbothered.

Sakura’s lips curled into a small smile as she looked at the raven, a light laugh escaping her. "I think it likes you," she said, reaching out gently to pat its head.

"Really, Anna? " Kaziel sighed in mock exasperation but smiled. "Well then, we shall leave now." His tone lightened, a glint of playfulness returning to his voice.

Sakura turned away, her eyes lingering on the land one last time. She could feel the weight of it—both the memories and the relief, as if the very earth beneath her feet was bidding her goodbye. The wind hummed softly around her, almost like a whispered farewell. The breeze caressed her hair, making it sway gently like the softest of waves, as if nature itself was acknowledging her departure.

Her hand, still clutching the clock close to her heart, felt its weight—both the past and the future—pressing against her chest. The moment was filled with an odd sense of peace and finality, as if she was leaving a chapter behind to step into something entirely new.

She took a deep breath, her smile warm and knowing, a flicker of freedom in her eyes. "Goodbye, everyone," she whispered, the words almost lost to the wind.

As they took their leave, Sakura realized: her journey was just beginning.