CHAPTER 45: Where the Sky Changes

The night air was cool, carrying the faint rustle of leaves and the steady breaths of the horses in the stable. Under the dim glow of lanterns, the group gathered in the backyard of the inn, their conversation hushed but focused.

Sakura sat on a sturdy log, her hands resting in her lap as she spoke. Kaziel sat in the small gap beside her, his gaze sharp with curiosity. Anna stood near one of the horses, idly feeding it as she listened, while Helion leaned against the wooden wall, flipping his coin between his fingers—his usual quiet presence blending into the night.

“I met Etsuko before I destroyed her core,” Sakura began, her voice steady.

Kaziel tilted his head slightly. “So… you think you can do the same with this High Greed?”

Sakura nodded. “If I can find an opening—just like before—then yes. I believe it’s possible.”

Anna let out a sigh, running her fingers through the horse’s mane. “They said it’s a monstrous tree, right? That thing isn’t just dangerous—it’s on an entirely different level. We’ve fought plenty of Greeds before, but never one of this tier.” Her expression darkened. “This is new.”

Helion’s coin flicked into the air, glinting under the lantern light before landing neatly in his palm. “Then we need a strategy. Baihou can take the front, but the real damage needs to be delivered from a distance.” He glanced at the group. “And we’re lacking in that department.”

Kaziel smirked, then turned to Anna. “She can do it.”

Anna blinked. “Huh?”

“Your Raven,” Kaziel pointed out, arms crossed. “It’s not just a scout, is it? That thing can stir up a storm.”

Sakura’s eyes widened slightly. “Really?”

Anna grinned, her fingers reaching up to stroke the sleek black bird that had just landed on her shoulder. “Oh yeah. Raven was a High-Tier Greed before I bound it to a contract. Strong, fast, sharp—it’s completely my style.”

Sakura stared at the bird, realizing for the first time how much power it must be hiding. “That… makes sense.”

Helion flipped his coin again, his golden eyes flickering under the dim light. “The Greed will overwhelm with brute force and speed, but its defenses are weak. Keep your surroundings in check, or you’ll lose before you can strike.”

His words carried weight.

That was what worried Sakura the most.

Anna could rely on her summons—her Wolf, even if it died, could be resummoned through her Sapphire Heart. Kaziel was fast, his lightning affinity making him nearly untouchable. Helion… well, he could weave fate itself.

But her?

So far, the Greeds she fought had been manageable. None were as fast as that Mimic Greed—the one Kaziel fought before. That thing moved in erratic, unpredictable bursts, and even though she had watched, she couldn’t even follow what was happening.

She still had a long way to go.

Kaziel suddenly stretched, rolling his shoulders. “Well, we’ve got time. Until Baihou finishes his training, we’ll keep sharpening our skills.” He shot a lazy grin at Sakura. “And while we’re at it, we can keep cutting down that grass.”

The group chuckled. It wasn’t glamorous, but it was true.

“We should train more,” Sakura agreed, her expression thoughtful. “Once we cross the border, the High Greeds ahead will only be worse.”

Helion’s coin flipped again, but this time he let it roll across his knuckles. His voice came smooth, quiet—woven in thought.

“The road past the border is not a step forward, but a descent—one of no return. Once we cross, the sky we’ve known will never look the same.”

His words sent a quiet chill through them.

Kaziel exhaled. “Right. That’s… poetic, Helion. Real comforting.”

Anna clicked her tongue, shifting her weight onto one leg. “Oh yeah. Almost forgot—Helion can weave fate, right? Can’t he just make the High Greeds disappear?”

Kaziel turned to him, intrigued. “That’s a good point. Can you?”

Helion didn’t answer. He only smirked as his coin spun between his fingers.

Sakura narrowed her eyes slightly. He knows something.

Anna sighed, placing a hand on her hip. “Whatever. Look, no need to rush anything, right? Let’s focus on this current mission, and then we’ll think about the border later.”

Sakura looked at them all—Anna’s steady confidence, Kaziel’s cool determination, Helion’s unreadable smirk.

She exhaled.

“Alright. Then let’s prepare earlier.”

For what lay ahead.

That same night, Leina found herself awake, her body still weary from the day’s events. She sat up slowly, resting her back gently against the wooden headboard, exhaling softly.

Something felt heavy on her lap.

She glanced down—only to be met with a sight she hadn’t expected.

Baihou.

His head rested peacefully against her lap, his messy hair slightly tousled, the worn pages of an open book lying beneath him. The sight made her pause.

Had he been studying? Learning about dark energy perception…?

Her gaze softened.

How long had he stayed by her side while she was unconscious?

A strange warmth spread through her chest.

Without thinking, her fingers moved on their own, gently threading through his hair, smoothing them down with slow, delicate motions. The softness of his hair beneath her fingertips felt unfamiliar, but she didn’t stop.

For the first time, a small, quiet smile curled at her lips, her cheeks tinged with a faint flush.

She had always thought of Baihou as reckless, loud, impossible to pin down. But now, seeing him like this—peaceful, quiet, unwavering in his presence—she realized something else.

He had been watching over her.

And that thought alone made her heart flutter.

Then—her gaze flickered toward something.

The book.

The one he had opened.

Without hesitation, she grabbed it, flipping through the pages—one after another, scanning each line.

Then—she stopped.

Her eyes landed on something.

An activation for magic flow.

"Magic Charge…"

The training ground behind the inn was bathed in soft morning light, the mist from the nearby river still lingering at the edges of the field. Birds chirped in the distance, their melodies almost drowned out by the steady clack of wooden swords clashing against each other.

Sakura and Kaziel stood facing each other, both gripping wooden training swords. Kaziel looked as relaxed as ever, his stance lazy yet unreadable. In contrast, Sakura was completely focused, her grip firm, her body tense in anticipation.

A light breeze rustled the grass between them.

Then—

Sakura moved first.

She dashed forward, her wooden sword swinging in a sharp arc toward Kaziel’s side. He barely seemed to react—his body shifted effortlessly, dodging just enough to let the strike miss by a hair’s breadth.

Too slow.

Kaziel grinned. “You’re hesitating again.”

Sakura’s brow furrowed. She didn’t hesitate—did she?

Not letting the thought linger, she swung again. This time, a feint—her sword changed course mid-strike, aiming for his shoulder instead.

Yet Kaziel blocked it with ease, the wooden swords colliding with a sharp crack. The impact vibrated through her arms, but she held firm, using the momentum to push forward and force him back.

Their blades danced, clashing in a rapid exchange—Sakura attacking, Kaziel dodging with fluid, almost infuriating ease. He barely looked fazed, his movements effortless, as if he were simply strolling through a routine rather than engaging in an actual fight.

With determined, Sakura pushed herself harder. She lunged low, then spun mid-strike, aiming a swift upward swing toward his unguarded left side.

For the first time—Kaziel’s expression changed.

His foot slid back, barely avoiding the blow.

A chance—!

Sakura didn’t waste it. She moved with full force, driving her next strike toward his midsection.

This time, I’ll land a hit!

But in the split second before her blade connected—

Kaziel’s sword suddenly intercepted hers, twisting her momentum against her.

Sakura’s balance wavered.

And in an instant—

Thunk!

She found herself flat on the ground, her wooden sword knocked from her grip.

Above her, Kaziel stood, his wooden blade pointed just inches from her face.

A sharp silence fell between them.

Kaziel tilted his head, smiling down at her. “You almost had me.”

Sakura stared up at him, her breathing heavy. She had almost won—but almost meant nothing.

She had tried so hard, and yet, Kaziel fought like it was nothing to him. Like it was all just a game.

He extended a hand toward her. “You did well at least! Let’s take a break before heading back near the border to—”

She slapped his hand away.

Kaziel blinked, startled.

“Stop treating me like I'm easy to read..!” Sakura snapped, her voice laced with frustration.

She pushed herself up, brushing the dirt off her clothes before turning on her heel and walking away.

Kaziel stood frozen.

“…Eh?”

From behind, Anna burst into laughter, arms crossed as she grinned smugly.

“Ohoho~? That’s what you get for not going easy on her~”

She had been watching from a distance, thoroughly entertained by the sight of Kaziel getting scolded by Sakura.

With a proud smirk, she leaned forward slightly.

“That’s my girl.”

Kaziel, on the other hand, looked panicked as he turned to Anna.

“B-but we were just practicing…!”

Anna smirked, completely unfazed. “Of course she’s mad. She’s been working hard these past few days, and you’re over here acting like it’s nothing.” She shrugged dramatically. “You need to go easy on girls sometimes, Kaziel~”

Kaziel let out a deep sigh. “So… it’s my fault?”

Anna grinned. “Always has been!” She shot him a teasing look. “That’s exactly what you did to me when we practiced back then!”

Then, with a playful glint in her eyes, she stuck out her tongue at him.

But Sakura was already gone.

Her cheeks puffed with irritation as she stormed toward the backyard, the remnants of their spar still replaying in her mind.

She was so close.

Yet Kaziel had won without even looking like he was trying.

A deep sigh escaped her lips.

Maybe she wouldn’t join them for the grass-cutting duty today… Maybe she just needed time to cool off...

Sakura sat on a log near the horse stall, hugging her knees as the gentle morning breeze ruffled her hair.

"If only I was faster…"

She stared down at her hands. She could still feel the impact of their last exchange—the moment Kaziel had found her opening.

How do I reach that level?

She let out another frustrated sigh—

Then—

Something soft nudged against her back.

“WAH—!”

She jolted, turning quickly—

Only to be met with a familiar white-furred face.

“Eh..!!…Drake?!”

The fluffy dog sat there, staring up at her with his small, beady eyes, tail wagging slightly.

“How did you get here?!” she shocked blinking at him in surprise.

Drake didn’t respond, of course—just gently bit down on something and lifted it toward her.

A blue ball.

Sakura hesitated before taking it from him.

The ball was worn, the once-bright color faded with age.

Why was he giving this to her now?

She stared at the toy in her hands, feeling a strange sense of weight settle in her chest.

It was as if… Drake was trying to tell her something.

But what?

Sakura’s fingers tightened slightly around the ball, her gaze lingering on the old, faded toy.

The quiet of the backyard was interrupted only by the occasional rustling of the trees and the steady rhythm of a coin flipping through the air. Helion leaned against the wooden wall, his arms crossed, golden eyes half-lidded as he observed the scene before him. The moment Drake placed the ball into Sakura’s hands, Helion finally spoke.

“You should take it.”

Sakura flinched slightly, looking up in surprise. She hadn’t even noticed him there.

“…How long have you been standing there?” she asked, eyeing him warily.

Helion didn’t answer. Instead, he flicked his coin, letting it spin effortlessly between his fingers. His gaze remained impassive, but something about his presence felt heavier than usual.

Sakura hesitated, then looked down at the ball. It felt strange—accepting something so simple, yet carrying the weight of an untold story.

Still, she sighed and reached up to pat Drake’s fluffy head.

“You came all this way just for this?” she mused, tilting her head. “What’s so special about it?”

Drake wagged his tail in response, his small, dark eyes peering up at her with something almost knowing.

Helion finally spoke again.

“Animals don’t go out of their way to do something unless it means something.” His voice was calm but firm, as if stating an undeniable fact.

Sakura turned the ball over in her hands, watching the worn edges, the faded color.

“…Then I’ll keep it,” she said softly.

Drake let out a happy woof, his tail wagging harder.

Sakura smiled faintly, but her expression soon turned serious. “But you need to go back home now. Aunt Patty will be worried if you go missing next.”

She crouched slightly, resting a hand on his head. “Isn't she important to you?”

Helion’s golden eyes flickered.

“…After all,” he added quietly, “she, too, has been alone for a long time.”

Sakura stilled.

Alone.

The word echoed through her mind, striking something deep within her.

It was a word she had known for far too long.

Her fingers curled slightly against the ball, her thoughts drifting back—back to the days when she had no one. When she had wandered alone, uncertain of her purpose, lost in a world that was not hers.

If not for Kaziel…

If not for his persistence, his unwavering insistence that she stay by his side—

Would she still be wandering?

Her grip on the ball tightened.

“…Was I being too much?” she muttered under her breath, shoulders sinking as guilt crept up on her.

Helion flipped his coin, catching it midair.

“Perhaps,” he said evenly. “You’re the type who’s driven by emotion. It’s understandable.”

Sakura huffed, puffing out her cheeks slightly. “That’s just a fancy way of saying I’m too sensitive,” she grumbled.

Helion smirked faintly but said nothing.

Sakura narrowed her eyes at him, then, in a rare moment of defiance, shot back, “But you’re the same, aren’t you?”

Helion froze.

Her gaze was steady, unwavering in a way that almost reminded him of Anna.

Since when had she learned to fight back?

His fingers faltered, nearly dropping the coin. He let out a quiet sigh, looking away.

Sakura immediately caught onto his hesitation.

She realized that she unintentionally triggered his fear. The same fear that had lingered since the Umbral Foundry incident.

Even now, he still hadn’t spoken about it. Not once.

And yet, every time she looked at him, he avoided her gaze.

As if he saw something in her eyes.

Her expression softened.

Maybe this time… she could try again.

She didn’t need all the answers. Just a clue. Something—anything—to understand what had been weighing on him.

She took a slow breath, choosing her words carefully.

“…About what you saw the other day,” she said gently. “Was it… really bad?”

She feared that she might push him away again. But she had to try.

As expected, Helion remained silent. But this time, instead of dismissing her outright…

He was thinking.

Then, slowly, he flipped the coin once more.

He caught it.

Heads.

His golden eyes darkened as he finally met her gaze.

“…The event is inevitable,” he murmured. “It was set in stone. A fate that cannot be changed.”

His voice was steady, but there was something deeper beneath it—something restrained.

“And you,” he continued, “were a part of it.”

Sakura’s breath hitched. Her heart pounded, though she wasn’t entirely sure why.

Her hand had stopped moving over Drake’s head. Slowly, her fingers curled against the ball, as if she was beginning to understand.

“…If it’s inevitable,” she whispered, “then there’s nothing we can do, right?”

Helion tensed, his expression hardening.

“…What do you mean?”

Sakura exhaled, then—

She smiled.

Not out of joy, but something quieter.

Something more… resolute.

“Sometimes we can’t avoid fate,” she mused. “That’s what Kaziel told me.”

Helion remained quiet.

She lifted her gaze back to his, her eyes steady.

“Even if it’s set in stone, there’s a reason for everything.” Her voice was quiet, but unwavering.

“I may not be able to see what you saw,” she admitted, “but I’m not ready to accept it yet. Not until I find the truth. Not until I understand—”

Her fingers tightened around the ball.

“…Why I was given this power.”

She looked up at the sky, her expression unreadable.

“Why the golden clock was bestowed upon me. Why the Divine Power exists at all.”

Drake let out another soft woof, as if sensing the shift in her emotions.

Helion studied her.

For the first time, something clicked in his mind.

A missing piece.

He recalled something Hanz had once told him.

"The truth is still a long way ahead."

His grip on his coin tightened.

Was what he saw truly unchangeable?

Or was it an illusion—one that fate had forced upon him?

Because, initially—

He had never been able to see Sakura’s fate at all.

That much was certain.

Helion was still lost in thought when Sakura suddenly stood up, breaking the silence.

She stretched her arms, letting out a soft sigh. “Helion, that was enough knowledge to make me feel relieved.”

He turned to her, blinking in mild surprise.

Then she grinned, her emerald eyes warm.

“But before we get too ahead of ourselves—let’s take it easy for now,” she said. “We still have a long way to go, right? And I want to be with you guys before I finally disappear to the Celestial.”

Helion’s fingers stopped flipping the coin.

That’s right.

She had mentioned it before—when they were on their way to the Umbral Foundry.

Her mission wasn’t to stay.

It was to find hope for this world.

To destroy the Greeds before despair could consume everything.

If the High Priestess could harness the Divine Power again, if the relic could be restored—

Then Sakura would leave.

With the Divine Power, she would have the ability to travel across universes.

To return to the Celestial.

To become the Divine Oneness.

…And yet—

She was still here.

She still wanted to walk this journey with them.

Helion exhaled, the weight in his chest loosening ever so slightly.

Maybe—just for now—he wouldn’t think about the future.

Because as she said—

There must be a reason.

Even if he didn’t know it yet.

Sakura crouched in front of Drake, patting his head once more.

“Alright, Drake! Let’s get you home first! Aunt Patty will be worried about you,” she grinned. “Then—we have a job to settle!”

Drake wagged his tail in response.

She stood back up, determination settling in her gaze. Turning to Helion, she met his eyes with an expectant look.

“Helion, let’s go.”

For a moment, he didn’t move. Instead, he flipped his coin one last time.

It spun through the air, catching the light before landing neatly in his palm.

Heads.

A smirk tugged at his lips.

With a casual push off the wall, he stepped forward.

“…Fine.”

And without another word, he followed.