Chapter 56

The city had returned to its usual glow. Arcane streetlamps danced with dusklight, students returned to the Imperial University, and Central City Minamo’s late spring winds tugged gently at the hem of every coat and cloak.

Lily Mizuyari, hair loose from her signature ponytail, steps into the front garden of her best friend’s mansion. Her eyes barely have time to scan the ivy-covered walkway before—

Sanguinella von Blutschwert
(sprinting out the door, crimson curls bouncing)
YOU LEFT ME BEHIND!

Lily
(startled, arms out)
Wha—Sanny!! Wait!! I tried to bring you!!

Sanguinella
(throws herself into a hug and starts crying into Lily’s shoulder)
You and Astera got to fight frost monarchs and eat dragon steak and restore a kingdom, and I was stuck here practicing with a clone and trying not to fry the house with Chiketsu...!

Lily
(softly smiling)
Aww… you missed me.

Sanguinella
(grumbling, tears still flowing)
...Maybe.

Astera Flores is seated across from Nalea, a bright-eyed ancient human with wind-swept silver hair and a sharp laugh. They’re sharing a plate of spirit cakes and quietly holding hands beneath the table.

Nalea
(teasing)
So, did Raureif survive you?

Astera
(pretending to ponder)
Barely. I did almost get sucker punched by a noblewoman. But I was very charming about it.

Nalea
(laughs)
Sounds like you.

In the distance, Sanguinella and Lily peek from behind a tree.

Sanguinella
...Why do we always spy on their dates?

Lily
(smirking)
Because he lies and says he’s ‘just going for a walk’ and I know he plans romantic things.

Sanguinella
Ugh. He even brought out the flowers in the hair spell again. Gross.

Shizuku lounges on a sunken couch, hoodie on, reading glasses perched lazily on his nose.

Alto
(leaning over a game board, eyebrows furrowed)
Okay, how are you winning without moving any pieces?!

Shizuku
(smiling smugly)
“I played against Emrys in this game once. You think I need to move pieces?”

Berwick sits across from Asche. Books stacked high between them. Floating arcana diagrams shimmer mid-air, with logical threads tethering them like constellations.

Asche
(sipping black tea)
But wouldn’t that imply arcana itself is a consequence, not a constant?

Berwick
(fingers steepled)
Exactly. If arcana only flows in response to intention, then pre-conscious spellcasting isn’t a myth—it’s a paradox.

Asche
(grinning)
I love talking with you.

Eris, cross-legged in the center, hovers off the floor. Her spellbook Hufrat Alzalam floats open before her. Her hair flows upward in zero-gravity.

Eris
(muttering)
Disassemble. Compress. Reroute. Collapse. Draw again…

The weight of the universe presses inward. She breathes out, unshaken.

Celeste Diminuendo sits with her legs swinging over the balcony, her baton tapping against the railing. She adjusts her communicator earring.

Celeste
(murmuring, smiling)
Yeah… the reconstruction’s looking amazing. And no, I won’t let Lily name a dish after me until she finishes her finals.

On the other side: Kalt XVIII, in his new Raureif robes, standing beside a crystal lake.

Kalt XVIII
(teasing)
You’d probably name it ‘Celestial Beatburger’ or something equally unholy.

Celeste
(grinning)
Don’t tempt me.

They were back.
And for now—just for now—
The universe was safe.