Eins was left speechless –horrified, even– by the conclusion of the duel between Tesni and Roma. Even though she knew it quite well, the destructive power of their grimoires… was it really right to even think of magical girls as normal people? Or were they something else? Eins couldn’t answer that question back then, and she still couldn’t do it now. All she could do was what was within her grasp. Still, to think that it was not the aggressor, but rather one of them who did this much damage to their school, and to their allies… no –If Eins was right, Tesni actually used her own companions as weapons to corner Roma. Why was everyone else taking the case so lightly when it was so… wrong?
“I– Thanks, but I didn’t do anything worthy of praise. Even now, I can barely help anyone when it really matters,” Eins replied to Mika’s praise with a downcast smile.
“At any rate, I suppose that a little senior outing to let off some steam wouldn’t hurt. At least after I help the victims,” she added after pinching her own cheek, chiding herself for sounding too negative.
While Eins was busy administering first-aid to those in need and getting the girls whose grimoires had been more damaged back to the infirmary, where they could recover, a rare occurrence took shape in their midst. None other than the Grand Minister in flesh and magic, descending from her sanctuary to alleviate the suffering of the afflicted as well as seemingly greet the return of a prodigal astray daughter.
“Fear not, my children. The storm has already passed, until the tides have once again turned, all that lies before you is the motherly embrace of the Winds and the Earth,” Lilian –or rather, Merlin’s– voice was lyrical. It was almost as if flowers bloomed in her very wake and a spectral, phantasmagoric song soothed the hearts of all those hearing her words –no, maybe it did happen indeed, since many of the present –Eins included– would feel the weight of yoke of suffering be lifted from their shoulders and the girls that had been hurt by Roma’s ploy would be able to rest in peace, at least for now, while their leader walked among them.
“I know what you have gone through. But now you can rest. Rest assured that you endured the darkest night. However, is not the time to grief, instead, we should celebrate,” Merlin’s words provoked a wave of disbelieving faces, and whispers rose here and there, as the gathered girls who could still get a hold of themselves wondered what was there for them to celebrate after such a night.
The Grand Minister’s next actions would make it clear what she meant.
“My heart is filled with joy to have you return to us, my dear lost child,” Merlin said as she knelt to the captured Roma and cupped the other girl’s face with her hand. She also bent forward, touching her forehead against the other girl’s.
“You have gone astray for too long. But to know that your light is not truly lost is the greatest gift you could ever give me.”
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