Botanica's demeanor sharpened slightly as she folded her hands neatly in front of her, signaling that pleasantries had concluded. Her voice resonated clearly, weighted with the importance of the moment.

"Now then," she began, tone soft yet authoritative, "We proceed to the primary purpose for today's gathering. Princess Celestine has requested that I officially register all of you as Liberators within the Southern Liberatorium—an honor, a responsibility, and perhaps," she allowed a faintly amused pause, eyes briefly drifting to Elsie, "An opportunity for reward unlike any other."

Elsie's eyes widened, practically trembling with anticipation. "Elsie is ready!" she squeaked excitedly, gripping her own hands tightly as if already clutching invisible Sul.

Botanica's lips quirked subtly, almost imperceptibly amused by the girl's naked ambition, before she composed herself fully. Her mismatched eyes began to glow softly, the gold and blue orbs lighting like small suns. She scanned the assembled party carefully, as though absorbing every detail of their souls into her mental ledger.

Celestine stood quietly, regal and patient, accustomed to such inspections. The others shuffled slightly, uncomfortable yet fascinated by the process. Kaiser, however, felt his muscles tense. Despite the knowledge that the Elder-Core had suppressed much of his own power, the intensity of Botanica's gaze made him feel exposed, more vulnerable than he'd felt in years.

"Hmm…" Botanica murmured appreciatively, her glowing gaze resting upon Celestine. "Princess Celestine, your progress astounds even me. Only two years since you've ascended to the rank of Saint, and your Sol already approaches halfway to the yellow threshold. Such talent is exceedingly rare." Her voice was calm, precise, yet laced with unmistakable admiration. "Under typical conditions, progressing from an orange core to yellow takes even an active Liberator three decades… Your potential is extraordinary."

Celestine's cheeks warmed slightly at the praise, though she remained composed, offering only a small, dignified nod. "Thank you, Botanica. Your words mean a great deal to me."

Botanica inclined her head, the golden-blue radiance of her eyes dimming momentarily, her expression both fond and stern. "It is merely the truth recorded plainly," she replied evenly, before turning her gaze once more toward the others.

Her glowing eyes lingered next on Ivan, Aria, and Elsie, each in turn, and she nodded approvingly. "Impressive indeed, Princess. You have brought with you a number of promising Liberatorstoday."

Ivan straightened slightly, a grin spreading wide across his face. Aria bounced on her heels excitedly, barely containing her joy, and Elsie's green eyes shone brightly. "Elsie is ready to become very rich!" she blurted excitedly, immediately covering her mouth in embarrassment.

Yet, among all this excitement, Kaiser remained motionless, his posture straight but his thoughts churning beneath his calm exterior. It was laughable, insulting, even, that he shared a similar Sol core with this group. They were mere children, barely tested by the true horrors of the world. Kaiser had faced terrors that would shatter their minds, commanded legions through wars that lasted lifetimes, and yet here he stood, categorized alongside these cheerful youths as a mere Liberator.

He allowed himself a single, bitter internal laugh. If it came to real battle, Kaiser had no doubt that he could dispatch any and all of them effortlessly. Celestine, talented though she may be, would be a worthy opponent in time—but for now, even she was far beneath his experience.

Yet, as his disdainful thoughts swirled, his gaze fell again upon Botanica. She alone disrupted his certainty. Her presence, even with suppressed power, was a force entirely unlike anything else he'd encountered in this world thus far. Kaiser was accustomed to sizing up threats in an instant, gauging strengths and weaknesses instinctively. But looking at her, this calm, elegantly composed woman... He found himself strangely hesitant. Not afraid, exactly, but wary. Deeply wary.

He studied her carefully, trying to identify why exactly he felt so unsettled. Perhaps it was how her mismatched eyes, subtly glowing, never seemed to stray far from him. Perhaps it was the manner in which she cataloged everything, every word, every gesture, always as though calculating value. Whatever it was, a chill of anticipation ran down Kaiser's spine. The thought of facing her in combat wasn't unimaginable, yet somehow, he could not picture himself emerging victorious.

"Interesting," Botanica murmured suddenly, snapping him from his thoughts. Her glowing eyes rested pointedly upon him, her tone mild yet quietly intrigued. "You, Lord Kaiser, are indeed different. Even suppressed, your aura whispers of… unique circumstances."

Kaiser lifted an eyebrow, calm as he could manage. "Unique?" he echoed, voice carefully neutral.

"Indeed," she replied softly, her eyes narrowing slightly as though savoring a particularly curious entry in her mental ledger. "A curious puzzle to solve later, perhaps. But your aura itself tells me enough. You'll find much opportunity within the Liberatorium to prove your worth, and perhaps to discover more about yourself, as well."

Kaiser nodded slowly, masking his discomfort behind practiced composure. "I look forward to it," he replied carefully, matching her measured tone.

Botanica's smile, suggested she saw right through him. "Excellent. Then let it be known, from this moment forward—each of you is hereby formally recognized as a Liberator of the Southern Liberatorium. May your journeys lead you to greater understanding, strength, and above all, purpose."

As she finished speaking, the glow in her eyes faded completely, leaving only quiet confidence and an inscrutable mystery lingering in her gaze. Yet Kaiser stood apart, silent and thoughtful, still acutely aware of Botanica's quietly penetrating stare.

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"Now, as per the regulations of the Southern Liberatorium, Princess Celestine," she stated clearly, her words carrying a slight, unspoken significance, "You are required to accept a new Tale today. As your previous one remains incomplete, this is not merely a formality, but a necessary step to maintain your standing."

At once, the warmth that had lingered on Celestine's face drained away. Her golden eyes dipped downward, gazing silently at the polished stone floor as though its smooth surface could offer her solace from the memories suddenly gripping her heart. Kaiser, observing this subtle but stark shift, understood immediately what this meant. He recalled with piercing clarity the moment he first encountered her… A princess struggling beneath the crushing might of Chaos. He saw again the image of Regulus, his body consumed by flame as he fought valiantly, falling so that she might survive. If that fateful night had indeed been part of a Tale, he could hardly fault Celestine for the unfortunate outcome. Failure, yes, but not a mark against her character. If anything, it spoke volumes of her determination and courage.

Sensing the heaviness lingering in the air, Botanica allowed a brief, delicate pause, her expression softening slightly, becoming almost affectionate. "You are fortunate, my dear princess," she continued softly, her words carrying a faint, fond undertone, "That I happen to like you as much as I do."

Celestine raised her eyes slowly, confusion mingling with a faint spark of annoyance. "Botanica," she began, her voice tight but controlled, every syllable filled with a quiet, dignified frustration, "You've already done more than enough. I don't require special treatment."

Yet Botanica's small, knowing smile remained unperturbed, as though she'd anticipated Celestine's reaction down to the exact words. She lifted one hand, signaling gently for silence. "Listen to me, Princess. I took the liberty of crafting a Tale specifically with you in mind. It was meant to go public tomorrow, but, knowing its significance, I feared it would be claimed mere moments after being posted. A quest such as this would not remain available for long, especially given the recent influx of ambitious Liberators."

Celestine's brows drew together, a line forming upon her delicate forehead as her irritation grew more pronounced. "Botanica, I told you—"

But Kaiser stepped forward then, his movements controlled and confident, the subtle shift in his stance enough to draw all eyes to him. His gaze fixed steadily on Celestine, expression stern. "Celestine," he interrupted calmly, causing even the princess to pause and listen attentively. "You may dislike special privileges, but consider this carefully. This is not simply charity. Accepting this Tale could benefit not only yourself but the entire group you've brought together here today."

Celestine hesitated, lips parted slightly, prepared to protest further—but the look in Kaiser's eyes gave her pause. Her shoulders gradually relaxed, and the harsh edge of tension eased from her voice as she exhaled slowly. "Perhaps you're right, Kaiser," she conceded, though still reluctant. "But still…"

Botanica nodded approvingly, her dual-colored eyes lingering on Kaiser, a faint, appreciative smile curving at her lips once again. "He speaks wisely. This is not merely a matter of convenience. The Tale in question is of considerable importance, especially given the circumstances surrounding your previous quest. Furthermore…" She paused dramatically, her voice taking on a weighty significance. "As an Angel-class Liberator, I shall personally vouch for your entire party upon the successful completion of this Tale. Each of you already possesses a Blue Sol Core, so your ascension to the rank of Hero would be all but guaranteed."

A stunned silence settled briefly over the group as Botanica's words sank in, broken quickly by a chorus of shocked gasps and excited whispers.

Ivan's eyes grew wide, disbelief melting swiftly into exuberant joy. He practically bounced on his heels, his excitement barely contained. "Wait—really? Heroes, like that? Just… just by completing this one Tale?"

Aria elbowed Ivan playfully, her grin bright enough to rival the sun. "Of course! Didn't you hear her, dummy? We'll be Heroes! Actual Heroes!" She paused dramatically, her voice dropping to a mischievous whisper, "Think how jealous everyone else will be!"

Elsie's reaction wasn't what you'd call graceful. The second she heard about the reward, she leaned forward, eyes shining with a greedy sort of hope. "Wait, Botanica means proper payment? Not just another empty handshake and a thank-you song?" She scoffed, more amused than bitter, but Kaiser had heard her story from Milo: Elsie was famous for saving would-be heroes and then chasing after them for payment she almost never saw.

Her hands fidgeted, as if itching to grab a coin purse that might finally, finally be full. "Maybe this time Elsie'll actually get what she's owed. Hell, Elsie will buy herself a castle!" She gave a short, crooked grin, still half-expecting the Tale to vanish before the promise came due.

Celestine, however, remained quieter… Pleased but still visibly conflicted, caught between gratitude and the sting of wounded pride. "Botanica…" she began softly, voice wavering slightly with genuine emotion. "Are you sure about this? Promoting everyone to Hero instantly… It's not common, even for you."

Botanica simply tilted her head slightly. "I have observed and recorded many things, Princess Celestine. Talent, potential, loyalty—they are all valuable entries. This group possesses each in abundance. The Liberatorium demands strength, above all else. Sometimes, swift and decisive rewards yield the most powerful results."

Kaiser, listening silently to these exchanges, found his initial surprise swiftly eclipsed by amusement, and perhaps, a slight edge of irritation. To be placed again on par with this motley crew still felt absurd. And yet… he could not deny the usefulness of Botanica's offer. Securing the rank of Hero so rapidly opened doors that would otherwise remain locked, doors that could lead directly to information about Sabel's location. If humility and cooperation with this eccentric group were the price, Kaiser reasoned calmly, it was one he could bear.

Still, the nagging discomfort of Botanica's penetrating gaze lingered heavily in his thoughts. He met her eyes directly now, searching their inscrutable depths. She returned his look evenly, her faint smile never wavering. Kaiser felt again that peculiar sensation, a strange, unspoken understanding passing between them. He recognized in her a depth and power that belied her graceful composure, and in that moment he silently resolved to tread carefully around this woman.

"Then," Kaiser finally spoke, breaking the quiet murmuring among the excited group. His voice was firm, carrying the natural gravitas of a leader. "If Celestine agrees, we accept this Tale."

Celestine turned to him, their gazes locking for a brief moment. She straightened slowly, resolve gradually returning to her posture. With a steadying breath, she faced Botanica directly. "Yes," she said quietly but firmly, her voice leaving no room for doubt. "We accept your offer. But… please understand, Botanica, I want no further special favors beyond this. I must prove myself on my own merit."

Botanica's smile widened slightly at Celestine's acceptance. "Very well," she said. "Allow me, then, to introduce your first Tale."

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