Morning came with pale sunlight filtering through windows, casting golden rectangles across wooden floors.

Reinhard, Marie, Joseph, Janus, and Brunhilde sat at their usual table in the inn's common room, finishing breakfast.

The meal was bread, eggs, and some preserved fruit, which they were munching on while speaking.

"So you passed your trial? You should have told me you were going to do it last night." Joseph says with a sigh.

"Haha, I am sorry. It honestly slipped my mind after meeting the Red Priest and then us talking about the Forerunners." Marie says as she lightly scratches her cheek.

"Well… I will admit we did forget the time when you talked about what you saw." Joseph says with a light chuckle.

"Hm? What are you talking about?" Janus asked after tilting his head.

"Ahh, I wish everyone were there to listen." Marie sighed before quickly telling Janus and Brunhilde what she had seen after holding the Star Jewel.

After she quickly went over the peace, the communication, the bonds, and the beauty of the Forerunners. She quickly went into the tragedy and the sight of the Dark Silence.

Janus trembled before sighing. "I really wished I could have seen it then. To think everyone got along and really held no malice… We talked about it before, but I am sure it would feel better to witness it."

Marie nodded and said. "I think seeing it is what made me so excited and enthralled. Seeing the City of Melo people working together, laughing, and looking out for each other was absolutely amazing."

Brunhilde nodded and said. "It does sound like a good paradise."

"Right?"

"Wait before we get distracted again. Since you passed your trial, what beast spirit piece did you get?" Joseph asked.

"Ah, I got one of my wings." Marie said as she raised her hand, leading everyone to look down.

On it was a spear surrounded by twelve wings with a halo circle encompassing the design. Before, only the spear was shaded in gold, but now, the spear and one pair of wings were in full gold.

"So it's a wing… Does this mean it grants you the ability to fly?" Reinhard asked in interest.

"Yeah, but not only that~ It granted me an awesome new skill called Gather. Where I can draw magic from everyone, and then unleash it into an extremely strong attack! What makes it so great is that its power is a combination of everyone's own magic, not just mine!" Marie says as her eyes shine in delight.

Brunhilde chuckled before nodding. "That's an amazing skill. I wager it might even be possible for you to draw on the magic of 2nd and maybe even First Class Beast master."

Marie giggles and says. "It would be awesome, but my body can't stand that pressure. But just drawing the strength of the others would be enough to hurt a 2nd Class Beast Master~" Marie then paused before lightly grinning. "It can also create an aura-like barrier over me or a target."

Brunhilde's eyes lit up as she said. "You mean the enemy has to fully drain the magic in the barrier before they can do damage to us?"

Marie nodded and said. "Awesome, right?"

"More like broken." Janus says with a light laugh, leading the others to also laugh.

"Oh, Rein. We should add Casseo and Veryn to the Herald Mark. Their abilities would be helpful." Marie pointed out, leading Reinhard to hold his chin.

Brunhilde sighs and says. "I wish I could lend you all my skills, but I am too strong."

"It's okay, Brun! It's the thought that counts." Marie says before looking at Reinhard for an answer.

"Well, if they're still with us on the operation, then why not-"

The inn's door swung open with enough force to create a bang that echoed through the room.

Reinhard blinks from the interruption before glancing to the door, and seeing Veryn enter, her white robe with patterns billowing behind her.

A beaming smile spread across her face as her purple eyes swept the room, searching.

Her gaze landed on Brunhilde. She crossed the distance quickly, boots creating sharp sounds against the floorboards.

"Miss Brunhilde," Veryn said, barely containing her excitement. "The Saint is here, and he wishes for you and the other Memento Mori students to come meet him."

Brunhilde nodded, her violet-blue hair swaying with the motion. "I sensed him a few minutes ago."

Marie's eyes lit up instantly before she pushed back from the table, chair scraping. "Let's go! I want to see the legend in person!"

Joseph chuckled, standing more slowly. "Is it just the Saint who came?"

Veryn shook her head. "The others of Luminous Knight had already moved toward their intended locations at the Saint's direction. I think he plans to have us follow him toward the center of the forest."

Reinhard nodded, rising from his seat before they began following Veryn, leaving their plates behind for the innkeeper to collect.

The morning air was cool when they stepped outside.

Naraku Town showed signs of yesterday's chaos with repaired walls, buildings with fresh timber patching holes.

But life continued as people moved through the streets, preparing for the evacuation that would begin today.

They headed toward the town square.

As they approached, Reinhard spotted the gathering immediately.

Casseo stood tall in his black armor, the helm with upward-pointing spikes unmistakable. Amiya stood beside Ancestor Vlad, whose black eyes stared up at the sky. The Red Priest Honor loomed in his silver robes and wyvern-faced helmet, amber eyes visible through the eye sockets.

And finally, the Saint.

The man was covered with a white robe that flowed over a black shirt and black pants. He had worn dress shoes beneath the robe's hem. Atop his head sat a black crown with his face covered by a black mask that revealed nothing of his face.

Yet presence radiated from him. Not power like Brunhilde or terror like Vlad, but a serene certainty from him, something different.

Reinhard, Marie, Joseph, and Janus instantly knew who this person was, Saint Lucian.

As they reached the group, Amiya smiled at them. Vlad nodded his head once, acknowledgment and greeting combined, while Honor tilted his wyvern helm slightly in their direction.

Saint Lucian turned to face them fully and softly said. "Ahh, so you four are the ones Klaus was talking to me about. Especially you, Miss Marie."

Marie blinked in surprise. "So he informed you we want to follow and help you out?"

Saint Lucian nodded, the black crown catching sunlight. "I was a bit surprised when I heard it from Veryn and Casseo, but seeing how far you all went to help them retrieve the Star Jewel, it seems you truly want to help."

Janus spoke quickly, enthusiasm overriding nervousness. "Of course! If the Dark Silence can really be destroyed and stopped, then of course I-we have to help."

Amiya beamed at him, pride evident in her violet eyes.

Saint Lucian chuckled. "Well said. With determination and spirit like that, you will do well when venturing to the center."

Reinhard raised a brow, something in that phrasing catching his attention. "I've been hearing that a lot. Does the trip to the center attack our spirit or willpower?"

Saint Lucian nodded immediately. "It's a formless aura that tries to find gaps in you. If you're not constantly determined, then you'll be induced with fear, anxiety, and despair."

Honor spoke up. "This gives the roots time to wrap around you and drag you away. This is why taking the weak-willed or those who aren't very determined and invested isn't advisable."

Marie's eyes widened with understanding. "That's why you were checking our reasons yesterday, to see if we could handle it."

Honor nodded. "I didn't want you to lose your lives."

Joseph smiled. "Thank you."

"Think nothing of it." Honor replied.

Vlad shifted, his black cloak trailing shadows despite no wind. "So what is the plan, Lucian? You already have the Seekers and Luminous Knight spread around the center."

Saint Lucian nodded. "Can you show me the Star Jewel?"

Marie nodded before reaching into her jacket, and she withdrew the Jewel carefully. The tiny stars swirling within the sphere seemed brighter in daylight, the metal pieces encasing it gleaming.

Vlad's crimson eyes widened slightly while Honor tilted his head, studying the artifact with obvious interest through his helm's eye sockets.

Saint Lucian stepped forward, gently taking the jewel from Marie's hands and carefully tracing over the metal encasement. "Indeed, with this, we can begin the plan."

Then he gave it back to Marie.

Everyone's eyes widened in surprise while Marie blinked, taking the Star Jewel with uncertain hands.

The others exchanged confused glances.

Amiya asked softly in concern. "Is something wrong?"

Saint Lucian shook his head. "Nothing is wrong. I gave it back because the ones heading to the center will be you with Honor, Veryn, and Casseo."

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