Dila's chest heaved, guilt coiling tightly around her heart.
"No… Professor!" she cried, voice breaking as she closed her eyes, tears brimming. Her fists clenched at her sides, trembling as though the very weight of responsibility was pressing down on her chest. She screamed into the quiet midday forest, the sound echoing faintly among the trees.
For a moment, Professor Galahad's eyes widened, startled by the raw emotion. But then, he let out a soft, pained smile, leaning slightly against the tree behind him. "No… it's okay, High Princess," he said, his voice gentle despite the ragged edge. "It's not your fault."
Dila's fingers twitched. With a deep inhale, she raised her right palm, and the air around her began to shimmer with faint white-blue light. A soft hum of magic rippled outward, and gradually, the glow solidified into the familiar shape of her magical staff. It materialized fully, humming with pure, resonant energy.
