Sellen's room.
After making it clear that he wasn't teasing her but genuinely trying to help improve that sphere, the misunderstanding was resolved—yet for some reason, Sellen's gaze toward Lloyd grew even more resentful.
"Next time, give me a heads-up beforehand...
And when I'm out, you are not allowed to secretly mess with this thing. Otherwise, I'll really get angry..."
She knew her own sphere's condition well. Although at the time she hadn't been able to think clearly due to certain circumstances, now that she'd calmed down, she realized he had indeed been seriously probing her state and trying to help resolve her problem.
Normally, Lloyd's kind of probing shouldn't have caused any effect or sensation at all.
But because she had transformed her soul into a Primal Glintstone, and her state inside that sphere was abnormal, she was unusually sensitive. On top of that, the synergy between her and the sphere was off balance—leading to the current situation.
So even though she had been the victim, just recently 'tormented' by him, she bore him no blame whatsoever.
"Alright, I was only a bit drained earlier, but I'm fine now. Go do whatever you need to do. No need to stay here with me."
"Are you sure? You still look a bit weak, Teacher. If I stay here..."
"Your presence here only makes it harder for me to recover."
After talking a bit more and confirming that Sellen was truly fine, Lloyd left her room. He teleported around, checked everything to be sure, and when he found no problems, returned to the snowfields to continue his map clearing.
Though he called it map clearing, it was closer to grinding.
Even though he had already killed the previous "Shura," the insects it left behind were still out there.
Especially atop the Giants' Mountaintops—those elite insect-possessed minions hadn't died. They had only been knocked away by Yhorm's massive cleaver and were now scattered throughout the snowfields, waiting for him to hunt them down.
So, to stockpile materials for reviving his old comrades, Lloyd combed every corner of the snowfields. He even retraced previously explored areas, dragging out insects hidden in cracks and corners, turning all of them into resources.
After wiping out every insect and scaring off Those Who Live in Death, the snowfield returned to a normal state—or at least, not entirely normal.
After all, a normal snowfield should be a vast, empty map dotted with a few ruins and dungeons, most of the time spent running across the terrain with only the occasional monster encounter.
But now...
To the left, Yhorm was leading a troop of trolls in building houses, gradually constructing a new giant civilization.
To the right, a massive Fingercreeper the size of a troll crawled across the snow with a cluster of smaller ones following behind. They looked like they were on a family outing, the scene warm and harmonious. When Lloyd passed by, they even politely paused to greet him.
Farther away, Borealis was wrestling with a giant frostland lobster, trying to make it his dinner. Nearby, a squad of flame-training soldiers sent by Morgott camped uneasily, shivering under the watch of surrounding monsters and abominations. And close by, even an ancient champion of Samir could be spotted...
All in all, it was a strangely idyllic scene.
After confirming that the insects were eradicated and everything else was settled, Lloyd once more raised the Spectral Steed Whistle and pressed onward into the snowy depths.
This time, he hadn't gone far. After leaping up a cliff with a spirit stream, ruins appeared before him.
Clearing the nearby monsters, Lloyd stepped into the heart of the ruins—and there he saw a familiar sight.
A Spirit Jellyfish.
Spirit Jellyfish were not uncommon in the Lands Between. Whether by nature gentle or merely slow-witted, they rarely attacked humans—or even Lloyd—unless they were in a red-agitated state. They were one of the few peaceful creatures here. Even the sheep, when bored, would come up to nudge Lloyd's back.
Their appearance alone made them endearing, so Lloyd had always liked them. On his wanderings, whenever he came across non-hostile jellyfish, he would often dismount to play with them, and had grown quite familiar with their nature.
But this one before him was behaving oddly.
Lloyd knew well that Spirit Jellyfish were group creatures—either they didn't appear at all, or they appeared in clusters. Cute and gentle though they were, they had little intelligence, true jellyfish in every sense.
Yet the one before him stood alone. And it could speak.
"Sister, where have you been?"
"Didn't we promise? That when we turned fourteen, we'd go stargazing together..."
"I've been waiting for you, waiting for so, so long..."
Hearing the jellyfish's soft murmurs, Lloyd paused. Then he suddenly remembered a conversation with Roderika, when she had mentioned that Aurelia had a younger sister who had been lost long ago.
They had been separated for too long, and even Aurelia herself didn't know how they had parted or where her sister might be. Still, she had earnestly asked him to keep an eye out, saying there was a promise between them that had yet to be fulfilled...
Could it be this one?
Lloyd looked at the jellyfish before him and spoke cautiously.
"Do you know Aurelia?"
The jellyfish froze for a moment, then answered instinctively.
"Sister..."
That seemed to confirm it.
Lloyd nodded, then teleported to Roderika's side. After explaining the situation to her, he brought both her and Aurelia to the spot, and then...
"Ah, you've finally come... Sister?"
Sensing Aurelia's presence, the jellyfish reacted instantly, filled with excitement. But when she turned her head toward Aurelia, ready to keep their promise, what appeared before her left her completely stunned.
It was a Spirit Jellyfish.
But unlike any other Spirit Jellyfish, this one was enormous.
Not just a little bigger—she was nearly ten times her size. For the child who had waited here all this time, the sight was overwhelming.
And it wasn't only the size. This jellyfish's body bore features unlike ordinary ones: massive tentacles infused with elements of flame, frost, sorcery, and storm; a soul barrier shimmering around her; a head that, when focused, could transform into a spiraling drill; and a tail capable of unleashing torrents of poisonous soul currents...
Aureliette—Aurelia's younger sister—couldn't make sense of it.
But she was shaken to the core.
"You're... my sister?"
The soul resonance was unmistakably familiar. Everything about it told her this was her sister. Yet when she looked at the towering Spirit Jellyfish before her, Aureliette simply couldn't reconcile it with the gentle, timid sister she remembered.
—Two little girls had made a promise before their deaths: to watch the stars together. That vow had kept them lingering in the world. One had waited faithfully at the same place for countless years, and when she finally heard footsteps and turned in joy...
...she found a Gundam standing there.
Forget Aureliette—anyone would hesitate.
Even so, while Aureliette wavered, unable to accept that this towering jellyfish could be her sister, Aurelia recognized her immediately. She reached out her tentacles and gently stroked her.
"It's me, Aureliette. I'm your sister..."
"I found a master. He's a good person, and he's taken great care of me. I wanted to help him, so I worked hard and grew... until I became what I am now."
After a brief silence, the smaller jellyfish lifted her head and asked timidly.
"Then... will you still go stargazing with me, Sister?"
"Of course."
The colossal Spirit Jellyfish wrapped her tentacles around the smaller one, speaking softly.
"But compared to the snowfields, my master has taken me somewhere else—where the stars are far more numerous, and even more beautiful than here..."
Stargazing was Aureliette's obsession, the very thing that had kept her holding on until now.
That was why Aurelia didn't intend to grant that wish here. Instead, after embracing her sister, she passed her into Lloyd's hands.
"Lord Lloyd, this child..."
"Mhm, I understand."
Lloyd nodded, extending his hand. A small soul crystal, shaped like candy, formed at his fingertip. He held it out toward Aureliette.
The little Spirit Jellyfish didn't eat it right away. Instead, she turned her gaze toward the towering Spirit Jellyfish beside her.
"It's alright, eat it, Aureliette."
The giant Spirit Jellyfish spoke gently.
"Master is a good person. He'll take us to see the stars too."
Hearing those words and feeling the familiar aura coming from her, Aureliette hesitated for a moment. Then she slowly extended her tentacles and wrapped the soul candy into her mouth.
"...It's sweet."
"Do you like it?" Lloyd asked.
The small Spirit Jellyfish nodded earnestly.
"I like it."
"Then have some more."
With a faint smile, Lloyd gathered more soul clusters in his hand, feeding not only Aureliette but also giving plenty to Aurelia as well.
After eating her fill, Aureliette's consciousness felt restored, and drowsiness began to overtake her.
"Sis, I want to sleep..."
"Then sleep."
The giant Spirit Jellyfish lowered her tentacles, drawing the smaller one into her embrace. Once Aureliette peacefully drifted into slumber, Aurelia lowered her body beside Lloyd and gently brushed against him.
"Lord Lloyd, I want to stay with this child at your side for a while..."
"Mhm. Come."
Lloyd nodded, and the two Spirit Jellyfish slowly faded away.
[Acquired Spirit Ash: 'Aurelia and Aureliette']
[Aurelia and Aureliette]
[Spirit Ash housing souls]
[Can summon the souls of Aurelia and Aureliette]
[Spirit Jellyfish that attack with lashing tentacles and venom sprays]
[One has undergone an extraordinary transformation]
[To fulfill a promise made in life, the maiden's soul endured until the very end]
[Now, they are reunited]
[But this is not the end of their story—it is a new beginning]
After storing the Spirit Ash, Lloyd glanced around to make sure nothing else required his attention. Then he returned Roderika safely before continuing his exploration.
...
Not long after delving further ahead, Lloyd came upon a castle. Activating the Site of Grace revealed its name: "Castle Sol."
Just as he prepared to enter, something in his inventory began to tremble.
What's this...
In response to the stirring, Lloyd took out the Spirit Calling Bell. As he rang it, a golden figure gradually took form, eyes opening slowly.
"Long time no see, Lloyd," she said.
Lloyd nodded.
"It has been a long time."
"Seriel."
...
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