Rain whispered across the Black Bulls' courtyard, soaking the training field in a fine silver mist. It was still early—sunlight barely kissed the horizon—but Astra Nocturne was already outside, her grimoire floating silently at her side.
She stood barefoot in the rain, breathing in long, even draws of air. Her violet eyes were closed. The mana in her body moved with each breath—slow, massive, and ancient, like the orbit of stars.
From behind the archway, Noelle watched.
She hadn't meant to. She'd simply woken early to practice and caught sight of Astra, alone and unmoving, as though waiting for something only she could sense. Even after a day, Astra unsettled her—and intrigued her.
Not because of the rumors. Not even because of the Seventh-Leaf Grimoire.
It was something else.
Something… personal.
Noelle stepped forward, armor glinting faintly under the rising sun. "You're up early."
Astra opened her eyes slowly, the violet orbs glowing faintly. "I never sleep deeply."
Noelle arched a brow. "Bad dreams?"
"No dreams. Just… echoes."
It was a strange answer, but it didn't feel like a lie.
"I came to train," Noelle said, raising her arms and letting water magic flow around her. Her mana formed a shimmering veil of blue, swirling in ribbons.
Astra nodded. "Then let's begin."
They faced off in the center of the field. Water against starlight.
Noelle struck first, hurling a crescent blade of pressurized water. It tore through the air with lethal speed—but stopped inches from Astra's chest. A ring of black stars shimmered into existence, devouring the attack like a black hole sipping wine.
Noelle narrowed her eyes. "You didn't even dodge."
"You telegraphed the move. Your stance shifted."
"I—what?"
Astra stepped forward. "Your right foot slides half an inch when you charge magic. Your center of gravity dips. You reveal your next spell before you cast it."
Noelle flushed with frustration. "Then let me try again."
She did. Again and again.
For thirty minutes, she unleashed every form of spell she could safely muster—water whips, bubble traps, water dragon talons—but Astra didn't move. She blocked them all with quiet elegance, using as little magic as possible.
Not once did her grimoire open.
Not once did she attack back.
Finally, panting, soaked, and annoyed, Noelle hissed, "Why won't you fight me seriously?"
Astra tilted her head. "Because you're not fighting seriously, either."
That stung.
Noelle's eyes narrowed. "You don't know anything about me."
"I know you're afraid," Astra said softly. "Afraid of losing control. Afraid of hurting others. So you hold back. But you also hate being underestimated. So you lash out. You burn inside—but you cage it."
Noelle clenched her fists. "Shut up."
But Astra didn't flinch.
"Your magic has beauty. Power. It sings when you stop thinking."
"I said—"
And then she was in front of Noelle.
One breath. One step.
No magic. No flash.
Just presence.
Noelle froze as Astra reached out, gently placing two fingers against her sternum.
"You're not a weapon, Noelle. You're a force of nature. Stop trying to be something smaller."
Their eyes met.
The air between them changed.
Mana pulsed softly—water and starlight coiling together like strands of ribbon in the wind.
Noelle stepped back, flustered. "You're... insufferable."
Astra gave a small smile. "So I've been told."
Back inside the hideout, Magna stared through the window at the drenched, silent sparring field.
"Damn," he muttered. "That girl's a machine."
Vanessa sipped her wine lazily. "I don't know. I think she's more like a mirror. She reflects what's around her."
Luck grinned. "I like her. She doesn't blink when I charge."
Gordon mumbled something that only Henry understood.
Finral leaned back, eyes half-lidded. "Do you think she's dating anyone?"
Vanessa chuckled. "Already interested?"
"I mean, can you blame me?"
Yami flicked ash off his cigarette.
"She's dangerous. Stronger than we've ever seen. If she ever flips..."
"She won't," Noelle said firmly as she entered.
Yami raised an eyebrow. "You sure?"
"She's not like that."
And strangely, Yami believed her.
Far away, in the shadows of the Spade Kingdom ruins, torches flickered against cathedral stone.
The Eclipse Coven gathered beneath a silver eclipse sigil. Dozens of robed mages knelt before a raised dais where Selene Nocturne stood, arms spread wide.
Unlike Astra, Selene's beauty was regal and sharp—silver hair cascading like moonlight, her eyes pale gold and filled with mad serenity.
"It has begun," she said softly. "The Seventh Flame awakens."
A chorus of whispers rose.
"She'll never join you," one cultist dared to say. "She walks with the Clover dogs."
Selene only smiled.
"Then she will burn with them."
Behind her, a new spell was forming—Lunamortis, the Moon Death.
The first phase of her plan had begun.
That night, Astra sat alone on the roof of the Black Bulls' hideout, her legs tucked up, grimoire resting quietly beside her.
She stared up at the stars—the only place she'd ever felt home.
Noelle appeared minutes later, wrapped in a cloak.
"I figured you'd be here."
Astra didn't look away. "Couldn't sleep?"
"No."
They sat in silence for a while.
Noelle eventually spoke. "You said my magic sings."
"It does."
"What does yours do?"
Astra was quiet.
Then, softly: "Mine remembers. Every spell I cast... it remembers the past. The pain. The power. The lives taken."
"That's a heavy burden."
"It's the only one I have."
Noelle looked at her. Really looked.
"You're not alone anymore, you know."
Astra finally turned to her. Their eyes met. No walls between them.
A flicker of warmth passed between two girls forged in different fires.
And for the first time in a long time—
Astra believed it.