[Saint Quartz].
A stone imbued with holy power, a crystallization formed after the concept of the "future" is secured.
Don't understand? No problem, there's a simpler way to put it:
"It's like a merit badge issued by the Counter Force!"
Gaia, the planetary will overseeing the [Thore of Heroes]; Alaya, the collective unconscious of humanity with its [Counter Guardians]... the relationship between these two Counter Forces is complex. At times, they clash openly or covertly, vying for dominance; at other times, they unite for a common goal, working closely together.
They share one fundamental principle: history must not be altered, and the future must be preserved.
This Saint Quartz is a crystallization of the Human Order, formed once the concept of the "future" is secured.
This crystal possesses extraordinary properties: it can be used to connect with the Throne of Heroes and summon Servants; in the most extreme cases, it can even wield terrifying power like "time reversal." granting a failed challenger a second chance... though no one besides Alaric knew of this capability.
"Or you could simply think of this stone as a limited wish-granting device."
"With the power of the Human Order within it, it can fulfill one wish of its user."
"But this wish comes with many restrictions and must be a 'reasonable' one to be granted... so it's not quite a [Holy Grail]."
As he spoke, Alaric patted Black Jeanne's shoulder with his wing, placing the Saint Quartz, brimming with miraculous power, into her hands.
Black Jeanne dazedly accepted the stone... it radiated a dreamy, rainbow-like glow in her trembling hands.
"A wish."
"A single chance… for the right wish."
As if realizing something, Black Jeanne clasped her hands over her chest, pressing the stone tightly against her heart.
Then, she closed her eyes and prayed devoutly.
…
Black Jeanne had once had many wishes.
She had wanted to exact revenge on the humans living on this land.
She had wanted to destroy the world.
She had wanted true friends who would never betray her.
She had wanted to build a legacy truly her own.
Even just moments ago, she had sincerely hoped that a certain blonde with an ahoge would charge out from the crowd and strike her down on this path, just steps from the finish line.
... If she could die in such a glorious way, she would be grateful.
But it didn't happen.
The world played a cruel joke on her. Her path had been so fraught with hardship… yet at this final moment, when things shouldn't have gone smoothly, they did.
No one came to end her.
With no other choice, she opted for self-destruction.
As fate had decreed... when all was over, she would quietly fade into slumber.
But that wasn't what she wanted to see.
"What am I longing for?"
Black Jeanne pressed her hand to her heart, asking herself.
Her mind flashed to scenes of herself, bandaged and drinking with Elizabeth.
She recalled being sandwiched between Elizabeth and Kiyohime, those monstrous girls, and punching them both.
She remembered the bonfire in the pasture, the roasted meat beside it, and the white dragon drooling over it.
Those were the precious things in her heart, the things she wanted to keep by her side forever.
... But how could they possibly stay?
Those moments, whether painful or beautiful, could only live in memories.
All humans have is the present they're living and their hopes for the future.
... And wasn't that exactly what Black Jeanne lacked yet desperately wanted?
So.
"Lord... "
At the final moment when all was about to end, the witch holding a miracle made her wish to the heavens:
"Please grant me the joy of life."
…
Black Jeanne made her wish.
It wasn't a wish guaranteed to be granted, but one she desperately wanted to see fulfilled, one she'd rather die than live without.
Did the heavens grant it?
Of course.
"Boom... "
With her body at the center, flames continued to roar.
But unlike before, the orange-red flames symbolizing destruction gradually turned white in that moment.
White flames burned through the white city.
The undead, who had already passed and were forcibly kept on this land by the witch's power, found their souls instantly freed upon touching these white flames.
Black Jeanne's body began to burn as well.
But under the scorching white flames, she felt no pain.
On the contrary, her body felt lighter... as if some heavy burden was being burned away by the flames.
And in the glow of these white flames, her once pitch-black armor gradually transformed into a pure white, symbolizing [renewal].
... The Dragon Witch, born from the flames of vengeance, had vanished in the blazing fire.
... And at the same time, a delicate figure faintly emerged within those white flames.
"The anger of the past is now but a fleeting cloud."
"At this moment, a new life stands upon this land."
The white dragon soared in the sky, flapping its wings, expressing its joy in this way.
He was elated... after enduring so many trials, this girl had finally reached a beautiful conclusion.
And out of respect for this new life, he refrained from calling her "Black Jeanne"... because she was no longer dark in any way.
As for whether she still wished to bear the name "Jeanne"…
"Ah... !!!"
A sudden scream erupted from the crowd.
It was the voice of Saint Jeanne.
The saint, who saw saving the world as her mission, rarely lost her composure... but at this moment, unable to contain her joy and excitement, she rushed to the center of the plaza, where nothing but ashes remained, and scooped up the pure white "little Jeanne." whose size was only half her own.
"Let me go, let me go... !"
The white little girl struggled desperately to break free from the village girl with no sense of boundaries. But this village girl's strength was astonishingly great, and for a moment, she couldn't even resist.
"So, so cute!"
"You crude woman, stop... stop poking my face... !"
[Jeanne Alter Lily, grand debut!]
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