"I should have beaten that damn bastard up earlier!"
Sterin's wrinkled fist trembled as he expressed his regret at not having thrashed Rimmer while he was still alive.
"I can't believe he's still causing trouble for others even after death."
He ground his teeth audibly, genuinely angered.
"No. I'll deal with that fool right now... Ouch!"
Sterin tried to leap out of bed but collapsed back down. The surge of energy from his anger seemed to have dissipated.
"G-Grandfather!"
Siyana cried out as she rushed to support Sterin.
"S-Sorry..."
Sterin's eyelids trembled as he let out a long sigh.
"No, it's alright."
Siyana smiled faintly, saying she was actually glad to see him so energetic after so long.
"But is it true that my brother really brought those winds and mists above?"
She turned to Raon, wanting to know for certain.
"...Yes. Lord Rimmer's soul remains within those mists and winds."
Raon paused briefly before nodding.
"What happened all this time?"
Siyana raised her eyebrows after carefully laying Sterin back on the bed.
"As I mentioned before, Master entrusted his soul to the Blade of Requiem. When we located the White Blood Religion's position and began our attack..."
Raon told Siyana and Sterin everything that had happened up until now.
"Ah, so that's why..."
Siyana nodded, saying she finally understood.
"No wonder my heart ached so strangely when I looked at those mists."
She let out a soft groan, saying she now understood why her heart had been hurting.
"I felt something similar."
Sterin heaved a heavy sigh as he looked out the dark window.
"I felt tiny vibrations, as if someone was tapping my aged soul with their finger, and it turns out it was that damn grandson's doing."
He brushed back his white hair with trembling hands.
"To think he stepped forward despite knowing he couldn't handle it..."
Sterin curled his lips while keeping his eyes closed.
"Still the same kindhearted fool as ever."
Though he called him foolish, he couldn't hide his smile. He seemed to approve of Rimmer's straightforward nature.
"That's just who my brother is."
Siyana smiled softly, saying Rimmer had always been more warmhearted than other elves from the beginning.
"I also have something I'd like to say."
Martha stepped out from behind Raon and stood before Siyana and Sterin.
"Thanks to Master Rimmer, I was able to achieve my life's goal."
She bowed with sincere eyes, as if wanting to repay the warmth she received from Rimmer to these two elves.
"Life's goal?"
Sterin narrowed his eyes.
"Would you mind telling us what that goal was?"
He raised his eyebrows, showing interest because of Rimmer's involvement.
"Of course."
Martha nodded with unusual politeness.
"In my childhood, our village was attacked by the White Blood Religion. The 10th Apostle came personally, leaving us no chance to resist..."
Despite the painful memories, she shared everything without hesitation.
"Even in death, Master didn't forget my goal. He even entered the mental world to help me achieve my revenge."
Martha bowed her head, saying that thanks to Rimmer, she was able to save her mother and accept her father's sacrifice.
"Thank you so much."
She conveyed her accumulated gratitude to Siyana and Sterin in place of the absent Rimmer.
"No need to thank me."
Sterin waved his hand dismissively.
"Save your thanks for when you catch that fool's soul and bring him down here."
Unlike when he spoke of beating Rimmer up, he now wore a subtle smile. Hearing of his grandson's deeds seemed to fill him with new vigor.
"Y-You don't need to thank me either!"
Siyana shook her head quickly. She too broke into a bright smile, seemingly happy to hear praise for Rimmer.
"Still, I wanted to tell you what kind of person your family member was."
Martha bowed again, expressing her gratitude once more. Raon found himself smiling faintly, as it was extremely rare to see her act this way.
"So does that mean we shouldn't erase that damned fellow?"
Sterin raised his finger, pointing at the cabin's ceiling.
"That's not the case."
Raon shook his head firmly.
"Master must have come here to purify the malice inherited from the vengeful spirits of the Blade of Requiem using the World Tree's power. In other words, we should erase the blood-stained mists and winds to free his soul."
He explained to Sterin and Siyana what needed to be done for Rimmer.
"Is there a way to erase just the mists and winds while leaving Rimmer's soul intact?"
Sterin smacked his lips, indicating that was the most important question.
"While the World Tree does have purification abilities, removing something so massive and intense all at once would be too much."
He frowned, explaining that the World Tree couldn't focus its power in one place as it was purifying malice not just from this forest, but from the entire continent.
"If it stays near the World Tree, that malice will eventually disappear."
Siyana lowered her chin as she continued Sterin's thought.
"However, it would take a very long time. Ten years, or perhaps even longer."
She sighed, uncertain of what to do.
"You're both right. Even with the World Tree, it would take a long time to erase that malice. And we can't use martial prowess to forcefully dispel it as that would harm Master's soul. However..."
Raon touched a leaf-shaped ocarina in his ceremonial robe's pocket as he curled his lips.
"This time, we have a solution. A way to solve all these problems."
***
"Grandfather."
Siyana approached Sterin's side and massaged his hands.
"How are you feeling?"
"Getting angry actually gave me some energy."
Sterin nodded, saying he felt better than usual.
"No, maybe hearing about that foolish grandson Rimmer gave me vigor."
He smiled, saying his mood had improved regardless.
"Me too. My brother really hasn't changed, even in death."
Siyana raised her arm, saying she felt energized just like Sterin.
"Yes. And he's still just as foolish in the end."
Sterin showed a playful smile, saying it was just like Rimmer to do something good but end up causing trouble.
"Um, Grandfather..."
Siyana's rising smile slowly faded.
"Can I really do this?"
Unlike Sterin's expectations, she felt anxious, uncertain if she could completely erase the malice Rimmer had brought.
"Of course you can!"
Sterin nodded without hesitation.
"With your abilities, you can definitely push it back. And it seems Raon has prepared something as well."
He firmly held Siyana's hand, telling her not to worry.
"Alright. I'll try to believe that too."
Siyana pressed her lips together as she agreed to try.
"That's the spirit."
Sterin smiled brightly, apparently pleased with Siyana's determination.
"Hmm, I'm strangely tired. I should get some sleep."
He closed his eyes, saying he had been awake for too long.
"I'll go too. Sleep well."
Siyana covered Sterin with a blanket before leaving his house.
"Huh? Lord Raon?"
She widened her eyes in surprise when she saw Raon standing in front of her as she was about to head home.
"Oh!"
Siyana suddenly seemed embarrassed and covered her head with a blanket she got from somewhere.
"W-Weren't you supposed to go to your lodgings?"
"I went and came back."
Raon showed a faint smile, saying he had returned after being guided by Erian.
"W-Why?"
"I have something to give to Lady Siyana."
He smiled as he took out the leaf-shaped ocarina.
"This... is that Spirit Energy?"
Siyana's eyes widened as she sensed the powerful Spirit Energy contained within the ocarina.
"With this Artifact, couldn't you purify that energy by yourself, Lord Raon?"
She trembled slightly, seeming to instantly understand the ocarina's capabilities.
"True. I probably could."
"But why are you giving this to me..."
"Because Lady Siyana, who handles Spirit Energy better than I do, would be much more efficient with it."
Raon shrugged his shoulders, suggesting it was the obvious choice.
"There's one more reason."
He raised a finger as he continued.
"While coming here, I heard what the elves were saying. It seems you haven't yet received full recognition as Guardian."
Raon coldly stated the current situation in Sepia.
"Y-Yes, that's right..."
Siyana bit her lip firmly.
"I still can't freely summon Elayim, and I've been nothing but a shut-in my whole life."
She nodded, saying it was natural that the elves wouldn't acknowledge her. (E/N: ...Kinda weird. I thought we already went over that character arc. My last memories of Siyana was of her fearlessly leading elves; when did she regress so much...)
"Nothing in this world is 'natural'."
Raon shook his head as he held out the ocarina to Siyana.
"I'm sure that's what Lord Rimmer, my master and your brother, would have said."
He mimicked Rimmer's manner of speaking as he handed the leaf-shaped ocarina to Siyana.
"Lady Siyana, you will save Lord Rimmer and Sepia yourself."
Raon nodded, encouraging her to do it with her own strength.
"H-Honestly, I'm a bit scared."
Siyana expressed to Raon the concerns she couldn't bring herself to tell Sterin.
"You can do it. It wouldn't make sense for a Spirit King's summoner to be unable to do this."
Raon nodded, saying she had accomplished even more difficult things before.
"Thank you. However..."
Siyana narrowed her eyes as she let out a long sigh.
"Even though you're helping me like this, there isn't much I can do for you in return."
She apologetically caressed the ocarina as she spoke.
"No. There is something."
Raon shook his finger in disagreement.
"Huh? What..."
"I have another purpose for coming to Sepia. Actually..."
He explained that he came to gain Sepia's support for the successor trials.
"In other words, I can only gain your support if Lady Siyana firmly takes control of Sepia."
Raon pressed his hands together as if in prayer, saying they were in the same boat.
"Besides, Master also came here to ask for help. I'm sure he'll cooperate willingly."
Raon smiled brightly, saying Rimmer's endurance had been well-trained thanks to Glenn.
"Ahahaha."
Siyana let out a soft laugh from beneath the blanket.
"Then I'll try my best somehow. For you, Lord Raon, and my brother..."
Her voice carried strength, as if she had overcome her days as a shut-in NEET.
"An excellent choice."
Raon nodded gently and bowed to Siyana.
"O Guardian of Sepia."
***
The next day. Raon entered the space in the Great Forest where the World Tree was hidden, together with Siyana and Sterin. The ancient tree's scent alone made their hearts pound intensely, even though the World Tree wasn't fully revealed.
'Just looking at it feels overwhelming.'
The World Tree still displayed its majestic presence, seemingly large enough to cover the entire continent and more. Its green leaves swaying in the gentle wind were both beautiful and grand, like an emerald sea.
"Wooooah!"
Dorian let out an almost rustic exclamation of amazement.
"I-It seems bigger than when I last saw it! It's intimidating even though we can't see all of it yet!"
He widened his eyes, saying the World Tree seemed to still be growing.
"...Words can't describe this."
Martha exhaled sharply, saying one had to see it in person to feel its majesty.
"It's beautiful!"
Evelyn showed a bright smile matching the World Tree's beauty as she exclaimed its magnificence. However, as the World Tree fully revealed itself, the red mist and wind hovering above it also became visible. Rimmer's soul's malice was slowly descending with a terrifying aura, as if it would devour the World Tree.
"Ugh..."
Siyana's eyebrows trembled, seeming overwhelmed by the wind and mist filled with powerful malice.
"Don't worry."
Sterin raised his trembling hand to grasp Siyana's.
"You can do this. You're the Guardian I passed my position to."
He nodded, showing his faith in his granddaughter - no, in the Guardian.
"Yes. You can definitely do it."
Raon approached Siyana's side and nodded.
"As I said yesterday, Master must also wish for that energy to be purified."
Rimmer must have come to Sepia seeking to use the World Tree's power to erase the malice. Seeing how he was somehow controlling the mist and wind, he would surely surrender himself willingly.
"And if things don't work out, I'll help from the side."
Raon tapped the Heavenly Drive sword, telling her to trust him.
"Alright."
Siyana seemed to gain courage from his and Sterin's words as she threw off the blanket covering her and stepped forward.
"Phew..."
She took a deep breath before pulling out the leaf-shaped ocarina from her chest.
"Huh? Why is that..."
Evelyn's sharp gaze fell on Raon.
"..."
Raon pretended not to notice and kept his eyes on Siyana.
"I'll begin."
As Siyana opened her Spirit Energy while holding the ocarina, highest-grade spirits were simultaneously summoned around her. A hawk-shaped highest-grade fire spirit, a unicorn-shaped highest-grade water spirit, a dwarf-like highest-grade earth spirit wielding a hammer, and a butterfly-shaped highest-grade wind spirit appeared.
The appearance of these high-ranking spirits, each with their own domain, caused powerful vibrations throughout the Great Forest. However, the spirits looked slightly different than before. Blue flames burned on the hawk's wings, the unicorn's horn swirled like a wave, and the dwarf's hammer emanated a dense flash like gold bullion.
Finally, the butterfly's wings fluttered with wind fragments beautiful as jewels.
"Hmm!"
"W-What is this?"
"The spirits have changed."
Martha, Dorian, and Evelyn also widened their eyes at the spirits' sudden transformation.
-What in the...
Wrath also widened his eyes at the unfamiliar sight.
-W-What in the world is happening?
He shook Raon's shoulder, demanding an explanation.
"This is..."
Sterin lowered his eyebrows as he looked at Raon rather than Siyana.
"Please look carefully at the shape of that ocarina."
Raon raised his finger to point at the ocarina Siyana was holding.
"Could it be a leaf from the World Tree...?"
Sterin's eyes widened as he noticed the ocarina's shape matched exactly with the World Tree's leaves.
"That's right. That Artifact has the ability to accept the World Tree's power and strengthen purification and Spirit Energy. Here, close to the World Tree, it will display invincible power."
He nodded, explaining that the spirits had grown stronger thanks to the ocarina's power.
"Though playing the ocarina would have been even more effective, this level should be sufficient for now."
Since Rimmer would likely cooperate willingly, the current spirits should be able to purify that mist and wind.
"Let's go!"
The highest-grade spirits rose simultaneously at Siyana's gesture. The spirits pushed their elemental powers to the limit and launched them toward the swirling mist and wind in the sky.
The energies of fire, water, earth, and wind rose magnificently in harmony with the World Tree's waves, as if they would tear apart the red mist.
'It worked.'
Raon clenched his fist tightly.
-This should be enough.
Wrath nodded, thinking this level of power should be enough to purify the mist and wind Rimmer had brought. However, something unexpected happened. The red mist and wind Rimmer had brought suddenly changed direction and completely deflected the Spirit Energy shot by the four spirits.
"Huh...?"
Raon's jaw dropped as he watched Rimmer's soul shimmering within the wavering mist.
'What is that damn elf doing now!'
Just go quietly!