The mana shower poured from the sky as Raon narrowed his eyes to slits.
'That's not an attack.'
The malice that Rimmer had brought to Sepia was completely purified by the World Tree. This was literally just pure mana energy, so there shouldn't be any major issues even if one's body absorbed it.
-It is as you say.
Wrath nodded as if confirming his judgment was correct.
-The mana is extremely concentrated because such a vast amount of malice was purified, but it will have no effect on you. However...
'True. I'm fine, but Lord Sterin and Lady Siyana could be in danger.'
Sterin was in such a weakened state both physically and mentally that even a slight touch could kill him, while Siyana was so exhausted from her performance that she could barely hold herself up. Though he was fine, those two could be in danger.
"Both of you should dodge—"
Raon stopped as he was about to use Garunua's wind to push Sterin and Siyana away.
'Wait. I definitely saw that foolish elf's face earlier.'
As the red wind and mist cleared, Rimmer's face appeared in his spirit form. He wore a subtle smile, like when he used to play tricks on him at the fifth training ground.
'He's planning something. It's probably...'
To restore Lord Sterin and make Lady Siyana into a true Guardian. Through Haerang, Rimmer had conveyed his wish to extend Sterin's lifespan and make Siyana into a Guardian acknowledged by all. He seemed to have deliberately released this purified mana for that purpose.
"It's fine..."
Sterin pressed his lips firmly together as he grabbed the bow leaning against his chair. Using it as a cane, he slowly rose to his feet.
"Even if I die here, I must accept that damn grandson's gift."
As if understanding Rimmer's intention, Sterin straightened his back and surrendered his body to the falling masses of mana.
"I, I also trust my brother, and..."
Siyana nodded, indicating she was fine.
"I trust Lord Raon."
She nodded to him before stepping into the shower of mana.
"I suppose there's no choice."
Raon slightly furrowed his brows as he entered the mana storm with Sterin and Siyana. The massive mana clusters, contrary to expectations, gently pulled at his body. It felt like sinking into an emerald sea. Thud.
When his feet touched the ground again and he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in an unfamiliar forest, not in Sepia.
'No. This is...'
It's the forest behind the annex building. The entrance to North Grave Mountain where he often came with Rimmer and Glenn. The autumn sun cast a gentle warmth, and the soft, warm earth created a drowsy atmosphere.
'But this place isn't real.'
Wrath, who had been on his shoulder, was nowhere to be seen, and considering how he'd arrived at this new location without feeling any movement, this wasn't reality but someone else's mental world.
'This must be Master's mental world.'
Given the refreshing scent characteristic of Rimmer that permeated the entire forest, he was certain he had entered Rimmer's mental world.
'Master's mental world wouldn't have originally taken this form.'
It seems Rimmer's soul had undergone a peaceful transformation after entering the Blade of Requiem and fulfilling Martha's revenge.
'Where are Lady Siyana and Lord Sterin... Hm?'
Raon's eyes widened as he turned his head searching for the two. In the clearing outside the forest, Sterin stood with his bow raised, eyes closed.
"Lord Sterin?"
Though Raon called his name, Sterin neither responded nor opened his eyes. Though he swayed like paper in the wind, barely able to stand, he didn't fall and kept a firm grip on his bow.
'I probably shouldn't disturb him.'
He couldn't bring himself to speak to Sterin, who seemed to be in a state of deep concentration.
'Then where is Lady Siyana?'
Raon turned back and entered the forest before him. A clear singing voice echoed from within. Following the sound, he found Siyana singing a song imbued with the World Tree's breath, her hands clasped as if in prayer.
Spirits of various colors gathered around her, all wearing bright smiles.
'Were they drawn by Lady Siyana's voice?'
Though Siyana possessed the most beautiful voice of anyone he knew, she had lacked the confidence to make use of this gift. But now, as she overcame her shyness and sang, her voice bloomed with a mellifluous tone that seemed to melt one's ears.
The spirits danced to Siyana's song, sharing their spirit energy with her.
As the spirits' energy seeped into Siyana's body, he could sense her mind and body growing stronger.
'Awakening!'
Raon swallowed hard as he watched Siyana transform while singing.
'Did those masses of mana trigger Lady Siyana's awakening?'
No, that couldn't be the only reason. Siyana had achieved significant mental growth while preparing the purification song with him. Her thoughts and feelings must have changed dramatically as she shifted from being protected to protecting others.
It was clear that her awakening was progressing in this way because the massive influx of mana had come when she was ready to achieve enlightenment.
'I shouldn't interfere here either.'
Since this was a crucial moment for Siyana, he thought it best to step back. As Raon slowly backed away, a dull wind sound came from the direction of the clearing.
'What is it this time?'
Raon furrowed his brows as he returned to the clearing.
"Huh?"
The sound escaped his lips unconsciously in his shock. The former Guardian, who had been bedridden from both physical and mental aging, was now drawing his bowstring.
It wasn't fast or powerful, of course. His movements were so slow and weak that it wouldn't have been surprising if he dropped the bow, but despite his trembling hands, he drew the bowstring to its full extent.
'Is he alright?'
Sterin drew and released the bowstring while sweating profusely, as if burning his last ember. Raon worried he might leave without even saying goodbye, but Sterin focused all his mental strength on drawing the bowstring to its limit, as if refusing to die.
The most fundamental archery stance: hold the bow, nock the arrow, draw the string, and aim at the target.
Like the basic swordsmanship that Raon valued most, Sterin focused on the fundamental stance of archery. He released the fully drawn bowstring and shot an arrow toward the clear sky. Raon clasped his hands respectfully as he watched what could be either the old archer's final moment or a new beginning.
***
"L-Lord Raon!"
The moment Dorian saw Raon being engulfed by the mass of mana, he leaped forward. His loyalty had now surpassed his fear.
"It's fine."
Martha raised her arm to stop Dorian's charge.
"Look closely, they're not hurt at all."
She shook her head, indicating that not only Raon, but also Sterin and Siyana were unharmed.
"Huh?"
Dorian blinked as he looked at Raon standing frozen in place.
"A-are you sure they're okay? They're not moving..."
He swallowed hard as he pointed out Raon's strange state.
"It's forced awakening."
Evelyn traced her red lips with a slender finger.
"Forced awakening?"
Dorian turned his head so quickly he nearly snapped his neck.
"Yes. It's a phenomenon where one is forced into a state of enlightenment when they come into contact with massive amounts of mana in an instant."
Evelyn's intense gaze fell on Raon.
"Though I've never seen three people enter awakening simultaneously before. It was probably possible because such pure, newborn-like mana fell like a meteor shower."
She examined Sterin and Siyana's conditions, saying this was interesting to watch.
"I'm a bit envious?"
Evelyn frowned as she looked Siyana up and down.
"Uh..."
Dorian swallowed hard as he sensed the dark killing intent emanating from Evelyn's shoulders.
"I-it's just work! Nothing more than work!"
He waved his arms, pleading with her to stay calm.
"Well, that's true!"
Evelyn brushed off her hands which had been emanating killing intent, indicating she would accept that for now.
"Awakening, you say...?"
Martha's lips trembled as she looked at Siyana, who stood frozen like a statue.
"Is that really awakening? These spirits are..."
Spirits from all over the world gathered around Siyana. Not just fire, water, earth, and wind. Even rare spirits like lightning, sea, light, and darkness approached as if following her.
"L-look at Lord Sterin! His hands!"
Dorian raised his finger toward Sterin in shock. The deep wrinkles that had been etched like tree bark on Sterin's hands began to show signs of vitality like new sprouts, as his skin tightened and regained its original color.
"Incredible..."
Martha's eyes widened as she watched Sterin's skin smoothing out like ironed cloth and Siyana gathering spirits from all over the world.
"It's just beginning."
Evelyn smiled faintly as she looked at Raon standing between Siyana and Sterin.
"Raon. What will you gain from this?"
***
It took over an hour for Sterin to draw his bowstring and loose his first arrow. But his movements gradually quickened - fifty minutes for the second shot, forty for the third, and twenty for the fourth. The sound pierced the air!
Though his arrows initially fell to the ground without proper flight, they gradually improved until they now created powerful waves that seemed to tear through the sky.
That wasn't all. Sterin himself underwent a major transformation. His sagging, wrinkled skin became firm and vibrant as if touched by fire, and his thin, threadlike hair fell out to be replaced by new growth. This wasn't the last flare of a dying light, but true rejuvenation.
The former Guardian had never lacked enlightenment. As he absorbed the pure mana Rimmer had brought, the awakening that had been halted by his lack of physical strength and mana began anew.
Sterin's arrows, which had been powerless before, now shot forth fiercely, creating shockwaves that seemed to pierce through space itself. He could now loose arrows in an instant, each shot overflowing with power and vitality. The sound echoed through the air!
In the end, Sterin shot arrows while looking even younger than when Raon first came to Sepia.
His body, mind, and aura had all been restored. In just thirty minutes, he demonstrated all his archery techniques before planting his bow and arrow into the ground. His eyelids slowly lifted to reveal elegant eyes that shone like ancient starlight.
"..."
Sterin nodded at him as if in thanks, then turned into a green wind and left the mental world.
"To think I'd witness such an awakening. It feels like discovering a whole new realm."
Raon smiled gently and entered the forest where Siyana was. She was still singing with her hands clasped. Now, however, it wasn't spirits but primal natural forces - the very essence of spirits - that swirled around her like the Milky Way.
The massive natural forces, powerful enough to make one's fingers tingle, slowly rotated and seeped into every pore of Siyana's body.
Lights like constellations bloomed across Siyana's pale skin, and her spirit energy grew incomparably stronger than before. She lowered her clasped hands and slowly opened her eyes. Her mysterious golden eyes rippled as if they could draw one in.
"..."
Like Sterin, Siyana nodded to him before turning into clear water and leaving the mental world. The forest she left behind sank into a peaceful darkness, as if it had lost its light.
"Both of them succeeded in their awakening."
Raon let out a deep breath as he looked back at the forest where Siyana had sung and the clearing where Sterin had demonstrated his archery.
'To think they achieved awakening so simply. No, that's not quite right.'
Sterin had already achieved the enlightenment necessary for awakening, but seemed to have failed at the last moment due to lack of physical strength and mana. The falling masses of mana had provided an alternative, allowing him to grasp again the thread of awakening he had lost.
Meanwhile, Siyana had possessed sufficient physical strength and mana, but had clearly gained through this training the enlightenment she had been unable to achieve due to her fragile heart and mind.
'How did Master know about this?'
According to Haerang, Rimmer had deliberately come here bearing malice. This meant he had targeted Sterin and Siyana's awakening, but Raon couldn't understand what he had seen to anticipate this.
'Well, he's always been an unusual elf.'
As Raon smiled wryly and shook his head, a light green wind approached from behind his shoulder.
"Master?"
The wind carried Rimmer's characteristic refreshing yet playful temperament. It seemed he had returned to his original demeanor now that the malice remaining in the Blade of Requiem had been purified. However, he remained as wind rather than returning to his elven form.
"Surely not..."
Raon bit his lip as he watched Rimmer seeming to grow fainter.
"Did you use your last remaining strength to awaken Lord Sterin and Lady Siyana?"
Rimmer lifted Raon's bangs slightly as if in answer. Whether this meant yes or no was unclear. But one thing was certain: the time left with Rimmer was short. It didn't feel like they would be able to meet again as they had before.
"..."
He chewed his lip while staring at the ground. There were words he wanted - needed - to say before Rimmer truly disappeared.
"Master."
Raon straightened his posture as he looked at the green wind that held both clarity and playfulness.
"There's something I haven't told you."