My name is Higanba, the daughter of Izuna and Astlan Lionheart.

My life story isn’t something really interesting to hear. It’s common, it’s full of foolishness, and most of all, it’s my lifelong mistake when I was younger.

The only good memory I can dig up from my heart is the one I had with my father together with my mother. My father then will leave for several days and return. I never once doubted him but his tired eyes full of guilt haunted me back then he just died.

From then on, my mother breakdowns into tears every night. I don’t know how to support my mother at a tender age so I just cast all my emotions away. It was a foolish story that ended up with nothing but pretending to be okay but in the end, I was just running away.

At a certain night, where the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, I saw my mother, holding a parasol, weeps. However, I am not certain whether if her pain had dulled or if it deepens.

At the next moment, my mother dances together with the pink petals that fill the place while basking in the light of the full moon.

Graceful, beautiful, precise, and most of all, breathtaking. With a parasol on one hand that spins, sways, and even placed on her shoulder has become a remarkable play of handling the parasol to create a blending visual of obscured sadness in her heart.

The other hand gracefully followed with a mesmerizing gesture that devoid of intensity and filled with longing. Each time her body turns, the pink petals would sway.

Her ninetails dances in unison as it creates an illusion of a flower blooming through sadness.

It is a memory that was deeply etched in my heart, a sad beauty that I only want to keep to myself. My mother’s dance is called the Flowering Night.

At that time, I still don’t understand how much pain does my mother felt. Even now, I admit that I don’t, however, it is the same pain that I am trying to get over with but for now, I can only think of that undaunted movement tinged with melancholy.

“Since we are ending it all here, I’m going all out!”

Flow shouted with intensity as his body started leaking with abundant pugnacious energy that is Arcana Magic. His body started swallowing any magic energy within his field, completely depriving the soil and trees near him of life.

Stronger and fiercer, that is how I can describe him. No doubt, mother would also lose to him but by the skin of the teeth.

I still don’t know how really strong Casablanca and Hibiscus, however, I am glad that I get to fight him first. If I take him down here now, they won’t have to fight and get hurt.

I clear my mind of every fear and worry.

Even with my ragged state where my arms and legs are all tattered, I force them to move without regarding of the hellish pain.

If this is my final moment, I at least wanted to do a dance.

With that in mind, I open the umbrella in my right hand and place it atop of my shoulder. I held out my other hand in the air and positioned my feet firmly on the ground.

“This is a tale of misery and loss…”

I utter such words. Contrary to my bloodied countenance and my body which seems to fall apart at any given moment, I gracefully sway my hand in accordance with the movement of my umbrella.

As I swing, the pain nags at me, however, I didn’t let it bother my concentration, in fact, the pain is a reminder to me now that I must do this.

With every step, my fiery tails sway along creating vibrant flames that resemble a petal. As I spin, my world is covered with swirling beautiful blaze of flames. My body moves naturally as if the dance has been etched deeply into my heart.

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“Amazing…”

Flow stood dumbfoundedly as he watches me. He muttered words of amazement as his eyes fixated on me. All the while as he readies stance.

“Does these tears of mine piles up at the earth that soaks the roots of the Cherry Blossom Tree?”

My hand flows with the downhill of the wind where I swung my umbrella. The petals of flames followed in unison as I directed my sight at the earth in which all mortal life returns.

“However, the transmigration of life does not end in tears but to new path carved with beauty. The river that brings guidance fulfills its graciousness for those who departed.”

Before I knew it, the nine blazing tails are now vividly dancing.

Before I knew it, the whole place is now basking in radiant golden flames.

Before I knew it, the fiery flames have covered me in warmth and became my stage of performance.

“The sky painted with blood, the moon tainted with shallow light of beginning and end, the flowing water of the afterlife traces the bed of flowers that demeans people.”

My performance ends as I slowly bring the unfurled umbrella in front of me and closes it with slow but graceful movements.

“And then, the name of the flower is…”

I close my eyes and felt a lot of energy welling up from my body.

“Lycoris.”

The next thing I know, my consciousness is fading.

A scream within the sea of flames resounded. The nine blazing tails behind me have detached themselves and violently merges with the rotation of the flames, eager to bring down absolute path of destruction.

Everything is set ablaze and in the center is I, Higanbana, who made a final farewell while weeping for my father and prepares myself to move on from his death.

I truthfully mourn for him.

I can feel shackles clicking from my chest and the sight of Asagao endowing me with a new path to traverse.

My eyelids slowly lose its strength and brought me down to a total shut down.

.

.

.

“You…became truly strong…”

A voice said as my consciousness flickers back. I am lying down on my belly and all I can do is move my head upward to locate the voice.

Not even a single part of my body is listening to me. It’s numb and depleted of any existing energy. No stamina, no magical energy, and not even Ki.

This time, I can’t even speak…

“You bested me and all the same time, mesmerizing me in the process. We…we can leave this world in peace…as long as there are people like you…”

I saw him, Flow.

He stands a little further from me but I can roughly describe his state.

His body is charred black, however, it seems that he doesn’t even mind the pain of the burns. He is just standing like nothing happened to him.

“I never thought that with just an existence called Asagao Lionheart, you will change for the best.”

I did change a lot because of her. I want to give her my life…

“I doubted it at first. When I first heard of the state of this world in a constant loop of suffering, I got scared. Lord Nil showed me how this world is in an ugly state with no sign of recovery. I accepted the task of being one of the Order.”

A faint smile broke out from his lips as he looks up at the sky.

“To be honest, my ideals of the strong eating the weak has been long shattered by this tiring repetition of revision. The gluttony that I once held as my pride slowly died down. It’s a miracle that Lord Nil didn’t kick me out.”

After remembering something, he directed his gaze towards me.

“But you, I’ve known you for a long time along with all of your sisters. You and every single one of you from the revisions was scared, coward, and frantic to hide in their safe zone. You didn’t do anything remarkable and always hides at the façade that you yourself created. It was an ugly but innocent side.”

When I think about the me from the past before meeting Asagao, that’s exactly how I am.

“However, the you now hardly resembles any of those. Although a little reckless and foolish, you have exhibited an astounding growth as a person. It’s all because of her, that girl who unknowingly joined this cycle of madness, Asagao.”

In that regards, I can feel that he is relieved.

Was the Order of Arcana only acted as villains for our growth?

If that’s the truth…

Such an elaborate scam…

“My role ends here. I hope I parted a memorable gift to you, Beast Queen Higanbana. You are going to be an excellent leader as well as an excellent person, unlike Ashfon Astlan Lionheart.”

He exalted words of partings, however, he didn’t move from his place.

“Anytime now, they are coming. You don’t need to utter any words. Just watch my final act.”

I got confused about what he just said.

A final act…

So this person…is really…

“Higanbana!”

“Let’s go, Ichirou!”

An arm suddenly reaches out to me and flipped me over.

“Ah, please do be careful with that reckless girl.”

“I got it! However, what about you, Mimosa?”

“Ah, don’t mind me, this is due to my stupidity. I self-destructed, ahahaha—ow!”

Mimosa lays down beside me.

In my sight entered that aggravating man that turned down Asagao’s confession.

He is Ichirou…together with that man with long slick black hair…Hasu…I think…

“Well, just in the nick of time! This is really bad! You caught me red-handed! Ahahaha!”

Flow said with intimidation…

I knew it…

“Ichirou, let me handle this guy! He is the one who stole Shouko’s soul!”

“Are you going to fight him alone?”

“Take care of them. This won’t take long now seeing that he received considerable injuries.”

“Fine.”

I wasn’t able to keep my consciousness intact.

I’m starting to fall unconscious again…

“Then, let’s see! Will your spear be able to pierce me? Much less, graze me?”

“You are nothing now but a standing practice pole for me.”

“Heh.”

The conversation trails off as my mind once again drifts away.