Two more years passed for Stella, as she learned to manipulate the artifact slumbering inside her.

She learned from her mother how to act properly as a Remnant of Progress and how to simply live without regrets.

Slowly, the spirit of the researcher began to seep into the girl's mind, turning her daughter into someone similar to her.

This slow change came naturally, as Stella had an innate interest in evolution.

Before long, she shared with her mother many ideas on what to focus on and, more often, talked about the 'science' branch of their concept.

One day, while the two were lazily looking at the clouds, Varellia spoke the words Stella wished to never hear.

"Stella, there is nothing else for me to teach you."

"Eh?"

The young Stella, now ravishingly beautiful as a young adult, turned her head in shock.

"Everything your grandmother left to me, you've absorbed like a sponge. Even our discussions are becoming stale, as all my research has filled a space in your brain."

With a satisfied smile, she looked at the sky.

"I will soon return to rest. The elementals made it possible for me to return for two years, so I would rather avoid trampling over their goodwill by staying more than necessary."

They both gathered enough information to conclude that the mixture of elemental will and remnant energy caused this small singularity.

This seemed to barely enter the realm of what Nature authorized, and as a compromise, Varellia was unable to 'live'. Eating and sleeping were impossible for her.

Her life had already been lost, with no way to return. Only through this 'miracle' was she able to meet Stella.

"But-"

Varellia shook her head as Stella pulled herself from the comfy grass.

"Everything has an end. In any other normal circumstance, you would've never known who your mother was."

Her eyebrows dropped slightly, forming a slight frown, showing her uneasiness.

"Like I thought, whoever is affiliated with Orion is most likely authorized to break the rules ever so slightly. I wonder why it is like this."

"If only I could hear Nature's voice once again..."

She had many questions floating in her head that would forever remain unanswered.

Yet, she chose to ignore them and live through two peaceful years with her daughter, learning everything about her.

Varellia was, as a mother, more than satisfied. Her will was successfully passed on, and her ideas lived through someone dear to her.

But more than anything, she was authorized, even if only for those two years, to share a moment with Stella.

Her heart was full to the brim of love and satisfied beyond understanding. She was ready to move on for good.

"I... know. I understand. I also need to return to the others."

With an understanding expression, Stella nodded. There was no trace of sadness on her face.

"My little daughter grew up to become such a tall and responsible person. Your mother is proud of you."

Stella stood up next to her, and both exchanged a very sweet smile.

Stella's hair slowly changed as her style became more pronounced. Still wearing her knee-length black hair in a ponytail, what truly changed were the square bangs hanging slightly above her left eye.

While she was still at an age where growth was proceeding smoothly, she had already passed her mother in height.

Varellia was a rather short woman, only 156 cm (5'1"). Her lab coat almost always dragged behind her on the ground as she walked around.

Stella, on the other hand, attained a height of 173 cm (5'6"). But, she had a lean constitution, not overshadowing Varellia at all.

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"Catharsis."

Softly, Stella murmured that word.

The tip of a polearm emerged from her chest, which she grabbed without hesitation. She pulled it out with no effort and slammed the metal cap at the tip of the shaft into the ground.

"This is not even a fauchard anymore..."

Seeing the artifact her mother used in a different form, Varellia smiled.

"It only took the form of a weapon I saw in a book at home."

The barely decorated blade she knew was no more. Now, Catharsis had turned into a magnificent weapon, shimmering with destructive energy.

"If I remember, you called it a... Naginata? It's another type of pole, a glaive."

"Yes."

Stella nodded, her eyes admiring the two jewels, one white and the other black, embedded just below the blade, where the shaft met with the sleek, curved blade.

The entire weapon was way bigger than the first time she pulled it out. Before, Catharsis was around 120 cm, but now that it has turned into such a dangerous weapon, it has become even taller than Stella, towering at 200 cm.

While the shaft wasn't thick by any means, it was incredibly flexible, leading to wide and far-reaching swipes.

"Are you ready?"

Varellia stood up and remained next to her daughter.

"I am."

Stella turned to her mother before releasing the wooden shaft of her weapon.

With just two steps, she was next to her. Then, she pulled Varellia into her arms.

"I'll miss you."

"Me too."

The mother and daughter shared one last, passionate hug. A small act that would forever stay imprinted on both Stella's mind and body.

"Thanks to you, I have managed to get through those two years without feeling lonely. I have learned so many things that I don't know if I'll ever manage to meet your expectations."

Varellia sunk her face into her daughter's chest.

"The roles are now reversed. How funny."

Recalling the moment she hugged her daughter when they met, the emotions she repressed deep inside slowly resurfaced.

"Aaah~ I don't want to leave you. I want to see you live through the rest of your life and support you. I hoped to see this 'Orion', and thank him for everything he did for you."

"Continuing my research with you might also be worth a shot. Imagine the great things we could've invented together."

Both began to pull each other even stronger, as if refusing to separate.

Their faces crumpled, with the smiles slowly crooking into agonizing grimaces.

"I know. I'll keep you close to my heart forever! Like that, you'll always live in me."

"Even after I return, I'll continue to research what you've left behind. I'll create those scientific objects and show you the results."

"You'll see! It'll change this continent!"

Unable to contain the sadness, tears flowed from Stella's eyes. The same happened to Varellia, who was unable to endure the sadness seeping through her heart.

"Stella, you have to stay healthy, you hear me? Don't work too hard. You have to eat three meals a day, and not those simple fruits anymore. Also, don't forget to smile a lot."

"You have to remain strong, even-"

Stella pulled her mother even closer, forcing her to stop talking.

"I know. It's not the first time you've said that."

The two smiled as tears slowly stopped flowing.

"Alright, that's enough of the crybaby act. Pull yourself together."

Breaking away reluctantly, they wiped the tears off their faces. Varellia turned around and sighed.

"Goodbyes are always so difficult to deal with. I'll never be used to it."

"Me neither."

Stella grinned happily as she wiped her face with her sleeve.

"Mom."

"Hmm?"

Turning around, Varellia looked at Stella. Her eyes opened wide.

"I love you."

Stella grabbed the shaft of Catharsis with her left hand and pulled the cap out of the ground.

Surprised by the sudden words of affection coming from her daughter, Varellia felt another surge of emotions.

A memory she had no idea existed flashed in her head, as if the world itself had given her one last gift before moving on.

She saw herself holding a small baby in her arms. Her baby.

"I-"

Two energies gathered at the tip of the naginata, enveloping it in a gray aura, as both dark and light magic were perfectly balancing between one another with no sign of conflict.

Varellia stepped forward right before Stella threw the weapon at the gigantic elemental.

"I love you too! I'm proud that you are my daughter!"

Shouting those words, she watched Stella unleash Catharsis with all her strength.

"Karma!"

*Fush*

A blast of air exploded behind Stella as Catharsis flew in a straight line toward the chest of the giant.

Varellia was forced backward, falling on her butt from the intense release of energy.

In just three seconds, the spear made contact with the elemental's chest.

*CRACK*

Compared to the attempts she made to resurrect it, the glaive kept pushing on the crystal instead of being swallowed inside it.

Light began to burst through the cracks forming from the collision of the two objects.

Then, the entire crystal cracked as light and dark ravaged the crystal layer that was sealing the monstrous creature.

Giant chunks of crystal dropped into the sea below as the giant began to move.

*WROOOOOOOOOOOO*

A low growl escaped the creature as it awakened.

Stella and Varellia looked at the elemental, leaning backward with its arms stretching widely at its sides.

Then, as one single howl escaped the titan's mouth, everything turned black.

At that moment, Stella and Varellia's time together ended.

~

"Is this the place?"

Henrietta and the other Remnants walked into a snowy landscape, coming out of a portal never used before.

"This should be it."

Titania, who walked upon the ground of Triazils once more, looked downward.

"Snow sure is cold."

"You should've worn shoes like I told you."

Snapping at the progenitor of the fairies, Henrietta crossed her arms.

"I-I know... Sorry."

"..."

Seeing her friend show such a saddened expression brought a sour taste into her mouth.

Bringing her hand into the small puffy bag dangling from her waist, she brought out a pair of warm shoes out of it.

"Eh?"

"Just... take these, alright?"

"Thanks, Henrietta."

Keleanos, Chelsea, and Kelsea smiled at this interaction. They knew that the only one who was Henrietta's true ally was Tetra.

But now that Tetra was out of her life, Henrietta was making efforts to create new connections.

Titania rapidly placed her frozen feet into the warm, fur boots with a genuine smile.

Once she was ready, she nodded at Henrietta.

"As you've asked, this is the right place. This is where the lead on Heto stops."

The group looked at a dilapidated, derelict city.

"The ruins of Ryghs."