“Daughter…” Astria let out a laugh. “Do you really think you have any chance against me?”

As the only two who were airborne, it was natural that Astria and Celeste came into a confrontation.

“I don’t understand why everyone is fighting!” Celeste declared stubbornly.

“Foolish child, since you’re not interested in the battle, then just step aside. Your mother will take care of everything.”

Celeste froze for a second, then she looked up at her mother who was looking down at her with a mocking smile. Of course, Astria floated slightly above Celeste. Didn’t she always do that? Something started to erupt in Celeste that she never felt before. It was hot and uncomfortable. It made her feel… angry!

“Take… care of everything?” She asked, her voice cold.

“Of course, daughter. You don’t have to think about it. I’ll handle things like I always do.”

“Like… you always do. Like… you handled me?”

“Of course, I… ahhh!” A wind blade cut Astria off, forcing her to lower herself to Celeste’s level or get her head cut off. “Daughter! You dare attack me!”

“Dare… hehehehe… let’s talking about daring…”

“D-daughter…” The smile on Astria’s face started to slip.

“I was your daughter. I was your daughter and you enslaved me!” Celeste screamed out.

“Wh-where is this coming from?” Astria looked around, but everyone else was too busy for support.

“You killed me. You trapped me. You controlled me! Was that your plan, Mother!” Wind blades began to shoot out, forcing Astria to duck.

“Enough of this! I’m a dark fairy! I was the dungeon master of Chalm for twenty years.”

“I’ve had enough of you!” A sudden wind slammed down, sending Astria spiraling down to the ground like a kite that lost its tail. “I’m done listening to you! You’ve done nothing for me! Ever! Not once in your life. You’re selfish! And cruel!”

“D-daughter…” She looked up, her expression darkening. “You don’t seem to understand who you’re dealing with. You’re just a fairy, and I am a queen. You will bow before me!”

“Just a fairy… hehehehe… what a joke. You failed as a queen.”

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“You… you’ll pay for those words!” Astria screamed out, sending black waves of power out as she attacked Celeste.

The black struck Celeste, but she faded away. It was only her afterimage. Bernice might have thought herself fast, but Celeste was a fairy of wind. No one had her speed. The Sylph slammed into the ground, an explosion of wind erupting out and shoving Astria back. Astria attacked, dark claws of mana erupting from her fingers. Her claws struck a wind barrier, stopping short of Celeste.

Celeste slowly stood up, the wind pushing back Astria’s arm as she stood. “Where is that payment, mother? Rather, where is my payment! You stole twenty years of my life! You left me to wander aimlessly. You were my mother, and instead, you spent my entire life having a hissy fit.”

“Silence!” Astria screamed, attacking with her other hand. “Shut your mouth!”

“You’re a bad fairy! You failed to keep the fairy spring growing. You failed to take care of your spawn. You failed to take care of me. You acted selfishly and childishly your whole life.” Celeste threw Astria back. “What did you have to show for it? In the end, you have to cling to my Master… no, my man, just to feel like you’re worth anything.”

“Stop it!” Astria cried out, tears in her eyes. “Stop it! Stop it! I’ll make you stop it!”

“You’re a bad mother!”

Astria let out a roar, and she poured all of her magic into a powerful attack and then threw it at her daughter. Celeste did the same, sending a maelstrom of wind magic tearing through the air. There was a massive explosion. Magic erupted out, even causing nearby battles to be interrupted as a resounding boom exploded out.

The result was that Celeste’s magic tore through Astria. Although she was a powerful dark fairy, her primary weakness had always been wind. Her biggest fears were made a reality. Her daughter was stronger than her. Perhaps, she had always been stronger than her. After all, from having almost nothing. Celeste had crawled her way out of the dungeon, found a worthy master, helped found a powerful fairy spring, and had done all of that without letting the trauma of her past bring her down. Meanwhile, Astria had led her spring to disaster and then crippled the hand that fed her, bringing the entire city down in a twenty-year-long tantrum that took Deek to finally settle. Her daughter had been right.

As the dust cleared, Astria was on her knees. Her dress had been torn apart, leaving her mostly naked. Celeste wasn’t in much better shape, but she was standing. Both girls were facing each other, breathing hard. Celeste lifted her hand, and then a spear made of wind appeared. She slowly approached Astria, and Astria realized she had nothing left.

“I don’t need you, Mother,” Celeste said as she approached. “I’ve never needed you. In fact, it was always the opposite. You needed me. You needed me to make yourself feel powerful. However, I’m done being your good little girl. I’ve outgrown you!”

Celeste lifted her spear over Astria. Astria suddenly burst into tears, wailing loudly.

“You’re right, daughter! I’m sooooo sorry! I’m a bad mother. I’m selfish and stupid. I don’t deserve you.”

“M-mom…” Celeste’s anger started to subside, and the spear in her hand disappeared.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I’ve made so many mistakes in my past. My entire life is just my stupidity. The only good thing I’ve ever done… is have you!”

“Mom!” Celeste broke down in tears, collapsing to her knees in front of her mom.

“Daughter!”

The two women, bawling their eyes out, grabbed and held each other. Any other words they said were nearly unintelligible over their crying and hugging. Their noises filled the battlefield as their naked bodies created a scene that made many of the watching spectators look away awkwardly. As it turned out, Deek wasn’t the only one who had some issues to work out.