“We’re the last pieces to make a move now. Aside from Michaela. But she’s already departed from the Nexus. I wonder just what those red wings look like.” Frost declared in the same tone as one would use for a silent prayer.

It felt odd hoping or praying to an existence beyond comprehension when Frost was, for all intents and purposes, the same thing herself. As was Michaela to a much greater extent, though it wasn’t like either of them could answer the wishes of people.

< Silly Frost. Your Will says otherwise. Your Will will willingly help Will-less people find their own Will >

The sudden tongue twister made Frost smirk at a most inappropriate moment. She had already heard that Jury and Galia were up against an Apocalypse-level Corrupted, no less the Third Chapter of the Price of Paradise.

Nav’s cheerful voice was fabricated since it was difficult for Nav to avoid sounding monotone, but it didn’t make it any less genuine. It was her way of trying to soothe her aching heart as she always had with her puns.

It wasn’t the right moment. They were in the midst of the biggest battle in their lives. The City of Spades paled in comparison. Frost peered out into the distance with half-lidded eyes. Beams of light hailed across the skies; a sight that would no doubt be written in history.

[Retrocausality – Smite], [Retrocausality – Angel’s Touch], [Heaven’s Fall], and the ornaments of Justica Arms smothered the skies. Joining them were familiar capsules that bombarded the desolate lands. They were fired from across the sea. According to Nav, they came from Inflow Direct’s navy.

Inflow Direct had many facets unknown to the world, but once upon a time, they were known throughout Elysia. The fact that so few knew about the existence of the Charybdis – their Infusion-carrying warships – was not because of confidentiality.

Rather, their existence… no, their very concept was erased thanks to the power of the Blue Dahlia. If an item or object was erased by her, then it would be removed from every mind that inhaled the scent of a blue dahlia flower.

This flower did not exist in the first place but was instead a creation of the Blue Dahlia’s power.

The golden light ahead shimmered with a faint blue. Something ethereal glowed beyond the wuthering storm at Primus Ramus. They had travelled far enough into the north where they were certainly in enemy territory.

But it was undefended. The lands were plucked clean of all life. The north was as prosperous as the Bellum Empire until just months ago. Barely any ruins were left behind here to remind the world of the people who lived here, nor the way they lived. It was barren, and the blackened soil made it seem like they were wandering through an endless desert.

Miniature explosions in the distance contrasted the morbid serenity of the far north. Those explosions came from the capsules containing what they believed to be Infusion C.

The large, violent fireballs were comparable to what Cer blurted out as:

“A miniature sun.”

But Frost recognized it as something else.

“A nuclear bomb. Or at least… what I think it looks like. Infusion C uses a fraction of a Star’s power, kind of like how nuclear weapons works. But that’s not fusion. That’s pure magic. How would you even stop those canisters in the first place?”

“Beats me.” Cer replied before the Hired Arm answered with:

“Interception. The Old World had millions of intercepting weapons installed along the walls. Weapons of that caliber were called ‘equalizers’. A small, insignificant group could levy the power of the sun. But… the city was enormous. Far more than you can imagine. A single detonation rarely lifted an eyebrow.”

“Were they easy to make?” Frost questioned.

“Thinking of porting them over into this world?”

“Nothing like that. I don’t want to deal with radiation poisoning again. I was just wondering, since nuclear tech was a big thing in my world for a while. But you make it sound like it was outdated.”

“It was considered ancient technology. Most of the armaments were found in cold storages. Countries must have abandoned them for other prospects. I imagine it was the advent of the Stars that caused them to rot in sarcophaguses. Hm.”

The Hired Arm chuckled scornfully, adding:

“Funny how dependent civilization was on ‘stars.’ First, we used the sun’s light, then stars for navigation, to fission energy, to fusion, then – to fallen ‘Stars’ until there were no stars left in the sky.”

Frost’s gaze was drawn to the golden light in the sky as she followed with:

“That’s when the Captured Star was created. You know, I thought the story of the Captured Star would’ve been related to the Price of Paradise knowing what we know. But I’m just a blip in that book. I’m kind of glad in a way. You remember what happened last time?”

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Cer went silent. She was sitting just in front of Frost. One of her hands moved back to clasp onto Frost’s leg in worry as her ears drooped.

“Is it going to happen now that it’s here? The Third Chapter?”

Indeed. The Third Chapter of the Price of Paradise was present. Cer vividly remembered what happened when the final Main Sequence Corrupted was Subjugated and was rightfully worried for Frost.

Cer had a lot on her mind. She had to worry about Raoul, Ara, Jury and now Frost. But she never let her problems drag her down. The grip on Frost’s thigh was all the proof she needed. It conveyed her determination.

“That was that big round ball.” Cer gambled. “The Blood of the Covenant. It was right after its defeat that you ended up Corrupting.”

“I’m not sure if I’ll be involved in this time, since I’m not heavily involved in Book of the Price of Paradise in the first place.” Frost assured her again, plopping a hand on her head.

“Then is Jury in trouble?”

“That’s what I’m worried about as well. But I trust Jury. Plus, she has Galia by her side.”

“Heh…”

Cer suddenly laughed to herself.

“What’s wrong?”

“What happened to the old Frost? You know? The one who swore she’d bring the Beholders down? Remember when you hated them?”

The wolf-woman tilted her head back to stare up at Frost with a refreshed look. She then shifted her gaze towards the empty skies, her wagging tail dying down. There was no moon for Cer to see on the most important night of the year.

When Frost asked why she was asking this suddenly, Cer replied astutely.

“I used to reminisce with my mother on Peregian Night. I’m… gah. Tch. Dammit. Frost. Look. I’m not going to beat around the bush. I’m… worried that maybe you’ll forget me. Yeah, yeah, I know I thought I got over it all but… They have my mom.”

Cer stared at the blue light ahead. It must’ve reminded her of her mother’s eyes.

“If she really does get resurrected, then promise me something. As childish as you think this is…!”

“Why would I find it childish?”

“… It’s a pride thing. Besides, this is the one night I was allowed to be ‘me’ in front of my mom. So I wanted to look back for a moment. I don’t want any regrets.”

Cer brushed Frost’s face with her tail. Then, a warm ball of fuzz pressed against Frost’s chest. It was Cer, and she leaned against her with all her weight. Uncertainty gripped Cer’s heart, forcing her to get rid of everything on her chest.

That way, she wouldn’t have to regret anything if something happened to either of them.

“I’m not like Raoul. I can say whatever comes to my mind… but I can rarely I say what I feel in my heart. Same old story, but with a good ending because that’s not me anymore. So… what I mean to say is that…”

Cer took one of Frost’s arms and wrapped it around her waist. It wasn’t in a romantic way. Far from it in fact. It was a loving, familiar way like when siblings or family embraced each other.

But beyond that, it was Cer’s way to convey her message all the more to Frost.

“Please don’t forget me.”

She sincerely pleaded. Frost’s eyes broadened at the mention of those words. For some reason, her mind went back to a devastated Ignis. Far, far back in the City of Spades when Calfasio claimed that he…

… didn’t recognize Ignis. Fuel were memories. So this is Cer’s wish.

Frost’s grip around Cer tightened. Her waist was still so small, and the shoulders barely belonged to an adult. She imagined the silhouette of this lonely wolf howling out to an indifferent moon.

Making trouble… all so that you could be remembered…

“My mom can erase people’s memories. After looking back at everything in my life now, I still wonder if maybe her disease was caused by her magic. One small, tiny strand of me understands why Raoul didn’t want me to chase him. I… really could’ve become a monster, but I didn’t. I just never had someone to properly tell me what was wrong or right. And when I did something wrong...!”

Frost shed tears for Cer, for Cer could not shed tears of her own. Till this day, no one had ever seen Cer cry. It was like she was running for all her life with no room to stop and feel sorry for herself.

“… Tch. I was just ignored… That changes tonight. How dare you… Raoul. How dare you…? It was the one thing that I had that was constant… The one night that belonged to me…!”

Cer refrained from lashing out. The time to settle this with Raoul was approaching. Only then could she unbottle her heart and finally, finally…

… Carve her own path rather than chasing the footsteps of someone who didn’t even…

Love her. That’s what Cer’s thinking right now, huh… I’m sure she’ll figure it out. But for now.

Frost wrapped both hands around Cer.

I’ll give her what she needs, so Cer doesn’t forget the people who love her.

The sadness in her heart caused a tail to sprout out from behind Frost. It wasn’t directly connected to her and hovered just inches away from her tailbone, but since it was anchored securely it may as well be a part of her.

The tail was thick and covered in beautiful black feathers. Streaks of white feathers ran vertically down the tail. At the end were feathers furled like cowlicks. What Frost grew was a fluffy, prehensile version of a duck’s tail.

The Tail of the Black Dove

< Despite how full the crowded nest was, some space was cleared. The Black Dove patted the small patch with her tail for the unwanted duckling. With enough care, perhaps it would become prettier than a swan >

ORIGIN : Folklore

EFFECT: Provides additional comfort in tandem with the Touch of the Black Dove. Greatly increases the chance of fulfilling the Realization Criteria for Despair-Attribute Corrupted. Slightly increases the chance of fulfilling the Awakening Criteria

HP : 5,000,000

Awakening. Asterism’s Corrupted Zone said the same thing.

Frost continued stroking Cer’s hair as her tears dried.

Eventually, Snap slowed to a crawl, allowing Frost to dismount in an empty patch of land. They were not too far off now, but stopping anywhere closer to the light was risky. Far ahead were the Impuritas Hearts belonging to the Memento Mori.

They were not Frost’s targets.

“Alright. Caldera Industries can start right here.”

A portal to the Derma Layer split open, revealing the attack force that would be leading the charge. Knalzark could be seen further within, far away from his personnel. It was finally time to let Caldera Industries loose. They would provide an adequate distraction while Frost headed straight for the light.

That way, she could be sure there’d be nothing left in their way.

“Cer. My Hired Arm. Snap.”

“Yeah!”

“I hear you.”

“Bzzt!”

“It’s time to hit the heart of their operations.”