Aria slowly opened her eyes as the sun began to rise. She had slept alone on the rock, and now the flower field was devoid of life, as if everything from the previous night had been a dream.

“I can still feel... warmth,” she murmured, the sensations still lingering. As she looked down, her eyes widened. There were flower petals in her hand, remnants of the blooms from last night. “Was it all just a dream?” she wondered.

A voice answered her, “It was real.” Aria turned to see the Red Witch looking at her, petals also in her hand. “These are Moon Flowers,” the Red Witch said gravely.

“They are born in the Land of the End, withering away in the morning and blooming under the full moon.” She then threw the petals towards the sun, and they withered.

“This isn’t right. Can you remember his chant?” the witch asked.

Aria closed her eyes, recalling that moment. “I do, but I can’t fully translate it. I can only remember part of his name, Rain T-wer Ash-tar, or something like that,” Aria replied, sure not to forget this crucial piece of information.

“...” The Red Witch fell silent, lost in thought.

“Why don’t you ask him yourself?” Aria asked.

“Who are you talking about?... Ah... Rain... This is the part about him that I hate the most. He knows I can detect lies, so he creates false truths. He doesn’t lie, but he manipulates the direction of the truth. He’s clever, Aria, he not crazy like you thought. He even made you cry three times in one day,” Faye said plainly.

“I know, do not speak like that!” she stood up, placed the moon flower carefully in her precious item box before walking away.

“What have I just said...” Faye paused, standing still as the morning light touched her hair. Her amulet glimmered with light.

Aria come to fire camp, where Ella was still sleeping and Eeon was already awake. He communicating through a sacred book. Perhaps he made a contract with the center holy for preparing carcass collection and examination, Aria suggested, then continued walking to the campfire.

She grabbing cups nearby and pouring water from the pot. It was too hot to drink, so she used her magic to cool it down slightly. She sat down next to Ella. “Ella, it’s already sunlight,” she said softly.

Ella slowly opened her eyes, stretching and yawning widely. She looked at Aria and smiled beautifully. The morning sunlight made her even more enchanting, like a fairy from the sacred forest. Ella quickly used her hand to cover her mouth, trying to hide her yawn. Her cheeks turned slightly red. “Sorry, Aria,” she apologized, looking away and concealing her shyness.

Aria let out a small giggle and handed Ella a cup. “Here’s some water. It’s still warm. Take your time and drink it, okay?”

Ella sat with her knees knocking together and grabbed the cup with both hands. The cup was still a little hot, so she sipped the water. The warm sensation ran through her body, and there was a hint of sweetness to it. Ah... Aria seemed really happy today. Even the water seemed to be filled with a spark of life. Something good must have happened to her. Maybe it was the flower she had kept last night. Her mood had improved since then. When we arrive in the next town, I should buy some delicate flower for her— Ella’s thoughts were interrupted by a touch on her head.

It was Aria’s hand, gently caressing her head. Aria spoke softly, “You did well, Ella. Thank you for your hard work.” Ella’s eyes widened, then softened as tears welled up. Her eyes reflected her joy. This was all she had ever wanted. She closed her eyes with a smile as tears glittered down her face. “Um,” she said, then leaned in to hug Aria.

Aria gently stroked her back as they sat like that for a moment.

Then Ella sat back out of Aria's hug, looked at Aria Eyes, pressed her hands against the floor and said, “I’m sorry for yesterday. I was careless and couldn’t control my anger. I made everything complicated... so I’m sorry.” Her head was down in guilt.

Aria raised an eyebrow, remaining silent for a moment before responding, “It’s okay. It was your first fight, and unexpected things happened.” She looked at Ella with care and lightly touched her hand.

Warmth flowed from Aria to Ella, not the coolness like yesterday. Ella headed up, touched her own hair “So... about that filthy boy, no no... that lewd boy, I won’t be angry with him anymore. He’s just a normal peasant, and I shouldn’t have been so enraged. So... I will help him. His wound looked bad. I should heal him a little. Is that okay?” Ella instinctively grabbed Aria’s hand.

“That sounds good, Ella. Helping peasants is something a saint should do.” Aria tilted her head slightly, some of her hair falling off her shoulder. “But who got wounded, and who is this lewd boy?”

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Something feels wrong. A strange sensation is welling up in Ella’s gut. “That lewd kid... I mean Rain.”

Aria asked, with a confused look on her face. “Who is Rain?”

Like a world flip. Ella’s eyes widened, her mouth opened wide, moving up and down, but no words or sounds came out. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead and her hand trembled slightly.

“Ella, are you alright? Are you still fatigued from using too much mana?” Aria touched Ella’s face, checking her condition.

Ella take aback when Aria touched her face. It felt warm, but now Ella was afraid of this warmth. Something didn’t feel right, and she couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Aria, he is the boy who followed us all the way to this land. He got wounded in battle, and even my holy insignia attached to him. He was talking nonsense about a flower... flower you got for him?”

Ella thought of events last night. Aria kept the flower for him. Her hand and body were dirty with mud stains. Ella quickly looks all around Aria. It is clean. Completely clean and beautiful. No trace of mud at all. But that’s not the point. How could she not remember him? I saw her tears at that time too. She was furious and went out to find a flower for him. That moment really happened.

Ella’s back was covered in sweat. “He is a cursed child you met in the forest near the Endless Fortress.” Ella’s eyebrows furrowed.

Aria’s eyes widened. “Who is this cursed child? Ella, do you have the Mana Bane crisis?”

Ella dashed back. Aria got curse form touching Him! took her sacred book out and recited, “Sand of time, this holy ground, never touched by dark hand, a heart that still remembers the warmth of the sun. Cure of pure spirit.”

A huge golden circle spread across the area, and mana feathers fell all around. Each time a feather touched an object, it became surrounded by a golden aura, making it clean and pure.

Aria slowly stood up, feathers falling on her one by one, looked at Ella with a sad smile. “If you have something that worries you and you’re not feeling well, you can tell me. Are we not a friend?” Feathers continued to fall on Aria, covering her body in layers of golden light. She was purely clean, with no curses on her.

What is this? Ella’s hand slowly dropped, and she stood still. “Do I really have the Mana Bane?” she asked herself, her heart filled with anxiety. Her thoughts flew aimlessly, unable to find a starting point.

Aria slowly approached Ella, stepping on the golden feathers, with mana particles sparkling along her path. When she reached Ella, Aria hugged her gently. “It’s okay, I’m here. It’s really me, not a demon or a monster. We help and save each other, okay?”

Ella simply hugged her back, unable to speak. The golden feathers continued to fall.

Then Eeon approached the group, his eyebrows furrowing. “What happened? Why is the Cure of Pure Spirit emitting, is demon nearby?”

Ella tried to answer, but Aria quickly spoke up. “It’s okay, Eeon. She just had a bad dream.”

Eeon was still anxious, and asked in a monotonous voice, “Princess, do you feel the curse?”

“Don’t call me princess! Eeon, go find the cursed child!” Ella exclaimed.

“That is impossible Ella, I don’t understand why you speak of that brute. But according to the information from our holy center, all the cursed children are dead. They couldn’t survive the winter, it killed them all,” Eeon responded with monotonous.

Ella instinctively hugged Aria tighter. He also did not remember. Was I the only one affected by the curse? Was it because I kicked him that time? What is real and what is a dream?

Aria could sense Ella’s discomfort and headed towards Eeon, saying, “Can you please leave us alone? I will take care of her.”

Eeon simply nodded, then moved back far away, waiting for the examination team to arrive.

“He’s gone, don’t worry,” Aria loosen her hug, looked at Ella. Aria took something out of her inner shirt and gently placed it in Ella’s hand.

It was a small rock with a blue dot for an eye, a black mouth, and a smiley face, like as a kid smile. Ella felt shocked when she saw what was inside, but her shock deepened when she heard Aria speak.

“Its name is Rocky. It’s a lucky charm. Do you remember when we visited the Prison of the End for the first time, and a little girl gave us both these rocks? You were so childish back then, naming them Rocky One and Rocky Two. I’ve kept it till these years.”

It felt as if a claw had sliced through Ella’s heart into three pieces, and tears streamed down her face like a never ending rain.

—§—

In another place, a lonely man climbed a mountain, sweat covering his body. He continued to climb until he reached the summit and sat down with his legs spread out. “It’s so hot!” he exclaimed, grabbing a nearby rock. “These rock is okay, right, Rocky?”

He turned the rock over and over, marveling at its radiant rainbow colors. “Oh, this one is called a Sun Stone, right?” He placed it in his sachet and collected more rocks.

“Are you asking about Aria?”

His face suddenly turned sad. He lowered his head to the ground and flipped the rocks in his hands. Lost in thought, he murmured, “She will be sad if she remembers. Maybe I will make her cry again. She is really kind. Even after all this time, she remains the same. I wish I could stay with her longer, but we have to go opposite side. I can’t drag her down to my place...”

“Yes... I promised I would follow her...”

He grabbed more rocks and placed them in his sachet.

“Um... about Ella, I don’t know much. She doesn’t remember me at all. But don’t worry, even though she may be the weakest of the group, she is the smartest. ... I know we are really the same. We may live on opposite sides, but we lit the same candle. She can live this far with that enemy and shark all around, that is truly impressive. Moreover, she and Aria are very close, have someone to protect each other back is good... But I am also lucky! I have you, Rocky, as my best friend.”

He swept his hand and continued, “Don’t be shy, Rocky! You are grown man, you’re no longer a child. Ha ha ha.”

He picked a flower, gazed at it for a while, and then placed it in a sachet.

“Um... I really miss her. She is a good kid. Aria also likes her too. Even though she is a monster, Aria stilled hugged her.”

“I’m sure Aria does it with a pure heart. We really send her with a good smile. lady moon also makes her a good wish.”

“Nah, don’t kidding me,. I’m a big guy now, do not need a hug, especially from you, Rocky.”

Suddenly a wind breeze ran through his back, soft and pure follow along his body. As if it were a hug from the wind.

His eyes widened slightly, then gradually softened. He whispered, “Thank you... Mother... You too rocky. Take care of Aria for me, Okay, Rocky?”