*
Someone who could face destiny head on. Counting the number of people who could do that on this earth... Surely it would only be a number that could be counted on one hand. Normal people get pushed by life, drowning in the whims of society without any resistance. Their ancestors couldn't resist, how could they?
Perhaps this was why even solving an orphan's financial situation wouldn't save their social circumstances. They lack that very shackled that bound them to common sense. They're slightly freer, and this gives them a chance to break the shackles, but only a chance. Most people would still be swept along like the rest. Yggdrasil and Arin never met their parents this year, at least Sariel hadn't seen them even once. Did they exist? It was an unsettling line of thought to explore, however that discomfort instead inspired confidence. The more wrong it felt, the more right it felt.
If she wanted to get to the truth, and possibly banish Traces from this world forever, then those two with inexplicable ties to the heavenly kings would be the largest possible lead. This whole time the charade with Lastia's curse was a distraction, in the end Arin admitted to casting it and the matter was considered settled. No further discourse was engaged, she found it strange but their argument was equally as compelling.
Arin stated as such, that finding the truth may ruin their daily lives. That it was far better to wallow in their daily lives than commit something irreversible. Lastia trusted and believed in her, and the matter was shelved altogether. Peace was intoxicating, to investigate further is to sacrifice peace. Did she have such a lofty resolve?
The starless sky seemed to ask her so, an expanse as white as milk spanned further than she could ever observe. Was this Ledaine's power creeping into the world? How terrific. The sky flickered between white and black. This was reminiscent of when Sariel imitated the sun to gather a massive energy attack. That's right, even this Sariel shall repel. This caught the attention of the sentinels across the globe. They understood that there was an invasion, but didn't know where it began.
A moment later... Sariel would begin to speak to the others, gathering strength.
"Lastia is fighting the heavenly king, please save her." (Sariel)
"That willful girl? All by herself? She might be stronger than the sentinels now." (Taneda)
The sentinels have been around for a long time, they are individuals who realised their once in a century talent and chose not to graduate. Ultimately they broke the natural barrier of A grade one way or another, but S grade was entirely a different issue, one left unsolvable by the state of the current era. S grade, the intermediate state between mortals and deities. It was not something any of them had reached, but they weren't far from it either. They all existed in the upper bounds to the very extremes of A grade and persisted there for the rest of their lives.
"... I see, time is tight. I'll head there first, you go and find the others. Only you can find them in such short time." (Taneda)
She saw the bright light in the sky, eclipsing even the unsettling milky sky. She left Sariel with one last salute and headed there at full speed. Hey Arin. Do you see the sky? The chance you've given to humanity? I suppose I can't speak badly of you anymore. For some higher purpose, you casted a curse on your dear friend that permanently altered her life. Was it for this moment? Did it make her strong? Beyond the limits of a sentinel?
You were still A grade, but even I could see that Lastia isn't the same species as us. She's something else entirely, someone strong enough to bring us that happy ending. It's just... Even with all that suspicion I saddled you with, I didn't hate you. You clearly loved everyone and protected people with all your heart, I now wish you were included in that happy ending you seek in Lastia. In the happy ending I seek. I want to know how you felt in those ephemeral moments. How you gazed upon death with a loving smile, and entrusted your wish to her.
"Please, Lastia is fighting the heavenly king. Please save her." (Sariel)
I'm a weakling. I am of mediocrity. I only beat {Nerve} because I had talent, because I was born with a good skill that countered him. I am still the weakest compared to the sentinels, before their ever blazing bravery I could only cower and cry for their aid. Why couldn't I step in myself to save Lastia? Why am I sending strangers to their deaths... Knowing they couldn't refuse my pleas because of their kind nature. Why am I still so useless? I grew stronger but I still can't protect those I love.
"Got it. I'll head there now, save your strength for finding the others." (Christine)
I couldn't even catch their names or remember them. I couldn't do anything meaningful.
"Leave it to me, I'll bash in that thing's skull!" (?D)
"Hmm? Someone dare challenge my title?" (?E)
"Under piercing faiths, my enemy will be exonerated from life!" (?F)
My hands grasp nothing as they always have, outstretched into the pitched black darkness. Only now, they face an ever ominous milky white, the unsettling sense of the foreigner wraps around each nerve in my fingers.
"Bring down the sky! Fight with a smile! Magical girls need flair!" (?O)
"Risk my life? Life itself is risk, nothing has changed." (?P)
"If someone has to do it, I can. But you won't find any cowards within the sentinels, within is the secret to becoming one." (?Q)
Don't go. I so desperately wanted to shout. I wanted to cry, to scream my soul out. Am I the grim reaper, bringing an end to humanity?
" Hmmm? It's okay, we've been prepared from the very start. You won't find anyone who is unprepared." (?X)
"The path of light has descended from the heavens! Who else but us can approach the summit?" (?Y)
"Responsibility. Miracle. Hope. They bring magical girls to life, and sentinels cannot be without. However, figuring the next step is your own duty." (?Z)
The last girl wearing an identical cloak flashes a smile, a fiery star in her eyes. They held such fierce spirits, palpable is their passion, boiling is their blood. There was no way they would surrender from the very start.