The Digital Space.
The sun rose there with an uncanny clarity, as if it had been painted solely to grant this place an eternal golden glow that never faded. Trees surrounded the plaza in gentle silence, their bright green leaves swaying with each tender breeze that drifted by—breathing in harmony with this world woven from light and data. Even the wind wasn't ordinary; it carried a cold, digital purity, its sound resembling a rebellious whisper inside a massive engine spinning at the edge of the universe.
At the heart of this tranquil scene stood a stone altar of ancient design—so ancient you could almost feel it belonged to an era forgotten by mankind—yet it looked elegant, polished, crafted with a precision impossible to overlook. Faint glowing engravings stretched across its surface, shimmering each time the white strands of light emerging from the digital ground brushed over them.
On this altar, Nagisa lay in perfect stillness, as though the entire world stopped in reverence for her slumber. She wore a pure white kimono, the fabric thin and soft as breath, yet carrying a sacred, inviolable purity. Her attire resembled that of a shrine maiden who had just completed a purification ritual—simple, divine, and majestic in a way words could never fully capture.
Her hair fanned around her freely, moving ever so slightly with each passing breeze, as if the digital space itself played a gentle melody around her. Her face was peaceful, without a trace of the anxiety she carried in the real world. Even her breathing was calm, flowing in rhythm with the soft vibrations that permeated the entire place.
Beside the quiet stone altar stood Mira, unwavering, her eyes shining with deep concentration as she raised her right hand toward the sky above. She drew in a slow breath, then began chanting in a low yet awe-inspiring voice:
"Daughter of the gods that is within me…
Protector of armies, age of the sword, bringer of victory and deliverer of death!"
Her words carved through the digital space as if etched onto an ancient melody—one carrying a celestial legacy that no one could mistake. With every phrase, her silver hair grew longer, cascading like a fountain of light until it brushed against her feet, swaying gently within the sacred golden aura igniting around her. The light seemed to answer her personally, curling around her form in pure, reverent obedience.
Her features grew softer, more beautiful; her serene white face like delicate porcelain… yet beneath that beauty was the presence of something divine—something that made the heart waver between awe and reverence.
She whispered with a soft, warm voice, one that felt like a prayer steeped in mercy:
"All of you… please, help me."
And the moment those words left her lips, five lights burst from her body at once—each one solidifying into a distinct form behind her. They weren't merely spirits… they were Greater Elementals, higher beings of the prime elements.
The Greater Elemental of Earth appeared first:
A fully-armored knight, his armor forged from deep green stone, every step he took shaking the digital ground beneath him.
The Greater Elemental of Fire:
A woman with blazing red hair, flames swirling around her like a living cloak, her eyes burning with the intensity of a small sun.
The Greater Elemental of Water:
A serene woman, her entire body formed from pure, flowing water, her expression soft as a gentle wave touching the shore.
The Greater Elemental of Wind:
A slender girl with short blond hair and transparent wings that glowed each time the air fluttered around her.
The Greater Elemental of Space:
A mysterious entity draped in a night-colored cloak adorned with shifting stars, as though its interior extended to other worlds entirely.
They lined up behind Mira in solemn silence, heads slightly lowered, as if honoring the ritual that was about to begin… then their energies began flowing into her—five primordial forces converging into one vessel.
At the far end of the altar, Kojou stood quietly, feeding her a steady, unwavering stream of magic without saying a word, serving as the final pillar stabilizing the vast surge of power coursing through her.
With the overwhelming energy flooding her veins, Mira drew another breath, stepped closer to the altar, and knelt beside Nagisa. She extended her hand gently, placing it at the center of the sleeping girl's abdomen—where the spiritual disturbance was at its worst.
And with that first touch—
The healing began.
Time flowed like a river that knew no rest;
Days slipped between their fingers without anyone noticing,
Nights followed softly, whispering to the world to continue.
And just like that…
In the blink of an eye, two full weeks passed,
As if they were nothing more than a fleeting moment that came and vanished.
"Thank you for the meal…"
Mira whispered softly as her expression slowly changed. Her eyes turned a deep, glowing crimson—like embers freshly ignited—while long, elegant fangs emerged from her mouth, beautiful and terrifying at once.
Without hesitation, she leaned in, placing her hand gently on Kojou's shoulder, and sank her fangs into his neck in one smooth, unashamed motion… as if it were a ritual performed countless times before.
Kojou's expression didn't change in the slightest. He remained calm as always, one arm wrapping around her back with steady gentleness—a silent support. This scene had become familiar, repeated countless times throughout the past two weeks.
Her drinking his blood wasn't merely out of hunger…
It was nourishment,
A necessary method to restore her magical power far more efficiently than any other means.
But it went beyond just restoring her magic.
Absorbing Kojou's blood had become an irreplaceable necessity for recovering the spiritual essence she had lost while healing Nagisa and Avrora.
For soul-healing wasn't simple magic;
It gnawed at the very core of Mira's being,
Draining her spiritual essence at a frightening pace—an essence nearly impossible to replenish naturally.
But Kojou's blood…
Was the one exception.
His life force—mixed with the power of a high-tier vampire—rebuilt what Mira had lost, breathing life back into dormant fragments of her soul. Thanks to it, the threat of spiritual collapse no longer hung over her like it had in the early days.
Mira continued drinking for a short while, breathing deeply as each pulse of energy flowed from his body into hers. When she felt her strength finally stabilize, she withdrew her fangs slowly, leaving only faint marks that vanished almost instantly thanks to Kojou's natural regeneration.
She sat beside him quietly, as if seeking warmth and grounding in his presence. Resting her head on his shoulder, her features—pale and fatigued moments ago—seemed brighter, more alive, as if his blood had restored her colors.
She inhaled softly, then spoke in a slightly tired voice filled with genuine relief:
"The healing is complete… and now you can heal Avrora-san using your magic."
She blinked slowly, her eyelids heavy, then added:
"And Aunt Nagisa's body and soul… are fully restored."
Her exhaustion was natural;
For two whole weeks she hadn't slept at all, working tirelessly to repair the most dangerous and intricate depths of their spirits.
And Kojou was no different.
He too had stayed awake the entire time—supporting her with his magic, his spirit, and his blood—without a single complaint or moment of hesitation.
"Thank you."
Kojou said quietly, but the gratitude was unmistakable in his tone, lingering in his words like a warm touch. He leaned slightly toward her and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead—brief, yet carrying far more meaning than any sentence could convey.
"I'll make sure to repay you for this… no matter the cost."
The words were sincere, born from deep within him—free of theatrics or exaggeration.
To Kojou…
Nagisa and Avrora were part of his heartbeat. Two people whose value could never be replaced, no matter how many worlds he crossed or how much power he gathered. For years he had known their condition… and the pain that bound their souls, but he hadn't possessed the strength to reach out and save them. All he could do was fight, grow stronger, and hope for a single chance—a miracle—to heal the two who meant the most to him.
And because of that…
His gratitude toward Mira was deeper than anything words could capture.
She was his daughter from the future, the one who chose to bear this pain in his place—to pay a terrible cost from her own spirit to save two women who belonged to his small world… and to hers as well.
They sat together in that warm silence, and with each heartbeat, Kojou felt that gratitude alone wasn't enough…
That he owed her far more than he could ever say.
...
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