Claudia's Orga Lux—Pan-Dora!
Though classified as an Orga Lux, Pan-Dora actually took the form of a pair of unusually shaped twin swords. The guard decorations resembled a pair of monstrous eyes—unnerving to look at.
While limited in certain ways, its ability—future sight—was among the most powerful even among Orga Luxes, capable of glimpsing the future.
Naturally, its side effects were proportional to its strength. Every night, the wielder would experience vivid dreams of dying in various ways, placing an enormous burden on the mind. No wielder before Claudia had lasted more than three days.
Later in the original story, it was revealed that Pan-Dora's true ability was to "sever causality"—though Elise wasn't clear on the exact mechanics. Whatever it was, it sounded troublesome.
"May I ask you to use your ability on me just once?" Claudia's gaze was earnest, a trace of vulnerability flickering in her eyes.
"My ability? You know my title is the Wordweaving Strega. What exactly do you want to happen?" Elise found the request puzzling. Surely Claudia had her reasons, likely connected to her Orga Lux.
"No, that's not what I mean." Claudia shook her head, firmly rejecting Elise's interpretation.
"I'm not talking about your ability as the Wordweaving Strega. I mean your true ability—as a Strega."
She knows!
Elise was startled. She had suspected Claudia might glimpse parts of the future, but how much did she actually know? The world had already shifted drastically thanks to her butterfly effect.
"Kotodama may be as natural to you as your own sight, but it's different from your true ability as a Strega, isn't it?" Claudia pressed. "The one you used on Feardorcha and Orphelia during the Lindvolus—some kind of… purification?"
"…"
Completely exposed!
Future sight really was an infuriating ability—no advantage was safe!
But… she wants me to use purification on her? I don't even fully understand the nature of that ability myself, and she already knows?
"How much do you actually know?" Curiosity got the better of Elise, and she asked outright.
"Mm… world war?" Claudia tapped her lips thoughtfully, sounding uncertain.
"Huh?" This time, Elise was the one stunned.
World war? What world—
Wait!
A strange thought crossed her mind. Could she mean the Golden Bough Alliance? If their plan succeeded, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a world war.
But Claudia's next words left Elise silent.
"It seems the Church was the one to start it."
What?
Me?!
Elise was certain that the current her would never do something like that. She didn't even dare crush a single conglomerate outright—why would she start a war?
Claudia had to be lying.
Trying to mislead me?
But… what if she wasn't lying?
If so, then the future me must have discovered something monumental to take such action.
"The future is something you forge with your own hands. Different choices create different futures. The one you speak of isn't set in stone, is it?" Unable to give a definite answer, Elise settled for something noncommittal.
Claudia didn't press the issue. She simply smiled faintly and changed the subject.
"Then let's get to the point—please use your purification ability on me." Claudia's eyes grew reverent, and Elise could clearly sense her faith intensifying.
It can even work like this?
Before Elise could respond, Claudia dropped another bombshell.
"I will swear fealty to you and pledge everything I have."
Claudia picked up a cane resting beside the desk… Why was there even a cane here?
Then she abruptly snapped it in half with a sharp knee strike.
Wait, what?
How do you even know about that?!
In just a few minutes with Claudia, Elise had already accumulated a mountain of questions.
"Hehe, you taught me this yourself, remember? You said that breaking a cane while swearing loyalty makes it seem more credible."
But Claudia didn't stop there. She began removing her clothes, adding, "If you still don't believe me, I'll do anything you want. I could even strip completely and run around the academy."
"N-No need, I believe you!"
A blatant lie—but one Elise told to prevent this deranged fox from generating scandalous rumors.
"Purification, right? I can do it now!"
White light flared in her hands as Elise cast Purification, directing it at Claudia. She just wanted to wrap this up quickly and get out of here—talking to this woman was exhausting.
Basking in the familiar golden glow, Claudia smiled. She had finally seen this light in reality—warm and powerful.
With this, Pan-Dora should quiet down for a while.
The Orga Lux at Claudia's waist suddenly dimmed, falling silent like an ordinary weapon.
"Thank you so much. Please, won't you stay at Seidoukan a bit longer? I'll have lunch prepared at once—"
"No need. I have other matters to attend to. Next time, perhaps."
"My, what a pity." Claudia's disappointment was mild and genuine. "Shall I at least see you off? The roads here can be tricky."
"I'll be fine on my own."
Once Elise left the Student Council office, Claudia sank back into the president's chair.
"The current you really is… so very cute…" Words Elise thought were mere polite flattery, Claudia still murmured even in private.
"So different from the future… I suppose this is the only time I might have the edge over you."
Sigh.
"I truly wonder—what could you have gone through to become like that?"
The memory of the Elise she had met in her dreams gave her a headache. And yet…
"Even so, I will still choose to help you, because…"
"You're the only one who has never killed me."
Once again, the Saintess had, without even realizing it, become someone's white moonlight.