Mimi had awakened, yet her master remained suspended within the mysterious trial.
There was nothing left to do but wait.
So Mimi settled into Veronica's arms. Her feline instincts took over, heavy eyelids dragging down despite the tension in the room. Sleepy as she was, she allowed herself a brief catnap.
A few hours passed.
Mimi had just begun to adjust to the weakness in her limbs, drifting into a deep slumber, when her eyes snapped open.
She felt something. A pulse from her master.
The mark on her head glowed faintly as the connection between master and magical beast flickered back to life.
Hup!
Mimi jumped down from Veronica's arms, landing lightly despite her fatigue, and turned toward Emilia.
Seeing this, the Deathguards snapped to attention.
Nervousness etched into every face. Hands hovered near hilts. Breath held tight in chests.
Now. This was it.
The moment of truth.
Failure or success would be known within seconds.
Suddenly—boom!
