Vercurius gently patted Nujah's head with a soft smile.
"Do not be afraid… because your other sister, Mabaka, has come to visit in person."
At that moment, shadows laced with light swirled around them. A delicate melody rose—like unseen hands plucking violin strings, carried by the wind as if the very souls of the air were singing.
From the ship that loomed above the sky, a figure of fox-like beauty leapt. She descended like a dancer with an unseen parasol, twirling gracefully, her movements in rhythm with the rising music. With every step closer, the melody grew louder, the notes filling the air and making their hearts tremble.
When her feet finally touched the ground, the shadows burst into stars for a brief instant, shimmering with light.
Nujah and Vercurius clapped eagerly. As the music faded, Nujah exclaimed:
"That was an amazing dance performance!"
Mabaka bowed theatrically, her eyes gleaming with playfulness.
"Thank you, sweet little brother! Together we'll make it even better—if you agree to be my mascot, of course!"
Vercurius's expression hardened. "That will not happen, Mabaka," she said firmly.
But Mabaka ignored her, stepping close to Nujah. She began playfully tugging at his cheeks, her eyes sparkling with mischief. Looking at Vercurius, she teased:
"Isn't he adorable? I'm certain the whole realm would love to see him by my side."
Then she tilted her head toward Nujah, smiling sweetly. "Wouldn't they?"
Nujah let out a sharp cry, his voice high and thin:
"Please—let go of me!"
Mabaka only laughed and continued teasing him, her hands tugging more insistently. Nujah struggled to speak through the muffled sound:
"Ver…curiu…s! Hel…p meeee!"
The moment she heard him, Vercurius rushed forward, pulling his sister away.
Nujah straightened himself and quickly smoothed his clothes, his voice steady but faint.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Mabaka pouted, her energy suddenly dipping.
"But I wanted to play more…"
Nujah shook his head gently. His tone turned calm but serious:
"I truly appreciate your affection… but everything has its limit. And mine is not as high as you may think."
He lowered his head, his voice resonating with newfound resolve:
"My name is Nujah. Chosen by Naraka as the new human Shinrei. Even if I was not born as a pure Shinrei, I still hope you will accept me."
Both Mabaka and Vercurius suddenly burst into laughter. Nujah's face turned crimson, his cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Vercurius spoke softly, reassuringly:
"We don't judge by such things. We look only at the sha within you—the light of your soul core."
Mabaka leaned in, her smile shifting to something almost reverent:
"And that light… it shines far brighter than in most beings we have ever seen. More importantly, our Mother has already accepted you—she even chose you herself. Remember, she has rejected some of the most elite warriors. Yet her faith in you is boundless."
Nujah's face flushed even deeper. "I… I…" he stammered, but his words broke off. The weight of the moment, mixed with his embarrassment and stress, overwhelmed him.
He collapsed to the ground, fainting.