The transition through space did not feel like movement.
It felt like suspension—like existence itself had paused to allow something deeper to unfold.
Within that silent interval, Raphael Arzenon stood once more inside his Inner World.
The vast expanse of Codex Akasha stretched infinitely around him—an endless sky of drifting data, luminous structures forming and dissolving like thoughts given shape. Concepts shimmered in the distance, entire frameworks of knowledge breathing quietly in the void.
At the center of it all—
She stood.
Cielux.
Her long, flowing light-blue hair drifted weightlessly, as if stirred by an unseen current. The pristine white dress she wore reflected the ambient glow of the Codex, giving her an almost untouchable presence—something both gentle… and absolute.
Raphael took a step forward, his expression calm—but his eyes sharp with intent.
"…Cielux."
His voice was steady, but carried an unmistakable weight.
"Explain it to me."
A brief pause.
Then—
"What is Avalon?"
There was no hesitation in his question. No room for deflection.
"…And what are its true capabilities?"
Cielux did not answer immediately.
Instead, her expression shifted—subtle, but unmistakable.
Serious.
For once, the playful undertone that usually lingered in her presence was gone.
"…Yes," she said quietly.
But then—
Her gaze sharpened.
"But under one condition, Master."
Raphael's brow furrowed slightly.
"You must hear the entire explanation… without interrupting me midway."
A faint irritation flickered across his face.
"…You're setting conditions now?"
Cielux did not waver.
"…This is not something that can be understood in fragments."
Silence lingered between them.
Then Raphael exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
"…Fine."
A reluctant sigh escaped him.
"I agree."
Cielux nodded once.
Then, without further delay—
She began.
"Avalon—The Everdistant Utopia."
The moment she spoke its name, the space around them subtly shifted.
Light bent.
Data slowed.
As if even Codex Akasha itself recognized the weight of what was being invoked.
"It is the hallowed scabbard of Excalibur," Cielux continued, her voice calm yet reverent.
"The physical embodiment of the utopia sought by King Arthur."
A faint golden structure formed in the distance—elegant, radiant, untouchable.
"It was stolen from her shortly before the Battle of Camlann… through the machinations of Morgan le Fay."
Raphael's eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained silent, honoring the condition.
"Avalon is not a weapon in the conventional sense," she continued.
"It is crafted of gold, adorned with blue enamel—more akin to a symbol of sovereignty than a tool of war. A treasure meant to represent dignity… authority… and an ideal beyond reach."
The structure refined itself—its surface gleaming with an otherworldly brilliance.
"No one knows the exact Divine Mystery used in its creation. It was not forged by human hands."
Cielux's voice lowered.
"It was created by fairies… alongside Excalibur."
A faint inscription appeared across its surface—alien, elegant, incomprehensible.
"Engraved with Fairy Letters—proof that it belongs to a realm beyond human understanding."
She paused briefly.
Then continued.
"Avalon grants its wielder a form of limited immortality. It continuously regenerates the body, preventing decay, aging, and even fatal damage."
The air shimmered faintly.
"Minor injuries are restored instantly. Even catastrophic damage—missing limbs, destroyed organs—can be repaired at the threshold of death."
Raphael's fingers twitched slightly.
Still, he remained silent.
"Unless the brain itself is destroyed," Cielux added calmly, "true death becomes exceedingly difficult to achieve."
Then—
She spoke again.
And this time, her tone shifted.
"After the Fourth Holy Grail War…"
The Codex dimmed slightly, as if bracing itself.
"A group known as Team Sigma X obtained Avalon as part of their 'Grand Zero Plan.'"
Raphael's eyes flickered.
"Rather than preserving it… they entrusted it to Noah for safekeeping."
A brief pause.
Then—
Cielux's expression hardened.
"But Noah, in his arrogance… chose a different path."
The golden image fractured—merging with something darker, colder.
"He imprinted Avalon into a fragment of the Moon Cell Automaton."
Silence.
"And that fragment…"
Her gaze locked onto Raphael.
"…is the one you later fused with."
Raphael froze.
"…Wait."
The word slipped out before he could stop it.
His composure cracked—just slightly.
"So you're saying…"
He let out a short, incredulous laugh.
"…the Moon Cell fragment I merged with… wasn't normal from the start?"
His hand moved to his face as he shook his head, a grin forming despite the shock.
"…Damn."
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
"And here I thought I just got lucky—fusing with the Moon Cell and not dying instantly."
He exhaled.
"But I had Avalon in the mix too?"
His grin widened.
"…How lucky did I actually get?"
Cielux smiled softly.
"Indeed… you are fortunate, Master."
But then—
Her expression shifted once more.
Subtle.
Serious.
"But your survival was not the result of luck alone."
Her voice lowered.
"I will now explain Avalon's true nature in full."
Raphael's expression steadied.
The humor faded.
Curiosity remained.
"…Go ahead," he said quietly.
His eyes sharpened.
"I'm listening."
Cielux inclined her head slightly.
Then continued.
"The holder of Avalon is granted powerful regenerative capabilities," she said.
"Fatal wounds can be reversed. The body is restored continuously."
Images formed—bodies repairing themselves, destruction undone.
"But it is not without limits."
Her tone became precise.
"High-level curses require time to neutralize. Damage from Anti-World-class Noble Phantasms cannot be instantly repaired—it may take several minutes to fully recover."
The images slowed—fractured—then restored.
"Avalon does not grant invincibility."
A pause.
Then—
"It grants preservation."
The space around them darkened slightly.
Then—
Shifted.
"But its true function…"
Cielux raised her parasol slightly.
"…is not healing."
The golden structure expanded—unfolding into something vast.
Unreachable.
"Avalon is an absolute defense."
Her voice echoed faintly now.
"It does not block."
"It does not reflect."
"It isolates."
The world around Raphael disappeared—
Replaced by something else.
A distant, tranquil land.
Untouched.
Unreachable.
"Avalon manifests the domain of the fairies—the Everdistant Utopia."
Cielux's voice became almost reverent.
"It completely separates the user from the world."
Golden particles dispersed through the air—forming an invisible boundary.
"A portable fortress… that rejects all interference."
Her gaze sharpened.
"It blocks physical destruction."
"Interference from parallel worlds."
"Even multidimensional communication—extending as far as the sixth dimension."
Raphael's eyes widened.
That was—
"…Wait."
He broke.
"Hold on, Cielux—did you just say—"
His voice rose, disbelief spilling through.
"It blocks everything? Physical interference, parallel world interactions, even higher-dimensional communication?"
His grin returned—wide, almost unhinged.
"And you're telling me this thing…"
He laughed.
"…is on the level of Magic itself?"
His eyes gleamed.
"An actual Magic—beyond magecraft?"
"And even the Five True Magics can't bypass it?"
He burst into laughter.
"—You've got to be kidding me!"
He wiped a tear from his eye, still grinning.
"Oh my God…"
"And here I thought True Magic wasn't already fraudulent enough."
His smile sharpened.
"I knew that whole system wasn't as absolute as the Clock Tower pretends it is."
He chuckled.
"I can't wait to meet Akane Tohsaka later when I save her…"
His grin turned wicked.
"…and tell her just how pointless True Magic looks next to something like this."
"…Master."
Cielux's voice cut through him instantly.
Flat.
Annoyed.
"…Can you please focus on the explanation?"
She stood there, arms slightly folded—her cheeks faintly flushed in irritation.
The expression only made her—
More—
Raphael coughed lightly, forcing himself to straighten.
"…Right. My bad."
A small grin lingered.
"Continue."
Cielux let out a quiet sigh.
Then resumed.
"…However," she said calmly, "under normal circumstances—Avalon is effectively useless."
Raphael blinked.
"…What?"
"It remains dormant," she explained.
"Unless wielded by King Arthur, its full capabilities cannot be activated."
The golden construct dimmed.
"It does not respond to others."
"It does not fully manifest."
"It simply… exists."
She paused briefly.
Then added:
"This is precisely why Noah chose not to use Avalon directly."
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"He believed that by embedding it within the Moon Cell fragment…"
"…he could bypass that limitation."
Raphael's expression shifted—thoughtful now.
"…Did it work?"
There was hesitation in his voice.
Just a little.
Cielux's lips curved into a faint, knowing smirk.
"…Yes."
She met his eyes.
"It did."
The weight of Cielux's revelation did not settle gently. It hung in the air like a suspended blade, heavy and unresolved, pressing down on the vast expanse of Codex Akasha.
Raphael Arzenon narrowed his eyes, the earlier spark of confidence in his expression fading into something far more cautious and guarded. The luminous data streams around them seemed to slow in response to the tension.
"…Explain," he said, his voice stripped of all humor. Only pure intent remained.
Cielux watched him for a long moment, her light-blue hair drifting softly in the invisible currents of the Inner World. When she finally spoke, her tone was soft, yet carried an unmistakable gravity.
"Master… what I told you before about your Origin… was not false."
Raphael didn't react outwardly, but his gaze sharpened like a blade.
"…But it was incomplete."
The words struck deeper than he expected. Not wrong—merely incomplete. Raphael exhaled slowly, a faint tightness forming in his chest.
"…So there's more."
"Yes."
Cielux lowered her parasol gently until its tip touched the invisible floor beneath them. The entire space of Codex Akasha dimmed in response, as if the realm itself was bracing for what came next.
"And what I am about to explain… is the reason you are alive."
Raphael felt it then—a fundamental shift. Not in power or presence, but in understanding. Something essential about his very existence was about to be overturned.
"…Go on."
Cielux closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, the world around them fractured.
Data streams twisted violently before collapsing into a single, reconstructed point. It was not merely a memory to be observed—it was something to be experienced.
"You remember the moment you fused with the Moon Cell Automaton fragment."
It wasn't a question.
Raphael's body stiffened as fragments of that memory surged forward: searing pain, overwhelming heat, and crushing pressure tearing at him from the inside.
"That process," Cielux continued with calm precision, "was never meant for a human. The Moon Cell does not integrate. It overwrites."
The reconstructed space distorted sharply. A younger version of Raphael appeared—collapsed on the ground, trembling as unstable light surrounded him.
"When a human soul comes into contact with a Moon Cell fragment… it is analyzed, deconstructed… and replaced."
Raphael's breath hitched. He remembered that exact feeling—the terrifying moment when something inside him had begun to vanish.
"…It tried to erase me."
"Yes."
Cielux's answer was immediate and unflinching.
The memory intensified. The Moon Cell fragment pulsed with predatory light—cold, unfeeling, and absolute.
"It identified your existence as incompatible. It began conversion."
Raphael watched in silence as his past self collapsed completely, his consciousness fracturing under the assault.
"…That… wasn't fusion."
"No," Cielux said quietly. "It was annihilation."
The word landed like a hammer blow—heavy and final.
"Your human soul could not withstand it. The probability of survival… was effectively zero."
Raphael clenched his fists tightly, his jaw locked. His voice came out strained.
"…Then why am I still here?"
For the first time, Cielux did not answer right away.
Instead, she raised her hand. The memory shifted violently.
The invasive light of the Moon Cell surged forward, ready to consume everything—
And then it simply stopped.
Not slowed. Not resisted.
Stopped.
A new presence emerged—not forceful or aggressive, but absolute in its tranquility.
Gold. Soft. Endless.
The chaos vanished in an instant. The distortion collapsed. The invasive data streams disappeared as though they had never existed.
Raphael's eyes widened. "…What is—"
Cielux spoke, her voice quiet and reverent.
"Avalon."
The golden light expanded, not outward in attack, but around him like a perfect boundary.
"It activated at the moment of collapse," she explained. "Not through your will… not through mine… but through its own nature."
The scene unfolded with painful clarity. The moment Raphael's existence had reached the brink of erasure, Avalon had responded.
"It isolated your soul. A domain."
The golden light formed an impenetrable boundary—perfect, untouchable, serene.
"Avalon—the unreachable utopia. Within that domain… you were no longer part of the system being overwritten. Even the Moon Cell's corruption… could not cross that boundary."
The invasive light slammed uselessly against the golden wall before dissipating harmlessly.
"You were completely shielded. A place where no interference can exist."
Raphael stood motionless, the weight of the truth pressing heavily upon him.
"…So… that's why I didn't die."
Cielux nodded slowly.
"Yes."
The memory gradually faded, and the golden domain dissolved. Codex Akasha returned to its luminous, drifting state, yet the silence between them felt heavier than before.
Raphael remained still for a long moment, processing everything. He ran a hand through his hair, his thoughts racing.
"…You're telling me… that thing was trying to erase me completely… and Avalon just… removed me from the equation?"
"Yes."
Cielux's answer was simple. Absolute.
Raphael let out a quiet breath, then another. A small, disbelieving laugh finally escaped him.
"…That's insane."
His hand dropped to his side as the full realization settled.
"…I didn't fight it. I didn't resist it. I didn't do anything."
"No," Cielux said softly. "You didn't."
Raphael closed his eyes briefly. For the first time, the truth sank in fully—not survival earned through strength or effort, but survival granted because something far beyond him had intervened.
He opened his eyes again, slowly.
"…Then if Avalon did that… what exactly did you do, Cielux?"
The question lingered in the air between them, heavy with unspoken implications.
Cielux looked at him—quiet, composed, and strangely vulnerable.
But her answer did not come immediately.
Cielux stood before him, her small frame glowing faintly with ethereal blue light. For once, her usual playful demeanor had given way to something more serious — almost solemn.
"Master," Cielux began, her voice clear and steady, "to truly understand that question, you must first understand Aurea Poculum — the ability you gained the moment you fused with the Moon Cell fragment."
Raphael remained silent, simply nodding for her to continue. His golden eyes were calm, patient, and focused entirely on her.
Cielux took a small breath before continuing.
"Aurea Poculum (EX Rank): The Moon Cell possesses its own form of a Holy Grail — a system that functions as a wish-granting authority. Unlike traditional Grails bound by morality or structure, this one fulfills desires exactly as they are conceived, without judgment of right or wrong. It does not correct, filter, or guide intent. Instead, it materializes the user's wishes in their purest, most unrestrained form. Because of this, even selfish, contradictory, or destructive desires can be realized fully… making it a Grail that reflects the true nature of human intent rather than an idealized version of it."
Raphael's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.
"Are you saying… I could make my own wish?" he asked carefully.
Cielux shook her head immediately, her expression turning concerned.
"Absolutely not. That is not happening," she said firmly. "Aurea Poculum doesn't judge, reinterpret, or 'correct' a wish. It simply executes intent exactly as conceived. But there's a catch you shouldn't ignore: because it reflects the wish as-is, it also reflects the user's flaws just as perfectly. If the desire is shortsighted, obsessive, or internally contradictory, the result will still follow that logic. It won't sabotage the wish — but it also won't save the user from their own thinking. So… it is not necessarily safe or wise in the long run."
Raphael let out a quiet sigh, visibly disappointed, though he tried to hide it behind a small, wry smile.
"I shouldn't be surprised," he murmured. "Nothing in this world comes free after all…"
Cielux's lips curved into a small, knowing smile.
"Yes… but you already made your wish," she said softly.
Raphael blinked, confusion clear on his face.
"What wish did I make? I don't remember making any wish consciously," he said, genuinely puzzled.
Cielux smiled — an adorable, slightly childish smile that softened her serious expression.
"Because it was a subconscious wish you made," she explained gently.
She stepped a little closer, her voice growing warmer as she continued.
"When you fused with the Moon Cell fragment during that time period, you gained access to Aurea Poculum. That was when you made a subconscious wish… 'I wish I had an eternal partner who will help me overcome everything I face up against. Someone who can keep me happy and remove my loneliness.' That was your subconscious wish."
Cielux paused for a moment, letting the words settle between them before she went on.
"Because Aurea Poculum executes wishes as stated, the Moon Cell Fragment was purified by Avalon, which chose the most stable interpretation. Instead of changing the world or rewriting reality endlessly, it created a being that fulfills every clause of the wish at once. That's why I — Cielux — was born."
She placed a hand over her chest, her blue eyes shining with quiet pride.
"I am an Artificial Nature Spirit, created specifically to fulfill your desire. I am eternal. I am loyal. I possess all the knowledge and abilities of the Moon Cell so I can help you overcome every impossibility. I am independent, yet bound to you — the perfect controlled solution rather than an uncontrolled rewrite."
Cielux's expression turned slightly arrogant, a playful glint appearing in her eyes.
"That's why I chose to seal away Aurea Poculum. I understand the risk of unfiltered desire far better than anyone. Granting more wishes freely could easily spiral out of control. So I decided — I will ensure you achieve everything through me, not through some unreliable wishing tool. My abilities are more than enough. You don't need a device. You only need your partner."
Raphael stared at her for a long moment, processing everything. Then he asked, voice quiet but firm:
"If all this is true… then how was my Origin changed? Was that truly through a forbidden Moon Cell Authority?"
Cielux's cheeks puffed out in an adorable childish pout. She looked away for a second, clearly embarrassed, before reluctantly admitting the truth.
"…That was a lie," she mumbled, her voice small. "I only told you it was a forbidden Moon Cell Authority because I wanted to impress you…"
She fidgeted slightly before continuing, her tone becoming more sincere.
"Avalon itself possesses the ability to rewrite the Origin and Elemental Affinity of an individual, fundamentally altering their existence at its core. Normally this ability is passive… but I forced it to follow my will. I used Avalon to change your Origin from 'Worthlessness' to 'Reflection'."
Cielux looked back at him, her eyes gentle yet resolute.
"The reason I did this is because the Moon Cell — especially its SE.RA.PH Core — functions as an archive similar to the Root. In order to ensure your Inner World could become truly limitless, I made you a mirror of the Root itself. A being who reflects the source. Because of that… the universe has begun to align in ways that let you do impossible things."
She deliberately left the meaning of "impossible things" vague, offering only a mysterious little smile.
Raphael let out a long sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose. After a moment, he looked at her with a soft, genuine expression.
"…Thank you, Cielux. For telling me the full truth this time."
Cielux's face turned a light shade of red. She looked embarrassed, but her lips curved into a gentle, sincere smile.
"You're welcome, Master," she said softly. "We are partners, after all."
Raphael returned her smile, warmth in his eyes.
"Yes… we are partners."