Once the conversation with the two of them had settled, I turned my back to the main shrine building and stood in front of the torii gate of the Tenrei Shrine.
I reached out toward the torii and manipulated the surrounding magical energy in the same way one would touch the wall of the principles.
Gradually, the space enclosed by the torii began to ripple like the surface of water.
This torii was the only path leading to the Phoenix Shrine—the core space of the principles.
But that path was not open to just anyone.
Only those who possessed the magical energy manipulation skill to break through the wall of the principles on their own and establish a connection to the outside world, as well as the resistance to the magical energy of the outside world required to operate inside the Phoenix Shrine, could be called "transcendents" and gain the qualification to step into the principles.
...And I had already reached that level.
As the rippling of the torii slowly subsided, an alien presence flowed toward me from beyond it, as if even the quality of the air had changed.
"Well then, I'm off."
"Take care."
After calling out to Fuuka and Nagisa, who were seeing me off from behind, I passed through the torii.
...
It was quiet.
There, wind, sound, and even magical energy were all in perfect harmony, wrapped in a silence as if time itself had stopped.
Pure white trees—trunks, branches, and leaves all formed from white—stood surrounding the area.
It was a fantastical scene, as if it had deviated from the laws of reality.
And at its center, a shrine resembling a copy of the Tenrei Shrine stood quietly.
It had the same structure and outline I knew, yet the air drifting there, the density of the magical energy, and the space itself were decisively different.
It made me keenly understand that this was the original, and the Tenrei Shrine I had seen earlier was nothing more than an imitation.
I took one quiet step forward.
The ground I stepped on was white like snow, yet not cold.
The air was clear, but somehow heavy.
This was the beginning of everything in this world.
The root that had shaped its laws.
So this was the Phoenix Shrine.
I pulled the floor plan of the Tenrei Shrine that Nagisa had given me earlier from my memory and advanced through the shrine.
When I reached the room where the sacred mirror of the Tenrei Shrine was enshrined, instead of a mirror, a crystal-like magic stone sat quietly there.
I knew without needing to confirm it.
——That was the principles.
"..."
The room reflected in my eyes was nothing more than a simple wooden chamber.
The construction itself did not seem very different from the traditional architectural style common in this country.
But the moment I stepped inside, something I could feel on my skin was different.
The floor, pillars, and walls should all have been made of wood, yet there was a serene stillness as if cut off from reality.
『You finally came. Didn't it take longer than expected?』
"...Eh?"
As I was overwhelmed by an indescribable emotion, a woman's voice suddenly reached me.
It was not a voice that stimulated my hearing.
It was telepathy that flowed smoothly into my mind.
And I knew that voice.
I had only heard it once, but there was no way I could forget it.
I immediately looked around.
In the space where magical energy was harmonized, there was one spot where magical energy— no, a spirit—faintly wavered and asserted its presence.
"…Titania…?"
『It's been a while, Orun. You haven't forgotten me.』
"…Yeah. I had resistance to time thanks to [Time Regression]. I think that's why."
『I see. So that wish of his...led to this outcome. Is this also what Stella called "fate"?』
Titania murmured to herself in a convinced tone.
I knew the person she mentioned—Stella.
She was the special ability user of [Spirit Domination] called the "Saint" in fairy tales.
And the one currently manifesting the [Spirit Domination] ability was Luna.
Special abilities were said to be inherited through blood.
In other words, the Saint Stella was Luna's ancestor.
"Titania."
『What is it?』
Although the sudden reunion had surprised me, there were words I had to say to her.
Just five characters.
I poured all my current feelings into them.
"——Thank you."
The reason I could stand here now was thanks to my grandfather and Titania.
If it weren't for the two of them, I might not even be in this world anymore.
Even if I had survived, I probably would not have had the strength to move forward again.
I owed them both a debt so great that no amount of gratitude could ever repay it.
『...It wasn't for your sake. I cooperated with Cavadel because I wanted to.』
"…I see. Even so, the fact that I was saved by you hasn't changed. And I'm really happy I got to meet you again like this."
I had thought I would never see her again, yet here I was, able to exchange words with her—even in this form. Just that made my chest grow warm.
"I'm truly glad you're still alive. With this, Luna can also——"
『——That's not right, Orun. ...I am not "alive."』
It was a quiet denial.
『Most of the magical energy that made up my being was offered to the principles as the price back then. The small amount that remained was not enough to maintain my form, so it was absorbed into the principles. Right now, I'm barely holding onto my shape.』
Titania's voice remained calm.
But behind her words, there was a quiet certainty that resembled resignation.
『The magical energy I offered as the price will never return.』
There was a short pause.
『I'm nothing more than a ghost spending the little remaining time I have left.』
Her words carried neither grief nor despair.
They simply conveyed a fact she had already accepted.
That only made it sink deeper into my chest.
I was at a loss for words.
No matter what I said, it felt like it would be meaningless.
Even so, the urge to say something would not leave the back of my throat.
『Ah, that's right.』
At that moment, Titania spoke as if she had just remembered something.
『Since you say you're grateful to me, Orun, would you grant me one wish?』
"…Tell me anything. If it's your wish, Titania, I'll make it come true no matter what."
I answered without hesitation.
After a brief silence, Titania seemed to choose her words carefully.
Then, with quiet but firm resolve, she said,
『At the end...I want to see Luna——see Ruuko.』
That single sentence tightened something deep in my chest.
From those words, I could clearly feel how special Luna was to Titania.
That was exactly why I understood the weight of her wish so painfully.
"——Leave it to me."
I answered immediately.
There was no hesitation or doubt.
"I will definitely bring Luna here."
If this was Titania's final wish,
No matter what difficulties lay ahead, I would make it come true.
"So...wait for me until then. I will definitely make it in time."
At my words, I thought I felt Titania smile faintly.