Mio's feet lead her up the path that she had taken so many times since her arrival here, the scenery etched into her mind as a by-product of the training she had continuously undergone. Although everything had been restored to its previous brilliance, the shine that Mio was seeking was gone from the kingdom and she was unsure if she would find it again.

This would be her final chance to view the area that she spent the last years of her life protecting. After all the effort put into making it her home, she would leave willingly, just for a chance. There were no guarantees, no promise of anything worth fighting for, except maybe a moment. All the work she had done would be in vain if Mio were leave now. Yet she couldn't hold herself back from the chance to see her again.

She had only stood there for a few passing moments when she heard someone approaching. Too relaxed to be Yui, not quiet enough to be Azusa.

"You're going to leave." It was more of a statement than a question, yet the voice was still tinged with something Mio couldn't identify. Hope or regret? Perhaps even guilt. Mio only sighed in response, watching her breath fan out in front of her. They had always looked forward to winter, pretending to be soldiers and unknowingly casting their first spells when playing in the snow. The soft footsteps finally stopped beside her and a bare hand reached out to trace the carved runes before them. Swallowing hard, Mio noticed one of the five rings given to most trusted spellcasters of the kingdom. She had given her own to Ritsu (the other spellcaster had forcibly taken it) that night.

"So I can remember what I'm fighting for."

"Even if there's nothing left, even if it's not Ritsu anymore, you're going to find her." Only then did Mio look over and realize something that brought tears to her eyes. In all the years they had fought together, she had never before seen Mugi without her armor. She had always seen the sparkling silver outlined in curves of gold that just seemed to fit on Mugi's cold features perfectly. Yet there was nothing cold about the woman beside her. She had the most feminine figure, pale skin, blonde hair that framed her face as if each strand was painfully placed there… She couldn't fathom how the angry piercing blue eyes that stayed fixated on their unfortunate target were the same as the ones that were now filled with tears.

Mugi wasn't meant for this, yet she assumed her role and did all that was expected of her.

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

She considered the blonde one of her closest friends (Friends? She had no friends. Only teammates) and one of the most trustworthy people in the kingdom. And before this moment, she had never seen her without her armor.

"This cycle of fighting can't continue."

Congratulations, Ritsu. You were right.

"You'll always have a home here, Mio." With those words, Mugi removed her hand and turned to leave.

"Look at the others, Mio! Look at us!"

"No, Ritsu…" She wanted to say it wasn't like that, but the words wouldn't pass her lips.

"Something's got to give. And I won't-" The shorter girl quickly clamped her mouth shut.

"What?"

"Nothing. It doesn't matter." Mio could only watch her retreating form as she could formulate no response.

"Mugi!" Mio grabbed her in a fierce hug, trying to say something, anything, but nothing seemed right. "Could you-"

"Of course." Mugi merely gave a soft smile and received the letter that Mio had written as a goodbye to the remaining members. She finally descended down the hill towards the castle, never looking back once.

"Ritsu," Mio whispered one final time, touching the stone while wondering what forbidden spells were etched upon it. She felt a small amount of power flow through her fingertips and she knew it was time to leave. She would find Ritsu. And she would bring her back.