Near the border of Thousand Peaks, within the gravitational influence of the black hole Excidium, lies the orbit of Banshee and Phoenix. It is the closest point to Thousand Peaks. Sixty-six years ago, when the Red Chamber arrived here, they had to dodge through space debris carried by Banshee to approach it. But now, there was no need for such precautions.

Boom!

Zing.

Crackle.

The combat ships of the Lee Clan, escorting the Red Chamber, pulverized the debris blocking their path into dust. It was a method of destroying dangerous debris with missiles followed by incineration using lasers. Rarely did any debris slip through, blocked by the Red Chamber's own defense systems, leaving no impact inside.

Remi looked at the spectacle and thought, 'It would have been nice to have this back then.'

Beyond the bridge, similar to Banshee in entwining space debris, but even larger, a colossal comet began to appear. Eda and Fey could feel it. Unlike Banshee's ominous starsong in the abyss, Phoenix's starsong was brighter and warmer, akin to celestial voices. Whether it was a coincidence or not, its tone resembled the "Wispy Witch's Starsong" that Eda first sang to Jun.

And Eda knew. It wasn't a feeling; she just knew. There, in that place, she existed. There, where Helius buried and revived Terra.

"All fleets, status check."

Just before entering Phoenix, Shan did a final check of the combat ships escorting the Red Chamber. Reports from the captains of nearby ships came into his ears.

- All clear.

- All clear.

"No issues."

With Yen's report as the final one, the Red Chamber slowly began to advance. Half of the combat ships stayed near the entrance, while the other half followed inside.

"We're entering Phoenix now."

Yen said with a tense voice. The Red Chamber pushed its hull through the massive circular entrance of Phoenix. Remi thought her condition was okay, and was breathing calmly and looking ahead, while Jun swallowed his saliva, gathering his thoughts. With too many thoughts racing through her mind, Eda paradoxically felt serene.

/

- Asteroid Center Gravity: 0.8 standard g.

- Cave Ecological Conditions: Ideal

Oxygen Levels: 19% - Sufficient

Prepared for landing.

Bump.

The Red Chamber and the other combat ships gracefully descended onto the bright floor of the cave. The interior of Phoenix was bright and warm. In the space beyond, an overwhelming amount of lumenide flowed like a waterfall, with a sky-blue sky shining as if real sunlight were pouring down. And along the path, half-broken Binarii Myrian gate was visible.

The companions aboard the Red Chamber disembarked and looked around. Eda, Jun, and Remi had changed into clothes they wore back in those days sixty-six years ago.

"...It's unlike any cave I've ever seen. It feels like the surface of a real planet. How is this even possible?" Kay remarked, to which Shuran nodded in response.

"It's like an afterlife... No, calling it heaven might be more appropriate."

"According to legend, Helius hid Terra somewhere in the depths of Excidium's abyss... Could this be it?"

Fey murmured.

As the five siblings looked around incessantly, Jun spoke to them.

"Guys, I'm really grateful for bringing us here. It might be impudent, but can we go ahead from here on our own? We want to... put an end to this ourselves."

As those words fell, all five gazes turned sharply towards Jun.

"No, you can't. Do you know what might be ahead? We have no data about this place."

"Yes. Of course, the three of you must go, but we have to go with you. What if something happens?"

"At least take one operative with you. It's dangerous. Anyone in the clan would be honored to explore with three of you."

"It would be better if father went alone. You are healthier than I am. But going with just mother and even auntie, we can't allow it."

Opposition poured out like a torrent. However, Eda and Jun remained stubborn. Remi seemed to silently agree with Jun's opinions as she leaned on her cane.

"I can't logically explain it to you... but I know. The path ahead is very smooth. It feels like a walkway. There shouldn't be any danger."

"Your father is right. Jun knows this place best."

"No... That's just nonsense, isn't it?"

"Auntie, please, can you stop mother and father?"

Yen looked at Remi and requested support. After she spoke up, Remi said, "I'm sure Eddie and Jun will be fine, but I've never tried cave exploring in my life... it might be a bit hard for me."

Upon hearing this, Shan turned his gaze to Jun and started to argue.

"You heard that, right? So..."

But his hopes were shattered by Remi's following words.

"So, can you bring a wheelchair or something? Jun can pull it along."

"Oh, Auntie, please."

And so, the tedious argument continued for an hour, and eventually, it was the five siblings who backed down.

"...Fine, understood. Only the three of you go. But."

Kay brought three advanced wireless communication devices and said, "Use these. Call us immediately if anything happens. It has a built-in locator, so even if something happens, we can find you. We'll contact you every 10 minutes. If there's no response, or if you don't return within 2 hours without contacting us, we'll come to find you immediately."

"Okay, thank you."

"Good lumen, why do you have to be so stubborn..."

Kay said as he firmly attached the communication device to Remi's ear. Jun carefully placed the communication device in Eda's ear and said, almost as if making an excuse.

"Sorry. You're absolutely right. But, just this once, let us have our way."

"So, we're doing as you wish. Ugh..."

Jun carefully placed the communication device in Eda's ear and said, almost as if making an excuse.

Eda, Jun, and Remi each hugged the five siblings once. Jun, holding Remi's wheelchair, waved his hand towards them.

"Alright then, take care!"

Eda also waved her hand beside him.

"Be careful and don't worry, we'll come back safely!"

Remi, still seated in her wheelchair, smiled and spoke.

"Thanks for indulging us."

"We'll really contact you every 10 minutes! Don't get hurt!"

The five siblings saw off their parents and aunt, silently sighing. Then, they looked at each other and spoke.

"Kay, could we have made a big mistake?"

"I think it would be a good idea to have at least one of the guardians follow them secretly."

"No, let's just follow what was said and contact them every 10 minutes."

Though Yen and Shuran seemed worried, Shan, while shaking his head, tried to dissuade his siblings.

"Father, Mother, both of them saying the same thing... Even if they can't explain it to us, there must be a reason. Let's trust them."

"...I agree with Shan. Father must have thought through. He has more experience running caves than anyone else. Let's get the people ready to go if something happens."

"I believe Mom's words. Mom is the greatest witch in the galaxy, so if Mom is so sure, then it must be right."

Following Shan's agreement, Kay and Fey also nodded in agreement, and Yen and Shuran did the same.

/

"By Taiyang's mercy… Commencing exploration."

Jun muttered as he pushed the wheelchair, with a backpack containing necessary items strapped to his back.

"So, why did we insist on going alone, Eddie, Jun? I thought it was okay since both of you seemed so confident..."

Eda, Jun, and Remi were far enough from their children that their voices couldn't be heard. Looking up while seated in the wheelchair, Remi asked them.

"I just thought it was okay because Jun seemed fine with it."

In response to Eda's casually spoken words, Remi frowned slightly and asked Jun.

"...And you?"

"Huh? I just... knew it was okay. But, Remi, how's the wheelchair ride?"

"Huh? Oh, it's completely fine! It feels like there's some suspension built into the wheelchair because I don't feel any vibrations at all... But that's not really important."

When Remi looked at Jun with a face that seemed to say, "Don't beat around the bush," Jun chuckled nervously and said,

"...It's just like what I said earlier. Sorry, I couldn't explain it any better."

"Wait, was that really it? I thought you were just making excuises... Oh well, forget it. Let's just stop talking. You'd better not do anything that'll harm me. It feels like it's been ages since I've said this, but both of you really have no plan."

"Remi, are you feeling a bit better now? You look a bit like your old self."

Eda said, looking down at Remi, who nodded.

"Yeah. Maybe it's because I piloted the Red Chamber after a long time. Seems like being a pilot of the Red Chamber is my destiny after all."

As they walked and chatted for a while, they saw inscriptions carved into a large circular panel beside them.

[8 Orbis, 6 Circum, 17 Gradus

May the eons realign the stars, so we may find each other in death.]

"...Is this a record of Helius?"

Jun responded to Eda's murmur.

"Yes. That's right. Helius, lord of Myria… Despite a life of toil, still met with eternal separation with lover..."

"Eternal separation? Come on."

Eda tightly held onto Jun's arm as she spoke. Jun smiled and nodded.

"Yeah. There's no such thing as eternal separation. We'll meet again someday within the lumen..."

"What's wrong with you two talking like that since a while ago?"

"Oh, nothing. Just feeling sentimental since we arrived here."

As they approached a slightly uphill area, they reached the half-broken Binarii Myrian gate standing tall that they saw at the landing site.

"Did you bring the synthescepter?"

"Of course."

"But will it open even though it's broken?"

"Yeah. It's broken just enough to open it, albeit barely."

Jun secured the brakes on the wheelchair and walked forward. Standing before the majestic Myrian gate with light and lumens pouring out through the cracks, Jun took out the synthescepter and resonated with the gate with the starsong of Phoenix that Eda had prerecorded.

-~ ~~ ~(Resonating starsong)

A melody very similar to the Wispy Witch's Starsong echoed from the synthescepter and resonated with the gate. The echo of starsong reverberated around, stimulating the nearby lumens, causing some of the lumenide to gasify.

Then, as if the half-broken Myrian Gate had fulfilled its purpose, it flashed with luminescence and gently descended downwards. Jun could sense it; there would be no closing of that gate again.

"Master, we've finally returned."

Eda, who had brought Remi's wheelchair along, murmured beside Jun.

"If we ever have another chance, I hope we don't lose ourselves to the lumen... Nevertheless, we are here for you now..."

Jun took back the wheelchair's handle from Eda once more, and the three of them started moving towards the other side of the gate.

"Master... will I hear your voice again…?"

It was Eda's murmuring.

/

-This is Kay. Are all three of you alright?

"This is Jun. We're all fine."

-If anything happens...

"Got it, we'll contact you immediately."

The brief communication with Kay has ended. Jun, Eda, and Remi continued their journey through the picturesque yet solemn space. There was no sense of being trapped, but rather a serene emptiness enveloped their surroundings. The lumenide river flowing slightly below the path seemed to make time forgettable, while ancient inscriptions on pillars sporadically rising amidst it whispered tales of forgotten pasts.

Though the sky stretched blue as if with real atmosphere and sun, it was filled with an infinite loneliness. There was no fear or hesitation among them. Their minds flashed with curiosity about their journey so far, the space they were in, and the mixed emotions awaiting them at the end.

"Like Shuran said, it feels like a real afterlife. The river flowing nearby is a nice touch."

Remi murmured.

"But... I don't see any flowers."

As Eda pointed out, while various lumen plants dotted the surroundings, there were no flowers to be seen, as if someone had already taken them all.

"This place is supposed to be Terra's real tomb, so maybe Helius used every flower to revive Terra."

"That makes sense."

"What?"

When Jun responded seriously to Remi's joke, she looked puzzled.

"Look, it's Binarii."

Eda pointed forward. Two inscriptions were carved on either side of the mural symbolizing Binarii, and in front of it were piles of rocks.

"Should we take a break here before moving on?"

Eda and Remi nodded at Jun's suggestion. Approaching the rock pile, Jun secured the wheelchair's brakes, took out water from the backpack, first gave it to Remi, then to Eda, and finally took a sip himself.

As Eda drank the water, she read the two inscriptions carved on either side of the Binarii's mural.

[Neverlasting paths, what comes may not be what you ask.]

[Neverlasting paths, what you ask may not come to pass.]

These were the inscriptions on the left and right sides of the symbol.

"It's just a Binarii prayer."

"There seems to be an unusually large number of Binarii symbols here."

Eda commented, passing it to Remi. Jun answered Remi's question.

"Helius created this place for Terra's burial and revival, so it's natural to have many Binarii since he's deity of meetings through the gates that reach beyond time and space."

After a brief rest, the three resumed their journey forward. As Jun had assured, the path was smooth. It was a path even Remi could stroll along alone as if taking a walk.

Receiving a couple more communications from Kay, something unfamiliar began to appear ahead. Before them, the murals and prayers of Binarii reappeared, and in front of them, massive ruins began to reveal themselves. It was a shattered mural of Helius and a destroyed spacecraft.

"A United Mining ship..."

Eda murmured with a trembling voice. The remains of a massive ringed ship, similar to the Red Chamber's but much larger, were scattered along the roadside. It seemed to have crashed here. The lumen river below acted as a buffer, mitigating the explosion, but it appears that it wasn't enough to avoid the hull being torn and turned into scrap metal.

"Well... over there..."

Eda quickly walked forward, eyes wide, scanning the surroundings. Judging that they could no longer use the wheelchair because of the debris, Jun lifted Remi out of it.

"Remi, can you walk?"

"I can. No problem. Just in case, give me the cane."

Remi slowly made her way through the debris, and Jun walked beside her, matching her pace, in case she might stumble and fall.

And then, Eda shouted ahead.

"Master!"

In a sunlit spot where the debris was not scattered, a figure in white clothing could be seen. Among the folds of the garments, white bones were peeking out. Beneath the clothing, short grass was spread like a carpet. Even after more than 70 years, not all traces had disappeared. Red was laying on the grass, in a comfortable position.

"Finally..."

Eda flopped down in front of her. Tears streamed down from her clear eyes. As the tears touched her white hair, they fell onto the grass.

"Finally... It's you."

"Master...!"

Remi, breathing heavily, hurriedly approached Eda's side. With Jun's assistance, she didn't stumble and fall, but still, with her aged body, Remi seemed to have exerted herself a bit as she sat down on the debris next to Eda.

Eda knelt down in front of Red's bones, and Remi sat on the debris next to her, using it as a chair. Jun waited a step behind them.

Eda spoke first. Emotions that had accumulated over more than 70 years poured out.

"Master... I've come. Remi's here too. We're too late, aren't we? I got married. I brought my husband with me too. His name is Jun, he's East Ocean noble, and a really good person. We met while I was wandering around looking for you. We had five children, Kay, Fey, Shan, Yen, and Shuran... Did I do well? They've all gotten married and I've seen my grandchildren.

I finally understand what you meant when you said to be myself... I've lived serving only the voice within, only myself… and I've taught my children the same. I wanted to tell you all of this... but it's only now that I've come. Actually, I had the chance to come 66 years ago, but if I had come then, I would have been scolded by you, right?

There were so many things I wanted to ask you, about who I am, who I was... No, that question doesn't matter. What's important is who I am now, and that you took me in, the witch who couldn't even sing, and taught me everything. It would have been nice if Doctor Rushell had come with us too.

Doctor probably met you first, right? In the endless flow of lumens, in the sun where we were born... I missed you so much. And... thank you. Master..."

After Eda's mourning ended, Remi, shedding tears, unleashed the words she had been holding back.

"Master, it's me, Remi. Unlike Eddie, who looks just like she did 70 years ago, I've aged a lot, haven't I? Ah... Isn't it different from how it was 70 years ago? Lately, my mind has been a bit scattered. Please understand. This is what happens when you get old. I made a lot of effort to find you, Master.

For two years just with Eddie, and then three years involving Jun. We traveled all over Thousand Peaks. We escaped from pirate bases, discovered ruins no one else had found, outsmarted United Mining, and even got close to a black hole... I did a lot of things back then that I couldn't do now... But still, I managed to solve everything later, so don't scold me too much.

I did go out with a man back then... But I didn't get married. There were, um, various problems. I felt lonely after he passed away, but living with Eddie and her husband was okay. Oh, it was me 66 years ago who stopped Eddie from stubbornly insisting on going alone to you.

Please praise me when we meet later. Like Eddie said, in the flow of lumens, in the sun, I'll see you again. Master..."

After the mourning of Red's two daughters ended, it was Jun's turn this time. Jun knelt respectfully in front of Red and spoke honestly.

"Hello. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Jun, Eda's colleague and husband, and Remi's comrade. You are Red Grant, correct? I've never met you in person, but thanks to you, I've received immeasurable grace.

Thanks to you, I was able to meet Eda and Remi, havd adventures that cannot be exchanged for anything, regain the honor I lost due to my mistakes, revive my clan, and find a lifelong companion.

I owe everything to you, Red. I may never be able to repay you, but at least I hope I have contributed to bringing your daughters here. Thank you, Red Grant. Rest in peace. May the lumens guide your way."

Lumen soared into the sky of Phoenix and sparkled. Lumen, which flew higher and higher in the blue sky, sparkled one last time as if it had done its job and dispersed into the surroundings.

/

"Handle with care. We mustn't shake it even a little."

"I think it would be better to lift the surrounding land altogether."

After the words of mourning ended, Jun called the siblings and members of the Lee Clan. It was to carry Red's remains onto the ship. Experts from the Lee Clan pondered the most respectful way to transfer Red's remains, while Remi watched over the scene with her nephews and nieces. And Eda sat with Jun on a rock a little distance away.

"...Jun."

"Yes?"

"Wanna go over there for a moment?"

Eda gestured in a certain direction. It was a bit further from the path they had walked, with a rather steep incline.

"There? Seems a bit risky."

"Our children came too, so what's the harm? Let's go up for a bit."

"Alright."

Jun got up first, took Eda's hand, and helped her up. Then, as they started walking towards the incline, Kay approached from behind.

"Wait, what are you two doing? Where are you going?"

Kay, fearing what reckless act their parents might do, spoke with a worried tone.

"Oh, just going up there for a bit."

"Why up there?"

In response to Jun's answer, Kay, with a face that said he wouldn't allow it unless there was a valid reason, blocked his parents.

"Kay, I want to go up there for a bit, is that okay?"

But Eda's statement, having just found her master after searching for 70 years, was something Kay couldn't refuse either.

"...Be careful."

Kay stepped aside with a worried voice.

/

"Careful, it's slippery."

"Yeah, this rock is solid. Step on this and come up."

Eda led the way, and Jun followed closely behind, ready to catch her in case she slipped. Fortunately, the ascent wasn't too difficult. It seemed they needed to be more cautious on the descent than the climb.

"Be careful going down. You might slip and fall."

"Yes… I got it."

Eda first rose to her feet at the top of the small incline, and Jun followed suit behind her. Before them lay a massive pool of lumenide. It was so enormous that several dozen vessels could fit inside and still have space, and it seemed to be lower than where they currently stood. The starting point of the incline behind them appeared to be at a height similar to the surface of the lumen pool.

"Is this the source of the lumen river flowing around?"

"Could be... Oh, Jun, look over there."

Eda pointed to the front left. There was an immensely large Terra mural unlike anything they had seen before.

"Terra... Is this the center of Phoenix?"

"We can collect a sample of the starsong here."

While Phoenix wasn't a cave that could be commercially used like other lumen caves due to its movement, claiming a sample could assert ownership. Jun thought that if they could do that, no one would be able to desecrate this place again.

"I just need to descend below there."

"Let's go together."

Eda and Jun carefully climbed down the cliff. It wasn't too difficult, as there were plenty of handholds and footholds. Jun stood at the edge of the pool, recording the starsong's core with the synthescepter, while Eda watched behind.

Suddenly, ancient consciousness flowed into Eda's mind. It wasn't exclusive to her alone. Jun, standing in front her, felt the same. From the flow of consciousness, or rather, from within their minds, intense memories surged, causing Eda and Jun to stagger.

"Ugh..."

A towering figure, surrounded by lumen fireballs like guards, stood within the lumen pool. He extended his hand and gently touched the coffin floating above the pool. Then, he spoke. His voice was low, sad, filled with fear, yet still hopeful.

-When the flowers bloom, you will return, and we shall reunite.

He lightly pushed the lower part of the coffin. Naturally, it moved to the center of the pool. The man spoke again.

-I too shall be reborn, the radiance of my star will heal your throat. We will never be apart again.

As soon as the man finished speaking, everything began to shine brightly. Blinded by the intense light, Eda and Jun regained their senses.

"..."

Without saying a word, Eda and Jun looked at each other and embraced tightly, as if fulfilling the words spoken by Helius.