"So, what happened to Cephiro? Why does everything look different? Is it really because of the Pillar's death?"
Hikaru already knew the answer from Presea, but she hoped for more, especially to find answers to her own questions. Was there another way for Cephiro?
"Cephiro has lost its Pillar. The Pillar maintained this land with the power of her hope. When the Pillar is gone, the land loses its support... It crumbles. To survive, those among us with strong mental energy have created castles and shields to protect the people of Cephiro."
"So, these castles are made with mental power?" Fuu asked.
"So far, we've managed to maintain them, but it won't last. If we don't find a new Pillar soon to restore balance in nature, Cephiro will vanish."
"Dreadful..." Umi gasped.
"Cephiro will vanish in the truest sense—its land, its creatures... even its name," Clef paused, contemplating something he was hesitant to reveal. "However, beyond the destruction you see, there's another threat looming from outside Cephiro."
With his staff, Clef parted the skies. The skies opened, revealing the black skies of Cephiro... Everyone's attention was drawn to the sight.
"Stars..." Hikaru whispered.
"That's not a star." The scene in the sky became clearer over time. What Hikaru had called stars began to reveal their true forms. "Those are warships. Armies from other countries approaching Cephiro..."
"What?" Umi squinted.
"What do you mean 'from other countries'?" Fuu asked, hoping her thoughts were wrong. In this situation, Cephiro couldn't possibly be at war with other nations!
Three giant warships floated high above Cephiro's skies, surpassing the height of dark clouds. They resembled artificial satellites orbiting Earth, made of metal or coated with other strong materials, with panels and blinking lights visible on their hulls.
"They are nations other than Cephiro," Clef raised his staff and pointed. "Autozam." A silver warship with two giant cannon muzzles aimed at Cephiro was visible. The warship displayed its weaponry. Around it, flying robots swarmed...
"Chizeta." The Chizeta warship emitted orange light. Its main body was connected to two other sections in front and behind, resembling an animal with a head and tail.
"Fahren." The last one consisted of interconnected smaller ships that could separate or rejoin, flying in rapid swirling motions...
"They're enormous..." Umi murmured. "Why haven't we seen them before?"
"They might have concealed their existence..." Ferio remarked. "If you observe closely, they're even attacking each other. Their battles have broken out several times up there. They are a threat, but their internal strife has somewhat saved Cephiro."
"However, Cephiro is not safe at all," Clef said. "In the past, when the Pillar was alive, she protected Cephiro from such external threats. Anyone attacking Cephiro would be repelled by the invisible walls she created. A mental shield... extraordinary. After her death, the path for other nations to touch Cephiro has widened. They can freely enter Cephiro..."
Hikaru tried to see clearly and spotted something. "What is that glowing path?" she pointed. She traced it. The light from the paths, forming like channels dividing the sky, appeared strong and clear around each nation's warship but faded near Cephiro.
"That's the path I mentioned. Little by little, that path penetrates Cephiro's airspace, and they will reach the mainland."
"Is it permanent?" Umi asked.
"It will disappear if its creator leaves Cephiro."
"Why do they desire this ruined country?" Hikaru couldn't understand. "It doesn't make sense. Why are they fighting over Cephiro?"
"No. They have their reasons." Clef looked down. He remembered something painful from long ago, an event that erased the existence of one country. "Those who are powerful can occupy Cephiro to expand their nation's territory. Even in ruins, Cephiro remains valuable land if it can be defended."
Clef summoned a globe in their midst. Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu could see the similarity of this world to their own, except there was only one incredibly large continent and one ocean surrounding it.
"This is Cephiro, the world we're in." Clef then pointed to a country located far from the equator, in the northern polar region. The region was white. "The people of Fahren always suffer from their icy and mountainous habitat. They seek a place where the sun shines so they can build a civilization."
Clef pointed again, this time to the area around the equator, which was red. "The Chizeta nation needs territory for their people to live. They have an extraordinarily large population." Unlike Fahren, Chizeta bordered directly with Cephiro. "Chizeta is a desert country... They lack adequate natural resources to sustain their population. They've long relied on Cephiro."
Finally, Clef pointed to the central grayish area, north of Cephiro. "Autozam also needs a place to live. They've suffered severe environmental damage."
"But how are they sure they can achieve their ambitions?" Fuu asked. "Cephiro is truly destroyed and might disappear. The people of Cephiro will surely resist, won't they?"
"They have their ways, unfortunately, affecting Cephiro mutually."
"Don't say..." Fuu covered her mouth. "Don't say they will achieve it by making one of them the Pillar of Cephiro..."
"You're sharp, Fuu." Hikaru and Umi were shocked. "Outsiders can indeed become the Pillar of Cephiro. It only takes one thing for someone to become the Pillar... an exceptionally strong heart."
"If one of the attacking nations becomes the Pillar," Ferio added, "then the people of Cephiro have no choice but to accept them. Therefore, there would be no resistance. The destruction would stop. Cephiro would recover as it was before. This land belongs to the Pillar. The Pillar has the right to do anything to Cephiro."
Clef stared at the paths in Cephiro's sky. "If they can make these paths reach this far, it's possible that one of them meets the requirements to become a Pillar. Whoever it is, they will bring back peace and protect Cephiro..."
"Does Cephiro really need a Pillar to survive?" Hikaru touched the image of the Earth in front of her. She traced the boundary between Cephiro and Autozam... imagining the beauty that should be there, which might disappear again someday in the future.
"Hikaru, Umi, Fuu..." Clef called after they had all been silent for a while. The three turned to Clef. "There's something important I need to tell you," Clef said with a very serious expression. "Cephiro doesn't have a Pillar, but only the Pillar can summon people from another world with the summoning spell. I don't know who summoned you back to Cephiro... and Cephiro is about to become a battlefield. You've done a lot for Cephiro. Because of that, this time you don't need to involve yourselves in Cephiro's battle."
"Clef..." Why was Clef saying this? Hikaru wondered. She wanted to say something, but Clef continued speaking.
"I really don't know who, but that person must have a very strong heart to summon you to Cephiro. Right now, Cephiro has no other way but to find that person, even if it means opening itself to other nations. That's the path that will save Cephiro..."
"Clef," Hikaru was eager to say it.
"... I will search for that person. In the meantime, stay at the castle with the people of Cephiro-"
"Clef!" Hikaru half-shouted.
Clef fell silent. He avoided Hikaru's gaze. Through her eyes, he had known what she was going to say since earlier. "No."
"Clef, I will fight with you!" Hikaru said firmly, shocking everyone, who couldn't believe her decision. The atmosphere tensed as they watched their debate.
"Hikaru, there's no reason for you to fight alongside us!"
"I will fight!"
"There's nothing you can do with this war! You don't know who summoned you! You don't even know why you're here!" Clef said harshly. After all the tragedy and sorrow the magic knights had experienced, he couldn't let them get hurt again. "You can't involve yourself! You could die!"
"You're wrong, Guru. The reason is within my heart." Clef widened his eyes. "I feel that I must fight alongside you. Everyone fights for what they desire, and this is what I desire. From what happened last time, I understand. Even though it was painful, I learned. During our battle, Princess Emeraude tried to kill us with the part of her heart that loved Zagato. Her heart was very sad because of Zagato's death, but she still tried to save Cephiro with what remained of her as the Pillar... Princess Emeraude loved this country very much. That's why I think she was so afraid of this country suffering. With her death, she protected Cephiro. The Magic Knights who killed her also want to protect Cephiro! Clef, you once told me that this country used to be so beautiful and peaceful, but... I haven't seen the true Cephiro yet."
"The real Cephiro?! What is this girl talking about? How can she say that? I can't stop her. Suddenly, something disturbing entered Clef's heart. He felt like he had been in a situation like this before, but he wasn't sure.
Umi, who had been listening to Hikaru, began to understand Hikaru's determination when she invited her and Fuu back to Cephiro. "Guru, the three of us have grown..." She wanted to support Hikaru because what Hikaru wanted was also her desire. "Not just our fighting skills, but also our hearts. You can trust us."
"Umi is right," Fuu continued. "Before, we just wanted to go back to our own world, but now it's different. Please, let us help protect Cephiro."
"You..." Clef groaned in anger at himself. He couldn't stop their determination.
"Don't stop us, Guru," Hikaru said. "I also want to find the one who brought us here." Somehow, finding out who that person was had become her big mission.
"Who is he?" Ferio asked. He looked at Hikaru with questioning eyes. "He must be the Pillar."
Clef finally gave in. "Alright."
"Presea," Hikaru said, lifting her face. The spirit and determination were clear on her face. "Please lend us our weapons so that we can fight."
For some reason, she felt like crying. With a trembling voice, Presea uttered the incantation to summon the three weapons of the Magic Knights that she had kept all this time. The three swords reappeared in their midst, and each Magic Knight took theirs. "What if you get hurt again?" she asked. She wanted the three girls to reconsider their decision.
Hikaru understood Presea's concerns, but fear and doubt were things that had to be overcome. "Even if there is pain, I won't regret it. We won't give up. We know what we want." Presea was taken aback. Umi and Fuu nodded in agreement.
"You're really not backing down..." Clef sighed, shaking his head. "You'll get what you want!" A smile spread across the faces of the three girls. "I will reawaken your magic and protection. Accept it!" Clef recited something, then tapped his staff on the floor.
Hikaru, Umi, and Fuu were surprised to find themselves glowing in red, blue, and green, the symbols of their magic knight characters. Hikaru felt the fiery power within her boil. Umi felt her cold water flow quickly, soothing. Fuu felt her gentle wind blowing with great strength. Their appearances changed as well. A gem was attached to their hands and protected their bodies, battle attire, and armor.
"Now you can use your powers. As you mature, you will also master new abilities and mantras," said Clef. "Hikaru, Umi, Fuu... Use these abilities well, especially to protect yourselves from danger."
"We understand," Umi and Fuu nodded together.
"Guru Clef, Ferio, Presea... Thank you," Hikaru smiled at them.