Hikaru gazed at the sky beyond her window. She had left the evening banquet early, lost in thought about the complexities of what might happen if she revealed the truth. Their hearts would undoubtedly be hurt. She recalled her audience with Master Clef a year ago.
"You have abolished the system, relinquished the power that was rightfully yours, but you remain the Pillar of Cephiro. Your duty will end when the land strengthens. When everyone stands on their own and no longer needs the Pillar..." Master Clef had said, his face pained. He continued, "At that time, you will..."
"The Pillar naturally will depart for good..." Hikaru realized.
Clef had fallen to his knees before Hikaru, "Forgive Cephiro for burdening you with this. I fear I won't be able to protect you this time..."
"Stand up, Master Clef. Don't say that. I'll be happy if you all are happy. I will make it happen. A more beautiful world, we will make it happen!"
Clef refused to rise until Hikaru gave her consent. "I can't let you go through this. You have done too much... I beg you! Trust us! We will make it happen with our own strength..." Clef bowed deeper, "Believe that this land can bring about peace. I can't let this world make you sacrifice your life for us. I beg you as the Magic Guru of this land. I want to protect you. Please leave Cephiro, leave us. Save yourself from this terrible fate."
"If so, then this will be my last day in Cephiro, as I promised Clef."
Cephiro shimmered in her view, reflected in the window pane, her tear-streaked face visible. She knew she couldn't linger, or her will would weaken.
Lantis, where are you? she wondered. Her longing surged, becoming unbearable, as she wished to see the face of her beloved one last time. A profound sense of loss filled her heart. Cephiro had become home to her, and now she had to leave it forever.
The Forest of Silence
Several knights and sorcerers moved quietly through the forest, led by LaFarga. Meanwhile, Lantis flew silently through the sky, surveying the surroundings from above on his jet-black steed.
Lantis gazed downward at the dim lights carried by the people below. The forest was eerily calm, but something mysterious, with great power, was sensed emanating from this place. The forest marked the boundary of Cephiro from the outside world, a natural border. Being here stirred memories in Lantis—memories of Zagato. His abandoned sky castle where he kept Emeraude in the dungeon years ago was not far from here.
Lantis suddenly became alert.
A loud crash and explosion shattered the silence. The ground cracked open, trees toppled, and something emerged from within. A large number of robotic forces suddenly emerged from the earth. They initially took the form of drilling tanks, then transformed into robots resembling NSX models. The soldiers led by LaFarga were only equipped for reconnaissance, not combat. Outnumbered, many were quickly struck down by laser weapons. The forest ignited fiercely.
"LaFarga!" A deafening explosion occurred again. "LaFarga!" Lantis called out in panic. He rushed to join the forces in the forest, but suddenly someone grabbed him, dragging him several dozen meters away. Another force struck him, sending him crashing to the ground.
Wind bullets?! Lantis couldn't believe his misfortune. He activated his mental shield. Wind bullets continued to assault him as he swiftly dodged. The force of the wind destroyed the ground where it struck, while the remaining impacts were deflected by his mental shield, causing him no harm. Lantis looked up and saw a flying horse with a rider who was not unfamiliar to him.
"Long time no see, Cail," said the rider in a deep, calm voice. His silhouette was hidden in the shadows, framed by the large moon behind him. Lantis couldn't see his face, but he knew who he was.
"Mazda..." Lantis gasped in shock. He hadn't expected a magic swordsman to appear before him. What was his connection to the Autozam forces? A cold shiver ran through his heart. An ominous premonition gripped him.
"So… you remember me." The figure landed, revealing himself more clearly. He was a tall man with a handsome yet cold face. His long black hair partially obscured his face, and his black cloak billowed in the wind. His blue eyes glinted sharply as he gazed at Lantis. "His Excellency Nair..."
"I no longer have any dealings with him!" Lantis interrupted.
"...has instructed me to deliver this message to you."
A distant explosion echoed again. Lantis's focus were divided; he was deeply concerned about the remaining Cephiro knights and, more importantly, LaFarga. He moved towards their location.
Mazda blocked Lantis from leaving. He positioned his sword, pointed toward Lantis's chest.
"I have nothing to do with you all anymore," Lantis said threateningly. He also drew his sword and swung it, forcing Mazda to jump back. They began to duel fiercely, their swords clashing with fiery sparks and a loud scraping noise.
"You've forgotten your root. His Excellency Nair is the Pillar of the Runes, the leader of all magic swordsmen in this world. He needs you," Mazda said calmly. Mazda advanced on Lantis, striking with his sword while Lantis parried the attack deftly. "Your failure to prevent the reinstatement of the Pillar in Cephiro has greatly disappointed him. But he has forgiven you..."
"I don't need his forgiveness!" Lantis cut him off.
"...and has given you a new mission. With your strength, he knows you are capable." Mazda dodged Lantis's attack, leaping back.
"It's all over. The Pillar System no longer exists in Cephiro!" Lantis was frustrated that Mazda wasn't listening to him. "Listen to me!"
Mazda straightened up. "Kill the Pillar of Cephiro."
Lantis's eyes widened. Hikaru's face immediately flashed in his mind.
A few years ago when he left Cephiro and resided in Autozam, he unexpectedly met Nair, the Pillar of Runes in hiding. Nair had helped him recover from trauma for being unable to prevent what was happening between Emeraude and Zagato. Then, it was shocking to learn that Emeraude and his brother had died at the hands of the Magic Knights. Nair suggestively whispered to him:
"In the past, Clef have failed to prevent the selection of Emeraude. It was unfortunate that in the end, Emeraude chose to take her own life by summoning the Magic Knights. However, this is a significant step towards fulfilling our mission as magic swordsmen, to end the Pillar System..."
"Your Majesty, Cephiro is on the brink of destruction; I cannot abandon the land where I was raised. I will return."
"Lantis, always remember in your heart Cephiro's greatest mistake. They are chronically dependent on the system. After centuries of protection and prosperity, freeing themselves from this paradise would never be their choice. They don't understand what freedom truly is. Tragedy and sorrow will continue if a new Pillar is reinstated. Do not let the system continue. Destroy it. Stop it. Let me be the last."
"I will. From you, I finally know how to do it. I will kill whoever the candidates…"
Why must this happen now?! Lantis trembled with rage. "I WON'T LET YOU ALL TOUCH HER!"
The next day, Lantis arrived in Cephiro. He had managed to escape and save LaFarga from the attack that night. All the knights had been killed. His arrival, accompanied only by the severely injured LaFarga, shocked everyone in the castle. Before he fainted, he managed to say, "Autozam attacked…" Panic spread rapidly. Everyone imagined the same thing: war was imminent.
When he awoke, he found Presea attending to him. Meanwhile, Caldina was taking care of LaFarga. Their three-year-old daughter, Dyna, looked on in tears at her helpless father.
"Where is Hikaru?" he asked weakly, glancing at Presea as she stitched up a wound on his chest.
"Hikaru has already returned to her world hours before you arrived," Presea replied softly, her eyes glistening with tears.
"I need to see Master Clef."
"No. You're injured…"
Presea tried to stop Lantis from getting up, but he grasped her hand to stop her. Lantis couldn't wait any longer to deliver bad news to Clef. With great effort, he got up and staggered out of the room.
In the grand hall, Clef stared at the portrait of Pillar Cephiro, Hikaru, hanging on the wall of the grand hall. The painting shimmered in the sunlight. The red in her hair seemed like flames, cascading down to cover part of her elegant black gown. Besides Hikaru's portrait, there were many other paintings of previous Pillars, showing how many Pillars Cephiro had once had.
Clef's thoughts were troubled as he recalled the recent news about Autozam's sudden attack. A war council was to be held soon. This development was entirely unexpected.
"Keep this secret, Clef. I don't want to cause alarm. I will close the portal forever and will not return to Cephiro…" Hikaru's words echoed in Clef's mind.
"Master Clef!" Lantis suddenly appeared. Clef turned, shocked to see Lantis approached him unsteadily and collapsed.
"You are not in good shape! Please, go back to rest…" Besides worrying about the war, Clef felt sympathy for Lantis. He also didn't know how to break the news of Hikaru's departure to him.
"Hikaru…" Lantis choked out, struggling to contain his pain.
"Haven't you heard? She has already returned to her world."
Lantis was stunned into silence. A profound sense of loss filled his heart, but he said, "Thank goodness…" instead. With Hikaru leaving Cephiro, she would be safe in her world until the crisis ended.
Clef took a deep breath. "She wanted me to give this to you." Lantis looked up as Clef reached out, placing a delicate pendant in his palm. The golden chain and the dangling crystal glittered beautifully.
"I gave this to Hikaru. Why?" Lantis's hand trembled as he looked at the item. "Why?!" He demanded an explanation from Clef.
Clef did not answer and stood up. "A war council will be held soon. I'll say you can't attend. Recover yourself."
"Clef!"
"Listen to me. Hikaru has closed the portal. The Magic Knights will not return to Cephiro." Clef then left him.
Lantis didn't know what to feel. He couldn't think clearly. He stared at Hikaru's portrait, remembering his encounter in the Silent Forest, Mazda, and the order.
"Yes, you must just go… and never return. Never come back. Never return…" he whispered in a pleading tone. "I'm afraid, I can't protect you this time…" His heart ached deeply. Tears streamed down his face.
At the threshold of the grand hall, someone else gazed at Hikaru's portrait with a broken heart. Eagle Vision had awakened from his unconscious state, and what he had heard first is of Hikaru's departure and Autozam's attack on Cephiro. He looked at Lantis's shaking back. His own feelings were the same as that man.
