Serena sat in front of the large iron gate separating her from the world inside the castle. She could no longer move; her legs were too exhausted to run. She was panting. Her disheveled hair and dirt-streaked face reflected her exhaustion.

Serena lifted her head again. The fireworks display was over. People moved back and forth in front of her. Thousands of people entered and exited the castle, and flying vehicles shot into the sky... There were many soldiers...

How can I find Senna? Is he okay? What if he's already dead? The horrifying thoughts filled her mind. Calm yourself... Serena ordered herself. Think, think... Think! Serena closed her eyes. She needed to act. She stood up and tidied her clothes and hair, wiping her smudged face to clean it. With a trembling body, she slowly walked toward the gate. She approached the guards stationed there... Standing in front of them, she drew curious looks.

Swallow your fear... Serena commanded herself. "Sir..." she greeted softly.

"My dear, what are you doing here?" asked the guard. He looked her over from head to toe. "Why are you alone?"

"I-I... I lost my brother. He went to the castle. I've been waiting all day, but he hasn't returned. Our mother is sick. I'm very worried..."

"Your brother?" The guard's heart softened with sympathy. With such crowds tonight, this wasn't the first time someone came to him with a similar issue. He glanced at his fellow guard. They exchanged silent gestures. "What does he look like? We might be able to help find him."

Would I be too honest? Serena lifted her head. But if I lie, no one will help me. I don't care what happens to me. I just want to save Mother and my brother.

"He... looks like me. We're twins. Golden hair..." Serena said with a trembling voice, pointing at her face. "Rosy, red eyes…" Serena swallowed hard, bowing her head even lower. She knew this was a suicidal move. "He's a magic swordsman from Runes..." Serena's sobs broke out. She was terrified and felt utterly helpless. "Please help me... I beg you, please help me..."

A magic swordsman? The guards stared at her wide-eyed.

Umi sat with her arms crossed. She looked at Senna's face. "Hey, kid," Umi called out. Senna kept his face turned away. "Why do you want to meet Clef?"

Senna, determined to remain silent, kept his mouth firmly shut. He only wanted to meet and talk to Guru Clef, no one else. Only that Magic Guru could be trusted, in his eyes. If Father trusts someone named Clef, then Father believes he will genuinely protect us, he thought.

"So stubborn... I'll let you starve here!"

What an empty threat... Senna thought. He resolved not to give in, no matter what threats she made.

"Umi, it's useless," Fuu said. She stayed alert, ensuring the mental shield she used to imprison Senna didn't weaken. In that prison, Senna couldn't use his powers. "Let's wait for Guru Clef, who will be here shortly."

Eagle straightened up and said to Senna, "Kid, don't you want to tell us what seems urgent and important to you? Maybe we can help you..."

You're going to kill us... Senna thought silently. His expression hardened, becoming more hostile. As his anger surged, tears welled up, dripping from the tip of his nose. He shut his eyes.

"We won't hurt you..."

You already have...

"Are you not speaking because you think we'll kill you because you're a magic swordsman?" Eagle shook his head. "If that's your assumption, then you're mistaken. This country has made peace, even with the people of Runes."

You sent forces to capture us...

"Albatross Vision is the protector of the people of Runes. We are forbidden from harming you." For the first time, Senna lifted his head upon hearing Alba's name mentioned. "We are actually glad to meet you. For months, we've been searching for surviving magic swordsmen. We're looking for someone who might be living among them..." Eagle carefully observed Senna's reaction.

"Is it true that Alba is protecting us?" Senna asked in disbelief.

Umi, Fuu, and Eagle were stunned. He finally spoke. They felt the thick fog that separated them from the young man start to clear, with Alba's name as the key.

"Yes... it's true." Alba? Such a casual calling... Eagle thought. This boy knows Alba very well.

"In that case, take me to him right now!" Senna commanded, his voice harsh for the first time. He sounded as if something were chasing him, so desperate and hurried. He struggled, trying to free himself.

"Unfortunately, not right now. He is a very important person..."

"He will know what is more important than status or himself! Take me to him! I don't have time to wait for that lazy Magic Guru!"

"That's why I said, maybe we can help you... We don't want to harm you or anyone around you. You have something urgent to do, don't you?"

Silence. Everyone fell quiet.

Senna hesitated, questioning whether what he was facing was real. Was it true that the people of Cephiro would not kill him, his sister, or endanger his mother? Senna looked down deeply...

"Promise me you won't hurt us and that you'll let us go after this."

Us? He's not alone. Eagle realized. He said, "I promise."

"Promise me you won't hurt my mother either."

"Your mother?" Umi and Fuu gasped. Eagle was silent.

"Promise me—" Senna shouted, abruptly stopping. His eyes widened at the sudden appearance of someone. He couldn't believe it, "Maestra!"

Eagle, Umi, and Fuu turned instantly and found Clef had arrived with Nova. Both were out of breath, seemingly from running to reach this place.

"Senna?! How did you get imprisoned here?"

Is this girl joking with us? LaFarga watched Serena, who was now fast asleep. It was strange to find a girl so honest that she openly wept in front of everyone like that, he thought. Right after revealing everything, she fainted from exhaustion and was brought to LaFarga's office for safety.

LaFarga was unsure whether to remain vigilant or not. This girl seemed harmless... At least not like the boy she claimed was her brother. Were they truly siblings, and was everything she said about them being magic swordsmen true? He couldn't be sure until the girl woke up. He looked at the sky outside, now turning light. Dawn was breaking... It was a long, tiring night for him. He closed his eyes, hoping to sleep for even just a moment.

"Fuu, please release him," Nova begged. "He's just a child, he's not dangerous."

Fuu was confused.

"No, we can't," Umi refused. "He could hurt us with his power..."

"Maestra, why are you silent?! Help me and finish them!" Senna shouted, struggling in vain to free himself from the chains. "Maestra!"

"Senna, be calm..." Nova told him.

The cell was noisy. Ryuuki watched them, speechless.

"Quiet, all of you!" Clef's voice boomed, silencing everyone. He looked at Nova, who appeared so restless.

"Please, release him!" Nova pleaded to Fuu.

Fuu, uncertain, looked for Clef's approval. He nodded. "Alright..." Fuu dissolved her mental shield and released the chains binding Senna. Senna collapsed to the floor, and Nova quickly caught him.

"Are you okay?" Nova asked, holding the boy and checking him all over. She hugged him with gratefulness.

"Goodness, let me go," Senna said, resisting Nova. "I'm not a child anymore. You're embarrassing me..."

"Are you okay?" Nova asked again, still checking him.

"They hurt me, a little... These fierce ladies..." Senna shot a glare at Umi and Fuu. Umi returned the glare. Senna looked back at Nova with a scowl. "How could you be here?"

"It's not the time to discuss that..."

"Not the time?! Then what should we think of you now?!" Senna shouted, oblivious to the people around him. He suddenly became so furious, no longer hesitant to reveal everything in his heart. "Why didn't you and Shinre come while we waited for you?! You have no idea how worried we are! There are so many troops chasing us! We thought you are dead! But it turns out you betray us and join these people! You abandon us! How could you be so cruel to do this to us?!"

"Senna..."

Eagle was troubled witnessing the child's outburst. Troops chasing them? But it wasn't really like that. It was the troops sent by Ferio to search for Hikaru. Eagle didn't know how he should correct this misunderstanding. "There are no troops ordered to hunt magic swordsmen... You misunderstand..."

"Misunderstand?!"

"I'm sorry..." Nova said, full of guilt. There was something very important she needed to know. "I want to ask, how is your father—"

Senna immediately interrupted her, his rage at its peak. This time he roared, "You have no right to ask! What could you possibly do for my Father if he's already dead?!"

"What?" Nova was stunned.

"YES! FATHER IS DEAD!" Senna shouted, then broke down into sobs. "I hate you... I really hate you for leaving us like this..."

"Impossible… Not this soon..." Nova shook her head, unable to accept this. Nair should have had more time. She looked down at her hands, feeling the futility of all her efforts over the years to master the highest form of magical healing to help him recover.

"Father ordered us to bring Mother to Cephiro..." Senna said again between his sobs, his voice muffled. "... and to find someone named Clef. Please, bring Clef to me... He must help our mother..."

Everyone there froze, exchanging glances. Who was the mother? Hikaru?