Return.

We sliced through the clouds, rising into the morning glow of the sky.

The clouds glimmered like rippling waves. It was the start of a beautiful day, the beginning of gold, red, navy, and purple mingling in the sky.

Perhaps sensing my anxiety, Cain glances over his shoulder, giving me a wink.

Cain: Don’t worry. I won’t let you down.

Warmth engulfs my heart witnessing his easy, familiar smile. Cain’s broom starts to gain speed.

Cain: Hold on tight. Don’t worry about wrapping your arms around my waist. We might be going upside down.

Akira: U-Upside down? Are you sure I won’t fall…

Cain: Of course not! But it’s best to just take care to be safe, huh?

Akira: W-well! If we want to be positive, why don’t we just tie each other together with a seat belt?

Cain: While I’d love to, I’m afraid they’re coming to snatch you from me.

Cain: If you tie me down with a belt, I might get cut in half by their strength.

Akira: In half!?

Cain: Ah! Look out, here it comes!

My eyes flick up with a start. The sun, finally fully revealed, shines its brilliant light across the heavens and earth.

Simultaneously, Riquet cries out his spell.

Riquet: 《Sanretea Edif 》 !

Soft, white light overflows from Riquet’s lantern like a fountain.

Light illuminates the earth, brightening the deep gouges known as the Ravages of Oz.

As if in response to Riquet’s signal, pillars of light begin sprouting up across the morning scenery.

Riquet: I did it!

Riquet’s shoulders tremble with the joy of his success. But at that moment, Arthur’s sharp voice alerts him.

Arthur: Riquet! Behind you!

Riquet: Huh?

Riquet blinks as a mysterious door begins forming behind him in the sky.

It is Mithra’s specialty, his spatial teleportation magic.

Mithra: 《 Arthim 》

Arthur: Get down!

Riquet: …!

The moment the door bursts open, Mithra shoots out a fierce, blizzard from his magic, crystal skull.

Had Riquet not ducked, he would’ve been turned into a solid block of ice.

Not just Riquet, but also Cain, as he and I zoomed ahead of him.

Arthur: 《 Pernoctant Nixzo 》

But what had truly prevented Mithra’s icy attack was Arthur’s glowing shield.

Still overwhelmed by the sheer force of Mithra’s raw, magic power, he keeps his magical book open in his hand, slowing the momentum of the spell with a steely look in his eyes.

Mithra: Heh. Not so bad.

Arthur: …

Mithra: However, you’re still a thousand years too young to stand against me.

Mithra launches his skull into the sky. The skull’s jaw drops open, releasing an even more dastardly, freezing snowstorm.

Arthur is sent spiraling away on his broom.

Arthur: …! Wah-...!

Snow: Arthur!

White: Now, Mithra! We had told you to show restraint!

Mithra languidly smoothes back his hair, narrowing his demonic green eyes.

Mithra: How was I meant to know? The order was to capture the Master Sage.

Mithra: I’ll knock down any obstacle that stands in my way.

Dazzling light begins to collect around Mithra’s skull. I go pale, calling out Arthur’s name.

Akira: Arthur, are you alright!?

Arthur continues to tumble through the air before righting himself, standing upright on his broomstick.

Arthur: Not to worry, Master Sage! Cain, allow me to buy you some time! While I do that, head off with the Master Sage!

Cain: I will!

Cain’s broom dips down, gaining speed once more.

Arthur gives him a wry smile, his nerves creeping in, yet still appearing courageous. He turns back to Mithra, giving him a princely bow.

Arthur: Once more, let us have at it.

Mithra, who had begun to grow increasingly irritable, returns to Arthur with a faint smile.

Mithra: How amusing. Maybe it would be a good idea to crush Oz’s disciple on his own land.

Snow: Mithra! We had told you not to take it so seriously!

Arthur: Though I may lack experience, I cannot stand down after hearing you mention Sir Oz’s name.

White: Arthur, do not goad him on!

Mithra: 《 Arthim 》

Arthur: 《 Pernoctant Nixzo 》!

We continue to fly with the brisk, morning wind. I cling to Cain’s waist without hesitation, the broom coasting along at speeds intent on knocking me off.

Riquet: Master Sage! Cain!

Cain: Riquet! Where’s Arthur!?

Riquet: He’s fighting valiantly, but he can’t hold on for much longer!

Cain: Alright! I want to get some distance between them, but I worry if I go any faster, I’ll send you flying.

Akira: I-I’ll be okay I think, but if I fall… Will I die…?

Cain: I mean, if you fall into that chasm you certainly wouldn’t survive.

Riquet: I’ll try creating a distraction to buy you more time! Meanwhile, please hurry ahead!

Akira: Will you be okay, Riquet!?

Riquet: Yes, after all, I’m one of the Sage’s Wizards, too!

Cain: Got it! Just a little further, and they’ll be waiting for us! Till then, I’ll leave it to you, Rique–...

Mithra: 《 Arthim 》

Riquet: Gyaa–...!!

Riquet startles with a scream, a magical door materializing once more.

He smoothes out his frightened expression, raising his lantern against the door. He spits out his spell, releasing a blinding light.

Riquet: 《Sanretea Edif 》 !

Mithra: …Ugh, so bright… How irritating…

Mithra holds up his crystal skull defensively, squinting his eyes against the dazzling light.

In response, an indigo light swarms in the expanse of the skull’s eye socket.

The twins finally catch up to us, shouting out in a panic.

Snow: Bzzzzt! [1] Dearest Mithra, you have gone quite too far with our young wizards!

White: Far too rough! If you continue, even the Sage will freeze and shatter into fragments!

Mithra: So noisy…

With a displeased frown, Mithra obeys the twins and dissipates his magic skull.

Immediately after, with comet-like speed, Cain catches up and zooms to Riquet’s side in one fell swoop.

Riquet: Wah…!

Cain: …Hurry!

As I cling to Cain, I catch a glimpse of Mithra lingering behind us.

Cain grips the tip of his broom with one hand, the broom groaning with the strain of it, reaching out towards me.

At that moment, five fingers obscure my vision.

Murr: 《Eanul Rambul 》!

Rustica: 《Amorest Viesse》

Mithra: …!

Golden light begins to flicker across the sky like glittering stars.

In the midst of a spectacular, dizzying show of lights, my body seems to shrink from the effort of a mysterious force, being sucked away into oblivion.