Return.

Arthur:....! This is Master's Oz's room!?

Riquet: He teleported us to his room! That's completely unfair!

Shino: Wah...!

Heathcliff: This is...!?

Arthur:People keep rapidly appearing…

Cain: Arthur!? Riquet!?

Rutile: Wah...!

Mitile: That was so scary!! I thought I was struck...!?

Chloe: Waaaah! So frightening...!

Lennox: Ah.... This place is...

Rutile: Mister Leno!

Arthur:So Lennox wasn’t hit either?

Heathcliff: …! But Nero isn’t here…

Riquet: Would Oz truly go easy on Nero and let him escape?

Lennox: He did strike Figaro though…

Everyone: …

Shino: Anyone wanna make a bet?

Nero: … Ngh, made it…!

Riquet: Here he is.

Healthcliff: I’m so glad you’re safe, Nero.

Nero: Oh, thank God! Safe at the kids’ table~

Lennox: The kids’ table, huh…

Cain: The kids’ table…

Arthur:Master Oz, how disappointing… I wanted to engage with you properly.

Cain: Uh, isn't that exactly what he's avoiding?

Heathcliff: While I'm thinking about it, while we were in the training exercise, did anyone else sense any other wizards left behind?

Shino: Did you?

Chloe: I didn't notice anyone.

Nero: I mean, if Heath says so, maybe someone else was still there.

Lennox: Will they be the ones left to endure Oz’s power…

Shino: I can’t decide if that’s good or bad luck...

Oz: << Vox Nox>>

Murr: … Uu, mrow…!

???: W-wow…

???: Incredible…

???: Or rather… Terrifying…

???: …

???: However… I think I’ve seen them before… That person…

???: At last… What happened between us… I can finally settle it…

???: Alright. Keep pushing on…

???: …! Hn… Hngh…

???: Better stop for a bit…

Kanaria: Ah…! Lord Drummond, it seems like they’ve returned.

Drummond: Oh, I’m relieved to hear they’re safe. I can’t see them in the sky anymore, but where could they be?

Kanaria: Well… For whatever reason, they seem to be in Lord Oz’s room in the Manor…

Drummond: …? What do you mean? After the training exercise, weren’t they meant to return to the forest nearby?

Kanaria: I suppose there was a change of plans…

Drummond: Those wizards, always changing their minds. Nevermind then.

Kanaria: Not everyone is here though, so they might be going back to the forest.

Drummond: I see. I guess we will continue waiting. Though, there seems to be quite a few nuts knocked from the trees, isn’t there?

Kanaria: It sure does look like it. Sometimes, I gather them up to make sweets.

Drummond: Ah, I see. I bet the Master Sage would enjoy that. Where I’m from, we use those nuts to make–

Vincent: Drummond.

Drummond: Lord Vincent!

Kanaria: Lord Vincent! You seem to be doing... Well.

Vincent: Enough of the trivialities. I must return to the Royal Castle.

Drummond: But weren't you going to see Master Sage and Prince Arthur?

Vincent: Mm. It appears their training is running late. Looking at the sky, I still see no sign of the wizards.

Drummond: Indeed...

Kanaria: Yes, indeed…

Kanaria: Um, Lord Vincent! Actually–

Drummond: Kanaria, quiet.

Kanaria: But…

Drummond: It’s a little complicated…

Kanaria: Quite.

Vincent: What are you two talking about?

Drummond: It’s a difficult situation…

Vincent: Speak up.

Drummond: Ha…

Drummond: Kanaria, explain.

Kanaria: Several of the wizards have returned to Master Oz’s room in the Manor.

Kanaria: But some didn’t come back.

Drummond: We believe they mayreturn to the forest as planned.

Kanaria: That’s the situation.

Vincent: This iscomplicated.

Kanaria: As I was trying to say.

Drummond: Kanaria!

Kanaria: Um, as Drummondwas trying to say.

Vincent: What?

Drummond: As I said... Now, how should I put it, erm, will you be returning to the Royal Castle then?

Vincent: That is my intention, yes.

Drummond: Ah, then take care on your return.

Kanaria: Please be safe heading back.

Vincent: Mm.

Vincent: Actually, Drummond. Be sure to discuss with that wizard the matter we talked about.

Drummond: Understood.

Vincent: Well, I will be taking my leave.

Drummond and Kanaria: …

Drummond: Now things have gotten really complicated, huh?

Kanaria: Quite complicated. What did he mean by the wizard you should talk to?

Drummond: Well, about that…

Oz: << Vox Nox>>

Snow: Goodness me…

White: It seems we are finally back.

Shylock: Murr, shall we return to bed?

Murr: I love sleepin’ in!

Rustica: As do I. Yawn…

Akira: I’m glad to be back with Sakitty… Ah, it’s Drummond and Kanaria.

Drummond: Master Sage! I’m so glad to see you safe!

Mithra: << Arthim>>

Owen: This is the worst.

Cock Robin: … Phew, I’m glad everyone’s home!

Kanaria: Welcome back, dear.

Faust: Quite an informative training session. What of Bradley?

Snow: It appears he has not yet returned.

White: I expect to see him soon.

Figaro: Master Sage, you must be exhausted after all this. I’m happy you made it out without a scratch.

Akira: Thank you.

Having returned using Mithra’s magic, Figaro examines me with a smile. His injuries from the lightning strike seem to have healed.

Though we failed to surpass the metaphorical impenetrable wall, I was able to witness the growth of the Sage’s Wizards.

Drummond: How was the training?

Cock Robin: Absolutely amazing! I could barely keep up writing down all my notes!

Drummond: I wasn’t asking you, I was asking Master Sage!

Akira: Oh, um…

Upon being asked of the results of the training, I couldn’t help but be honest.

Akira: I’m glad to be alive.

Drummond: Master Sage…

Akira: No! Er, I mean, it was still fun. It might’ve been really stressful and my heart was beating out of my chest, but…

The scenes from before flashed through my mind. Racing through the sky on their broomsticks, surrounded by great flashes of magic.

The pale, expansive moonlight.

Those shimmering, multicolored stones as they rained down across the horizon.

Akira: Um, well… I’ll tell you all about it properly when the other wizards come back…

Akira: But I feel like we’re closer to defeating the Great Calamity now.

Drummond: Oh my! What powerful words! I feel like you’ve shown us the path to hope!

I smiled awkwardly, but it gradually grew into a genuine grin.

Akira: (All the wizards worked incredibly hard.)

Akira: (Even if everyone living together was difficult at first, we actually pulled off the joint training session.)

Akira: (We can win this. We will save this world… But first, I have to believe in them.)

I believed in this hopeful future. Whether it ended up good or bad, I wasn’t sure.

Perhaps someone more wise would be able to see the treacherous path ahead.

But if I lose hope, everyone else will follow.

Because truly unstoppable problems may accrue due to our despair.

We will take these steps forward, celebrate our progress, and cherish our time together.

Akira: Everyone truly gave their best effort. Cock Robin, thank you for taking the time to document the training session.

Cock Robin: No problem at all, Master Sage! I’ll be sure to give you a full briefing once I finish the report.

Drummond: I’ll be looking forward to it. I will alert Lord Vincent as well. Thank you so much, Master Sage.

Akira: Not at all! Everyone, thank you.

With that, the training session had finally reached its end. I let out a sigh of relief, letting my eyes wander across the surrounding forest.

The early morning breeze cascaded across the lush trees. Sunlight glimmered on the fallen leaves and grass below, dappling them golden.

Enchanting crimson berries hung from purple ivy, perfuming the air.

There were birds singing, sounds of morning dew dripping into puddles, the fluttering of wings nearby.

A creature, no bigger than the palm of my hand, skittered across the branches and vanished.

Somewhere, there was the sound similar to tiny crystals falling from great heights.

The morning forest was teeming with the promise of life.