Araumi was vast.
For ordinary people, clearing it out would've been a nightmare.
For gods, it was just a workout.
Even with her modified Gliders, Charlotte couldn't keep up with divine speed.
She followed behind Qiqi's team instead, Kamera in hand, watching them transform into magical girls and effortlessly wipe out monsters.
"Amazing…" she whispered, lowering the Kamera, eyes shining.
A moment later, admiration hardened into resolve.
Mona had read her fortune not long ago.
If nothing went wrong, Charlotte herself had the potential to become a magical girl someday.
"If Mr. Xia gives everyone massages tonight," she murmured to herself, "I'll ask him about it then…"
She resumed taking photos.
Soon after, she noticed Qiqi and the others had stopped.
"What happened?" she asked, descending beside them.
"We ran into some treasure hoarders," one of the girls replied. "We're figuring out what to do."
Unlike monsters, human enemies couldn't simply be slaughtered on sight.
"We should determine whether they've committed serious crimes," another said. "If they're beyond redemption, we'll eliminate them. If not, we'll deliver them to the city prison."
"Got it. But how do we tell which is which?"
Qiqi raised a small hand. "I can."
Everyone turned toward her.
A soft white light gathered in her palm, drifting toward the unconscious men on the ground.
First-tier Light-element spell: Detect Evil.
The spell had no offensive power. It simply revealed guilt—those steeped in wickedness glowed with blood-red light, the shade deepening with the weight of their sins.
Charlotte watched, wide-eyed, as the aura of evil flared visibly around several of the men.
Fontaine was a nation that prided itself on justice.
But that didn't mean justice was always delivered.
She'd seen too many cases where even the guilty stood unpunished—men who could hide behind the theater of trials and the glamour of duels.
If only…
If only every law enforcer in Fontaine could use Detect Evil like Qiqi just had—
Then not even the most powerful could escape judgment through legal trickery.
A voice stirred inside her heart.
Journalism can't save Fontaine.
Only a magical girl can.
And not just any magical girl—A Light-type one.
The kind who could truly bring justice to the world.
---
In Inazuma City, Zhu Zi sat at her desk, writing briskly.
Her ideas were still flowing, the words coming easily.
Beside her, Rii lounged with a phone, absorbed in a mobile game.
Suddenly, the desk began to tremble.
At first, Zhu Zi thought Rii was just shaking her leg.
Then the floor, chairs, cabinets—even the bed—all started to quake.
"Is this… an earthquake?"
She froze for half a second before grabbing Rii's hand and bolting outside.
On the street, dozens of people had already fled their homes, panic on their faces.
The shaking continued.
Zhu Zi looked toward Araumi's direction.
The tremors seemed to be coming from there.
Wait—why did this feel familiar?
She frowned, a flash of memory surfacing. The night she'd visited Cloud Retainer's abode back in Liyue… there'd been an earthquake then too.
Later, she'd learned it was caused by Azhdaha breaking his seal.
And Azhdaha was here in Inazuma now.
...Don't tell her he was behind this one too.
---
Afternoon sunlight filtered through the canopy.
After finishing their patrol route, Collei, Lumine, and Paimon returned to Gandharva Ville.
"I'm so tired…" Paimon groaned weakly.
Lumine gave her a flat look. "You didn't even do anything."
"I totally did! I was helping the whole time!" Paimon shot back, puffing out her cheeks.
Collei was used to their bickering by now. She just smiled softly and headed toward the kitchen to brew Lumine's medicine.
As she passed Tighnari's treehouse, she noticed someone standing at the door — Amir, one of the forest rangers.
"Amir," Collei greeted.
He turned around. "Oh, Collei. Hey."
"What brings you here?"
"I came to report to the ranger captain, but he's not back yet, so I'm waiting."
Collei noticed the anxious look on his face. "Did something happen?"
Amir's tone was grave. "We just found a Withering Zone."
Collei froze. "A Withering Zone? But the area your team patrolled was cleared just last week! How could it reappear so soon?"
He nodded grimly. "Yeah. It's in the depths of the ravine ahead. The growth has nearly blocked off the narrow path, so we rushed back to get the captain."
"What's the radius?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Couldn't get close enough to see clearly. None of us have Visions, and we think it might still be expanding, so we didn't dare approach."
Collei frowned. "I see… Master said he might run into a Withering Zone on his route too. If that's true, he won't be back anytime soon."
Amir sighed helplessly. "Then there's nothing we can do but wait. These Withering Zones are appearing more and more often lately…"
After they parted ways, Collei went to the kitchen, finished brewing the medicine, and brought it to Lumine.
Lumine grimaced when she saw the bowl, but still forced herself to drink it.
Paimon hovered anxiously. "How do you feel, Traveler?"
Lumine took a sip of water to chase away the bitterness. "A little better, I think."
Collei quietly took the bowl and said, "Lumine, Paimon, I need to go out for a bit."
They both looked surprised. "Huh? But we just got back from patrol. You're going out again?"
"Something came up," Collei explained. "Another ranger team found a Withering Zone they can't handle. Master isn't here, so I need to check it out."
"Withering Zone?" Lumine echoed.
Collei nodded. "Yeah, the thing I mentioned before."
Paimon looked worried. "But that's dangerous, isn't it?"
"Exactly why I have to deal with it quickly," Collei said seriously. "They said it's still expanding. If we leave it alone, the whole area will die."
Lumine frowned. "But you told us you've never dealt with one before…"
"I haven't," Collei admitted, "but Master taught me what to do if it ever happened. Don't worry."
"How could we not worry?" Lumine muttered.
Collei suddenly smiled.
"Collei…" Lumine blinked.
"I'm just… really happy," she said softly.
"Huh?"
"Having friends who care about me like this—it means a lot."
"That's not the point!"
"You don't get it," Collei said, shaking her head gently. "Anyway, don't worry. I promise I'll come back safe."
She said it so earnestly that Lumine could only sigh before standing up. "Then I'm coming with you."
Collei looked stunned. "What?"
"I don't have a Vision," Lumine said, "but I can still use elemental powers."
"And I'm going too!" Paimon declared.
Collei looked at the two of them, determination shining in their eyes.
At that moment, she finally saw them not just as companions, but as people she could truly rely on.
Her smile deepened. "Alright. Let's go together."
With her current strength, she didn't actually need their help—but their sincerity warmed her heart.
It was only a Withering Zone. If they were going to travel through Sumeru, they'd have to face one sooner or later. Better for them to experience it now, under her protection.
Even if Lumine collapsed again, she could carry them both back safely.
"Let's move!"
"Yeah, let's go!"