The surrounding scenery transformed into a silent ocean, bathed in the cold moonlight that shimmered across the mirror-smooth surface of the sea.
Fidelle stood on the shore, her gaze fixed on the water as if someone were there.
Seeing Lumine's arrival, she nodded slightly.
"You've come, Traveler. It seems I've fulfilled my final mission reasonably well."
Lumine opened her mouth to speak, but Fidelle raised a hand to stop her.
"After the victory, could you do me a favor?"
"Tell me, and I'll do it!"
"Please return to Fontaine and apologize to Lady Furina and Lady Focalors on my behalf. I've broken my promise again..."
Fidelle lowered her head, a hint of shame in her eyes. She had sworn she would...
Seeing Lumine nod, Fidelle continued, "Go forth, Traveler. May you cut through the thorns that block your path and protect those you hold dear, just as I once guarded my faith."
Her figure began to dissolve into shimmering particles of light. Before vanishing completely, she cast one last glance at Lumine, conveying silent approval.
The surroundings shifted once more.
-
The distant twilight painted the horizon in warm, orange-red hues, and the dry air carried an aura of serenity.
Ishkab stood atop a soft, crimson dune, her smile gentle and her eyes as tender as the evening breeze, as if she had been waiting here for a long time.
"Lumine, you've arrived."
Her voice was soft yet clear, possessing a magical quality that could soothe all anxiety.
"Seeing you reach this place safely... I'm truly overjoyed."
Ishkab stepped forward with light, graceful steps.
She gently raised her hand, making a gesture as if to caress Lumine's cheek, her eyes overflowing with pure, undisguised admiration and affection.
"This journey must have been incredibly arduous," she said, her voice full of understanding.
"But you've done remarkably well—far better than any of us could have imagined. Don't doubt yourself, Lumine. Your courage and kindness have already transcended all trials."
"We have nothing more to offer you, for all the beauty we possessed has already been illuminated by you throughout your journey."
Her voice grew more ethereal, yet her smile shone even brighter.
"So, please accept our first and final blessing."
"Carry the hopes and trust of all of us, and walk forward lightly."
"We will always be with you."
Amidst her gentle yet resolute encouragement, her figure dissolved into countless warm, golden specks of light, fading into nothingness.
-
All the background faded away, leaving only the purest, warmest light.
Angie stood at the center of the radiance, her figure clear and real, her face bearing a gentle, slightly apologetic smile.
"Silly Angie..." Lumine forced a smile. She didn't want to see Angie like this again, but she couldn't control her emotions.
Angie: "I'm sorry, Lumine, for letting you see me in such a wretched state at the end."
"But being able to guide you through your final steps... it truly makes me happy."
She stepped forward, her ethereal hand gently brushing Lumine's cheek, wiping away the tears that streamed down her face.
"Look, everyone's here. Our individual lights may be faint, but when gathered together, they're enough to illuminate your path forward—and enough to... awaken the slumbering Goddess who embodies 'Infinity' and 'Love'."
Her figure began to emit its most intense light, becoming dazzlingly radiant.
"We've never truly left. We've simply transformed into... the light in your world."
"So, Lumine, carry the blessings of us all—"
"Wake up."
In a final, dazzling burst of brilliance, Angie's figure dissolved into a massive, warm point of light, like a mother's hand gently nudging Lumine's consciousness back to reality.
-
Lumine returned to the massive flower bud, her gaze still somewhat dazed.
The light dust in the entire space around her suddenly blazed, like a constellation awakened from slumber.
The colossal Crystal Tree glowed intensely, cascading streams of pink light like a luminous waterfall.
Far from the Giant Pink Crystal Tree, Mavuika and Aether also noticed the change.
To them, only a few minutes had passed since Lumine vanished before their eyes and the tree began to transform.
Simultaneously, Mavuika realized that the energy that had previously prevented her from approaching had vanished...
"Let's go check it out!"
"Mm-hmm!"
-
Beneath the tree roots, where Lumine had touched moments before, a gentle ripple spread outward, quickly enveloping the entire flower bud.
Crack.
A distinct cracking sound echoed as a rift appeared at the bud's apex, followed by a web of fissures that spread like spiderwebs.
Pure, warm light streamed through the cracks, growing ever brighter.
The petals began to unfurl, one by one, slowly and gracefully.
With each petal's bloom, a whirlwind of luminous dust stirred, and the faint, ethereal melody in the air grew clearer, its tone both joyful and serene.
When the final protective petal gently drooped, the inner core was finally revealed to Lumine without reservation.
There was no coffin, no altar—only a radiant orb of the purest, warmest pink light, pulsing softly as if alive.
The light gradually coalesced and condensed, outlining a slender, graceful figure.
She hovered above the blooming flower's heart, her eyes gently closed, her long, pink hair cascading like a flowing starry river, drifting silently in both water and air.
A pristine white gown, adorned with delicate pink patterns, harmonized with the subtle hues in her hair.
Her features were otherworldly, perfect beyond mortal comprehension. Even in slumber, a gentle, mischievous smile curved her lips, as if she were dreaming of a world bathed in eternal beauty.
She was the Goddess slumbering here, the source of all these pink miracles.
Lumine stared at her, her heart swelling with an indescribable mix of emotions—sorrow, nostalgia, the relief of finally reaching the end of a long journey, and an overwhelming desire to awaken her.
The Goddess floated above the blossoming flower's heart, her long pink hair cascading like a flowing river of starlight.
Lumine stared at her, her heart swelling with an indescribable mix of emotions.
Just as Lumine reached out a trembling hand, about to touch her—
Those gently closed eyes, without warning, quietly opened.
They were eyes as radiant as pink crystals, as if they held the birth and death of stars, and... a gentle, all-knowing, and utterly mischievous wisdom.
Her gaze immediately locked onto Lumine, who stood mere inches away. The corners of her lips, already curved into a smile, tilted even higher, forming a vibrant, radiant grin that could make the entire world pale in comparison.
She tilted her head slightly, her hair cascading like liquid silk, and spoke her first words of reunion in a voice still drowsy and sweet from sleep:
"Ah... my dear Traveler, you've finally found me? How delightful!"
"Hmm... let me guess. You must have been waiting for this moment for a very, very long time, haven't you? After all, leaving such a lovely girl to slumber alone for so long is rather impolite, don't you think?"
"Don't worry. Even though I've been slumbering for ages, I still know everything that's been happening on this continent. From now on, you can leave it all to me."