After their initial argument, there was not a single word spoken between the two beings. The monster carefully observed the mage’s next steps. Its mind was clear on one thing. The moment she made a move, it would attack without a shred of mercy.
Having been on the other end of the blow, Saya knew well enough that she needed to stand still. Her magical gears whirled at a natural speed, slowly ramping up, but the monster seemingly allowed her to do that. It was absolutely clear that she wanted to see if the young mage was worthy of her words.
Clearly a win-win for the beast of nightmares. Even if Saya were to somehow evade or even defeat the monster, her mind and consciousness were still stuck between the thread of reality and this crafted dream world.
The wind howled, the breeze no longer feeling soothing, but a warning as to what death would feel like. The mage had to use something far stronger than simple arcane magic. Raw power managed to disable the beast before, but fully defeating it was a different story entirely.
However, Saya, who would normally be racking her brain for solutions by now, simply stared dully at the monster. She was at peace. Her breathing was steady, and there wasn’t even a tinge of anxiety coloring her guts.
She didn’t know why she felt so confident. On one hand, she deduced it might have been due to the fact that she now had someone to protect behind her. But on the other hand, she recalled her experience with her parents, Veronica, Kanami, and even Redus.
After entering this grassy field, she felt much more clear-headed, much more mature. She questioned earlier why she now possessed two arms, when she had clearly grown out of her child-like body. However, when the wind blew, everything started to click in her mind.
The deeper voice, the out-of-place hairstyle and color, and her height, which was a bit taller than her eighteen-year-old self. Using her self-deduction skills, it was clear to her that she was currently not in her present-time body, but rather the body of a thirty-year-old.
A thirty-year-old Saya Idlansil, a mirage of what would be possible in the future.
In a matter of hours, she had gone from waking up in a dream world with a child’s body to now being a fully grown adult. Sure, she was confused, but a part of her knew what kind of magic she, or Oktavia, had been using in the previous loops.
One glaring tell was from the mirages of her Soul Sight. She might have been wearing different clothes, had different hairstyles, but oddly enough, her age always remained the same. Was it because she set out on her journey roughly around the same time every loop?
Magic, a mystic used by all but not known by many. The most common techniques, used by even the most inexperienced or experienced mages, were those regarding the surrounding elements. Fireballs, ice shards, rock blasts. Those were the most basic of spells, while body manipulation, such as the one Rias used, was far more advanced.
But hidden behind that first layer of magic, there were spells that once defined an era.
The First Magic provided incomparable light.
The Second Magic manipulated dreams.
The Third Magic brought forth ancient scriptures into spells.
The Fifth Magic manifested concepts into reality.
And so on.
Throughout her journey, Saya had encountered these magical phenomena various times, such as Sulva’s curses, Lucia’s barriers, and even her own Lawflare Citadel spell. But now the true question lay in what the Eighth Magic was.
“Save the Eighth.”
It was a phrase that her past self, with countless lifetimes of experience, had told her. She never knew what it meant until now, but only one answer kept pounding in her head. If there was anything she had learned about magic during her stay in Yucu Saa, it was the fact that through visualization, everything was possible.
Pink threads, walls of light, and so much more were theoretically possible with the right amount of energy output. If she could see mirages of her previous loops, then that implied she had cast a spell of a certain caliber.
Saya’s magical gears now whirled audibly, making the monster’s finger twitch in preparation for her action.
Magic sparked. Reality froze.
And time flowed in opposing directions.
“Recall. Execute!”
Like turning on a switch, that simple string of words sent her magical gears into absolute overload. Immediately, her body started to feel the burn of such intense magic being produced and held together.
A magical circle appeared beneath her feet, rotating clockwise. At the same time, another appeared just behind her, spinning counterclockwise. Her visualization had not failed, and this was proof of it. All that mattered now was executing it efficiently.
But one fact kept her mind cool even in such a strained position. If she truly were in a dream world, then she had little to worry about regarding her physical state. Right now, she needed to focus on actually executing the spell correctly rather than worrying about the physical consequences that often came with casting a heavy spell.
Wind that once blew gently spun around the mage violently, encasing both herself and the monster in a tornado with razor-sharp knives. Her skirt and cloak flapped violently in all directions.
All the monster could see through its eyeless gaze was the mage’s soul shining brightly within her. Though Saya herself wasn’t aware, the monster knew this was an indication of one using their Soul Symphony.
Lifting its arm to retaliate, the monster swung as quickly as it could. With a single, steady breath, she sent the monster flying towards the wall of wind, cutting its back and leaving over a hundred marks. Like a ball, its large, uncanny frame bounced around the tornado, eventually being tossed out into the grassy fields.
Bolts of blue and white lightning shot forth from the pores of her skin, sending the cylindrical tornado into a static-filled explosion. Now that nature’s sounds were all but suppressed, both the monster and Uru heard loud hums piercing their eardrums like a thousand blades.
It was a combination of her two magical circles and her magical gears. With each passing second, the circles expanded into a wider radius.
There was no way to escape this strange world with sheer, raw power alone. Saya speculated this, but it had only been confirmed upon unleashing her magical energy onto the green fields. So, she would resort to distorting the world as much as possible.
Rewinding time required flow backward, while fast-forwarding time required it to flow forward. Therefore, by doing both at the same time, she would disrupt the natural flow of reality. It was a spell that would have been deemed impossible through normal means, but when a mage is capable of channeling the raw power of mana, nothing was out of reach.
Her body shifted from her adult self to her childlike self constantly in the span of quick blinks of an eye. The dream world, or perhaps the host, wasn’t sure how to perceive the powerful mage before them.
But Saya knew. She knew where she wanted to be, how old she wanted to be, and what she wanted her body to look like.
For so long, she wished to be older, to be mature enough to lead a life with responsibilities and mental security. But as she grew older into her late teens, she regretted not having cherished her time as a child more, not having appreciated all the years she had spent without worry with Albo by her side.
Every day of her life, she either looked forward or backward. But now, with the help of her loved ones, she wanted nothing more than to live in the present. No more idolizing the future, and no more regretting the past. She was going to be someone worthy of protecting Uru, someone worthy of being by Albo’s side, and someone worthy of making her parents proud.
Roaring, the monster leapt forward, unwilling to let this charade linger on for any longer. As it sped through the air like a bullet, smaller magical circles hovered above the mage’s skin, letting excess arcane energy out of her system like an exhaust.
The sheer amount that appeared was enough to startle the beast, forcing it to land on its feet and take a step back. A piercing sound akin to jet engines from the Third World disoriented the only two other individuals around her.
“Combine. Experience. Snap.”
Her voice echoed like it had come from someone ethereal. Her Soul Sight shone brightly as she started to see the threads of the dream world rise from the ground and fall from the sky. She could end this once and for all if she were to pull on them.
But… this wasn’t just a mission for her to leave this world, this was a mission to prove to the monster that she was, in fact, worthy to be by Uru’s side. So if she’s going to leave this reality, she’ll make sure to shatter it into pieces first.
As her body returned to her eighteen-year-old self, the right arm that she so very much cherished during her time in Yucu Saa started to vanish into thin air, as if being erased from reality. In its place, there were bright crackles of lightning shooting out from where her shoulder ended.
The hair on her head, which was often pure blue, started to turn white. From within her Soul Sight, Saya saw various individuals standing in the distance, just like she had twice before. But something was different this time.
Previously, they watched her in scorn, like they wanted to murder her for merely perceiving her. But now, the distant silhouettes emitted a cheerful aura, one that people often shared when congratulating someone.
Finally, the mage had found her true strength. No longer was she a weakened girl filled with anxiety, no longer was she an inexperienced mage with no idea how to cast a single spell, and most importantly, she was no longer living for the sake of others.
In response to her resolve and determination, the world itself answered her beck and call for power, granting it like it had for past versions of her before. The silhouettes seemed like they were congratulating Saya, because they were.
They were celebrating the birth of the Eighth Prime.
Taking a single step forward, reality started to shatter like glass. The monster was too shaken to move. With one fling of her left arm, the grassy lands disappeared entirely, the skies snapping from daytime to night as the three living beings stood in the middle of a destroyed Yucu Saa.
From her peripheral vision, Saya saw a small army just behind the barrier of the city, alongside Andalia. Her gaze then turned back to the main targets.
Bleached in complete white, the spell and transformation of the Eighth Prime had been completed. The arcane exhaust in her body grew more and more intense. Normally, such a powerful spell would be enough to scorch someone’s cells alive, but Saya had never felt more refreshed in her life.
She wouldn’t have been able to meet her parents if not for one person. She would not have been able to grow if not for one person. Despite everything, her heart, mind, and soul were dedicated solely to one person. The boy she loved with all her heart.
With a declaration, she gave a name to her greatest spell yet, one to mark her resolve.
(Albo, My Love)
“Eighth Canon: Albo, Amore Mio.”
Like a snap, her hair fully turned white, with the only hue of blue coming from the shine of her eyes.
Rushing in for an attack, the monster had every intention of punching a hole through the mage’s heart. It had gone easy on her before, but in this current state, she was far too powerful to offer even a single shred of mercy.
“Too slow!” she exclaimed, ducking out of the way. Then, winding back her left arm, she sprang a punch forward. The impact alone sent shockwaves across the city, rippling the barrier of darkness violently.
The monster’s impenetrable skin squished under the weight of her fist as it was sent backwards at an incalculable speed. As the monster pierced through multiple buildings, clouds of brown smoke filled the air.
Leaping onto the top of the pyramid, the monster cast its greatest spell available at its disposal.
“DREAMFALL DOMINION!”
And still, this wasn’t anything Saya hadn’t seen before. Uru, who was on the ground a few feet behind him, curled into a ball in fear. The magical energy shooting out from where her missing arm was flung towards the boy, casting a miniature version of the Lawflare Citadel shield to protect him from any harm.
Then, she swung her left arm horizontally, sending out an arc of pure arcane energy, clearing the skies of raining darkness in the blink of an eye. Now, it was her turn to take the offensive. Bending her leg, she leapt forward.
The sheer energy bursting from her caused an explosion from where she once stood. Had it not been for her shield, Uru would have been crushed into a million pieces of human meat.
It was too fast, even for the Second Prime. Before it could even perceive her speed, she was close to its face, closing in for another punch. She slammed the beast onto the ground, causing an earthquake.
Sulva, who had been unconscious next to the pyramid, woke up just in time to avoid the incoming falling debris. In only a few punches, the entire structure that was once the pride and joy of Yucu Saa had been demolished.
Though the army beyond the barrier assumed it was simply the result of battle, Saya had intentionally destroyed the structure in revenge for the young boy who would have been slaughtered there.
Eventually, the two landed squarely in the middle of the city.
There was no escape and no way to hide. Her Soul Sight eliminated all need to have clear vision of her opponent, and her sheer strength made it impossible for the monster to retaliate with force. So with no other option, it resorted to one final combat technique. Words.
“IF THOU LOSE THY LIFE, WHO SHALL KEEP MASTER SAFE?”
“THOU HAST ONLY JUST FOUND THY RESOLVE.”
“HOW CANST THOU HOPE TO KEEP HIM SAFE?”
“WHAT GUARANTEE IS THERE THAT HE SHALL BE SAFE?”
“THE FIFTH PRIME IS DANGEROUS. ONLY I CAN KEEP HIM SAFE!”
Saya glared at the beast, raising her fist in annoyance and frustration.
“I don’t freaking know! I’ve never been a mom, and I’ve never taken care of any kids!”
“But if there’s anything I can do, I'll try my best!”
“Because that’s how my parents raised me!”
“HOW NAIIVE!”
The gray skin from the beast cracked like eggs, sending out waves of darkness-infused missiles towards the young mage. They were denser and stronger in power, having been created from the concept of nightmares itself.
As such, Saya couldn’t swat these away like the mud. So instead, she charged forward with all her might, dodging to the best of her ability. She was moving at speeds she would never have imagined before, but for some reason, it all felt extremely natural to her, like she had been doing this for years and years.
Her mind felt connected with not only her body and soul, but the willpower and knowledge of all the Saya Idlansils that had come before her. She didn’t want to say it, since the name sounded extremely lame.
But she was now the Eighth Prime Oktavia.
“THEN HOW WILT THOU DEFEAT QUINTELLA? HOW WILT THOU SAVE THIS WORLD FROM PERIL ONCE MORE? THOU HAST FAILED COUNTLESS TIMES, WHAT MAKES THIS ONE DIFFERENT?!”
Saya stopped right in her tracks, staring directly at the monster, who was only fifty feet away from her. The name he had called out immediately brought her back to the conversation she had with Sulva.
From the limited information that she knew, it was clear that this Quintella person was someone to be fearful of. If a monster capable of creating entire illusionary worlds was anxious about their appearance, then it was clearly no joke.
But right now, she didn’t care.
“STOP ASKING QUESTIONS!” she stomped her feet furiously.
“I don’t have all the answers!” Resuming her sprint, she channeled all her magical energy into her missing right arm. A thick bolt of lightning shot forward in response to her summons, ready to take any shape its master desired.
“BUT YOU’RE BEING SUPER ANNOYING, SO JUST GO AHEAD AND DIE!”
The jagged lightning straightened into a beam. Using nothing but pure visualization and mana control, she commanded the arcane energy forward, sending out her most powerful Gravefire Cataclysm to date.
Everything around them melted. The ground, the homes, and even the air itself felt like it was on the verge of being set ablaze. Having been hit at point-blank range, it took only a few seconds before the monster’s body dissolved into nothingness.
Light from her magical attack blinded everyone within a ten-mile radius, shining brighter than the sun itself. Andalia could only watch in awe, as she had met someone capable of channeling such raw, powerful magic and not explode into a million pieces.
To her, this was a far more rewarding experience than anything the world could offer her. Her tail wagged in excitement, as the urge to question the mage kept growing stronger and stronger. Uru, on the other hand, felt a sense of warmth upon seeing the being that tried so hard to protect him had perished.
Despite being under its care, there was a tugging joy he felt, knowing that no matter who won, he would remain in good hands. For the first time in his life, he felt wanted and loved. He had always yearned for it, but never expected it to come from someone he barely knew anything about.
When the light subsided, there was nothing standing in Saya’s path. The monster had all but erased itself from reality, and the barrier had slowly begun to fall. Panting heavily, Saya drew in as much air into her lungs as possible. Her magical gears slowed down, and the circles surrounding her body faded away.
Having strained her Soul Sight too much, she took a deep breath, deactivating it. She then turned around, scanning the destruction that she had caused. In a way, she was relieved that nobody had gotten hurt.
Before she could walk towards Uru, she heard a faint voice coming from the ground. Turning her head, she faced the last remnants of the monster, now reduced to nothing but a shadow. Or was this shadow its true form all along?
“Eighth Prime.”
“I have doubted thee, and I shall continue to doubt thee as I linger upon the Manastream.”
“I still believe thou art not the proper fit for my master.”
“But victory is thine.”
Standing tall, Saya replied, “I don’t know why you’re worried about other people so much. But there’s one thing you’re sorely mistaken about.”
“You thought you could keep Uru safe because you’re eternal and because you’re powerful. But what that boy really needs is someone to be present, someone to listen to him talk and give him a chance to be himself.”
“Your dream world wasn’t a bad idea. But it’s not what he needs.”
“He’s in good hands.”
With her final words, the shadow cracked a smile of resignation as it faded into the night sky. The moonlight gleamed brightly over the city of Yucu Saa, giving not only Saya newfound hope for the future, but also Uru.
The white hair on her head faded back into its natural color, as the magic in her body slowly subsided.
She jogged towards the boy, and he did the same towards her. In a matter of seconds, they leapt into each other’s arms for an embrace. It all still felt weird to Saya, but in a way, it was like she found a long-lost younger brother. Someone to protect like family.
Perhaps this was the true gift. She missed her family so much that the world decided to give her a new one. Although she loved Albo with all her heart, there was a difference between the kind of love that she felt for him and the kind she felt for family.
“I’ll give it to you, you’re quite the mage.” a deep, male voice called out from behind. Dusting his clothes off, Sulva approached Saya and Uru with a smile. Naturally, having been attacked by him before, Uru stepped in front of Saya, raising his arms in defense.
With a glare, he shouted out, “Don’t come close to her!”
Saya felt a bit taken aback, and admittedly, was a bit happy that he was reacting in that way. Brushing his hair, Saya stepped forward, standing in between Uru and Sulva.
Striking a confident pose, she asked, “well? Your part of the deal?”
With a chuckle, Sulva snapped his fingers, a black and red jolt of electricity sparking for a split second.
“There. Your friend should be free now.”
Excitement overcame Saya as she had to force herself to maintain her cool. In reality, all she wanted to do was leap around uncontrollably, shouting with joy at the fact that she had just completed her mission. All she needed to do now was return back to Atrila as soon as possible.
Her eyes gazed up into the sky, relief settling into her chest. It was finally over. She had worked so hard to achieve this goal, and for a moment, there was a real threat that Albo might never be saved. But now, she could go back and lead a somewhat normal life.
“Finally. I can relax.” she sighed out.
Uru watched her with a smile, grateful to have met such a kind woman. He didn’t know what the future held for him, but he was excited to face it with someone who seemed so genuine with her words.
With the barrier subsiding completely, the small army that Andalia had gathered sprinted towards the trio. Having seen the entire battle, they weren’t in the least bit concerned that they were faced with antagonistic forces.
Upon catching up, Saya was bombarded with gratitude. It turned out the ordinary soldiers with families would have much rather not fought a beast defying all human comprehension for anatomy. It was strange, but it felt like for the first time in her life, Saya was getting a happy ending that she longed for.
…
From the vast, open skies, a glimmer of silver shone under the gleaming moonlight. Hissing through the air, a purple chain flung towards the band of soldiers. Like a snake moving at super sonic speeds, it masterfully weaved in-between every body that wasn’t its target.
Two wet, splintering sounds echoed in the air. The cracking of bones and squishing of organs was something Saya had grown all too familiar with during her journey. Which is why, the moment she heard the noise, she checked her own body to see if she had gotten injured anywhere.
It wasn’t until she heard the familiar voice of a young boy, did she realize who those impact sounds belonged to.
“S-Saya…” Uru called out, slowly looking down at his chest. Blood poured out from his mouth, seeping through between his teeth. No matter how hard he tried to contain it, the metallic tang triggered a gag reflex, making him cough the rest of it out.
A hole now took space where his heart once was.
Kicking into action as fast as she could, Saya pushed through the group of soldiers, making her way towards Uru as quickly as possible. Still, the truth remained that there were two splinters.
There wasn’t any need for Saya to even deduce who the second victim was, as the shocked gasps coming from the soldiers told her the answer immediately. She looked over her shoulder slightly, only to see Sulva had suffered the same condition as Uru.
Upon reaching the boy, Saya got on her knees and scrambled frantically to find a way to save the boy. She tried cupping the boy’s injuries at first, and then attempted to call for a doctor. No matter how distracted she was, the sparkle in the sky caught her attention nonetheless.
Saya snapped her head upward, only to see the silhouette of a short girl with unreasonably long, straight hair.
“Ahhhhh~”
“I missed you so much, Ocky.”
A high-pitched, screeching voice spoke in a delighted tone, with everyone around practically being able to hear the drool seeping in between her teeth.
As life faded from Sulva’s eyes, he muttered the name of his murderer. The person that he looked up to for so long, the person that he admired and worshipped as a leader, had just punctured a hole in his chest.
“Quintella.”