Epilogue – The Midnight Stars

In the Grand Royal Palace of Selvenia. A woman looked towards the sky. She had long silky black hair and had a flawlessly beautiful face that currently wore the innocent expression of wonder as she observed the stars.

"I wonder, why are stars only visible at night? Do you know? Prim?"

The maid who stood beside her, Prim answered. "Is that not because the night is dark, your highness?"

The girl, who was apparently a princess, smiled at her answer and spoke with agreement. "Yes, indeed! It is because the night is dark. When it is dark, all that shines are beautifully bright, are they not? Prim?"

"Yes. That is so, your highness."

The girl's smile deepened from the agreement of her maid. She then muttered.

"I wonder...in these dark times, will a star show up and enlighten people with its light? Or will darkness consume the world?..."

The maid who heard her muttering, didn't answer, and silence came. It continued as the girl continued to observe the stars.

◇◇◇

"Huh?! What do you mean Lancell's gone?!" Rayle exclaimed.

The next morning, after the group had woken up, Lina went to Lancell's room after Ludivine informed that she couldn't fell Lancell's presence.

And the moment she opened his door after knocking, she saw the room empty as she saw a note written

'I'm going somewhere far. Don't wait for me.'

The note sounded stupid, but it was on point and blunt. Something that sounded like Lancell's style. He went at his own pace, and left in the same manner.

And as she notified the group, they were surprised, and some was shocked.

"T-Then...Does that mean he left us? Even Lina?" Argos asked.

"Huuh?! W-Wait, Lina's just joking right?! She's just getting back on us after the teasing yesterday, right?!" Sally was a bit unnerved as she spoke loudly.

Everyone then looked at Lina as if they wanted her to retract the statement, but Lina shook her head.

"I'm not joking."

But that one statement shattered all their hopes.

Siri, who was silent the entire time, finally spoke.

"Lina, why do you look so...calm? I mean, he left you know?"

"Well, somehow, I got the feeling that Lancell was going to leave sooner or later so..."

Lina, who was the only non-combatant in their group, was the one with most free time. Unlike when others were training, she mostly just practiced her mana control.

And due to her too much free time, she would occasionally observe Lancell and his personality.

Lancell had an expressionless face most of the time, but if one looked at his eyes and brows carefully, they would move depending on his mood.

His brows would unnoticeably twitch when surprised, his gaze would sharpen when angry, his pupil would dilate a bit when distracted, and it would narrow when shocked, and much more.

And from her observations from Lancell recently, she somehow had an inkling that Lancell was planning to leave, and that thought was reinforced when she saw him again yesterday after he returned.

"...I guess I already knew he would leave last night." Lina added.

Everyone went silent at Lina's words. They had a lot of questions they want to ask, but who would they ask? Even Rebecca, Lancell's mother, didn't know anything and felt like an outsider in this group of children.

And so, their morning started with an empty feeling.

◇◇◇

Three days later.

Shin had finally woken up from the aftereffects of Heroic Desperation, but the first thing he asked was...

"...Teacher...Did he leave?..."

...ask if Lancell had left.

Siri who was beside him asked in surprise.

"How'd you know?"

"...I just...felt it...his impatience...during the fight..."

Siri lowered her head as she only said. "I see..." She than shifted the topic.

"Are you okay?"

"...Yeah..."

And that was it. Silence took place as it then continued for a while, until Shin looked outside and spoke.

"...I heard it..."

Siri was confused by what he meant, but Shin continued.

"...what he wanted from us... I heard it...I felt it from how he fought..."

Siri's eyes shrank slightly as she then asked. "What exactly is it?"

"...I don't know..." Shin answered as he paused, and then continued. "...But he seemed afraid..."

"...He was afraid of it...and wanted us to fight too..."

Siri was shocked. Something that made even Lancell afraid? Does something like that exist? Lancell was a person who had never even flinched at the sight a sword coming directly to his forehead, but he was afraid of something?

A bad premonition rose in Siri's chest as she leaned her head into Shin's chest.

◇◇◇

The Great Divide

A vastly wide canyon that was separated for several hundred meters apart, and it stretched far as its length was said to divide the continent in half.

It was unknown if this massive gash on the world was naturally formed or a result of powerful force, but it was a geographical landmark that separated two kingdoms apart.

And now, this several hundred meter wide canyon was being challenged by two people. Correction; one person and one sword.

It was Lancell and Arkenvalle. After sneaking out and leaving with barely any notice, they were now several dozens of kilometers away from Oaken Town and have reached the Great Divide. And were now planning to cross it.

("Well, How is it, Valle?") Lancell asked his trusty sword.

("Hmm...reckless. Is there even meaning in jumping over it?")

("Can't you just read my mind?")

("I tried. But you're mind is subconsciously rejecting me.")

("I see. Then I guess I'll tell you. Actually, this is one of the things I've always wanted to do.")

("Adolescence?")

("...")

("Fine... suit yourself, idiot.")

Lancell grinned a childish grin as he ran back a hundred meters.

"Here goes!!!"

Lancell then sprinted towards the canyon at full speed. Void Wind Guidance was activated, Arkenvalle was materialized, and Void Step was prepared just to make a short distance jump in case they needed to.

The moment Lancell reached the edge of the canyon, he jumped with all the strength he could as the place where he jumped broke off while Lancell flew in the air.

He rode the winds as he used Void Wind Guidance to push himself forward.

("We're almost there! Valle!")

("How childish...")

("...")

Lancell then estimated where he would land and used Void Step to adjust accordingly.

And the next instant

BOOOM!

An explosion resounded as another person had conquered the Great Divide.