『Another Beginning』

"Cursed child!"

"Answer when I'm asking, Hoshizawa-san!"

"You're useless."

These words echoed in the mind of a particular young girl. She stopped, the light of a monitor illuminating her teary eyes—resurfacing a painful memory.

"...I don't wanna go out."

She checked her phone—countless messages sprung forth, a mix of inquiry and concern.

This was Marika Hoshizawa, a shut-in. Her parents have recently passed away and she has been living with her Aunt—who was her only relative left in the vicinity.

"I-I can't—I can't take this anymore..." She began sobbing, the pain she had felt had reappeared.

"...Marika? I left dinner by the door." A soft voice knocked.

"..."

That was her Aunt, the only person that keeps supporting her even after a year of being a recluse. While that was the case, her Aunt had rarely seen her outside her room—though she didn't complain.

"Do you wanna run?" A voice echoed.

"...who?"

"Marika Hoshizawa—because of shutting yourself from society, you have developed a sort of hate for this world. This has led you to work primarily in the so-called "Cyber World" and is making a living out of it—though you had wished that things didn't turn out the way they did." A scholarly person said.

"...? Am I going to die...?"

"No, I'm merely giving you another chance of truly living."

"Truly living...?"

The mysterious person had come out seemingly out of thin air—though surprisingly, Marika did not react at all.

"Yes... that's right."

"But—how about Aunt Rina...?"

"Don't worry, I've already made arrangements. She'll be okay." She said softly, indicating that she meant no harm.

"Ah..."

"Then, let's get started."

As she said that, the child-sized scholar snapped her finger—making Marika glow. Surprisingly, she had not struggled and is accepting it wholeheartedly.

"This time, I hope you find what it is that you ought to seek..."

"..."

"...thank... you." A tear dropped from her face as she disappeared.

*Silence*

"...and may your soul be filled again."

<<----------->>

"Take care."

"Mhm, I'll be going. Are you sure you don't want to say anything to Carol?"

"About that... we don't often talk about sentimental things." Alexandra wryly laughed.

It seems that Astria and her elder sister, although they often talk to each other, have always not met eye-to-eye on the emotional aspect. It was not avoidable though, since Alexandra wouldn't understand her sister even if she tried—since she had worked more than anyone else and yet had always failed.

"Thanks again, for everything—and for finally opening Astria's heart when I could not." She continued.

"You're welcome."

"And I'm interested to see how you'll beat me in the future—or did you get cold feet from last night?" She mockingly grinned.

"Ahaha... only a bit." Naoki could only laugh embarrassingly.

Alexandra's power was no joke—if she wanted, she could obliterate Naoki with the snap of her finger. And Alicia Cliffheart, who was the 74th in the Soul Chart, was not able to beat her even after sacrificing everything in an all-out attack.

"Go, you still have a long way."

"Yeah, thank you for everything."

They exchanged a firm handshake, and bid their farewells. As Naoki headed for the town gate, Candice waved him goodbye—which he had returned.

"You're really going with us..." Astria sighed.

"Of course! Who knows what that peasant will do to you!"

"..."

Naoki had watched the scene unfold, it seems that Dorothy was going with them. They originally were suggested to go by carriage—but were rejected by Astria, it seems she had wanted to go by foot.

"Oh, Naoki, bid your farewells already?"

"Hmph! took you long enough, peasant!"

"Yes, your sister wanted me to give this to you." Naoki handed over a locket.

"...!"

"This is... mother's"

Inside was a photo of her mother, hugging both of her children—it seems that Alexandra had hidden it until now, as a keepsake. It was quite expensive to make too—artifacts that could take pictures were rare and could only be used by a specialist.

"Yeah, she told me that with this—you will always remember your family wherever you go."

"..." Astria softly smiled, looking at the locket.

"Hmm... sister can be such a "tsundere" sometimes."

"...how much did you unearth from my memory?" Naoki sighed.

"Hey, don't leave me out of this! What is a "tsundere"!?"

Choosing to ignore the extra entity, the two began walking—heading toward the spiraling tower in the distance. A majestic towering structure accompanied by the clear blue sky—truly the scene cannot be simply described by words. That was the duo's first step to becoming stronger and finally, it was starting—the start of their new beginning.

"Hey!!!" Dorothy chased after them.

<<----------->>

Meanwhile in that tower...

"Uwoah!!! Kaori-chan! Minami-Chan! Look at this!"

"This is fine, I am fine. It's going to be fine, right!?"

"This creature... cute," Minami said, hugging it.

Soaring through the air, the trio could be seen riding to what appeared to be gigantic ravens—feeling the breeze of the air inside the 7th floor of the Sky Tower. This was Dahlia Heathcliff's specialty, the art of conjuring—she has the ability to summon, project, and even make things disappear.

"Listen, everyone—Leanna and Janice will guide you with aerial combat. This is essential to learn if you plan to participate in the upcoming Youth Inter-Kingdom War."

"Mhm, I'll try my best!" Lydia stood, enjoying the breeze.

"This impossible! impossible!!!" Kaori held on for dear life.

"I like your fur... Torusuke." Minami rubbed her cheeks at her newly named friend.

"Let's get along today again, everyone!"

"Don't slow us down..."

It seems that in the Annual Zenia's Youth Inter-Kingdom War, various competitions will be held—including an Aerial Team Fight. While it was still several months away, the competition was no joke—which is why they are training so hard so that they can represent Lizea.

"Don't be like that Janice-chan, didn't we both promise to become heroes someday?" Lydia said with a smile.

"...! That was...! a long time ago..."

"Kaori... are you OK?"

"I'll be fine, I think." Kaori somehow regained her composure.

"Everyone! We're almost at the formation!"

The five began to scatter. As planned, they are to engage in an all-out 2-versus-3 fight—in the air. Aside from the Soul Formation that the Lizean Soul Inscriptors made, they have each been given a Soul Artifact that can protect them from any attack below the 20th Star Node—which none of them could achieve with their current level.

"That artifact also counts how many direct hits you have received and inflicted—which means that you should do any means to inflict hits on your opponent," Dahlia announced, about to start the match.

"You may begin!"

"Yes!" They all said in unison.