"Yuri, my child, have you had another nightmare?"
Kneeling in the silent, dark, and starlit church graveyard, Ymir gently caressed a low tombstone, his eyes filled with only love and sorrow.
"Forget about that thing, quickly... That broken and ugly thing..."
"I'm sorry..."
As if recalling a painful memory, Ymir's voice trembled.
"I couldn't bring you into this world healthy and whole. I am not yet capable of being a mother, but I can always stay by your side. Now, go to sleep, my child. When you awaken again, I will make this world a better place for you..."
From the shadows within the church, the night warrior Jolan silently watched her adoptive father, Ymir, through the open doorway. Her heart ached for Ymir's sorrow and burned with frustration over her powerlessness.
Why was her father helping and teaching those two foreign divine sisters? Was it because they would one day aid his cause? Or was it...
Jolan fell into deep contemplation alone. But neither her younger sister, Anna, nor her adoptive father, Ymir, could answer the doubts in her heart.
Her adoptive father—her guiding star—had rescued her and her sister from an endless night, raising them with patience and love. In return, Jolan and Anna willingly became Ymir's blades, his protectors, the night swords guarding his radiance.
For many years, the sisters had repelled countless enemies who harbored ill intentions toward Ymir, eliminating various threats. However, ever since Ymir arrived in the Land of Shadows, leaving behind Ensis Castle to begin his research at the Cathedral of Manus Metyr, he had frequently fallen into gloom.
Ymir had buried the remains of his deceased child beside the church, often standing alone in the graveyard, speaking softly to the child. As Ymir's foster daughter, Jolan did not attempt to feel jealous of the departed Yuri, yet human emotions were not so easily controlled.
Her rational mind told her that envying the deceased Yuri was an ugly and base emotion. But witnessing Ymir's overwhelming sorrow still stirred something indescribable within her.
"I hope those two sisters do a good job," Jolan thought to herself. At the very least, when he teaches them magic, Ymir seems happy. During those moments, my guiding star does not dwell on the memories that dim his light.
...
By the time Aoko and Touko had completed their task of ringing the central hanging bell at the Finger Ruins and returned to the Cathedral of Manus Metyr, the sky had already darkened.
Above, aside from the faint golden glow lingering on the Shadow of Erdtree, only the ancient starlight—held motionless by some powerful force—illuminated this mist-shrouded land.
Stepping into the cathedral, Aoko and Touko noticed that the once-cluttered interior had been tidied and restored by Aoko's Unseen Servant spell. The grand and majestic building now felt more alive than before.
Aoko glanced toward the cathedral's center, expecting to see Ymir seated in his usual high-backed chair, immersed in thought. But he was absent. Among his two guardians, only Jolan stood leaning against a pillar, silently watching them.
"Hello!" Aoko greeted with a cheerful wave. "Is Priest Ymir not here? We've finished our task."
Jolan did not reply, instead turning her gaze toward the side door leading to the graveyard. At that moment, Ymir stepped through the doorway, his eyes scanning the Aozaki sisters.
"To be honest," Ymir said with a pleased expression, "I underestimated the strength of you two."
"That bell... even within the cathedral, I could hear its mysterious chime soaring through the sky." Ymir sighed before continuing. "Allow me to offer you my blessings for your power and accomplishments."
"All that, just for ringing a weird-looking bell?" Touko raised an eyebrow. "What's so special about that bell, Priest Ymir?"
"That is not a bell just anyone can ring," Ymir replied as he walked forward, shaking his head. "In ancient times, its chime was a sacred offering of reverence to the Two Fingers and the Greater Will. Only kings and divine beings of sufficient strength could sound it."
"Look at the night sky tonight—how brilliant and beautiful it is!" Ymir spread his arms, gazing at the church's dark ceiling. "Just like your dazzling fates."
"For this, I have prepared gifts for the both of you." Ymir lowered his hands and turned his gaze back to Aoko and Touko. From a pocket at his waist, he retrieved a uniquely crafted pendant.
"No need to refuse. I only wish to be of help to you, hoping that these radiant stars will guide your journey ahead."
Aoko accepted the pendant and examined it closely in her palm. It was intricately carved from a special mineral, depicting an elder's hand gently clasping a blue-green gem.
The moment she held it, Aoko was astonished to feel her already maxed-out magic circuits operating even faster!
This should have been impossible—Aoko's magic circuit efficiency had already reached the theoretical limit for humans in the Type-Moon world, thanks to her being a natural successor of the Fifth Magic. Yet this pendant somehow further enhanced her spellcasting speed!
Did this mean her Weave arcane abilities were also accelerated? Curious, Aoko attempted to cast Mage Hand—and to her shock, the usual incantation required for the spell was shortened, and even the casting gesture was compressed into a single motion!
"This is a piece I crafted in my spare time," Ymir explained to Aoko. "It helps further unlock your spellcasting potential, but it comes with a side effect—it may make your body more fragile while wearing it."
"That makes perfect sense," Aoko mused as she examined the pendant. "If something this powerful had no drawbacks, I'd be more worried that there was a hidden trap."
Touko, uninterested in glass cannon accessories, was nonetheless happy for Aoko, seeing her receive something that suited her abilities so well.
"I also have a gift for you, Miss Touko," Ymir continued, surprising her. He handed her another ornament. "However, this one was not made by me—it was brought by Jolan from her homeland."
Touko took the object—a weathered, spherical ornament adorned with intricate carvings. She glanced at the silent night swordswoman, Jolan, in surprise. She had never expected her gift to come from the usually cold and reserved warrior.
"Don't misunderstand," Jolan said in her usual indifferent tone. "This item... is useless baggage to both me and Anna. Only in your hands can it fulfill its true purpose. Do not disappoint Lord Ymir."
"Thank you!" Touko said sincerely. "I will treasure and make good use of this artifact."
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