After the interrogation of Scarlet concluded, Sylvia returned to the mansion with her. Perhaps due to the fatigue from the incident they had just gone through, she found Scarlet unconscious and seemingly asleep on the bed. Holding Scarlet’s hand, she felt a warm energy radiating from their connected palms.
It was the warmth that only the living could possess.
Feeling that it finally sank in that Scarlet had returned safely, Sylvia let out a small sigh of relief.
“…Thank you for coming back safely.”
Once, she had promised Scarlet that if a moment arose when she needed help, she would do everything in her power to lend a hand. However, when the time came that Scarlet truly needed assistance, she found herself unable to do anything.
When Scarlet was prepared to sacrifice herself for everyone, Sylvia couldn’t even challenge the witch confronting her, and when she heard the news that Scarlet was alive, she couldn’t muster the strength to rescue her.
Even though she thought she was strong among her peers, she was painfully weak when it came to helping Scarlet.
The only thing this weak version of herself could do for her was to fervently pray to the stars just like when she was a child, asking them to bring Scarlet back safely. That thought filled her with immense regret.
How could she have been so loud and proud while only being able to offer prayers when she promised to help?
Yet, perhaps it was that very regret that allowed her to step forward without hesitation when the time came.
“…I guess I’ll get scolded a little, right? For acting on my own.”
Looking at Scarlet, Sylvia forced a bittersweet smile. She knew all too well the heavy meaning behind the words that Astra would take full responsibility if anything went wrong.
Those were not words one could throw around lightly as a mere hollow heir, detached from the family’s power.
The First Elder might have overlooked it this time, but it was pretty certain she would face disciplinary actions in the future.
In the past, such things would have terrified her, but the thought of something happening to Scarlet was far more frightening.
Sylvia bowed down and gently placed Scarlet’s hand atop her own head, just as she had once stroked her hair with approval.
It felt like a lingering anxiety was dissipating from this simple action, albeit it caused her to blush at her somewhat childish behavior as she spoke to Scarlet.
“Still, I won’t regret it. I’m really glad I could help at least a little for you, Scarlet.”
The position of the Astra heir, which she had always despised, suddenly felt like a blessing for the first time in her life today.
Because she was the Astra heir, she could lend assistance to Scarlet.
So, she would not regret it.
With that resolve, Sylvia left Scarlet’s room.
“…Sylvia, let’s talk for a moment.”
Despite the Elder’s call waiting for her outside the door, she managed to nod without trembling.
*
Sylvia followed the Elder into his room.
She had participated in the interrogation with him yesterday, and now this man calling her was the First Elder of the Astra family.
He was the one most involved in the many affairs of the Astra family and held the most power. The very fact that he summoned her made Sylvia slightly nervous.
Although he walked around with a kindly smile, he was thorough in his movements for the sake of Astra above all.
Usually, he treated her with respect, but being called by him without that honorific meant that the conversation ahead would be strictly private.
Every time he had called her like that before, it had been to point out a mistake she made in an official context.
In the past, Sylvia would bow her head and apologize whenever summoned like this, but today she decided not to do so.
She didn’t believe she had done anything wrong.
Thus, as she arrived at the Elder’s quarters, she swallowed her nervousness while holding her head high to face him.
And as he looked at her without lowering his head during their one-on-one, the Elder began to speak in his usual gentle voice.
“…So, Sylvia. You said the girl was a friend you met at the Academy? You allowed her to stay in our mansion because she was in a difficult situation?”
“…Yes,” Sylvia replied.
“…I see. Helping those in need is the virtue of those who have been blessed… But that’s not why I called you here. I want to talk about what you said during the interrogation about taking responsibility.”
The Elder’s half-opened eyes turned toward Sylvia, who calmly awaited the punishment that she believed would come her way.
Possibly a light mental reprimand, or at worst, she might have to transfer from the Aegis Academy that she had forced her way into…
But if that was the price to pay for rescuing Scarlet from a troublesome situation, she was ready to accept it.
As Sylvia closed her eyes and patiently waited for the Elder’s words, he said something completely different from what she expected.
“Your saying that you would take responsibility for that girl was very well done.”
“…Huh?”
Caught completely off guard by the unexpected praise, Sylvia involuntarily let out a foolish sound.
The Elder then burst into laughter and spoke to her.
“Haha, is it really appropriate for Astra’s heir to be so surprised by just a compliment?”
“Ah, I-I’m sorry… But ‘well done’? I thought you would say I did wrong….”
“Wrong? As you said, never forgetting a debt is the spirit of Astra. The mere fact that you acted on your own willfully is praiseworthy. Others must have witnessed your deed and recognized that Astra still holds true to its values.”
With a gentle smile, the Elder gracefully rose from his seat and glanced at a frame hanging on the wall.
Sylvia followed his gaze.
In that frame was the motto displayed throughout the mansion, “Astra never forgets a debt.”
The Elder gazed at it and slowly opened his mouth.
“Sylvia, do you know why Astra was once able to flourish the most in the world? It’s not due to our long lifespan or our exceptional abilities. It’s because of that spirit. To not forget a debt might seem frightening at first glance, but hidden beneath it is an endless reminder to act rightly. Astra will always pursue righteousness and justice, and it means that we should treat those who will help make the world a better place with kindness. That’s why people willingly came to aid Astra.”
The cabinet in the Elder’s office was filled with numerous records that had been passed down through Astra’s history.
Documented tales of how Astra had safeguarded the World Tree, and how they had fought to protect their homeland, the Eternal Forest, even when it was engulfed in flames.
The Elder traced his hand over the cabinet.
“The reason so many helped Astra during the Witch of Wrath’s subjugation was due to this very spirit, and it’s why Astra managed not to fall, even when faced with dire circumstances. As long as this spirit remains eternal, Astra will always be Astra.”
Then the Elder turned toward Sylvia, gazing at her with warm eyes, and continued.
“Thus, for you—Astra’s heir, and for the girl who has preserved Astra’s future, it’s perfectly fine to utilize the name of Astra. Sylvia, you deserve that.”
Sylvia found it hard to process the Elder’s warm words.
She had always believed herself to be an outcast within the family.
Never participating in important family meetings, always lingering outside as nothing more than a figurehead heir.
That was the perception Sylvia held of herself, leading her to ask the Elder with a confused voice.
“…Wasn’t I just a hollow heir? You always prevented me from attending family meetings and kept me in the dark about family affairs…”
Upon hearing her question, the Elder momentarily tilted his head, a wry smile forming on his face as he replied.
“…Haha, a hollow heir, you say? I believe there has been some misunderstanding… Sylvia, the reason we kept you from knowing about family matters wasn’t to ostracize you. It was because you are that important to us…”
The Elder hesitated for a moment, glancing at Sylvia before continuing.
“…It seems that now there’s no longer any choice but to share some truths with you. Sylvia, Astra has, since the World Tree burned, gradually lost its way, drifting apart from the star spirits. We’ve forgotten our identity and lost sight of our spirit. Somewhere along the line, accumulating wealth and gaining power became our only goals. Everyone believed that this was for the good of Astra. But that is no longer Astra. Perhaps that’s why we were abandoned by the spirits.”
With a sad expression, the Elder fixed his gaze upon Sylvia.
He began to recount the reasons for Astra’s transformation.
He spoke of the one who made them truly realize who they were.
“The one who restored hope to Astra, which had lost its shine, was you. Seeing the light you showed reminded us of who we truly were as Astra. We believed you could lead us back to being a true Astra, and that’s why we chose you as our heir.”
The Elder slowly approached and gently took Sylvia’s trembling hand in his.
And he said to her,
“Keeping you out of family matters was simply a matter of needing time. A time to clean up the dirty affairs that are decidedly un-Astra-like. I did not want you to see that side of our family since you are meant to lead the future Astra. I wanted Astra to be remembered as the rightful and just Astra for you inheriting it. After finishing our mess that had already become so filthy, I wished to pass it to you, but instead, I ended up causing you distress. I am sorry, Sylvia.”
Listening quietly, Sylvia finally spoke gently to him.
“…So I was… meaningless to Astra…?”
“…I have mentioned many times that you are our heir and our hope. Moreover—”
The Elder slowly patted Sylvia’s head as he spoke.
“Before being a family, we are family. You are a precious existence that cannot be exchanged for anyone else.”
Those were words she had never heard in her life, and Sylvia felt an overwhelming emotion.
For some reason, it felt like tears would flow; she simply sat there, absorbing the feeling of the hand gently patting her head.
*
Time passed a little, and as Sylvia, her eyes red, prepared to leave the room, the First Elder stopped her.
“Oh, by the way, there was one thing I wanted to ask but almost forgot.”
“…What is it?” she replied.
“I haven’t heard from Sator lately. I was wondering if you’ve received any messages from him.”
Sylvia seemed to ponder the question for a moment before responding with a calm expression.
“…I haven’t heard anything either. He’s probably so immersed in his work as a researcher that he may have forgotten to contact us.”
“I see… Yes, Sylvia, you’ve worked hard too, so go on in and get some rest.”
“Yes. May you also have a good night, Elder.”
With their farewells finished, Sylvia stepped out from the room, and after a while of quietly sitting inside, the First Elder received a communication.
“Yes, Elder Two. What is it?”
[……I was wondering how that matter turned out. We can’t confirm where Sator has disappeared to… Did you receive any information on the main suspect? Have you verified it?]
“No, I’ve seen the information, but I haven’t verified it yet. I’ll need to do that soon.”
As the First Elder received the call, he casually tapped a corner of the cabinet.
The cabinet slowly shifted, revealing a hidden secret space behind it.
He reached for a document hidden inside and carefully read its contents.
Witch Weaponization Project.
The experiment was a failure.
The heart fragment of the witch seems to have disappeared from the scene, indicating that the test subject may have escaped during the fire.
Currently, the most probable suspect is—
While reading through the document, the First Elder picked up a magical tool that looked like an ordinary stone next to it.
Its effect was simple.
If a witch’s heart fragment came within a certain radius, it would emit light.
As the First Elder gazed at the magical tool, he heard the voice of Elder Two.
[…You mentioned that the main suspect is Sylvia’s friend? What will you do if you confirm it?]
“…Then the course of action will be predetermined, won’t it?”
Witch Weaponization Project.
That was undoubtedly one of the most forbidden matters they had committed in the past.
Especially if that past could mean that Sylvia would be held responsible for what had happened…
No matter how much of a benefactor they considered Sylvia for saving her life, in the end, she would merely be an obstacle.
The First Elder recalled Sylvia’s childhood promise to show them the starlight.
That they would clean the darkness of their own hands.
For the future Astra that Sylvia would lead, the mistakes of their past must not exist.
“…As we have always done, we must quietly tidy things up.”
Responding as such, the First Elder quietly set fire to the document that must never be revealed to the world.
The photograph of the red-haired girl enclosed with the document quietly vanished into flames without a sound.
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