In a place where only blackened, charred trees stood, a group of people was walking through the desolate forest.

It was Aegis Academy’s hunting squad that had entered the woods to rescue Sylvia.

Their steps were cautious as they moved deeper into the forest. Although the situation was urgent, and they needed to hurry for Sylvia’s safety, this was a cursed ground inhabited by the angered Lesser Demonic Beasts.

If they recklessly quickened their pace and provoked the Demonic Beasts, they could be slaughtered before they could even rescue Sylvia, forcing them to suppress their impatience as much as possible.

“… Make sure to maintain a tight guard. This is a place where anything could suddenly appear.”

“Yes, Elder.”

Thus, the hunting squad, led by the First Elder, advanced slowly towards the heart of the forest, minimizing the sound of their footsteps.

Whether it was due to their caution or simply good fortune, no Demonic Beasts had attacked them despite the considerable time they had spent in the forest.

Finally, the First Elder was able to look around, not with a wary eye, but from a different perspective.

‘Somehow, I’ve ended up stepping here—on the homeland I wished so desperately to reclaim…’

As he surveyed the surroundings, the First Elder’s eyes became misty with strange emotions.

No matter where he looked, the sight was bleak, filled only with the corpses of blackened trees.

Yet, he remembered the stories passed down from his long-deceased ancestors.

‘The Elves’ homeland, the Forest of Eternity, was said to be a beauty unmatched by any other place…’

He closed his eyes for a moment, envisioning all those trees standing densely, each flaunting its lush green leaves and abundant branches.

In his mind, a breathtaking scene of the forest unfolded beautifully.

However, the moment he opened his eyes, all that vitality was nowhere to be found—only a forest full of death entered his sight.

A sigh of lament escaped the First Elder’s lips, born out of profound grief.

This forest, tainted by horrendous magic, would likely never regain its former glory.

The First Elder felt a surge of resentment and hatred bubbling up within him towards the entities that had transformed their homeland into this.

However, the emotions that grew larger like a wildfire were soon to be tempered, as if met with a headwind.

The image of the Witch floated in his mind.

The Witch who had cried that she did not wish to fight.

The Witch who, despite being wounded, had not retaliated until ultimately felled by his blade.

And then, she rose again, sending back the enraged Demonic Beasts and disappeared together with Sylvia.

As the image of the Witch surfaced, the First Elder felt an increasing confusion in his head.

Despite possessing the heart of a being that deserved to be cursed—the Witch of Rage.

The Witch’s nature stood in stark contrast to the wickedness he had perceived.

Despite being a witch, and a witch nonetheless.

The resentment he had gradually accumulated over the years towards the Witch of Rage now tangled his heart in confusion.

The First Elder was aware that he was not alone in grappling with this predicament.

He turned his head to look back.

The eyes of those guarding their surroundings behind him reflected the same conflicts he felt.

Perhaps they too were unable to find clarity about what to do with their own hearts.

What should they truly do?

After pondering for a long while, he was ultimately unable to make a firm decision.

For a moment, the First Elder gazed at the hunting squad, then closed his eyes and sighed softly.

When he opened his eyes again, they were focused not on the back but forward.

His heart was still in disarray.

He merely set aside his confusion for a moment because there was something that needed priority.

His troubles could wait until after rescuing Sylvia.

With that resolution in mind, the First Elder said firmly to the hunting squad.

“… Does anyone need a rest?”

“I’m fine!”

“Good. Since time is urgent, we won’t camp today and will head straight to where Sylvia is. Understood?”

“Yes!”

With the decisive responses from the hunting squad, the First Elder nodded and took a step forward, followed by the squad.

Despite the turmoil in their minds, their legs would not stop moving.

Through the deep night of the forest, until dawn broke once more.

*

Morning arrived.

The faint sunlight breaking through the magic-laden sky indicated that they had walked through the entire night.

Grateful that they had not encountered any Demonic Beasts, the First Elder took out a stone-shaped magical tool from his pocket.

“Hmm, it should be nearby. Notify immediately upon discovery.”

The magical tool shook frequently, as if signaling the presence of the Witch nearby.

As it pointed toward the direction it sensed movement, it wasn’t long before someone from the hunting squad shouted.

“Ah, there’s Miss Sylvia over there…!”

Hearing this shout, the First Elder looked ahead and spotted what appeared to be the Witch and Sylvia in the distance.

“Ugh…!”

At that moment, the First Elder gasped.

From a glance, it seemed the Witch was choking Sylvia.

Was all the talk of care just a ruse to induce negligence?

Shocked by such a cruel act, the First Elder leaped forward towards the direction where Sylvia was.

“Si… Sylvia… now isn’t the time to be sleeping like that…?!”

“Hmm… just a little longer…”

As he got closer, he quickly realized that it was all a misunderstanding.

The Witch was not strangling her; she was simply trying to wake Sylvia, who was resting her head on her knee.

Far from being cruel, it was like a harmless jest, and the First Elder felt his tension dissipate.

He calmed his racing heart and surveyed the scene.

… At the very least, it was certain that the two were close friends.

Seeing Sylvia so unguarded with someone was a first for him.

This meant that the Witch was truly…

The First Elder felt the hatred that had lingered in his heart gradually diminish.

The void left by the fading hatred was now filled with gratitude.

Gratitude towards them, and above all, for protecting Sylvia.

“Ah… you’ve arrived, grandfather?”

Just then, Sylvia nodded slightly, greeting him.

Lying on the Witch’s knees, her face radiated an air of calmness.

Meanwhile, the Witch seemed helplessly flustered, unsure of what to do.

The First Elder felt a slight headache at the sight and replied.

“Yes… I’m relieved to see you well, Sylvia…”

While it was somewhat different from what he had anticipated, he was truly grateful that she was okay.

He let out a sigh of relief and addressed Sylvia.

“You have no idea how much everyone worried while searching for you… It’s dangerous here, so it’s time for you to head back.”

At those words, Sylvia, who was lying on the Witch’s knee, slowly sat up and asked.

“… Just me alone?”

“Who else would there be…?”

When the First Elder answered, Sylvia frowned deeply.

“What about Miss Scarlet?”

“……”

“If Miss Scarlet doesn’t come back with me, then I won’t go back at all.”

With no response, Sylvia spoke while tightly hugging the Witch, referred to as Scarlet.

She bore an expression akin to that of a child who wouldn’t budge until they got the toy they wanted at the shop.

The First Elder sighed.

He knew well of Sylvia’s stubbornness.

She was the kind of child who insisted on getting whatever she desired.

He had tried to keep her in the mansion, yet here she was, having come all the way out here.

Yes, under normal circumstances, he might have yielded.

Just like there are no parents that can defeat their children, there are even fewer grandfathers who can overcome their granddaughters.

However, this was a matter that could not be circumvented.

The First Elder shook his head firmly.

“… That’s not possible.”

“… Why not?”

Sylvia’s face was one of disbelief.

With a sigh, the First Elder responded.

“… Because she’s a Witch.”

Was that a given reason she found unsatisfactory?

Sylvia exploded in frustration.

“Are you saying it’s simply not acceptable because she’s a Witch?! You saw! Miss Scarlet is different from other Witches! While everyone else was nearly killed by the Demonic Beasts, it was Miss Scarlet who saved us…!”

“… I know that. We acknowledge it. I concede that she is different from the others.”

Acknowledging Sylvia’s words, the First Elder nodded.

Then Sylvia shouted.

“Then… then you can just tell everyone that’s the case! Miss Scarlet isn’t a bad Witch!”

“Right… That could be done… But…”

To Sylvia’s passionate claims, the First Elder said in a calm voice.

“However, she did injure Captain Yoon Si-woo…”

At those words, the First Elder stole a glance at the girl who flinched slightly.

“Surely you know better than anyone, Sylvia. He was a symbol of hope created to bring stability to the city amidst chaos. That intent was successful, but… it was too successful. Did you not see how excited the people were about Captain Yoon Si-woo…?”

“That’s…”

“That child harmed Captain Yoon Si-woo. Even if she were human, many would have surely gone mad and sought to harm him. Yet, for a being who isn’t even human—a Witch—to commit such an act is…”

He left unsaid the implications of the conclusion but believed she would understand.

Towards the First Elder, Sylvia shouted.

“Grandfather!! We are Aegis! We are the family that never forgets our debts! Isn’t that the Aegis way?! So are we going to just give up on our lives because there’s hardly any chance?!”

To which the First Elder furiously retorted.

“Wouldn’t we want to do just that?!” he yelled.

“Don’t we, too, harbor pride as Aegis?! If it’s only our lives on the line, what’s the fear in trying to persuade people, even if the chances are slim? But—”

The shame and embarrassment in his voice were palpable.

It would be disgraceful for them not to repay the grace they’d received as Aegis.

However, what held them back, preventing such choices were because…

“However, if we attempt that and fail, Sylvia, you would lose everything…”

The reason was simple: there were things they had to protect even at the cost of it.

The First Elder spoke earnestly toward Sylvia.

“If we fail in persuasion, Aegis would simply become a family of defectors that aided a Witch… if such were to happen, you too would not escape punishment… Sylvia, you are the future of Aegis. Therefore, we cannot take risks that could put you in danger…”

“…”

Towards the silent Sylvia, the First Elder pleaded through tears.

“… I earnestly request this of you, not as your grandfather, but as the Elder of our clan. Please, please…”

Tears falling, the First Elder deeply bowed his head towards Scarlet.

“I’m truly sorry… All I can do is apologize to you… I am forever in your debt, yet here I must make such a request… Please. We will tell people that we killed you. Live where no one can see you… so that Sylvia can return and live in peace…”

The remaining members aligned behind them also bowed their heads towards her.

All just for Sylvia.

That alone was the most significant reason for them.

In the midst of that heartfelt request, Scarlet briefly fell silent before shaking her head as if to show she understood.

“… I handle things on my own, so no need to nod.”

Just then, Sylvia intervened.

Casting a sharp gaze at the dazed Scarlet, Sylvia turned to the others who had bowed their heads in unison.

“Sigh… this is just so weird. With people doing things for me, it’s hard to say anything… Anyway, grandfather, you can’t accept my request, right?”

“Sylvia, please…”

The First Elder replied but without a doubt, that meant yes.

Confirming that meaning, Sylvia sighed as if she had no choice and then slowly stood up and muttered.

“Sigh… then there’s no choice but to force it.”

With that, Sylvia stood up and turned to walk towards the tree behind her.

Suddenly shifting to somewhere else, the gazes of the people who had been looking down followed her; grabbing the tree lightly with her hand, she whispered in a low voice.

-Alf Ad Astra

And then,

“Hmm…?!”

The First Elder watched.

From Sylvia’s hand, radiant starlight burst forth.

But that was not the reason he was astonished.

What shocked him was what happened immediately after.

The bright light emanating from Sylvia’s hand colored the blackened trees with a bright shine.

As the bright light gradually soaked into the trees,

“Thud,” the deathly colors began to peel away.

The wood, once dark, regained its natural colors.

With brown trunks and green leaves.

As the trees resurrected from death embraced all the starlight flowing from Sylvia’s hand…

In that moment, the First Elder thought, “Ah…”

He unintentionally exclaimed in admiration.

It reminded him of a record he had once read about the World Tree.

“The World Tree is not just any tree…”

The tree illuminated by the starlight.

“It must be a tree with a spirit dwelling within it, which is the World Tree…”

It emitted brilliant light.

The shining wave of light overflowing from the tree appeared like waves of light rolling.

The light surging from the tree drove away the darkness.

The death energy that had tainted the land.

The blackness that had engulfed the surroundings.

Was erased as if with an eraser.

Before long, the world, once dominated by darkness, regained its colors.

The greens of the trees and grass.

The vibrant hues of nameless wildflowers.

The vivid blues of the high sky.

In the forest, where death had vanished, countless colors of life began to bloom.

At that moment, the First Elder felt a sensation shared among everyone present at Aegis.

They felt the light seeping into their very bodies.

Filling them with warmth and fullness.

It was the blessing of a spirit they thought they had lost.

A sign that the stars had not forsaken them.

They had not been abandoned.

Simply, they had been unable to see the stars that had always been watching over them.

Realizing this, the Elves could no longer hold back their overflowing tears.

What could one call this if not a miracle?

At that moment, while they were shedding tears of gratitude for the miracle that had come to them,

“I said you couldn’t turn down my request, right?”

The voice of the girl who had restored all things resonated amidst the miracles.

The First Elder and the others from Aegis looked up.

“Then what are we to do? Aegis has received profound grace from Miss Scarlet.”

Wearing a halo that sparkled like a tiara on her head.

“She saved our lives and helped us reclaim our homeland.”

Before them stood the girl, whose eyes brimmed with radiant stars.

“Aegis does not forget its debts.”

To the one chosen by the stars.

“Therefore, on behalf of the benefactor Scarlet, I vow that Aegis will repay this grace with everything we have.”

She was the true master of Aegis, having returned 500 years after disappearing.

“I command you not as Sylvia Astra, but under the name of the head of Aegis.”

The way she wore an exuberant smile brighter than ever.

“Everyone, is that fine by you?”

Who among Aegis wouldn’t wish to support her with joyful hearts?

“Act as you will, O New Star.”