Although the place where Shinji collapsed was not far from the primary division of Reien Girls' Academy, it was currently early morning, so it was naturally impossible for Sakura to pass by coincidentally. She had specifically come to find Shinji.
The battle between Shinji and Riesbyfe had not only attracted security personnel, but the magical fluctuations emitted by the two also caused varying degrees of sensitivity in nearby individuals with magic circuits. Especially the collision between the Holy Nail and Athena's Shield, the impact extended beyond a five-kilometer radius.
It was this strike that woke Sakura from her deep sleep. As someone closest to Shinji and a magus with magical aptitude that could rank among the top hundred in the modern era, Sakura not only accurately identified the nature of the magical power but also sensed Shinji's presence within it.
Her brother was in a fight with someone, and he had used a Noble Phantasm—there must be a formidable enemy.
Making this judgment, Sakura immediately got out of bed, quickly put on her clothes, and sneaked out of the dormitory.
Members of the Matou family were marked with rune symbols, allowing their location to be determined through special detection magecraft. While unfolding her detection magecraft, Sakura hurried towards the high school division, following the direction of the spreading magical power.
Sakura initially thought it would take some time before she could pinpoint Shinji's location, but unexpectedly, shortly after she climbed over the wall surrounding the primary division, her detection received feedback.
Following the guidance of the magecraft, Sakura entered the roadside landscape forest and quickly found the person who was crucial to her.
Seeing her brother lying motionless on the ground, Sakura's eyes immediately welled up with tears. She forgot even her mentor's teachings of "never let your guard down at any time" and ran straight over to check on her brother's condition.
Fortunately, her brother didn't have any obvious external injuries, hadn't lost consciousness, and could still speak. He even asked her how she had come.
Hearing Shinji's noticeably weak voice and seeing his expression that pretended to be strong despite his obvious weakness, Sakura couldn't help but burst into tears.
"Why are you crying?" Sakura's tears fell onto Shinji's forehead, causing him a moment of heartache. "Don't cry, don't cry, you won't look beautiful if you cry."
Unexpectedly, Sakura's tears flowed even more profusely after he said that. Shinji made an effort to raise his right hand to wipe away his sister's tears, but unfortunately, his body had already reached its limit. As soon as his hand lifted, it lost its strength and fell back to the ground.
"Brother!" Sakura exclaimed in alarm, frantically drawing healing runes.
"No, I'm not injured. The healing runes won't work."
"Well, what should we do then?" Sakura became even more anxious.
"We don't need to do anything. Let my body recover naturally. I was fighting someone earlier and accidentally used the power of the relic. This is the price." Shinji forced out a smile, but with his current physical condition, as soon as a muscle on his face moved, beads of sweat would appear on his forehead.
Sakura quickly took out a handkerchief and wiped Shinji's face. "Brother, are you in a lot of pain?"
"It's nothing. Compared to the training with Shishou, this is nothing." Shinji was still trying to hold on.
"Brother, endure it a little bit longer."
Sakura carefully adjusted her sitting position and gently placed Shinji's head on her lap. She tried to help him relax his entire body as much as possible while softly murmuring.
"It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt, not at all, the pain has all flown away~"
This whimsical phrase almost made Shinji laugh, while also touching him.
When Sakura was not yet six years old and receiving Scathach's teachings, she often couldn't bear the harsh training exercises and would cry. Whenever she cried, Shinji would use his "self-created special magic" to heal her, and the incantation of the magic was, "The pain has all flown away."
The so-called magic had no substantial effect; it was just to comfort his crying sister. But strangely enough, the supposedly useless incantation was now actually having an effect. That torturous pain was gradually dissipating with Sakura's words.
This was undoubtedly a miracle.
In the world of magic, magic was synonymous with miracles, and Sakura's incantation triggered a miracle. So, Shinji believed it was magic, a "magic" called familial love.
After repeating the "incantation" a few times, Sakura asked, "Brother, are you feeling better?"
"Yeah, much better. This magic is indeed effective." Shinji's voice sounded relieved.
"Then I'll say it a few more times." Sakura sniffled and forced back the tears that welled up again.
Back then, she didn't know the truth about "magic," but now, how could she not know? However, besides these words, she couldn't think of anything else to do.
'I'm still so useless. Truly, so useless...'
The joy of mastering the high-level magecraft Shadow Apostle and the small satisfaction of defeating Alba together with Fujino, all vanished in this moment.
Not enough, not enough, still far from enough.
Dad, brother, I can't be of any help to either side.
If, if only I could be as strong as Shishou; if only I could be as intelligent as sister Touko; if only I could be as useful as Miss Justeaze.
I have to work even harder. I have to be more dedicated.
To no longer be so useless, to be able to help my brother, to not be left far behind by him.
Sister Touko said she could transplant that stalker Magic Crest onto me, to make me stronger. It's just that my brother was afraid I couldn't handle it, so he tested it on himself first—that's probably why he's in his current state.
But it's okay, I can handle it.
Because I'm like my brother, both disciples of Scathach, both members of the Matou family.
More importantly, I'm Shinji Matou's sister!
I will succeed!
In Sakura's undeveloped chest, in her small heart, her determination to become stronger burned like never before.
The aura released in that instant made Shinji feel unfamiliar.
"Sakura? What's wrong?"
"It's nothing. I was just thinking about who Brother's opponent is."
Subconsciously, Sakura chose to conceal the truth. If she told her brother what was happening, he would try to stop her. So, I'm sorry, Brother.
"Well, it's the new headmaster of your school, a member of the Holy Church. I was at fault this time, so don't hold it against her." After thinking for a moment, Shinji added, "Be more careful in the future, and don't let her suspect your identity as a magus. I'll have Fujino keep an eye on her, so you don't have to worry for now."
"Okay, Brother." Sakura nodded in agreement. "Um, is there anything else I can do for you, Brother?"
"In that case, how about singing a song? I haven't heard you sing in a long time."
"Sure, what song would you like to hear, Brother?"
"Sing 'Where the Stars Are'... I suddenly feel like listening to that."
Sakura cleared her throat and softly began to sing.
Shinji closed his eyes, allowing the sound of her voice to wash over him.
"Your figure, like a shimmering starry sky, gradually blends into the morning light~"
"Without your presence, my longing grows stronger~"
"Whether I'm strong or weak, may this heart forever intertwine with yours~"
"As long as I have you by my side, I fear not what kind of sky tomorrow brings~"
Just as the song depicted, as long as he had the companionship of his family, Shinji would not fear the skies of tomorrow.
Under the starry sky, where the heart resides.