The Lord's grace is deep and eternal. Jeanne had never doubted it, not even when she was abandoned by those she saved, not even when she was burned alive. But Leticia had begun to question it.
The Lord saves everyone, so why were those children never saved in life, and bound to hell in death? Were they unworthy? If every tragedy is a test from God, then why didn't these children even get the chance to be tested?
To Leticia, the world seemed beautiful. Her classmates were kind, and the nun who taught them always helped others. The nun said everything was a gift from the Lord. But... why?
Ever faithful, Jeanne followed the Lord's vision, going from a simple village girl to a saint. She stained her hands with blood to save her country, enduring endless trials. But in the end, her own nation betrayed her. Was that, too, a test from God?
Is the Lord out there?
A voice that shouldn't be there echoed in Jeanne's heart. She knew it wasn't her thought but rather Leticia's—a young high school girl, still innocent, and full of doubt.
If this had been the past, Jeanne would have confidently declared, "The Lord exists!" But now, after witnessing that hell, she wasn't sure how to answer Leticia's question.
Those children were abandoned before they were even born. Even the Lord couldn't save them. And in death, they were still not saved, their innocent souls condemned to wander, turning into evil spirits. As a faithful servant of the Lord, Jeanne could only exorcise them.
But to those children, was the Lord truly their hope?
"Will those children... ever find happiness?" Atalanta asked quietly, hugging Cyd from behind and pressing her face into his back.
"They will," Cyd chuckled softly. "Someone really loves them."
From the moment he'd met Reika Rikudou, Cyd knew this woman loved Jack with all her heart, willing to do anything for her. He didn't know what she'd been through, but from now on, she'd live for Jack, more passionately than anyone, for the sake of love.
"It won't be easy, though."
"Do you think they'll meet again?"
"They will," Cyd said confidently, patting Atalanta's back. "Don't underestimate their bond. The world's been cruel to them, but it owes them at least one small happiness."
"What if... what if they face more misfortune?" Atalanta clung tighter.
The world was unfair. No one could predict tomorrow's hardships. Reika had suffered, Jack's vengeful spirit had suffered. It wasn't that they hadn't tried, but the world had given them no chance.
One had her family destroyed in childhood. The other had never even been born. To them, each other was the last warmth in a cruel world.
And if the world tried to take even that warmth away...
"Then I'll save them again," Cyd smiled, lifting his chin. "I can't save everyone, I can't make promises... but I'll do everything I can to reach them."
Maybe that's why he's called hope, Leticia thought, clasping her hands as she watched Cyd's back.
He wasn't a god; he couldn't promise happiness for all, nor could he save everyone from suffering. All he could do was help those in front of him. But he would never stop, as long as someone kept fighting. He would always be there in the end. Until then, you just had to keep going, keep hoping.
If he were still in this world, if he hadn't gone to Tartarus, with his immortality, he might someday change the world, make it into the small, happy world she imagined. Maybe then Jack's tragedy wouldn't happen again.
Compared to the distant Lord, this flawed hero—who wasn't perfect, but was real—and could make a difference.
Because he wasn't a dream of salvation. He was the reason those suffering could still hope and fight.
"Thank you," Atalanta said, releasing Cyd, though her hand still clung to his shirt as if he might disappear.
"You're surprisingly honest," Cyd raised an eyebrow and bent down, touching the faint shadow at his feet. "Medusa, lend me a hand."
"What is it?" The shadow stretched and darkened, a small head emerging from it.
"Can you take these normal people away?" Cyd stroked Medusa's face.
"Even that woman from earlier?" Medusa tilted her head.
"Yeah. I'm counting on you."
"I understand," Medusa rose from Cyd's shadow, dozens of serpents materializing at her feet, coiling around the unconscious bystanders.
Leticia, pale-faced, pressed herself against the wall. She couldn't handle the slimy, cold-blooded snakes as a normal high school girl.
"That's dramatic," Cyd teased, ruffling Medusa's hair. "She's cute."
"I'm sorry, it's just..." Leticia closed her eyes, unable to deal with the sight of so many snakes.
"It's fine," Medusa smiled, guiding the snakes and their cargo toward the tunnel Cyd had created. "You'll... come back, right?"
Cyd gave her a thumbs-up. "I'll be back, I promise."
"Liar," Medusa huffed, but her eyes softened. "But I'll wait for you, no matter how long it takes. Even if it's until the world ends."
"I'm sorry," Cyd lowered his eyes.
"I believe you." Medusa touched his forehead, then followed the snakes away before he could respond.
"The snakes... are they gone?" Leticia asked.
"Yeah, they're gone," Cyd rubbed his forehead. "But I thought Jeanne wasn't supposed to come out during the Holy Grail War? What's she doing?"
"Please don't blame Jeanne. I insisted on taking back my body," Leticia stepped forward, her violet eyes sparkling. "Because... I want to stay by your side."
"A confession?" Cyd tilted his head.
"!" Atalanta silently peeked out from behind Cyd.
"N-no! That's not what I meant!" Leticia flailed, her face turning red as she tried to explain herself. "It's just... I want to watch over you, Cyd."
Atalanta's eyes narrowed.
"Ah, I see," Cyd sighed, placing a hand on her head. "Girls your age are always like this. Trust me, that's not love. Don't let it turn into love."
"No, that's not what I—" Leticia stammered, her face pale, unsure if it was admiration or something else. She'd blurted it out without thinking and couldn't find the words to explain it.
In the end, she never managed to explain at all.