The battle with Princess Nagaria had come to an end, and Akira's team returned to the underwater city of Undine, carrying the wounded survivors of the war with them. Hanging elegantly from Akira's ear was the Earring of Compassion, glowing softly as if in harmony with the Armor of Serenity he wore. Its interaction with the armor caused the green bar on his six-colored bracelet to increase—a detail that piqued his curiosity, though he hadn't had time to investigate its significance.
"Seems like all the treasures from the Sins are meant for you, Akira," Draco teased with a laugh. "Anyone else tries, and they're hit with brutal tests, but you? You just get to stroll into some memory realm and walk out wearing it like it's no big deal."
"Do you want to try it again, Draco?" Yue chimed in playfully, her tone dripping with mischief.
Draco flinched, shaking his head vigorously. "No way! Once was more than enough for me!"
"Same here," Mirelle added. "Next time another Sin relic shows up, you're handling it, Akira."
Their shared laughter eased the tension lingering from the recent battle. It was an unspoken agreement: from now on, any artifact tied to the Sins would be Akira's responsibility. Somehow, it seemed to resonate with the truths only he was destined to uncover.
When they arrived at the Opera House of Undine, Leviathan herself rushed out to greet them, her worry evident as she enveloped Mirelle in an uncharacteristically tight hug. Mirelle, unused to such gestures, stood stiffly, her cheeks faintly flushed.
"I saw that beam of light… the one that split the sea," Leviathan said, her voice trembling with relief. "I feared something had happened to you all. Thank goodness you're safe!"
She clapped her hands, summoning her attendants. "Prepare a grand feast! We must celebrate their victory!"
Yue's face lit up with delight, and she began twirling with excitement. "A celebration! How wonderful!"
Draco, however, shrugged. "When we stopped that Fire Lion at Draken and calmed the volcano, there wasn't any celebration. What gives?"
Leviathan's expression darkened as she muttered, "Ignis! Of course. That muscle-headed brute only cares about strength and ignores the importance of morale!"
Far away in Draken, Ignis, soaking comfortably in his lava bath, suddenly felt an inexplicable chill. "Strange… Lava baths shouldn't feel cold…"
Back in Undine, the city buzzed with preparations for the grand celebration. The lively atmosphere was almost overwhelming, prompting Akira's team to seek a quieter retreat. Following Mirelle's suggestion, they ventured to a serene, hidden cove she knew well.
The place resembled an underwater private beach, its tranquil waters imbued with dense mana, shimmering in mesmerizing waves of deep blues and silvers. The light refracted beautifully, creating an almost magical ambiance.
"This water has an extremely high mana concentration," Mirelle explained. "It's safe to swim, but don't go too deep—it can be dangerous."
The team immersed themselves in the enchanting surroundings, letting the gentle current and curious little fish nibbling at Mirelle's snacks wash away their fatigue. Larger sea creatures kept their distance, deterred by Leviathan's protective blessing.
As they relaxed, they began discussing the rewards Leviathan had bestowed upon them:
• Mirelle received an ornament imbued with high-level water elemental power and a grimoire of advanced water magic.
• Draco was given a spatial storage bag, significantly increasing his carrying capacity.
• Yue received the Rune of Sound, enhancing her sonar-based detection abilities.
• Akira's reward was a blue rune stone, compatible with his bracelet, which granted him the ability to unleash blade waves, especially potent underwater.
During their downtime, Akira experimented with the Viki Glass—a magnifying lens Mirelle had taught him to use—to study his six-colored bracelet. Mirelle explained the significance of the six colors:
• Red: Vitality and health
• Yellow: Energy and physical strength
• Green: Spirit and emotional balance
• Blue: Magic power
• White: Holy energy
• Black: Chaos
Akira noticed his stats were remarkably balanced, whereas the others displayed distinct specializations: Draco excelled in red and yellow, Mirelle dominated in blue, and Yue's white bar was exceptionally high.
"If this were a game, I'd be the jack-of-all-trades character," Akira remarked with a faint sigh. "Better for solo play than teamwork…"
After examining the treasures obtained from Leviathan, Mirel reached into her spatial ring and pulled out a small, simple wooden pin. Though plain in appearance, it carried profound meaning. She gazed at it for a moment before beginning to play. The clear, resonant notes echoed across the water's surface, transforming the once-silent atmosphere into one filled with enchanting melodies.
Akira listened intently as Mirel played with a combination of power and gentleness. Her music resonated deeply, reminding him of "Herin," the lead vocalist of Little Monster, the seven-member idol group he admired back on Earth. Herin's voice was so unique and captivating that it felt as though she wielded magic with every note she sang.
He watched Mirel perform with admiration, yet his thoughts drifted to the past. "Speaking of Little Monster," he mused, "it makes me think of Mei—her sweet, gentle voice resembles Pristine's. Then there's Jin, whose mischievous and lively personality is just like Aya's. If the two of them joined together with someone else, they could perfectly cover Little Monster's songs as a trio."
Meanwhile, Yue, who sat quietly beside him, began to hum along softly, her delicate voice harmonizing perfectly with Mirel's melody. The addition of her sweet tone seemed to complete the song flawlessly.
Akira turned to her immediately, his ears catching the subtle beauty of her voice. "Yue's voice… it's just like Shina's from Little Monster," he thought. Shina, the petite singer with a charming voice that could captivate anyone, was strikingly similar to Yue in this moment. Yue was like Shina brought to life in this world.
"Yue, your voice is beautiful," Akira encouraged with a warm smile. "Try singing the whole song."
"Really?" Yue asked, blushing slightly.
"Of course! I'll start, and you can join in," Akira replied, his enthusiasm infectious.
With his gentle guidance, Yue hesitantly began to sing. Her voice started shy and uncertain, but as she gained confidence, it blossomed into something pure and radiant. Everyone stopped to listen, enraptured by the sound.
"That was amazing, Yue," Akira said with an admiring smile.
"Thank you, Brother Akira," Yue replied, her cheeks pink with pride.
She paused, then added thoughtfully, "Back in Celes, I often sang hymns at the temple. I know those songs well, but… sometimes, I'd like to try something different."
"Then go for it," Akira encouraged. "Music isn't limited to hymns. Explore different styles—you might discover something new about yourself."
Yue's smile widened. "You're right. Thank you, Brother Akira."
Their conversation shifted to music, filled with laughter and shared memories. The joyful atmosphere soothed their weary souls and brought a rare sense of normalcy to their journey.
Draco chuckled from his spot nearby. "Akira, you seem pretty passionate about music."
"Yeah," Akira admitted, picking up two wooden sticks he'd found. He began tapping them together to create a rhythm. "This is a simple drum."
"It's just two sticks, not a drum," Draco teased, raising an eyebrow.
"In my world, I used to be a drummer," Akira explained with a grin. "It's like wielding twin blades—pretty cool, right?"
"That's your reason? Really?" Draco laughed. "I thought it'd be something deeper."
The music continued, Mirelle's flute weaving through Yue's soft singing while Akira tapped out a playful beat. All around them, glowing jellyfish shimmered in the water, creating a breathtaking display reminiscent of a starlit sky.
"Even though we're underwater, it feels like we're gazing at the stars," Yue whispered, her voice filled with wonder.
Mirelle's final notes faded gently into silence, leaving behind a serene stillness.
This rare moment of respite was a treasure for the team—a fleeting escape from the battles and trials they had faced. In that magical cove, surrounded by music and laughter, it felt as though time itself had paused, allowing them to savor the simple beauty of life.