Princess caught the spear of light and crushed it like a delicate petal. A muffled snap resounded and pushed a strong gale across the Holyground, blowing away the Divine Fons which suffocated the atmosphere.

The warm, fuzzy wind caressed the Arachna Queen. The tears instilled from happiness and longing rolled down her face. She reached out for Princess's translucent silhouette and touched it. The bouncy sensation of her pale skin ruptured the Arachna Queen's fragile heart into a whirlpool of emotions.

"My dear Peritia, I'm glad you're back," she said. "Promise me you won't ever do anything like that ever again."

Princess gazed towards the sky, where the Kingdom of Heaven resided, and where the Originator awaited her presence. "I'm sorry, Mother. I can't give you that promise."

The Arachna Queen clenched her fists and closed her eyes. "I can go there instead of you. Lady Fate wouldn't care who will be the sacrifice. My condition is beyond saving already."

"So am I, Mother. I'm merely living because of a borrowed time. My second life has already ended, but yours hasn't."

"Let me go with you then. How will I live, if you die before me, your mother?"

"I'm sorry, Mother. You'll suffer because of me again, but I promise this will be the last time."

"Peritia, I don't want our last conversation to be this."

"Me too, Mother, though I hope that, someday, you will look back at it fondly."

Princess turned to the God of Light. The casual expression on her face shifted to solemn as she made her way towards the last God of this world.

From behind, the Arachna Queen struggled to speak or get up. She forced herself to stand up, but her body collapsed and ruptured multiple wounds. As she gritted her teeth, a familiar touch enveloped her body. Inemas stumbled from his place to support the Arachna Queen, though he didn't know how to consult her.

In silence, they prayed for Princess, who stood in front of the God of Light. Her dull, glittering pupils pierced into his lonely soul and gripped his fatigued heart. He met her gaze with serenity not of someone who had lost, but of someone who could finally rest.

"Fallen Princess, you are indeed the harbinger of the new era. I'm glad Fate is . . . finally correct."

"Light, you're pitiful."

"Am I?" The God of Light smiled. "We are quite alike, bound by promises we could never break."

"I've decided: I will break the cycle."

The God of Light widened his eyes before he coughed. His appearance aged and withered as time passed, but his mind let go of the obligation which he had carried for far too long. For the first time since forever, peace finally visited him.

"It is hard to resist the temptation of power. Still, you are the Princess of Resolution," he said. "Without Fate, there will be no more tragedy like this, but the world will fall into chaos."

"If that is the price, it is worth it. I've twice changed my destiny. Now, I'll change the destiny of the whole world."

"Make sure that Heaven can no longer exist."

"Are you betraying your promise?"

"I'm too tired to carry on, and they are now too pitiful. I don't want them to suffer."

"To watch your friend's death is more painful than death itself."

The God of Light fell silent. His mind drifted across the memory which haunted him since the first moment he could remember. It slowly crumbled into a fleeting calmness and escaped him with a sigh which leaked from his mouth. He raised his hand and waited for Princess to lay her delicate hand on his.

"Princess of Resolution, I wish you success. When you go up there and meet Lady Fate, tell her that the First Authority is dead."

"Is that your last wish?"

"No. It is my repentance."

Princess caught the God of Light's hand. Her translucent body flooded him with the faintest essence of the Originator. It absorbed his Divinity and broke him down into the tiniest fragments of reality.

"Compared to Fate, promises are crueller, aren't they?" the God of Light said before he was no more.

Princess looked up and contemplated the feeling inside her heart. The scene in front of her would unfold again, but the person experiencing it would be her. Though she had freed the world from Heaven's oppressive reign, nether joy or gratification reached her, only subtle bitterness.

"Teacher, Mother, I hope you two will reconcile. Please take care of my friends from now on," she turned to them and said.

"Peritia, are you alright with this?" Inemas said as he tended to the Arachna Queen, who lacked the strength to speak. "No one except a few will know of your sacrifice, and even fewer will be grateful for it."

"The few who understand me outweigh the rest who don't. It's better to fade with time than to suffer with time."

"Peritia, if it's you, maybe you can—"

"Teacher, I will not take on the mantle of Fate. I don't want to become the next Heaven."

"You won't be. You are the Princess of Resolution. Your determination has never failed you."

"Everything changes with time, Teacher. Even the Gods do."

Princess didn't wait for any response and stepped forwards. Her silhouette vanished into nothingness. Only a melancholy breeze remained in her place, flowing across the Holyground. Its cool sensation engraved into everyone's mind Princess's appearance.

Her pale skin, her fleeting presence, and her determination solidified her title as the Princess of Resolution.

In the end, the Arachna Queen stared at the Originator.

"Now, you're the one who left me."

...

Princess floated above the chamber inside Shifting Mist, overlooking her friends and Angelica. The Threads of Fate connected every mortal to the Originator, but Angelica lacked them. Her body was smooth without any intertwining strings attached to it, though she was alive with her emotions and soul fluctuating.

Knowing the implication, Princess glanced at the Originator beyond the sky before she descended to stand behind Angelica, who turned around to see the invisible gaze on her back. Despite the nagging feeling in her mind, she couldn't find the origin of her longing.

Princess beamed a peaceful smile as she stroked Angelica's cheek. Angelica unknowingly touched the place Princess caressed as a sudden warmth filled her heart with happiness she could never forget. Her eyes concentrated in hope to confirm her hope. In them, tears swelled and reflected Princess's silhouette.

"Mistress?"

"Angelica, it's good to see you again."

Without hesitation, Angelica flung herself to Princess and tightened her hug. The invisibility cloaking Princess disintegrated and revealed her to the others. They remained unblinking for a moment before their faces turned to astonishment.

"Peritia, you are alive?" Specria said as she struggled to move towards Princess.

"Only temporarily. I truly died this time."

"Mistress, are you leaving again?" Angelica said. "I just woke up and remembered your face, but now you're leaving . . . . Please take me with you."

"I can't take you with me, Angelica."

"Back then, Mistress, you promise never to let me go. You will be the eternally illuminating star with me by your side."

The nostalgia overflowed Princess, but she shook her head. "I won't ever leave you, Angelica. I'll be up in the sky, an eternally illuminating star which will forever watch you."

"It will mean nothing if I can't see you again."

"I will always be by your side, Angelica." Princess gently pushed Angelica away and turned to an approaching figure.

"Peritia," Consimia walked to Princess and said, "thank you."

"I don't deserve it. Just like him, my hands are tainted with the blood of my foes, of my friends, and of myself."

"What you taught me is more precious than what I could do for you. Please accept my praise." Consimia touched the ring on her finger and smiled. "This ring, may I keep it as the memorial?"

"It's already yours."

After some more chit-chatting and assurance, Princess took a last sweeping gaze across the chamber. Her gaze penetrated the wall and passed through the world, perceiving everything which had ever existed, existed, and would exist.

Though it was the last farewell, she revealed nothing except gratitude and serenity, which calmed everyone down. Every word she uttered brought tranquillity. Aside from Angelica, who remained quiet throughout the occasion, all spent the moment telling their farewell.

Princess noticed it, but she merely leant closer to Angelica and kissed her cheeks. The warmth transmitted through the robotic skin and woke Angelica up. She averted her gaze but failed to conceal her embarrassment.

"Mistress, please don't tease me like that," she said.

"You don't seem to like my visit," Princess said. "It's going to be all right. I won't be anywhere far from you. I'll continue to watch your Fate to ensure your life will be the happiest it could have been."

"Then stay with me, Mistress. I'm the happiest when I'm with you."

Princess shook her head and took a step backwards. Her body gradually disintegrated into a swarm of light particles, dispersing into the fabric of reality while she uttered her last sentence.

"Silly girl, I'm always beside you."

Angelica knelt on the floor and cried. Her sobbing echoed inside the silent chamber, where everyone else stood around her and comforted her. Their voices filled her with happiness, but it wasn't enough to fill the empty void in her heart, which only the passage of time could mend.

"Miss Angelica, please don't cry. Her highness is only going up there for you," Ancil said.

"You don't understand," Angelica said. Her weak voice trembled like her fragile heart. "Mistress is cunning, but she has never once been this optimistic. I know her, and she wasn't telling the whole truth."

"Angelica is right," Specria sighed and said. "What about you, Ocupas? Why don't you ask her out?"

"It would ruin the moment if I got rejected, wouldn't it? Also, I've already gotten my answer."

...

Princess landed on a smooth black surface which stretched towards the horizon which connected the infinite platform to the starless sky. In front of her, a delicate maiden sat on a small, worn-down chair. Her body, bound by countless chains which came down from the Originator above her, remained motionless since the beginning of the era.

She was the maiden whom Princess saw multiple times in her visions. The one bound by chains, bound by promises, and bound by her role, Lady Fate had been here since the beginning, and the end of the era was approaching.

She raised her head to meet Princess. Though her body was weak and feeble, her pupils concealed within them the insight of all secrets. Her understanding yet sorrowful gaze stabbed Princess, who felt nothing except familiarity between herself and Lady Fate.

She walked to Lady Fate, but a weak presence attracted her attention. She turned to the side where Cyania sat. Though her body was crumbling away, she had enough time to meet with her old friend and end the business once and for all.

"We meet again, Miss Cyania," Princess said. A hint of melancholy permeated her surrounding as she shifted her pace towards Cyania.

Cyania, with her hollow eyesockets, raised her head to meet Princess.