The next morning, after not having a second of sleep, I say hello to Reina in the living room.
“Good morning. How are you doing?”
“…”
She silently sits next to me, and puts her head on my shoulder. This is a signal to pat her head.
“Hn…”
I can hear the cheerful chirp of small birds outside.
We say nothing for a while, and spend some quiet time until she moves her head.
“I’m all set.”
She says as she gets up, looking cool and imposing with a fire in her eyes.
She doesn’t look the least bit intimidated about fighting the strongest mage.
“Then let’s go.”
We leave together, and we see Edinburgh leaving with Wil and Zephir.
Her blond hair is fluttering in the wind, and her eyes look colder than I remember.
“Thank you for everything, Arata.”
“…”
She hasn’t called me Arata in a while. She’s been calling me father recently, so I can tell she has her memory back, and I’m made very aware that she’s different.
“But giving me my memories back was a mistake.”
“It wasn’t.”
“…”
Maybe she’ll call me father again.
Even with her memories, I believe we can get along as we did before.
…But it’s up to her.
“Even if your memories made you different, you’re still Edinburgh to me.”
“…Naive boy.”
She whispers, and then turns to Reina.
“I didn’t think you’d challenge me.”
“Really? I’ve always wanted to land a hit on that face.”
“But you never said it, have you?”
Edinburgh provokes her and increases her magic energy a little, but Reina doesn’t back down.
“Yes. That was in the past… But I’ll say it now. I met a lot of people and experienced a lot on this island.”
Reina increases hers too, and glares at Edinburgh.
“I won’t lose to someone who tried to run away by erasing her memory.”
“Fu, fuhahahaha! Let’s see then!”
The moment their magic energies clash, a wall of ice appears between them.
““…!?””
“You idiots. You want to go at it here? You’ll blow away your houses.”
Says an exasperated Wil, and she walks off like she wants us to follow her.
Wait, no one left their homes despite all this ruckus, so could it be…
“I already have a venue and audience for you. If you want to go at it, do it there.”
We get through the forest, and reach the area where the ancient dragons and demon gods usually fight.
Also, there’s a big round elevation I don’t remember being here.
“Hum, Wil? What’s that?”
“Something I did yesterday.”
It’s like a colosseum, that even has spectators.
Actually, there are a lot of people who got here before us, who are sitting down and drinking.
Divine beast people, ancient dragons, demon gods… Even alfar and high elves came from afar…
“This is a bit…”
I know of Reina’s resolve, so I can’t accept this being made into a show.
This is too much screwing around even for Wil, but her eyes are actually serious.
“The environment and place doesn’t matter. All you need to clash your feelings is faith.”
“…”
“And does it look like they care?”
I look at Reina and Edinburgh, who don’t seem bothered at all.
They’re quietly firing themselves up for the battle ahead.
“Go over there.”
Wil points to where Snow is with Tiltue and the great spirits.
She sees us, and starts waving using her whole tiny body.
Mommy! Mommy! She yells as loud as she can, and Reina waves a little.
Snow is about to hop down from the audience, but Tiltue rushes to stop her.
I smile awkwardly, and Edinburgh approaches me.
I wonder what she wants, and she looks up at me with cold eyes.
“Just so you know, I’m not the Edinburgh you knew.”
“…So?”
“You’re Reina’s man, right? Then don’t mind me or anything else, watch her.”
She says, and turns away without waiting for my response.
“Awkward girl.”
“Wil?”
“She’s right, cheer Reina on. That was Edi’s last wish.”
“…Okay.”
By last, she means that the Edinburgh before she got her memories back doesn’t exist anymore.
But what she just said makes me believe she’s definitely not a cruel person.
That said, I have other things to focus on right now.
“Reina.”
“Yes?”
“Snow’s been lonely this whole time, so pamper her a lot when this is over.”
“Yes, of course.”
And with that, I fly to where Snow and the others are.
“Daddy! We can see mommy!”
“Yes. Let’s cheer her on.”
“Yes! Edi said to cheer mommy too. And when it’s over they’ll be friends!”
When did she tell her that?
That’s just like her. I think as a smile forms on my face.
“Daddy?”
“It’s nothing.”
I put Snow on my lap as we look down at them facing each other.
It looks like Wil will be the referee.
I’m sure she’ll stop them before any big problems happen.
And then… It begins.
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I am rooting for Reina. Thanks for the treat.