Cathedral of Radiance.
At late night, it was a far cry from its daytime solemnity.
Only two candles were lit on the candelabra, their flames flickering in the draft sweeping through the hall.
Beatrice sat in her high-backed chair, which was far too large for her, legs dangling and toes swinging back and forth.
She wore a translucent silk nightgown, her floor-length silver hair cascading down both sides of the chair back. Her golden eyes shimmered in the candlelight as she beamed at the two people entering the room.
“Oh~ You're here, you're here~”
She hopped down from the chair, her bare feet sinking into the plush carpet as she trotted over to them.
Her golden eyes swept from Esper to Eladia, then back again.
“Mhm, you look like you're in high spirits~ And it seems Her Holiness the Saintess has recovered quite well too~”
Her tone was as light and casual as if she were chatting with a next-door neighbor.
It was as if the entity who had wielded three Authorities and dragged the sun from the sky three days ago had never existed at all.
Eladia stood half a step behind Esper, her fingers still clutching the corner of Esper's clothes.
Beatrice glanced at that hand and tilted her head.
“Since Esper plans to shoulder the Saintess's life, Beya can't exactly stop you~ After all, Beya is very open-minded.”
She smiled sweetly.
There was neither malice nor goodwill in that smile.
Esper couldn't see through her.
“...What have you been doing these past three days?”
“Oh? Esper actually wants to know about Beya's itinerary?”
Beatrice clasped her hands behind her back and leaned in slightly on her tiptoes.
“Could it be that Esper likes Beya—”
“...”
Esper sighed.
Beatrice giggled a few times, retreated to her chair, sat down, and swung her crossed legs.
“So, why did you call us here?”
“Well, first of all, to praise you, of course.”
She narrowed her eyes, resting her chin on the back of her hand.
“To think you could go that far—even Beya was quite surprised. To actually achieve compatibility with the Authority of 『Wisdom』 under those circumstances is truly remarkable.”
She clapped her hands.
“But putting that aside.”
Her tone suddenly became slightly more serious.
Though her level of seriousness only shifted from “completely playful” to “just a tiny bit earnest.”
“What I want to talk about is the Abyss Expedition.”
“...Mhm.”
“Since the schedule isn't set yet, Esper needs to work hard to train and become stronger during this period. Your current level is definitely not enough. This time, Beya only used Rank Seven power, and you almost died.”
She raised her index finger and wagged it from side to side.
“The things in the Abyss are much more terrifying than Beya.”
Esper nodded silently.
“Beya will help out later too~ After all, the Abyss Expedition is everyone's business. Keep it up, keep it up!”
She balled her hands into fists in a cheering gesture, a brilliant smile on her small face.
“...”
“Alright, that's enough for now. Beya feels a bit bad for calling you over in the middle of the night anyway, so hurry back.”
She hopped off the chair, making a shooing gesture.
“Go on, go on—”
“Beatrice.”
The movement froze.
The golden eyes turned to Esper.
“Eh?”
“Someone asked me to pass on a message to you.”
The air in the room shifted.
Beatrice's smile remained on her face—intact, sweet, and bright.
But her entire body had gone completely still.
“...Who?”
“Dante.”
Her golden pupils contracted.
It was a very slight contraction. If Esper hadn't been standing so close, she likely wouldn't have noticed it at all.
“...Beya doesn't know that name, you know?”
The smile remained.
Her voice was still sweet.
But something was wrong.
“You do.”
Esper continued.
“The person who gave you the name Beatrice. The person who has always remained in your memories.”
Beatrice tilted her head.
The smile remained.
But she did not speak.
Esper took a deep breath.
“She told me to tell you that she's already tired of watching the 'fun' you've been looking for.”
Silence.
Beatrice stood there barefoot, her long silver hair draping onto the carpet, her golden eyes fixed on Esper.
The smile was still there.
But it no longer looked like a smile.
It looked like she was crying.
“There is one more thing.”
Esper delivered the final line.
“'Stop tormenting the living for the sake of the dead.'”
And so, a long silence fell over the hall.
“...”
Beatrice turned around.
She walked back to the high-backed chair, climbed up, sat down, and curled her legs beneath her.
Her long silver hair slid across the seat, obscuring her profile.
“...I understand.”
Her voice was just as light and cheerful as before.
“Ahem, go on back and rest~ Beya is getting a bit sleepy.”
But she did not turn around.
Esper could not see her expression.
“Let's go.”
She took Eladia's hand and turned toward the door.
As they reached the door, a voice drifted from behind them.
It was very soft.
“...Esper.”
She stopped.
“That name... Beya really doesn't know it. But...”
A long pause.
“Thank you.”
Esper did not look back.
She led Eladia out of the Pope's private chambers, the door clicking softly shut behind them.
Only the sound of their footsteps echoed in the corridor.
Eladia leaned in from behind, resting her face against Esper's back.
“...Esper...”
“Mhm?”
“Those things you said to Her Holiness the Pope... what did they mean...?”
“...Just what they sounded like. I don't know any deeper meaning either.”
“I see...”
She didn't press further.
She only squeezed Esper's hand a little tighter.
Their shadows stretched long in the moonlight, reaching all the way to the end of the cathedral's corridor.
Outside the window at the end of the hallway, the autumn night sky was clean and clear. The stars were visible, shining so brightly they almost seemed unreal, as if someone had scattered a bag of crushed diamonds across deep blue velvet.
As Esper took step after step forward, Eladia's warmth flowed continuously from her palm, making even the late autumn night wind feel a little less cold.
Rate on N.U.
