[Music Recommendation: “Dreamy Shards” by Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Cross OST) – available in Spotify or Youtube]

Illuminaire was appalled by the sudden proposal. She wanted to refuse right away, but she was at a loss for words. She knew very well how much he loved Rania and still loved her so much. But to propose to her? Yes, he needed a queen, and she was familiar with the royal protocols but still… to even suggest such a thing. 

But then again, Rania was gone. With the way things were going with him, it would be impossible for him to fall in love with someone else. One way or another, he needed a queen and an heir to the throne in the future. What choice was he supposed to make? At times like these, political marriage would really be the only option.

“Aaahhh…” Illuminaire sighed deeply. “My King, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that today.”

Elliot sighed as well. Then, he sat on the couch in the pavilion and stared at the sky.

“They want you as the queen. And truthfully, there is no better candidate than you.”

“I have always held you in high regard, for you are our king, and you are a dear friend of mine. I didn’t expect for you to be such a jerk at times.”

Elliot chuckled. “Yeah, I am. And I didn’t expect the Oracle to call me a jerk. Ha-ha-ha. Sorry about that. It will indeed be a great burden on you.”

“Exactly,” Illuminaire snorted. “I still want to marry with love.”

“Right. And you should.” Sighing, he continued. “Forget I said that.”

“Oh, I really will.”

“Uhm.”

…

…

…

‘There he goes again,’ Illuminaire thought as she observed Elliot carefully. ‘Staring at the sky… as if he’s waiting for her to come back. But dead people don’t come back. There is no such magic to resurrect the dead. There is only one who could give life, and that is the Supreme.’

Illuminaire then looked at the starry sky with him and prayed earnestly in her heart.

‘Oh, my dear Supreme, Lord of the heavens and earth. Please, help our king, your Anointed King. Give him all the strength he needs to overcome this great ordeal. And… if you would be so kind to—I know you never did it for any Magi before, but… please… like how you resurrected our planet, can you also… resurrect her?’

***

Meanwhile… 

On a place farther than the universe…

Or rather, a place “beyond” the universe…

A place unrestricted by time…

A place where death, sickness, and pain do not reside…

A certain beautiful woman could be seen sleeping on a bed of flowers and grass.

The clear blue sky was her roof, tall trees were the corners of her little house, and the streams of water flowing from the mountain to the land below were her music.

Her eyes were closed but only for a moment. Soon, she was awakened by a voice.

“Rania, wake up. Open your eyes.”

Rania’s eyebrows twitched.

“…Hm? Father?”

“Yes,” He answered. “You have done well, my dear child. You have been faithful and fought a good fight of faith.”

Tears fell from her eyes as she opened them.

“I couldn’t have done it without You.”

“Truly, I am very proud of you, my child.”

Overcomed by emotions, Rania got up and embraced Him. She cried and cried and cried. Each drop of tears contained so many emotions that mere words wouldn’t be enough to explain the gravity of each—the pain, the joy, the gratitude, but also the longing. 

And yet, the Supreme understood it all. Words were never a barrier for Him. He understood her with great depth no one else could.

Gently, the Supreme patted Rania’s head as He embraced her back.

“Hu-hu-hu-hu…”

Rania cried for so long, and the Supreme comforted her until she stopped and smiled at Him. 

After that, they talked—a lot. From questions like “where she was” and “how beautiful the place was,” to “I wonder what happened to everyone,” “Are they all doing fine?”, “Is Elliot alright?” and so many other questions.

The Supreme happily answered them all, and Rania was relieved to know that everyone was doing okay… well, except for Elliot, who was still depressed.

“Haah… That child of mine is really stubborn,” the Supreme jested. “He had been bugging me daily to either take him, too or to give you back.”

“Huh?!” Rania was shocked. “T-That’s… I’m so sorry, Father! It’s because of me! I didn’t explain everything well with him, so maybe that’s why he couldn’t accept it and—”

“Ha-ha-ha-ha! Do not fret, my child. I understand him completely.”

“Oh… of course. He’s just really stubborn, yes.”

The Supreme smiled gently towards Rania, who was then starting to worry about Elliot.

“You seem to still have a lot of worries,” He said.

“That’s… I’m sorry, but yes,” Rania confessed. “I’m—I know I shouldn’t worry, and I know you have everything under control, but it’s just that….”

Reluctant to say the words, she lowered her eyes and head.

“It’s alright. Tell me how you truly feel. I’m not asking because I don’t know but because I want to hear it from you.”

“Father… I truly love being here with You, and there’s nothing more I could have hoped for. It’s just that… I… I miss him. And I miss everyone, too. Somehow, I hope I could spend a little more time with them.”

The Supreme patted her head once more and smiled dearly at her.

“I understand,” He said. “I never meant for you to stay long here in the first place. It is not yet time for you.”

Hearing these words, Rania’s eyes shot wide open. Unable to say anything, she just stared at Him. Unexplainable thankfulness and joy overflowed in her heart that she began to sob once more.

“My dear child, surely you didn’t think that I am the God of the dead, did you?”

“F-Father… hu-hu-hu-hu…”

“I am the God of the Living, and live you should.”

A light came from the tip of the Supreme’s finger, and with it, He touched Rania’s forehead. Then, He breathed life into her once more.

“Go on, my faithful child. Enjoy the fruits of your labor and live happily,” He said. “We shall meet again someday, on your appointed time.”

“Thank you so much, Father.”

A blinding light soon followed.

Rania couldn’t see anything or feel anything.

Until she woke up in a field full of Verus Amor flowers. Their crystal-like petals gave an iridescent glow like the skies above. And their scent filled the air with their soothing fragrance.

Her lips curved into a beautiful smile and said…

“I’m back.”