Thinking this, Charlotte suddenly rushed out of the room, ran outside the Night-Glow Tower, and pulled out her magic broomstick, preparing to take off.
Seeing Charlotte run out so hastily, Lillian quickly chased after her.
“Lady Charlotte, where are you going in such a rush?”
“I’m going to stop Yuffie!”
“Yuffie? Was it Yuffie who stole the magic and injured Lady Elsa?”
“That’s right. Yuffie wants to use the very dangerous Soul-Revival Magic. I must stop her from making things worse, no matter what.”
“But it’s so late! It’s too dangerous for you to go alone!”
“I have no choice! Elsa is already incapacitated. I can’t just stand by and do nothing! But don’t worry, even if I go alone, I’ll be back safely!”
“Lady Charlotte, have you never considered that I might be able to help you?”
“Oh? You want to come too, Lillian?” Charlotte looked surprised. After all, Lillian had been her maid for nearly a year. She had almost forgotten that Lillian was originally a character with very strong combat power.
“Lady Charlotte, are you worried that I’ll hold you back?”
“No, on the contrary, I feel much more assured if you’re with me! Alright, time is urgent, Lillian. Let’s go now!”
“Yes, Lady Charlotte!”
Lillian mounted Charlotte’s broomstick, wrapping her hands around Charlotte’s slender waist. Charlotte then gave it full power and flew into the night sky.
“By the way, Lady Charlotte, where are we going?”
“There’s an Everstart Tower north of the academy. That’s the territory of the First Witch, Erin. I believe Yuffie should be there now, preparing the Soul-Revival Magic.”
It was the dead of a long night. The moon was covered by dark clouds, and the entire Tsumuguri City was plunged into darkness.
In the dim city, Charlotte and Lillian flew quickly between the tall buildings like a comet.
Their expressions were exceptionally serious, as if they were prepared for a fight.
“Lady Charlotte! Look!”
After passing a cluster of tall buildings, Lillian shouted, pointing at a distant tower.
That tower was the Everstart Tower they were heading for.
As they approached, the large magic circle set up beneath the tower became clearly visible.
And above the magic circle, a solitary Yuffie stood, gripping her wand, looking coldly at the approaching Charlotte and Lillian.
“As I thought, Senior, you’re here to stop me too?”
****
The surroundings were filled with blazing, unquenchable flames.
A pungent black smoke permeated the air, paralyzing the nerves of the living.
Yuffie lay alone on the floor, staring blankly at the flames dancing not far away.
A seemingly uncontainable fire had broken out at home. She didn’t know why, but from the screams and wails echoing around her, it sounded like the adults in the house couldn’t save themselves.
It was not surprising.
‘I wasn’t left behind on purpose.’
Yuffie reassured herself.
Her body had inhaled too much black smoke. She had no strength left to escape and could only watch as the surrounding flames slowly engulfed her.
If she died here, it wouldn’t matter much.
“Yuffie!” Just as Yuffie was sinking into despair, a voice suddenly called out from the side.
It was her brother, Yuri.
Despite the massive fire, Yuri still rushed through the flames, searching for survivors in the house.
“Brother…”
“Yuffie! Thank goodness you’re alive! Don’t worry, your big brother will definitely save you!”
Encouraged by Yuri, Yuffie’s hope of survival was reignited.
Finally, thanks to Yuri’s relentless efforts, Yuffie safely escaped the fire.
However, Yuri was not so lucky. During the escape, he was struck on the head by a burning roof beam. His life vanished along with the fire.
****
“Brother… wait for me a little longer. I’ll bring you back right away!”
Yuffie muttered to herself with a smile, looking at the boy’s corpse placed in the center of the magic circle.
Just then, a voice suddenly drifted over from the distant night sky.
“Yuffie!”
Yuffie turned her head and saw Charlotte rapidly flying toward her on a broomstick.
“Yuffie! It’s not too late to turn back! Stop your madness! You can’t handle Soul-Revival Magic with your current power!”
“Even you, Senior, say that?” Yuffie’s body trembled slightly.
Yuffie had a knot in her heart that she could never untie.
Why had she survived the fire, and not her brother?
Maybe if her brother hadn’t come to save her, he could have safely escaped the fire and lived a happy life.
But the result was the opposite her brother, the savior, died in the fire, and she, the rescued, was enjoying a happy life.
The result shouldn’t have been this way!
Her brother died because of her!
Therefore, no matter what price she had to pay, even if it cost her own life, she had to bring her brother back to life!
“If you continue to interfere, I will…” Saying this, the tearful Yuffie suddenly gathered her courage, raised her wand, and pointed it at Charlotte. “Even if you are the Senior I trust the most, I will not let you take another step closer!”
Accompanied by a rapid incantation, countless Fire Blasts suddenly shot out from the magic circle beneath her feet, surging densely toward Charlotte.
Seeing this, Charlotte expertly controlled her broomstick, quickly weaving her way through the gaps between the Fire Blasts.
The Fire Blasts exploded wildly around Charlotte like fireworks.
But she remained resolute.
‘Since that’s the case, I’ll stop you for them all!’
However, just as Charlotte was about to fly forward, the white armor suddenly descended from the sky, speeding toward Charlotte.
Charlotte’s eyes filled with horror.
The white armor was approaching too fast. Charlotte barely had time to react. She could only watch helplessly as it lunged toward her.
However, just as the white armor was about to reach Charlotte, Charlotte suddenly tilted her magic broomstick, diving toward the ground.
Lillian, who had been sitting behind Charlotte, did not follow her. Instead, she jumped up and flew directly into the path of the white armor.
“You won’t interfere with Lady Charlotte!”
After saying this, Lillian gently bit her right hand.
Instantly, a bolt of lightning struck Lillian’s body from the sky.
A massive red dragon suddenly materialized in mid-air.
The red dragon let out a deafening roar, then raised its claw, grabbed the white armor’s head, and violently flung it away, smashing it into the wall of the Everstart Tower.