The Light of Astra and the Shadows of the Past

After Scarlet's interrogation concluded, Sylvia returned to the mansion with her. Looking down at Scarlet, who lay collapsed on the bed as if dead to the world—likely from the sheer exhaustion of everything she had endured—Sylvia gently took her hand. A soft, warm heat radiated from their clasped fingers. It was a warmth that belonged only to the living. Feeling that warmth, the reality that Scarlet had truly returned safe and sound finally sank in. Sylvia let out a sigh of relief and whispered softly,

"...Thank you. For coming back safe."

Once, she had made a promise to Scarlet. She had promised that if a moment ever came when Scarlet needed help, she would do everything in her power to assist her. Yet, when Scarlet actually needed help, Sylvia had been utterly powerless. She couldn't even stand against the Witch when Scarlet tried to sacrifice herself for everyone, nor could she lend any strength to rescue her when news arrived that she was still alive. She had always considered herself relatively strong among her peers, but in truth, she was so hopelessly weak that she could do nothing for her friend.

All her weak self could do was pray desperately to the stars to return Scarlet safely, just as she had done when she was a child. She regretted it so deeply. Despite talking so big, despite promising to help, her only contribution had been prayer.

Yet, perhaps it was precisely because of that deep regret that she had been able to step forward without a moment's hesitation when the time finally came.

"...I'll probably get scolded a bit, won't I? For acting so recklessly on my own."

Sylvia smiled bitterly as she gazed at Scarlet. She knew all too well. She knew the immense weight behind the declaration that the Astra family would take full responsibility if any issues arose. It was not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a statement that a mere figurehead successor, utterly removed from the family's actual power, had any right to make. Although the Elder had let it slide in the moment, disciplinary action or sanctions were bound to follow. Once, such consequences would have terrified her, but losing Scarlet was infinitely more terrifying.

Sylvia leaned down, gently lifting Scarlet's hand and placing it on her own head. Just like the time Scarlet had patted her head, praising her for a job well done. Feeling the touch, the last lingering traces of her anxiety seemed to melt away. Blushing slightly at her own childish behavior, Sylvia spoke to the sleeping girl.

"But I won't regret it. Saying those words. Because I was so happy to be of even the slightest help to you, Miss Scarlet."

The position of the Astra successor was something she had always detested. But today, for the first time in her life, Sylvia was glad she held that title. Because she was the Astra successor, she had been able to help Scarlet. So, I won't regret it. Steeling her resolve, Sylvia quietly stepped out of Scarlet's room.

"...Sylvia, let us have a brief chat."

Hearing the voice of the Elder waiting outside the door, she managed to nod without trembling.

Sylvia followed the Elder to his study. The man who had accompanied her to the interrogation yesterday and now summoned her was the First Elder of the Astra family. As the one involved in the vast majority of the family's affairs—meaning he held the most actual power—his ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠summons made Sylvia quite tense. Though he always wore a benevolent, smiling face, beneath that gentle exterior lay a man who moved solely and ruthlessly for the sake of Astra.

The First Elder usually addressed her with formal politeness, so his casual tone meant that whatever they were about to discuss was strictly private. In the past, whenever he had summoned her like this, it was almost always to point out a mistake she had made in public. On those occasions, Sylvia had always bowed her head and apologized first, but today, she resolved not to. She firmly believed she had done nothing wrong.

Thus, upon entering the Elder's study, Sylvia swallowed her nervousness and sat opposite him, keeping her chin held high. Observing Sylvia, who refused to lower her head even in this private audience, the Elder spoke in his usual gentle, grandfatherly voice.

"...Yes, Sylvia. You said that child is a friend you met at the Academy? And that you allowed her to stay at our mansion because she was in difficult circumstances?"

"...Yes."

"...I see. Indeed, helping those in need is the virtue of the privileged... Be that as it may, the reason I called you here, Sylvia, is to discuss your declaration during the interrogation—your promise to take responsibility."

The Elder's half-closed eyes turned toward Sylvia. She calmly prepared herself for whatever punishment was to come. At best, it might be a stern lecture; at worst, she might be forced to transfer out of Aegis Academy, the school she had insisted on attending. But if that was the price to extricate Scarlet from her predicament, she was fully prepared to accept it.

Yet, as Sylvia closed her eyes and braced herself, the words that reached her ears were entirely different from what she had anticipated.

"Declaring that Astra would take responsibility for that child—you did exceptionally well."

"...Huh?"

At the unexpected praise, Sylvia let out a thoroughly undignified squeak. The Elder burst into a hearty chuckle and looked at her.

"Hahaha! Surely the successor of Astra shouldn't look so utterly flabbergasted by a single word of praise."

"Ah, I-I'm sorry... But what do you mean, 'well done'? I was certain you would tell me I did wrong..."

"Wrong? Far from it. As you said, never forgetting a debt of gratitude or vengeance is the very spirit of Astra. The fact that you acted on that spirit of your own volition is highly commendable. Seeing you stand firm like that will make others realize that Astra is still Astra."

Smiling warmly, the Elder slowly rose from his seat and glanced at a framed frame hanging on the wall. Sylvia followed his gaze. Inside the frame was the motto hung all over the mansion:

The Elder stared at the words and spoke slowly.

"Sylvia, do you know why Astra was once able to flourish as the greatest power in the world? It was not because of our long lifespans, nor our exceptional abilities. It was because of that very spirit. 'Never forgetting a debt of gratitude or vengeance' may sound terrifying at first glance, but beneath those words lies a command to always act righteously. Because Astra will always pursue righteousness and justice, it means we must show boundless kindness to those who work alongside us to make the world a better place. That is why people were always willing to go to any lengths for Astra."

In the cabinets of the Elder's study lay countless records passed down through Astra since ancient times. These were the chronicles of debts and favors Astra had received and repaid, preserved even when the World Tree they worshiped and their homeland, the Eternal Forest, were burned to ashes. The Elder gently ran his hand over the cabinet where those records were kept.

"That was why so many aided Astra during the subjugation of the Wrath Witch, and why our family never truly fell even when our fortunes waned. As long as that spirit remains eternal, Astra will always be Astra."

Turning back, the Elder looked at Sylvia with warm, affectionate eyes.

"Therefore, for the sake of the child who protected you—the successor of Astra and our family's very future—you may use the name of Astra as much as you wish. Sylvia, you have earned that right."

Sylvia found it difficult to process the Elder's warm words. She had always considered herself an outsider within her own family. A mere figurehead successor who was excluded from important family meetings, kept on the periphery, and used only as a pretty face. Believing that was all she was, Sylvia asked in a bewildered voice,

"...Was I not just a figurehead? You never allowed me to attend family meetings, and you kept me completely in the dark about our family's affairs..."

The Elder tilted his head slightly at her question, then offered a bitter, self-deprecating smile.

"...Haha, a figurehead successor? It seems there has been a grave misunderstanding... Sylvia, keeping you in the dark about the family's affairs was never an attempt to ostracize you. It was because you are far too precious to us..."

The Elder hesitated for a moment, looking at Sylvia before continuing.

"...Since things have come to this, I suppose I must reveal a bit of the truth. Sylvia, the Astra family has been wandering in the dark for a very long time. Ever since the World Tree burned and our connection to the star spirits severed over the centuries, we lost our identity. We forgot our spirit. At some point, accumulating wealth and expanding our power became our sole purpose. Everyone believed that was what was truly best for Astra. But a family like that is no longer Astra. It was to the point where I feared we had been abandoned by the spirits for our greed."

A look of sorrow crossed the Elder's face as he gazed at Sylvia. She was the catalyst who had changed Astra. The one who had made them realize who they truly were.

"The one who restored hope to an Astra that had lost its light was you, Sylvia. Seeing the light you possessed reminded us of what it meant to be Astra. We believed that you, and you alone, could lead us back to being a true Astra once more. That is why we chose you as our successor."

The Elder walked over slowly and gently took Sylvia's trembling hand, which was shaking with a tempest of emotions. He looked into her eyes.

"We kept you away from the family's affairs because we needed time. Time to clean up the filthy, underhanded matters that do not belong to Astra. We did not want you, the one who will lead the future of Astra, to be tainted by such things. We wanted ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Astra you inherit to be remembered as righteous and just. We wished to finish sweeping away the filth with our own already-sullied hands before handing it over to you... but we only succeeded in causing you needless heartache. I am sorry, Sylvia."

Sylvia listened quietly before asking in a small, tentative voice,

"...So, I wasn't... meaningless to Astra?"

"...As I have said repeatedly, you are our successor and our hope. And more than that—"

The Elder gently stroked Sylvia's hair.

"Before we are a clan, we are family. To us, you are a precious existence that cannot be replaced by anyone else."

Hearing those words for the first time in her life, Sylvia felt an overwhelming wave of emotion swell in her chest. For some reason, tears threatened to spill over. She sat in silence for a long while, simply feeling the gentle hand stroking her hair.

A short while later, as Sylvia, her eyes still rimmed with red, turned to leave the room, the First Elder called out to stop her.

"Ah, now that I think about it, there was one thing I meant to ask, but it slipped my mind."

"...What is it?"

"We haven't heard a word from Sator lately. I wanted to ask if you had received any contact from him, Sylvia."

Sylvia seemed to ponder the question for a brief moment before replying with a serene expression.

"...I haven't heard from him either. He is always so absorbed in his research, perhaps he simply forgot to keep in touch while focused on his work?"

"Is that so... Very well. You have had a long day, Sylvia, so go on and get some rest."

"Yes. Sleep well, Elder."

After Sylvia bid him goodnight and left, the First Elder sat alone in his study for a long time until a call came ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠through.

"Yes, Second Elder. What is it?"

"No. I have reviewed the information, but I have not verified it yet. I shall have to do so shortly."

While speaking, the First Elder tapped a specific corner of the cabinet. With a low rumble, the cabinet slid aside, revealing a hidden compartment concealed behind it. He pulled out a document from within and slowly scanned the text written upon it.

Reading down the document, the First Elder picked up a magic tool that resembled an ordinary stone sitting beside the papers. Its effect was simple: it would glow if a Witch's Heart Fragment came within a certain radius. As he stared at the magic tool, the Second Elder's voice crackled through the line.

"...If that is the case, then what must be done is already decided."

The Witch Weaponization Project. That was, without a doubt, one of the darkest sins they had committed in the past—one that must never be revealed to the world. Furthermore, if the existence of that failed experiment threatened to hold Sylvia accountable in any way... then no matter if she was the savior who had rescued Sylvia, she was nothing more than an obstacle.

The First Elder recalled the vow he had made when Sylvia first showed them the starlight as a child. He had resolved that all of Astra's filth would be swept away by their own dirty hands. In the future Astra that Sylvia would lead, the sins of their past could not be allowed to exist.

"...As we have always done, we must quietly clean it up."

With that reply, the First Elder picked up the document that must never be exposed to the world and quietly set it ablaze. The photograph of the red-haired girl attached to the file silently burned away into nothingness.