Sun-Greeting Flower
"Clana."
"Even in my dreams, I wanted to beg for your forgiveness, but you never once appeared in them. So I thought I'd never get the chance to be forgiven or even apologize until the very end..."
"Clana, calm down."
As Frey looked pityingly at Clana, who wore a vacant expression, and cut her off, she—who had been desperately continuing her story—quickly clamped her mouth shut and began watching his reaction.
"Haa... This is all just a trial anyway, and everything will go back to normal once it's over..."
Her haughty, dignified demeanor had long vanished, replaced by the broken shell of a woman shattered by excessive stress and trauma. Frey let out deep sighs as he muttered to himself.
"Y-Yes? What did you say?"
For some reason, his words hadn't reached Clana.
"It's nothing. Anyway..."
But Frey paid no mind to the strange phenomenon and looked at Clana as he spoke.
"...What's wrong with that hand of yours?"
"Ah, ahh..."
Clana began her tale with a terrified expression.
"Wh-When I... dissected your corpse... when I stabbed your heart... the sensation of Serena going limp in my arms... it won't go away..."
"...I see."
"H-Hiiik! I-I'm... sorry... I'm so sorry!"
As he reached out to her, Clana freaked out and wrapped her arms around herself protectively.
"Ah, ahh... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry..."
She bowed her head frantically in apology. Not wanting to repeat this vicious cycle any longer, I quickly grasped her hand.
"Hiiik!?"
Feeling the warm heat in her palm, Clana flinched, and Frey gazed at her as he began to speak.
"I may not be able to touch you directly... but since I can use Star Mana to some extent, I'm glad I can at least give you this warmth."
"Y-You..."
"So, have you calmed down now? Princess?"
"You... you're really Frey..."
Only after realizing that the Star Mana she had felt from Aria was enveloping her hand did Clana understand that the man before her was truly Frey.
"H-How did you appear again...? Did you resurrect...? Ancient magic...? Or are you really a ghost...?"
"...I can't tell you that. Even if I wanted to, it doesn't seem to reach you."
Frey answered her in a low voice, then put on a serious expression and continued.
"But what I can say for sure is that I'm the real Frey... and even if it's only for a limited time, I've appeared before you like this."
"Ah..."
Hearing that, Clana spoke in a trembling voice.
"Come to think of it, others have said recently... that you appeared to them in illusions or dreams for a short while..."
"I explained it that way to most people... but lying to someone drowned in guilt like you would only make things worse."
"Ahh..."
Clana's eyes began to quiver at his words.
"That means... in the end, you'll disappear again soon?"
"........."
Though she asked, Frey simply stared at her silently.
"Frey... I... I..."
But Clana already knew the answer to her own question.
"I'm sorry... ugh."
Thus, though she tried to do what she'd longed for in her dreams for so long—what she'd craved so desperately—
"Ughhh..."
Her mouth wouldn't open, and she could only let out pathetic groans.
For some reason, even though this was her final chance to apologize to the real Frey before her.
And her final chance to receive his forgiveness.
Did she even have the right to apologize? After ruining the world—everything—did she deserve forgiveness? Guilt and the pangs of conscience gripped her ankles with unyielding force.
"S-Sorry...!"
But if she couldn't apologize here, she—who was destined for hell—would never get another chance to apologize to Frey in heaven.
So Clana mustered all her strength to convey her apology to him, but...
"...It's not your fault."
Warmer than the heat in her hand, Frey's words enveloped her.
"It's what you said when you found me collapsed in the forest, sobbing uncontrollably, and what I wrote at the end of my will."
"Ahh... ah..."
"But from the way you're acting now, it seems you've forgotten."
With those words, Frey increased the output of his Star Mana, soothing Clana's hand, which had begun to tremble again.
"No... Frey..."
Stunned by his consideration for a moment, Clana soon shook her head and said,
"This is no one's fault but mine... my own mistake... I killed you... and Serena died because of me. Because I lacked the ability to defeat the Demon King's army, because my leadership was insufficient..."
"Listen carefully to what I say from now on, Princess."
As Clana started to spiral into panic again, Frey cut her off and spoke in a gentle voice.
"I killed you in the previous loop, I ruined the world, and I deceived you in this one."
"........."
"The world is unfair, not you. So..."
"...After you died, a lot happened."
As Clana interrupted and began her story, Frey stopped and quietly listened.
From his experiences so far, he knew that in situations like this, silent listening was best.
"The Demon King's mocking declaration of war was broadcast across the entire empire via amplification magic. Within days, all imperial citizens learned the truth."
As she said, the entire empire had been plunged into shock for a time.
They realized that Frey—whom they'd hated and despised so much—was the world's only true hero, who had sacrificed himself repeatedly to save it.
The Demon King, who had ridiculed him as a foolish idiot, even magnanimously gave the empire a month's preparation time.
But the Sunrise Empire accepted even that humiliating gesture with gratitude.
Because three people who remembered the previous loop still remained.
The emperor, empress, and their children—who had not only ruined the empire but fallen for the Demon King's tricks—had all died the moment his power fully awakened.
And with three survivors who remembered the previous loop, they believed they had a chance if they prepared well.
But reality was far harsher.
"At first, we won a few battles... Kania, Irina, and I had experienced the previous loop, after all. We knew the Demon King's strategies, tactics, and intelligence."
"I see."
"But... everything changed when the sun went out."
When the sun—which they'd thought would always shine brilliantly—faded powerlessly, people were shocked.
And when the moonlight and starlight they expected to comfort them that night also vanished, they despaired.
They could accept the moon, which reflected sunlight, but they'd hoped the stars would at least shine on them.
But just as the Star Hero could not revive, the starlight did not return, and the empire was plunged into darkness.
"When the sun vanished, bitter cold swept the continent. Weapons froze, and people grew exhausted."
"...Mm."
"And the day my Solar Mana disappeared, I realized it. That the empire... was done."
When Clana's Solar Mana vanished, people saw it as an omen of doom.
Trust in the imperial family dwindled, and the military was no exception.
"In the end, the Demon King led his army to the capital, and we gave up defending the entire empire. The citizens are probably just waiting at the ports for the next ship."
Pausing there to catch her breath, Clana continued, tears streaming down her face.
"I'm sorry, Frey."
"That's why you don't need to apologize..."
"I'm sorry. Truly, I'm so sorry."
Frey, about to say there was no need, fell silent at the voice laced with raw sorrow and sincerity, closing his eyes quietly.
"When the Demon King's sneering voice echoed across the empire for days, when the sun faded helplessly, and when... his army reached the capital, there's something I desperately wanted to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I'm sorry for not knowing. For not realizing your sacrifices and pure heart... I'm truly sorry."
Finally delivering the apology she'd only dreamed of—thinking even in death she couldn't—she still wept endlessly.
"When dawn comes... I'll go with the few remaining imperial knights to stop the Demon King's army."
"...The Demon King's army?"
"Yes, citizens are still at the ports. If we can buy even a few hours—or minutes—it's only right."
"Haa..."
Frey sighed deeply.
"Get up."
"Pardon?"
"We have somewhere to go."
With that, he tossed aside his robe entirely and slowly rose.
"Wh-Where are you going...?"
"Just follow me."
"I-I need to join the army. If we go too far..."
"We'll be back soon, so just come."
Flustered, but yielding to his firm tone, Clana bowed her head.
"Yes. If that's what you want... I'll do anything."
Her hand trembled intermittently as she spoke.
"That hand-shaking—when did it start?"
"Th-That day... the day I learned the truth..."
Looking at her hand with pity, Frey reached out urgently as she seemed about to have another fit.
"Ah, ahh..."
Stronger Star Mana than before seeped into her hand, and Clana let out a small moan as the shaking stopped.
"...I'll hold your hand."
Gazing at her sadly, Frey gently took her hand.
Of course, as a spirit, his hand couldn't touch her.
But with the Star Mana he could use even in this trial wrapped around his hand, Clana felt as if they were holding hands.
"Since you're holding my hand, don't do anything like before."
"...Understood."
She rose carefully.
"Farewell."
"...?"
Before leaving the shop, Clana bid goodbye to the owner who had let her in.
He was likely sleeping upstairs, but he too would soon lose his life, just like her.
Even so, she bowed and placed a gold coin from her pocket on the counter.
"...Let's go."
Glancing sadly around the shop, Clana spotted something behind the counter and stepped outside with a sorrowful expression.
It was a shattered family photo.
- Shoooo...!
"Ugh..."
The biting cold wind pierced her skin.
"Are you alright?"
"Y-Yes... I'm fine."
Yet Clana gritted her teeth and kept walking.
- Shhh...
"...Ah."
Watching her, Frey quietly moved his hand, enveloping her in Star Magic.
A warm glow began to surround her.
"How's that? Better?"
As Clana looked at him with slightly puzzled eyes, he smiled softly and asked.
"Ah..."
That single question of concern from Frey reignited the guilt she'd barely suppressed.
"You... you can't feel cold or warmth. And yet..."
Chucking lightly at her words, Frey placed his hand gently on her head and said,
"But you can feel cold and warmth, right?"
As he cast Star Magic once more, warm starlight danced around her body.
"Why... why are you doing this...?"
"Hm?"
Feeling true warmth in both body and heart for the first time in ages, Clana bowed her head deeply and asked.
"Why are you being so kind to me...?"
Even if he hadn't known, even if it was inevitable, she'd grown accustomed to the cold, resentful gazes directed at her.
Thus, she couldn't comprehend the warmth from Frey—who had more right than anyone to hate her.
"Enough silly talk. Hurry up and follow. We're almost there."
Chuckling at her, Frey led her onward.
"...Huh?"
Finally realizing where they were headed, Clana opened her mouth with trembling eyes.
"This is... this place..."
"Yes, the forest where I got lost looking for the Star-Greeting Flower."
Speaking softly to her, Frey smiled and entered the woods.
"Did you know? A thousand years ago, the hero made an oath here with the princess of that time and the lady of the Moonlight family."
"O-Oath..."
"Yes, the ancient promise that bound our three families for a millennium."
With that, Frey created a small orb in his hand and continued.
"And since that day, rare flowers bloom in this forest once a year."
Moments later, a sparkling orb of starlight formed in his palm. He sent it forward with a smile.
"You know what that is."
"M-Moon-Greeting Flower... Star-Greeting Flower... and..."
"...Sun-Greeting Flower."
Where the starlight orb shone ahead, a Sun-Greeting Flower had pierced through the thick snow.
"H-How...?"
"A gift. For you, who gave me the Star-Greeting Flower and Serena the Moon-Greeting Flower."
"Ahh..."
It didn't matter that they'd reached the forest just minutes after leaving the shop.
It didn't matter how a flower that bloomed only at sunrise had pushed through the snow.
Clana simply took in the lonely Sun-Greeting Flower before her, tears flowing silently.
"They say the flowers born from the oath of our three families hold special power."
Gazing at her intently before leading her to the flower, Frey spoke gently.
"Many have coveted them, but no one has ever gained that power."
As he stopped, the dazed Clana unconsciously reached out toward the Sun-Greeting Flower.
"Of course. Those flowers are the arrangements our ancestors left for the future."
"Ah!"
As her hand touched it, radiant light enveloped her.
It was the sunlight she'd longed for and missed so dearly.
- Zzzzt...!
"Hngh, hng... hngh..."
With an incredulous expression, Clana gripped her hand tighter. As Solar Mana surged from it, she burst into tears without realizing.
"It'll only last a day, but that should help when fighting the Demon King's army."
"Th-Thank... thank... hngh..."
Clana could no longer think rationally.
The sorrow, pain, guilt, and despair buried in her heart for years erupted all at once.
"Thank youuu... truly, truly thank... thank youuu..."
She no longer cared about decorum.
She didn't try to suppress her emotions.
She simply unleashed her pent-up feelings over and over, pouring her heart out to the Frey before her.
"I need you... Frey... I, I... need you so much..."
"Princess."
"I only realized after you were gone... that the empire needed you, not me... and Serena too..."
Sobbing harder than ever, she pleaded desperately.
"Isn't there... really no way to bring you back...? Please... I'll give my life... if needed, I'll sell my soul to the devil... I'll suffer in hell forever, so please... if there's a way, tell me..."
"........."
Yet Frey simply watched her silently.
".........Thank you, Frey."
After weeping for a long while, Clana suddenly stopped and spoke.
"For giving me the gift I needed most."
She had realized it.
"With the power you gave me, I'll save at least one more person."
That their parting was near.
"So........."
- Fade...
With a contented smile, Clana watched the vanishing Frey and said,
"......Farewell, my first subordinate."
At those words, Frey began to scatter as fragments of starlight.
"...........Ah?"
Reaching instinctively for the star shards left by the man who had smiled at her moments ago, Clana soon realized,
"This is...?"
She was lying in bed.
"Frey! Where's Frey?!"
Noticing the warm sunlight streaming through the window beside her, she cried out desperately.
"What is it, Princess?"
"Frey! Freyyy!"
Pale-faced and in her nightgown, she sat up and tried to tell the bewildered servant something, but...
"...Huh?"
"Princess?"
"Um... well..."
She tilted her head in confusion.
"Did you have a nightmare?"
"Ah... I guess so."
As the servant asked worriedly, she nodded quietly, then murmured inwardly,
'...Was it a nightmare about Frey?'
Warm morning sunlight shone on her.