Orario. The Astraea Familia's home was Stardust Garden.
It was a district that had been abandoned for years. The once-lively headquarters had been reduced to broken walls and crumbling ruins. Weeds pushed stubbornly through the cracks in the stone, covering the roads and courtyards that had once been there.
When the wind passed through, the grass rustled softly, like the whispers of the dead.
Astraea stood in the middle of the ruins, gazing at those familiar traces, her eyes filled with complicated emotion.
This had once been her home.
The place where she and her children had lived together.
Now, she was the only one left.
Genichi stood behind her, silently watching the goddess's back. He could feel the grief and longing clinging to her, a pain buried so deep in the bones that even time could not erase it.
"Let's begin."
Astraea took a deep breath, then turned to look at Genichi. "What do you need me to do?"
Genichi shook his head.
"Let me try the first method."
He explained, "Fifth-tier resurrection magic requires the body of the person being revived to be intact. But…"
He did not finish, but Astraea already understood.
The members of the Astraea Familia had died too miserably in that battle. Many had not even left corpses behind, let alone complete bodies.
A flash of pain crossed Astraea's eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.
"I know," she said softly. "So you have another way?"
Genichi nodded.
"I have another spell, Heavenly Dominion. It can summon someone who once existed from the river of time."
He looked at Astraea and said seriously, "I can pull them out of the river of time first, then use resurrection magic. But this is only an attempt. I'm not sure whether it will succeed. And…"
He paused, his tone turning grave.
"If it fails, the person summoned may be reduced to dust. Even their soul might disappear."
Astraea's face went slightly pale. She bit her lip, but still nodded.
"I'm willing to try."
Her voice trembled, but her eyes were firm.
"Even if there's only the faintest hope, I want to try."
Genichi looked at her, complicated feelings rising in his chest.
Was this a god's love for their Familia?
Even with a risk like this, she was willing to bear it?
"All right."
He nodded. "Then we'll start with one person."
He raised his hand and began to chant.
"Heavenly Dominion, transform all ages, transform into... Alise!"
As the final syllable of the incantation fell, dazzling light bloomed in the center of the ruins.
The radiance was so bright that Astraea had no choice but to close her eyes.
When she opened them again, a familiar figure was already standing before her.
Alise.
The red-haired girl in her familiar adventurer's outfit, wearing a brilliant smile.
"Huh? Where is this…"
Alise Lovell looked around in confusion. When she saw Astraea, her eyes lit up instantly. "Lady Astraea!"
Genichi walked forward and told Alise about the resurrection attempt.
"Do you want to try?" he asked seriously. "If it fails, you may be reduced to dust. Your soul might even disappear."
After hearing him out, Alise fell silent for a moment.
Then she smiled.
That smile was still bright, as warm as sunlight.
"No problem. I'll try!"
She agreed without the slightest hesitation.
Astraea opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but Alise cut her off.
"Lady Astraea, I know what you want to say, but this is my choice."
Alise said earnestly, "If I can scout the way for the others, if I can give everyone a chance to come back, then I'm willing to be the guinea pig."
Astraea's tears welled up again, but she no longer stopped her.
Genichi looked at Alise, a trace of admiration flashing through his eyes.
This girl truly was brave.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
Alise took a deep breath and nodded.
"Do it!"
Genichi raised his hand and began to chant.
"Fifth Tier: Resurrection!"
A golden light shot from his palm and enveloped Alise's entire body.
The light was warm and sacred, as though it could drive away all darkness.
Astraea held her breath, watching the scene nervously.
The light lasted for several seconds before slowly fading.
Alise stood in place, unmoving.
Nothing had changed. As Genichi canceled the spell, Alise's body gradually turned transparent and began to disappear.
"Looks like… it failed."
She looked softly at Astraea. "I'm sorry, Lady Astraea. I let you down."
"No. No, it wasn't your fault…"
Alise turned to Genichi next and smiled faintly.
"Genichi, thank you for giving me this chance. Even if I couldn't truly come back, I'm already satisfied."
Genichi remained silent and did not answer.
The ruins fell quiet again, leaving only the rustle of wind passing through the weeds.
Astraea opened her mouth, wanting to say something, only to find that no words would come.
Her heart was full of regret.
Then Astraea turned and looked at Genichi.
Those divine eyes clearly held disappointment, yet she still forced out a smile.
It was strained and bitter, but so gentle it made his heart ache.
"It's all right."
She spoke softly, walking forward and gently taking Genichi's hand. "It's all right."
Genichi looked at her, suddenly not knowing what to say.
"You already did everything you could."
Astraea continued, her voice gentle yet firm. "I know you truly wanted to help me. It's just that fate is not ready to let them return."
Genichi looked at her, complicated feelings surging in his chest.
He wanted to say something. He wanted to comfort her. He wanted to tell her there were still other methods.
But when the words reached his lips, he found that he could not say anything at all.
In the end, he only nodded softly.
"All right."
Astraea smiled faintly and released his hand.
"Perhaps…"
She said in a low voice, "Perhaps this is simply my destiny. As the goddess of justice, I could not protect my own children. As a god, I cannot bring them back."
Genichi looked at her in silence for a moment.
Then he spoke.
"I still have one more spell."
Astraea froze slightly and turned to look at him.
Genichi's expression was solemn and serious.
"That spell consumes a great deal of energy. I'm not sure whether I can use it, but I can try."
A trace of hope flashed in Astraea's eyes, only to be replaced by worry.
"Will it hurt you?"
Genichi shook his head.
"No. It just costs a lot. It may drain all my magic."
He paused, then looked at Astraea.
"Do you want to try?"
Astraea was silent for a moment before slowly nodding.
"Try it."
Genichi took a deep breath and began to chant.
"Ninth Tier: True Resurrection!"
As the final syllable fell, a massive magic circle unfolded in the center of the ruins.
Its complexity surpassed any magic Astraea had ever seen.
Countless runes flowed through it. Countless lights shimmered within it, as though the entire sky had been reflected in dazzling brilliance.
The light grew brighter and stronger.
Then, a figure slowly took shape in the center of the magic circle.
First came the outline, then the facial features, then the body.
Alise!
A complete Alise!
She stood in the center of the magic circle, opened her eyes, and looked around in confusion.
"Huh? Where is this…"
Astraea's breath stopped.
She could not believe her eyes.
"Alise?"
Alise turned her head and looked at her. The confusion on her face transformed into joy.
"Lady Astraea!"
She raised her hands, looked at her palms, then touched her face, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"Waaah! I'm alive again!"
Her voice was full of joy, wonder, and a trace of childlike excitement.
Astraea could no longer hold herself back. She rushed forward and hugged her tightly.
This embrace was real.
She could feel Alise's warmth. She could hear her heartbeat. She could feel her breathing.
Alise had truly come back to life!
"Thank goodness… thank goodness…"
Astraea's tears spilled over as she wept with joy.
Alise hugged her just as tightly, tears glimmering in her eyes.
"I'm back, Lady Astraea. I'm really back."
Genichi stood to the side, watching the scene, and a rare smile appeared on his lips.
Although he had nearly exhausted all his magic, and although he was now so weak he could barely stand, seeing Astraea's joyful smile made it worth it.
He had repaid Astraea's favor.
Astraea released Alise and turned to Genichi.
She walked forward and bowed deeply.
"Thank you."
Her voice trembled, but it was filled with sincerity. "Thank you, Genichi."
Genichi shook his head.
"You don't need to thank me. This is what I should do."
He paused, then looked at Alise.
"But right now, we've only revived one person. The others are still waiting for us."
Astraea nodded, hope shining in her eyes.
"That's all right. We can take our time."
She looked at Alise, a gentle smile spreading across her face.
(End of Chapter)
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