Prologue: The Unfading Promise

 

“Hey, did you know? In the real sky, there’s a 『Moon』 and 『Sun』 floating up there!”

Every day was a treasure.

Among all those treasures, your eyes at that time were as beautiful as blue gems.

“Really!? Elfaria!”

Those sparkling eyes were gazing straight at me.

Your small lips, like flower petals, bloomed into a smile directed at me.

That made me happy too, and as if drawn in, I traced with my finger the 『Book』 you were holding.

It was a tale of a hero seeking the unknown, traveling the world with a mischievous witch.

 

The opened pages were filled with numerous illustrations.

There was a ship of light floating in the cold night.

There was a source of light illuminating the clear morning.

The 『Moon』 and the 『Sun』.

Majestic symbols watching over the world.

Guardians of morning and night.

Blessings bestowed by the grace of light.

A place where legends are born—.

With your bell-like voice reading the book, those two radiant celestial bodies felt like something even more fantastical than 『Magic』.

 

“Things floating in the 『Sky』 we don’t know…”

What floated overhead announcing noon was a mass of light, thin like an eyebrow, drawing an arc.

In the book’s words, it was called a 『Crescent Moon』.

But during the day, the 『Sun』 never wanes, and the 『Moon』 never shows itself.

Even as children, we knew that these weren’t the 『Moon』 and 『Sun』 the book spoke of.

It was a 『Mass of Magical Power』.

Created by the five greatest 『Mages』 of this world, it was the 『Great Barrier』, guardian of the realm.

The 『Boundary Between Heaven and Earth』, inherited since the era of the Witch Queen.

So, perhaps, surely.

Beyond that barrier, behind the false sky, the 『Moon』 and 『Sun』 must exist.

“And you know what? There’s a beautiful 『Sunset』 beyond the sky!”

Then.

As if sharing a precious secret, you pointed to that illustration.

A lone hero standing atop a cliff, sword strapped to his back.

Beyond the horizon he gazed upon was an enormous 『Sun』 about to sink.

“Everything gets dyed in deep red, and they say it’s the most beautiful sight in the world!”

The monochrome illustration alone couldn’t capture such vivid colors.

So I imagined it.

The most beautiful scene you described.

That spectacular view where everything gradually bathes in gentle red.

Surely it was a sight that existed at the edge of the world.

A priceless treasure that only those who reached it could witness.

(Even so—)

I thought then that it could never compare to the radiance before my eyes.

Because your eyes, speaking of dreams, were so dazzling.

Because your smile, yearning for those dreams, struck my heart time and time again.

Because I wished to hold this treasure closer than anyone else, if only I could.

Those feelings that sprouted then remain etched deep in my heart even now.

“If we can reach the top of the tower closest to the sky… if we can become 『Magia Vander』, we might be able to see the 『Sunset』!”

It was already decided.

What else could Will Serfort of that time say to someone like you.

“Then let’s go see it together!”

Your eyes, beautiful like jewels of snow and round with wonder, looked at me.

Your delicate lips, like a gently swaying flower, bloomed sweetly, tenderly, with joy.

“Yes! It’s a promise!”

In that moment when our shared aspirations blossomed and intertwined.

I want to see the 『Sunset』 together with you.

I want to stay by your side forever.

Even if we have to journey to the ends of the world.

Such a trivial child’s wish.

 

And yet, our precious promise that will never fade—.