Black Building (2)

“Ah!”

At Heilou’s command, a sinister mass of black fog—like night itself given form—surged forward and swallowed the aberration whole.

Since every feather composing this dark mist bore an unnaturally sharp edge, any enemy ensnared would experience, on a physical level, the cruelest punishment in the world—death by a thousand cuts.

“Graaahhh—!”

The monster shrieked in agony as it was enveloped and consumed by [Kouga].

But the torment didn’t last long. Soon, when the black fog dissipated, all that remained was a mangled, mutilated corpse—so thoroughly flayed it could no longer even whimper.

The sight made several nearby magical girls instinctively frown; one even turned away, dry-heaving.

For these battle-hardened heroines, combat was as routine as eating or breathing.

Yet just as some people can tolerate certain things while others cannot, even among warriors, such grotesque, brutal methods stirred discomfort.

“Mission’s done. I’m heading back.”

After collecting her mana crystal, Heilou gave a brief nod to her teammates and turned to leave.

“…Her fighting style’s disgusting. Makes me want to puke.”

“Can we request a team reshuffle? She’s impossible to coordinate with—I’m scared she’ll slice me by accident.”

Heilou felt the cold stares from her so-called “teammates” burning into her back. She heard their harsh words too.

At first, such remarks had left her heartbroken, wounded, confused. But now, none of it mattered.

Because for her, as long as one person believed in her, one voice of encouragement was enough to let her endure every injustice and scornful glance.

“Senior Sandalphon… I will…”

“Wait—me?”

Though lately, she’d often felt a strange sensation after transforming or fighting, this time it was especially intense.

It was as if a hole had opened in her soul. Without warning, something vital had bled out through that wound. A deep sense of loss overwhelmed her, making her dizzy and disoriented.

“Who… am I…?”

In the vast emptiness, someone was quietly crying.

The fallen angel wings sprouting from her back curled around her completely. Black feathers, hard as metal, sealed her off from the outside world—just like the fortress she’d built around her heart.

“I found you… thank goodness.”

Suddenly, a voice pierced through the isolation.

Slowly, Heilou shifted her wings, opening a small gap in the barrier she’d created.

Then, softly, several pure white feathers drifted down from above, landing gently in her arms.

“…Senior!?”

Recognizing their owner, Heilou could no longer hold back. Overwhelmed with emotion, she clutched the white feathers tightly and buried her face against Sandalphon’s chest.

‘Senior… we’ve been deceived…’ she sobbed.
‘The new contract…’

“I see,” Sandalphon murmured.
“I think I understand now.”

She gently stroked Heilou’s silver hair, golden eyes glowing with quiet, smoldering fire beneath.

“Somewhere along the way, everyone started de-transforming one by one. We gradually forgot everything about our lives as ordinary humans. Names, addresses, schools, classmates, friends… all of it slipped away. I’m the same… What do we do now? Are we just supposed to stay like this forever?” Heilou cried.

“This isn’t your fault. The new contract…”

In that moment, Sandalphon finally understood why, despite a supposedly superior new contract being introduced, nearly all new recruits still signed the old, first-generation version.

Perhaps the [Magical Kingdom] had conducted repeated trials and discovered critical flaws in the new contract. After limited testing, they quietly scrapped the so-called “2.0” version.

But what about those who had already signed? Were they just to be abandoned—discarded like failed lab rats?

Sandalphon clenched her jaw, struggling to suppress her fury and sorrow.

Because more than rushing off to confront the [Connectors], she knew—right now, her place was here. To stand by Heilou. To support her. To give her strength.

After crying for a while, Heilou slowly pulled back from Sandalphon’s embrace.

“Senior… actually, I can’t transform back anymore.”

As she spoke, she lightly placed a finger on the faceted gem at her chest.

The gesture—normally signaling the end of transformation—stirred nothing. Heilou remained in her magical girl form, her exhausted face twisting into a hollow, despairing smile.

“It started a few days ago. And… I’ve already forgotten my real name. What was it again?”

She murmured, straining to recall fragments of her past life.

After a long silence, she shook her head, eyes glazing over.

“Your name is…”

Sandalphon leaned close, whispering the name directly into Heilou’s ear.

“It’s no use, Senior.”
“Our memories… they only seem to last for a short time now. I’ll probably forget again soon.”

Still, even if temporary, the joy of reclaiming something precious calmed Heilou’s trembling heart.

“It’s okay,” Sandalphon reassured her.
“When you forget, I’ll come back and remind you.”

“But what if… I forget you, Senior? What then?”

Heilou lowered her gaze, voice tinged with quiet sorrow.

“Then…”

Sandalphon paused. Then, softly, she said:
“I have a good idea.”

“A good idea?” Heilou asked, puzzled.

“Quick—do that thing you did just before I arrived.”

“What thing?”

“That one—spreading your wings and enclosing yourself inside.”

As she spoke, Sandalphon pressed closer to Heilou.

When the massive black wings once again sealed them off from the world, Sandalphon was fully enclosed within.

“Whoa, it’s so dark in here…” she remarked.

“Senior, what are you doing?” Heilou asked, bewildered.

“Just wait a sec.”

Suddenly, light bloomed in the darkness. The source—the colorless crystal atop Sandalphon’s magic wand.

“You can use a weapon like that?” Heilou couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Hehe. Isn’t it convenient? Oh, watch this—something cool.”

With that, the crystal began pulsing like a breathing light, shifting smoothly through a spectrum of colors.

Huddled together in the dark, the two girls gazed at the shifting hues with childlike wonder—like kids hiding in a secret base, giggling at the simple joy of shared light.

“Oh right—I almost forgot the main point!” Sandalphon slapped her thigh, then raised her wand.

“I want to carve something—like this.”

A soft beam shot from the colorless crystal, tracing a faint line along one of the bare wing bones where no feathers grew.

Once finished, she turned off the light. Darkness returned.

Yet because of the contrast, the faint mark now glowed dimly in the void.

Like a distant star glimpsed in a vast night sky—tiny, yet impossible to ignore.

The glowing shape spelled out Heilou’s human name.

“I carved your name into your wing.”

“Look—”

Sandalphon pointed to the mark—a thread connecting past, present, and future.

“Now, whenever you feel lonely or sad from forgetting, whenever you want to shut yourself away… you’ll always see it.”

“This… is probably the last thing I can do for you,” Sandalphon said.

“Se-Senior!?”

Joy lasted only a heartbeat. Panic crashed over Heilou as she reached out wildly into the dark.

“I’m here.”

Sandalphon took her hand. At the touch, Heilou’s fragile nerves finally relaxed.

“Senior… are you joining the [Expedition Force]?”

“No,” Sandalphon shook her head. “I wanted to go. But there’s something even more important I must do.”

Something more important?

“I have to save someone important—even if it costs me everything. That doesn’t matter.”

Sandalphon’s voice was calm, carrying the serene acceptance of one who has embraced her fate.

Only when a soul is freed from confusion and fear can a person carry themselves with such peace.

Heilou knew—no words of hers could change her senior’s resolve.

“Someone important… I see…”

So it’s not me.

Unaware even to herself, a dark emotion churned within Heilou’s heart.

She mistook it for grief over parting, refusing to acknowledge the raw, selfish truth buried deep inside.

“Heilou, listen—if I’m ever gone…”

“Senior!!”

Heilou cut her off—forcefully, but only for a second.

“Please… don’t say things like that, okay?” she begged, voice trembling on the verge of tears.

“Heilou, no one stays together forever,” Sandalphon said gently.

“No matter how dear a loved one, how close a friend, everyone eventually says goodbye. Even us—we’re no exception.”

“So…”

“So?”

“So… let’s start getting used to that feeling. Starting with me.”

When Heilou awoke from deep slumber, she could still feel the phantom warmth of gentle fingers stroking her hair.

Though she knew it was just a dream—or perhaps a memory already fading—it didn’t matter.

That warmth in her chest, born from a forgotten past, had not vanished with her recollection.

As usual, the first thing she did upon waking was check her memories.

From the collar of her black silk pajamas, several feathers floated out, arranging themselves into a sheet of paper suspended in midair.

Heilou touched it lightly, reading the recorded notes.

“Oh? Already fought the Flower’s Heir? And…”

She turned her gaze toward the other side of the room. Bai Mian lay quietly on the couch, breathing steadily.

“Time to wake up, Mr. Menglimo.”

She extended a single finger. With the slightest tap, she dispelled the magic Lao Lin had placed on Bai Mian.

“Where… am I?”

Bai Mian blinked groggily around the room. Upon seeing Heilou, she jolted awake, instantly assuming a defensive stance.

“The time has come to fulfill our agreement,” Heilou said calmly.
“Come with me.”