Black Building (1)

“Rosetta, come quick! There’s a new girl here who just signed the [New Contract]!”

“What’s there to get so excited about? A new generation of magical girls isn’t exactly a secret.”

“Aww, so cold. You always act like you don’t care. With that distant attitude, no wonder newcomers are afraid to talk to you.”

“Mm… whatever.”

After a joint operation—composed of multiple magical girl squads formed specifically to combat Class-A or higher aberrations—had concluded successfully, the Magical Kingdom and the [Special Operations Bureau] jointly hosted a grand banquet in honor of all local magical girls and their associates, celebrating the heroines’ triumphant return.

In a quiet corner of the banquet hall, a white-clad magical girl and a black-clad one crossed paths.

“What’s your name?” asked the white magical girl.

“I… I’m Heilou,” the girl replied timidly.

Honestly, she didn’t like her magical girl name at all. Every time a fellow magical girl heard it, they’d react with some variation of:
—Wait, doesn’t that sound kind of evil?

Meanwhile, those with more unique personalities or stronger abilities often got cute, whimsical names like “Flower,” “Bird,” “Wind,” or “Moon”—names that instantly screamed magical girl.

Yet here she was, the most timid and ordinary of them all, bearing a name so striking it felt like a cruel joke.

“Cool!”

The white magical girl responded with genuine enthusiasm.

That pure, unguarded look of admiration made Heilou unable to meet her eyes. She turned her head away, her face flushing bright red down to her ears.

‘Silver hair… wow, that’s so cool. I really envy you.’

“To be honest,” the white girl continued, “I always wanted to be someone like you. But it’s too late for me now. Everyone calls me [Archangel], and I’ve already walked too far down this path. Hehe.”

She smiled softly. Then, as if remembering something, she added:

“Oh, sorry—I’ve been rambling without introducing myself.”

“I’m the magical girl Sandalphon. Please treat me well, newcomer!”

Sandalphon extended her hand toward Heilou with a warm smile.

It was a smile worthy of the title [Archangel]—radiant as sunlight, offering grace and kindness equally to all life beneath it.

“P-please treat me well too, Senior Sandalphon…”

“We’re going to have such great chemistry, aren’t we? Right, Heilou?”

“Senior… we meet again.”

On an open field at the city’s edge, Heilou and Sandalphon began their sparring session for the day.

Personality, background…

Different cities and environments nurtured vastly different styles of magical girls. Yet over decades, certain cultural norms had become nearly universal among them.

One such tradition was the [Senior-Junior Culture].

Magical girls had no schools, no training academies, no barracks. For a rookie to learn and grow, the only way was through direct, hands-on mentorship from a senior.

Thus, in a magical girl’s journey, a senior was equivalent to a teacher. In many ways, even more important—like a parent.

Seniors gave everything to protect and guide their juniors. And in time, those juniors, having inherited their seniors’ skills and spirit, would one day step into the same role, passing on what they’d received.

This was the legacy of the magical girls.

Coincidentally, as one of the newest recruits in the Fifth Ring, Heilou’s assigned mentor during this period happened to be the very same senior she’d met at the banquet just days ago—

Sandalphon.

“By the way,” Sandalphon said, scratching her head with a slightly troubled expression before they began,

“Lao Lin asked me to train you all, but… I’m not really sure how to teach anymore. I mean, you don’t even use magic wands, right?”

“No, we don’t,” Heilou nodded.

“Our weapons are collectively called [Soulbound Items]. I’m not entirely sure why they’re named that… but they’re definitely different from magic wands.”

“Really? What are they like?”

Sandalphon leaned in curiously, eyes sparkling with interest.

“Let me see—what does your [Soulbound Item] actually look like?”

Perhaps because the other girl was standing so close, Heilou instinctively took a small step back.

“Um… that is…” she began hesitantly,

“Senior, my [Soulbound Item]… it’s really ugly.”

“Huh? Ugly? What do you mean by that?”

Sandalphon tilted her head, genuinely confused.

“It’s just…”

Suddenly, without warning, a pair of ominous black wings unfurled from Heilou’s back.

Jet-black, as if scorched by divine lightning. The wing bones jutted out at twisted, jagged angles, piercing the sky like claws.

Legendary fallen angels—the ones said to have torn apart their own glory and divinity—must have had wings just like these, Heilou had thought the first time she saw her own [Soulbound Item].

Because of these wings, even though she had a squad, Heilou preferred to operate alone.

Partly because she feared her wide-area attacks might accidentally harm her teammates.

And partly because she didn’t want others to see her [Soulbound Item]. These dark wings, evoking images of corruption and evil, filled her with deep shame.

‘Why… why was I the only one given such a [Soulbound Item]?’

‘Will Senior Sandalphon look at me differently too, like everyone else?’

As Heilou sank into silent anxiety, Sandalphon had already reached out and placed a hand on the wing, gently stroking along the feathered arm.

“So beautiful. Just like your hair—smooth and soft.”

She murmured in admiration.

The wings trembled involuntarily—just like Heilou’s heart, shaken to its core.

These wings, which even she herself loathed and had barely ever touched, were now being caressed so tenderly…

At that moment, a quiet joy—of acceptance, of belonging—began to bloom within her.

As if wanting to confirm this feeling further, she lowered her voice and whispered:

“Senior… aren’t you afraid?”

“Afraid? Why?” Sandalphon raised an eyebrow, as if hearing something utterly absurd.

“My wings…”

“Hahahaha!”

Sandalphon burst into a bright, hearty laugh.

Then, in a single motion, a pair of radiant, pure-white wings unfolded behind her.

The sudden aura of sanctity and majesty stole Heilou’s breath.

“I love coffee. I love chocolate. I prefer night over day, because it’s so peaceful… See? The things I like are actually kind of ‘dark.’ Does that make me evil?”

Leaning forward, she pressed her forehead gently against Heilou’s.

Golden eyes locked onto crimson. Through skin-to-skin contact, their warmth slowly merged.

“Look at these eyes… so beautiful,” Sandalphon whispered.

“If anyone sees your wings and fails to notice that you’re a girl with such stunning eyes… then they’re the ones truly blind.”