"So this really is the Avinoleum Theological Seminary." Phoebe covered her mouth lightly, her eyes wide with surprise. "I've only ever read about this seminary in books before. But why..."
The young woman turned around, facing this world where gravity was completely inverted
No, rather than inverted gravity, it felt more like tumbling into a bizarre, surreal dream.
She looked down but couldn't tell whether what she was standing on was solid ground or the unreachable sky.
"Saintess, you... have you really been living here alone for twenty years?" Phoebe's voice was soft, as if afraid of disturbing the quiet, eerie space.
Her violet eyes reflected this completely foreign world, nothing but the silent ruins of the old seminary, not a trace of life anywhere.
Phoebe could hardly imagine what kind of conviction had sustained Cartethyia, keeping her here in this desolate place for twenty years alone.
If it were her, she would have long been consumed by this endless solitude, her spirit shattered...
The corner of Cartethyia's mouth lifted slightly. Her expression didn't betray any particular emotion at these words. She simply placed her hands lightly behind her back and spoke in a very calm tone.
"It's not so bad. I've gotten used to it. Though I do feel lonely sometimes, when I see the people of Ragunna still living happy, fulfilled lives, I feel it's all been worth it."
"Even though, for certain reasons, I've lost most of my memories. I still remember the responsibility I carry. I still remember who I am."
"So you don't need to worry about me. As long as everyone in Ragunna is doing well, that's enough."
Even as she spoke these words, a hard-to-describe, dark emotion flickered in the depths of the young woman's eyes.
She had held her ground here for so long, lost most of her memories, clinging to this place out of sheer instinct and duty.
To say she had never felt lonely would be deceiving herself.
But as the Saintess of Ragunna, Cartethyia knew she could never show the slightest weakness or helplessness in front of others, especially in front of the people of Ragunna. She always had to be the strong, reliable guardian they believed her to be.
"Saintess..." Phoebe looked at Cartethyia, her fingers unconsciously gripping the folds of her skirt tightly. "Why don't you..."
Before she could finish, a sudden wave of dizziness hit her. Her body tilted backward uncontrollably. Fortunately, Ray's quick reflexes caught her small frame.
"Phoebe?" Ray softly called her name. "What's wrong?"
Phoebe's eyes fluttered weakly as she leaned helplessly into Ray's arms. Her voice was as faint as a candle flickering in the wind. "I don't know... I just suddenly feel so tired... so sleepy..."
Before she could finish, the young woman's body dissolved into a stream of golden frequencies, vanishing into the wind like a dream.
"Just like when you left before." Cartethyia came to his side, reaching out to feel the lingering frequencies in the air.
"It seems you haven't truly stepped into this Sonora realm. Rather, you've come here by separating your consciousness from your body's frequency through some special means."
The young woman spoke, gently turning her head to look at Ray, casually brushing a strand of hair from her forehead with a natural, easy motion. "Now that I think about it, you never properly introduced yourself last time. What's your name?"
"Ray." He replied succinctly.
Cartethyia looked a bit puzzled, softly repeating his name. "This name... doesn't quite sound like it's from around Rinascita."
"But never mind. Since you're able to come here, you must have some connection with the Sentinel. You used that tablet to enter again this time, didn't you?"
"Mm." Ray nodded lightly. "It's just that this time, Phoebe and I resonated with the tablet without even realizing it. Before, when I tried to enter consciously, it seemed like there was some interference, probably because of Leviathan."
"Interference? From Leviathan?" Cartethyia paused, then lowered her head and thought for a moment. Finally, a helpless, bitter smile appeared on her face. "I'm sorry. I've lost so many memories, I have no idea how to help you."
Ray watched Cartethyia as she sank into self-reproach. His mind involuntarily drifted back to what Cantarella had told him.
But...
This girl before him, no matter how he looked at her, seemed completely unrelated to the Threnodians, let alone its Resonator.
Cartethyia's every word and action from beginning to end was completely worthy of her identity as the Saintess.
"Cartethyia." Ray asked directly. "Do you still remember anything about the Sentinel and the Threnodians? Are you the Sentinel's Resonator?"
His question was straightforward and direct, without the slightest hint of beating around the bush.
The young woman's eyes flickered with a momentary daze upon hearing Ray's question, a daze that seemed to conceal a fear of certain truths.
Regarding her own identity, Cartethyia had completely lost all memory.
She only remembered that she had once been the Saintess of the Order of the Deep. On the day of her coronation, the Dark Tide had erupted without warning, and she had... made a choice in order to resist the Dark Tide and the Threnodians.
What choice had she made?
She couldn't remember no matter how hard she tried.
But...
She must be the Sentinel's Resonator, right?
At first, Cartethyia had believed this without a doubt.
But gradually...
fleeting images flashed through her mind, faint whispers lingered in her ears, and the bizarre scenes in her dreams all made her harbor an indescribable doubt about her faith and origins.
"...I'm sorry, I really don't remember." Cartethyia's voice was weak, tinged with helplessness. "Now, not only are my memories fragmented, but even my original Resonance ability has vanished without a trace."
"So whether I really am the Sentinel's Resonator... there's no way to prove it right now."
Ray fell silent for a moment, then slowly walked up to Cartethyia, his gaze gentle yet firm. "It's okay. Just follow your heart. How could the Saintess who stepped forward at such a critical moment and saved Ragunna be a bad person? Besides, the people of Ragunna still hold you in great reverence."
"I suppose... that's true." She managed a faint smile, lifting her head again to meet Ray's eyes. "Now that I think about it, you didn't come here again just to chat with me, did you? Or is something wrong in Ragunna?"
Ray shook his head gently. "I came to see you for two reasons."
"One of them is..."
He then told Cartethyia everything he had seen and learned at the Fisalia family estate, holding nothing back.
"So... that's how it is?" Cartethyia rubbed her cool fingertips, a thoughtful look in her eyes. "It seems the Fisalia family has been carrying such a heavy burden. But if... the Fisalia family's Saintess is the true Resonator of the Sentinel, then what am I?"
A nameless fear began to spread through the young woman's heart like a cold wind.
Her voice even trembled slightly as she spoke.
"Am I the Threnodian's—"
"Don't jump to conclusions without solid evidence." Ray firmly cut off the young woman's self-doubt. "Cartethyia, everything you've done so far has been worthy of the title of Saintess. If you deny yourself, Leviathan will seize the opportunity."
"No matter what the truth turns out to be, you just need to be yourself, to be the one and only Cartethyia. That's enough."
Cartethyia's body trembled almost imperceptibly.
She stood frozen for a few seconds, her eyes filled with a sadness and desolation that was impossible to hide, like a spreading night fog. But she remained silent, simply lowering her head, her lips parting slightly as if she had a thousand words stuck in her throat, not knowing where to begin.
Finally, she took a deep breath, trying to calm the turbulent emotions within her. She slowly lifted her head and produced a perfect, flawless smile.
"Thank you," she said. "And the second reason?"
"The second reason?" Ray's expression was perfectly natural as he answered, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Wasn't it to see you?"
"Huh? To, to see me?"
This sudden, direct confession was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, sending ripples through Cartethyia's heart.
A blush quietly bloomed on her cheeks, and even her elf-like ears trembled slightly with shyness.
The young woman opened her mouth slightly, words forming on the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't manage to form a complete sentence.
Finally, she could only look away in a fluster, avoiding Ray's gaze.
'Wh-What is he suddenly saying?
He came here because he wanted to see me, so...
But why? Haven't we only met twice?
Though I'm happy someone likes me, isn't this... a bit fast?
And even though I look young, I'm actually quite a bit older than him.
No, no, this is too rash.'
Ray, of course, had no idea what delicate thoughts were running through Cartethyia's mind. He was even a bit puzzled by her sudden shyness. "Is it that strange? Have you forgotten what I promised when we first met? I told you I would definitely see you again."
"Huh?"
Cartethyia paused for a moment, trying to recall. It seemed... there had been something like that.
But at the time, she hadn't taken it seriously at all. She had almost completely forgotten the casually made promise.
Yet he had...
really remembered.
Cartethyia blinked. "You remember?"
"Of course." Ray's tone was as matter-of-fact as ever. "I always keep my promises!"
Cartethyia's eyes widened slightly as she gazed at the bright smile of the young man before her. In that instant, something seemed to gently fall into the empty space in her heart.
What was that something?
She couldn't answer.
She only knew that it was warm. Like hope.
"It seems my time is almost up." Ray looked down at his gradually translucent body, then back at the young woman before him. "I have to go now. Oh, Cartethyia, is there anything you want? I'll see if I can find a way to bring it in for you."
"Huh?"
That meant... there would be a chance to see him again?
Cartethyia paused, the loneliness that had been spreading through her eyes at the thought of parting suddenly dissipating.
She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and smiled softly at him as he slowly faded away.
"In that case... please bring me a storybook."