OUR PANDORA'S BOX

Dana's appearance had surprised Yukihime, who was immersed in her thoughts and resolving her will to find answers to her questions.

"As I said, I can't let you go any deeper, Kitty. Now is the point where you must stop."

Yukihime looked at her witch teacher with astonishment. Not only was she aware that something was bothering her, but she also had the answers to all her questions. However, it was obvious that she didn't plan to reveal anything. The question was, why? While Dana was someone who definitely wouldn't actively help with her problems, one could say that she cared about her well-being. In that case, the correct answer would be to "let it go." But then, what would happen to this fear she felt? Surely it would fade away, and she would forget it—exactly what she didn't want.

"I'm sorry, I can't. I don't know what it is, but it's important."

"What more do you want? You fought bitterly, you won, all your loved ones are with you. While the men you loved are with others, you feel at peace with the result. Your heart is at peace, and surely you'll be able to find someone good in the future. After all, suitors are not lacking for you."

Yukihime was silent.

"If I tell you that things will be fine, you know it's the truth."

"I know, but..."

"Let me tell you something—you will lose everything. Not just you, everyone around you will be involved, their peace will be destroyed. What you want will not only affect you. Do you want to destroy all that for something baseless?"

"..." she had no words; it really wasn't fair to the others.

"I'll let you think about it. Look for me if you decide, but don't make a selfish decision."

Dana gave a provocative smile and disappeared. She would wait for the response; she didn't want to do anything more. Those who have to decide their future are the same people, mortal or immortal—their lives belong to them. That's why she went and told her what she did, a provocation in the form of a warning.

"(Even so, for her to do something like that... I can't agree.)"

Night fell at UQ HOLDER headquarters, and everyone was dining together at a large table. They started doing this since the battle, as a symbol of unity. Now, everyone considered themselves a family, and a shared moment was an obligation. Yukihime, sitting in the first chair, observed the scene of everyone eating together, enjoying endless joy. Some comrades were discussing, others laughing, some not even talking, but the feeling of warmth was in every corner, regardless of the action being performed. Then she began to wonder if it was really fair to break all this for a whim she felt.

Dana was right. If it was something she shouldn't know or if something happened to her, it was sure that this scene would hardly be repeated. She wasn't vain or conceited, but she knew the place she occupied in the hearts of others.

"Teacher, you don't look well."

"Oh! Boya, it's nothing, don't worry."

"Did it happen again?"

"It's not that. It seems they disappeared."

"Then?"

"Ah! I see that the sweet student is worried about his dear teacher. I didn't know you had that kind of fetish." Even in her concern, the vampire didn't lose her touch.

"Teacher, please stop playing. I'm serious."

"Ahhh," sighing and surrendering, "Anyway, I was planning to talk to you. Come to my room later."

Later that night, a young man entered a room that wasn't his own, not knowing that eyes were watching him while he hid.

---

"I see, so Dana-sama told her that."

"That's right."

"If that's true, it's easy to understand that it wasn't something simple as she thought. But for her to say that it's better to ignore it... then it's not dangerous as long as we don't touch it."

"Yes, but..."

"Exactly because it's something important, it's hard to ignore, huh..."

"..."

"Teacher, maybe if..."

"Let's leave it here, Boya. It's not worth it."

"Well, well, just look at this bat failure being so considerate of others."

"Mother? What are you doing here?"

"Well, I was walking in the middle of the night when I saw my boy walking around. I thought about calling you, but then I saw you entering here. I thought it might be a midnight tryst, so I decided to listen out of curiosity. Sorry."

"You..."

"Mother, please stop joking."

"Tch! Age really changes people. Supposedly, you were a princess with an extremely strong character, and look at you now, making jokes and with a granny's attitude."

"You... Well, maybe it's true. I have a good man and a strong son who protect me after all. It's hard for an old spinster of over 700 years to understand it."

"Enough, both of you, calm down. Stop fighting for no reason. We were talking about something serious."

"You're right, putting jokes aside, I must say I'm very disappointed in you, Yukihime."

"What!? Me?"

"The brave mage who saved us all is now hesitating over something so small. Tell me if it's not laughable. And yet, did you even dare to try to seduce my man? Ha!"

"This is different! Would you put your son, your husband, your unborn grandson in danger?! For something you don't even know what it is?"

"I wouldn't."

"Then..."

"I don't qualify for that, but you do. You saved them all; they love and trust you. They know that what you do is to protect them. So who would blame you? And now, something came up that could ruin everything, but so what. It just means that we're living in a damn lie! Isn't that what we fought so hard to avoid? We wanted to find something real! Then we just have to get up and fight again! Fight until we find what we want! If it's an illusion, we'll break it!"

A voice can be melodious, sharp, deep, hoarse. However, the most important thing is who uses it. This time, this voice brought dignity, courage, confidence, and resolution. It was an angry voice with someone who was giving up and urging them to fight. The owner of this voice was a woman, a woman who suffered and fought—this was the woman of the millennial mage who fought for the liberation and peace of the magical world.

"It's true that I've become a soft woman,