Return to the mainland

Viola waits in anticipation at the harbor where Amy could arrive at any moment. Even though the new school year just started, she was given permission to skip class to go meet her older sister at the harbor along with their parents. Mother looks a bit nervous while father seems to walk back and forth excitedly.

All this praise about her being the Saintess have been exhausting but she is desperate to meet her sister and tell her everything that had happened. She was depressed to learn that the scrying orb, that Rufus got back, came back in pieces so she couldn't communicate with her.

Both her parents were extremely proud to the point where she hopes that they'll be lenient on her studies but because of her coma, she had to take remedial classes to make up for what she missed and still study for the Dragon Test.

She had never wished even more to have her twin's intelligence.

"Good morning!"

Viola turns to see familiar faces. It was Leon and Rufus. 

Both of her parents greeted him. "We greet the Rising Star." they said.

Viola curtsied out of courtesy in front of her parents then stop to gaze irritably at the boys. 

"What are you two doing here? Shouldn't you be in class right now?"

"It's boring!" Leon whined, "Why be in class when we get to see Ryllis from her trip. She has been gone for more than a year after all."

"Did you get the professor's permission?" Viola asked with a deadpan look.

The boys are unresponsive and even avoid eye contact.

"You two are so infuriating sometimes. Your presence is just going to add to her stress the moment she comes back." she exasperates before realizing something. "By the way, how is anyone going to break the news about her friend?"

That made the pair shiver a bit. After a brief period of no news, everyone was later executed by guillotine with their heads covered in sacks. Viola noticed something strange about it but dismissed it as her own overexaggeration and paranoia. Though she has trouble forgiving the people who put her in a coma, she doesn't hate Selim. She has been suspicious of both Leon and Rufus's involvement but decide it best not to confront them especially since she has no evidence.

Then she felt an approaching presence. She can't see it, but she can sense it. She excitedly turns to the horizon. "She's here!"

Everyone turns their attention to the horizon, but there is nothing in sight until they saw an approaching black dot that gets bigger as it gets closer. After waiting for a bit, they could see the ship and the people on it. Amaryllis stood out the most as she is holding on to the ship bow. After getting a closer look, they are a bit surprised to see how much she had changed. Her clothes are foreign but adventurous and her long flowing hair is tied into long twin braids with small metal rings decorating her hair. She look quite exotic and her expression shows that she is quite happy to see them.

After the boat finally stopped, she jumped off and Amy ran to Viola's arms. "I'm home." Amy says in a happy, reassuring grin while Viola tried not to cry. After leaving her embrace, she went to hug their parents. "Mother, father, I am home."

"My sweet, I miss you terribly." Her mother sobbed and their father while maintaining his composure, is radiating joy.

"I miss you, my little one." He says happily.

Leon and Rufus decided to let the family enjoy the moment now that she finally arrived. Everyone quickly got off the ship and just in time, their families and fellow workers came to greet everyone else.

*

Amy came back to the Anthos mansion where she told them stories of her adventures and all the things she came back with. She is the star of this day as everyone is glad to see her and gave her their undivided attention. She brought back Lisa and asked her parents to employ her as her bodyguard similar to the position that Alina got during her stay in the mansion, and they happily agreed.

Amy is allowed to stay home for a week before returning to the academy. Viola, on the other hand, is going back to the academy tomorrow.

Despite the long trip, Amy has no need to take remedial classes because she had proven that she learned it all and is more than caught up with her studies. In addition, she will be taking fewer classes in her fifth year because she took most of the required courses, so she is in no rush.

She continued chatting through the night until it is time for bed.

Amy missed her home and is glad that she got permission to stay for a bit before returning to the academy for the new school year.

She decided to talk to Viola in private. She never talked about herself at all today especially the part where she became the Saintess.

She didn't even get to knock on her door as Viola said, "Come in."

Amy walked in to see the familiar sight that Viola has set up to calm her anxiety and create a sense of familiarity and tranquility due to her sixth sense. The surprising thing is that she is diligently studying.

"You were never this studious. What's all this about?" she asked.

Viola sighed. "I had to catch up to my studies during my time in a coma and not to mention, I'm also studying for the Dragon's test."

"You're studying for the Dragon's test?" Amy repeated, "That's one of the hardest tests in the country."

Amy knew about the Dragon's test and how difficult it is. She is already in school. Why the heck is she taking this test?

"I know," Viola groaned, "But I promised father I would take it so that he wouldn't drop me out of school."

Amy understood the situation. Amy has gotten severely injured more than once and Viola was in a coma. This all happened during their time in the academy. As a parent, it is their right to drop them out of school if their child's safety is compromised.

"On the bright side, at least this is our final year in the academy. This year, you can go abroad to another academy outside of Solin." she reassured her.

"I guess." Viola replied thoughtfully before looking up, "What about you?"

"I'm staying in the academy all year. I may not have remedial studies, but I already complete the abroad learning part of the curriculum, and I want to see the enchanted forest. I never got to. Who knows, after one semester, I might graduate early."

Viola nodded.

"I heard what happened while I was gone. You purified the entire security system in the academy." Amy marveled. "That is amazing."

Viola chuckled. "I did the dance you taught me. I never felt so powerful." She admitted, "I feel bad for taking the credit of Saintess. If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be able to do all of this."

"No," Amy assured her, "You did that all on your own. I taught you the dance but everything else is your strength. Even I'm not powerful or confident enough to do the dance myself without fearing the possibility of erasing everything around me. You have the ability to selectively choose to erase on a large scale. I can't do that." she says truthfully.

Viola looked a bit embarrassed at this praise. "You are amazing, sis. I just hope that the two of us can be seen as amazing to the world."

Viola then has a reluctant look on her face. "There is something you should know before returning to the academy. Your friend Selim has died."

Amy's expression turned blank. It is difficult to tell whether she is upset about the news or aware of it.

"How did he die?" she asked.

"By guillotine," she explained softly to not upset her sister, "every one of them had their heads covered in sacks so we never get to see their faces."

Amy frowned. That is weird. She knows the truth of Selim and his accomplices' deaths, but they had a public execution?

"There is something odd about this. I just couldn't put it." Viola murmured.

"Say it."

"Their presence shows that it isn't them. I ignored that feeling but I feel like telling you this is right." she says hesitantly.

Amy is confused. They used other people to pose as them? Just what is this? How far are these people willing to hide this?

"That is weird. Thanks for telling me the truth." Amy says with gratitude.

"I admit that I didn't like your friend, but I don't hate him. How can I? He has already passed away and I'm not dead." she said solemnly.

"Selim is a pitiful person all on his own. I won't ask you to understand him if you can't forgive him." Amy said.

"I forgive him. Not just for your sake but for mine as well."

Amy hugged her sister from behind her chair. "Now let's see, I can help you study. You don't need to know everything word for word. You just have to know the important ones that will most likely show up on a test."