Outside the Veiled Maze, Phoebe of Elysium was still crying her eyes out as she was now being consoled by both Linnette and their elder sister, Faeryn.
"They just took it from us and went away. They didn't even let us play a little more!" she cried.
"Phoebe, you're allowed to keep playing even if they collect your Token," said Faeryn, placing her hand on her babyish sister.
"It's just not fair!!"
Faeryn exchanged a glance with Linnette and sighed. "Alright, that's enough. It's not anything to cry about. You can play the game better next time, you just have to train with your Turtlebear a little more."
With quieter sobs, Phoebe began to dry her tears.
"Let's return home. The magic bunny egg harvest is beginning today, and I have a dungeon to clear. Stop crying. Come now."
Wrapping her hand around her little sister, Faeryn led them forward. They only took a few steps when an explosion caused them to halt and recoil in fear.
Bursting through the crumbling stone wall of the Veiled Maze was Celestia atop her Winged Pegasus. With her eyes blazing with urgency, she barely slowed as they exited the game arena, soaring into the open air and climbing higher.
Aeric's Silverwolf was next, it bounded after them before leaping into the sky as it immediately activated Silver Road, creating a shimmering land on the air as it sped forward on top of it.
Strapped securely on its back was Aeric of Starlight who looked almost lifeless.
The Daughters who had partaken in the game emerged from the Maze's twisting paths one by one, stopping at the edge to watch Celestia and Aeric's beasts' silhouettes disappear into the horizon.
They were all silent watching them go. But for Rosette, she clenched her lips and fists, struggling with her own morals.
In the sky, Celestia led the Silverwolf. She was flying straight to the nearby healer's quarters, her gaze fixed on the distant building as she kept glancing back at Sylver and Aeric who was on his back, pleading loudly to him, "Hang on, Aeric. Just a little longer..."
Aeric wasn't even fully sure what was happening. All he knew was that he couldn't move. There was a slight pain in his bones and in his mind, leaving him in a hazy state.
He could only catch fragments of her words, each one like a faint pulse in the blur around him. Then, a flicker of light filled his vision, and the system's familiar interface appeared before him.
[Reward Allocation for Winning the Heart Hunt Challenge]
Aeric turned to her and stared into her eyes. For a moment, silence settled between them, their gazes holding. He was even worried for a second that they were going to kiss.
And it was getting more likely the longer their gaze lasted.
Then, Celestia cleared her throat and broke the tension finally. She straightened, looking toward the door like she was supposed to be somewhere else. "I... I have to go now. I just wanted to be here when you woke up. But I need to return to my Region."
Aeric felt himself frown, feeling disappointment and heartbreak that he wasn't going to see her for at least the rest of the day.
"Okay, okay. Maybe we can have that walk tomorrow then," he said, his voice light, though his crimson eyes held the hope that she'd agree.
Of course she did, with that her beautiful smile as well. "I'll be looking forward to it." She rose, adjusting her brown clothing as Aeric watched.
Hells. He'd been staring at her face for so long that he barely even noticed how curvaceous she was. Look at those thighs! That ass! How is her waist so slim?!
As though she knew he was staring, Celestia turned to him and smiled. "Your Silverwolf's outside. I tried my best to keep him calm, but he's really worried about you."
"Oh, okay." Aeric said thoughtfully. 'Worried about me? Is our Synergy increasing?'
"See you tomorrow, Aeric," Celestia said, and with one last glance, she slipped out the door, leaving the room in quiet stillness.
"You too," he muttered, staring at the ceiling above.
Once he realized he was alone, his face squirmed with shame. 'You too? Why the hell would I say that? That's not what she wanted to hear. Wait, what did she want to hear? Was she trying to get me to....'
He continued with this thought of ramblings, when he heard the door reopen. At first, he thought that Celestia had returned.
"Oh, you came back— huh?"
But then he saw that it was a woman who had stepped in, carrying a shallow basin filled with a glittering silver liquid. She looked to be in her fifties with chestnut-colored hair neatly pinned back, a streak of silver in her bangs framing a face etched with wisdom and calm resolve. She wore a healer's uniform, a soft gray robe tied at the waist, with a modest white cap covering the back of her head.
Aeric's brow furrowed as he looked at her. 'Who's this? And why do I feel like I've seen her before?' "Are... you the healer?" he asked, his voice filled with hesitation.
The woman looked at him with an emotionless base. "Yes," she replied, her voice warm but composed. "Let's see how you are doing now, young Son of Eros."