Above the Sunken Temple, the ocean sparkled with an otherworldly blue glow.

Jennie stood on the ancient steps of the temple, Leviathan in her left hand and Excalibur on her right.

For a moment...

There was complete silence.

Sea spirits danced around her happily.

Glowing schools of fishes swam between the massive columns of the temple.

The currents themselves felt lighter.

The ocean seemed to breathe in deeply.

Roxy looked at Jennie with sparkling eyes.

"You have two Divine Swords."

Snow said proudly.

"Very few in the history have seen something like that."

Jennie looked at her sapphire sword.

"It still seems unbelievable."

Before she could say anything else—

She heard a familiar voice in her head.

Excalibur.

"Finally."

"You took long enough."

Leviathan answered.

Her calm voice had a slight hint of amusement.

"I prefer to be cautious."

"Unlike certain swords accepting reckless heroes."

Excalibur sounded slightly annoyed.

"Reckless?"

"Leonis was disciplined."

Leviathan answered without a hesitation.

"He challenged dragons for fun."

"That is reckless."

Jennie blinked.

"...You two know each other very well."

Snow chuckled quietly.

"They argued for thousands of years."

Roxy tilted her head.

"They can... argue?"

"They are like siblings," Snow answered.

"As old as the world itself."

Excalibur sighed exaggeratedly.

"You still talk too slowly."

Leviathan answered calmly.

"And you still think before talking."

"Someone must speed up the conversation."

"Someone must make it interesting."

Jennie hid her face behind her hands, trying not to laugh.

"They really are siblings..."

Snow nodded.

"I told you."

Roxy couldn’t stop giggling.

"I didn’t think legendary Divine Swords would bicker."

Several moments of silent humor past...

Excalibur suddenly became serious.

Her golden light brightened.

"Jennie."

She looked at her.

"Yes?"

"Now that Leviathan accepted you..."

"...you should know something."

Leviathan unexpectedly fell silent.

Jennie noticed it.

"What is it?"

Excalibur answered.

"We are incomplete."

Jennie frowned.

"Incomplete?"

Leviathan spoke softly.

"Each of Seven Divine Swords is only one fragment."

Her words resounded in the temple.

Snow slowly lowered his head.

"So..."

"You decided to tell her."

Excalibur continued.

"Before humanity existed..."

"...before kingdoms..."

"...before dragons flew above the skies..."

"...there stood the War God’s Tree."

Jennie widened her eyes.

"The War God’s... Tree?"

Leviathan spoke with a reverence in her voice.

"It’s true name was..."

Gentle breeze went through the temple.

Even sea spirits stopped moving.

"...Alas Ramus."

This name rang in Jennie’s heart.

She never heard it before.

But somehow...

It felt very familiar.

Excalibur continued.

"Alas Ramus wasn’t just an ordinary tree."

"It was the pillar of balance between war and peace."

"Between creation and destruction."

"Life and death."

Leviathan added,

"When the War God disappeared..."

"...this sacred tree broke apart."

"Seven great branches became seven Divine Swords."

"And their purpose was not to exist separately."

Jennie looked at the two swords.

"So..."

"You were..."

"One sword?"

Excalibur laughed.

"Not exactly."

"We were parts of something greater."

Leviathan nodded.

"Fragments."

"Separated..."

"...and waiting."

Jennie remained silent for a moment.

Then she asked a question that was on her mind.

"If you are fragments..."

"Can you be reunited?"

The two swords answered at once.

"Yes."

Roxy gasped.

Snow’s ears twitched.

Jennie stared at them in surprise.

"...Really?"

Excalibur sounded slightly excited.

"Not permanently."

"Not yet."

"But the bearer can temporarily unite compatible fragments."

Leviathan explained calmly.

"A union of wills."

"Not domination."

Jennie slowly nodded.

"So..."

"How can we do it?"

Excalibur sounded almost eager.

"Very simple."

"Call our names."

Jennie blinked.

"...That’s all?"

"Only true bearer can do that."

Leviathan added,

"Names are the contract."

"Your voice will be the connection."

Jennie carefully raised both swords.

"Then..."

She smiled nervously.

"Let’s try."

She took a slow breath.

Sea spirits flew away.

Snow subconsciously moved next to Roxy.

Mana rushed through the temple.

Jennie raised both blades towards the sky.

"Excalibur."

The light burst.

"Leviathan."

Sapphire light responded.

Two Divine Swords trembled.

Streams of gold and blue mana wrapped around each other.

Blades started melting...

Not destroying.

Transforming.

Two lights blended into one.

Before Jennie’s astonished gaze, a new blade appeared.

Its silver blade was covered with faint blue patterns, reminding of ocean waves.

Golden runes decorated its edge.

Crossguard resembled the wings of a sea dragon.

It wasn’t Excalibur anymore.

Neither Leviathan.

But something different.

Jennie whispered in amazement,

"...Beautiful."

Excalibur laughed proudly.

"Now this is more like it!"

Leviathan sounded slightly pleased.

"A temporary Resonance Form."

"The blade changes according to the fragments united."

Jennie tested the new sword.

She made a gentle swing.

The blade changed instantly.

From a longsword...

To a katana.

To a spear.

And back to a sword.

It changed shapes easily.

As if it were water.

Roxy opened her mouth in surprise.

"It changes shape!"

Snow smiled.

"The Divine Swords recognized the same master."

"Resonance happens only then."

Jennie looked at the blade with childlike wonder.

"So this..."

"...is the power of Alas Ramus."

Suddenly...

The entire temple shook with powerful tremors.

Rumble...

Dust fell from the ceiling.

Columns crumbled.

Blue crystals one after another shattered.

Roxy covered her head.

"What’s happening?!"

Snow looked up.

"The temple fulfilled its purpose."

"It doesn’t need to stand anymore."

Once again the tremor went through the temple.

Cracks spread on ancient walls.

Sunken Temple started collapsing.

Jennie instinctively looked around.

"There must be some treasure somewhere!"

Roxy quickly brightened.

"I knew it!"

But Snow laughed.

"I don’t believe this is the reward here."

As if he guessed what was in her mind...

Hundreds of sea spirits flew towards Jennie.

Thousands.

They surrounded her in a shining blue circle.

They bowed one by one.

Not to a king.

Not to a hero.

But to the girl who chose lives over power.

Outside the temple...

Something miraculous happened.

Withering coral reefs blossomed in colorful shades.

Shattered reefs slowly repaired themselves.

Clouds of colorful fishes returned to waters they deserted centuries ago.

Ancient turtles came out of hidden caves.

In the distance...

The deep, beautiful and ancient song of whales filled the ocean.

Not the song of sorrow.

But celebration.

Jennie went outside and watched the miracle.

Once troubled western sea became calm.

Gentle waves flowed peacefully under the sunshine.

Sea spirits danced around in currents.

The wind itself became lighter.

Snow silently stood next to her.

"The ocean..."

"...thanks you."

Jennie smiled gently hearing whales’ songs.

"No."

She whispered looking at restored sea.

"It’s smiling again."

And somehow...

It felt as if the world smiled along with it.

The last pillar of the Sunken Temple gave way to the sea behind them.

Rumble...

Ancient stone sank under the waves.

In place of ruins...

The temple crumbled into countless streams of blue mana.

Gentle light danced across the depths as if thousands of stars were glowing.

Jennie watched quietly.

"So..."

"It was meant to be temporary."

Snow nodded.

"It accomplished its mission."

"It protected Leviathan until its owner arrived."

"The temple was just a cradle."

"Now..."

"It can finally sleep."

Jennie smiled sadly.

"Thank you."

She bowed toward the vanishing temple.

"Sleep well."

The sea responded with a gentle wave.

As the last pieces dissolved, all of the western ocean grew brighter.

Sunlight shone more clearly through the water.

The previously murky ocean had transformed into crystal blue.

Fish returned to it in overwhelming numbers.

Turtles peacefully swam among the newly restored reefs.

Below...

Ancient seas of sea grass grew once more.

Roxy marveled at their surroundings.

"I’ve never seen mana act like this."

Quickly opening a notebook, she furiously scribbled notes.

"The mana density..."

"The ecosystem..."

"The reefs..."

"This is unbelievable!"

Snow chuckled.

"It’s not unbelievable."

"It’s healing."

The small sea spirits gathered in front of Jennie once more.

This time...

They were carrying something.

Every spirit held a single drop of glowing water.

The drops rose into the air.

One.

Ten.

One hundred.

Soon...

Thousands of sparkling drops surrounded Jennie.

They slowly orbited her body.

Jennie heard Leviathan’s calm voice in her mind.

"The ocean remembers kindess."

"The sea spirits have no gold."

"No jewels."

"No kingdoms."

"But they have what they hold dear."

Jennie watched the glowing drops in curiosity.

"What are those?"

Snow replied quietly.

"Blessings."

Roxy suddenly lifted her head in surprise.

"Blessings?"

Snow nodded.

"Not spells."

"Not enchantments."

"These are blessings of nature itself."

The small spirits smiled.

One by one...

They gently placed their drops into Jennie’s body.

Gentle warmth spread from her fingertips to her heart.

It wasn’t overpowering.

It was...

Comforting.

As if the sea were embracing her.

Jennie closed her eyes.

"...It’s warm."

Once again, Leviathan spoke.

"The Ocean’s Blessing."

"You shall breathe in any sea."

"The waves will never turn you away."

"The children of the ocean will know your heart."

Snow smiled proudly.

"The sea considers you one of its guardians."

Roxy suddenly raised her hand.

"Um..."

"Do you have a question?"

Jennie opened an eye.

"Yes?"

Roxy pointed toward the merged Divine Sword.

"So..."

"Can you do that amazing transformation anytime you want?"

Immediately, Excalibur answered.

"Of course."

Calmly interrupting him, Leviathan added.

"Within reason."

Dramatically, Excalibur moaned.

"You always spoil the fun."

Ignoring his complaint, Leviathan said.

"Resonance drains mana."

"The more powerful the connection..."

"The more the burden."

Jennie nodded thoughtfully.

"Then I shouldn’t depend on it."

"Correct."

"It is a power for necessity."

"Not pride."

Laughing, Excalibur added.

"Besides..."

"You’ll see even stranger manifestations as more of us awaken."

Jennie’s eyes widened.

"Stranger?"

Both swords remained silent.

Looking suspiciously, Snow added.

"...They’re enjoying hiding a secret."

The trio finally began to leave the sea.

Following them for some time, the sea spirits stopped at the border of the restored reefs.

One of them approached Jennie and gently tugged on her sleeve.

Kneeling, she asked.

"What is it?"

Withdrawing a small blue shell from the water, the little spirit carefully placed it in Jennie’s hand.

Unlike any other shell...

This one emitted a soft glow.

"From the Spirit Shell," Leviathan explained.

"If you feel lonely..."

"Just hold it."

"The ocean will hear you."

Jennie smiled warmly.

"I’ll keep it."

Glowing joyfully, the spirit returned to its friends.

Together...

Countless sea spirits bowed one last time.

Not out of duty.

Out of affection.

Jennie bowed as well.

"Thank you."

Merchant ship which brought them to these forbidden waters waited quietly above.

Seeing the trio returning, the crew immediately helped them to board.

Staring ahead into the endless ocean, the captain froze.

"...Storms..."

"They’re gone."

Another sailor looked over the railing.

"The reefs are alive again!"

Gently taking off his hat, an old navigator slowly said.

"I’ve been sailing these waters for fifty years."

"I’ve never seen such peace in the ocean."

Turning toward Jennie, the captain asked.

"...Was it done by you?"

Simply smiling, Jennie replied.

"We were only passing by."

Before anyone else asked...

Quietly approaching the bow of the ship, she leaned against the rail.

Just like Raven always did.

Helping people.

Then leaving.

On the next morning...

The ship set sail back toward Aurelis.

The sunset painted the endless ocean in golden hues.

Standing at the railing, Jennie leaned back.

Beside her, Snow rested.

Already sleeping on the cargo, Roxy had exhausted herself with endless notes.

Glancing toward Jennie, he quietly said.

"You’ve changed."

Jennie smiled.

"Again?"

Smiling, Snow continued.

"When we first met..."

"You were a lonely hero."

Looking toward the horizon, he added.

"Now..."

"You’re full of hope of someone moving toward tomorrow."

Jennie remained silent.

Looking down at Excalibur and Leviathan peacefully lying at her side,

she finally realized.

She didn’t need to be Leonis anymore.

She didn’t need to surpass him.

All she had to do...

Is to continue being Jennie.

Gentle wind caressed her silver hair.

Far away...

Across the eastern skies...

Suddenly a terrible storm appeared where there was nothing moments ago.

Lightning illuminated dark clouds.

In the center of the eternal tempest...

A blade, sealed in floating sanctuary, shone with emerald light.

Tempest.

The Blade of Storms had awakened.

His ancient voice whispered in the wind.

"Two siblings have returned..."

"Soon..."

"...The third will appear."

Jennie silently looked toward the horizon.

A small smile appeared on her face.

"It feels like..."

"...We should go on another journey."

The wind carried her words into the endless sky.

And somewhere far above the storm...

Destiny quietly smiled.