Lingering Scent of a Miracle

"It's a bit of a shame," Alice said, "that you're not here in person."

Touko Aozaki, still hidden in the old school building, bit her lip and remained silent, her gaze fixed on Alice Kuonji in the sky through her familiar's eyes.

"I had wanted you and your dog to have a good time in this paradise—what a pity."

"—Can you make it through tonight?"

The last sentence was spoken by Alice to Beo Ruge, her words filled with cheerfulness.

This was the Fairy Tale Witch's invitation, inviting the recreated miracle to tour the kingdom that existed for just one night.

KistyLand, a long-abandoned amusement park, had now regained its former appearance.

Neon lights illuminated the night, and noisy music blared from the speakers.

The Ferris wheel turned again, and laughter echoed from the carousel.

If this were a legendary Great Magic Innate Domain, all of this could be explained, but it was clear that the miracle Alice Kuonji had unleashed was not that.

It was a mystery deeper and more powerful than so-called Phantasmal Species.

Toy soldiers lined up on their wooden warhorses, charging the Golden Wolf with their ridiculous lances.

While observing this scene might evoke a sense of absurdity, Beo Ruge, the target of the siege, had no such leisure.

Seeing the animated amusement park creatures attack, Beo Ruge roared and counterattacked.

Although it was certainly not powerless to retaliate, these strange beings were not the weaklings that Beo had easily defeated before.

Gradually, its bright golden fur became stained with dirt, and the Phantasmal Species, which could not be injured in the modern era, was now wounded.

Beo Ruge, which had never felt pain since its birth, was driven to the brink of madness by the stinging pain of these annoying wounds.

While these injuries were not fatal, they were undoubtedly extremely uncomfortable, and the Golden Wolf's intuition told it that among these seemingly ridiculous and peculiar creations, there were beings capable of inflicting fatal damage...

The giant lobster model on the sign of the lobster restaurant also came to life, waving its massive claws to pinch Beo.

The great wolf roared and bit into the lobster's carapace, creating large cracks, but it could not break through. The two behemoths immediately became entangled and fought.

Touko Aozaki was in a state of utter chaos; this was completely different from her original plan.

Beo Ruge was indeed exceptionally strong, and modern Magus could not deal with it, but this strength was not absolute.

It had defeated Alice Kuonji once in an instant, causing immense damage. However, what neither Touko nor Beo had expected was that Alice Kuonji actually had two lives.

When Touko was still friends with Yuu, she had heard about Yuu's Witch bloodline.

It came from the ancestor of all Witch bloodlines, the First Mage, Yumina.

She was born on the eve of the year 1 AD and later found a shortcut to the Root, from which she obtained the First Magic.

To Aoko Aozaki, this story seemed quite similar to how she and Touko's Grandfather obtained Magic, both finding caves leading to the Root.

Witches other than those of the Yumina lineage would eventually degenerate and regress for various reasons.

The mother of that scumbag Berial was such a being; she was known as the "Witch of Filth," and she gave birth to Berial only after degenerating into a human.

In the botany department of the Clock Tower, many Witches participated in the establishment of the First Magic, so their essence was a species beyond humanity, as evident from Yuu's various abilities.

That evil old Witch once complained, "I hate that mainstar, I hate that little brat, can the direct descendants of Mages do whatever they want?"

This statement referred to lineages like Yuu and her good friend, the "Witch of Coal," who could inherit while maintaining their own specificity, which was indeed due to the favor of the First Mage's bloodline.

Contrary to common understanding, the Third Magic was actually older than the First Magic, but after the Age of Gods passed, the Third Magic was not recreated until the appearance of Justitia.

And twenty years after the birth of the First Mage, by obtaining the First Magic, it brought the ability to acquire Ether back to this world, allowing mystery to continue, which can be said to be the true cornerstone of the modern Magic system, and this is precisely the specificity of the First Magic.

In the theories of the mystery world, Ether is called the "Fifth True Element," one of the five recognized attributes of Magic, and the singularity for the establishment of subsequent systems.

However, Ether is different from the elements of earth, water, wind, and fire; its essence is something that does not exist in this world, and there is only one person who can create this non-existent thing, and that is Yumina, the First Mage, who can achieve "denial of nothingness."

When Touko was studying at the Clock Tower, she had met Yuu's good friend, Mei Ridell Archlelot. Their relationship was like that of the Aozaki Sisters; both were likely inheritors of the First Magic.

From these fragmented pieces of information, Touko pieced together that Alice Kuonji might indeed possess a Noble Phantasm inherited from the "First Magic," but she was unsure of its specific function and usage.

And on this mysterious night, the Grand Puppeteer encountered the most bizarre and surreal enemy of her life.

An eerie light and mist enveloped the entire amusement park, and Beo Ruge struggled furiously and fruitlessly against the endless enemies.

The golden great wolf raised its head and roared, its long and angry voice echoing through the sickly green night.

Look up at the sky, innocent bloodlines without abilities.

That is a corner of the Celestial World, the supreme fantasy.

It is the greatest fiction in this world, separated from the First, and the true body of the so-called "Fragment of the First Magic."

Through the familiar's perspective, Touko Aozaki realized that there was no possibility of their side winning this battle.

An inverted green skull hung high in the sky, showing a mocking smile to the mortals below.

That lingering scent of a miracle from the First Magic shattered her confidence.

Why was my life always hindered by Magic?

Touko questioned herself, filled with anger at the unfairness of fate.

She was filled with resentment for the things that had once belonged to her but had since left her.

Merely a fragment of "Magic" had brought her to a standstill. What would happen when she faced her sister, who possessed the complete Magic?

Toko thought despondently. Perhaps it was time to let Beo leave...

"Beo—" Toko's voice rang out again. "Retreat."

"What—?!" Beo Ruge responded in shock. "Are you kidding me? This doesn't align with the contract—"