Miss Sharron's Invitation

Above the Phantom Tide.

"Being in charge of a diocese is hard work. I'm starting to feel like I got the short end of the deal."

Atop the towering stone tower, Luther sat beside the pool that nurtured Cecilia's soul. "The potion formula and materials they promised me still haven't arrived, but they keep piling more work on me..."

He grumbled on and on.

In the water before him, the beautiful girl slept peacefully, as though she might wake at any moment.

Whenever he had time, Luther came here to talk to Cecilia. In the real world, he wore many masks and kept many secrets, bearing them all alone. Only here could he confide in his sleeping sister.

"But you know what I'm like, little sister. I've already pushed all that troublesome work onto my subordinates."

Luther chuckled softly. "She was the one who insisted on putting me in charge."

After a pause, the smile gradually faded from his face. He shook his head. "If you were awake, you'd be worried about me. You'd be afraid I'd gone too far and might lose my job..."

The girl's ethereal soul lay submerged at the bottom of the pool, her expression serene.

Splash.

The thick, illusory tide gently struck the base of the stone tower, sending up wave after wave of spray. The spray seemed to hold every color and every possibility.

Below, red-haired, golden-eyed M stood quietly, gazing up at the siblings with a calm expression.

"...I'll come see you again."

After gazing at her for a long while, Luther left her with those final words and departed that world.

When Luther opened his eyes in the carriage, it was no longer rocking. It had already stopped.

"Sir, we've arrived at Bravehearts Bar."

The coachman's voice came from the front.

"Mm."