"East: Observatory, Armament House, Institute of Life—silence."
"West: Intelligence Room, Control Room, Perception Star—silence."
"And."
"Southern end: Melting Furnace—silence."
"Northern end: abandoned shafts—silence."
The being that could, for the moment, be called Solomon sat upon the Throne of Jade, an amused smile on his face.
"How capable you are, you Chaldean trash—and you Heroic Spirits of humanity."
"Heave-ho—"
Fujimaru Ritsuka landed on the ground and dropped to one knee, warily surveying his surroundings as Mash and Lawrence stood beside him.
"Confirmed entry into the Throne of Jade within the Temple of Time. Visuals restored. Master, this is—"
Mash gave a brief report at first, then froze.
"This scenery...!"
Cold sweat appeared on Lawrence's face.
The three of them stood in a fragrant grassland swaying in the breeze.
Above them stretched a blue sky, with white clouds drifting across it.
Could this really be the same place as the desolate piles of stone outside the passageway?
And more importantly!
"The great ring of light!" Mash stared gravely at the enormous ring of light hanging in the sky.
The impossible-to-ignore presence they had seen in each of the previous seven Singularities was, as expected, here within the Temple of Time as well.
When they had been outside the Temple of Time earlier, she had wondered why she had not seen the ever-present great ring of light. So it could only be seen from within the Throne of Jade.
That immense ring even obscured the sun, like a massive boulder pressing heavily upon the hearts of Fujimaru Ritsuka and the others.
"Fou—"
As the three continued observing their surroundings, a voice they knew all too well suddenly reached their ears. Then Fujimaru Ritsuka saw the little white beast, as though it had been waiting here all along, bounding into his arms.
"Fou!?" Mash's