Chapter Summaries

Xia Liang began Spell Formula tutoring with Hong Siyu, while Lin Xiaolu trained with Larkspur and struggled to master threads through cat's cradle. Bai Jingxuan and Lin Xiaolu's competition for Larkspur's attention intensified, leaving Larkspur trying to keep both girls feeling favored.

• Hong Siyu began tutoring Xia Liang and presented a month’s worth of notes spanning Spell Formulas, mathematics, and physics.
• Larkspur replaced Lin Xiaolu’s thread-combat practice with cat’s cradle after Lin Xiaolu repeatedly mishandled her threads and nearly injured Larkspur.
• Lin Xiaolu practiced complex cat’s cradle patterns with Larkspur and showed progress, though she still lost the round.
• Bai Jingxuan arrived to call Larkspur and Lin Xiaolu to dinner, then walked between them as both girls crowded close to Larkspur.
• Lin Xiaolu and Bai Jingxuan’s attempts to reclaim Larkspur’s attention had turned into an ongoing rivalry, and Larkspur struggled to mediate without appearing to favor either girl.

Larkspur struggled to mediate White Thistle and Wood Lily’s dispute over whether Wood Lily would return to Bai'an City with her squad. The next day, Lin Yun confronted Wood Lily after she was caught stealing from the Anomaly Countermeasures Bureau’s archives, and asked her to explain what she had been searching for.

• White Thistle and Wood Lily argued because White Thistle wanted the Bai'an City Squad to return home after vacation, while Wood Lily insisted she needed to stay in Fangting City for personal business.
• Larkspur postponed the dispute until after dinner when she could not find a fair solution.
• An Intelligence Department employee told Lin Yun that a magical girl had been caught stealing from the Anomaly Countermeasures Bureau’s archives.
• Lin Yun recognized the thief as Wood Lily and warned her that the bureau might notify her teammates and escalate the case.
• Wood Lily begged Lin Yun to keep the incident from her captain, and Lin Yun offered to let it go if she promised him one thing.
• Lin Yun placed the files Wood Lily had tried to access on the interrogation table and asked what she had been looking for.

Lin Yun and Wood Lily investigated the rumored Gate to Ascension at the top of Green Tower, where they found an old Kingdom record hidden behind the searchlight. Lin Yun gave the paper to Wood Lily and escorted her back, while the record’s meaning and the Gate’s whereabouts remained unknown.

• Lin Yun took Wood Lily to Green Tower after Bureau archives revealed that the Anomaly Countermeasures Bureau and the Kingdom had searched for a mysterious “Door” there.
• Lin Yun and Wood Lily rode the staff elevator to the rooftop, where Wood Lily admired the view and Lin Yun detected magic near the searchlight.
• Lin Yun climbed the searchlight’s support frame and found an Automatic Scribe recording magical readings from Queen’s Calendar 1955 through 1980.
• Lin Yun memorized the record and gave the paper to Wood Lily, telling her it was an ordinary item and that the clue was hers.
• Lin Yun escorted Wood Lily back from Green Tower, and Wood Lily thanked him and apologized for what happened in Bai'an City.

Larkspur asked Emerald about the rumored Gate to Ascension, and Emerald agreed to investigate the old records while preparing a forged magical outfit for Larkspur to use as Gentian. After Larkspur tested the conspicuous new disguise, the Bai'an City Squad announced their planned departure, and Lin Xiaolu suggested a temple fair as a farewell outing.

• Larkspur questioned Emerald about the Gate to Ascension, and Emerald denied involvement but agreed to investigate the Kingdom's past resource flows and related information.
• Emerald used the Forged Heart Gem to give Larkspur a qipao-style magical outfit that would disguise her as Gentian, then told her to build Gentian's presence in Fangting City before leaving for the Kingdom.
• Larkspur showed off the new outfit at the base, where Hong Siyu and Xia Liang praised it and convinced her not to request a less conspicuous version.
• At dinner, Wood Lily and White Thistle apologized for their earlier argument and announced that they would leave for Bai'an City the following week.
• Lin Xiaolu proposed that everyone attend the temple's New Year prayer festival as a farewell outing, and the others supported the idea.

Larkspur checked Lin Xiaolu’s Magic Armament and discovered that her training had begun awakening a mysterious third form, then spent the night comforting Bai Jingxuan, who feared the Kingdom would mistake her Aberrant Beast-like magic power for Claw Mark’s. The chapter ended with Bai Jingxuan feeling safe beside Larkspur and telling her she loved her most.

• Larkspur encouraged Xia Liang before taking Lin Xiaolu to class, where Lin Xiaolu nearly fell on the stairs while showing off edited photos of Larkspur in her new outfit.
• Larkspur found that Lin Xiaolu’s Magic Armament had not grown, but sensed magical fluctuations from its third crystal and suspected her training was awakening another form.
• After the evening lessons and work, Larkspur returned to her room, where Bai Jingxuan arrived with a pillow and asked to sleep beside her because she felt neglected.
• Bai Jingxuan told Larkspur that Asō Madoka had warned her that her Aberrant Beast-like magic power might make the Kingdom see her as one of Claw Mark’s people.
• Larkspur reassured Bai Jingxuan that she would stand by her, and Bai Jingxuan said she loved her most before falling asleep.

At Fangting City’s temple fair, the magical girl squads enjoyed traditional festivities, and Larkspur learned more about Wood Lily’s past while enduring an awkward round of feeding tangyuan to the younger girls. The outing ended with the group praying for their upcoming Kingdom Assessment, leaving Larkspur nervous but resolved as the Kingdom trip approached.

• Moko announced the joint outing of the Fangting City and Bai'an City Magical Girl Squads, and Lin Xiaolu led the group to watch the dragon dance.
• Asō Madoka told Larkspur that Wood Lily had been abandoned by her father and raised by the owners of Bright Note Music Store, and warned her not to reveal the truth to Wood Lily.
• Larkspur solved a lantern riddle and won a half-price tangyuan Coupon, then awkwardly fed tangyuan to Bai Jingxuan and Lin Xiaolu as the others gathered around.
• The magical girls toured the fair, played ring toss, and entered White Elder Temple to pray for their upcoming Kingdom Assessment.
• Larkspur silently worried about the Kingdom mission, murmured Queen Year’s name, and prepared herself for the journey ahead.

At the castle, the Magical Girls gathered for lunch before Black Cat announced a plan to seize the Beast Source from a secret laboratory in Luen Nore. The chapter ended with Black Cat assigning Brown Pelican and Golden Snake to help raid the Research Institute while a diversion drew security away.

• Brown Pelican argued with Semi over stolen oranges and tried to boil the Fairy, while Golden Snake refused to intervene.
• Black Cat arrived with the others and rescued Semi, and the purple-haired girl urged everyone to stop fighting and eat together.
• The purple-haired girl explained that Emerald had secretly transported the Beast Source to a laboratory in Luen Nore.
• Black Cat told Brown Pelican and Golden Snake that they would act together to retrieve the Beast Source.
• Black Cat proposed feigning an attack on the qualification assessment to divert security before raiding the Research Institute.

Larkspur and the younger Fangting City Squad members left Fangting City for the Kingdom qualification assessment, traveling first to Yannan City by Landship. A cabin-sharing dispute ended with Xia Liang winning their Aeroplane Chess match, leaving Lin Xiaolu and Bai Jingxuan to share the other cabin.

• Larkspur checked her luggage, handed over her work with Asō Madoka, and drove the younger members to the Landship port.
• Port staff initially challenged Larkspur's claim that she was an adult, but accepted her Bureau-backed identification and let the group board.
• On the Landship, Lin Xiaolu and Bai Jingxuan argued over who would share Larkspur's cabin, so Xia Liang proposed settling it with Aeroplane Chess.
• Larkspur set a first-to-three-points rule, with schoolwork papers as her reward if she won, and the group played for several hours.
• Xia Liang won three games, earning the cabin with Larkspur, while Lin Xiaolu and Bai Jingxuan were sent to share the other cabin.

Larkspur, Xia Liang, Lin Xiaolu, and Bai Jingxuan traveled by Landship to Yannan City and prepared for their journey to the Magic Kingdom. After Lin Xiaolu helped Bai Jingxuan with her studies and accepted her challenge to become Teacher's favorite, the group boarded the Kingdom Express.

• Larkspur and Xia Liang shared a quiet cabin, where Xia Liang explained her Gentle Harbor Strategy and encouraged Larkspur to rest.
• Lin Xiaolu and Bai Jingxuan shared a cabin, and Lin Xiaolu helped Bai Jingxuan find the restroom and study Xiluo Language.
• Bai Jingxuan thanked Lin Xiaolu for helping her, then declared that she would become Teacher's favorite child and would not lose to her.
• Lin Xiaolu accepted Bai Jingxuan's challenge and told her she would not go easy on her.
• The Landship arrived safely in Yannan City, and the group traveled to the Kingdom Express station and boarded their train to the Magic Kingdom.

Larkspur led the Fangting City girls onto the Kingdom Express, where she explored its unusual carriages and encountered the gifted candidate Tudingui. After Tudingui mistook Larkspur’s cover identity for a real ten-year-old, Larkspur was left dejected by the age printed on her admission ticket.

• Larkspur used the group’s admission tickets to pass inspection and explained how the train’s transfer level took them to their carriage.
• Lin Xiaolu, Xia Liang, and Bai Jingxuan settled into the self-service carriage while Larkspur learned that their Seeder, Moko, had refused to return to the Kingdom.
• Larkspur noticed Tudingui surrounded by candidates hoping to join her assessment team, then saw her reading a book on spell formulas.
• Larkspur visited the flower-filled observation carriage and recalled her first journey to the Kingdom with her former squad.
• Tudingui entered the observation carriage, watched Larkspur, and explained that she had mistaken her for a child.
• Larkspur checked her admission ticket and discovered that her cover identity, Gentian, was ten years old, but Tudingui accepted the age as fact before Larkspur could explain.

Larkspur led Lin Xiaolu, Xia Liang, and Bai Jingxuan through the World Gate toward the Magic Kingdom, using prepared documents to get Bai Jingxuan past an inspection. In the World Bridge, Larkspur endured whispers urging her not to return and opened the final door, declaring that she was back.

• Lin Xiaolu, Xia Liang, Bai Jingxuan, and Larkspur admired the ocean views from the train before arriving at Luen Nore.
• Larkspur explained the World Gate’s rules and had the younger girls transform before approaching its guards.
• A guard requested a routine inspection of Bai Jingxuan, but Larkspur presented an approved mission document and secured permission for them to pass.
• Larkspur and Bai Jingxuan crossed the World Gate and entered the dark World Bridge after the others had gone ahead.
• Larkspur ignored the shadows and whispers telling her not to return, opened the final door, and said, “I’m back.”

Larkspur reunited with Lin Xiaolu, Xia Liang, and Bai Jingxuan at the Luen Nore border checkpoint, explained away her delay, and introduced them to the Kingdom’s humanoid Fairies and city districts. After completing entry procedures, the group decided to head to their lodging, while Lin Xiaolu struggled to accept how modern the Magic Kingdom was.

• Lin Xiaolu, Xia Liang, and Bai Jingxuan waited anxiously for Larkspur, who emerged from the World Gate after a delay and claimed she had resolved a Spatial Connection Fluctuation.
• Larkspur told the girls that the winged, antennaed World Gate guards were powerful Fairies, then completed the checkpoint inspection and received a Mana Indicator Bracelet.
• Larkspur explained the rules and districts of Luen Nore, including the Mana-Free District, Academy District, Emerald Zone, and Emerald Book Gallery.
• The group debated where to go next, and Larkspur chose their lodging because it was getting late and they had luggage.
• Xia Liang discovered that her phone had signal and showed the group the online map, while Lin Xiaolu protested that the modern technology ruined her imagined picture of the Magic Kingdom.
• Larkspur called the group to their booked car, and Xia Liang helped the overwhelmed Lin Xiaolu toward it.

Larkspur brought Lin Xiaolu, Xia Liang, and Bai Jingxuan to Rainbow Cloud Wetlands, where they explored the cloud-covered resort and soaked in its magical hot springs. As the group returned to their cottage, Larkspur recognized one of the passing magical girls as someone very familiar, while she prepared to visit Emerald at the Research Institute the next day to mend her Heart Gem.

• Larkspur and the others left the Mana-Free District and flew to the Emerald Zone after reaching Takeoff Point No. 43.
• Lin Xiaolu played on the clouds at Rainbow Cloud Wetlands while Larkspur and Xia Liang unpacked and Bai Jingxuan went to find food.
• Xia Liang and Lin Xiaolu persuaded Larkspur to join them and Bai Jingxuan in the women's magical hot spring.
• Larkspur explained the hot spring's tingling sensation and concealed why she kept her eyes closed while the others soaked.
• Larkspur recalled her appointment with Emerald at the Research Institute to mend her Heart Gem and restore her combat strength.
• After leaving the hot spring, Larkspur felt an intense familiarity with a passing magical girl, but lost sight of her when her companions came over.

Larkspur met Emerald in person at the Emerald Book Gallery and asked for help repairing her damaged Flower of the Heart. Emerald brought her to a hidden laboratory, prepared Love Source for the treatment, and Larkspur fell asleep as the repair began.

• Emerald greeted Larkspur with jokes and a favorability game before agreeing to help her.
• Larkspur told Emerald she had chosen her as an ally and needed her help, prompting Emerald to lead her into her private laboratory.
• Emerald showed Larkspur the laboratory’s network of remote facilities and examined her cracked Flower of the Heart.
• Emerald retrieved Love Source, explained its value, and prepared a dose to repair Larkspur’s Flower of the Heart.
• Emerald began the treatment, and Larkspur fell asleep beneath the laboratory lights.

Larkspur dreamed of her wartime past, when Cornflower became squad leader and assigned Nina Kregios to train her younger sister, Nym. After Emerald repaired Larkspur’s Heart Gem and warned that her True Form remained fragile, Larkspur discovered a side effect: she had lost another two centimeters in height.

• In her dream, Cornflower and Cherry Blossom fought together until the war’s escalating casualties sent them to different city-defense posts.
• Lycoris assigned ten-year-old Nym Kregios and her sister Nina to Cornflower’s squad, explaining that she needed a leader she trusted to protect the rookie.
• Nina told Cornflower that Lycoris had taken all her Echo in exchange for placing the sisters together, and Cornflower ordered Nina to train Nym for a month.
• Cornflower welcomed Nina into her squad under the codename Ink Lotus after Nina agreed to guide Nym.
• Larkspur awoke in Emerald’s laboratory after treatment restored her Heart Gem’s abilities, and Emerald warned her to avoid fighting while her True Form stabilized.
• Larkspur noticed that her height had decreased by another two centimeters.

Lin Xiaolu, Xia Liang, and Bai Jingxuan registered for the White Card assessment during a Queen Year, while Larkspur visited a Memorial Cemetery and encountered a former teammate from the Garden Defense War. The teammate revealed herself as Nina Krejios, now known as Ink Lotus.

• Receptionist No. 7 told Lin Xiaolu's group that the Queen might attend the assessment, and Lin Xiaolu teased Bai Jingxuan about the Queen discovering her Magic Base Color.
• Larkspur repaired an elderly man's wheelchair, then read Lin Xiaolu's registration update and replied as Lin Yun.
• A pastry clerk told Larkspur that a nearby Memorial Cemetery honored those killed in the Interrealm War, prompting Larkspur to buy Cloud-Qi Cake and visit the cemetery.
• Larkspur arrived at the cemetery and helped a black-haired girl gain entry by suggesting she show her Certification Card.
• The girl called Larkspur her captain, removed her leather mask, and revealed that she was Nina Krejios, whose card identified her as Ink Lotus.

Larkspur reunited with Ink Lotus at Memorial Cemetery, where their awkward conversation revealed how much Ink Lotus had changed and ended with an invitation to a dessert restaurant. Meanwhile, Lin Xiaolu, Xia Liang, and Bai Jingxuan learned that Valentine’s Day was tomorrow and pressed a shop clerk to explain the holiday.

• Larkspur and Ink Lotus honored their fallen teammates at the cemetery, and Larkspur noticed Ink Lotus’s cat-paw prosthetic and troubled demeanor.
• Ink Lotus asked whether Larkspur had found happiness after leaving the Kingdom, and Larkspur gave a guarded answer.
• Ink Lotus drove Larkspur from the cemetery in a tiny go-kart and invited her to visit a famous dessert restaurant the next afternoon.
• Lin Xiaolu, Xia Liang, and Bai Jingxuan sampled chocolates at shops throughout Luen Nore until one dessert restaurant impressed them.
• The three girls learned that Valentine’s Day was the next day and asked the clerk to explain it in more detail.

Larkspur reunited with Ink Lotus at the Rainbow Cloud Wetlands and agreed to have dinner with her the next day, hoping to understand how her old teammate was doing. Their farewell oath and Larkspur’s inability to complete the Kingdom Army salute left her confronting memories of the war.

• Larkspur learned that the masked Magical Girl she had encountered near the hot springs was Ink Lotus, who said she had concealed her identity for a Kingdom mission.
• Ink Lotus recognized Larkspur as her captain despite Larkspur’s changed appearance, and invited her into her cabin, but Larkspur declined.
• Larkspur agreed to dine with Ink Lotus the next day and refused Ink Lotus’s offer to drive her there.
• As Larkspur left, Ink Lotus gave the old soldiers’ oath and a Kingdom Army salute, and Larkspur returned the oath but could not complete the salute.

Larkspur learned that Fangting City would host the prefecture-wide exchange symposium in May, leaving the bureau with only three months to prepare. After her call with Hong Siyu was interrupted, she discovered that Lin Xiaolu had become clingy after eating several liquor-filled chocolates, and suspected the juniors were hiding more from her.

• Hong Siyu told Larkspur that Heavenly City had approved Fangting City as the symposium venue after Linyang City was devastated by Black Ash Dawn.
• Larkspur reviewed the official documents and learned the conference would take place in May, with Green Tower proposed as the venue.
• Lin Xiaolu interrupted Larkspur's call, and Larkspur ended the discussion with Hong Siyu so they could speak again later.
• Larkspur questioned the juniors and learned they had sampled liquor-filled chocolates during a dessert tasting, after which Lin Xiaolu became unusually clingy.
• Larkspur noticed Xia Liang's awkwardness and Bai Jingxuan's envy and suspected the three juniors had done something else without telling her.

Lin Xiaolu and Bai Jingxuan planned to make a birthday cake for Lin Yun alongside the Valentine’s chocolates they were preparing, and Xia Liang joined their plans. They began preparing desserts before Larkspur returned, intending to celebrate with Lin Yun by video call and send him the cake.

• Lin Xiaolu rallied Xia Liang and Bai Jingxuan to spend the day making desserts before Larkspur returned.
• Bai Jingxuan revealed that the next day was Lin Yun’s birthday, prompting Lin Xiaolu to realize Bai Jingxuan knew him well and had taken candies from his office.
• Lin Xiaolu decided to make a cake for Lin Yun and celebrate his birthday with him over video call.
• Lin Xiaolu and Bai Jingxuan learned that cold-chain delivery could send the cake to the Material Realm.
• Xia Liang learned about the birthday plan and encouraged Lin Xiaolu to make the cake while they prepared chocolate for Larkspur.