Ethereal Ascendance: A Journey of Transformation

Cyra first talked a bit about what she'd been learning from Cylaren. Then she shared her plans for the future, like how she would keep her faith and work hard to spread the True Church. Finally, she couldn't avoid talking about Raydwin.

Of course, Raydwin only found out later about the identity swap. After all, who could be sure if a guy who always looked for Cyra to kill time would really notice she'd been replaced?

So after a few mix-ups, Cyra just decided to tell him the truth.

No need to worry about keeping it secret. Raydwin for sure didn't want Cyra to leave Earth. But seeing Cyra smile a little when talking about him, I couldn't help asking:

"So have you two decided to be together?"

"No way! I'm going to be the boss of Horayze Medical Group. How could a homebody poor guy like Raydwin catch my eye?" Cyra quickly denied. "Even if I had to find a man, it wouldn't be him! I'd at least want a handsome guy. Does Raydwin deserve me?"

This stubborn attitude was so familiar. I guess I was probably like that before too.

Listening to her go on and on listing Raydwin's faults to prove her point, and thinking back to how she used to have girls on both arms in the elf village, I couldn't help saying:

"You've really changed a lot!"

"...Haven't you too?"

We both went quiet for a while. Then Cyra suddenly stood up and gave me a really long hug for the first time.

I knew we didn't have much time left to talk. From now on we'd all go our separate ways, maybe never to meet again.

"Classmate, if you see Nicola, say hi to her for me!"

Before leaving, I think I saw tears in her eyes. I didn't expect Cyra to mention Nicola. I only put my raised arm down after she turned invisible and flew up into the sky.

"Woo-woo-woo!"

Suddenly a loud alarm went off all over the base, ruining the quiet farewell.

Oh no! I knew right away what that sound meant.

Lately the H-country military had learned more about elemental magic. To defend against invisible outsiders like angels, they put infrared cameras all over the base and even in the airspace nearby.

Cyra must have let her guard down when saying goodbye and got caught on camera.

In an instant, bright spotlights all pointed to where she was in the air. All the H-country soldiers in the base started running around, like a battle was about to start.

I was so worried I almost flew up to help. But then a second later, the alarms stopped and all the lights went out...

Everything went back to like nothing had happened. People in the base just kept doing what they were doing earlier.

"What's going on now?"

I didn't believe what I saw before was all in my head. But I could feel Cyra's light element aura slowly flying away. I couldn't help rubbing my eyes and ears.

I wasn't dreaming while standing here, was I?

But when I turned around, I happened to see someone with wings standing alone in a quiet corner, waving at me.

"Is that..."

Before, I might have thought a person appearing out of nowhere at night was a ghost. But now I'm braver. I followed where she was pointing and finally saw her clearly.

She looked exactly like me, and also had 10 pairs of wings. After thinking for a bit, I realized it was Feliciana from World 14, who'd been missing for days!

"Long time no see! The space tunnel is about to close. I came specially to say goodbye!"

Seeing no cameras around and that no one would come to this place, Feliciana from World 14 smiled and greeted me first.

"Did you make those alarms disappear?"

Suddenly understanding, I quickly asked her.

"You can think of it as a farewell gift! I just changed the result of Cyra almost getting caught, and replaced the reality that would have happened. Of course, I can't do something this big on my own right now. I needed God's help!"

Feliciana from World 14 nodded and explained.

The "God" she mentioned should be the "Holy Ones" I met before!

Actually, if you have to call the "Holy Ones" gods, I don't think it's too crazy. "Holy Ones" have really reached the level of true gods in some ways!

But they're still not all-knowing or all-powerful. Since talking to the "Holy Ones" once, I prefer to see them as a race with higher level powers. I definitely don't want to be controlled by them carelessly.

"So you didn't really come from a parallel world, right?"

The mystery about World 14 had been a hot topic for a while. The H-country government really wanted to find Feliciana from World 14 but hadn't had much luck. Now that she was right in front of me, I couldn't miss this chance to figure things out.

"That's right. Nicola and I don't really exist in this world! We were made as tools to try to put this world's history back on track when the space transfer tunnel got messed up. To make it go in the set direction. You could also see us as real messengers from heaven!"

Feliciana from World 14 seemed to expect I'd have lots of questions. She admitted these things. Then she added a bit apologetically:

"But to not be noticed easily, our memories include what really happened to Feliciana and Nicola in some parallel world. So a lot of what I told you about other worlds wasn't all lies."

"If that's the case, your job must be almost done. So why come back specially to see me? Don't tell me even my future plans have to be decided by God?"

Even though Feliciana from World 14 really helped me a lot, to be honest I still felt a bit uncomfortable. After all, having someone else arrange your fate makes you feel like you're living in the shadow of the "Holy Ones".

It's one thing for people like Cyra who believe in God. Luckily I didn't disagree with them much in this event. But what if I face other big decisions in the future and don't agree with the "Holy Ones"? Do I just have to give in?

"Don't worry! This time was special. It's a specific period when God can step in to fix the direction of history. After today, they won't ask about what you do anymore! And because of some rule limits, even if some of them wanted to interfere, they might not get the chance."

Seeing my worries, Feliciana from World 14 quickly explained.

Of course I knew the "Holy Ones" have rules about not messing with the lower world carelessly. But I still don't really understand why they can interfere now but not later.

Clearly she hadn't finished talking. I could see Feliciana from World 14 looked unsure for a bit. Finally she took a deep breath and said the rest:

"As for why I came back to see you, it's mainly because since I was created, even though I have some info about the lower world in my planted memories, that's just part of someone else's memories. Only after meeting you could I really feel I exist here. And you're one of the originals I had the most contact with because of my mission. After the mission is done, I'll probably be 'recycled'. So God kindly allowed this last request of mine."

"Huh? Isn't that 'recycling' pretty much like dying?"

I was shocked. I never thought she'd tell me these things.

But it's not hard to imagine. As a tool made just to finish a mission, it's not strange for Feliciana from World 14 to have these thoughts.

But even knowing this, as an old friend I still can't change her fate. If Gisphrael with the full Water Element Authority was here, maybe there'd be a way. But I could only step forward and hold her hands, trying to comfort her a little.

"Don't worry too much! My real life is less than a month anyway. I don't feel like being 'recycled' is hard to accept. As a messenger from heaven, finishing the mission successfully is already my biggest pride. It really feels just like going home! The point of saying goodbye to you today is just to prove I really came to this world. If in the future anyone can remember I existed , that would be even better!"

Seeing the sad look on my face, Feliciana from World 14 seemed to take it better. The situation flipped, and now she was comforting me.