The night outside Amestris City was alive with murmurs and light. Even now, long after sunset, countless people lingered beyond the city walls, their gazes drawn toward the massive rock tortoise resting in the distance.

The creature's shell gleamed under the faint moonlight, dotted with soft golden radiance — the light of the Star Tea Tree. The ancient tree stood proudly upon the beast's back, its leaves shimmering like starlight drifting through the dark. Occasionally, faint motes of golden dust — almost like fireflies — floated through the air, illuminating the night with an ethereal glow.

Hidden in the shadow of a lonely alley, a figure in a dark robe watched quietly.

Nijisha pulled her hood lower, her sapphire eyes reflecting the starlight above. She'd been waiting here for what felt like hours — waiting for Yanlu. During the day, there had been too many eyes watching, too many risks. Acting openly was impossible.

Her gaze drifted back toward the enormous tortoise. The glowing city built on its shell seemed unreal — a place of light and hope in a world drowning in corruption.

"I wonder what life is like up there," she murmured to herself, eyes full of longing. "Such light... it must be beautiful."

A cold voice sliced through the still air behind her.

"You'll know soon enough if you go up there."

Nijisha's heart jolted. She spun around, cloak sweeping behind her.

From the darkness stepped Yanlu, her form cloaked in the faint reflection of metal. The three-cone scale armor she wore gleamed faintly under the moonlight — a mixture of strength and silent menace.

Nijisha's expression shifted from surprise to irritation. "Do you have to appear like that? One day you're going to give someone a heart attack."

Yanlu's lips curved slightly. "You're not the type to be scared easily."

"Still—" Nijisha huffed, then brightened. "Forget it. Let's go see the Angel Wings already. I've waited long enough."

Yanlu crossed her arms. "Patience. Someone else is coming."

Nijisha blinked. "Someone else? Don't tell me you've been meeting with another team."

"There are many assassination teams in Amestris," Yanlu replied evenly. "But no — not this time."

Nijisha sighed, tapping her foot. Every minute they lingered here increased the risk. The Flying Corpse patrols were relentless at night.

Still, she waited. Because if Angel Wings really existed, then she finally had a path forward — a chance to save the infected, a way to break free from the chains of Amestris City.

Footsteps echoed softly in the distance.

Ta… ta… ta…

A young woman ran toward them, holding up the hem of her dress to avoid tripping.

"Sorry! I'm late!" Liyi Yi gasped, cheeks flushed from the cold. "Miss Elara, I—"

"Elara isn't here," Yanlu interrupted coolly. "She's waiting for us ahead."

"Oh! Right!" Liyi Yi straightened quickly, brushing at her skirt.

She'd been approached earlier that day by Luciel and Alina, who said the Lord of Black Tortoise City wanted to see her personally. They'd arranged this nighttime meeting to avoid unwanted eyes.

"Let's go," Yanlu said simply, taking the lead.

The trio slipped into the wilderness, keeping well clear of the main roads and the torch-lit patrols that dotted the city's borders. The path was long and winding, leading them far around the city's perimeter before curving back toward the great tortoise.

None of them spoke. Only the wind whispered through the grass, and the distant hum of life from Amestris echoed faintly behind them.

When they finally arrived at the massive creature's feet, a familiar voice greeted them.

"Prepare yourselves," Elara said coldly, stepping out from the shadows. "We're going up."

"Up? As in climb?" Liyi Yi's eyes widened as she craned her neck. The tortoise's shell towered like a moving mountain above them.

"No," Elara said lightly. "We have a ride."

"Wait—" Nijisha turned to Yanlu, frowning. "We're really going up there?"

Yanlu glanced at her. "Of course. Didn't I mention that?"

"You most definitely did not," Nijisha said through gritted teeth, her fists tightening.

"The Angel Wings you want to see are up there," Yanlu replied calmly — as if that explained everything.

Nijisha let out a strangled sound, rubbing her forehead. "I swear, one day I'm going to throw you off a cliff."

A hiss broke the tension.

From the darkness, a massive tricolor lizard slithered down the tortoise's side, its body gleaming under the faint starlight. The creature lowered itself obediently before them.

"Come on," Elara said, already vaulting gracefully onto the lizard's back.

Nijisha and Liyi Yi exchanged a look — half awe, half terror.

Elara glanced back. "Don't just stand there."

"Oh! Right!"

They scrambled up behind her. The creature's scales were warm and slick beneath their fingers. With a low growl, it began to move — each powerful limb gripping the rock as it climbed.

The world blurred around them. The wind grew stronger. The tortoise's shell rose higher and higher until Amestris City below was no more than a cluster of distant lights.

They passed over craggy stone ridges, skirted the side of a cliff, and climbed a steep slope that led toward a small plateau.

"There," Elara said.

The lizard slowed, then finally stopped atop a ridge near the Highland District — where the light of the Star Tea Tree shone brightest.

"Come down," she ordered, jumping lightly to the ground.

Nijisha followed, landing beside her — and froze.

"…There are so many plants."

All around them, life thrived. Trees with silver leaves swayed gently in the breeze, and beds of flowers painted the ground in waves of color. It was like stepping into another world — vibrant, peaceful, untouched by the decay below.

A familiar voice called out.

"You're finally here."

From between the trees, Alina appeared, her pink hair catching the starlight.

She smiled at Liyi Yi. "Come with me. Lord Luciel has been waiting."

"Yes!" Liyi Yi said immediately, her voice nervous but excited. She hurried after Alina, disappearing down a stone path toward the city lord's mansion.

Elara watched them go before turning back to Nijisha and Yanlu. "You two — follow me. I'll take you to see the Angel Wings."

"Us?" Nijisha blinked, then frowned. "Wait. You've never seen them either, have you?"

Yanlu, pretending not to hear, simply adjusted her armor and followed Elara.

Nijisha sighed. "Unbelievable…"

The three walked through the city lord's estate, passing through quiet courtyards and arched corridors. The further they went, the stronger the scent of flowers became.

Finally, they stepped into the back garden — and Nijisha stopped breathing for a moment.

The Star Tea Tree towered before them. Its leaves shimmered with soft silver-blue light, as if each one held a captured star. Threads of radiance streamed down like rain, coating the garden in a celestial glow.

"It's… beautiful," she whispered. Her sapphire eyes reflected the stars, wide and full of wonder.

Even Yanlu, who rarely showed emotion, was stunned. "That tree… it's enormous."

Elara crossed her arms. "Don't just stand there. Weren't you here to see Angel Wings?"

She led them to a small medicine garden beneath the tree's branches, where rows of pure white flowers swayed gently under the starlight.

"There," Elara said, pointing. "The five white blossoms — those are Angel Wings."

Nijisha and Yanlu hurried forward. The flowers glowed faintly, their petals delicate as snow, their fragrance light and soothing.

"This is… Angel Wings?" Nijisha frowned, puzzled. "It looks different from what I studied. The records said it only has one bloom — when did it become five?"

Elara smiled faintly. "You're looking at an upgraded strain — what we call the Ascended Angel Wings."

She placed a hand over her chest. "When the petals mature, they produce something called Angel's Tears. Its healing power is many times stronger than ordinary Angel Wings. Just a single drop can resist the erosion of the Virtual Ghost infection for a year and a half."

Yanlu's expression tightened. "So… it only slows the infection? There's still no complete cure?"

Elara's tone softened, but her words were firm. "Not yet. Ariel is studying it. For now, it can only suppress the transformation."

Silence settled. The wind rustled softly through the trees.

Nijisha lowered her gaze, her heart heavy — but then she smiled faintly. "Even that… is enough. To be able to hold it back… that's already more than I ever hoped for."

She thought of her companion — the one who had only thirty-five days left before the infection consumed him. For the first time, there was a chance to change that fate.

A chance to choose differently.

Elara turned and gestured for them to follow. "Come. Lord Luciel wishes to meet you both."

Nijisha nodded firmly. "All right."

For the first time in a long while, her voice carried something new — hope.

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