Three won were crucial to Shinji's growth from a powerless ordinary person to soone who could rival top-tier Servants - Justeaze, Scthach, and Touko.
Justeaze was the beginning of everything, giving Shinji hope and opportunity, and serving as his enlightening teacher.
Scathach was his true ntor, fully developing his potential and giving him the capital to reach the world's pinnacle.
Aozaki was his protector.
The power door was opened, and thods were taught, but developnt still depended on Shinji himself. Inevitably, there would be errors he couldn't handle alone, whether in cultivation or ntally.
After all, he was an ordinary person who started late. Even with determination, switching mindsets wasn't easy. Moreover, this was the modern era, unfamiliar to Justeaze and Scathach. Without Touko's guidance in various aspects, Shinji could never have achieved his current success. He might have violated so taboo early on and ended up dead along with his family.
It was during this process that he gradually grew to like her, this woman of unparalleled talent but troubled fate. Family, friend, guide, love interest - honestly, he couldn't distinguish between these roles, nor did he want to.
He had confidently believed he could find her and bring her back, but three years passed, and she still hadn't returned.
During her absence, he often imagined when and where he would reunite with Touko, and what he should do or say when they t again.
Should he scold her harshly, even hit her, telling her how worried he and his family were?
Or should he directly tell her that he wouldn't let her leave this ti, restraining her by force if she didn't agree?
Or perhaps use so thods unsuitable for children?
He had many such ideas, so feasible, so not, so that sounded idiotic because he had so much to say to her.
But when he finally embraced her, feeling her presence, he found all those planned words insignificant. Only one sentence remained, and it was enough.
"Touko, co back."
"Okay."
Touko gently pressed Shinji's hands, which were wrapped around her waist.
"You... you agreed?"
Perhaps because she agreed too easily, Shinji could hardly believe his ears.
"Yes, what's wrong?"
Touko turned her head, looking at the young man who was now much taller than her with a half-smile.
"Don't you want to agree?"
"No, no, how could that be?"
Shinji shook his head repeatedly.
"Of course I want you to. Welco back, Touko."
"I'm back, Shinji."
Touko's hands trembled slightly.
"You won't disappear without a word again, will you?"
This was Shinji's greatest concern.
"I won't. Even if I travel, I'll tell you all."
Touko's voice was very soft, unusually different from her usual tone.
"What were you thinking? Suddenly leaving and appearing."
"As you said, I'm the wind, and the wind is capricious like this."
"Touko—!"
"Hehe."
Seeing Shinji's familiar expression, Touko laughed.
"I'm not teasing you anymore. I just wanted to test our fate."
"And the result?"
"Idiot."
At this point, how could Shinji not know the result? Wasn't he embracing her the best outco?
Fate brings people together from a thousand miles away, while those without fate remain strangers even face to face - the word 'fate' is truly marvelous.
Suddenly, Shinji let out an "Ah," as if realizing sothing, and hurriedly tried to let go and step back, but Touko laughed and held him in place.
"Now you realize this isn't the right place? Isn't it a bit too late?"
"Please stop teasing . I'm thinking of you. You're the esteed Grand Puppeteer, and I'm just a nobody."
"So what? When has Aozaki Touko ever cared about others' opinions? Which magus here has the right to question ?"
Grand Puppeteer, a magus who was once on the Sealing Designation list and then removed - these two facts alone were enough to overwhelm most magi.
"I rember you were observing the environnt earlier - to be honest, is the reason you don't want to attract attention because you're planning to do sothing bad?"
"Nothing escapes you. I do have so mischief planned."
"That Lord asked you to do it."
"Yes."
"Hmph, I knew it."
Touko's cold snort increasingly had a hint of a young woman's flavor.
"Don't be angry. This matter is very interesting, definitely to your taste."
"So confident?"
Touko beca interested; she was a hopeless enthusiast.
"Then I'll wait and see."
"Then can I..."
"I'll let you off."
Touko loosened her grip and naturally took two steps forward, leaving Shinji's embrace.
They both knew clearly that with Shinji's strength, Touko could not resist. But she still held on, and Shinji maintained the posture of being held - because she wouldn't harm Shinji, and Shinji believed this. This was the tacit understanding between them.
Sure enough, after turning around, Touko raised her glass towards the upper level.
"You don't need to worry, no one will look at us. They're all watching over there."
On the second floor stage, a pair of what seed to be twin maids had appeared at so point. Given their mirror-like postures and beautiful appearances, it wouldn't be surprising if so mistook them for the Golden Princess and Silver Princess.
The two maids picked up their skirts, curtsied to the crowd, and then spoke to those behind them.
"Lady Diadra."
"Lady Estella."
"Please enter."
As the two maids spoke in unison, a purple gown slowly separated from the shadows of the balcony.
Ti shattered.
All sensations disappeared in that instant. No, even the stale word instant was blown away.
Those eyes looking down seed like jewels from mythology. The ideal nose must have been carved by a heavenly sculptor who bet their soul. The tightly closed lips reminded one of the petals from paradise, filled with the light of eternal youth. Yet all these taphors seed foolish before this woman, who was simply "just because she was herself".
At the end where all adjectives were lost, what remained was sothing.
What magi cannot easily speak of - only "beauty" can express this ultimate state.
"I am Diadra Valualeta Iselma, inheritor of the na Golden Princess."
"I am Estella Valualeta Iselma, inheritor of the na Silver Princess."
Even after hearing those voices, the magi present needed several minutes to regain their senses.
Several magi dropped their glasses, staining their shoes red without caring. So stood motionless, completely stopping their breathing and falling into oxygen deprivation. There were even those kneeling on the ground, tears streaming down their faces.
If this were a ntal attack caused by magecraft, no one would ignore it. After all, the magi gathered here were of considerable skill, and the first thing magi learn is to fortify their minds. It was because they faced pure "Beauty" that their ntal defenses, honed over years, were torn apart like paper.
This was the Clock Tower's acknowledged most beautiful, the Iselma family's pride - the Golden Princess and Silver Princess.
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