Rinkai.
Keter Region.
Beneath a surreal sky stood a silent school building.
At the back area, a figure had returned whole—Mio Takamiya, now fully merged with Reine Murasame.
Her Astral gown flowed gracefully—beautiful and intricate—transparent like frozen drops of water in the light.
Sakura-like floral ornaments adorned her chest and hair, crafted from a mysterious material that seemed like condensed light.
Golden jewelry encircled her neck, shoulders, and body—the latter supporting her beloved teddy bear.
The gown emitted a glow reminiscent of the aurora. Behind her, a golden halo floated, adorned with four pairs of white wings and ten dead stars arranged silently.
In front of her stood Gabriel.
Layer upon layer of magical circles spread through the air, glowing runes slowly rotating.
Faerie Runes, Magic Runes from the reality of Black Clover, and symbols from various other realities—so alien that even Mio did not recognize them—enveloped Gabriel's body in a complex orbit.
At the center of the magical formation sat a cup of blood and a severed right arm of Mana.
The biological materials were being used by Gabriel to reconstruct a new vessel of flesh and blood—a brand-new body.
Mio watched the process calmly.
Yet her face, no matter how controlled, could not entirely hide the tremor of her emotions.
"Shin…" she murmured softly. "We will meet again. Whatever happens… I will never let you go…"
That name—Shin—was enough to reveal the core of the deal she had made with Gabriel.
By resurrecting Shinji Takamiya into an entirely new body, Mio had agreed to a single, absolute condition.
She would grant Gabriel anything he desired.
Without exception.
One hour later, all preparations were finally complete.
The layered magical circles spun steadily. Runes from various realities now rotated in perfect synchronization.
Gabriel turned toward Mio behind him.
"The name of the magic I will use is True Magic: Materialization of Soul," he said calmly. "As the name implies, this spell is capable of bringing someone back from the mortal world."
His gaze returned to the magical circles.
"Or… that's how most people would see it," he continued evenly.
"Essentially, this magic doesn't truly 'resurrect' a soul. It merely links a departed soul to a prepared vessel."
Gabriel paused for a moment, checking the stability of the formula.
"In other words, the deceased soul remains in its original realm but controls its new body from an existential distance," he explained.
"If we simplify it for the understanding of this world… think of the soul as playing a life simulation game based in Virtual Reality from the afterlife."
He lifted his chin slightly.
"Even so, the connected body is truly alive. Not undead. Not a living corpse."
"It remains human," he continued. "Only… its physical capabilities will surpass ordinary humans. And you can grant it specific powers, if you so desire."
The pale mist surrounding Gabriel moved slowly.
He looked back directly at Mio.
"Shinji Takamiya is just an ordinary human in this world," he said emotionlessly. "His soul doesn't have a strong spiritual foundation. With such conditions, this is the limit of what Ash can achieve."
His gaze was sharp, but not threatening—more like a measure of certainty.
"Do you still wish to proceed with this contract?"
Silence filled the surrounding space.
The magic circle continued to spin slowly.
The rune lights reflected in its blue glow.
Mio didn't answer immediately.
A light breeze stirred strands of her silver hair. Her face remained expressionless—calm as always. Too calm.
Yet her fingers, hidden within the sleeves of her white gown, slowly clenched.
"So… the soul isn't truly returning."
Not a question.
Just a statement of fact.
She understood.
Faster than anyone else.
Shinji would live.
Speak.
Breathe.
Smile.
Yet a part of her remained on the other side.
Bound by the path created by Gabriel.
A brief silence.
Then Mio lifted her gaze.
Her eyes did not waver.
Not angry.
Not pleading.
Just straight, unwavering.
"As long as he can look at me… and I can touch him… that is enough."
A soft voice.
Too soft.
Yet beneath that gentleness, there was something unshakable.
A resolve that had once shattered worlds.
She took a step forward.
The rune lights reflected across her face.
"If that is the limit you can reach… then I will accept it."
Silence.
Then, very softly—
"However…"
Her golden irises narrowed slightly.
"Make sure that connection is never broken."
There was no threat in her tone.
But there was no room for error.
"Because if anything happens to Shin again…"
She did not finish the sentence.
Even so, the air around them felt slightly heavier. Yet moments later, her expression returned to neutral, as if no pressure had ever existed.
"I accept this contract, Ash."
Gabriel's lips curved into a faint smile—almost a grin.
"The contract has been made," he said calmly. "The connection Ash has created will never be broken… no matter what happens."
His tone was light, yet carried absolute certainty.
He shifted his gaze back to the magic circle before him.
The runes pulsed gently, as if responding to her acknowledgment.
"Then, stand before the magic circle opposite me," he said. "The final component to activate this spell is the memory of the deceased."
He lowered his voice slightly.
"With that memory, the connection path will be formed. And Shinji Takamiya will return to the mortal world."
Hearing his explanation, Mio Takamiya moved without hesitation. She walked to the position Gabriel had indicated.
Her Astral Dress glowed softly as she stopped directly across the circle.
On the other side, Gabriel extended his right hand forward.
The pale mist surrounding him slowly concentrated toward his palm.
The runes began to spin faster.
The magic formation entered its final stage of activation.
"Let the boundary be drawn," he said calmly.
"Let the veil between life and death grow thin."
Instantly, the magic circle came alive.
A boundary space formed between them—a thin layer of reality, vibrating subtly, separating yet simultaneously connecting the two sides of existence.
"I do not summon the departed."
"I do not defy the ordained cycle."
"I do not seize what has returned to the Root of this world."
"I merely open the way."
As the incantation echoed, the surrounding magic circles spun wildly.
Runes from various realities resonated, turning that point into a pivot of the universe.
Mana from Gabriel and Mio Takamiya—even the surrounding energy—was drawn toward a single focal point, forming a pulsating blue sphere of energy.
"O soul that lingers beyond the mortal shore."
"A vessel has been prepared."
"Blood has formed the anchor."
"Flesh has accepted the pattern."
"The name has been recognized."
As the chant was spoken, the blood in the cup rose into the air.
Along with Mana Takamiya's right arm, both disintegrated into particles of light and merged into the magical sphere of energy.
"That distance shall not divide."
"That death shall not conclude."
"That existence may extend beyond its boundary."
Gabriel lowered his head slightly.
"True Magic: Materialization of the Soul."
A soundless explosion of light erupted.
The energy sphere gradually formed the silhouette of a human—veins, bones, flesh, and skin assembled with perfect precision.
Moments later, Shinji Takamiya's body materialized, hovering in the air, completely unbound, his first breath suspended on the edge of life.
Seeing Shinji take form, Mio's eyes glistened with tears. Her lips trembled as she repeatedly whispered the same name.
"Shin… Shin…"
On the other side, Gabriel smiled faintly.
"In the name of my existence—Gabriel Michaelis—"
He lifted his gaze.
"Open your eyes… Shinji Takamiya."
As if responding to the call, Shinji's eyelids slowly opened.
His vision was still blurry. His body felt light—too light.
He realized he was floating in the air, inside a massive dome filled with glowing magical circles.
"…Huh?"
It took a fraction of a second before his consciousness fully returned.
Then he looked down.
And froze.
"W-What—?!"
His face flushed instantly as he realized he wasn't wearing a single stitch of clothing.
Reflexively, he tried to cover himself in the awkward floating position—which only made him look even more panicked.
On the other side, Mio Takamiya didn't hesitate for a single second.
She floated forward and embraced Shinji tightly.
Without hesitation.
Without caring about the surroundings.
"Shin…"
Her voice trembled faintly.
Shinji's reaction only grew more frantic.
"W-Wait—uh—M-Mio!? Where—where is this—?!"
His eyes widened, his body stiff within the embrace that was far too warm and real to be a dream.
Gabriel observed the scene with a neutral expression.
He swung his hand lightly.
The runes circling the dome gradually faded, one by one, until the magical circles completely vanished. The barrier dissolved smoothly—as if it had never existed.
The ritual was complete.
On the other side, Mio slowly descended, bringing Shinji down with her until their feet touched solid ground.
Real ground.
Real air.
Real breaths.
And for the first time in what felt like forever—Shinji was back in the mortal world.
Mio gently released her warm embrace.
"Shin… Shin…" she whispered softly. "I've missed you so much. Did you miss me too?"
Shinji Takamiya looked at her.
A gentle smile formed on his face.
The panic from before had completely vanished, replaced by an overwhelming longing—a feeling impossible to hide.
"I… have always missed you," he replied quietly.
There was no confusion in his eyes anymore. Only sincere acknowledgment.
Their faces slowly drew closer.
No rush.
No hesitation.
Until finally, their lips met gently—a meeting long delayed by the boundary between life and death.
Elsewhere, Gabriel, who had been watching the scene, initially only stared blankly.
Yet—somehow, another image suddenly flashed in his mind.
Himself and Morgan.
The vision appeared out of nowhere—clear, far too clear.
Psss…!!!
Gabriel's face immediately flushed all the way to his ears.
"What—?!" he muttered, caught off guard.
Unconsciously, he crouched down, both hands covering his face.
"What did I just think…?!"
The pale mist surrounding him trembled unsteadily, as if panicking along with its master.
Meanwhile, in the distance, Mio and Shinji were immersed in their own moment—completely unaware that the Pale Mist's master was undergoing a sudden existential crisis.
___
Author's Note:
Actually, after Shinji and Mio kissed, they'll… well, something I don't really need to explain 😏
By the way, how's that? Ehehe~ sorry for cutting the scene short. Just speeding up the progress 🙃
(•_<) tehe~!
Don't forget to keep supporting me!!! Let me burn bright 🔥🔥🔥