"...It seems I don't need to use a fake name to brush you off," Aoko said, as she looked up and down at Ranni's avatar, who was wearing a Carian robe and had long, fiery red hair like burning flames.
"Nice to meet you, divine being from a foreign land."
"Did you come in person because you are worried about your mother's condition?" Aoko asked with a smile. "But don't worry, your mother's symptoms are just a small flaw on the soul level. My sister is an expert among experts in this field. She will be able to cure her."
After speaking, Aoko turned to look at Touko, who was currently examining Rennala's soul, as well as Mesmer—who was stiff and struggling, with both his hands caught while pretending to be Radagon. This scene made Ranni fall silent for a moment as well.
"...Although it may not sound very friendly, I must give you a warning in advance," Ranni paused for a moment and said. "If you can cure my mother, you will naturally have my gratitude. But if anything goes wrong... I will make you understand why witches are feared."
"...Also, I have another question for you," Ranni continued after thinking for a moment. "Setting aside my secretive demigod brother and Aunt Rellana for now, can you tell me what you and your sister seek in helping the Carian royal family?"
"It's very simple," Aoko snapped her fingers and answered straightforwardly. "The Carian Royal Family and the Academy possess the largest collection of Glintstone sorcery tomes in this world. My sister and I are students of Professor Ymir. Previously, Professor Ymir told us that if we wished to learn more, the Carian Study Hall and the Royal Carian Academy were the best choices."
"Magical knowledge?" Ranni nodded thoughtfully. "Is that the only reason?"
"There is another goal as well," Aoko said as she took out the Golden Tree seed she had collected. "I need seeds from the Golden Tree to prevent my homeland from dying due to the decline of the Great Source."
"...Forgive me for being blunt," Ranni said with a frown. "The truth about the Golden Tree is buried beneath countless lies."
"I know," Aoko nodded. "However, I believe that when it comes to the Golden Tree and the Two Fingers, I currently know more than you do, Princess Ranni. Have you noticed any abnormalities in the Two Fingers that monitor you?"
Ranni's puppet-like eyes widened slightly, as she had indeed realized that the Two Fingers, which frequently sent assassins and spies to observe and harass her, had recently been unusually silent. Furthermore, the Fingercreepers that used to roam around the Carian Manor had significantly decreased for some reason, and those that remained had become no different from wild beasts.
"...Did you do something?" Ranni asked coldly. "I never imagined anyone could influence those lapdogs of the Greater Will. I have underestimated you."
"I'm afraid you have misunderstood something," Aoko patiently shook her head. "The fate-binding you despise is not connected to the true Greater Will. I will explain everything behind this to you in detail."
Aoko then explained to Ranni the secret they had discovered in the Shadow Lands under Ymir's guidance—the truth about the Mother of the Fingers, how she had been wounded and driven mad by the ancient Nox people, and how her insanity had influenced all the Two Fingers. This revelation was undoubtedly a massive psychological shock to Ranni, who had been fighting relentlessly against the Two Fingers as the hidden mastermind. After hearing this, she remained silent for a long time.
"...Do you have any proof of what you just said?" Ranni asked after much contemplation. "Your story sounds plausible, but I cannot believe it without evidence."
"Would this be proof enough?" Aoko placed the Scarlet Staff in front of Ranni. "The microcosm within this staff was once a part of the Mother of the Fingers. However, during our battle, she was forced to abandon it. I cannot be sure if she has perished, but without a doubt, all the Fingers and Fingercreepers in the Lands Between have lost their connection to her."
Ranni used all four of her hands to receive the Scarlet Staff and carefully examined it. As the little princess of Caria and the wielder of the Dark Moon's law, Ranni undoubtedly had great mastery over Glintstone sorcery. The moment she touched the staff, she understood its nature—everything originates from the boundless Abyss of darkness.
Princess Ranni sighed and returned the staff to Aoko. First, she cast a worried glance at her mother, Queen Rennala, before turning her gaze back to Aoko's eyes.
"...I will tentatively believe what you have said," Ranni finally spoke. "But this truth is... too shocking. It overturns everything I have fought for over the years... I need time to think."
"However, if you are willing, you are welcome to visit the Carian Manor in person." Ranni smiled. "The truth can always withstand scrutiny, can it not?"
After she finished speaking, Ranni's figure disappeared. It was likely a temporary avatar created through Glintstone sorcery, which had been set up earlier on the grand chandelier in the library to protect Queen Rennala.
But now that the Twin Moon Rellana had returned to the Royal Carian Academy, Ranni was no longer as concerned about the Full Moon Queen, making the spell unnecessary.
Meanwhile, as Aoko and Ranni were conversing, it seemed that Touko had already found the correct treatment method.
In general, powerful sorcerers at the level of the Full Moon Queen were unlikely to suffer from physiological conditions leading to psychological disorders. This meant that Rennala's condition was entirely self-inflicted—she had sealed her soul away.
Ironically, Messmer's attempt at impersonating Radagon had, in a way, partially dragged the self-isolated Rennala out of the soul-bound prison she had created for herself.
Seizing this breach, Touko ventured deeper into Rennala's soul-bound confinement, using the power of the Third Magic to pull Rennala's personality back out.
The endless muttering of happy memories with Radagon that Rennala had been repeating suddenly came to a halt.
Her face was filled with nostalgia and sorrow, but the Full Moon Queen had finally let go of Messmer's hands.
"Thank you..." Rennala smiled, but her voice was completely different from before. She looked at Messmer and Touko and said, "It's been so many years... how have you been?"
"Thank you for helping me," Rennala said as she embraced the amber egg in her hands and slowly stood up. Her figure once again became tall and imposing. "It was like being trapped in a nightmare that would never end... I had imprisoned myself for far too long. But every dream must end eventually."