Outside, at the entrance to the Seventh Trial Ground, Cecilia had kept Leah there despite Albert's order to evacuate everyone within two kilometers.
Protected at the center by the princess and several academy instructors, Leah suddenly jerked her head upward.
"Ah!"
A genuine cry of pain escaped her lips as her right hand clutched her chest tightly and her Astral Core shook violently.
"Leah!"
Cecilia quickly caught her, but silver starlight was already spilling continuously from inside the girl's body. Instead of dispersing into the air, every strand of starlight stretched toward the depths of the Seventh Trial Ground, as though something inside the forest had hooked onto her Astral Core and was forcibly pulling it toward itself.
The princess expression became increasingly ugly as she looked toward the depths of the Seventh Trial Ground.
"Victor… whatever you're doing in there, you'd better hurry."
...
