Rose closes her eyes and concentrates on that beautiful melody.
The Moonlight Sonata that Shadow plays is different from any other rendition that Rose has ever heard before. The song might be the same, but the expression can vary greatly based on the performer.
Shadow’s Moonlight Sonata is darkness.
A deep, endless darkness. With a single ray of light shining into it.
Is that light from the moon? Or is it……
But before she is able to arrive at an answer, the performance comes to an end.
Only after fully appreciating the lingering note reverberating around the cathedral does Rose clap her hands.
The clapping of a single person echoes.
Naturally, Shadow hears that clapping. He stands up, and bows elegantly in response.
“Shadow, you are……”
Abruptly, Rose realizes that she does not know what to say next. However, she feels that Shadow would definitely leave if she does not say something.
“Among all the renditions of Moonlight Sonata that I’ve ever heard, I can say with certainty that yours is the best. Umm……”
Rose herself does not know what she is saying.
There surely are other things that she should ask Shadow.
“What is it…… that you hope to achieve……”
So says Shadow in his reverberating-from-the-abyss voice.
“Eh……”
With a little thought, Rose understands. He is inquiring about the incident.
“I…… merely wanted to protect everyone…… wanted to grasp the best future…… But I could not do it……!”
Rose squeezes out her words.
“And it’s over……?”
“Eh……?”
“Your fight, it’s over……?”
“Even I…… don’t want it to end here……!”
Rose hangs her head but clenches her fists.
She wanted to make it work. Even now, she still thinks so. However, there is no longer anything that she can do.
“If you still have the will to fight…… then I shall grant it to you……”
So saying, Shadow gathers violet magic on top of his outstretched hand.
“…… Power.”
“Power……?”
The violet magic grows increasingly bright, beautifully coloring the entire cathedral. The dense magic causes the air to vibrate.
“If I gain that power, would I be able to change the future……?”
“That would depend on you.”
Rose finds herself enthralled by the violet magic. What if she possesses Shadow’s strength?
Then surely everything would have been different.
If she has the strength…… then there would still be things that she can do. As the princess of Oriana Kingdom, there would still be things that she needs to do.
Light returns to Rose’s eyes.
“I…… want it. I…… want that power……!”
“Ask, and you shall receive……”
Then the violet magic is let loose.
It shoots straight towards Rose’s chest and, after being sucked in, begins circulating around her body.
That warm strength calms Rose’s agitated magic. Her magic, which had felt somehow heavy and unresponsive, silently begins flowing like water.
“How amazing……”
Rose thinks so from the bottom of her heart.
So this is Shadow’s magic……
So this is the world that Shadow sees……
“Resist…… and prove to me that you are worthy to fight beside me.”
Before she realizes it, Shadow’s figure has already vanished.
Only his voice remains, as a lingering echo.
“Forget it not…… true strength comes not from power, but from the way you live……”
Then Shadow’s presence fades entirely.
Rose is left alone in the cathedral.
She hears the footsteps of her pursuers. She feels the vibration in the air.
Magic more than she has ever felt in her entire life fills her entirely.
She had even considered resigning herself to being caught. But now, with this power in hand…… there is so much that she can still do.
Rose draws her narrow sword, steadily gazing at the broken door.
Then the next instant, a group wearing black appears through the door…… and blood fountains.
They had, without even knowing what had happened, fallen to Rose’s sword.
After staining the cathedral with blood, Rose sheathes her sword and closes her eyes.
So this is how Shadow has been fighting against the Order all along. In places beyond anyone’s eyes, endlessly continuing the fight.
Shadow’s Moonlight Sonata rises back up in Rose’s mind.
She feels that she’s come to understand the single ray of light shining into the deep darkness.
That light is perhaps Shadow himself. He is not the darkness, but the single ray of light standing against the darkness.
So Rose believes.