Friday evening, in the same private room at Qinghe Tower where the family dinner was held last time.

Alicefiel sat alone at the head of the table, her fingers restlessly tapping the glass tabletop, the rhythm alternating between light and heavy, betraying her unsettled mood.

Seventeen years ago, that battle cost her too much.

The loss of personal strength was the least of it.

What mattered most were her comrades—the magical girls of her team, the elite mage regiment, the logistical support troops.

Flesh torn apart, reduced to dust—that was the kindest death.

The worst was a fate worse than death: mental imprisonment, flesh melded into monstrosities…

From that day, hell ceased to be a mere concept in entertainment.

It became a real place on some corner of Earth.

To prevent the spread of corruption, all information about that crusade was sealed.

No records remained; only those at the top knew it ever happened.

Her mind couldn’t help but recall the faces of those who fought alongside her:

The rookie magical girl Gold, on her first mission—killed by a high-energy magical surge.

Her proud defenses, along with her body, left only a pair of fallen feet.

Allen, the veteran mage from the elite regiment, about to become a grandfather—his flesh warped, birthing countless maggots.

Liu Jia, the vehicle driver who loved chocolate—torn apart by a vicious beast.

And my love, my guilt, my…

The door to the private room opened.

It was Corona.

She stepped in ahead of Lu Ming, her cheerful mood faltering as she saw Alicefiel’s red-rimmed eyes, on the verge of tears.

My Little Moon must have suffered some great grievance.

With her strong nature, she wouldn’t cry easily.

“I’m here. It’s okay,” Corona said, sitting beside Alicefiel and pulling her into an embrace.

“Captain…” Alicefiel’s voice choked, unable to hold back the tears.

A glistening drop fell onto her collar.

Leaning into Corona’s arms, Alicefiel greedily soaked in her warmth and the unchanging fragrance of gardenias.

I’m so despicable, craving what isn’t mine, Alicefiel thought, loathing herself.

Yet her body instinctively pressed closer to Corona.

“I’ve never blamed you,” Corona said.

“Even when you left without a word.”

“But seeing you with a career, a family, a child—I’m truly relieved.”

“If you hadn’t sacrificed your ‘uniqueness’ back then, I, and the other survivors, might never have returned home.”

“I just can’t accept that I couldn’t protect them. They should’ve been remembered as heroes, not reduced to numbers in an unknown incident.”

Some things can’t just be let go.

“When they entrusted their lives to you, they did so without resentment,” Corona said calmly.

“No sacrifice is without value. They believed in you, believed you’d overcome all obstacles, which is why they paved the way for you, one after another.”

As she spoke, Corona’s eyes reddened too.

“I’m the one who can’t let go, Little Moon.”

“You’ve already given enough. You deserve this hard-earned happiness.”

“But I fell into a trap, watching you all die. I’m the real culprit.”

Guilt for her comrades and for Yuehua fueled Corona’s drive.

After that crusade, she didn’t retire but threw herself into the front lines of beast extermination.

For thirty-five years, she remained active, earning the title of the magical girl world’s evergreen icon.

Her fame grew beyond imagination—thirty-five years, spanning two generations, making her a household name, a living miracle.

Only in the last decade had she shifted her focus to training new magical girls.

“As long as we’re alive, that’s what matters,” Alicefiel said, hugging Corona tightly.

“Yeah, as long as we’re alive, we’ll always have a chance to meet again,” Corona said, her tears turning to a smile.

“I’ve been looking for you for so long.”

Seventeen years.

Since Yuehua left without a word, Corona had searched for her, using every connection she had.

Yet she found not a single clue.

Of course—the moon, a symbol of secrecy, could hide its tracks effortlessly.

Without the sun’s light, its faint glow buried underground might remain unseen until the planet itself crumbled.

“Why are you alone today? Where’s your husband?” Corona asked.

Lu Yue being at the Bureau for training made sense, but Corona was curious about the man who’d captured Little Moon’s heart.

After all, Yuehua had once publicly declared she wasn’t interested in men, causing quite a stir among their teammates.

“He’s a novelist. He’s off in the next city for research today,” Alicefiel said.

“Of course, Little Moon always had a thing for the artistic type,” Corona teased, pouring tea for herself and Alicefiel.

Though Corona hadn’t met the man today, out of respect for her friend, she hadn’t pried into Alicefiel’s family records.

Let’s keep a bit of mystery for Little Moon, Corona thought.

“Come sit, Xiao Lu,” Alicefiel said, waving to Lu Ming and patting the chair to her left.

“Sure, Advisor,” Lu Ming said, taking a seat.

“Your daughter’s full of energy,” Corona said to Alicefiel.

“You went to see her today, Captain?”

“Yep,” Corona nodded.

“I got myself an identity. I’m her classmate now.”

“Captain, you…” Alicefiel started to protest but let it go, considering it was the Captain.

Her gaze shifted to Lu Ming, who was sipping tea and checking her phone.

“Captain, I never would’ve guessed Lu Ming was your sister. What a coincidence.”

“You two must be about twenty years apart.”

“Actually, Lu Ming’s not my sister,” Corona said, pausing her actions.

The atmosphere turned chilly, the air conditioning making it feel even colder.

“She’s my daughter,” Corona said, the words hitting Alicefiel’s calm heart like a sledgehammer.

“Oh, s-so your daughter’s that grown?” Alicefiel stammered.

Corona didn’t notice the undercurrent of emotion, assuming her friend was just shocked speechless.

“So you’re married,” Alicefiel said.

“Y-yeah,” Corona replied, hesitating.

She glanced at Lu Ming beside Alicefiel, scratching her head vaguely.

“Married, huh.”

Was it joy or regret?

Alicefiel asked herself.

Perhaps regret.

She forced a smile.

She’d hurt the wrong person at the wrong time, fleeing when she should’ve taken responsibility.

She’d lost the right to stand before her openly in another identity.

I brought this on myself. It’s what I deserve.

“Hey, the food’s here, Little Moon,” Corona said.

“It’s your treat today, for Xiao Lu.”

Alicefiel found the meal tasteless today.