Althea: The Legendary Saintess [Shoujo]

As the joint classes ended and Althea and her peers were preparing for their general studies graduation party a month later, urgent news arrived at the office of the King of the great nation of Royal Grand Central.

“Your Majesty, this is an emergency! The stars... the stars...!!!”

Cassandra Nightshade Norland, the Chief of the Ministry of Magic, was pounding frantically on the door of the King's office.

Coincidentally, Thomas Monclair, who had received a secret mission from the King, was visiting the office along with the captain of the Royal First Guard to report on his investigation of Fulltale.

Cassandra, who stood in the opened doorway, caught the attention of the King, Duke Fulank, and Archduke Thomas Monclair.

Cassandra frowned for a moment at the sight of Thomas, but quickly regained her composure and knelt before the King.

“I deeply apologize for interrupting your conversation. Please forgive me as this is an urgent matter.”

“What could make Director Norland so agitated? Very well, speak. What has happened?”

“Yes... uh, I would request some privacy...”

Cassandra glanced at Thomas as she spoke.

“Director Norland, there is no one here who should not hear this. Quickly, state your business.”

“...Understood. The stars... they are aligning. We have just confirmed the sixth silver star.”

“What?!”

“!!!”

“The purple star is not visible as it is hidden in the night sky, but in the past thousand years, there has never been a time when six of the attribute stars aligned. The confirmation of the alignment of these six stars means—”

“That the alignment of all seven is certain. Not knowing when the purple star will align makes it even more unpredictable, doesn't it?”

“Indeed.”

“...Graham, Thomas, you heard it. We already have the matter of Fulltale to consider. There is no time to lose. Graham, gather the Royal Guard and prepare for the sword search... I will speak with the Crown Prince.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will take my leave now.”

With a bow, Graham left the office first. After watching him leave, the King conveyed the information Thomas had brought back to Cassandra.

Shortly after the King of Fulltale began participating in international conferences, RGC dispatched knights to Fulltale under the guise of monster subjugation. While engaging in subjugation, they secretly investigated the internal affairs of Fulltale. However, one day, all communication was lost.

The King then contacted Thomas to investigate Fulltale's internal situation. In response to this request, Thomas—specifically, the special forces of Monclair—had infiltrated Fulltale for about a month, gathered information, and had come to report today.

Cassandra Norland was shocked by the details of Fulltale’s internal situation conveyed by the King.

While it was known that the Queen had already passed away, the castle contained only the King and Prince, and what seemed to be humanoid demons. As rumored, Fulltale had indeed "fallen to the demons."

“...Such a thing... if memory serves, weren't there also two princesses in the royal family?”

After hearing the report, Norland asked in a trembling voice, and Thomas answered, shaking his head.

“...Their whereabouts are unknown. There was no sign of them. However, there was a faint presence of people, so I believe they are still alive. Naturally, our knights as well...”

“From Director Norland’s report, it is inevitable that we will be shrouded in darkness. We must be prepared to respond immediately, no matter what happens. Director Norland.”

“Yes.”

“I need you to use communication magic to inform all nations of this fact. After that, compile a list of individuals skilled in magic, not just from the Ministry of Magic. If the Crown Prince goes out to search for the sword, I want a magic unit to accompany him.”

“Understood. I will prepare immediately.”

“Thomas.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“You have been of great service. Rest well... though the situation does not allow for it. I am sorry, but could you search for our missing knights? Even if they are deceased, I wish to return them to their families. I ask this of you.”

As the King bowed his head, Thomas responded respectfully while Cassandra looked on in surprise.

“Your Majesty, there is no need for the King of a great nation to bow his head. Please command me. My house of Monclair is both the shield and sword of Royal Grand Central. If it is an order from the King to whom we swore allegiance, I will surely fulfill it.”

“...Understood. Then... ‘Thomas Monclair, I hereby order you to retrieve the knights from Fulltale. Accomplish this task without fail.’”

“Yes! I accept your command. ...I will take my leave to begin immediately.”

With those words, Thomas Monclair and Cassandra Nighshade Norland left the office together.

For the next week, while the upper echelons of various nations were in a frenzy, the common nobles and peasants continued to live their peaceful lives, unaware of the turmoil. This was true for the academy as well.

One evening, Althea was on the balcony, lost in thought as she gazed at the sunset sky.

"Three weeks left until graduation... What should I do about a partner...?"

When she consulted Laila about this,

"Why not ask His Highness the Crown Prince?" was her only suggestion. Regalus, on the other hand, opposed the idea,

"If you ask His Highness to be your partner at the graduation party, people will mistake him for your fiancé. It's not a good idea and besides, not everyone would be happy about it."

"Ah... yes... our family... I understand your point, really, but... then who should I ask? Ugh... I wish a fairy were here right now..."

They could give me advice...

Thinking this, she continued to absentmindedly watch the fading sunset.

Today's sunset was redder than usual, mingling with the encroaching darkness to create an indescribable beauty and eeriness. The beauty was almost otherworldly, making her uneasy but unable to look away. Just then, Laila's voice called from the living room at the perfect moment.

"Lady Althea, dinner is ready."

"Ah! I'm coming."

Snapping out of her reverie, Althea responded to Laila's call and headed back inside.

After finishing dinner and bathing, Althea was relaxing in her room when she suddenly felt someone calling her from outside. She walked towards the balcony.

"Is someone there...?"

It was quite late, so she cautiously opened the window and stepped out onto the balcony... but no one was there.

"...I thought it might be Ciel..."

Sighing, she looked up at the night sky and saw a large, trailing shooting star.

"A shooting star..."

As she murmured, the shooting star began to glow even brighter.

The light became so intense that Althea couldn't keep her eyes open. She closed one eye and tried to look at the shooting star with the other. The star was growing larger and was clearly heading towards her.

Why is it coming this way?... There's no time to think, I need to get out of the way...

Just as she turned to move, a strong light from behind her turned into a large sphere of light that enveloped her. Wrapped in the light, Althea couldn't open her eyes or speak, and she lost consciousness on the spot.

Almost simultaneously with Althea being enveloped in light and losing consciousness, the sky tore open, emitting a light so bright that night seemed like day for a moment.

People were astonished, but by the time they looked up to check the sky, the light had disappeared, leaving only a starless darkness.

People wondered aloud, "What was that light just now?" but no matter how many times they looked up, they saw only darkness and felt no further disturbances.

――Except for those few who witnessed the moment the sky tore open.