Nod Krai, Moon Prayer Night.
Finally, the [Moon] gathered, and the passage connecting to the “moon” opened at the place where people communicated with the “moon” during the Hyperborea period.
Columbina looked at the beam of light before her; she knew that the other side of this light was her home.
Finally, it’s time to go back.
It’s just…
why doesn’t it feel as happy as expected?
Columbina raised her hand; in her hand was a gift her friends had prepared for her.
Looking at that painting—more precisely, a certain corner of it—a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of Columbina’s lips.
It was very cute and carried many beautiful memories; she liked it very much.
Hmm…
but it’s about time; I should go.
Goodbye, my friends.
And…
Oh, I almost forgot.
You didn’t come over; are you still angry?
If there’s a chance, shall we play that game again next time?
I can let you win.
Columbina’s thoughts stopped there.
she took a step forward but paused for a moment just before stepping into the passage to the moon, slightly turning her head.
After sensing for a moment, Columbina’s beautiful brows furrowed slightly, and she shook her head gently.
she didn’t speak again, simply continuing forward another step in silence.
she stepped into the passage.
Once I’m on the moon, I’ll talk to you again.
I hope that method works.
Columbina slowly advanced toward the “moon” in the sky along the passage, but her “gaze” didn’t linger on that bright moon for long.
Instead, she lowered her head and “looked” at Natasha Town.
Tonight’s Moon Prayer Night was very enjoyable.
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, Columbina’s brow furrowed.
Just now, she felt some kind of threat approaching her.
But before she could react, a strange device trapped her.
In an instant, Columbina only felt her body become exceptionally heavy.
she was almost unable to move, and her power was being suppressed…
“Dottore?”
Columbina struggled to lift her head.
Upon seeing Dottore and the two moon marrows beside her, she understood many things in an instant.
Obviously, this was Dottore’s trap.
Columbina didn’t feel much self-blame or anger.
Since it had already happened, the first priority was to find a solution.
she immediately began trying to break free from the device trapping her.
But clearly, she could do nothing.
she could only watch helplessly as Dottore completely controlled the power of the [Moon], watched her restrain the companions who came to save her, and watched the only uncontrolled person, the Traveler, engage in a fierce battle with Dottore.
Although the two seemed evenly matched on the surface, Columbina could tell that Lumine had already used a great deal of element power since the start of the battle, but [Dottore]…
As a former colleague, Columbina knew a bit about Dottore’s methods.
So at least for now, Lumine was no match for Dottore, who wielded the power of the [Moon].
“No…”
“As long as I am here, the power of the [Moon] will be used by [Dottore].”
Columbina struggled to stand up.
she knew that if the situation continued like this, it was only a matter of time before Lumine was defeated.
“This is the only way…”
Columbina used all her strength to open the gate of the moon.
No one knew what lay behind the gate of the moon.
But the price of falling into the gate of the moon could be glimpsed from what happened to Rerir back then.
“In the end, I still couldn’t go home…”
Columbina took one last “look” at the nearby battlefield and the people further away who were controlled by Dottore.
With a hint of regret and even more determination, Columbina threw himself into the gate of the moon.
Because of the urgency of the situation and to avoid many variables, Columbina didn’t pause for long.
So, naturally, she did not see the familiar pale yellow figure appearing on the distant horizon almost in the next instant.
“Columbina!”
Sitting on Pulonia, Sandrone watched everything happening in mid-air and subconsciously let out a heart-wrenching scream in that direction.
Because she was going to attend the Moon Prayer Night tonight, she hadn’t let Pulonia enter Natasha Town with her.
That’s why she arrived a bit late.
But she never expected that so many things would happen in such a short time.
Columbina…
Damn it!
I haven’t even arrived yet; who gave you permission to leave?!
Didn’t you say you were going to the moon?
If…
if only I could have been a little earlier…
Maybe…
maybe you could have…
Columbina…
Dottore…
Dottore!!!
You have already courted death!
Sandrone tried her best to suppress the rage in her heart, but her cold, murderous gaze made it clear that she was not finished with Dottore!
I will destroy you with my own hands!
“Pulonia, attack!”
…
Inside the gate of the moon.
Actually, Columbina felt relieved at this moment.
In any case, at least Dottore hadn’t reacted in time to stop her; her plan had succeeded.
This way, everyone should be safe.
Hmm…
It’s just…
my body…
feels even heavier.
It feels like I’m about to return to the moon…
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, Columbina felt a change in her body.
It seems…
I’m about to disappear again.
A bit…
regrettable…
“…”
A final thought surfaced in Columbina’s mind and quickly vanished.
she could no longer maintain her form, and then her consciousness rapidly blurred until it dissipated completely.
Without a doubt, this meant that Columbina “died.”
…
Snezhnaya, Winter Palace.
The weather was nice today.
It was a rare sunny day, and the snow that had been falling for weeks had finally stopped.
Neither the Tsaritsa nor those colleagues had come to trouble her.
I had a very comfortable sleep during the day!
As for the night…
Tonight was exceptionally quiet.
The moonlight reflected off the heavy snow outside the window, lighting up the entire Laboratory so brightly that it didn’t even matter if the lights were off.
It allowed one to settle down and focus on experimental research.
A good environment can also increase the success rate of experiments.
“Pulonia, help me bring that over; this experiment is about to conclude.”
Sandrone was in a good mood tonight.
Besides the good weather, the lack of annoying matters, and the experiment nearing a successful end, the most, most, most important thing was—
Tonight, Columbina surprisingly didn’t come to her door to sing and disturb her!
At the thought of this, Sandrone couldn’t help but curl her lips in a smug smile.
Heh, this fellow, has she finally realized that what she did before was really disruptive?
Without Columbina causing trouble, the progress of the experimental research was so much faster!
Now, just one step left…
“Humph!
Columbina, it’s a good thing you didn’t come tonight, otherwise I’d definitely make you see what kind of ‘good’ things you’ve done before!
This experiment should have ended long ago.”
Pulonia, standing aside:…
If it hadn’t been for its lack of a language module, it wouldn’t have been able to resist speaking up to remind her.
Master, why don’t you look behind you?
However, out of understanding for Sandrone and Columbina, Pulonia didn’t step forward to remind Sandrone, who was completely immersed in experimental research (scratch that, in scolding Columbina), but instead considerately entered automatic sleep mode.
“Columbina!
It’s fine that you didn’t come tonight.
Tomorrow morning, out of gentlemanly etiquette and for the sake of our colleagueship, I don’t mind personally paying you a visit to discuss the losses caused by your singing at my door all these years.”
“By the way, and my tea party—who gave you permission to join in on your own?
Did I invite you?”
You ask why Sandrone kept talking to himself?
Probably because the resentment Columbina usually brought her was too deep.
Or perhaps the frustration that this experiment was clearly about to succeed, yet the final step was taking so long.
“Columbina…”
Sandrone wanted to say more, but at that moment, an ethereal, pure, and familiar singing voice drifted from behind her—or rather, from all around the Laboratory.
“Dormi cara, Columbula～
O Columbula mea～
Senti ad fenestram～
Adsint somnians flora～
O cara filia luna～
Ne verum ambulo～ vivo te tam～
Nec ea cum est sua amans～
Tam pia, bona～
Somnians a luna～”
Sandrone put down the experimental equipment in her hands, clenched her fists, furrowed her brows, and turned around.
Looking at the person who had appeared at some unknown time, a surge of Nameless fire rose in her heart.
“Columbina!”
The Damselette known as Columbina also stopped singing at this time and “looked” at the clearly angry Sandrone.
For some reason, Columbina felt that her current appearance was exactly like those little cats in Snezhnaya City that were hissing.
The corners of Columbina’s lips curled up slightly, a faint smile playing on her face.
I see you again, dear Sandrone.
“Columbina!
Just because you’re blind doesn’t mean you’re deaf; why aren’t you saying anything!”
Columbina tilted her head in confusion.
Originally, she had wanted to hear Sandrone say more “unpleasant things.”
But since Sandrone wanted her to speak…
Columbina gave a gentle smile, which actually left Sandrone stunned for a moment.
Of course, Columbina didn’t notice this.
she gathered her thoughts, and a few cool words, carrying the feeling of a long-awaited reunion, spilled from her lips.
“Looking for me?”