Precisely because she'd seen the original story, Hibiscus knew how strong Jin Ruochu was.
Truly full-course pressure resistance—relatives and friends all suffered misfortune, finally walking alone to the ending, mourning army's victorious final battle.
News about mother's truth breaking through the young lady's mental defenses was imaginably heavyweight. A child growing up with that childhood experience as protection—now being directly pierced would definitely cause grief.
No matter how relaxed she appeared, couldn't change facts. Now she needed another spiritual pillar.
Hibiscus had to take responsibility.
She just let Jin Ruochu lie in her embrace, conveniently patting her head. The pink-haired girl greatly enjoyed it, even making comfortable sounds that added ambiguity.
Deliberate? Underestimated protagonist's pressure resistance.
"Dr. Mu, as a Causality user I understand fate exists in the world, yet can also say it doesn't exist, because it can definitely be changed. Firm original heart, gather courage—this power is what you brought me. Thank you."
"Magic belongs to Magical Girls themselves. Don't overestimate my role."
"No, you gave me what's most necessary for using Fortune and Misfortune: a heart that's firm, unwavering, forever passionate. As long as I know it helps you, I'm full of strength—even curses don't matter."
"Are you feeling better? Sorry, I might have chosen the wrong place. You said mother once grew these flowers..."
Suddenly Jin Ruochu carp-jumped upright.
"Fine."
She smiled and lifted her skirt, running quickly into the flower grove like a princess briefly excusing herself from court banquets, leaping gracefully among them standing tall. Pink long hair flowed in wind, spreading fragrance. That smile was sincere, full of emotion and vitality.
"Now it should have new meaning. We form agreement here." Jin Ruochu raised her index finger to her lips. "We must stay together always, forever."
"I promise you, no matter how distant the time, until forever."
Objectively speaking, Hibiscus indeed changed many people's tragic fates, but was never proud or complacent, because she also led the other party onto new paths: united hearts confronting doomsday. Equally difficult, even more than before.
So she just replaced one challenge with another—couldn't be called salvation. What future held was uncertain.
What if someone died because of her?
The world wasn't fairy tales—there were always those who exited. Facing Disaster Beasts and Dark Fairies, safety couldn't be discussed.
Right now Jin Ruochu's spoken agreement also counted as comfort. Everyone didn't reject the path Hyacinth chose for them—even willingly accepted it.
This somewhat let Hibiscus relax.
The pink-haired girl murmured: "Actually I expected it before departure—not from divination but your attitude. Dr. Mu, originally you would ask some key information. Even without asking, you'd prophesy it eventually, so no one could escape truth. Suspended so long—ending is also good. I acknowledge my mother, accept all this. People must always move forward."
Just as she finished, she extended her hand—hundreds of flowers in chaos, flying into sky.
The entire flower sea seemed to resonate with Fortune and Misfortune magic, welcoming honored guests with luck, offering songs of purple and red—bird accompaniment around them.
They didn't know what magic creatures they were—beautiful and noble, yet all paying respects to Magical Girl Manjusaka.
Blessed by fate, wouldn't Causality strongest magic also count as a test? Nearby fairies cast glances, very satisfied with the two's interaction. Fed more sugar, the more they watched the more reliable they seemed.
Magical Girls were strong through emotion. If the Church was a group of rigid people, destined to be boring.
"Come."
Suddenly Jin Ruochu grasped the silver-haired girl's hand, making the latter involuntarily rise following her steps—clearly a dance. In hundred-flower groves, stepping to bird songs.
"According to my father, he met mother at a ball."
"Truly special experience—I never imagined." Though saying this, Hibiscus stepped to male rhythm like flowing clouds and water. "Fortunately my busy running around taught me some, or I'd embarrass myself before the young lady."
"Makes us seem very upper-class, not eating earthly food... But their meeting can't compare to now—who can dance at Emerald Court?"
Next movement Hibiscus embraced her waist while Jin Ruochu extended arms gracefully, petals blooming.
Four seasons turned again.
Fortune and Misfortune magic no longer just stayed at existing short-term phenomenon changes, adding cyclical evolution elements: could make petals fly then revive, volcanoes erupt then heal crustal fissures, curses contaminate or heal... freely controlled, reaching peaks.
Right now she wasn't just dancing, but responding to rapidly expanding magic power.
Must continuously, gently, skillfully release energy to avoid losing control—needing a companion for this, the comrade who'd cared for her since first awakening.
Hyacinth was Manjusaka's spiritual backbone.
So she freely wielded continuously rising magic, pushing Fortune and Misfortune toward new levels.
If the last breakthrough during Long Wind Group attack was absolute cursing, encompassing even viruses and fate, now she could reversely give excessive positive luck: like massive life force delivery causing mutations. Causality magic should connect positive-negative sides without distinction.
"I understand."
Confidently giving rhythm to Hibiscus, Jin Ruochu simply closed her eyes, completely fusing with magic energy, dancing like flight.
Never disappointing this painful memory, carrying it further. Let those fairies properly witness Manjusaka's growth—Salvation Church was qualified and powerful enough to weather future calamities.
Just then resonant magic stabilized runaway signs.
Resonance from Hibiscus plus a praise: "I've never seen such magic advancement scenes. Planning to reach Fruition with this element first? Go all out."
She'd recently received system-rewarded resonance methods, directly using as assistance.
First ensure most difficult magic advancement.
Among remaining elements, Manjusaka usually chose Origin—with this high-profile personality, using projections should be quite amusing.
Energy continuously surging in flower seas made even fairy knights look sideways. Pure power wasn't enough to surprise them—key was such peaceful, quiet, even joyful breakthrough of most difficult elements, extremely rare.
"Knight Commander, I said they could do it early on." Julius said proudly.
"Indeed very rare. Even genius like Hyacinth needed freely wielding Sands of Time in battle to advance, while Manjusaka handled it peacefully. Originally prepared to jointly suppress rampage."
"Besides, you told her such truth?"
"Growth in adversity tests true quality. They're very close to my magic level, almost equal in mental realm."
Fairies had sharp eyes.
Though this era's Magical Girls had only successively awakened for one year without much data accumulation, everyone clearly knew how arduous Salvation Church's path had been.
Orseya seemed strict urging Manjusaka hoping for quick Fruition Stage Fortune and Misfortune completion, actually sharp tongue but soft heart—appreciation over criticism—yet didn't expect the other side really planning this step.
"Should we help together?" Edwina suggested.
"They can handle it themselves. Besides, no need disturbing the little couple, right?" Orseya joked.
Julius sighed: "From what I know, Hyacinth and Dandelion also have good relations, Imperial Flower quite adores her..."
"Quite popular then."
"No, I mean there are entangled bonds between them. This emotion can become power, naturally also bringing Hyacinth pressure. Key is how she handles these relationships—or embraces all?"
"You understand human society best—I don't know these things."
Fairies basically sprouted from World Tree natural energy—naturally pure magic, often just needing slight guidance from kin to birth adults, just taking time.
Short-lived humans had completely different values—also normal. So Emerald Court must handle carefully, understanding Planet Gaia customs as much as possible. But social gaps caused by physiological differences were too vast for few to understand—Julius was an expert.
They jointly watched the flower sea pair. Hyacinth and Manjusaka danced gracefully, perfectly coordinated, magic completely resonant.
Incredible!
This required extremely high control demands, but most important was mental-spiritual compatibility—indeed precious, requiring open hearts.
Suddenly Edwina reported: "Strong Knowledge Poison fluctuations discovered on moon... That relic excavation site shows activation signs. Stationed fairies consider it very dangerous. What do we do?"
"Do nothing. That's for the Salvation Church to handle unless they speak up."
"Magical Girls haven't completely ruled their homeland yet. These are Holy Relic-planned actions. Those remaining seem unconcerned, or unwilling to directly confiscate—planning to observe developments for a while."
"So we needn't worry more. Why has the Church always been relatively low-key? Because Hyacinth awaits bigger opportunities—controlling Planet Gaia in one breath."
"No difference now—humans like gravitating toward power."
Julius hit the current situation precisely.
Hermit Island was already about the same as Allied Forces Command, people above capable of commanding the world.
No regulations specified this, but they'd cooperatively comply. Not doing so because Magical Girls still waited.
Anyway Hyacinth-led organizations lacked no resources, steadily holding orthodox positions while continuously developing by leaps and bounds—incomparable to declining forces. Future allegiances were obvious.
Just as fairy Guardian Knights communicated, flower sea dancing gradually subsided, magic might tending toward moderation—Fortune and Misfortune embracing new levels.
One element of Manjusaka had reached Fruition Stage.
Orseya smiled loudly: "You should rest early. Suitable magic environment rooms are prepared—give yourselves perfect states for tomorrow's joint interrogation."
After arranging everything, fairy gazes disappeared, no longer watching flower fields.
Watched plenty.
After resting briefly, Jin Ruochu and Hibiscus looked at each other and nodded, following fairy-guided magic traces.
The destination was clearly tree houses. Emerald Court had two mainstream building types: stone-built public buildings resembling Roman style, often towering and tall; the latter were natural-style tree holes, but also elegantly decorated inside, no less than palaces.
Externally it looked like two huge root systems interwoven into holes, outside hanging firefly lamps, door chimes, small windows showing orange candlelight.
"Dream fairy houses looked just like this." Jin Ruochu pointed. "Trip not wasted."
"Beautiful races naturally don't lack aesthetics."
Hibiscus pushed the door open.
Suddenly spacious—door wasn't large but inside hid mysteries, full three floors with spiral stairs built on trunk. Central crystal chandelier infused with massive magic power. Facilities were complete, biggest feature being new—obviously recently renovated.
Right—after all, fairy and Magical Girl size differences were large. To adapt these furniture required complete renovation.
Hosts even ingeniously decorated a photo wall displaying Emerald Court scenery that moved upon close inspection—panoramic projection, interesting magic. Even without personal visits, could glimpse through this, bringing knowing smiles.
World Tree residents' hospitality was impeccable, including small details like abundant snacks and sweets, magic preservation letting you feast anytime.
"Such pleasure, forgetting homeland."
Jin Ruochu ran upstairs and flopped onto the soft bed—standard large princess bed design with curtain decorations, looking luxurious and secure.
But she sensed something wrong with slight mental detection.
"How is there just one bed? Their oversight?" Then she lay sideways, showing the ascending silver-haired girl a sly smile. "Or misunderstood our relationship?"
Hibiscus flicked a forehead flick from distance, making the former dramatically cry pain while rolling around.
Right now the pink-haired girl was excited like a child on first family trip. Since staying at the world's nonexistent eight-star hotel, might as well enjoy it fully.
"...Fairy style seems to be more decoration the better then to ignore beds." The silver-haired girl looked around.
Small decorations and oddly-shaped furniture filled the view, already over-decorated feeling. Similar styles existed in earlier divination halls—obviously World Tree Realm favored this, loving saturated decoration.
"No bathroom either."
Naturally pure magic beings and humans differed too greatly, inevitably overlooking things.
Of course, reaching Blooming Stage Magical Girls also counted as acquired pure magic beings. In their view, identical—simply following their own standards, everything is natural.
Then Jin Ruochu waved hands and kicked feet continuously, shouting: "Not even pillows! I can't sleep in strange places. Since it's fairy houses, someone must coax me!"
"My young lady, please stop making trouble."
Unable to withstand such frantic pleading, Hibiscus had to lie on bed. The latter almost bounced over hugging her like a baby koala.
Originally planning to push away Jin Ruochu with no social distance sense, she unexpectedly fell asleep in one second. So close couldn't fool perception—indeed too tired, collapsing unconscious. Not everyone was like herself with full-element advancement having almost no excess consumption—breakthrough was exhausting.
Hibiscus also closed her eyes to meditate.