The storm had ended, but its echo still lingered in Star’s heart.
The air was cold and clear atop the mountain, yet the silence that followed victory felt heavier than the battle itself.

Boreas gazed at the setting sun, its crimson glow merging with the vast, frozen mountain range. Star, Siegfried, and Klara sat at the edge of a cliff, catching their breath after completing Boreas’ final trial. The air was crisp and still—a rare moment of peace after a storm. Star’s eyes blazed with a newfound resolve, her spirit reignited after meeting Boreas, the Aeon of the Northern Wind. Yet behind that blazing resolve lingered a shadow.

Her thoughts churned—a storm of doubts she could not silence. Can I truly live up to everyone’s expectations? Can I truly follow in Alioth’s footsteps and save Atlantia again?

Siegfried, ever attuned to her moods, noticed her silence. He turned toward her with gentle concern.
“Star, is something wrong? You’ve been quiet.”

Star hesitated, her fingers nervously tracing the hilt of her sword. “I’m fine… It’s just...” She lowered her gaze.
“I’m afraid I’ll never be able to match Alioth. He was an Aeon, a being of unmatched strength and purpose. And I… I’m just a normal human.”

Her words hung in the air—heavy, unspoken truths echoing in the stillness. Boreas, who had remained silent, shifted his sharp gaze toward her.

“To be honest, you’ll never match Alioth.”

His blunt words landed like a blow. Star’s eyes widened in shock, her breath catching in her throat. Siegfried, Klara, and Friedrich turned toward Boreas, stunned. The weight of his words was nearly unbearable.

“...Because you are not Alioth,” he continued, his voice softening like the whisper of a winter breeze. “You are Star Rosalind. You have your own destiny to carve. This isn't about power or lineage. It’s about you—how you face your trials, how you lead, how you forge your path alongside those who walk beside you. His eyes gentled, carrying an expression of pride and hope. “That is why I designed my trial, Star. Not to test your strength, but to prepare the next hero Atlantia needs.”

He allowed the silence to sink in before speaking again.
“If adventurers and warriors cannot endure my trial, how could they hope to face foes far greater than me? But you and your companions succeeded—not with brute force, but with teamwork, wit, and resilience. That is what makes you ready to face enemies like Nidhogg.”

Star’s expression began to shift, the doubt in her eyes giving way to cautious hope. Yet uncertainty still lingered.

“But we wouldn’t have made it without Hilda and Kevin. Without their guidance, we would never have reached this summit.”

Hilda stepped forward, her calm and steady presence grounding them like an anchor.
“My task was to guide you to Boreas, Star—not to face the trial in your place. That was yours alone to overcome, and it was your strength and your choices that led you to victory. I’ve guided many adventurers and warriors up this mountain, but only a few ever reached the top, and none succeeded in completing Boreas’ final trial.”

“She speaks the truth,” said Boreas firmly. “You and your friends passed my trial. You have proven yourselves worthy. So cast away your doubt, Star. You are the one chosen by the Seven Heavens.”

The wind howled softly through the cliffs, as if carrying Boreas’s words into eternity.
Star closed her eyes, feeling their weight settle deep within her chest. For the first time, the fear quieted—and hope began to take root.