It wasn't clear when it started, but Nanoha began having dreams frequently. Having dreams wasn't unusual; everyone dreamed, and some people had several every night. But Nanoha’s dreams were peculiar because she always had similar ones, featuring the same people, and the memories within them were intensely vivid, feeling more like reality than mere dreaming. Yet, upon waking, all she retained was the fact that she had dreamt—nothing more about the setting or the people in the dream.

It wasn't clear when it started, but Nanoha began to sense her own specialness. Everyone had something special about them, which wasn't strange, but Nanoha’s uniqueness was distinctly different... She would think, How wonderful it would be to go on an outing tomorrow, and the next day her father would decide the whole family was going on one; she’d wish everyone could be together for her birthday, and sure enough, Alicia and Suzuka would arrive early to celebrate with her; she’d wish she might become a mage tonight, and then she met Yuuno and became one.

Though it wasn't unfailingly accurate every time, it had proven true more than once. Just like this time, before coming here, she had been hoping to meet the girl with twin-tails she had always been searching for, and then, she really did encounter the golden-haired, twin-tailed girl standing before her now.

Why had she been searching for her? She hadn't known before, but the instant she saw Fate, Nanoha understood: because that person had appeared in her dreams. Even if she couldn't recall the girl's features clearly from before, some things are just like that... you don't need to remember them to feel them.

But it seemed it wouldn't be smooth sailing, because she had promised Yuuno she would help him find the lost Jewel Seeds, and this girl seemed to have come to snatch the Jewel Seeds as well. Would... would she and this girl become enemies?

Watching Fate stand atop the lamppost, these thoughts spun through Nanoha's mind.

Unlike the bewilderment on Nanoha's face, Fate maintained her cold expression throughout, her eyes as calm as still water. No one could guess what she was thinking. After a moment, she spoke slowly, "Ancient Artifact... the Jewel Seed... I apologize, but I must take it."

As she said this, her black staff, Raising Heart, shifted into its scythe form. Gripping it with both hands, she rapidly slashed down toward Nanoha.

"Ah!" Faced with this sudden attack, Nanoha seemed too stunned to react, but the staff in her hand helped her at that moment.

"Evade, Flight Feather Wings!"

Heart of the Sun emitted a low, slightly magnetic female voice. The next instant, two wings formed of magic appeared on Nanoha's feet. With a beat of the wings, Nanoha ascended high into the air on the wind before Fate's attack could reach her.

"Foxfire Blade!" Fate’s expression didn't change. She took a slashing stance and swung the blade of yellow magic formed at the tip of Raising Heart forward. The crescent-shaped blade spun rapidly as it shot towards Nanoha with extreme speed.

By now, Nanoha was prepared. Though she hadn't made a final decision on the matter, she had regained her composure, knowing a mage couldn't afford to be distracted in a fight. She immediately held her staff out horizontally, "Heart of the Sun, Defend!"

Boom!

Because the barrier formed in time, the two forces of magic collided. Amidst the explosion, crackling arcs of electricity flashed. Though Nanoha couldn't avoid a slight tremor, she was unharmed and quickly darted out of the blast radius.

However, Fate had already anticipated this. In an instant, she shot above Nanoha, and the light blade reformed at the tip of Raising Heart, cleaving down directly at Nanoha. Klara—Nanoha managed to throw up a defense in time, blocking Fate’s attack. The two were locked in a stalemate in mid-air, gazing intently at each other.

Elh saw clearly that Nanoha’s strength was far inferior to Fate’s. If Fate hadn't held back, she could have instantly annihilated Nanoha. Therefore, Elh didn't feel the need to intervene and happily watched from the sidelines. Meanwhile, though Yuuno worried for Nanoha’s safety, he knew that with his own abilities, he was no match for a mage of Fate’s caliber, especially since the opponent also had a Familiar. Stepping in would clearly be unwise.

Each harboring their own concerns, they observed the aerial battle from below. Since it was nearing late night and they had set up a barrier earlier, there was no worry about ordinary people interfering.

In the sky, Nanoha, struggling to withstand Fate's powerful assault, felt immense strain. Although she was a genius, she had only been practicing magic for less than a week. No matter how exceptional her aptitude, it couldn't be fully realized in such a short time. Fate, conversely, had been trained by Linith since childhood with the goal of becoming an outstanding mage; in both magic application and combat experience, she was far superior to Nanoha.

Even if their magical power levels were comparable, their overall strength was worlds apart.

"Why... why must it be like this?" Nanoha gritted her teeth, holding on desperately, gripping her staff tightly, barely resisting the pressure Fate exerted. Looking into the opponent's calm, indifferent eyes, she couldn't help but ask.

"Even if I answered you, perhaps... it wouldn't mean anything," Fate’s clear eyes remained unmoved, her tone as calm as water in response to Nanoha’s questioning.

The next moment, magic surged, and both retreated simultaneously. Fate shifted Raising Heart back to its standard form, while Nanoha adjusted Heart of the Sun to firing mode, aiming at each other.

"Photon Lancer, prepare."

"Divine Buster, prepare."

Both magical devices simultaneously announced their firing sequence. However, Nanoha’s lack of combat experience ultimately put her at a disadvantage against Fate. Before the Divine Buster could launch, Fate’s Photon Lancer shot forward. Nanoha didn't even have time to defend before she was blasted backward, hurtling into the distance.

"Nanoha!" Yuuno shouted in alarm and immediately rushed after her figure. He managed to catch her just before she hit the ground with a spell. Seeing that Nanoha was only knocked unconscious by the magical shock and not seriously injured, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He could sense that Fate had shown restraint; otherwise, with her power, that last strike would certainly have targeted a vital spot and ended Nanoha’s life. In fact, had Fate truly intended to kill, she could have easily dispatched Nanoha with close-quarters combat alone.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Fate had begun the sealing process for the Jewel Seed.

"Sealing Form... Activate!"

Raising Heart radiated a brilliant light, accompanied by the crackling sound of electricity.

"Capture! Ancient Artifact—Jewel Seed, Serial Number 16, Seal!" As Fate commanded, an incredibly dazzling yellow beam shot from Raising Heart, soaring straight into the sky, piercing even the heavens. Then, dozens of rain showers of light descended, enveloping the unstable Jewel Seed.

Soon, the Jewel Seed’s fluctuations gradually subsided, finally stabilizing completely. Fate brought her staff close to the Jewel Seed, which flashed with a faint blue light before finally entering Raising Heart.

Having resolved the matter, Fate turned her gaze toward Nanoha, still lying nearby and unconscious. Without speaking or blinking, she stared for about half a minute before abruptly turning away.

"Let’s go, Elh."

"Bye-bye!" Elh jumped down from the lamppost, waving cheerfully at Yuuno and the unconscious Nanoha, then bounced away, following Fate.

This battle for the Jewel Seed concluded with Fate’s victory. Though it lasted only a few short minutes, Nanoha had been utterly incapable of mounting any resistance. Nanoha was undoubtedly weak at that moment, yet... given Nanoha’s destiny in this world, how long would her weakness last?

"You already got one Jewel Seed?" When Fate and Elh returned to the apartment, Lin Luo was astonished as he listened to Elh happily and proudly recounting their Jewel Seed acquisition.

"Of course! Although there was some little girl trying to mess things up, compared to our Fate, she was no match at all. Just a rookie mage, Fate took care of her in a few moves," Elh sounded very pleased, her words sparing no praise for Fate.

Lin Luo knew the little girl Elh mentioned had to be Nanoha. Although Fate’s encounter with Nanoha wasn't quite as he remembered, with the Butterfly Lord overseeing things, it wasn't anything too strange.

"Right, how is Nan... that little girl?"

"She should be fine. Fate just knocked her out. But I think after this, she probably won't come trying to steal the Jewel Seeds anymore, haha."

No, you’re wrong, Lin Luo thought wryly, speaking only in his mind. The little girl you’re talking about won’t be scared off by something like this. She’ll not only come back for the Jewel Seeds, but she’ll come for Fate, too...

"I’m going to sleep now," Fate said flatly, uninterested in their conversation, and walked towards her room. Elh followed closely behind, waving to Lin Luo before going in with Fate.

After the two left, Lin Luo pondered alone in the room for a while. Finally, he opened the door and stepped out. He decided to go check on Nanoha... Since his own body had not fully recovered, flying would hinder his recuperation, so he chose to walk there instead.

Meanwhile, at the Takamachi household.

"...Her staff, her attire, and the way she uses magic—without a doubt, she comes from the same world as I do..." Yuuno explained Fate's origins to Nanoha, based on what he knew.

"Oh." Nanoha’s mental state didn't seem good; she responded vaguely, her gaze somewhat melancholic. She knew that continuing to collect the Jewel Seeds meant she would remain opposed to that girl. While she wasn't afraid, she felt... profound sadness.

She didn't want to be enemies with that girl, but she couldn't just ignore the Jewel Seeds either. If only she could become friends with that girl... just like in the dream, playing together with everyone.

Wait, there were other people in the dream too. Who were they all?

: Seeking support as always. RO

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