The Owl Dragon Legion's warships were first to leave this reach of stars and set out on the voyage home.
Because their damaged warships were comparatively few, a brief refit and they could sail.
The Sacred Angel Legion, by estimate, would need to refit here some three to five days, and might have to send for interstellar transport ships besides to haul the gravely damaged warships.
Saint Cana gazed into the deep space, at those several thousand rings of light drawing steadily away.
"That man…" Saint Cana couldn't help a rueful smile; she'd rather respected that Owl Dragon Legion commander.
Not only did he care greatly for his own crew — he was willing to give medical aid even to them, opponents on the opposing side.
But that he'd end by demanding a medical bill of her — that she'd never once foreseen.
Still, luckily the figure was within what she could accept, and she couldn't very well truly go back on it.
She only felt that man was a touch out of the ordinary.
Very out of the ordinary.
"My lady, now… are we to send word back of our defeat?" a subordinate asked, a touch anxious.
"Report it truthfully," Saint Cana said levelly.
The subordinate gulped: "But this defeat of ours… the Imperial Council of Elders may lay the blame on you…"
"Would you have me hide it, then? A matter this large — could it be hidden? Lost is lost; nothing more to say. How the Imperial Council of Elders means to deal with me is my affair. You need only carry out your own duties with an easy mind," Saint Cana said, unruffled.
Though losing this Sacred-War Duel meant the Holy Radiance Empire's plan to invade the Starlight Empire had come to nothing—
—and though, by rights, any other commanding general would likely face grave charges for it—
—she, Saint Cana, was different: she'd face punishment on return, but no great trouble.
"Yes." The subordinate, by the order, began to relay the battle report of this Sacred-War Duel back home.
The contents of the report he read over and over, character by character, and in that span wiped the sweat from his brow dozens of times.
One could imagine that, once this word went back, the whole Imperial Council of Elders would likely be shaken.
At the last, this subordinate steeled himself and gave the send command.
A quantum wave-pulse crossed the deep cosmos, sent winging toward the Holy Radiance Empire.
For all the world like a great boulder dropped into a still lake.
……
At this moment, within the Century Tower of the Imperial Council of Elders on the Star of Sacred Light, the main star of the Holy Radiance Empire, a ball was being held.
People of every faction of the Imperial Council of Elders, old and young, were here.
The young folk, for the most part, danced gracefully in the middle of the floor, or played some of the Holy Radiance Empire's traditional instruments.
While the elders of the family-powers sat in the chairs on the hall's second tier, gathered in twos and threes, sipping fine vintages and talking of matters of every kind.
Of which the most talked-of was, naturally, the Starlight Empire.
They were discussing how the spoils of the Starlight Empire were to be divided in future.
At this moment they were for all the world like a company of diners, debating how to carve up the delicacies on the table.
One family among them drew the most eyes.
That was the family Saint Cana belonged to — one of the several grand old families of the Holy Radiance Empire.
And Saint Cana was the present legitimate daughter of this family, its future heir.
This family was called the Sacred Angel family, for their family crest was the image of a sacred angel.
And the Sacred Angel Legion was, of course, the military force this Sacred Angel family commanded.
In this war-task against the Starlight Empire, the Sacred Angel family had, on the strength of its own web of connections, seized this chance.
So that once the Starlight Empire's interstellar territories were taken, they, the Sacred Angel family, would hold the right of first division.
And then the Sacred Angel Legion's standing within the Holy Radiance Empire would rise with the tide too.
At this moment, people gathered without cease around the several chief members of the Sacred Angel family, raising cup after cup in celebration and congratulation.
"Congratulations — that the Sacred Angel family has so fine an heir as Saint Cana is the glory of the Sacred Angel family, and the honor of the Holy Radiance Empire too. May the Sacred Light shine upon Miss Saint Cana! Miss Saint Cana may even have hope of becoming the next Consul!"
"Hahaha, you flatter us, all of you. I thank you all on my niece's behalf — though the Sacred-War Duel isn't over yet, so this celebrating is a touch early."
"What a thing to say — the Sacred Angel Legion may not be the strongest of our Ten Great Sacred-Light Legions, but its strength ranks second to none. This so-called Owl Dragon Legion — never heard of it; to dare launch a Sacred-War Duel against the Sacred Angel Legion is simply courting its own doom!"
Scenes like this played out again and again at this banquet.
For all the world like a victory feast.
But soon, the several elders at the very top of the Imperial Council of Elders present all received a message at this moment.
Because of these elders' station, though no one drew near to converse, every eye would flick their way now and again.
Seeing them, as if by common accord, open their electronic-message interfaces, all guessed the result of the Sacred-War Duel had likely come.
"It seems the Sacred-War Duel is over. Word of the Sacred Angel Legion's triumphant return has come back."
"Were it not for the Mechanical Race's threat, those interstellar races within the Galactic Alliance would long since have been gathered under the shining of the Empire's Sacred Light!"
Just as the crowd below murmured to one another, they soon began to sense something amiss.
By rights, the very instant such glad news was received, one of the elders ought to have announced it.
But dozens of seconds passed, and those several elders made no move.
And one elder among them knit his brows tight.
Another elder's wine cup, moreover, dropped straight to the floor and shattered.
At this, the whole hall fell silent; the music stopped, and the gracefully dancing dancers stood still.
Every eye gathered on those several elders.
The child of one of the elders came forward, gingerly, and asked: "Father, the result of the Sacred-War Duel…"
"Hmph. Then you'd best ask after the fine daughter the Sacred Angel family raised." This elder shot a glare at that Sacred Angel family elder, then stood outright and left the scene.
Then, one after another, the other elders too rose with darkened faces and departed.
At this, a single thought surfaced in every mind — a thought they were unwilling to believe, and could not accept.
And now someone noticed that the Sacred Angel family's people were, one after another, taking their leave.
At this moment, an elder of high repute and virtue rose slowly to his feet too; seeing the gazes turned his way, he heaved a long sigh.
He knew that, in the end, there had to be someone to announce this news no one could believe.
"The Sacred-War Duel — the Sacred Angel Legion… has lost."