The cavern fell into a heavy silence as Nanami's magic surged through the air, filling the space with a crackling intensity. The woman, once glowing with an ethereal light, now flickered and wavered like a fading star. Nanami focused her energy, her heart pounding in her chest.
"You don't belong here," Nanami whispered fiercely. "You belong in the world, where you can live freely."
The air around her pulsed with magic as the walls of the cavern seemed to quiver. The ground rumbled again, but this time it felt different, as if the mountain itself was resisting the woman's release. Nanami clenched her fists, channeling every ounce of her power into breaking the barrier that held the woman trapped.
With a sudden flash of light, the magic around the woman collapsed. The glow around her faded, and she crumpled to the ground, her once-captured form now free.
Nanami caught her breath, watching as the woman slowly stood up, her eyes no longer clouded with the strange, ethereal light. She looked at Nanami with gratitude, though her expression was mixed with sorrow.
"I… I don't know what to say," the woman said softly. "You've freed me from this prison."
Nanami smiled gently. "You're free now. You can start again. Your family has been worried sick about you."
At the mention of her family, the woman's eyes filled with emotion. "My family?"
"Yes," Nanami replied. "Your mother—she's been looking for you. She sent me to find you, to bring you back."
The woman's face softened as tears filled her eyes. "I thought I was forgotten, lost to time. I didn't think anyone would come for me."
Nanami placed a comforting hand on the woman's shoulder. "You're not forgotten. Your family still cares for you."
The woman nodded, wiping away her tears. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice shaky with emotion. "I have to go home. I need to see her again."
With that, the woman looked one last time at Nanami before turning toward the cavern's shadows. There, the mountain's power began to ebb, its grip loosening as the woman slowly faded from view.
Nanami stood still for a moment, her heart swelling with a bittersweet sense of accomplishment. She had fulfilled her promise, and now the woman was free. Yet, there was still so much to learn, so many more mysteries in the world waiting for her.
As Nanami turned to leave, the mountain began to settle, the air clearing as the mist lifted. The sun was beginning to set on the distant horizon. It was time for her to go—to leave the mountains behind and continue her journey.
She mounted her broomstick once more, the familiar feeling of the wind against her face invigorating her. The world was vast, filled with people to help, adventures to have, and mysteries to uncover. There was no time to waste.
Her broomstick shot into the sky, and Nanami smiled, feeling the magic that coursed through her.