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"Hmm—"
The prolonged sound of an unknown instrument resonated, clear and melodious, carrying a faint undertone of sorrow.
Zeke gently caressed Bronya's smooth chin with one hand while tapping his knee rhythmically with the other, listening intently to the melody produced by an unfamiliar instrument.
"Yinxī, an ancient musical instrument from our era—it's stringed but features winding resonating chambers. Quite renowned, though primarily due to Eden's fondness for using it," Su explained softly, seemingly hesitant to disrupt the purity of the music.
Nodding, Zeke remained silent as he watched the stage curtains slowly part.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he glanced up at the theater's lofty dome and made a flickering gesture with his fingers.
"Whoosh!"
Two objects plummeted swiftly from above, slicing through the air with a faint whisper.
With another wave of Zeke's finger, he adjusted the gravity, allowing both objects to land gracefully and silently on his uniquely widened bench.
"Should you quietly enjoy the performance or stay suspended?"
Zeke turned his head, gaze unassuming, toward two small insects tightly bound by blue light ropes lying beside him on the bench. Their mouths were gagged with cloth to prevent any unexpected noises.
"Mmph!" × 2
Kiana and Sin struggled, vigorously nodding in agreement, their tear-filled eyes pleading with Zeke.
He responded mildly with a simple "hm," then with a thought, released them from their restraints.
Instantly, both girls sat upright with their legs neatly on the floor, hands placed gently on their knees, backs perfectly straight—utterly well-behaved.
Zeke's lips silently curved upward.
Back on the stage, enveloped in soft golden light, Eden began to sing softly:
"Ooooh... ooooh..."
Zeke's hand paused mid-stroke as he touched Bronya.
Her voice was exquisite, clear and flawless like the chime of a golden bell. With just one note, it captivated the ears, evoking a gentle yet enduring sense of melancholy.
Zeke gazed at the stage, listening intently.
He wasn't alone; everyone present involuntarily turned their attention toward Eden, entranced by her melodic whispers.
In that moment, Eden's smile radiated a poignant beauty, so captivating it made one forget everything else, almost suffocating. It left them wondering what breathtaking scenery lay within those golden eyes.
"Ahh... Ahhhh~"
The singing gradually rose from its low murmur, swelling with fervor and conveying the grandeur of ancient epics. It felt like, like...
"The rise of civilizations..." Zeke murmured aloud.
Su opened his eyes, nodding in agreement.
Then, Zeke quietly asked, "What is the name of this piece?"
"I don't know, maybe it doesn't have a name."
"Hmm?"
"After Honkai's arrival, Eden never performed on stage again. Although she occasionally hummed unfamiliar tunes to alleviate boredom, she never revealed their names to us. She always said that art embellishes the prosperity of an era and can only thrive within it. Perhaps after the end of such prosperity, she believed there was no need for art to endure? In any case, whether before or after she stopped performing, we had never heard her sing this particular song."
Su gently explained, then silently sighed, expressing not just the infinite sorrow within Eden's heart but also lamenting her forced choice to abandon art.
Zeke nodded, feeling the melody gradually intensify as he spoke:
"I remember the version of you outside once shared a collection of sheet music, claiming it was a precious legacy left by Eden."
"Really? Then perhaps, even after the decline of prosperity, she never truly ceased her pursuit and creation of art? Maybe she gave it to me just before her life ended? My apologies, as a memory fragment, I didn't synchronize with that moment, so I cannot clarify the exact circumstances."
Su shook his head, deep sorrow reflecting in his eyes, which then turned resigned.
For Eden, leaving behind her compositions at the end might signify that in reality, she had found some peace, hopefully reducing her regrets, if only slightly?
"Aaah~~ ah~~~"
The melody once again ascended, becoming even more intense and stirring, perhaps symbolizing the brutal struggles of war?
Zeke savored Eden's voice, refraining from further questions, choosing instead to fully appreciate this glimpse of artistry from the pre-epoch.
Suddenly, the tune shifted to a peaceful tone.
"Woooh~~~"
Sunlight, flowers, passionate lovers, and warm families during times of peace—Zeke discerned these images, inadvertently breaking into a smile.
Even Kevin, typically cold and unemotional, showed signs of being moved. He slowly closed his eyes, savoring the moment of warmth following layers of buildup.
"..."
After enduring for a while, the captivating gentle melody abruptly ended without warning.
Everyone furrowed their brows, though the intensity varied among them.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Drumbeats began, followed by countless instruments wailing, evoking feelings of fear and despair.
Zeke gradually realized that what Eden was singing about might be her civilization itself.
Sure enough, intense conflicts emerged, with rapid chants symbolizing dread and darkness becoming the dominant theme of a new chapter.
Eden's skill was truly remarkable; she acted like a master puppeteer, manipulating everyone's emotions with invisible strings, holding their sentiments firmly within her grasp.
"Rumble!"
The roar of gunfire gradually emerged beneath the music, intensifying the already hurried melody and evoking an overwhelming sense of heaviness and oppression.
As the conflict escalated, so did the sorrow, as if all light had vanished, leaving humanity to walk only in darkness, slowly losing the entirety of civilization's radiance.
After what seemed like an eternity, the chanting finally faded away, followed by one last sound—a string instrument seemingly snapping its strings.
"Zzzt—"
The somewhat shrill noise abruptly jolted people out of their emotional immersion, bringing them back to this majestic and ornate golden theater.
At that moment, many girls unconsciously touched their faces, realizing tears had already streamed down.
"I now understand why Eden was willing to take the stage here once again," Su said, looking at Zeke with his impassive expression.
Zeke fell silent for a moment before asking, "Why?"
"Because of you, or rather, your presence represents hope."
Zeke remained quiet, listening intently.
"You may not fully grasp the profound impact when you first entered the World of Elysium, effortlessly dismantling memory fragment after memory fragment. Even Kevin ultimately fell before your invincible might, causing immense astonishment among us." As Su spoke, he wore a gentle smile.
Kevin glanced at Su but said nothing, tacitly acknowledging his past defeat at the hands of Zeke.
Zeke remained silent, awaiting Su's further explanation.
Su glanced around, taking in his old friends as well as those unfamiliar children, before continuing:
"We are memory fragments, unaware of what transpired in the real world. However, all our memories cease at a certain point, while the World of Elysium has continued running year after year—this proves that we failed, just as our civilization did."
At this moment, Kiana and the others fell completely silent.
They couldn't bring themselves to speak, unable to convey the reality that the previous civilization had long since ended to these Heroic Spirit memory fragments who had stood guard for fifty thousand years.
Still smiling, Su said:
"Of course, we feel lost and saddened, but simultaneously, another question has undoubtedly been hidden deep within every memory fragment's heart for a long time—what kind of threat could have destroyed us? Even as memory fragments, we are curious about this issue and imagine how such a threat might be overcome, one that must inevitably be unbelievably powerful."
With a soft sigh, Su continued:
"The answer is actually quite simple. Since the threat was stronger than us, only a greater power could have defeated it—and that strength lies within you, Zeke. Especially during your second entry, you brought these children, beings born from Herrschers, allowing us to witness even more possibilities of a new era. I believe there's potential for you all to break through despair."
Su concluded, offering an encouraging smile to the girls.
At that moment, Eden descended from the stage back into the audience, approaching Zeke.
Raising her golden goblet, Eden toasted Zeke with a gentle smile, like a big sister watching over her little brother or a mother gazing at her child.
"After peace is achieved, I will no longer sing, for art has long lost its nurturing ground. Today, here, I have witnessed a hopeful new era full of promise."
"So, let me sing the tales of the previous civilization to you, the hope of this new age... Promise me, ensure your beautiful civilization endures, and conquer Honkai, alright?"
Eden smiled warmly.
One by one, the Heroic Spirit memory fragments—excluding the embryonic Mobius and Kalpas, who was absent—unanimously stood behind Eden.
In that instant, it felt as though the previous and present civilizations, spanning fifty millennia, were gazing upon each other.
Zeke rose, a wineglass appearing in his hand, and gently clinked glasses with Eden.
"Clang!"
As the sound echoed, each girl spontaneously took their place behind Zeke, smiling warmly or vibrantly towards those across from them.
"Where you fell short, we will succeed," Zeke declared, raising his glass with Eden.
In the heart of this resplendent theater, the present civilization made its pledge to the past.