Elysia led Mei through the garden maze, pink petals drifting lightly with their steps.
Raiden Mei looked at the crisscrossing, complex paths ahead, and couldn't help but sigh, "A huge garden maze, this really does suit your style."
"It's too early to be sighing already~" Elysia playfully blinked.
"This doesn't even count as 'the tip of the iceberg.' Ah, no, wait… 'iceberg' is used to describe Kevin. For me, it should be 'a corner of a sea of flowers'~"
Before her words even faded, Raiden Mei noticed Kevin leaning against the wall not far away.
His silver-white figure stood out clearly against the pink sea of flowers. Arms crossed, expressionless, he looked straight at them.
"This… is also your 'memory'?" Raiden Mei asked.
Kevin stayed silent.
"No, looks like it's an 'outsider.'"
———
[LOL, she said iceberg and the iceberg appeared]
[Hahahaha, I'm dying]
[Yep, Kevin didn't say a word. Definitely an outsider]
[As expected of Kevin, as mysterious as always]
———
[Back to the Video]
Facing Raiden Mei's teasing, Elysia smiled as she explained, "This kind of situation does happen… though I'd love to open my heart only to Mei, doing so would be a bit unfair to everyone else."
Kevin finally spoke, his voice deep, "Elysia, I respect your choice. But you should inform 'us' beforehand."
His words were short and vague. Obviously, it was because there was a "third party" present.
Raiden Mei tactfully looked away.
Seeing this, Elysia gently pushed Kevin, "Aiya… Mei, looks like you'll have to wander on your own for a bit. See? Kevin doesn't seem to want us two being alone together. Don't worry, once I calm him down, I'll come find you right away."
"Alright." Raiden Mei nodded.
"This is within my expectations. Since you've already been honest with me about your identity, I don't mind showing a bit more patience. I trust you, but don't make me wait too long."
"Mhm, see you in a bit!"
Saying this, Elysia pushed Kevin away, disappearing into the thick branches and leaves.
Raiden Mei watched their backs fade into the distance, falling into thought.
Kevin likely wasn't the only 'outsider' who had entered this place.
If she ran into other memory bodies… she would ask them about the 'Thirteenth Herrscher.'
From a high platform, Raiden Mei spotted Hua staring blankly.
Seeing this familiar yet distant figure, Raiden Mei's tone softened quite a bit.
"Hua, are you… spacing out here? That's rather rare for you."
Hua snapped back, a little embarrassed as she looked at Raiden Mei, "Ah… sorry. I really was spacing out. I didn't expect there to be such an area hidden deep inside the Elysian Realm."
"You didn't know about the existence of the 'Eternal Elysian Realm'? Didn't Aponia tell the other Flame-Chasers what lay on the other side of the depths?"
"Maybe it's just because we rarely interacted." Hua said softly.
"After becoming a memory body, Aponia always locked herself deep inside the depths. But she's not someone who would deliberately deceive others."
"Since it was a secret Aponia was determined to protect, it must have great importance."
Raiden Mei mused aloud, "Elysia said this was her memory space."
"I see. That does fit her style."
"She also said this place stores all her memories, including… the part about the 'Thirteenth Herrscher.'"
At these words, Hua's expression suddenly became complicated.
"The Thirteenth Herrscher!? That's…"
"What is it, Hua… do you know something?"
"...Sorry. That's not something I should be the one to tell you."
Hua hesitated, but in the end still didn't reveal it to Raiden Mei.
Because even she knew little of the 'truth' of the matter, she didn't want to mislead Mei.
Hua ultimately decided Mei should uncover the truth herself through her own exploration.
After saying goodbye to Hua, Raiden Mei continued exploring.
Before long, she came across the cheerful big boy, Kosma, at a corner.
The two fell into a silent staring contest.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Raiden Mei was the first to break the silence.
"This happens often enough, but I still want to remind you, Kosma. Communication, in its usual sense, happens through words, not facial expressions."
"...I just… never mind." After an inner struggle, Kosma still chose not to speak further.
Then, moved by the moment, Kosma recalled the days of the past.
His homeland wasn't peaceful to begin with, and after the Honkai struck, things only grew worse.
But in order to change that place, in order to let more people see such scenery,
Kosma had given tremendous effort, yet it all ended in vain. In the end, he could only sigh.
"In the end, perhaps only one thing never changed… Elysia. I could never keep up with her thoughts."
Raiden Mei sharply seized the chance to ask, "Because she was a Herrscher?"
Kosma suddenly turned, his gaze sharp, "Who told you that?"
"Elysia herself."
"...Alright. That makes sense." Kosma fell silent again.
Seeing Kosma had no further desire to continue, Raiden Mei prepared to leave.
But just as she was about to walk off, Kosma suddenly stopped her, "...Wait."
"What is it?"
"Did she also… to you…"
Raiden Mei noticed his eyes lift toward her… then slowly upward, higher, until finally stopping at just the right angle.
There was nothing there, except…
Raiden Mei realized he was looking at her ahoge.
"...You too?"
———
[Too? I think I just discovered a massive secret]
[I always wondered why Elysia never touched Kosma's horns. Mystery solved]
[Why does this feel like a victim's support group between Mei and Kosma]
[LMAO, an actual victims' support meeting!]
———
[Back to the Video]
Kosma, "It's unavoidable. Don't worry about it too much. Whether it's Kevin, Kalpas… or even Van, they've all gone through this..."
As if triggered by a keyword, Raiden Mei froze immediately, preparing to press Kosma for details.
But the other party no longer wished to talk, turning and leaving instead.
Carrying curiosity and doubt, Raiden Mei encountered Sakura at the next corner.
"Miss Mei." Sakura gave a polite smile.
"She said you had no playmates here, so in a sense, since we're from the same homeland, she hoped I could take the chance to chat with you more."
"She really does think of everything." Raiden Mei sighed, "Sakura, in your eyes, what kind of person is Elysia?"
"In my eyes, she's probably… the most pure-hearted among the Flame-Chasers."
"Pure-hearted? Elysia?"
Raiden Mei instinctively recalled all the things that pink woman had done to her before, her brows slightly furrowing.
Sakura seemed to read something from Mei's expression and chuckled softly,
"I understand what you mean. Her actions are always unpredictable, her thoughts hard to grasp…
Her whims have caused me no small amount of trouble as well. But one thing I can say for certain... she has always treated everyone around her with genuine sincerity."
"But I've heard more than one person call her a 'betrayer.'"
"I remember you brought this up before."
Sakura's expression turned a little more serious, "But… reality doesn't always match what others say, nor does it necessarily match what you yourself see. Whatever the truth may be, what matters most are your own thoughts."
Raiden Mei fell into contemplation.
"Sorry..."
Seeing Mei like this, Sakura felt a little embarrassed, "Without such experiences of my own, I can only give vague, general answers. Perhaps you should ask someone else?"
"No, please don't belittle yourself." Mei said sincerely,
"Your thoughts have given me much insight."
"Is that so? Maybe that's what they mean by 'the speaker has no intent, but the listener takes it to heart.' Either way, I'm glad I could help you."
After parting with Sakura, Raiden Mei stood still, murmuring softly, "Reality… truth… I feel like I'm beginning to understand a little of Elysia's intent..."
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