Dreamflux Reef.
In front of Mikhail's former residence.
Three gravestones were embedded in the ground. Two already bore names; the third remained blank.
That empty stone was the one Mikhail had reserved for himself.
The two named graves belonged to Tiernan and Razalina.
They had once been passengers of the Astral Express, staying behind in Penacony together with Mikhail. Here, they fought side by side, hoping to build a beautiful nation.
Yet fate was unkind.
Because of various accidents, Tiernan drifted afar and became a member of the Galaxy Rangers. When he tried to return, he was rejected by the Family. In the end, after assassinating an Emanator of Destruction, he died in another foreign land.
As for Razalina, she sought to change Penacony's uninhabitable environment, researching Memoria within the mysterious memory domains—only to vanish without a trace.
In the end, only Mikhail remained, struggling on alone in Penacony.
And finally, Mikhail, too, grew old. With neither the strength nor the means to overcome the Family's conspiracies, he could only pass away quietly, sending out a plea for help to the Astral Express.
He had many regrets in his life—but the disappearance of those two old friends was undoubtedly the most painful.
And today, with the return of one friend's belongings, could this not be considered a reunion of sorts?
"He was a respectable old man."
Acheron placed the Galaxy Ranger insignia upon Tiernan's gravestone, her voice tinged with emotion.
"When I met him, he was still watching over his former comrades. Even after becoming a soul of Nihility, he refused to forget."
He had been an old man as unyielding as steel, his honor worthy of an epic.
And the greatest regret of his life was never being able to fight alongside his closest friends until the very end.
"In some ways, I understand his story," Sol said softly.
"To assassinate an Emanator of Destruction as a Pathstrider—such courage and fearlessness deserve endless praise. What's even more astonishing is that they actually succeeded."
Between an ordinary person and a Pathstrider lay a chasm.
Between a Pathstrider and an Emanator lay another—just as vast.
To overcome such odds required courage, wisdom, and power in equal measure.
"And yet, even heroes like that must ultimately return to Nihility."
Acheron's gaze dimmed slightly, regret flickering within.
Tiernan's story resonated deeply with her. A Pathstrider assassinating an Emanator of Destruction was nearly inconceivable.
That inconceivable success gave her more confidence in another equally impossible goal—ending Nihility itself.
And conversely, seeing such a heroic spirit return to nothingness only made the loss more profound.
Sol said considerately, "If you're feeling down, you can lean on my shoulder for a bit."
Only at times like these did he remember that aside from being a scoundrel, he was also a thoughtful, warm-hearted man.
Black Swan smiled warmly.
"How kind of you!"
Acheron glanced at the two beside her, mildly exasperated, and replied calmly, "Thank you, but there's no need."
This man had just held her hand earlier, and now he was saying things like this—his intentions were obvious.
Such restless courtship attempts had surrounded her often when she was young.
She had rejected them all, but seeing it replayed again did stir a faint sense of nostalgia.
Back then, she hadn't been moved.
Now, she found it hard to feel any impulse at all.
Sol studied her thoughtfully.
"You seem like a very pure girl. Almost like you've never even been in love."
"When you were younger, did other girls ever confess to you?"
The question was polite—yet tinged with a trace of helplessness.
On the surface, she seemed cold, as if her senses had been severely eroded by Nihility.
But in truth, she still retained vivid emotions—perhaps made more active by the light he had shared with her.
Anyone who could preserve themselves within Nihility must possess an intensely passionate heart. She must once have loved deeply.
He even found himself wondering—did her world have a Kiana? And was Acheron a zero… or a one?
"Why are you asking this?"
Acheron felt baffled.
Why would Sol jump to the conclusion that she'd been confessed to by girls?
Though… she actually had been.
But did she really look like that kind of person?
Sol replied casually, "Just curious. You're the kind of person who charms everyone, regardless of gender."
"Mr. Sol has sharp eyes," Black Swan nodded in agreement. "I think so too."
Acheron was utterly defeated by the pair of them.
If they were this in sync, they might as well be together—why go through the trouble of flirting with her?
Young man, trying to walk two paths at once never ends well.
Acheron chose to skip the topic entirely.
"Thank you for bringing me here. Otherwise, I might have searched for a very long time."
"No problem," Sol replied lightly. "Just a small favor."
"765," Acheron said, reciting a string of numbers.
"That's my contact. If you need help in the future, you can reach out."
Sol memorized it, then said, "If the need arises, I will. When my fruit finally ripens, I hope you'll taste it."
"I'd really like to see whether true hope can pierce through Nihility."
He was deeply interested in Acheron—not just her appearance, but her life shrouded in Nihility.
"Thank you for your generosity."
Acheron wanted to refuse, but the words wouldn't come out.
The ordinary Light of Hope Sol had given her earlier had already restored some of her sensations.
And the Hope-Light even he was pursuing… she couldn't help but look forward to its effects.
This was his second invitation—proof that he sincerely wished to share that precious fruit.
Regardless of his motives, she felt she should respond to that sincerity.
Acheron focused herself and looked at him seriously.
"You're a good friend, even if you act rather freely."
"My name is Raiden Bosenmori Mei. I'd like to be friends with you."
It was a name she had buried for a long time—one that represented her past, rarely spoken since she came to the stars.
"Acheron" was more like a codename she used when wielding power.
Since Sol treated her with sincerity, she would respond in kind.
"Mei. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Sol took her hand and gave it a gentle shake.
"..."
Acheron felt momentarily dazed.
It had been a long time since anyone had called her by that name.
In her homeland, only very close friends were allowed to address one another so intimately—and Sol, whom she'd only just met, didn't quite qualify.
But perhaps he simply didn't know her world's customs. She decided not to dwell on it.
"What's wrong, Mei?" Sol asked with a smile.
Inside, he sighed in admiration—she's actually quite easy to get close to.
Cold on the outside, but gentle and kind within—the caring, devoted type.
Acheron shook her head, suppressing the ripples in her heart.
"Nothing. It's just been a long time since anyone called me that. It feels unfamiliar."
Though it was merely a name used between friends, without deeper implications—
She still couldn't help feeling closer to Sol because of it.
"Then I'll just call you Acheron," Sol said casually. "Wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable."
"No—Mei is fine."
Acheron's emotions stirred slightly, though she maintained a calm exterior.
Hearing that name felt like having a friend close by.
They hadn't known each other long, yet it already felt like an old friendship.
===BREAK===
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