"Truly worthy of being the daughter of the Ataegina family. Even if her artistic talent isn't as exceptional as Miss Eden's, it is still remarkable."
Empty praise.
"Oh, look, it's Miss Ataegina. Is she performing another piece today? How lovely… she is as graceful as ever."
A dull life.
"Sister, sister, can you teach me how to solve this problem?"
Tedious people.
Tsk…
The silver-haired girl wore a mask called "Smile," a dress called "Perfection," and spoke words called "Elegance," all while gazing coldly at the world.
She was a genius, yet also a tool whose fate had been predetermined since birth.
What others called talent was nothing more than a bargaining chip for her family's benefit.
Ataegina… Not everyone had a family name, but those who did were either nobles or the wealthy.
To her, however, this surname was nothing but a shackle—a prison.
No matter how exceptional her gifts were, it meant nothing. She had no control over her own life. She would eventually marry someone she did not love and live out the rest of her days in another prison disguised as a home.
Boring, bland, meaningless.
"Oh, Ilya dear, you're just as beautiful today; even the moonlight pales before your stunning charm."
Ah… here we go again. Her fiancé, Adams—claiming he was merely trying to "build a relationship" with her.
Tsk.
"Oh, my dear Adams. No wonder the sun shines so brightly today—it's because of you."
She smiled, adjusting her expression with delicate precision, ensuring Adams would feel even happier than usual to meet her.
"Oh, Ilya, your compliment embarrasses me. Having a fiancée like you is the greatest blessing of my life," Adams said sincerely.
Disgusting.
That was how she described it. To her, the boy before her was worthless and insignificant—just like everyone else in this world.
These days were simply… unbearably dull.
Her life would probably end in this monotony… until something called Honkai, along with her prince, broke into her world and brought her a new life.
Ah, Yuriel—my prince, my hero. When will you come and save me from this prison?
She knew what was going to happen. She only needed to wait—to wait for the collapse to begin, and to wait for her prince.
When exactly did she begin to like him?
Does it even matter?
It was the Herrscher who forced her to realize her feelings—
the Eighth Herrscher, the Herrscher of Consciousness.
The Herald had woven a dream for her, a dream where she and Yuriel lived a life she had always despised. Because she hated such a life so deeply, she awakened… and understood that if it was Yuriel, then no matter what kind of life they lived, as long as he was there, she would gladly accept it.
And so, at the end of that dream, she killed the dream-"Yuriel" with her own hands.
The Herrscher asked in panic, "Why?! Isn't he the one you love the most?!"
She replied, "Precisely because he is my love… I must return to reality. Because the real him is the most authentic, isn't he?"
She did not need a dream—she had already lived one.
Because she loved someone, she never cared what kind of life she would have to endure.
But the Herrscher could not understand this emotion and foolishly imposed its own idea of "happiness," forcing her and Yuriel to live a conventional, ordinary life within that dream.
Her true self longed for conflict, chaos, war, and death.
But if Yuriel disliked that part of her… then she could abandon all of it.
He had seen a glimpse of her entire self, yet he chose to accept it—reaching out to her blood-stained hands amidst the ruins.
Ah, my prince… my hero…
She had always seen it clearly—how many girls around Yuriel liked him.
Alicia which makes him obsessed, Aponia who considers him as the Son of Dawn, and Eden who chose to withdraw from the competition.
Even from her own team there are competitors.
But so what? He was extraordinary. Of course a few girls would like him.
She liked watching him fight, she liked the confused look on his face after he tricked himself, she liked the way he carried every sin on his back, she liked…
Everything about him.
She once thought her appearance and existence were perfect—until she met the Herrscher named Alicia, and realized that there truly were people whose words and actions were sincere, people who were flawless.
How did she know all this?
Because she was always by Yuriel's side. Even after the tragedy of the Binding, she remained by his side.
She remembered her conversation with Dr. Möbius.
"Doctor, is it possible to recombine Fusion Warriors?"
"In theory, the combined abilities of Vishnu's Yuriel and Kosmo allowed them to devour anything, even other fusion warriors."
Ilya, what are you planning?
"Ah, kind-hearted Dr. Möbius, I'm just curious. Besides, if I happen to die one day, I want my power to be useful to Yuriel."
She didn't reveal her true plan; she would never let anyone know.
Legend said that Zeus, god of the sky, swallowed Metis, goddess of wisdom, and the two became one. Metis became Zeus's wisdom, and Zeus became omniscient and omnipotent.
That was what she wanted as well.
"Hua, may I borrow the 'Fenghuang Down' for a moment?"
"This requires approval from a higher authority. It's not something I can decide, Ilya."
"Oh, don't be so stiff! What malicious intent could I possibly have? Just for a short while!"
"…Very well. Since it's you, Ilya, it should be fine."
"Thank you!"
All of this happened before the campaign against the Heralds of Binding.
Alicia would never agree to Yuriel carrying out the second plan, even though it was clearly the most appropriate. And that was exactly what she wanted. Alicia would surely persuade the other fusion warriors to act faster, and once Yuriel heard about it, he would abandon the plan to save Alicia.
That would be the end of the Seraph.
And she would finally get what she wanted: to merge with Yuriel and become his wisdom.
Even though Yuriel later suddenly rejected her plan to have the fusion warriors kill the Twelfth Herrscher, it was Yuriel's own will, so she didn't mind. She would obey everything he wanted.
Inside Yuriel's memories, she saw her true nature: yes, he was not from this world, but an observer from beyond.
That was how she learned Alicia's identity. She admired Alicia's nobility and mourned her tragic end. That was why, before the final feast, she wanted Yuriel to attend—because she believed that perfect figure deserved to be there. But Alicia sent the invitation to Yuriel as a Herrscher, making Yuriel feel distrusted and rejected.
She understood his pain and did not force him, even analyzing the reasoning behind his response.
But what was happening now?
My soul should have vanished with Yuriel. Then why? Why has everything gone back to how it was?
She couldn't understand, and she felt a faint panic creeping in.
"Ah, dear Ilya, you seem a bit melancholic today?" Adams' voice cut through her thoughts.
Tch.
She adjusted her expression again, smiling politely. "Oh, forgive me, dear Adams, I was being rude. Liya's lessons have worried me, and I started wondering if I've made mistakes as her sister."
"Oh, Ilya, you always blame yourself like this. It's not your fault," Adams said quickly.
"Oh, Adams dear, you're always so understanding," she replied sweetly.
"No, no, no, Ilya dear, you're the one who understands."
Ugh. How dull.
Couldn't the Honkai just hurry up so she could kill them all again?
But if Yuriel didn't exist in this new reborn world, then her existence meant nothing.
So, Yuriel—hurry and find me, just like in our previous life. Let me meet you again. Let me become your wisdom once more.
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