A week after parting with Sakura.
Ryn and Elysia followed the coastline, wandering around a small part of the Far East. After finding nothing fun, they returned to Nagazora City.
Nagazora City, regardless of the era of civilization, had always been home to one of the world's top academy cities.
Since they were bored anyway, Ryn often took Elysia to wander around the Academy City.
Although Elysia felt that since they were back in Nagazora City, they might as well go find Sakura, the thought of how sentimental their last parting was, only to come running back a few weeks later, was just too embarrassing.
Of course, that wasn't the main reason. More importantly, as the world's premier Academy City… it was filled with children from all over the world.
The children in the school had not yet been tainted by the secular world, as tender and alluring as newly bloomed flowers…
Ryn sent Elysia to school for a few days, and then the lively and mischievous Elysia, just like Kiana, started skipping class…
Because repeating the same actions every day, sitting in a dull and tasteless classroom listening to the teacher read from the blackboard.
This dead, oppressive atmosphere was a form of torture for Elysia.
Elysia wanted to liven up the atmosphere, to bring the spiritual light back into everyone's eyes.
Studying shouldn't be about rote memorization. What should be learned is knowledge and ways of thinking, not becoming like a machine that memorizes things to death, losing one's self-awareness in the process.
But Elysia, who was about to do just that, ended up being seen by the teachers and classmates as a bad child who broke the rules and disrupted the class.
So Elysia skipped class.
Elysia asked Ryn, "Dad, what is the purpose of studying?"
Ryn thought for a moment and said thoughtfully, "It's to broaden one's horizons, expand one's thinking, recognize one's own smallness, and then be able to view the world correctly."
Elysia: "But…"
Elysia: "But… it seems like everyone only knows that they have to study, but not why they have to study…"
Ryn: "No, they know. They just know a different meaning…"
"What is it?"
"It's what their parents have demanded of them since childhood—to study, to compete with their peers for that 'ranking.' Then, regardless of the children's wishes, the 'ranking' divides them into classes.
Ordinary children want to climb up, to strive for a better 'ranking' in order to exchange it for a higher 'social ranking.'
But by the time the children finish their studies, they will discover that studying has only pushed them from a small world of their own into a cruel and unbearable real world.
People are born into different classes, and only a very, very small minority can truly change their status.
But this small minority has become what people talk about as the norm…"
Ryn took out a series of critical notices issued to Elysia by the school, then tore them to shreds in front of her.
"That trash school wanted to expel you, but I beat them to it and processed your withdrawal.
Elysia, everything in this world is constrained within a large net called 'rules.'
People… are not born free.
But, Elysia… no matter what the world becomes, I hope you can live the life you wish for.
With your own hands, by your own will, transform this imperfect world into the one you hope for."
After that day, Elysia returned to the academy, but not as a student, but by pretending to be a new teacher who had just returned from traveling the world.
With her beauty and sunny smile, she attracted the attention of student after student, then gathered those curious students around her.
Elysia gently listened to the children's stories, big and small, whether happy or sad, and then patiently answered each of their questions with her own insights and thoughts.
She told the children about her travel experiences, and within each story, she offered her own perspectives, telling them that life isn't just about studying, nor is it limited to studying.
Studying is not wrong, but studying to the point of losing one's soul is wrong.
Everyone has their own unique talents, so why must they pursue that homogenized grade, suppressing their own nature and gifts.
Fortunately, the Academy City was large enough, and the number of teachers was enormous, so no one knew if Elysia was a real teacher, and no one would bother to verify if she had a teaching certificate.
But Elysia did indeed bring happiness to some of the children, turning some of the robots who only knew how to bury their heads in their desks, eat, sleep, and study, back into normal children who could cry, laugh, and do what they loved.
But unfortunately, who could know how long this change would last before it reverted to numbness…
Elysia will one day grow up and discover that some things are not as simple as she thought, but also not that complicated…
It's just that everyone has already accepted this as an established rule.
The laughter of children will eventually grow into the numb, ugly, and heartbreaking fake smiles of adults.
This world has many, many madmen, but only madmen can remain independent and true to themselves within this terrifying web called society…
The solidification of society, the annihilation of humanity. Humanity built a society called 'Order' out of chaos, but it will eventually collapse and return to chaos due to the restrictions of 'Order.'
And this is the so-called 'Honkai.'
Honkai has never just referred to supernatural disasters; it can also appear in various unexpected forms, such as diseases, cultures, ideologies, epochal changes, social reforms, and so on.
People can't even stop the Honkai on a physical level, one they can touch. How then can they stop the decay of the human heart, which is on a spiritual level, unseen and intangible…
The first Herrscher of Reason who appeared in the current civilization—Ryn didn't know the boy's name, but he admired his desire to change the current state of affairs.
Although he was blinded by power and even forgot to use his own Authority, he never forgot his purpose and persistence.
But unfortunately, humans can hardly convince the people around them, so how could they convince an academy, a city, a country, or even the eighty-billion people of the world…
Revolution is accompanied by blood and tears. The little boy started to retreat after seeing the casualties, preferring to take his own life rather than continue the destruction.
Excessive kindness only breeds greater malice. The Herrscher persona was born after his death, causing even greater destruction and casualties.
Although he was killed by humans, it also gave humanity the key to touch the power of the gods and step into the forbidden.
Ryn would never forget that the so-called Divine Keys, whose full name is 'Herrscher Core-Driven Anti-Honkai God-Slaying Armament—Divine Key.'
The appearance of the Divine Keys in the future will mean that humanity has officially acquired the ability to slay gods…
And possessing the power to confront the gods also means that the playful game where the gods gave humanity a chance to resist is over.
Next comes the real Honkai, descending with despair.
——————————————
(The first MANTIS, Kevin, was born, followed by a fire that burned an entire continent.
The first Divine Key, Judgment of Shamash, was born, followed by the continent of Mu being swallowed by a black hole released by a Herrscher, leaving a giant void on Earth.)