"…I absolutely can't fall here…"
Camellya trudged heavily toward the pool, her legs trembling as if weighed down by a thousand pounds.
The surrounding phantoms multiplied, each seeming to be a fragment of a past scene.
"You said if I passed the test, I could stay with you at the Black Shores, right?"
"I won, I won! Your time today is all mine!"
"This place has nice scenery, doesn't it? It took me ages to find it!"
"You… what did you say? He left?!"
As her frequency fluctuated, Camellya collapsed weakly into the pool.
She gave a bitter smile, "I should be used to it by now… overclocking…"
Her own voice echoed in her mind, "A man who left to change the world… Did you really think he cared about you?"
That was the star chart's voice.
Camellya clutched her head, her expression pained, trying to expel the voice, "…Get out!"
The star chart's temptation nearly pushed her into overclocking, forming her inner demon…
The voice mocked her powerlessness, "Hahaha… Come on… What's wrong with chasing power?"
The inner demon materialized as a red-haired Camellya, brandishing vine whips…
…
"No, this isn't right…"
Lucian looked around as Camellya's phantoms appeared beside him.
"I'm acting a bit inhuman," Lucian critiqued himself.
Rover's Speaker floated up, reminding him, "Please always remember the words you left for yourself…"
The star chart's mimetic core, Impermanence Heron, spoke, "I can't even see through your heart…"
"Give up. You won't find her…"
Lucian muttered, "What a piece of junk…"
Impermanence Heron: "?"
Do you know whose turf this is?
You dare act so arrogant on my ground?
The Impermanence Heron screeched and lunged at Lucian.
Lucian raised his Yamato, eyeing the Heron's flapping wings and humming, "Tonight's dinner is braised chicken wings! Braised chicken wings, my favorite~"
…
Camellya lay collapsed on the ground, her body enduring unbearable pain due to overclocking.
Before her stood another Camellya, her ears filled with 'her' temptations:
"You'll forget anyway, so why not indulge in power to your heart's content…"
"Come on… join me… do as you please…"
"You'll forget in the end… What's the point of struggling?"
The red-haired 'Camellya' leaned down, laughing mockingly with unrestrained glee.
Camellya gripped her Red Spring tightly, "…What do you know?!"
She forced herself up, swinging her sword at the nightmare before her.
The red-haired 'Camellya' laughed maniacally, ridiculing her overconfidence.
Her vines instantly bound Camellya. Normally, Camellya could have dodged, as the mimetic core mimicked her own moves, which she knew all too well.
But eroded by overclocking, she couldn't muster the strength.
Yet Camellya didn't fall. She planted her sword in the ground, propping herself up.
"I can't fall here…"
"Years of searching and waiting haven't made me give up…"
"How could I fall here!"
Camellya drew her Red Spring, trembling as she thrust it forward with all her might.
But even so, she was like a flickering candle in the wind—one more hit would break her completely.
The mimetic core, disguised as the red-haired Camellya, had already noticed this.
It easily dodged her feeble strike.
The red 'Camellya' sneered, "You really won't cry until you see the coffin…"
Her vines shot toward Camellya's abdomen…
Camellya was too slow to dodge…
But at that moment, someone grabbed her wrist, and the next second, she fell into a gentle embrace.
The mimetic core revealed its true form.
A familiar voice sounded in her ear, "Found you."
Camellya closed her eyes, relaxing into the moment, a reassured smile on her lips.
As long as she was by Lucian's side, even her overclocking seemed to stabilize.
"I knew… you wouldn't lie to me…"
Lucian shielded her behind him as the mimetic core revealed its ugly form, "I really underestimated you…"
Lucian laughed, "Rover's Speaker, play something passionate!"
Rover's Speaker got the hint, "Now playing: 'Most Dazzling Folk Style.'"
"Nice! Great taste!"
The mimetic core felt deeply insulted and attacked in a frenzy.
Though Lucian hadn't fought many battles, the enemies he faced were exceptionally strong.
That's why he so quickly shattered the Tacet Discords and spaces conjured by the mimetic core.
Compared to those powerful foes, this core's tricks were child's play, especially with Camellya fighting alongside him despite her weakened state.
Before long, the two defeated the mimetic core together.
Camellya, hanging weakly onto Lucian, boasted, "That guy was so weak… I haven't even had my fill…"
Lucian stroked her hair, smiling, "Still talking tough… Let's see if your lips are as tough as you claim."
With that, he leaned down and kissed her soft lips.
Camellya leaned into his embrace, letting him take what he wanted…
…
After leaving the star chart space, Camellya held Lucian's hand tightly, "…So, you saw those scenes too?"
Seeing Lucian nod, she huffed, "You better not ditch me this time…"
"After we return the star chart, come with me somewhere, okay?"
Lucian asked curiously, "You're not planning to elope with me, are you?"
Camellya laughed, "I'd love to, but would you agree?"
Lucian said calmly, "If you let me have some fun, I might consider it."
Camellya: "?"
"You really stick to your principles…"
"But… I like that about you."
Lucian guessed, "You want to take me to that beautiful place you found?"
Camellya nodded slightly, "Exactly. I've remembered where it is."
As they spoke, they returned to the Error Cell.
Beatrice was thrilled to see them return safely, given how tricky the star chart had been with all its twists.
"Welcome back! I'm so glad you're safe. You worked hard."
"I know everything you went through. Truly worthy of Shorekeeper's trusted Honored Guest!"
Beatrice gave Lucian a thumbs-up in admiration.
Camellya, holding Lucian's arm proudly, said, "Not only that, he's the one I've set my sights on!"
Beatrice shook her head, laughing, "Alright, alright, no need to flaunt your love in front of me, okay?"
"Oh, and… Shorekeeper asked me to remind you to report to the medical pod!"
Camellya pouted, "I feel like my symptoms are much better…"
"Besides, the medical pod's treatment can't compare to being by Lucian's side…"