"Ahem."
"Don't misunderstand. Herta and I are on great terms. The argument we just had wasn't a fight."
To have been so lost in an argument that they'd forgotten the people around them, only to have their unsightly behavior witnessed by a group of beautiful girls... Even Lumina couldn't help but blush with a trace of awkwardness on her brow.
To prevent the misunderstanding from escalating, Lumina quickly offered an explanation.
She stated that she and Herta were simply engaged in a normal debate, not a quarrel or a fight. Their relationship certainly wouldn't deteriorate because of this incident.
By the way...
As she explained, Lumina stole a glance at their expressions.
They... probably didn't understand the specific topic Herta and I were arguing about just now, right?
Lumina thought with a slight pang of anxiety.
It was extremely rare for Lumina to feel such unease.
But if the situation involved beautiful girls, it seemed not so rare after all. After all, whenever a beautiful girl did something that exceeded her expectations and was significant enough to influence the outcome, Lumina couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension.
She was no god, after all, so she was naturally bound to experience emotions like nervousness and unease.
"Really?" Hearing Lumina's explanation, Castorice, Hyacine, and the others still looked at Lumina and Herta with worry and concern.
A debate... really?
Although they didn't know the meaning behind the strange words Lumina and Herta had just exchanged, judging by the scene they had just witnessed... a scene filled with gunpowder, mockery, and fierce confrontation, how could that possibly be just a debate?
Clearly, they didn't quite believe Lumina's words.
It made sense, as the expressions on both Lumina's and Herta's faces just now had been terrifying.
It was as if they were about to fight in the next second, plunging into a fierce battle.
"Of course it's true." After being interrupted by Castorice and the others, Herta, just like Lumina, naturally withdrew from the state she had been in.
Seeing that they didn't seem to believe Lumina's words, Herta stepped forward and explained.
She also asked a rhetorical question: "You wouldn't actually think Lumina and I would get into a fight, refuse to back down, and then sever our relationship, would you?"
Herta's voice, calm and devoid of emotion, carried a hint of a sneer.
It seemed she was mocking Castorice and the others for their wild imaginations.
Jokes were fine, and playfulness was fine, but she and Lumina would absolutely never let their relationship turn sour.
Why was Herta so certain?
Because Herta understood her own deepest desires: if she and Lumina were to argue over something... if the argument continued without any sign of Lumina backing down, Herta would suppress all her thoughts and immediately admit fault, regardless of who was right or wrong.
She couldn't help it. Herta was unwilling and refused to lose Lumina.
She certainly wouldn't want to lose Lumina over something insignificant.
And... in Herta's heart, anything that could lead to losing Lumina became insignificant.
"Um..." While Herta was lost in these silent thoughts, Castorice and the others who had heard her words fell into a brief silence.
Finally, after exchanging glances, all the worry and anxiety vanished from their faces.
Then, Hyacine spoke on their behalf, responding to Herta's previous question.
She waved her hand, quickly denying it. "No, no, no. Hertie and Lumie will definitely be together forever."
"Um..."
Though it was a perfectly normal sentence, after it was spoken, a strange sense of... sadness and sorrow inexplicably welled up in Hyacine's heart.
Why was this?
Hyacine felt utterly bewildered.
"Alright, alright, this isn't important, don't overthink it."
"Let's discuss the matter regarding Stelle."
Before Hyacine could dwell on it further, Lumina's voice pulled her back to reality.
Unwilling to continue arguing with Herta on this topic, Lumina chose to change the subject directly.
Matters like this are best resolved in private.
With others present, it's still a bit embarrassing.
"Grayie's matter?" Hearing this, Hyacine also recalled their primary purpose at this moment.
Stelle had already been undergoing the trial for some time, and she didn't know how she was doing now...
Hyacine looked at the calm, rippleless Water Altar with a worried expression, her hands clasping together as she silently prayed for Stelle, who was undergoing the trial.
"Don't worry, Stelle will definitely succeed in the trial." Seeing Hyacine's silent prayer, Lumina's heart was instantly filled with the thought, So cute.
I really want to pull her into my arms and give her a good squeeze!
With a Hyacine this cute, Lumina could hug her and squeeze her for a lifetime and never get tired of it.
Lumina stared at Hyacine, her mind drifting into a daydream.
"U-Um, Lu... Lumie."
Lumina hadn't tried very hard to hide her gaze, and Hyacine felt it instantly.
Suddenly, Hyacine, who had been silently praying for Stelle, flushed bright red.
Her gaze instinctively dropped to the floor at the center of the Vortex of Genesis.
Blushing Hyacine is even cuter~
Lumina felt a wave of healing wash over her heart.
"Um, sorry, I was thinking about something."
But to avoid scaring Hyacine, Lumina still offered a soft apology.
"Ah, no, no, Lumie, you don't have to apologize."
Hearing Lumina's apology, Hyacine became even more flustered, waving her hands hurriedly to show that Lumina absolutely didn't need to apologize.
"An apology means you have to roll over and show your tummy."
"Are you just trying to brush this off with a half-hearted apology?"
The very next second after Hyacine finished speaking, Herta's voice drifted into the ears of everyone present, sounding utterly desolate.
"It's okay, it's okay, Hertie, it's okay."
"Lumie didn't do anything wrong in the first place, so it's fine even if she doesn't apologize."
The very next second after Herta's desolate words reached everyone's ears, before Lumina could even say anything, Hyacine spoke up first, helping Lumina resolve this offensive from Herta.
Herta: ...
Hearing Hyacine's words, Herta immediately fell into a stunned silence.
The corner of her mouth kept twitching, seemingly feeling utterly speechless.
Slap, slap, slap!
At the same time, Herta fiercely slapped her own cheeks several times in her mind.
Why am I so cheap? Why did I even say that? Why did I expect Hyacine to stand on the same side as me and join me in overthrowing the Lumina Dynasty?
Herta had already experienced being "backstabbed" by Hyacine before, so why hadn't she learned her lesson yet?
Herta fiercely scolded herself in her mind.
She vowed that she would never again harbor any expectations for Castorice, Hyacine, and the others.
They were just a bunch of people who had been completely duped by Lumina, and they would be the kind to count the money for her after being sold out!
People like that deserved to be manipulated by Lumina for the rest of their lives!
Herta scoffed coldly in her mind.
"Pfft... Hahahaha."
While Herta was fiercely scolding herself in her mind, Lumina, who had been holding back her laughter nearby, finally couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing on the spot.
Lumina's laughter was very pleasant to hear, sounding like a heavenly melody that could warm one's heart and feel exceptionally comfortable.
"..." Hearing that laugh, Herta snapped back to her senses, crossed her arms over her chest, and glared at her fiercely.
Without saying another word, she obediently shut her mouth.
Herta wouldn't blame Hyacine, after all, she had only been duped by Lumina too, and she herself was definitely not in the wrong.
The one in the wrong was Lumina, and it could only ever be Lumina.
It was all Lumina's fault...
"Hehe..."
Although Herta didn't say a word, Lumina smiled at her as if she had seen right through Herta's thoughts.
The beautiful and gentle smile reflected in Herta's eyes, however, took on a few more hints of mockery and arrogance.
Herta turned her head away and no longer let her gaze fall on Lumina.
Seeing Herta looking like a little girlfriend sulking in anger, Lumina again secretly laughed in her heart.
But she didn't try to coax her like a boyfriend would treat a sulking little girlfriend; instead, she simply ignored her.
First, she glanced at the Water Altar, then turned her head, letting her gaze fall on Castorice, Hyacine, and the others as she said softly, "Stelle should be about to complete the trial."
"It's just... a small problem may have occurred."
"Huh?" Hearing Lumina's first sentence, a joyful expression appeared on everyone's faces.
But Lumina's next sentence truly made that joy completely vanish, and their hearts instantly hung in suspense.
"Sis... Sister Lumina, what problem did Excellency Stelle encounter? Is it serious?" Castorice hastily asked nervously.
Although the Demigod of Time's trial was one Stelle had volunteered for, Castorice and the others would absolutely be unable to accept it if anything happened to her.
"Um..." Hearing this, Lumina did not immediately answer, but fell silent for a moment.
After a while, she finally spoke slowly: "If you say it's serious, then it's quite serious."
"But if you say it's not serious, then it's not too serious either."
Castorice, Hyacine, Dan Heng, Tribbie, and the others: ???
Hearing Lumina's words, apart from Herta and Aglaea, Phainon, and the third person talking nearby, the rest of them all fell into a state of utter confusion.
How did Lumina's sentence feel like she had said something, yet also felt like she hadn't said anything at all?
"Miss Lumina, then... is there any way to help her?" Although deeply confused, Dan Heng quickly regained his composure.
He turned to ask Lumina.
With Miss Lumina's strength, no matter what she said, it absolutely could not be lightly ignored.
If you couldn't even trust Lumina, who else in the entire Cosmos was worth trusting?
If she said so, there must be a reason.
"I said it before, didn't I? I won't interfere in this matter."
"This is Stelle's trial, a trial for her to grow and gain power."
Lumina gently said, a faint smile on her face, knowing what Dan Heng was thinking.
"..."
Hearing this, Dan Heng was about to say something.
But before he could make a sound, he was interrupted by Lumina's gentle voice.
"Don't worry, Stelle will be fine."
"Although the process is a bit difficult, passing the trial will definitely benefit Stelle."
"At the same time, if Stelle ultimately fails the trial, I will intervene."
Lumina's gentle and confident words calmed Dan Heng's anxious heart.
"Yes, I understand, Miss Lumina." Dan Heng nodded, returning to his usual Cold-Faced Little Azure Dragon appearance.
Since Miss Lumina had said so, Dan Heng was completely at ease.
With Miss Lumina around, Stelle would surely have no problems.
And Miss Lumina was right: a flower in a greenhouse could never grow.
If Stelle became overly dependent on Lumina, she would never grow, and the so-called "Trailblaze" would gradually be lost in the process...
Therefore, as long as Stelle's life was not in danger, Dan Heng completely agreed with Miss Lumina's statement.
"Could it be related to that incident?"
The next second, Dan Heng, who had agreed with Lumina's words, suddenly thought of something.
His brow immediately furrowed.
That was Stelle's state after the Train crashed...
Could it be related to what Miss Lumina had just said?
Dan Heng fell into deep thought.
Before he had lost consciousness, blood kept seeping out of Stelle's body, and she had stopped breathing... As a result, when he woke up, he saw a lively and energetic Stelle.
Dan Heng had never heard of any healing abilities for the "Stellaron." Seeing a lively and energetic Stelle after waking up was clearly quite perplexing.
But since she seemed to be fine at the time, Dan Heng did not bring it up.
Later, Lumina came to Okhema. Seeing that she did not mention this matter to Stelle, Dan Heng thought that even Lumina felt that Stelle was perfectly fine right now.
So he buried the matter deep in his heart.
After all, this kind of thing was best left unsaid unless absolutely necessary...
He would ask Stelle about it after she came out.
Without thinking any more, since Miss Lumina had promised to help if Stelle truly faced a life-threatening danger, Dan Heng did not need to worry too much.
"We can just wait here quietly. Stelle will definitely pass the trial 'temporarily'."
Noticing Dan Heng's furrowed brow, Lumina knew exactly what was on his mind.
She had seen the Train crash. Based on the scene at the time, Stelle must have put on quite a performance of "magically reviving" right in front of Dan Heng.
Lumina thought to herself.
As for why Stelle had "died" on the spot, and why the ring she had left on Stelle's body did not trigger under such circumstances?
The answer was actually very simple.
The ring Lumina gave to Stelle would only activate automatically when she faced a life-threatening danger.
If there was no life-threatening danger, the ring would not trigger, even if she "died".
To put it more simply: Although Stelle died, she wasn't in any life-threatening danger, so the ring didn't activate automatically. Isn't that perfectly normal?
If the attack on Stelle and Dan Heng had been a little more powerful, the ring would have activated automatically and brought a "little" Lumina Shock to Amphoreus!