Then I am also willing to believe that the person who first wove this lie must have had reasons and hardships that compelled them to do so."
"And that reason," her gaze swept over her companions, finally returning to the two beasts' spirits, "I am also willing to assume... it was born from some form of benevolent protection. This is how I choose to view this world, and it is... my choice."
The souls of Solabis and Lunabis both seemed subtly moved by Hyacine's words, falling silent for a moment.
"Since you are resolved to such a degree... then proceed! We have paved the rainbow bridge to the truth for you!" Solabis said solemnly,
"Follow it, and you will reach the highest platform at the top of the floating frontier fortress —「Frontier Roof」."
"And there..." Lunabis's voice echoed through the shattered sky-city, "I will reveal to you the truth that the legend concealed..."
...
Upon reaching the platform closest to the Sky, the truth buried in dust for a thousand years was unveiled at this moment.
Lunabis's soul halo turned to Cyrene, its voice filled with infinite regret: "You once praised her, saying her boundless love for mortals was deep and unconditional, like the sky embracing all things. But... when she finally realized that those shallow, fragile, selfish mortals could not bear her overly idealistic, all-encompassing love... she... alas..."
A sigh conveyed all the disillusionment and grief.
"After witnessing the atrocities of people killing and trampling their own kin, all the beautiful visions Seliose had cherished before declaring war on the Titan—freedom, justice, unity—in that moment, all turned into cold, empty illusions."
"She felt a bone-deep disappointment in the weakness, shortsightedness, and baseness of human nature. Seliose possessed the might to slay a god. Yet she tragically discovered that the spear in her hand could never cut out the deep-rooted flaws named 'fear' and 'selfishness' from every mortal's heart."
"Her unconditional tolerance and sacrifice brought not awakening, but ruthless betrayal and trampling. Her deep, selfless love for mortals was ultimately scorched away by the coldness of reality, leaving behind only boundless rage and despair."
Solabis's voice took over, unveiling the most bloody page: "Thus, Seliose, utterly disillusioned with humanity, made a mad decision—she pronounced a death sentence upon all the Children of the Sky she had once tried to 'save'!"
Its soul halo pointed towards the faintly visible abyss below the platform, roiling with searing golden light: "In the name of the newly ascended God-Slayer, she personally cast them... cast all her clansfolk... into the scalding, boiling golden pool beneath our feet!"
"On that day," Lunabis's voice was like a dirge, "countless clansfolk of the Skyfolk fell from this fortress they once took pride in, wailing as they were mercilessly swallowed and melted by that golden yet fatal lava... The sky was stained red with the blood and lament of mortals."
"And then," Solabis concluded, his tone becoming hollow and cold, "with her heart completely dead, she chose to merge with the dying remains of Aquila, thereby obtaining eternal power and life, and at the same time... she completely abandoned the part that belonged to 'humanity.'"
Hyacine listened quietly. Her body swayed slightly, her face instantly turning as pale as paper.
Her lifelong faith, her clan's thousand-year vigil, all her pride and sense of mission were struck by the most violent, cruel impact at this moment.
"A Seliose who pronounced a death sentence upon all Children of the Sky... a Seliose who abandoned her humanity, merged with the Titan..."
She murmured, her voice trembling almost incoherently, "If... if this is the path she ultimately chose... then I... and my ancestors, for this thousand years... whose long-cherished wish have we been keeping watch over?! What meaning does our steadfastness even hold?!"
Immense confusion and pain seized her: "A Seliose who cast aside her humanity... are the ancestors of the Twilight Courtyard and I truly... truly her direct bloodline? Or... something else?"
Beside her, Cyrene thought of the light that had sparkled in Hyacine's eyes whenever she spoke of her ancestors on their journey, of the hard-maintained pride Hyacine showed when people in the Sanctuary viewed her as the descendant of a hero, and especially of the heavy yet resolute expression Hyacine occasionally revealed when alone, bearing the weight of her mission... A sharp pang of sympathy surged in Cyrene's heart.
She instinctively stepped forward, wanting to support the girl who now appeared exceptionally fragile.
However, Hyacine gently waved her hand. Though pale and breathing rapidly, she still forced herself to straighten her back, standing firm upon this land of cruel truth.
"No matter what," her voice still trembled, yet was exceptionally clear, "I will not evade my mission. The truth... may be cruel, but knowing it is part of the responsibility itself."
She looked at Cyrene, her eyes carrying a plea. "Cyrie, may I ask this of you? I wish... to witness that concealed history with my own eyes. Use your power, let me see... what exactly happened in that moment."
Cyrie nodded emphatically.
...
The ancient memory light and shadow surfaced once more. This time, the imagery was clearer, and even more chilling to the bone.
In the vision, a female Golden Descendant, covered in blood, her eyes filled with a desperate desire to live, was prostrating herself humbly before Seliose:
「Lady Seliose! I beg you! Spare my life! I... I am a Golden Descendant like you! If you would grant me mercy, I swear to you! I will make my descendants, for generations to come, sing of your epic! Make them remember your deeds! And make them ascend to these skies once more, to reclaim the 「Sky」 Coreflame! To complete your unfinished work!」
The Seliose in the vision had eyes cold and empty, as if looking at an insignificant insect. She let out a laugh of utter contempt:
「How amusing... a Golden Descendant, yet begging for mercy so shamelessly, without a shred of dignity. Do you intend... to tell your descendants an enormous lie, to burden them for generations with a responsibility and mission that never existed?」
It seemed absurd to her. Finally, she waved a hand, as if shooing away a fly:
「Be gone. Ant.」
「No matter how long it takes, ten years, a hundred, a thousand... I will wait here. I will await the arrival of those 'clansfolk' you speak of.」
「Then... let me thoroughly mock the laughable fate of mortals, so easily betrayed by their shameless ancestors!」