In the shallow slumber of a cold dream.
The pink-haired girl with elven ears stood amidst a cluster of blooming flowers, turning back with a smile.
That divine radiance made Ruan Mei instinctively reach out.
But in an instant, everything shattered like crystal.
Ruan Mei awoke with a start. Coming to her senses, she realized it had all been a dream. She changed into a gauze dress and went alone to the Star-Gazing Terrace, gazing out at Changle, whose lantern light had long since faded.
What occupies the mind by day appears in dreams by night.
That pink-haired fairy girl—she truly seemed to possess a kind of divinity.
But she was too far from Ruan Mei, too ethereal—like the ripples of bygone days.
[Watching the fading lantern light at dawn all alone?] ♪
[Do you know what the beginning of hope is?] ♪
Ruan Mei remained silent.
[Sigh. Ignoring me. The moonlight's already gone. You two really are a handful.] ♪
"It's a matter of personality. You'll get used to it."
[Is it really that hard to inherit the legacy of Elysium?] ♪
Ruan Mei did not answer the ethereal voice in her mind. She simply closed her eyes.
[Open your eyes. I want to use them as a mirror.] ♪
"What exactly is this so-called reward of divinity?"
The girl murmured softly.
[Hmm? You must act. You must yearn for humanity. You must become human. Then the stars and moon will bring the reward you seek.]
"Humanity? Sigh."
Ruan Mei sighed softly. Even as the preeminent authority on life research across the cosmos,
She knew everything about humans: birth, aging, sickness, death—from birth to study, work, marriage, and finally decline.
For most people, that was life.
But as for so-called human nature—joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, the seven emotions and six desires—Ruan Mei found it truly difficult to grasp a definitive answer.
[Sigh. You need to try experiencing life. Don't spend every day thinking about this True Sting experiment, that Starcrusher Swarm King research.] ♪
[When all the world loves me, perhaps the true divine origin of the Ego will naturally come into being.]
[At that time, who knows? You might even blaze a new Path and become an Aeon yourself.] ♪
Ruan Mei opened her eyes slightly, her tone cool.
"And what kind of existence are you?"
[Ah? Me? Hmm. A memory entity? A guide? Director Li? Ya Yan? The question isn't important. You'll know in time.] ♪
[But you could think of me as a pink fairy who gives you tasks and rewards, I suppose.] ♪
Ruan Mei fell silent once more. Since accepting this entity's tasks, it had been a long time since she'd conducted research alone.
True Stings, the Starcrusher Swarm King, the Simulated Universe... the experiments she once cared about had somehow drifted further and further away.
[Ahem. Don't be lost. Here—though you haven't completed the task, I seem to have forgotten to give you a greeting gift. Take this. Hold out your hand.] ♪
"Hmm?"
A fragment of flawless pink crystal.
Ruan Mei immediately examined it with the power of her Path.
Everything was nothingness. Nihility? No. It leaned more toward a kind of absolute unknown.
Yet it also approached Pure Beauty—but was not Pure Beauty.
It approached the icy cold of Memory's distant shore, yet...
Even a genius like Ruan Mei felt awed by the appearance of this flawless crystal fragment. Awed by its purity,
astonished by her complete ignorance of its nature.
"Could divinity truly reside within this?"
[Of course. Gather all seven fragments, and your wish will be fulfilled. Divinity will appear.] ♪
Silence. Deathly silence.
[What's wrong? You don't believe me?] ♪
"Are you painting a pie in the sky for me?"
[Ah? Elysia never—no, I would never paint empty pies!] ♪
Ruan Mei calmed herself again, gazing at the flawless, completely unknown crystal fragment in her hand.
Based on her research on Tayzzyronth, the path to divine ascension would be exceedingly long.
The road behind had already spanned several Amber Eras. If she relied solely on this entity in the future, it would likely take hundreds more—perhaps never ending.
Ruan Mei took a deep breath. Was she truly choosing to cooperate with this entity—one not of the Garden of Recollection?
"In the end, I still have to confess to Herta?"
[Fulfilling Wisteria Cake's wish works too.] ♪
Ruan Mei glanced at the still-slumbering Wisteria Cake nearby. Though she was indeed one of Ruan Mei's creations, she resembled Herta far more.
At the very least, through repeated questioning, her true wish remained guarded.
"If I'm not mistaken, her real wish is to see her and me together. Isn't that right?"
[Oh my. Madam Ruan Mei is as perceptive as ever. What child doesn't wish for their parents to be happily united?] ♪
Hearing this, a trace of helplessness—something even a genius couldn't avoid—crossed Ruan Mei's cool features.
Clearly, the former was easier to achieve. Just a confession.
But knowing Herta's personality, her confession would either be seen as a social experiment or rejected outright.
Of course, there was a one-in-ten-thousand chance she'd accept. And if she did... how would Ruan Mei face her then?
Aside from Yu Qingtu, Herta was the only friend she'd made in several Amber Eras.
If she failed, she'd lose that. If she succeeded, the future was uncertain.
"Sigh. Truly two propositions I cannot answer."
[Wrong. It's a genuine proposition. Herta isn't that hard to get along with.]
Ruan Mei was silent for a moment, then pressed further.
"Can't the legacy of Elysium be given as selflessly as Yaoshi's Elysium?"
(T/N: Just a side note for people who don't know, but Elysium is a greek word which refers to paradise.)
[No.] ♪
[Take your time. No rush. In all the cosmos, Herta looks at you with her eyes. Everyone else, she looks at with her nose.] ♪
"What?"
[She's arrogant. You could call it proud aloofness. Or absolute tsundere? Of course, there are very few in this universe she deigns to look at with her eyes. You're the exception.] ♪
Ruan Mei smiled faintly. Herta was truly Herta.
---
Elsewhere, Herta slowly opened her eyes. She went to her bronze mirror and began arranging her hair.
Asta called.
"Hello? Asta? Has something happened at the space station? Calling me at this hour."
Asta quickly shook her head.
"Madam Herta. Everything is fine at the space station."
Herta put on her magic hat, meticulously tying her bow.
"Since there's no issue, I'll hang up now."
"Wait!! Madam Herta, you promised... my matter."
Herta yawned casually.
"Oh, right. Telling you Ruan Mei's contact info when I return. I haven't forgotten. Honestly."
Asta breathed a sigh of relief. Just as Herta was about to hang up, she hastily added,
"Madam Herta! May I ask what Madam Ruan Mei cares about or is interested in—aside from the Starcrusher Swarm King?!"
Herta instantly snapped awake, a hint of vigilance in her voice.
"Hmm? Why do you ask?"
"No... nothing. Just preparing a return gift for Madam Ruan Mei."
Herta grew even more suspicious.
"A return gift?"
"Yes. Madam Ruan Mei agreed to give me a sleeve pendant embroidered by her own hand."
Herta froze. Her phone slipped from her hand and clattered to the floor.
"Madam Herta? Madam Herta? What's wrong over there?"