Chapter 441

The Fairy Elysia flew around in front of Shen Gonglin, praising her manuscript with great admiration. Meanwhile, Mei had finished reading the document printed out earlier. It contained information about Elysia's past and her meeting with Kevin... It was hard to imagine that Kevin had such a period in his life.

"This is... your first encounter with Kevin?"

Mei put down the documents and looked at Elysia, who had been quietly standing to the side. While she was reading about Alicia's past, this girl had been standing quietly beside her. She used to be such a carefree girl.

"Yeah, I really miss those days when we were young and full of energy... although I'm still very young now. Kevin has changed a lot, though. You see, when we first met, he knew how to make girls happy."

Elysia sighed helplessly. Kevin back then was indeed someone she missed. He was very good at talking back then, unlike now, when he was like a silent gourd. He also knew how to make girls happy, and he was definitely not as heartless as he is now.

"Indeed. Even among the Flame-Chasers, you are considered to have a deep connection with the Flame-Chasers. However... what I am more concerned about is what you said to that other man, the one you met in the training room."

Mei glanced at Shen Gonglin, and seeing that he still had no interest in listening in, Mei didn't press him. He hadn't looked at the document, so there was a lot of information he didn't know. That was fine; he could figure it out himself.

"It's not another man, it's Hen. You should have met him before."

Elysia smiled and shook her finger, saying that referring to another man was a bit impolite.

"Hen... I've seen this name in both Kevin's and Kosma's memories. If I remember correctly, he later became Flame-Chaser. And just now, he seemed to... mention your origins unintentionally."

Mei gleaned a lot of information from the documents she had just read. She hadn't forgotten her original purpose for exploring: to uncover everything about the Thirteen Herrscher. And this information might be very important: what was Elysia's background?

"Hmm... Let me think, this is a past that I don't even quite remember, after all, I was just a little girl back then. Vostok -51... I think that's what it's called? It seems to be where I was born, but I don't really have any real feeling about it."

After thinking it over for a moment, Elysia realized that she had no intention of hiding anything from Mei. It wasn't that she was trying to mislead people; she genuinely didn't remember much. After all, even she couldn't possibly remember everything, let alone something from when she was so young.

"Don't look at me like that, Mei. Do you remember what your kindergarten gate looked like when you were little? It's not that I don't miss home, it's just that I was really young back then. The only thing I remember is that Flame-Chasers took me away."

Elysia touched her lips, unable to recall what had happened back then. She was just a little girl at the time, not yet the beautiful and intelligent young woman she is now, so it wasn't hard to believe that she didn't remember these things.

"Wait a minute, the Flame-Chasers, will it take you away?"

Mei interrupted Elysia, saying that this matter was very important. So this was when Elysia and the Flame-Chasers came together? It turned out that the Flame-Chasers had already been established when Elysia was still a little girl.

Chapter 143

"Of course, I wasn't the only one. The Flame-Chasers took away many residents of the town, seemingly to investigate something, but found nothing, so they eventually sent everyone back. There wasn't even a record of it; according to Mobius, it was ultimately classified as a... misunderstanding?"

At this point, Elysia shook her head helplessly. Elysia was actually quite concerned about this matter, such as whether there were any secrets about her origins that she herself did not know.

"The rest of the story is pretty ordinary. I grew up and blossomed into a beautiful young woman. Then I encountered the Flame-Chasers again, and the fare of fate began to turn from then on... Mei knows what happened next."

He seemed to be quite frank in telling Mei everything, but Mei wasn't so easily convinced. A misunderstanding? Instinct told Mei that this matter couldn't be that simple, and there were many suspicious points, but she couldn't quite put her finger on them. At times like this, she wished someone could think about it with her... But Shen Gonglin didn't seem interested at all. It seemed that playing with that Fairy Administrator over there was more important to him than researching this kind of thing.

That's for the best. If Shen Gonglin were to develop any interest in the past of a girl like Elysia, then I would be the one who would be worried.

"Elysia... is that all?"

"Yes, Mei, if you're worried, you can check it out. It's okay."

Elysia glanced at the typewriter, and then the old-fashioned typewriter started working again. If she thought she was hiding something, Mei would believe the "truth" typed out by this typewriter.

The typewriter quickly handed over a new page, Mei took and read. Just as Elysia had said, it was Vostok -51, an obscure little town that had been sealed off by the Flame-Chasers for a period of time in history, but investigations confirmed that the residents there were no abnormalities.

"See? Mei should understand now that I'm just an ordinary, beautiful girl, right?"

Elysia blinked pitifully at Mei, a self-description that left Mei somewhat helpless. No matter how you looked at it, Elysia was far from being an ordinary beautiful girl. Whether she was Flame-Chasers or Herrscher, she had absolutely nothing to do with the word "ordinary."

"Regardless of the conclusions... the you depicted in these files are indeed different from who you are now; time has left its mark on you to varying degrees. It's quite poignant, you... and Kevin."

From those files, Mei saw different versions of them. It was hard to imagine what Kevin had gone through to become the way he was now, and Elysia, the current her must be very different from the one before.

"You scared me to death! I thought Mei was talking about Mei's feet or something... Hmm, how should I put it? This is probably... a gradual process, right?"

Elysia maintained a smile on her face. Indeed, there was no negative emotion to be seen in this girl. Mei also seemed to be thinking about this. Perhaps it was true that it was a process of gradual change. Only through such gradual accumulation could a person be completely transformed.

Outside the archives, also in the Eternal Elysium, people in Elysia's mental world were laughing and chatting. In the distance, a figure stood out from the crowd. He was out of place not only because of his conspicuous white hair, but also because of his expression... which was neither silence, commemoration, nor mourning.

Looking at the lively scene before him, Kevin silently gazed into the distance once more. Just then, footsteps approached, but Kevin did not turn around, for he knew who it was.

"I rarely see you with this expression... Eternal Elysium, the scenery here reminds me of the past."

Sue took the initiative to greet Kevin, then stood beside Kevin and looked into the distance together. Although he kept his eyes closed, Kevin knew he could see.

"On my way here, I saw a poster of Eden. We went to her concert together back then."

Sue wore a faint smile. As expected of Elysia's mental world, everyone here could find something they cherished, and only she could do such a thing.

"Yes, that was a long time ago."

"Hmm, it really has been a long time... What are you thinking about, Kevin, or rather... what are you remembering?"

Suddenly, the topic shifted to Kevin. As his friend and a psychic Flame-Chaser, Sue could easily sense the emotions of those around her. Kevin often seemed to be thinking about certain things.

"It's just some old stuff."

Kevin's answer was very cold, but Sue could hear something else in that coldness.

"Her past is a story."

Sue said firmly, and Kevin also gave an affirmative answer, saying there was no need to lie, and even if he did lie, Sue would be able to find out the truth.

"Um."

"Kevin, not everyone's world is so pure."

The conversation between the two riddle-solving men was like this, jumping from one topic to another, but they seemed to be used to it, and Kevin knew what Sue was talking about.

"But she's always been like this."

"It's rare for you to praise her so directly. You've always played the role of the opponent whenever Elysia comes up with her ingenious ideas. So much so that she often comes to me about it, wanting to know your true thoughts through me."

Thinking back to the past, Su couldn't help but smile slightly. It was indeed like that before. Whenever Elysia made those seemingly far-fetched suggestions, Kevin would always object as expected, and Elysia would come to her to ask Kevin what he really thought. Those things really happened a long time ago.

"... She probably just wanted to start a conversation... that's always been the case. I don't deny her whimsical ideas. It's just... time usually doesn't give us many opportunities to turn our dreams into reality."

She knew that fairy-like girl very well. She probably didn't go to Su to find out her true thoughts. She was probably just looking for a topic to talk about with someone. Elysia was that kind of person.

Chapter 144

Sue did not refute Kevin's words. Indeed, the Flame-Chasers needed Elysia, and it also needed someone like Kevin to correct its goals. However, his statement was not very applicable in the Elysian Realm.

"Kevin, you're right... But in this Elysian Realm, we are no longer bound by the countdown to the end of the world, and we even have the opportunity to fulfill our unfulfilled wishes... Kevin, you're still the same as ever."

Su said softly, but Kevin did not respond. Su seemed to have already seen his choice. Flame-Chasers, who had been keeping his eyes closed, spoke with a hint of nostalgia and helplessness. He was still the same.

"What's wrong?"

"Whenever you have something you can't say about, you'll look into the distance with that expression. When you were studying, it was on the rooftop. After joining the Flame-Chasers... it's usually on the top floor of an abandoned building."

As if chatting casually with Kevin about everyday matters, Su recounted Kevin's "unknown" little habits. After all, she and Kevin were old friends, and while others might not have noticed, Su had been observing them closely.

"Indeed, I can't hide it from you."

Kevin hadn't even noticed what Su had said, but when Su brought it up, he realized that it seemed to be true. As expected of him, he seemed to know everything.

"As a psychic, it wouldn't be difficult for me to use my abilities to know what others are thinking... but I don't want to do that, as it goes against my principles. Whether to speak out about your troubles or seek help is a personal decision. Especially for you, Kevin, I hope that I can listen to your troubles and share your burdens not as a doctor or a warrior... but as a friend."

It is not in line with Su's requirements to arbitrarily use one's own power to evaluate or even influence other people's thoughts. Everyone has their own choices. Kevin's decision not to tell Su about his troubles is also his own. After hearing Su's words, Kevin's face, which was as hard as ice for thousands of years, showed signs of thawing.

He knew Sue was worried about him. She was right. Now that they were memories, they could indeed do what the real people had failed to do.

"Su... I have some considerations of my own, although I cannot make them public yet... but I promise you, I will let you know as soon as it is necessary."

Facing this friend, Kevin was unusually candid, though he was still as enigmatic as ever, but he understood that Sue should know.

That's why Shen Gonglin completely gave up on having any effective conversations with these riddle-solving people; sometimes he really wanted to throw a sample of vernacular Chinese text in their faces.

"... You don't need to make any promises to me. Even close friends and family don't always share everything. I just hope that when you need help, you'll remember that there's someone who will definitely lend a helping hand."

"I've got it."

Talking to Sue is as relaxing as ever; even Kevin couldn't help but soften a little. Perhaps everyone really needs someone like that by their side.

"Alright, Kevin. The rest... I'll leave you here to think it over on your own. You've never been one to spend time like this."

Having said what he needed to say, Sue turned to leave, waving to Kevin to give this Flame-Chasers leader some time. Kevin, in turn, glanced once more at the people not far away. In Elysia's mental world, people were still laughing and joking, smiles lingering on their faces. If only...

Kevin lowered his head, a deep blue light shimmering in his hand. He gazed at the flower, its color never fading... Elysia, back then you, back then we... Was there truly no other choice?

If I had seen through her true intentions sooner... would their ending have been different?

A long-buried secret... Mei, could she really be the one who can change everything?

In another corner of Eternal Elysium, Aponia, who had emerged from the Deepest Place, strolled through Elysia's mental world. After speaking with Eden, Aponia also came out. This eccentric nun walked along, lost in thought about things only she knew.

Eden truly lives up to its Eden.

"Hmm? This is... paint?"

Suddenly, some mottled colors were spotted on the ground. There was only one possibility for finding such a thing here: Griseo had also come here. Had Flame-Chasers arrived? Let's go see her.

Aponia tiptoed, and it seemed as if blue butterflies were fluttering around the woman. The walls, the floor—it looked like Griseo's colors were everywhere. Aponia shook her head. Griseo, that child, still couldn't shake her habit of drawing everywhere. If it were some other mischievous kid, this kind of graffiti would just be annoying, but if it was Griseo ...

So cute!

The colors left by Griseo were like guiding beacons. Aponia could feel Griseo's excitement from them. For that child, the colors here must have been like a dream. Looking at Griseo waving her paintbrush in the distance, Aponia couldn't help but show a tender expression.

She's here.

Not far away, Griseo was diligently sketching the scenery she saw with a paintbrush. She painted from different angles, with different colors, and with different moods... These patterns and colors greatly excited Griseo.

"Griseo, are you copying?"

Quietly walking to Griseo's side, as if afraid of startling her, Aponia spoke softly and gently, lowering her body slightly. This behavior was completely different from the Aponia that Mei remembered.

"Ah... Mother Aponia, I am feeling, I am feeling... their stories."

The sudden sound made Griseo turn around. She wasn't surprised to see it was Aponia. The girl pointed into the distance, and Aponia looked in the direction Griseo was pointing. There was a huge mural in the direction Griseo was looking at. So that's what she was looking at.

"Oh, it's that mural... Griseo, what did you see?"

Like a gentle older sister accompanying a child, Aponia wanted to hear what Griseo had seen, but the little painter shook her head.

"I haven't seen it yet, so I have to feel it through the paintbrush, through the paint. That painting... is strange, full of joy, full of sadness. Full of color, full of black."

This painting, in Griseo's perception, is something strange, expressing what she feels.

Chapter 145 You Enjoy It

"I see... because that's what the painting looks like."

Aponia said softly, looking up at the mural, her eyes, with faint dark circles, filled with memories of the past. Griseo's description was correct; it was just like that.

"Mom Aponia, do you know the story behind that painting?"

Wanting to understand the painting, Griseo looked at Aponia, her pale purple eyes filled with a thirst for knowledge. Aponia, of course, would not refuse Griseo's request.

"Yes... I often do sculpting, so I have some connection with murals and similar works. It's a... very, very old folk song..."

After a moment's recollection, Aponia told Griseo what she knew, "One day, He fell from the sky. People on earth looked up and saw the starry sky."

As she sang this inexplicable song, Aponia gazed at Griseo, wanting to hear her feelings. The little painter lowered her head and pondered for a moment, a sadness filling her heart.

"Very... sad..."

"Yes. Life is a recurring tragedy. But... it is precisely because it is a tragedy that the traces it leaves behind are so magnificent and dazzling."

Aponia was implying something, but Griseo didn't seem to understand. It was a bit difficult for her to say such things. The girl could only express her feelings. She didn't know if it was right or wrong, but that's how she felt.

"Griseo doesn't understand complicated things, but Griseo likes that painting. In that painting... are those stars, Mother Aponia? Griseo likes clouds and starry skies. Is there any way she can live with the stars?"

As Griseo spoke of these innocent fantasies that only children would utter, Aponia's expression was inscrutable. In the end, she could only shake her head. "I don't know, Griseo. Every child loves to gaze at the stars. But slowly, your gaze will move beyond the Stars and into that deep space... And this process, we call growing up."

If I could, I really wish Griseo would never grow up.

"That's why... Kosma is afraid of growing up."

"Right."

"But... Griseo wants to grow up, Shen Gonglin said...he's waiting for Griseo up."

The little painter's sudden words caused Aponia's gentle expression to falter. Aponia had always held a special place in her heart for Mei Shen Gonglin; her powers had no effect on him. However, because Mei was the true successor, she hadn't paid much attention to Shen Gonglin's situation. But now, with Griseo saying this...

"Griseo, can you tell me what Shen Gonglin said to you?"

Aponia crouched down and asked Griseo about this matter. This was very important; wouldn't that Shen Gonglin lead Griseo astray?

"Shen Gonglin ...is a very good painter, just as good as Griseo ... Griseo wanted him to paint her portrait...but Shen Gonglin said Griseo was too young and could only be his model when she grew up...so Griseo wanted to grow up."