Not obsessing over extending one's lifespan, but simply existing for a long time?
Liriel felt there was something odd about that statement. Without extending one's lifespan, how could one exist for a long time?
Perhaps seeing Liriel's confusion, Nomephins said blandly, "If you find it puzzling, look at me."
"Since you have heard my name, you must know what became of me in the Abyss."
Decayer and Liriel exchanged a glance, then nodded at Nomephins. "Rumors say that you have... died."
Nomephins said, "The rumor is true."
"My physical body did indeed die, but my consciousness became a new individual... becoming what I am now."
"Do you understand what I mean now?"
Nomephins paused there without further explanation. Yet Decayer and Liriel already understood its meaning.
The physical body perished, yet one could endure in another fashion.
Decayer understood this even more deeply, because it thought of Elan. Elan's current state was most likely the kind of "endurance" Nomephins had described.
...The endurance of a consciousness entity.
In a sense, this was also a roundabout way of extending one's lifespan. But would Liriel accept such a result?
Decayer turned to look at Liriel.
Liriel had already understood what Nomephins meant. Abandon the old body and survive in a new form. It seemed she would indeed remain alive, but... would that still be her?
Nomephins said, "Why would she not be? Consciousness governs the entire self. It was merely attached to the vessel of flesh before, and now it is changing to a new vessel."
Liriel said, "But..."
Nomephins cut her off directly. "No buts. Though I enjoyed that little show earlier, rules are rules... You each get one question. If you keep pressing this matter, then I can only count the question I gave you as having been used on