Inferno, Flowing Across the Plains

—Poor fellow, though you are hateful, the heavy burden you bear is real.

—Regardless of the past, regardless of the future, at least for now, let me share some of your burden. —Persephone

The floor-to-ceiling windows were lowered, and the city temperature rose slightly. On this warm and pleasant afternoon, the Flame-haired maiden hummed a leisurely tune.

The song adorned the girl's dream.

The song captivated the girl's heart.

Surrounded by nameless songs, even the singer himself gradually closed his eyes.

The invitation from another world was blocked by a resolute will, and the dream did not come true.

As her vision gradually dimmed, Laevateinn's warm flames surrounded her, burning silently—

—Just like every hibernation in those long years.

Miss Surtr opened her eyes.

What came into view was an endless plain—reeds swayed silently in the golden sunset. And above, a huge white whale sailed through the clouds.

—The Reeds Field of the Egyptian underworld? No, they only look like them; they are not actually reed beds.

Because this isn't the dream world. There's a familiar feeling here.

Originium, conflict, and...

"Theresia?" Miss Surtr tilted her head and uttered the name from her memory.

The next moment, a pinkish-white figure flickered and converged around her like a distorted projection, gradually becoming clearer from blurry.

"It's me, Surtr." — She saw the familiar figure reach out to her. She wanted to take the hand, but unexpectedly, the person in front of her pounced on her and hugged her tightly. The delicate cheek rubbed against her neck again and again.

"You..." The thousand words that had been building up inside vanished, and in the end, only a slightly worried question escaped from her lips. "... Are you really sure it's alright for you to come see me like this? You and Persephone made such meticulous arrangements and plans..."

She saw the pink and white Princess shake her head.

"Don't worry, this level of transgression won't alert 'He'... because you've become stronger. Unlike before, I can now communicate with you."

"I've become stronger?" Surtr asked, puzzled. She didn't know exactly where she had become stronger, but she placed even greater importance on the 'He' that Theresia had mentioned!

"Theresia, who are you talking about..."

The Princess gently pressed her fingers against her lips.

"Shh, don't say it, don't think about it. As long as your thoughts wander in that direction, He will know... He hasn't woken up yet. He won't care if the ants call out His name, but if you replace the ants with a burning flame, then He will surely wake up from His dream."

"... Does that mean I'm the only one who can't know?"

"Hmm." The Princess released her fingertips from her lips. "Because you can hurt Him, and only you have ever hurt Him. All the other warriors are too weak; even if they blaspheme or howl, they cannot affect Him in the slightest."

"... Where is this?"

"You can't tell me."

"... What's your situation right now?"

"You can't tell me."

"Well..." Miss Surtr opened her mouth, but in the end, she slumped her shoulders in resignation. She let out a soft breath and closed her eyes. "Theresia, I miss you so much."

She heard the Princess chuckle softly.

"If you weren't holding Persephone, I might have been very touched."

So Miss Surtr broke free from the Princess's embrace. She turned around and hugged her back, throwing her onto the Reeds Field —she gazed at her, their eyes, different colors, were only a hand's width apart.

"And now?"

"It's alright, I'll believe you if you kiss me—just kidding." The Princess blinked, looking at the person pressing down on her, her gaze gentle as water.

"Take good care of Persephone. There are some things about her that are not quite what you imagine."

"Um."

"Go and check on Kal'tsit too. She's tired and doesn't know anything... She means you no harm."

"Um."

"Amiya... ah, she sees you as an older sister. You've always taken good care of her, so I probably don't need to say anything more."

"Hmm." Surtr nodded. "And you, when are you coming back? Should I go to Victoria now?"

"It's not time yet. I'd be better off dead than alive." The pink-clad Princess gazed into her eyes. Her voice gradually shifted from gentle to serious. "Surtr, something is happening, some disaster is imminent, and Rhodes Island will be the first to suffer... Please, protect them."

"I've always done it this way."

"... Please also take good care of yourself."

"I will try," Surtr replied, taking the Princess's hand. "But I want to protect you even more."

"You..." The Princess turned her head slightly and complained softly. "...Why do you always say things that make me waver?"

"Hmm?"

"There's nothing there! Absolutely nothing!" The Princess reached out and gently pushed her chest. "You should wake up, you idiot."

"You big idiot!"

The sound became blurred, the senses became dulled, and a feeling of weightlessness washed over me as I awoke.

This is not a dream world, this is a dream.

But dreams always end.

Chapter 80: The Flames of Karma Flow Towards the Plains

Time period, long ago—

Lava flowed everywhere, and flames spread across the plains.

The towering, Fire Giants looked down upon the earth. With each step it took, the molten rock trembled and the ground shook. Huge amounts of groundwater were forcefully squeezed out of the Ley Line, spraying and turning into colorless water vapor that rose rapidly in the intense heat, dispersing into white mist around the giant's knees.

When clouds and mist gather, thunderstorms will follow.