"Now, it was my turn to ask: Who exactly were you?" She threw the question back at her.
"Why ask when you already knew?"
Acheron lightly rested her hand on the hilt of the long sword at her waist. Her posture appeared casual, yet it held power that could erupt at any moment:
"I often forgot things, so rather than relying on memories, I was more accustomed to using [feelings] to grasp at something."
"So—"
"I knew who was inside that cold armor." Her gaze seemed to pierce through the heavy plating and stare directly at the soul within.
"Therefore, I could also feel it—you knew who I was, and you knew this sword, as well as the meaning behind it."
"Well? Were you willing to take off your armor and talk?" she invited.
"Not yet." Sam refused bluntly. Her mech leaned back slightly, assuming a defensive stance.
"You should not know so much, lost Self-Annihilator." A trace of warning entered her voice.
Acheron remained insistent, taking a small step forward, her footfalls light and soundless:
"I told you... my memory was not very good, so you did not need to worry."
"What came next?"
"Black Swan took Yan Huan away. Were you going to find her?"
"There was no need." Sam sounded calm, as though she was not surprised:
"There was no harm in telling you. In Penacony, Elio gave me only one instruction—'Have the Star Rail Express pursue the [Grand Legacy] as well.'"
"The Star Rail Express was not your enemy. If your goal was the [Clockmaker's Legacy], investigate The Family."
"They had not only concealed the existence of [death], but also hidden the past and truth of the dreamscape."
Acheron nodded, the expression in her violet eyes unchanged. "I was already doing that."
She slowly turned around