Ark Simulator, Didn't I Have No Physical Form?

Concentrating was harder than she had imagined. Images of her parents, bills, and blood donation drives would occasionally try to creep into her thoughts. But whenever this happened, Su Rui's calm and strangely reassuring voice would gently echo in her mind, reminding her to "focus here," or pointing out a tiny oversight in her notes, pulling her back to the math problem at hand.

Volume 19, Chapter 1281: Guess what a letter of recommendation is for?

It was a strange experience. She was no longer alone in facing the ocean of knowledge. There was an invisible mentor who corrected and guided her in real time, and even occasionally explained the simpler logic behind a complex concept in a way she could understand. This made her learning more efficient than ever before. Those knowledge points that she once found obscure and difficult to understand gradually became clear with Su Rui's help in explaining them.

However, when math class ended and during the short break, Eyjafjalla looked out the window at the gray sky, her thoughts involuntarily drifting towards the more distant future.

For her, high school life was already counting down. In just over half a year, she would face graduation, and then... the crucial choice that countless Columbia teenagers had to make—university or entering the workforce directly.

In the past, when her parents were still around and her family was stable, though not wealthy, Eyjafjalla's goal would have been clear: to work hard to get into a good university, preferably in a field related to geology or volcanology, and to pursue her passion for research like her parents. She knew it wouldn't be easy; Columbia's universities, especially the top ones, were extremely competitive, and the tuition was staggeringly high. But her parents had said they would support her, even if it meant taking on student loans.

But now...

The disappearance of her parents shattered any semblance of "support." The exorbitant tuition fees, like an invisible mountain, weighed heavily on the "survival problem" that Su Rui had seemingly solved. Su Rui had promised to cover her food and basic living expenses, but university tuition? That was a completely different matter—a massive sum that could bankrupt an ordinary family, and even require a lifetime to repay. This is the infamous "Columbia Student Loan"—once incurred, it could mean decades of financial shackles.

Eyjafjalla's mood grew heavy again as her thoughts deepened. She believed Su Rui could help her with basic living expenses, but as for university... she dared not hope. Perhaps she should consider community colleges with lower tuition fees, or even those offering scholarships? Or should she simply give up her studies and find a job after graduating high school? But then, what would become of her dreams, her interest in geology, the books and research her parents had left behind...?

A profound sense of powerlessness and confusion quietly began to grow.

"Thinking about university?" Su Rui's voice, as if it could read her mind, rang out in her head at just the right moment, interrupting her thoughts.

Eyjafjalla paused for a moment, then nodded silently in her mind. "Um... Su Rui, do you think... I can really still go to university?" Her voice carried uncertainty and a faint glimmer of hope. "The tuition... it's too expensive. And even with good grades, I might not get into a good school. There's an interview, they look at family background, they look at recommendation letters... I..."

Her voice trailed off as she spoke. Her parents were independent archaeologists; while they had some academic reputation, they were not from a prominent family, nor did they possess vast wealth or social connections. In Columbia's highly commercialized education system, where class barriers were subtly present, the difficulty for someone with her background to gain admission to a top geology university was unimaginable.

Su Rui was silent for a moment. His "consciousness" quickly retrieved and analyzed the fragmented information about higher education in Columbia from Eyjafjalla's memories, combined with more social rules he had "perceived" through the internet over the past two days. Soon, he reached a conclusion similar to Eyjafjalla's, even clearer and... disdainful.

"Eyjafjalla," Su Rui's voice rang out, carrying a calm, almost ruthless analytical quality, "You were right. Columbia's so-called 'good universities,' those top institutions that require exorbitant tuition fees, complex interviews, and place great emphasis on family background and letters of recommendation, were never designed for 'ordinary Columbia ' like you."

"Student loans are essentially financial instruments that link banks and capital with the education system, putting a price tag on knowledge and upward mobility, ensuring that only certain social classes or those willing to take on lifelong debt can access so-called 'high-quality educational resources.' Interviews and recommendation letters are another screening mechanism to ensure that the students admitted fit their 'circle' or expectations. Scores? That's just a basic threshold, and often not even the most important one."

Su Rui's words starkly exposed the cold reality beneath the glamorous facade of Columbia's higher education, making Eyjafjalla's heart sink even further. So... is that really how it is?

"So," Eyjafjalla's voice trembled with disappointment, "I...maybe I really can't..."

"No," Su Rui interrupted her, her voice still calm, but carrying a strange, almost "all under control" certainty, "I'm not saying all that to discourage you, but to tell you that there's no need to play by the rules they've set that are disadvantageous to you."

"Huh?" Eyjafjalla didn't understand.

"Since their rules are 'letters of recommendation,' 'background,' and 'circle,' then we'll use their rules to achieve our goals." Su Rui's voice carried a barely perceptible hint of "calculation." "However, the 'letters of recommendation' and 'background' we use might carry far more weight than they imagine."

Eyjafjalla held her breath. What did Su Rui mean by that?

"Have you heard of ' Saria '?" Su Rui asked.

Saria Eyjafjalla quickly searched her memory. The name... it sounded vaguely familiar. Her parents had mentioned it in occasional conversations? Perhaps it was Rhine Lab... the head of the defense department? A woman Vouivre, highly respected and influential in Columbia's academic circles and certain specialized fields. Her parents seemed to still possess several copies of important academic papers with her as a co-author or corresponding author. But someone of that caliber was too far removed from her life.

"I think... I've heard a little about it. He's a very capable scientist at Rhine Lab, and also the head of defense?" Eyjafjalla replied uncertainly.

"Not just scientists and defense chiefs." Su Rui's voice seemed to carry a very subtle, indescribable emotional fluctuation, as if she were mentioning a familiar name. "She has considerable influence and credibility in Columbia's academic, engineering, and even some more secretive fields. More importantly, she is fair and rigorous. Her recommendations are extremely persuasive at any top university in Columbia, and can even break many unnecessary unspoken rules."

Volume 19, Chapter 1282: I Have an Acquaintance

Eyjafjalla's heart began to pound at the possibility hinted at in Su Rui's words. Saria's letter of recommendation? That was utterly absurd! How could she possibly know such an important person? How could she possibly have obtained her letter of recommendation?

"Su Rui ...you, you know Lady Saria?" Eyjafjalla's voice stammered with shock.

"We're... old acquaintances." Su Rui's answer was somewhat vague, but the certainty in her tone remained undiminished. "Moreover, our relationship is... pretty good."

More than just good. In Su Rui's "consciousness," some extremely fragmented and blurry fragments flashed by. They seemed to be remnants of memories from the "previous cycle of existence" or even earlier: a cold laboratory, a flickering stream of data, a powerful and reassuring Vouivre aura, a connection that transcended ordinary "understanding" and was deeper and... intimate. He could even vaguely "sense" that if, in his current state of consciousness, he could simulate a specific "signal" or "code" known only to him and Saria, and transmit it extremely covertly through Columbia's intercity network, there was a high probability that it would attract the attention of that meticulous defense director, and, based on their past "relationship," she would be willing to offer some assistance.

Of course, this requires extremely delicate manipulation, without revealing Eyjafjalla and his true nature, and can only be done in a way that seems reasonable but allows Saria to recognize the aura of an "old friend".

"So, you mean..." Eyjafjalla's voice trembled slightly with excitement, "You can... help me get Ms. Saria's letter of recommendation?"

"It's not 'I'll get it for you'," Su Rui corrected, her tone carrying an undeniable air of planning. "It's that I'll arrange it. All you need to do is follow my instructions, go to the designated location at the appropriate time, meet someone, or pick up a letter. After that, take that letter and apply to the best geology university in Columbia that you've chosen—for example, the Columbia National University of Geology in Trimounts. Interviews? They'll arrange them for you, but with Saria's recommendation, it's more of a formality. Tuition?"

Su Rui paused, a hint of coldness in her voice. "With Saria's endorsement, coupled with your parents' reputation in the relevant field and your own good grades (I will ensure you graduate with excellent grades), applying for the highest scholarship amount, or securing some special talent development programs funded by Rhine Lab or related foundations, is not impossible. Even if some student loans are needed, the amount will be within a controllable range, and the interest rates and conditions will be much more favorable. You absolutely won't have to carry a debt you can't repay for the rest of your life."

Eyjafjalla sat blankly in her seat, as if the noise of her classmates had vanished. She could only hear the pounding of her heart in her chest and Su Rui's calm yet seemingly earth-shattering words.

Saria's letter of recommendation... a direct ticket to a top university... affordable tuition or even scholarships...

Just minutes ago, all of this was a pipe dream she wouldn't even dare to imagine. And now, Su Rui was telling her in such a calm tone that it was possible. And it sounded... not particularly difficult (for Su Rui)?

The immense shock left her momentarily speechless. She opened her mouth, wanting to ask Su Rui how she knew someone as important as Saria, whether there were any risks involved, and if it was all true...

But in the end, all those words boiled down to one question, tinged with trembling yet immense hope:

"Really... really? Su Rui? I... I can really go to Columbia National University of Geology?"

"Okay." Su Rui's answer was brief and firm, like the most solid promise. "As long as you follow my plan for the next six months, do well in your high school courses, maintain excellent grades, and at the same time, read the professional books your parents left behind to gain a systematic understanding of the basics of geology, laying a foundation for your university interview (even if it's just a formality) and your future studies, leave the rest to me."

"I will begin 'contacting' Saria at the appropriate time. All you need to do is wait, and then, as I say, go and retrieve the letter that can change your destiny."

A letter that can change your destiny.

Eyjafjalla gripped the pen tightly, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force. The confusion and heaviness in her pink eyes, like mist blown away by a gale, were quickly replaced by an unprecedented, bright, and resolute light.

The path seemed to be illuminated in an instant. Although there was still fog and challenges ahead, at least there was a clear and dazzling goal.

Columbia National University of Geology. The academic institution her parents had longed for and hoped she would enter. A place she had always thought was a dream she could never have.

And now, Su Rui tells her that there is a place for her there.

"I... I will try my best!" Eyjafjalla said in her heart, her voice trembling with excitement, but every word was full of strength. "I will definitely study hard! I will definitely be prepared!"

"Very good." A barely perceptible hint of satisfaction seemed to linger in Su Rui's voice. "Now, let's get back to the lesson. What's the next class?"

"It's...it's recent history of Columbia." Eyjafjalla quickly flipped through the timetable.

"Yes. Listen carefully. Understanding the history and current situation of your country will benefit your future development in any field," Su Rui reminded her, like a strict mentor.

Eyjafjalla nodded, quickly tidied up her math notes, and took out her history textbook. When the bell rang again, she straightened her back and looked intently at the podium, as if it were not a dry historical timeline, but another stepping stone to her dream.

The sky outside the window was still gray. But in Eyjafjalla's heart, it was as if a small sun was rising, dispelling all the gloom and cold.

Su Rui's "consciousness" quietly "watched" Eyjafjalla's rekindled fighting spirit and hope, sensing her more focused and concentrated state of mind, now that she had a clear goal. He "knew" that this move was the right one. Giving Eyjafjalla a clear, achievable, and attractive long-term goal was far more effective in stimulating her intrinsic motivation than simply solving her economic problems, and would also help her emerge from the shadows of the past more quickly.

Volume 19, Chapter 1283: Saria, please help!

As for contacting Saria... deep within Su Rui's "consciousness," more complex deductions and "coding" simulations began. He needed to find a foolproof way to attract Saria's attention without exposing Eyjafjalla or his own anomaly. This might take some time and would require the help of certain special nodes or "coincidences" within the Columbia network.

But he was confident.

After all, the intimacy and trust between him and Saria that crossed certain boundaries truly existed. Even now that he has lost his body and only has a wisp of consciousness relying on the girl's mind, the essence of that connection may still... touch the always serious and calm Director of Defense Vouivre.

For Eyjafjalla's future, and for his own sake to exist more securely and meaningfully alongside this new "host," this risky move was worth taking.

In class, the history teacher began recounting the rise of the Columbia mobile city-states and their early pioneering history. Eyjafjalla listened intently, occasionally jotting down key points in her notebook. Meanwhile, in her mind, the calm voice was meticulously preparing for a silent "communication" that could potentially connect her future with Columbia's top universities and even the mysterious "Saria."

On a weekend morning, Cumberland County was shrouded in a damp, chilly fog thicker than usual. Eyjafjalla stood on the long-distance bus platform, her thickest coat pulled tighter around her, her pink sheep horns peeking out slightly beneath her woolen hat. She clutched a one-way ticket to Trimounts (home to the Columbia National University of Geology, and one of the headquarters of Rhine Lab), and in her other hand carried a small duffel bag containing a few changes of clothes, some dry food, water, and most importantly—copies of papers on geology and volcanology left by her parents, along with a brief outline of her studies and future plans, compiled under Su Rui's guidance over the past few days.

Her heart pounded in her chest, a mixture of unfamiliarity with the long journey, nervousness about facing the legendary Ms. Saria, and apprehension about whether Su Rui's "arrangement" would go smoothly. The platform wasn't crowded; most were tired-looking workers or business people hurrying by. A young girl like her, traveling alone, stood out conspicuously.

"Don't be nervous, Eyjafjalla," Su Rui's voice echoed in his mind, as calm as ever, with a reassuring quality. "The journey will take about six hours. You can rest in the car or review the materials I asked you to prepare. When you arrive in Trimounts, follow the directions I gave you before to that address. Leave the rest to me."

"Hmm," Eyjafjalla responded softly, taking a deep breath of the cold, oily air, trying to calm her racing heart.

With a whirring sound of steam rubbing against metal, the long-haul train, adorned with Columbia's signature rivets and grey-blue paint, slowly pulled into the station. The doors opened, and Eyjafjalla joined the sparse flow of passengers. The carriage was filled with a mixture of leather, dust, and cheap cleaning agents. She found her window seat, placed her bag at her feet, and gazed out at the rapidly receding, fog-blurred Cumberland County cityscape.

As the vehicle drove out of the city, the scenery outside the window gradually gave way to vast, desolate plains dotted with small mobile facilities or mines. Outside the mobile city-states, Columbia's territory often presented this rough and cold sense of industrial frontier. Eyjafjalla looked out the window, her thoughts far from calm. How exactly did Su Rui manage to contact Ms. Saria? Across several cities, possibly even across the spheres of influence of different mobile city-states, he was merely a voice in her mind... It was unbelievable.

"Su Rui," she finally couldn't help but ask in her heart, "How...how did you manage to get in touch with Ms. Saria? Someone as important as her should be very busy, and...how could you be sure she would be willing to see me and even write me a letter of recommendation?"

Su Rui remained silent for a moment. This question involved the mystery of his own existence and the ambiguous yet "intimate" special relationship between him and Saria, which was indeed difficult to explain in detail to Eyjafjalla.

"I used a... special method." Su Rui's voice sounded somewhat muffled, but her tone remained confident. "It was like a 'code' or 'signal' that only she and I understood, transmitted through some... public information channels. She recognized it, so she responded. As for why she was willing to help..."

Su Rui paused, seemingly choosing her words carefully. "Saria... is someone who values 'promises' and 'old friendships' very much. There's some past... relationship between us. She owes me a favor, or perhaps we have some... unfulfilled agreements. Helping you is a simple matter for her, but it would repay that favor, or advance something she cares about. So, don't worry. You just need to show up as planned, and she and I will handle the rest."

Eyjafjalla only vaguely understood. "Code words," "old feelings," "unfulfilled promises"... it all sounded like something out of a legendary tale. But she trusted Su Rui. If Su Rui said it was okay, then it should be fine.

"I understand." She didn't ask any more questions and turned her attention back to the desolate plains rushing past the window. The six-hour drive passed slowly but steadily, filled with bumps, reflection, and occasional short rests.

By the time the long-distance bus finally entered the city of Trimounts, it was already past noon. Unlike the drab industrial feel of Cumberland County, Trimounts, as one of Columbia's important academic and research centers, had more orderly buildings, wider and cleaner streets, and the air seemed to be filled with a faint smell of paper, ink, and precision instruments. Of course, the equally expensive prices and hurried crowds were no different.

Following the route Su Rui had given her, Eyjafjalla took several public transportation transfers before finally arriving at a relatively quiet area with more subdued and grand architectural styles. It seemed to be a mix of upscale residential areas and research institutions and private firms. She stopped in front of a gray building with a minimalist exterior, sharp lines, and no conspicuous signage. The address was correct.

Looking up at the silent building, Eyjafjalla's heart raced again. This was it. Saria... was she inside?

Volume 19, Chapter 1284: Close your eyes!

"Go in, Eyjafjalla," Su Rui's voice rang out, carrying a barely perceptible hint of anticipation or confirmation. "Someone at the front desk will ask you for your name and say I sent you."

Eyjafjalla took a deep breath and pushed open the heavy, unmarked glass door. Inside was a reception area that was so simple it was almost austere, with soft lighting, a constant temperature, and a very faint smell of disinfectant in the air. A young woman in a well-tailored suit, with a calm expression, sat behind the reception desk. When she saw Eyjafjalla enter, her gaze fell calmly on her.

"Hello..." Eyjafjalla tried to make her voice sound calm. "My name is Eyjafjalla. It was...it was Su Rui who sent me."

Upon hearing the name "Su Rui," a fleeting ripple seemed to cross the receptionist's eyes, but it quickly subsided. She nodded, asked no further questions, and simply picked up her internal communicator, speaking a few words in a low voice. A moment later, she gestured to Eyjafjalla: "Please come with me, Director Saria is waiting for you."

Eyjafjalla followed her through a similarly simple and quiet corridor to a heavy solid wood door. The receptionist knocked gently, and a calm, deep voice with an undeniable air of authority replied, "Come in."

The door was pushed open. Eyjafjalla stepped inside, and the door closed silently behind her.

The room was large, but the furnishings were unusually simple. The huge floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of the Trimounts skyline. There was a large desk, a few chairs, and a bookshelf filled with books and documents; otherwise, there was almost no other decoration. Behind the desk, a figure stood with his back to the door, gazing at the city outside the window.

She was a tall and slender Vouivre woman. Even from behind, one could sense her restrained yet powerful aura. She wore a well-tailored dark gray uniform, and her long, SilverAsh hair was meticulously styled into a bun at the back of her head, revealing her clearly defined and graceful neck. Her pair of strong and elegant Vouivre horns gleamed with a cold, metallic sheen in the light streaming through the window.

She slowly turned around.

Eyjafjalla finally saw the true face of the legendary Lady Saria. Her face wasn't stunningly beautiful, but it was exceptionally dignified and aloof, as if sculpted from the hardest rock, every line exuding rationality, composure, and the steadiness of someone who had weathered many storms. Her icy blue eyes were like the deepest trenches, calm and still, yet seemingly capable of seeing through everything. Her gaze fell upon Eyjafjalla, without scrutiny or curiosity, only a pure calmness, as if assessing an object or a set of data.

"Eyjafjalla?" Saria's voice was as calm and low as before, revealing no emotion.

"Yes... yes, Lady Saria." Eyjafjalla nodded hurriedly, her palms slightly sweaty with nervousness. This woman's aura was even more... oppressive than she had imagined.

Saria's gaze lingered on Eyjafjalla's face for a few seconds, as if confirming something. Then, her gaze seemed to pass over Eyjafjalla and land on the... void behind her? Or rather, it landed on Eyjafjalla, but it also seemed to penetrate her body, looking into something deeper, something only she could perceive.

"Where is he?" Saria suddenly asked, her tone still calm, but the question startled Eyjafjalla.

He? Does he mean... Su Rui?

Eyjafjalla glanced instinctively at Saria, then at the empty space around her, before hesitatingly pointing to her head. "Su Rui... he... he's here with me. In... in my head."

This answer sounded utterly absurd. But upon hearing it, Saria's calm, icy blue eyes flickered almost imperceptibly. There was no surprise, no doubt, only... understanding. As if what Saria Eyjafjalla was the most normal thing in the world.

"As expected." Saria nodded almost imperceptibly, her voice still calm. "Consciousness possession. I've experienced it. I can understand."

Had Saria also experienced having her consciousness "possessed"? A storm raged within Eyjafjalla's heart. What complex and bizarre past lay between Su Rui and Saria?

Saria didn't seem to intend to explain what she meant by "experienced." Her gaze refocused on Eyjafjalla, but this time, it seemed to carry a deeper, more probing meaning that Eyjafjalla couldn't fully comprehend.

"So," Saria's voice rang out calmly, posing a question that caught Eyjafjalla completely off guard, "What is your current 'synchronization rate,' or rather, 'progress'?"

Synchronization rate? Progress?

Eyjafjalla blinked her pink eyes in confusion. What did that mean? Her and Su Rui's... progress? What progress? Their studies? Or...?

She had absolutely no idea what Saria was asking. But just as she was trying to ask aloud, or seek help from Su Rui in her mind—

A sudden change occurred.

Without any warning, Eyjafjalla felt as if her consciousness had been gently stirred. Then, the scene before her eyes underwent a subtle change.

Right beside her, the previously empty air rippled like water. Then, a figure slowly "emerged," gradually becoming clearer.

That was a... "Su Rui".

But it wasn't the mature man or mysterious figure Eyjafjalla had imagined. It was a "boy" who looked not much older than her, perhaps even around the same age. He had soft, fluffy, snow-white short hair, with a pair of small, adorable, childlike ram horns standing out from his hair—similar to Eyjafjalla's, but with smoother, more graceful lines, belonging to Caprinae. His face was almost unreal, his skin fair and translucent, his long eyelashes like butterfly wings, and his black eyes, at this moment, held a hint of bewilderment, like someone just waking up, and... a faint blush of annoyance (?), as he stared blankly at Saria had suddenly appeared before him, then subconsciously looked down at himself...

Wait, look down at yourself?

Eyjafjalla's gaze followed her downwards.

Then, her cheeks instantly turned bright red, as if scalded by boiling water! Large patches of red also quickly spread across the tips of her ears and neck!

No clothes on!

This suddenly appearing "Su Rui," with similar ram's horn-like features to her, was... completely naked! His fair skin and youthful body were exposed to the air, exposed to her eyes, and exposed to... Lady Saria's calm gaze!

Volume 19, Chapter 1285: Saria had anticipated this.

"Ah--!!!" A short, sharp scream, a mixture of extreme shock, shame, and panic, was abruptly choked in Eyjafjalla's throat, turning into a gasp of cold air. Her pink eyes widened abruptly, her pupils contracting from the shock, her mind going Blank, completely unable to react. She could only stand there, frozen, watching helplessly as the "naked Su Rui" suddenly appeared beside her.

What... what's going on?! How... how did Su Rui end up like this?! And... why isn't she dressed?!

A wave of immense shame and confusion overwhelmed her like a tsunami. She even forgot that Saria was still there, forgot the purpose of her trip. The whole world seemed to consist only of the naked "Su Rui" beside her, who carried a familiar yet utterly unfamiliar scent, and her own heart pounding as if it were about to explode.