"It chose to make the 'least-used definitions' disappear," Primordial White corrected him. "The Prismglass Civilization's disappearance was only a side effect. If it had a choice, it would rather reclaim its own definitions. But it cannot. Because it is the Memory Sea, and it is itself a definition. It cannot reclaim itself."
Lin Ye fell silent.
The expedition team behind him fell silent as well.
They had thought they were fighting an enemy, only to discover that the enemy was merely a set of rules. They had thought they were protecting a companion, only to discover that their companion was the root of the problem.
Primordial White looked at Lin Ye. "You know how to solve this problem. You have known since the moment you stepped into this place."
Lin Ye said nothing.
"You need to create new definitions. Not borrow them from the Blank Era, not reclaim them from elsewhere-but create entirely new definitions that have never existed before. Only then can you meet the Memory Sea's needs, bring back the Prismglass Civilization's colors, and allow every civilization to continue existing."
It paused.
"But creating definitions comes at a cost."
"What cost?"
"You need three hundred and seventy million civilizations to define the same thing at the same time. Not separately, but together, making that thing an entirely new definition that belongs to every civilization."
"Three hundred and seventy million civilizations have never reached a consensus." Radiant Stilllight's voice was hoarse. "They argued for seven days and seven nights at the Return Festival just to decide what color the lights should be."
Primordial White did not respond. It merely looked at Lin Ye.
Lin Ye closed his eyes. On his cloak, three hundred and seventy million stars flickered at once, like three hundred and seventy million whispers.
When he