"How was it? Grand?" Hanxing and Firefly appeared on a tall building. The signs of Entropy Loss Syndrome on Firefly's face were becoming more pronounced, yet she only tried to stop Hanxing's treatment, which still puzzled him greatly.
"Of course, even in a dream, I've always looked forward to this moment." A smile graced Firefly's face as she walked to the edge of the building and sat down. A blush graced her cracked face, and she gazed intently at the starry sky before her. Perhaps from drinking too much at the wedding, her breath was slightly warm.
Hanxing smiled casually, opened a spatial portal, and some small fireworks left over from the wedding rolled to the ground. She picked some up and sat down next to Firefly. Firefly sighed softly, "Is everyone speechless in a moment like this?"
"Perhaps... I haven't thought of what to say—" Hanxing hesitated. "Perhaps neither. I have heard a saying that I've always liked." Firefly smiled, "When people want to meet someone, they always imagine the scene beforehand, imagining what they will say that will make the other person smile."
"Slowly, all the things you wanted to say were said before you even met. And at the moment of your actual reunion, you'll find that the other person is even more wonderful than you ever imagined—yet for a moment, you can't think of any words to praise them."
"So... why are you telling me all this?" Hanxing's gaze was filled with doubt and caution. Her Entropy Loss Syndrome was worsening; every word Firefly spoke might be the last sentence in her dream. "Perhaps, our meeting stems from our strong desire—" Firefly chuckled softly, "Of course, it's just a guess of mine."
"Perhaps it was my will to live that moved you, leading you to this place and giving me a chance to live. Did you also yearn for something in your heart that brought us together in the end?"
"Perhaps..." Hanxing sighed softly, "My past has always resonated with the fate of the universe. I have no parents, no relatives, only comrades-in-arms in the so-called ' Order-Clearing Division,' who became my family. Unfortunately, fate was unkind; a wanted criminal killed them all, including someone I once loved... I saw her fall in a pool of blood, unable to utter a single word."
"But guess what—just when I caught him and had enough power to kill him, he told me everything about the world. He is my twin brother, and he is also myself. The fate of the world's end rests entirely on me, or on both of us. It made me think about suicide, but the fate of the universe is tied to me. If I commit suicide, the entire universe will perish with me."
"While I was making my decision, I was dragged into the dueling arena as data. To this day, I still don't know what my original self's answer was. I only want to make amends. I don't want to see anyone I care about disappear before my eyes again. Perhaps this is my wish, that brought me to you, and that I want to protect you with everything I have."
"It's alright." Firefly gently shook her head. "What matters isn't what they've become, but that you still hold the same genuine feelings for them. Past or present, fate is always in the present. Whether I'm a substitute for 'her' in your heart or not, I'm willing to spend my life with you."
"Of course not. In my eyes, you are Firefly, my lover, my irreplaceable other half. That person is just a regret, and it can't be said that she determined my life..." Hanxing finally gave up explaining further. The two understood each other, and that was enough.
Firefly sighed softly again, brushing her hair aside. Traces of Entropy Loss Syndrome crept across her face, hidden by strands of hair that had just fallen in the wind. "... I'm sorry." "The last time...?" Hanxing's gaze held concern, but she ultimately lowered her hand. "Yes... the three real deaths, this is the last—dreams have been merging with reality. We think we're dreaming, but at the same time, we're walking in waking reality—which means Entropy Loss Syndrome is spreading in reality as well, and it's already irreversible..."
A tear rolled down Hanxing's cheek, gently wiped away by Firefly's already cold hand. "At least... I still have you—I was afraid you'd show a sad expression. Our dream should be completed with a smile. As it nears its end, let me indulge in a little perfectionism. Close your eyes and imagine us together... Even if you can't see me, you'll still know that our distance has never been far."
Hanxing sighed softly and obediently closed her eyes. "Imagine we're both just ordinary students at your school. Let's say it's the start of the semester, and we've never met before, just bumping into each other by chance—and then, a few really fierce thugs jump out, trying to bully you. And at that moment, I'll stand up for you—yes, this time, let me save you."
"No, I don't want to see you get hurt because of me." Hanxing couldn't bear to speak. "It's okay, I'm going to do it anyway." Firefly's slightly petulant voice made Hanxing chuckle. "The result isn't important, not even the process. What's important is: how we participate in this journey, and how we perceive it."
"I was thinking... if we hadn't carried such a heavy burden of fate, and were just ordinary students—would we... be happier than we are now?" Firefly's voice grew weaker. "Going to an ordinary junior high school, taking the entrance exam for an ordinary high school, going to an ordinary university, marrying you in an ordinary way, and living an ordinary life—wouldn't we... not have to struggle like this?"
Hanxing suddenly opened her eyes, only to see Firefly's pupils already gone. " Hanxing... I asked Elio, and he said you would leave forever to protect me... I don't want you to leave, I just want to be with you forever. Promise me, don't go—even if it means staying in this moment, I'm willing—I'm not afraid of death... but don't let me die alone..."
"Firefly..." Hanxing could no longer hold back her tears. She gently stroked Firefly's face, a string of tears streaming down her cheeks. But alas, Firefly could no longer see, hear, or feel—"Now, take me away, not as a member of the Glamoth Iron Cavalry, but as Firefly— "
As Firefly uttered her last words, her body slowly transformed into a green glow. Hanxing knew he couldn't wait any longer. He took out a dagger from his spatial storage and personally thrust Netherworld into Firefly's chest. As her body completely disintegrated, everything about Firefly in the dream vanished.
"I promise you, I will never... leave--" Hanxing casually summoned a sword, placed the blade against his neck, and made a light slash.
I won't let you walk alone in the " Finality."
A sparkler burns beside the wall, a testament to the untold past of this corner of the world.