The Holy City of Okhema, the Cloud Stone Heavenly Palace
After March 7th and Dan Heng left, Phainon stood still, gazing at the distant scenery, lost in thought.
"You should take this opportunity to rest, Phainon... The ceremony to return the Core Flame is tomorrow."
Castorice's voice came from behind him.
"What difference does it make whether it's today or tomorrow? Under the protection of Kephale, Okhema will always be dawn."
"I can't sleep well as long as the light is this strong. Instead of forcing myself to close my eyes, I'd rather calm down and clear my mind. That's a kind of rest too."
"So... have you figured it out?" Castorice asked.
"... Absolutely not. It's still a complete mess, and I don't even know where to begin."
The Core Flame in my palm was initially scorching hot, but now it has completely cooled down... I can hardly feel its presence anymore.
" Castorice, do you think... does this mean that Nikador and I are quite compatible?"
Castorice shook her head. "I don't know the underlying principles, but if thinking this way makes you feel more at ease... then I support your point of view."
"... Thank you. The Abyss of Fate is just ahead... Ah, I remember now, in the temple of the Scales of Justice —when Oronyx tormented us with its riddles..."
"We were originally planning to resolve this by force, but we didn't expect Xing and the other two to find a solution. A cup of milk tea... heh~"
Phainon chuckled softly. The figure of that senior in his Remembrance had become blurry and indistinct; a long time had truly passed.
He looked at Castorice beside him, "Miss Castorice, if Dan Heng and the others don't find a solution, will you stop me from using special methods?"
" Phainon, 'Something more important than the fate of Amphoreus '... this question is too cruel, too unfair to you."
"Yes, but back then, I would still have tried."
"I understand, the situation at that time left no room for hesitation," Castorice said understandingly, "... Fortunately, the three of them were there."
"Yes, thank goodness for them..."
Then, there was a long silence between the two.
"... Are you still thinking about what happened back then, Phainon?"
Every moment, every minute, every second.
"Just now, I lied to the two demigods and the star—I told them that all I can think about now is the mission of the Chrysos Heirs —I wonder if I can fool Aglaea's golden thread this time."
"No one can fool Okhema, Your Excellency. She simply chooses to ignore our lies."
"Indeed, it was a foolish gamble."
Phainon closed his eyes tightly, feeling Core Flame scorching " Strife " within his body:
"I often wonder, 'Can someone as ordinary as me really become a hero?' I thought defeating Nikador would quell the doubts in my mind... but instead, they've only become more and more incessant."
"I can't find the right words right now... but I know you are no ordinary man, Phainon," Castorice comforted her. " Mydei often jokingly calls you ' the Savior '... I think he wasn't entirely joking."
"I should probably abandon useless thinking and just empty my mind until the moment of the ceremony arrives..."
Phainon recalled the past, "I used this trick before, before Teacher Tribbie's history exam—a mountain of stone tablets and documents, who could possibly review them all?"
"It's better to accept your fate early and cherish the time you have for sword practice and play," Phainon said.
"So... how did the exam go?"
"The score? I don't remember it at all—I only remember that Tribbie punished me by making me clean the Chrysos Heirs Bathhouse for a week, and I wasn't allowed to let anyone help me."
"So Tribbie Tibo has such a stern side... Phainon Bai'er, please continue to remain calm, I think you'll be alright."
"Thank you, Castorice. I think I'll stay here a little longer and try not to think about those troublesome things, since I can't figure anything out anyway."
"Lately, the scenery of my hometown... Aedes Elysiae keeps flashing before my eyes."
Phainon's expression held a hint of reminiscence as he couldn't help but sigh, "Those guys in Castrum Kremnos, they possess incredible technology... If only I could separate my body from my soul."
"That way, I can send my soul out of my body at any time and fly back to that familiar meadow in my hometown."
Only there... can I find a moment of peace.
Inside Xing's private bathhouse, Dan Heng and March 7th were still on their way back.
As Xing was about to type a reply after seeing the messages Ye Yan sent, she suddenly drifted off to sleep.
At the edge of the dream, she heard whispers coming—
[ Galactic Baseballer, open your eyes~]
[Get up! Get up!]
Ah, let this world be Destruction.
[Open this book; He will be waiting for you in the 'past and future'.]
What does "past future" mean? Does it refer to the present?
Don't ask too many questions—the answer is right in your heart.
Xing cursed inwardly, "Damn Riddlers... Be glad Galactic Baseballer hasn't awakened his 'mysterious' Path yet, otherwise he'd definitely give you a taste of your own medicine!"
[Waaaaah~ Aha, I'm so embarrassed!]
" Aha? Is it the Aha I'm thinking of?"
Xing frowned. She hadn't even said anything, how could she have exposed herself? It really was " Elation " Aha was behind it all...
No, it's also possible that the " Masked Fools " is impersonating their leader; they've fallen for similar tricks before.
Xing's heart was filled with alarm bells, but unfortunately this was a consciousness space, and she couldn't summon any weapons, not even her most precious ones.
When you feel lost, why not look up at the starry sky?
"Starry sky? This place has a background too?"
Looking up, Xing saw a starry sky gradually emerging above, but the chaotic sound in his ears remained unchanged:
[Having learned of the past of Castrum Kremnos and obtained the " Core Flame of Strife," they unlocked entirely new abilities.]
[On the blank pages, write down the story of " Eternity " and " The Hunt "...]
[Those who Flame-Chase... a forgotten, Eternity record...]
A series of messages suddenly appeared, almost causing the arrogant Galactic Baseballer to crash on the spot again.
[As the saying goes, "There are golden houses in books," and now that the " Spear of Divine Retribution " homing missile has been unlocked, why not give it a try?]
A cup of milk tea appeared in front of Xing as a target. It was clear that the voice wanted her to attack the milk tea with the " Spear of Divine Retribution," and even had prepared the lines.
[I will launch an attack...]
"Trying to trick me?" Xing put her hands on her hips and pushed away the tempting cup of milk tea.
[Waaaaah~ Aha, I've lost so much face!]
"Good to know."
[Familiar tone, familiar lines... It's such a pity He didn't choose you as the " Eternity " Emanator ~]