NOVEL WEB Chapter 390: Why Do Birds Fly?
"What about you? What's your purpose?" Mei asked, eyeing the crystal flower but not taking it. "If the Elysian Realm holds the answers I seek, what does it mean to you?"
"Truth."
"Truth?"
"The truth about the Honkai. The people of the Previous Era went much further than we have. If you've read the forum, you'll know that Schicksal and Anti-Entropy are merely children following in their footsteps. We need to understand the Honkai's nature, and find a way to surpass it."
Mei found this notion fantastical. "Surpass the Honkai? Even World Serpent can't do that. How can the Obsidian Concord?"
"The Obsidian Concord can't. But she can."
A ripple of something intense, almost manic, flickered in Ren's calm eyes.
Mei recognized that intensity. It was what had made the Obsidian Concord so memorable. In ARC City, members driven by that same fervor had sacrificed themselves to ensure Kiana's escape.
When she saw that look again, she knew who he meant.
"Kiana..."
"The Obsidian Concord exists to pave the way for the savior's ascension. Humanity can't transcend the Honkai, but she can. We will clear every obstacle, illuminate her path. We will dedicate all our strength to secure that sliver of hope, even if it means dragging the Honkai's god down from the heavens."
Ren's voice was calm, yet his conviction was chilling. Mei had no doubt that if she opposed Kiana, she'd be dead in an instant.
A fanatic wasn't scary; a fanatic with the power to change the world was.
"Therefore, we need to understand the Honkai's essence from the Elysian Realm, and the location of the Imaginary Tree's branches."
Mei was silent. Logic warned against collaborating with these fanatics, but their devotion to Kiana resonated with her.
Finally, she took the crystal flower.
"What do I need to do?" Resigned to the risk, she was prepared for anything, even slapping Kevin. But Ren's next words nearly broke her composure.
"Capture the hearts of the girls within."
"?"
"The Elysian Realm's master is a lovely, radiant girl, like a fluttering flower—Elysia, the owner of this crystal. She knows the truth about the Previous Era's collapse. Befriend her, and she won't hide anything from you."
"You want me to… deceive her?" Mei frowned, anger flickering in her eyes.
"You misunderstand. Elysia is charming and intelligent. You can't deceive her, and you'll likely be drawn to her, becoming friends. Interact with her naturally. We'll investigate through other means."
Relieved she wasn't being asked to lie, Mei dismissed the notion of being charmed by Elysia.
"Also, during the Nagazora incident, Liuli's body collapsed while on a mission. Kevin sent her to the Elysian Realm. You need to bring her back."
"I knew it." Mei had suspected as much. She'd come for Liuli, assuming the Obsidian Concord had abandoned her.
"What is the Elysian Realm?"
Having heard the name so often, Mei's curiosity grew. Looking at the drifting ruins, she pictured a desolate wasteland. Then, remembering Elysia, she imagined a sweet girl.
Before the image solidified, Ren's voice interrupted her. "Don't be careless. The Elysian Realm is dangerous. Even a Herrscher could die there. Take this. It might save your life."
Mei frowned at the object Ren produced.
It was the mechanical crystal that had absorbed her Honkai energy.
"We modified it, imbuing it with your energy signature. It should attract unwanted attention… away from you."
"...Thank you." Surprised by this genuine gesture, Mei managed an awkward thank you.
"Also, if you encounter a doll-like girl with green hair, ask her for a favor. This poor little one needs a new body."
A pale light shimmered, and a tiny figure appeared. A small, purple-haired girl with black horns, no bigger than a baby, floated in the light, asleep, hugging her knees.
Mei's heart skipped a beat. An intense familiarity washed over her, and she instinctively spoke the girl's name.
"Bella?"
Mei's Herrscher dragon form was manifested from Benares's body, which still held Bella's essence. Hence, Mei's instinctive recognition.
Unsure of the name's origin, she looked at Ren questioningly.
"Bella, one of Sirin's companions. She died in the Tower of Babylon experiments. After the 2nd Eruption, Sirin summoned her as Benares, granting her Bella's name. Even after the Honkai's defeat, she awaited Sirin's return. When Sirin awakened within Kiana, Bella followed, ultimately sacrificing herself to save Kiana in Nagazora. The dragon you obtained… was her body."
"But she looks like..."
"Her loyalty to Kiana is absolute. We saved her soul, seeking a way to revive her. This is her soul form. The real world lacks a suitable vessel. Only the Elysian Realm offers hope. Take her. If you meet a certain scientist, entrust Bella to her. Her fate rests in her own hands then."
Looking at the sleeping child, Mei's expression was complex. Her Judah was built upon Bella's body. She had a responsibility to help Bella, both logically and emotionally.
She opened her hands. Bella, in her soul form, merged into Mei's chest, continuing her slumber within Mei's consciousness.
The Obsidian Concord, born from Kiana, united by a shared purpose, never abandoning each other. If Mei hadn't fully grasped their dedication before, Bella's presence solidified it.
With everything settled, Mei's journey to the Elysian Realm was set. This conversation strengthened her bond with the Obsidian Concord. In the remaining time, they walked together through the Sea of Quanta as comrades.
The scenery offered nothing but endless ruins and a distant tree shedding petals.
"This is the Sea of Quanta? It's desolate."
"No, this is just a fragment, taken from the true Sea of Quanta by Kevin. These ruins are likely remnants of the Previous Era, from his memories."
Mei had met Kevin, that cold man. She couldn't understand him, nor the events that had hardened him.
They reached the platform's edge, an endless, repeating landscape stretching before them, a bottomless abyss below.
"Raiden Mei," Ren said, looking towards the eternally distant sakura tree. "Do you know why birds fly?"