Looking at Cyrene’s dazed expression, Xian Ling smiled and pinched her cheek—girls always had no resistance to cute things, and Xian Ling was no exception.
More importantly, Cyrene’s skin felt really nice to the touch.
“Don’t worry, you won’t die this time…
even if all of us die, you won’t die.”
“Huh, w-why…?”
“Because you might be the last Cyrene left.” Xian Ling showed a solemn expression.
“Protecting an endangered species of the universe is our duty!”
“Don’t compare me to some nationally protected animal!”
“Cough, just kidding.” Xian Ling poked Cyrene’s puffed-up bun face, listening to the soft “puff puff” sounds, and said, “But in the three of us…
uh, two and a half people, you really are the most important one.”
“Don’t be fooled by how calm I look right now.
In reality, I can’t contribute much to the overall situation of Amphoreus.
The Fourth Mirror is the same.
In battles at the Emanator level, even gaining a sliver of extra advantage is already something to be thankful for.”
“But you’re different.
You are the Heart of Amphoreus, the original computational target of the Scepter, and…
the only possibility of standing against the Iron Tomb.”
“So…”
Xian Ling’s expression turned extremely serious.
“Whether emotionally or rationally, even if it costs me my life, I will never let you die.”
“Um, although I don’t want to ruin the atmosphere, Miss…
you should still try not to die…”
The Fourth Mirror trembled.
“You probably don’t want to be severely punished by Lady Herta, right?”
“Exactly, exactly!
You should cherish your life!” Cyrene nodded quickly, even though she might have the least right to say that among everyone present.
“But I’m still a bit curious…
after all that explanation, I can understand why you’d protect me with everything you have from a rational standpoint.
But…
why does it also make sense emotionally?”
“The reason is simple.” Xian Ling showed a nostalgic expression.
“Because…
Cyrene, I’ve actually always been your fan.
From the very first version, first chapter, first page image of Amphoreus, I was already deeply attracted to you…”
“Don’t say such embarrassing things!”
“Why is it that whenever I tell the truth, nobody believes me…
Could it be that I also have the potential to become a Fiction Historian?”
“I’m not sure about fiction or not fiction, but Miss, you’re probably already far from being a Memokeeper…” the Fourth Mirror said, trembling slightly.
“Speaking of which, don’t you think your abilities are a bit off the Path of Remembrance?”
“A Memokeeper’s abilities are usually for collecting memories and self-preservation, but yours…
Memory Invasion, Data State Conversion, Memetic Resistance…
honestly, it’s starting to feel a bit like Enigmata.”
“Memory and Enigmata are deeply connected to begin with.
Who can really explain that?” Xian Ling shook her head.
“I just feel that I’m more proficient in those aspects.”
“Besides, the Path of Remembrance is a very mysterious Path.
Some transformations and talents don’t even come from the past or present, but from influences of the future…”
“Alright, let’s not talk about that for now.
Where’s Cyrene?
I still need to brief her on the next operational details.
After a few days in the Membrane Maze, we should be ready to set out…”
“She seems to have gone over to Dolimem’s side.”
…
“Cyrene, what exactly are you doing?”
“Ah, Xian Ling…” Cyrene put down the small shovel she had borrowed from the Fairies and wiped the sweat from her forehead.
“I’m looking for something I buried before…
Didn’t you tell me about Phainon’s story?”
“I was thinking…
since both the Black Tide and Kephale contain, to some degree, Phainon’s will, could we try to communicate with them?”
“That probably isn’t necessary.” Xian Ling shook her head.
“Strictly speaking, Kephale can perceive everything we do.
Unless we use memory-based methods like Memory Stealers to conceal ourselves, everything in this land is within Kephale’s awareness.”
“As for the Black Tide…
we can’t confirm whether Flame Reaver is conscious, and there’s also the risk of Lygus detecting us.
So for safety, it’s best not to reveal any plans.”
“But…
you did remind me of something.
In a sense, the gifts you once gave them can serve as anchors for their consciousness and may play a role in the final battle.
So offering Phainon a ritual gift is not a bad idea.”
“Mm, that’s what I thought too!” Cyrene nodded happily.
“Then…
what does Phainon like most?”
“…” Xian Ling didn’t answer immediately, instead glancing at the date.
Aglaia was still in Ochma at the moment, so there was no risk of her being “as fragile as a thread of life.”
“As for Phainon…
he probably likes yellow and purple colors the most.”
“Huh?”
Looking at the stunned Cyrene, Xian Ling added:
“The kind of Earth Beast yellow and Earth Beast purple.
And the more saturated, the better.”
“S-such a strange preference…”
Cyrene looked troubled.
“Xian Ling, didn’t you say that in previous cycles, I was basically like Phainon’s older sister?
Isn’t it my failure as a sister if I raised my little brother like this?”
“Obviously not.
That’s Phainon’s base logic.
Not even you—or the best artists and scholars of all Amphoreus—could change his aesthetic sense.”
“Then I can only go along with it…” Cyrene sighed.
“But what kind of thing is both yellow and purple, and also meaningful as a keepsake?
Surely I can’t just go find an Earth Beast, right?”
“If I remember correctly, I do have one.”
Xian Ling thought for a moment, then showed a “plan successful” expression.
She picked up a blank notebook and placed her hand on it.
Using her slightly uneven Memory Authority, she quickly copied something onto the empty pages.
“Here.
A yellow-purple book I once saw.”
Five Years of Gaokao, Three Years of Mock Exams.jpg
“I don’t know why, but just seeing this thing makes me feel a bit uneasy…
like I’m seeing homework assigned by the priestess grandma…” Cyrene shrank her neck cutely.
“Is it really okay to give this to Phainon?”
“Absolutely fine.
Don’t be fooled by its appearance as a workbook—it actually contains deep mysteries inside.
Phainon could even give this to his good brother, Mydeus.”
“Because…”
Xian Ling flipped open the first page of the Five Years of Gaokao, Three Years of Mock Exams, revealing the large HKS printed on the cover page.
“This is a Scepter Dictionary.”
★ ★ ★
Shilling time!