Mei said: "This seems... way too different from the name you mentioned the first time."
Fairy Ellie immediately said: "This fairy magic typewriter can print out everything that happened in the past—there's nothing it doesn't know!"
SAKURA looked over naturally and said: "So those archives weren't written by some person?"
"Huh?" Fairy Ellie said discontentedly: "You're underestimating fairy magic way too much! The prototype of this terminal is the data recording device from Fire Moth's control center. Even as the administrator, I only have read access!"
SAKURA didn't mind and said casually: "Sounds impressive. Then can it tell me where Vill-V is right now? I'm looking for her."
Mei said: "...As for Vill-V, I remember she said she was going to investigate that tower."
SAKURA said: "The tower, huh... No wonder I can't sense her presence anywhere nearby. Thanks, I'll be going now."
"Take care~"
Elysia watched SAKURA leave until she disappeared from sight.
Only then did she say: "SAKURA really is something. She always manages to appear silently behind people."
Mei also said: "Maybe we shouldn't mention her name anymore..." ??
Elysia said: "I feel like... SAKURA's reaction just now was a bit strange."
"Hmm... It's kind of bothering me. I hope it's just my imagination."
"Even though they're all memory bodies, SAKURA's time is frozen much earlier than everyone else's... It probably makes people feel a bit uneasy."
"If she discovered the truth about that incident... how shocked... how heartbroken she would be."
"..." Mei fell silent.
Just as she had seen in the World Serpent's files, the audience had also witnessed through Fu Hua's Fenghuang Down that SAKURA died during the Herrscher of Corruption.
Mei said: "Like you said, perhaps from a certain point onward, some things were already destined."
Elysia said: "But I really do hope everyone could have a happy and fulfilling ending... at least here in this Elysian Realm."
As the Elysia who never lets anyone feel sadness, she quickly returned to her usual state: "For the next segment of memories, I want to take you to a special place."
Mei asked: "Is there some special consideration behind it?"
Elysia said: "Consideration? Not really. Hmm... just for a sense of ceremony, I guess?"
"You see, after the Seventh Honkai, Mei already knows a fair bit. From the Eighth Herrscher to the Eleventh, we've kept moving forward in a cycle of gaining and losing."
"Although each segment is an important story, detailing them one by one would inevitably get a bit tedious."
"So I think we can jump straight to the climax—once you pass through that door, you'll understand."
She led Mei through the door on the plaza, and in an instant, they were back in the main hall of the Elysian Realm.
Mei said: "Isn't this the Elysian Realm hall?"
Elysia corrected her: "It's the place where we first met."
Mei asked: "It's a very convenient teleportation method... but why come back here on purpose?"
Elysia answered: "Because the next part of the story is related to it. This is where our beginning happened—oh, this time I don't mean you and me..."
Mei said: "You mean the Flame-Chasers? You said that in reality, this place was once used as the meeting hall for the Flame-Chasers."
Elysia said: "Yes... it was right here that I proudly declared that name to the world—"
What she wanted to tell Mei also turned into scenes of memory, appearing before the audience.
In the break room.
Kevin, Eden, Aponia, Vill-V, and Fu Hua were all sitting on the sofa.
On the table in front of them were thirteen portions of cake and tea that Elysia had carefully prepared.
Elysia said: "Hmm... the turnout is a little smaller than I expected."
"SAKURA asked for time off from me... Where did the others go?"
Kevin beside her remained silent as always: "..."
Aponia said: "Kalpas has gone missing; I can't find him. But he's always like that, so I don't think we need to worry."
"Mobius locked herself in the lab. When I went to call her, she shut the door in my face. A little heartbreaking..."
Vill-V said: "Kosma came by earlier and asked me to help adjust his condition... He said he's been very unstable lately and didn't want to cause trouble for everyone. He's probably getting treatment from Su right now."
Fu Hua also spoke: "Griseo... doesn't really want to go out. Just in case, Pardofelis stayed behind to look after her."
Elysia sighed: "Sigh, everyone's so busy. That means no one else is coming for now."
"Then... shall we begin?"
A round of applause followed and ended.
Elysia continued: "I'm sure everyone has heard about today's topic."
"All this time, we've been precious assets to Fire Moth. Thanks to everyone's hard work and outstanding performance, more and more people have expressed their recognition of us."
"So I think it's time to fight for a new identity for everyone."
"..." No one in the break room responded to her.
Elysia went on: "I wonder if the name Flame-Chasers... would satisfy you all? I spent a full half hour coming up with it, you know."
"..."
Still no response.
Elysia continued: "Alright, I'm sure everyone already understands the reason for establishing the rankings. So... does anyone have anything to say about my choice for number one?"
"..."
Faced with this silence, Elysia kept going: "...Nothing at all? Oh dear, that's a little embarrassing. Then shall we continue?"
"..." She went into detail about all the rankings and Signets.
"That's everything regarding the rankings and Signets. I know everyone dislikes being bound by rules, but the most basic mutual love and care still needs to be observed, right?"
"Oh, and as a symbol of your Flame-Chaser identity, I have gifts for everyone—ta-da!"
Looking at the Fairy Ellie she brought out, Aponia said: "What an adorable doll."
Elysia said: "After all, it's modeled after me, with the exact same intelligence and beauty as I have."
"There are thirteen in total. That way, every Flame-Chaser will have a flawless Elysia by their side, won't they, Aponia?"
Aponia said: "Indeed, it's delightful. I'll accept it with gratitude. Thank you."
"No need to be polite." Elysia then asked the others: "Eden already got hers last night ahead of time, so... what about the rest of you?"
"..."
The break room remained quiet.
Elysia said: "Oh dear... everyone is still a bit shy. Fine, if you change your mind, feel free to come find me anytime."
"Then next, regarding the Flame-Chasers—"
Kevin suddenly interrupted: "...Elysia."
Elysia looked at him: "...Wow, Kevin is about to speak? Everyone, listen carefully."
Kevin said heavily: "Isn't this enough?"
"We... actually already know."
Elysia also fell silent: "..."
Kevin continued: "The document you submitted wasn't approved... The higher-ups won't allow such a group to exist."
Elysia said: "...That doesn't necessarily mean anything."
Kevin shook his head: "No, it means..."
"Fire Moth... does not recognize the Thirteen Flame-Chasers."
The memory scene faded.
Mei was completely shocked.
She had never imagined that the Flame-Chasers, whose name had been passed down to this day, had never actually been recognized?
She couldn't help asking: "Fire Moth... doesn't recognize the Thirteen Flame-Chasers?"
Elysia let out a soft sigh: "...As expected, presenting this fact so directly still makes people feel a bit sad."
"And hearing that conversation again... even I feel a sense of defeat."
Mei looked at her expression and couldn't help thinking: It seemed to be the first time she had seen... a lonely smile on Elysia.
She said: "I never thought... that the beginning you spoke of would actually be the end."
"Why? I've had many guesses about the Flame-Chaser system, but this situation was never among them..."
"I think it's a reasonable concept—at least, it holds great value for all of you."
Elysia said: "Maybe the value itself is the problem?"
"After all, in a certain sense, being a Flame-Chaser is a form of privilege. Once it rises to the organizational level, it involves a lot of issues."
"Fire Moth doesn't really want certain people to gain privileges... Saying it that way, Mei should be able to make some associations, right?"
Mei blurted out: "Kalpas?"
Elysia nodded: "Mm, you know Kalpas's personality. It's not unimaginable that it would be rejected."
Mei continued: "And Mobius too?"
"Mm." Elysia said: "After all, Mobius's sense of morality is a little different from ordinary people—or you could say... completely nonexistent? It's inevitable that she'd be resented."
Mei thought back on her experiences in the Realm and said: "Aponia is one of them too, right?"
Elysia said: "Aponia has always been practicing her own good. But no matter what she does, the final result always somehow leads to evil by a twist of fate."
"Maybe that's the so-called joke of destiny."
"You see, it's not that the higher-ups are fabricating things out of nothing—they have their own considerations, and they're reasonable and correct."
"Although Dr. MEI was already the de facto leader at that time, she couldn't make unilateral decisions on something like this, so she had to return the document."
"It's just that the reasoning they used to reject it was a bit chilling."
"Not recognizing more than half the members as qualifying to be called heroes... It's hard not to feel a little emotional about that."
Mei asked: "So later... you pushed this forward on your own?"
"No wonder you said the Elysian Realm has nothing to do with Fire Moth and is entirely the work left behind by the MANTISes... I didn't expect there to be another layer of meaning behind it."
Elysia said: "I'm not trying to oppose Fire Moth. From beginning to end, more than privileges... what I wanted for everyone was identity."
"That doesn't require much official endorsement. You see, even without approval, later generations still recognize us, thank us, and sing the stories of the Flame-Chasers."
Indeed...
The establishment of the World Serpent is the best proof.
Elysia continued: "But... I'd really like to hear Mei's opinion."
"From your reaction just now, at least you don't deny that Kalpas and the others also have the potential to be worthy of the name Flame-Chaser, right?"
"Why do you think that way? In Mei's eyes, what kind of people are we?"
Mei said: "I can't sum up the answer to this question in one sentence. I might need some time to think."
Elysia immediately said: "No problem. Standing here the whole time would get boring anyway. How about... we go for a walk and revisit the old days?"
"After spending so long here and getting familiar with every place, coming back to the starting point together will definitely stir up some emotions for Mei, right?"
Mei said: "Maybe."
"After this, you'll get the answer you want and then leave here."
"It's a little lonely. No matter how much time passes, I still can't get used to parting."
"So... this time, let's not take shortcuts. Let's retrace every step of the path Mei has walked so far, properly."
"Just consider it... my farewell gift to Mei."
Led by Elysia, Mei followed her, starting from their very first meeting.
It began in the main hall of the Elysian Realm.
Elysia said: "When we first met, Mei had just arrived in the Realm, completely at a loss, like a startled little rabbit... and at that moment, a girl as dazzling as flying petals appeared before her and offered her help."
Mei said: "Can you stop adding your own delusions?"
"But the horns on your head are just like rabbit ears—two of them, right?" Elysia retorted and continued: "Guided by the girl, Mei embarked on this journey..."
Next, they entered deeper into the Elysian Realm.
Mei looked around and said: "The scenery hasn't changed at all."
"What felt like strange sights back then have become very familiar now."
Elysia said: "Then the people you met here back then must feel just as familiar to Mei now, right?"
"Kevin, Fu Hua, SAKURA... they're all your old friends."
Mei said: "Strictly speaking... I didn't really understand SAKURA before. But unexpectedly, she and I have a lot of similarities."
Elysia pouted: "So sly. I want to have lots of common topics with Mei too."
Then she said seriously: "SAKURA may seem cold on the surface, but she's actually a very good person."
Mei also understood SAKURA's situation well: "She just wanted a home with her little sister, but that era didn't give her many choices."
The two moved forward again.
They arrived at the place where Mei first met Kalpas.
Elysia said: "It was also here that Mei first met another warm and hospitable Flame-Chaser."
"Kalpas?" Mei felt that description didn't suit him at all.
Elysia said: "At least... the 'hot' part is real."
"Hmm... Kalpas gets embarrassed so easily, then ends up arguing with people—sometimes it's really headache-inducing. But actually, that endless anger of his..."
Mei finished for her directly: "...is anger at fate, rebellion against a despairing reality, an unending roar against a dying world—that's how you explained it to me."
Elysia said happily: "Looks like Mei can understand too! Before you knew it, you've already built a deep friendship with him."
"Kalpas's friend? Let's skip that..."
She hadn't forgotten how Kalpas called Aponia his friend yet always thought about killing her.
The two continued onward.
They came to the Bodhi tree.
Mei spoke first: "I've always really liked this place."
Elysia said: "Me too. The twilight is beautiful, the leaves are beautiful, even the flow of time feels slower and more peaceful."
"It suits that enlightened one with extraordinary philosophy and insight into the world, doesn't it?"
Mei couldn't help smiling: "Though I still haven't figured out how he can see things with his eyes closed."
Elysia chimed in: "I'm really curious how one trains to get a skill like that."
"Among all the Flame-Chasers Mei has met, Su is probably the one who helped the most wholeheartedly, right? A healer's benevolence doesn't change anywhere."
Mei nodded: "Mm. Thanks to his advice, I avoided a lot of detours. After all, most Flame-Chasers... aren't exactly the most honest."
Elysia stared at Mei: "Hmm? Did you just sneak a glance at me?"
Mei didn't answer.
Elysia looked under the tree and said: "There's a piano under the tree too."
"My dear sister, Eden. The entire Elysian Realm was originally her asset, you know."
Mei said with a smile: "So that's the real point?"
Elysia continued: "Whether it's her heaven-bestowed artistic talent or the fame and wealth that came with it, they're all part of Eden."
Looking at the piano, Mei said: "But she chose to pass away with the old era, playing the final piece with her life."
Elysia nodded: "Mm, a beautiful yet tragic ending. That's very Eden."