Chapter 156: She and Her: Raiden Mei's Awkward Encounter

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A bewitching pink-haired girl sat on the sofa in the Boule Chamber, legs crossed gracefully. With a smile, she gazed upon Raiden Mei, holding a shimmering pink crystal flower blooming in her palm.

"Welcome, pure and noble soul."

"You seek answers from the past, but the foundations of truth have long been buried beneath the dust of old days. This is the final haven amidst the apocalypse, as well as the destined resting place for the Exiled Ones. All that remains here are merely some intriguing tales."

"Tales of a distant yore, recounting the stories of those thirteen individuals who failed to become heroes."

The girl observed Raiden Mei serenely, her face adorned with a sweet smile. This demeanor and response left Raiden Mei momentarily unsure how to react.

Just as Raiden Mei felt somewhat at a loss, another voice, incredibly familiar to her, echoed from the shadows. It carried hints of reproach, resignation, and mild annoyance.

"I remember when I arrived here; you didn't speak nearly this much."

Raiden Mei was momentarily taken aback before hastily following the sound. In a pitch-black corner, a girl with chestnut hair and pink eyes, clad in a Valkyrie uniform, slowly emerged. She then took a seat next to the pink-haired girl.

As soon as she sat down, the pink-haired girl wrapped her arm around hers.

"Alright, alright, darling, don't be upset. How about next time, I make it up to you?"

The pink fairy girl coaxed the one beside her like soothing a girlfriend, but the chestnut-haired girl merely snorted coldly, followed by a smile appearing on her lips.

"Then we have a deal!"

"Mm-hmm, I never break my promises!"

For some inexplicable reason, Raiden Mei suddenly felt out of place, as if she shouldn't be standing there.

However, after a brief moment of bewilderment, her emotions surged, not for any other reason than the identity of that chestnut-haired girl.

"An... Teacher Ana?!"

"Eh? You know each other?" The pink fairy girl feigned surprise.

The pink-haired fairy girl feigned surprise and asked.

"Yes, it's about the student I mentioned earlier. However, now she doesn't concern me anymore. In this existence, I belong solely to you," the brown-haired maiden replied softly, her voice carrying a hint of emotion.

"Wow, is that your way of confessing?"

"You already know the answer, Ellie."

"Hmm, then I should reciprocate somehow... So..."

Under Raiden Mei's watchful gaze, Elysia unabashedly leaned in for a kiss. Ana's face showed no blush; it was evident that such moments were routine for her.

Indeed, over the past month, Ana and Elysia had successfully pursued each other romantically, which could be considered quite natural.

This was the Elysian Realm for Heroic Spirits, while Ana was an outsider. Her memories did not intertwine with those of other Heroic Spirits, but they did merge with Elysia's, sharing similar identities and emotions.

Additionally, Elysia held great interest in Ana, gradually becoming captivated by her. Thus, their eventual romantic conquest of each other seemed entirely normal.

To be honest, life within the Elysian Realm can be incredibly dull. Pursuing one another became a means for them to pass the time.

However, Raiden Mei, having just arrived at the Elysian Realm, was completely unaware of this dynamic. Her face flushed with embarrassment as she watched; after all, Kiana and she had never been so intimate before!

Elysia genuinely loved Ana, while Ana continuously found new excitement in their relationship—a natural expression and means to sustain love. In essence, they cherished each other deeply. Within this seemingly eternal Elysian Realm, their bond must have been stronger than diamonds.

"Mmph (Alright, alright, our junior is watching)" prompted Ana repeatedly.

Finally, Elysia reluctantly let go of Ana, slightly composing herself and clearing her throat.

"Okay, okay, let's start with introductions then."

"My name is Elysia, as you can see, a beautiful young woman worthy of my moniker."

"In Mu's common language, 'Elysia' translates to 'Paradise' or 'Garden of Eden.'"

"My friends call me Ellie, and you may do the same—it sounds adorable, much like myself."

"As for my identity... well, using your terms, I suppose you could say I'm a MANTIS from the previous civilization era? That makes me a former companion of the hero Kevin, indeed."

"Of course, the real Elysia would never waste her youth down here, thousands of meters underground—just like her." As she spoke, Elysia gestured toward Ana beside her.

"I'm merely a replica she left behind, embodying her personality and memories."

"But that doesn't matter much. You can still see me, talk to me, and even engage in some intimate physical interactions. Like this..."

Elysia suddenly leaned in and gently kissed Ana's cheek. At this point, Ana remained completely expressionless, as if nothing had happened.

"The Elysian Realm is inherently a world of memory fragments, so it's not unreasonable for a version of myself from her memories to appear here. Is this what they call... two negatives making a positive?"

"Nonsense," Ana muttered softly, immediately drawing Elysia closer again.

A benevolent smile graced Elysia's face. "What's wrong, dear? Do you have any insightful thoughts?"

"No, no, I was mistaken. Sorry."

With a swift motion, Ana bowed her head, as if this wasn't her first time doing so. Indeed, it likely wasn't—probably closer to several hundred instances.

"..."

Raiden Mei fell silent once again, her eyes flickering with uncertainty, seemingly lost in thought or grappling with confusion. It was evident that her worldview had already begun to crumble upon arriving here.

"Hmm, did I say something wrong?" Observing Raiden Mei's silence, Elysia's gaze also flashed momentarily before she leaned in and whispered softly to Ana, "Um... darling, did I misspeak?"

"No, she just needs some time to process; give her a moment. She's a good girl." Ana calmly replied, legs crossed. Then, addressing Raiden Mei directly, she said, "A lengthy introduction shouldn't be necessary."

"I am a memory fragment she left behind here," Ana continued. "As for her purpose in leaving me, I'm not entirely sure. Perhaps it was for her sake, or maybe to convey something to you."

"She already knew I would come here?" Raiden Mei furrowed her brows slightly.

"Of course," Ana replied calmly. "Months before your arrival, she entrusted me with this task. Even earlier than that, she had visited this place and obtained the answers she sought. Now, whether she has achieved her desires or failed, remains to be seen."

"You don't seem particularly concerned."

"I'm merely a memory fragment; does my concern hold any significance?" Ana retorted, rolling her eyes in annoyance. "Besides, remember, I am still your teacher. A bit more respect wouldn't hurt."

Raiden Mei hesitated, feeling compelled to say that it was genuinely difficult for her to associate the Ana before her with the one she knew so well. Despite understanding that this indeed held the true memories of Ana.

A person's demeanor can often reveal just one aspect of their character. In other words, the Ana that Raiden Mei knew represented only one side of her. Perhaps, the Ana standing before her now was the real persona. However, there wasn't much surprise in this realization, considering Teacher Ana was actually around the same age as them.

"In any case, don't expect to find crucial information from me. You'd be better off asking the omnipotent Kevin instead," Ana sighed.

Indeed, although she wasn't aware of what transpired outside, Ana knew her original plan when creating these memory fragments. The presence of Kevin was something even the true Ana could never escape.

"I understand."

Raiden Mei nodded respectfully. "Thank you for everything you've done, Teacher Ana."

With that, Raiden Mei bowed deeply in gratitude.

"Oh... there's no need for such formality." Raiden Mei's gesture caught Ana off guard, leaving her momentarily unsure how to respond. "I merely did what I felt was necessary; my true self would have likely done the same."

Raiden Mei didn't reply but silently bowed three times. At this moment, she fully comprehended the immense effort and sacrifice Teacher Ana had made to accomplish her goals.

Despite being of the same generation, Ana stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Kevin, and now, she had left behind her memory fragment within this Elysian Realm.

Leaving behind memory fragments, assuming Kevin even agreed to it, would at least require approval from this era's Heroic Spirits. This alone demonstrated the remarkable achievements Ana had accomplished.

However, Raiden Mei remained unaware that these feats paled in comparison to Ana's true accomplishments.

As Ellie observed Raiden Mei's actions, she smiled, her esteem for the young girl growing further. Few understood better than her the immense effort and sacrifices Ana had made.

The fact that the current generation could empathize with Ana's struggles brought joy to Elysia as well.

"If you encounter anything truly perplexing within the Elysian Realm, feel free to ask me. My experiences should be able to provide some guidance." Ana glanced towards the Elysian Realm, then whispered softly, "Let me share a secret - there are a few annoying Riddlers among these Heroic Spirits. You've witnessed Kevin's penchant for riddles; I'm sure you understand."

Recalling her previous interactions with Kevin, Raiden Mei nodded emphatically in agreement with Ana's words.

If they were indeed Riddlers, her journey through this Garden of Eden would prove quite challenging. Obtaining the answers she seeks would be significantly harder, but fortunately, Ana's memory fragment is still present here.

Just thinking about Ana-sensei caused Raiden Mei's heart to ache sharply.

Ana and Elysia couldn't help but notice Raiden Mei's reaction. In this realm of memories, any fluctuations in her consciousness were highly perceptible to these memory fragments. However, neither of them chose to comment on it.

Soon, Elysia flashed a smile. "Alrighty then! Since introductions are done, let's give the Elysian Realm a try!"

With that, Elysia pointed towards the massive apparatus within the garden. Yes, that was the true entrance to the Elysian Realm; their current location, the Golden Courtyard, served as the junction between memories and reality.

"As your first time, I'll guide and protect you until you feel comfortable navigating on your own, understood?" Elysia chuckled softly.

"Understood." Raiden Mei nodded affirmatively.

"Well then, cherish this first experience as it's truly special."

With that, Elysia proceeded towards the entrance to the Elysian Realm.

Watching Elysia walk away, Raiden Mei felt something peculiar about her words, but couldn't quite pinpoint what it was. Nevertheless, she followed closely behind.

Just before stepping into the Elysian Realm, Raiden Mei turned back and glanced at Ana sitting on the distant sofa.

"Goodbye, Ana-sensei," she said.

With those parting words, she entered the Elysian Realm.

As for Ana, she remained seated on the sofa. Finally, with a deep sigh, she leaned back against its cushions.

Indeed, she had no knowledge of the situation outside the Garden or the state of her true self. However, Raiden Mei's entry provided Ana with valuable information concealed within her Authority. After all, Ana is now the Lord of Finality.

"So, that's how it is? Quite...interesting!"

"As for it...I don't mind if it arrives here, but if it remains unchanged from before, my apologies; there will be no place for it!"

Following a peculiar sensation, Raiden Mei opened her eyes to find herself surrounded by an entirely different scene—a truly intriguing experience for her.

Broken stones and remnants of walls spiraled upwards around the tower, forming a lattice-like structure reminiscent of a birdcage, as if declaring its centrality within the world.

Raiden Mei observed these strange buildings thoughtfully.

"Hi there, how do you feel?" Elysia's voice softly chimed in.

Raiden Mei nodded affirmatively.

"Yes, it feels fine—just like being in reality."

"Hmm, that's good. Some previous visitors couldn't even stand upon entering the Elysian Realm."

"It must be overwhelming... Being submerged in memories isn't pleasant, right?"

"But such concerns don't apply to you; after all, you're a Herrscher, just like her."

"As expected, Herrschers have unique constitutions. How nice! I'd love to try it myself... Oh, did I stray off-topic?"

"No worries, but speaking of which, your relationship with Ana-sensei seems quite close."

After a slight hesitation, Raiden Mei decided to ask her question, something she had been curious about for quite some time.