Chapter 158: Can I Refuse?

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"Let's go."

Ana leaned down, gently cradling Raiden Mei in her arms. Despite being within a realm of consciousness, actions like these were still possible, even involving memory fragments and conscious beings.

"Eh, so Ana's embrace isn't exclusive to me anymore?" Elysia teased playfully, yet with a hint of feigned resentment. However, the faint smile on her face revealed she was merely joking.

"Naturally, after all, I am the sea queen."

Naturally, Ana wasn't buying it and responded matter-of-factly.

"Oh, how cruel! Saying that might make me cry."

Despite her words, Elysia swiftly moved ahead, leading Raiden Mei away from the Elysian Realm. It seemed many of Elysia's remarks were merely playful banter, but when it came to promises she made, she indeed followed through.

For instance, protecting Raiden Mei's brilliant mind.

"Alright, lay her down on the sofa, and we just need to wait quietly now."

By the time Ana entered the Boule Chamber, Elysia had already seated herself on the couch. Having taken the lead, coupled with her greater control within this Garden, it was only natural for her to do so.

Ana placed the unconscious Raiden Mei at the other end of the sofa, then sat next to Elysia. She pulled out a neatly bound stack of documents.

"Here you go."

"What is this?" Curious, Elysia accepted the documents, only to see "Garden of Eden Handbook" prominently displayed on top.

"I've kept your concerns well in mind," Ana remarked softly.

Ana explained matter-of-factly. Essentially, Elysia would invariably grumble about Kevin's visitors due to his reluctance to provide any information. As a result, newcomers arrived utterly clueless about this place.

However, over the years, Elysia hadn't appeared frequently. So while she complained privately to Ana, it was more out of exasperation than genuine dissatisfaction.

Since Ana had complete knowledge of everything within the Elysian Realm, there was no need for Elysia's explanations.

"Wow, thank you, darling."

Elysia's eyes lit up as soon as she saw the handbook. She swiftly opened it and began scanning through its pages. How should one describe it? Although Ana compiled the manual, the tone used throughout perfectly mirrored Elysia's voice. Even if it were marked with Elysia's name as the editor, Eden might not discern the difference.

This clearly demonstrated how well Ana understood Elysia. Taking it further, when two individuals have no direct connection yet one comprehends the other intimately, never refusing any request, it can only signify love.

"Darling, aren't you trying to monopolize my time with other visitors?" Elysia asked with a smile, her words tinged with playful teasing, yet her eyes shimmered with sincerity.

"I do want to possess you; is that not allowed?" Ana replied evenly.

"Wow, Ana, another confession from you?"

"Every moment I exist here is a declaration of love for you, Ellie."

Ana's voice remained unfluctuating, as if merely stating an objective fact, which was indeed close to the truth. After all, her very purpose for being here centered around Elysia within this Elysian Realm.

"Mm-hmm, of course I know that, and naturally, I will always reciprocate your feelings!" Elysia affirmed earnestly.

However, a hint of resignation appeared on Ana's face.

"We are both memory fragments; we cannot forget such matters. Is there really a need to express it so frequently?"

"Even though we're memory fragments, we can still create new stories together. How could it be meaningless then?"

"..."

Ana fell silent, and indeed, her words held truth.

As memory fragments, if their interactions truly lacked meaning, then Ana's love for Elysia would also be insignificant, considering the real Elysia had already passed away.

Moreover, even Ana's efforts might seem pointless. The true versions of themselves never knew each other, so should they ever return, it would mark a completely fresh start.

Yet despite all this, Ana chose to contribute her own memories to preserve this Elysian Realm and its version of Elysia.

Perhaps that's just what humans do—a unique form of romance.

"Alright, alright, let's not overthink it. Since we exist here, let's continue writing our story together!"

"On another note, Ana, do you think memory fragments can have descendants?"

"... (Is that really something you should ponder, Ellie?)"

Thus, Ana and Elysia engaged in casual conversation within the Boule Chamber, making it part of their daily routine during this period.

After some time, Raiden Mei finally stirred awake from her slumber on the sofa.

"Where...am I?"

Raiden Mei propped herself up, feeling disoriented as she sat, straining to recall what had happened before. Just then, something flew towards her, and instinctively, she reached out to catch it.

"It's a guidebook; take a look through it first. If you have any questions, feel free to ask."

It was Ana who spoke, tossing the manual to Raiden Mei. Meanwhile, Elysia lay comfortably draped over Ana's shoulder, sound asleep.

Can memory fragments actually sleep? It might seem implausible, but it is quite normal. At least Pardo often slept here. In this realm, whether a memory fragment sleeps depends solely on their subjective desire. Additionally, although they appear asleep, they can awaken instantly at any moment.

However, Elysia showed no signs of stirring, indicating either her deep enjoyment of this sensation or perhaps a deliberate choice.

Of course, Raiden Mei was unaware and had little understanding of these circumstances. She couldn't fully grasp their significance; she only sensed that Ana and Elysia shared an extraordinary bond.

However, she also knew that everything here consisted of memory fragments, not necessarily reflecting reality. Moreover, in actuality, both individuals were likely no longer alive.

This realization further dampened Raiden Mei's mood, evoking an indescribable sense of sorrow.

Unaware of Raiden Mei's feelings—or perhaps more accurately, choosing not to acknowledge them—Ana's attention remained entirely focused on Elysia beside her.

One could say, she truly found Elysia incredibly adorable and genuinely cherished her presence. Unfortunately...one can only hope that the True Self succeeds in reviving her in reality someday. Even without expecting true love, just having someone as charming as her exist in this world would already be...

"I've finished exploring."

After an unspecified amount of time, Raiden Mei suddenly spoke up and approached Ana.

"The Elysian Realm, a space woven from memories... Is this why it appears so peculiar?"

"You mean those structures that seem somewhat defying conventional logic?" Ana responded. "Indeed, this place is formed by thirteen interwoven memories. For the same object or event, different individuals have varying perceptions and interpretations."

"Let's set it aside for now," she continued. "Perhaps we should revisit these memories once more. Sometimes, truly experiencing something firsthand and verifying it can lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation."

"Hmm, sounds good."

"Then let's embark on our journey!"

With that, Ana gently picked up Elysia, heading towards the Elysian Realm with determination, while Raiden Mei closely followed behind.

However, observing Ellie cradled in Ana's arms, Mei's expression turned slightly complex.

"Sensing your confusion, I'll explain: Due to certain circumstances, her fate became intertwined with mine. And yes, as you might suspect, there's more to it." Ana clarified.

"You could say, as long as she exists, so do I. If she were ever to vanish..." Ana's voice trailed off abruptly.

"Forget it; it doesn't concern you. Let's proceed - time for another round of recollection."

Raiden Mei remained silent, aware that Ana was likely withholding information from her. However, she understood; if it involved Ana-sensei, the reasons were probably similar to Kevin's—she simply hadn't yet earned the right to know.

But it didn't matter; she would press on until finding the answers she sought. Until then, nothing could stop her.

With that familiar sensation once again, Raiden Mei arrived at the same area she had visited before. The surroundings looked identical to her previous visit, but this time, neither Ana nor Elysia were visible nearby.

"Ana-sensei?" Raiden Mei cautiously called out after scanning the vicinity.

"Yes, I'm here."

Though only hearing her voice, not seeing her presence, Raiden Mei felt reassured upon hearing Ana's response. Ana-sensei always instilled in her an unparalleled sense of security, which reached its peak within this place.

"Rest assured, as long as you remain in the Garden of Eden, both she and I will be ever-present, guiding your path with our illuminating light. So, there's no need for concern."

"Thank you."

"Now, please take this first!" A familiar voice chimed, and suddenly, Elysia appeared behind Raiden Mei without warning.

"What is it?"

"Have you heard the saying? Under pressure, the choices one makes can reveal their true self and ultimately determine who they become," Elysia said calmly.

Ana's eyes sparkled, reflecting a hint of nostalgia. Indeed, she was all too familiar with such circumstances. It was precisely through facing immense pressure that she made numerous pivotal decisions, leading her to where she stands today.

Precisely because of this, even within the Elysian Realm, most individuals—aside from those confirmed deceased—could reasonably guess their current predicament.

Of course, cases like Fu Hua were more challenging to decipher. However, at her core, Fu Hua hadn't truly changed; she simply underwent the most significant transformation among the Heroic Spirits.

"Throughout my life thus far, I've made choice after choice."

"They serve as distinct milestones, forever etched into my luminous existence, shining brightly."

"These are my engravings, Elysia's inscriptions—the proof of who I am."

"Pursuing her path is indeed viable, despite her return to dust. It was not due to any flaw in the journey but rather its inherent correctness."

Suddenly, Ana chimed in from the side, sounding slightly miffed.

"Hey, darling, you're stealing my lines!"

Before Ana could finish, Elysia interrupted with a hint of resentment, resembling a disgruntled young lover.

"My apologies, but I believe I have every right to make that judgment," Ana responded with a smile.

"Alright, alright, I'll forgive you this time." Elysia paused briefly, then displayed a subtle expression on her face.

"But let's be honest... revealing one's true self to others can't help but make a person feel a bit shy."

"If you're embarrassed, I can pass on your message for you while you hide in my embrace," Ana said with a hint of indulgence.

"Mm-hmm, I knew it! You're the best, darling!"

Raiden Mei could only remain silent, feeling truly at a loss when faced with these two. But oh, how she missed Kiana—sometimes, these memory fragments really went too far.

"As for me, I can offer you three modified engravings. These aren't mine; they are altered versions of theirs." After some thought, Ana decided to provide Raiden Mei with her own set of engravings.

Initially, she had planned to casually give Raiden Mei any three engravings, but that didn't quite align with her style. By adding a touch of unpredictability, it would better reflect her experience as someone who has been through this before.

The same principle applied to Captains.

Otherwise, simply granting them three engravings upfront would make traversing the Elysian Realm far too easy. To ensure these engravings truly represented Ana's influence, adjustments and modifications were necessary.

"Can I refuse?" Raiden Mei asked, clearly understanding Ana's intentions from her words alone. Any modifications would likely bring both advantages and drawbacks. Given the potential for unfavorable outcomes, Raiden Mei's cautious nature inclined her to avoid such risks.

She didn't want to be a gambler, even though the Elysian Realm could reset repeatedly. The disorienting sensation during those resets was something she wished to avoid experiencing again.

"You certainly have the right to refuse, but you must also bear the corresponding consequences," Ana replied mildly.

"In that case, I choose to accept."

Indeed, with Ana presenting it this way, Raiden Mei couldn't possibly decline. She had come here seeking answers, and as someone who has experienced this realm before, Ana undoubtedly held the insights she sought. In other words, theoretically, if Raiden Mei could satisfy Ana, she might not even need to enter the Elysian Realm herself.

However, she understood that getting Ana to speak openly would be more challenging than melting Kevin's icy demeanor. Otherwise, they wouldn't remain entirely unaware of what Ana had accomplished.