Mei felt a stirring within her and followed the direction of the breeze with her eyes. She didn't see Elysia, only the Ferris wheel bathed in pale pink light, standing silently within the paradise.
In a daze, she thought she saw two figures standing side-by-side at the very top of the Ferris wheel, gazing at her from afar.
But when she blinked again, her vision held only emptiness, as if the figures she'd glimpsed were mere illusions cast by the sunlight.
"Herrscher of Human..." she murmured the unfamiliar title, Elysia's face unconsciously surfacing in her mind. Yet, as far as she knew, the records of Herrschers from the Previous Era never mentioned the existence of a Herrscher of Human.
Elysia, who are you really?
"So, understand your purpose now?" [Kiana]'s voice broke through her thoughts, pulling her back to reality.
"Mm, maybe..." Mei answered hesitantly. Knowing what she was searching for didn't mean she had found the answer.
On the contrary, looking back, it seemed she had never truly made her own decisions.
Whether it was studies or friendships, she always felt confined by the title of "ME Corp heiress." Even after being saved by Kiana, her choices were mostly made according to Kiana's preferences.
The only time she truly acted on her own initiative was when she left Kiana to join The Obsidian Concord.
But now, she couldn't possibly leave again, let alone go beat Kiana up. So, [Kiana]'s words, instead of clarifying her goal, had only left her more confused.
"Don't force yourself. As he would say, the moment you stepped into the Elysian Realm, you had already found your answer." [Kiana] naturally saw her confusion and didn't press further, instead lightening the mood with a smile.
"What's that supposed to mean? Fatalism?" Mei was curious. She had heard [Kiana] mention 'he' twice now, and from her words, Mei could sense [Kiana]'s absolute trust in this mysterious member.
Unconsciously, her curiosity about this enigmatic individual grew.
"I suppose so. After all, that guy clearly broke free from fate himself, yet strangely, he firmly believes in this kind of destiny."
"The 'he' you're talking about... you mean the true master of The Obsidian Concord, right?"
"Mhm. Speaking of which, during the time I was asleep, you must have already encountered him."
"Have I?" Mei paused, trying to recall... Wait. Before joining World Serpent, she seemed to have met members of The Obsidian Concord twice. But back then, they had disguised themselves—once as Gray Serpent, once as Kiana—never revealing their true identities.
Which meant... the one who entered the Elysian Realm alongside her was likely the 'he' Liuli mentioned.
In an instant, Mei felt a sense of sudden clarity. No wonder Liuli arrived in the Elysian Realm early, no wonder Elysia vanished without a trace – it was probably all related to this 'REN'.
It seemed that from the moment she joined The Obsidian Concord, she had been part of a plan orchestrated by him.
For some reason, the feeling of being completely managed sent a chill down her spine, as if... she were merely an insect caught in a spider's web.
"Don't overthink it. Ren takes much better care of you than me. He even prepared the mark specifically to protect you from harm. Unlike me – if it hadn't been convenient, he probably wouldn't have even remembered to wake me up." Was it her imagination, or did Mei detect a hint of grievance in Liuli's tone?
"..." Images of cliché romance drama plots flashed through Mei's mind. She wisely chose to change the subject, asking tentatively, "You and Ren both seem very familiar with me. Are you trying to use me to achieve some goal?"
"Sort of. I told you his goal is to help Kiana become the savior. As Kiana's friend, you're naturally a focus of his attention. As for me?" [Kiana] gave a mysterious smile, reverting to her original appearance.
"I am Kiana. Naturally, I'm quite familiar with my former companions."
...
"The Obsidian Concord, Elysia, the Flame-Chasers... and Kiana." On the way back, Mei couldn't help but silently recite these names. Liuli had provided too much information; it would take time to digest it all.
The only certainty was that The Obsidian Concord was unrelated to the Elysian Realm's collapse. As for anything more, even Liuli seemed unsure.
"Whatever the case, finding Elysia's whereabouts comes first." Letting out a breath, Mei returned to where the others were gathered.
"Sis Mei, you're back!" Pardofelis greeted her warmly, but the other Flame-Chasers remained noticeably cool. Mei glanced down at the Seven Thunders of Retribution in her hand and seemed to understand.
However, she couldn't be bothered to explain. Liuli was right; the Flame-Chasers were ultimately figures living in the past. She didn't need to care too much about their attitudes.
Whether they were friendly or hostile, it wouldn't sway her own thoughts.
"How is Vill-V?"
"Receiving treatment. Her condition is stable for now," Kevin answered silently.
Relieved, Mei let out a long sigh. If Vill-V hadn't repaired the Seven Thunders, everyone might have perished in the Elysian Realm. From her personal perspective, at least, she was deeply grateful.
"I'll go check on her." Mei turned to leave but paused before walking too far. Without turning back, she said, "The Seven Thunders was the key Elysia left for me to open the Eternal Paradise. Vill-V's injury has nothing to do with me. Suspect me all you want; I don't care."
"..." Kevin remained silent, watching Mei's retreating back, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
Arriving at Vill-V's location, Mei found her already awake. Su's medical skills were exceptional; apart from a slight pallor, she showed no signs of having been near death just half an hour ago.
"Are you alright?"
"Thank you for your assistance," Vill-V's voice was steady. "Miss Raiden Mei."
"Is this... another personality again?"
"I am the Conductor. The attack from the Seven Thunders forced the other personalities into dormancy. Therefore, only I, granted the authority to manage the divided personalities by the original persona, can remain conscious." The Conductor was different from the others, exuding an air of calm confidence in every gesture.
"I know what you want to ask, but unfortunately, even I don't know."
The forging of the Seven Thunders had been handled solely by the Expert. Judging by the traces at the scene, the attack likely occurred shortly after the forging was completed. To strike so quickly suggests the attacker had been preparing since Mei started collecting the materials.
The goal, undoubtedly, was to frame her.
Mei pondered, considering potential suspects. At the time her Obsidian Concord mark was revealed, all the Flame-Chasers had gathered. Theoretically, anyone could have been the culprit.
Elysia had mentioned a possible traitor among the Flame-Chasers. Their intense suspicion towards Mei was likely fueled by this betrayer's instigation.
And the only one who had consistently stepped forward was Kevin.
Could it be... the traitor was Kevin?