Just a day after catastrophic destruction akin to natural disasters, this world had already erased those ravaged scenes, returning to its serene tranquility marked by gentle breezes and expansive skies.
One could only say, Su truly lived up to his reputation.
Alone, "Fu Hua" ventured to what seemed like the edge of the small world, clad only in a thin white nightgown as she quietly sat upon the soft green grass.
Slowly, she drew her legs up, wrapping her arms around them and burying her head between her knees.
After a prolonged silence, a shadowy figure appeared behind her, dressed in flowing white robes with sleeves fluttering gently.
"What are you thinking about?" Fu Hua leaned forward, asking calmly yet warmly.
"Fu Hua" maintained this withdrawn posture for quite some time before murmuring softly,
"You're injured."
"Mm-hmm. It was unexpected, after all, and your strike carried the power of the Knowledge Authority. Even I couldn't escape unscathed."
"...I'm sorry."
"It's alright; it's not that serious."
Smiling, Fu Hua floated over to "Fu Hua," sat beside her, and gazed up at the drifting clouds above. With a serene expression, she seemed genuinely attuned to the refreshing breeze across the grassland.
Unable to resist, "Fu Hua" lifted her head, staring intently at Fu Hua's face with reddened eyes, and asked,
"Why aren't you scolding me?"
"Well... Zeke has already done his part in teaching you a lesson, so there doesn't seem much left for me to say, right?"
"Do you hate me then?"
"Of course not. Admittedly, for a long time, I had no tolerance for beings associated with Honkai or Herrschers, resorting only to extermination upon encountering them. However, these past years have changed me significantly. When you were interacting with those girls at the base, did you truly despise each Herrscher?"
Fu Hua's gentle voice stirred memories within "Fu Hua" of her time at the base—a period undeniably filled with happiness.
"I didn't hate them. But, they must have known my true identity, right? So, they were deceiving me all along."
"Not quite. At least Seele, Rozaliya, and Liliya genuinely treated you as if you were me. As for the others, well, there was indeed some element of concealment and observation involved. Don't blame them; no matter how many Herrschers align with humanity, it cannot change the inherent risks posed by Herrschers themselves. Caution is inevitable," Fu Hua said apologetically, smiling. She reached out, intending to pat "Fu Hua" on the head.
However, "Fu Hua" evaded her touch.
Pausing, Fu Hua withdrew her hand and sighed softly.
"Ah, I can't seem to handle you. Perhaps Little Fuxi would fare better here."
"I don't want to see her. She deceived me too."
"Saying that might upset her. Concealment was a necessary choice, but surely you can feel the sincerity she had towards you, can't you?" Fu Hua spoke earnestly.
Indeed, the Book of Fuxi had been part of the deception aimed at "Fu Hua." However, without genuine acceptance and empathy, "Fu Hua" wouldn't have grown so close to them. That mischievous child was actually quite selective; despite appearing lively and outgoing, her long existence had taught her to remain emotionally detached. Not just anyone could easily approach her.
Perhaps struck by Fu Hua's words, "Fu Hua" wiped at the corners of her eyes and stood up.
"I'm not Fu Hua; I'm just another Herrscher. You don't need to treat me so kindly! For all you know, we might soon become enemies!"
"Indeed, you're a Herrscher, but saying you aren't Fu Hua... isn't necessarily accurate," Fu Hua replied calmly.
These words momentarily stunned "Fu Hua," her eyes reddening further.
Fu Hua leaned back, lying amidst the soft green grass, hands resting on her abdomen. She sighed and continued,
"I've given this much thought over these past days. Among my Herrscher students, there's generally a shared Herrscher Persona. While exceptions exist, typically, the Herrscher Persona is merely an alternate aspect fostered by Honkai. Can one truly claim Wendy's other side isn't Wendy, or Mei's other side isn't Mei?"
"W-What do you mean by that?"
"Just trying to suggest that perhaps you are simply another facet of my personality. The unique part lies in my millennia-long cultivation experience, which accumulated excessive memories, emotions, perspectives, and more, overshadowing your initial memories upon creation. This led to an incomplete self-awareness for you. In reality, akin to Wendy and Mei's Herrscher Personas, you embody my Herrscher Persona—you are me... Does this explanation seem reasonable?"
"Can... Can you explain it like that?" "Fu Hua" bit her thumb and involuntarily paced in circles.
She tried to find flaws in Fu Hua's explanation but realized this seemed the most accurate interpretation of their situation.
"I am indeed the Herrscher Persona of the Old Antique, another side of her," she thought. "But due to the overwhelming presence of the Old Antique's consciousness, my self-perception upon creation was overshadowed and distorted, leading me to mistakenly believe I was the original Old Antique—this explanation is flawless!"
"Fu Hua's" eyes sparkled, the excitement barely contained despite her reddened rims from tears.
"So, I truly am Fu Hua! I wasn't wrong!"
"Wendy's other side claimed to be Wendy, and Mei's other side claimed to be Mei. Could you say they were wrong?"
"No, not at all! Why didn't you tell me sooner?!"
"I tried, but you were too agitated. Then you shattered the vessel I inhabited, forcing me to retreat back into my body for recovery."
With a resigned smile, Fu Hua gently patted the grass beside her, gesturing for "Fu Hua" to lie down as well.
"Fu Hua," without hesitation, plopped down and leaned back, spreading her arms wide in a starfish pose. She turned to Fu Hua and exclaimed,
"So really, I am just you!"
"Yes, indeed. Zeke had a point: who you are depends on your own perception. If logic dictates that you're another side of me, and even you believe you are me, then there's no need for doubt—you are me."
"I guess being the alternate personality of the Old Antique makes sense now. So, if you're the rigid, stubborn, and inflexible Fu Hua, then I must be the open-minded, adaptable-to-change Fu Hua. Yep, that's it!"
"Rigid...stubborn...inflexible..." Fu Hua smiled, but her delicate willow-leaf eyebrows twitched slightly.
The excited "Fu Hua," however, was too preoccupied to notice this subtle change. Suddenly, she rubbed her arm and sneezed.
"Achoo! Weird, why do I suddenly feel chilly? Could it be because Su adjusted the temperature, and I'm only wearing my nightgown?"
"...Probably so." Fu Hua sighed inwardly, maintaining her composed expression.
Ah well, considering the relentless beating she'd just endured, it's best to be patient with her for now, avoiding any potential psychological scars for the child.
"Heh heh! Eh-heh!"
The tear tracks on "Fu Hua's" face hadn't yet dried, but she spontaneously burst out giggling again.
Witnessing this scene, Fu Hua felt a sudden strangeness—Huh? Hadn't she once mentioned wanting to raise a little bundle of joy as pure, adorable, and determined as Kiana? Looking at her now, this "Fu Hua's" characteristics seemed to align perfectly.
Could it be that her wish has come true?
"Old Antique, Old Antique! Quick, help me figure out where I went wrong last time. Let's see, first, I wasted too much energy fighting Kevin, the walking tank, then...then my mindset was off, leading to poor performance! Yes, those were the two reasons. Normally, how could I possibly lose to a mere researcher? Come on, let's challenge Zeke again! This time, I'll show him my true strength!"
"Fu Hua" sat up, gesturing wildly, likely imagining herself unleashing an impressive beatdown on Zeke.
All Fu Hua could do was rest her forehead in her hand with a long sigh.
Alright, she had been too hasty. While focused on raising a cute child, she forgot about the numerous instances when Kiana's mischief and antics infuriated Zeke to the point of physical confrontation.
Softly, Fu Hua said, "It's probably best not to go."
"Why not? Don't we want to settle this score?"
"Let's set aside the fact that it's mostly your shame, not mine. The main issue is this body belongs to me too. Unless absolutely necessary, let's avoid taking unnecessary damage."
"What do you mean by that?! Are you implying I'd lose in a fair fight?!" "Fu Hua" widened her eyes, brimming with indignation.
Fu Hua paused briefly, carefully considering her response before finally settling on a tactful explanation.
She nodded and smiled gently, saying: "Yes, indeed."
"You old fossil!"
"Hear me out—don't risk your life just for pride; it's not worth it."
"Agh! You're driving me crazy! Never have I met someone so eager to boost others' egos!"
"Senti, let's be rational and grounded in reality instead."
"And what's 'Senti' supposed to mean now?!"
"Well, since you're the Herrscher Aspect wielding the Knowledge Authority, calling you Senti seems fitting. It'll make distinguishing between us easier going forward. But never mind that—it's crucial for you to stay level-headed; self-inflicted hardship serves no purpose."
"You old fossil!"
A gentle breeze carried the refreshing scent of grass, faint yet soothing to inhale.
The clear, energetic shouts of the young girl echoed far, very far away.