Of course.
Kiana's arrangement felt a bit like she was trying to give her wives a leg up no matter what. She was also worried about them being bullied, so she outright forbade any infighting.
Everyone was set to peace mode—just living their lives in harmony.
No matter how chaotic or competitive things got outside, at home, it had to be peaceful.
That was for the best!
The original Aeons were naturally willing to give Kiana that courtesy.
As for the few who refused to play nice… well, let's just say the grass over their graves has grown plenty tall by now.
In short, no oppression allowed.
No devouring each other.
Heck, everyone had to keep their own Paths in check—no direct clashes permitted.
So, under those conditions!
All of Kiana's wives and friends could pick any concept they truly believed in, and as long as it wasn't a complete overlap with an existing one, they could smoothly ascend.
Even better.
Since the original Aeons had control over their concepts, their Paths had a somewhat restrictive nature.
Even if most beings agreed with a Path's philosophy, just walking it was the best they could do.
Once you became a Pathstrider, becoming an Aeon was even harder.
Those who emulate me may thrive, but those who merely imitate me are doomed.
Though for most beings, just setting foot on a Path was enough.
Heck, most wouldn't even reach the level of an Emanator in their entire lives.
But this phenomenon ultimately limited the universe's development.
So.
With Kiana's decree, the original Aeons, along with her wives and friends who later joined their ranks, all stopped gatekeeping their Paths. Instead, they welcomed the birth of new Aeons.
Of course, without Kiana's help, it was still incredibly difficult for anyone else to become an Aeon and forge their own Path.
But that wasn't Kiana's problem.
If she didn't know you, why would she bother?
--+--
"So that's how it is…"
"The future is structured like this…"
Some began to grasp the bigger picture.
Others felt like they understood everything.
"A single Aeon can give rise to at least one faction. Every faction, backed by an Aeon, can easily influence the cosmos…"
"Yet our future Stellar Alliance doesn't just have the young lady—it has dozens of Aeons."
"That kind of power… no one could possibly ignore it."
"Now I get why we're so unstoppable."
"Riding roughshod across the stars? More like throwing our weight around—how outrageous! But honestly? I'm here for it!"
The future looked bright.
So bright, in fact, that some were already feeling a little down.
No matter how glorious the future might be, it was still the future.
A human life lasted barely a century.
What if they never got to see that dazzling horizon?
What then?
"I wonder if we can start walking a Path now?"
"But most Paths don't grant immortality, right?"
"I wish there was an Aeon who could bestow eternal life. I'd do anything for that—my roommate included."
"Same! Even if it meant living in a mansion and sleeping with supermodels, I'd take that deal."
"Are you lot out of your minds? Dream on!"
--+--
Back in the recording.
The chibi V-tuber and chibi Vita and Griseo didn't linger on the topic much longer.
They'd just joked about how they were basically freeloaders—picked and favored by the young lady, lying back and becoming Aeons without lifting a finger.
But honestly, wasn't that just bragging?
So annoying. Makes you want to smack them.
Miss Yuzu shared more images—some from ancient texts, some murals, others colored illustrations, oil paintings, or even Eden's sculptures, all capturing moments from the past…
She began recounting Eden's story in the Previous Era.
She said:
[I heard Sister Eden came from a prestigious family—a lineage of musicians. Surrounded by that influence and gifted with artistic talent, she rose to fame very quickly.]
[Mhm~]
Chibi Vita smiled faintly.
[Official history records that although Eden knew the young lady early on, she didn't join Fire Moth until the Seventh Eruption. Is that right?]
The V-tuber continued asking.
Records showed old photographs depicting relentless flames and the ruins of Australia's grandest opera house.
It stood like a candle in the wind—burned, crumbling, little more than debris.
Many in the audience grew tense.
"Quick! Write this down!"
"The Seventh Eruption—it was in Australia!"
Even though they'd only faced the Third so far.
And given their current actions, the future was sure to change… but it was better to be prepared, right?
Just in case?
What if the Honkai was stubbornly predictable?
If it hit Nagazora this time, would the Seventh really be in Australia?
It wasn't impossible.
"My dear Eden, see? We met even earlier now, and you joined Fire Moth sooner too. Right?" Elysia said with a playful grin.
Eden nodded gently, her expression soft yet solemn as she studied the images, lost in thought.
The Opera House…
Perhaps she'd been performing there at the time?
Though known as a classical singer, she was also a playwright and opera performer in the classical tradition.
A great work could live on for millennia.
It warmed her heart to see her future works preserved—even if only as musical scores or librettos. Their survival meant her art had been cherished.
[I heard the Seventh Eruption was when the Honkai cranked up the pressure on the world.]
[The Herrscher of Fire wiped out the entire continent in just seven days.]
"Huh?"
"Holy crap!"
[Oh, right.]
[I recall unofficial histories mentioning that around then, Dr. Mei had taken charge of Fire Moth, but due to strained relations with various nations, funding shortages hit hard.]
[Even projects supported by Elysia and Dr. Mei lacked financial backing.]
[It wasn't until Eden joined Fire Moth that things got slightly better.]
[Is that true?]
Yuzu thought for a moment, then added:
[Apparently, the young lady wasn't even a member of Fire Moth back then—she was just a noble daughter from a prestigious family.]
[When Elysia approached her, she was willing to offer support.]
[But compared to Eden, who was basically the richest patron imaginable, her resources were still a bit stretched.]
[Did that really happen?]
The chibi Griseo nodded and replied:
[Because Kiana had her family's backing, but not all the family's funds were at her disposal. She hadn't revealed her identity as the Herrscher of Finality yet—she was just an heir.]
[So naturally, she couldn't match Sister Eden.]
[Remember, Eden earned her wealth effortlessly, and every bit of it was hers to control.]
[Take the Elysian Realm—formerly known as the Golden Courtyard—every corner of it, top to bottom, was sponsored by Sister Eden.]
[In the end, during Fire Moth's toughest times, she single-handedly shouldered about sixty-five percent of their finances. Truly incredible.]
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
20+ advanced chaps on my patreon.
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