[Many people probably think Aponia is aloof, detached, more divine than human.]
[But whether after becoming an Aeon, or even earlier, from the very beginning, she was always the gentlest one...]
A chibi Kiana in the video seemed to be reminiscing, speaking warmly.
A chibi Yuzu nodded incessantly, listening intently.
In reality.
Aponia herself had no idea she was perceived this way.
But perhaps... it was true?
[Similarly, Aponia was also a very clumsy girl.]
[Often, with many things, she always thought of handling them alone, finding a way by herself.]
[Even though she'd been by my side since very early on.]
[There were times she still didn't want to accept my help.]
The chibi Kiana sighed faintly, looking somewhat melancholy. Her dignified little appearance was truly enough to move anyone's heart.
Hearing this, Miss Yuzu took the opportunity to ask.
[According to official records, Lady Aponia was someone you met by chance after being attacked by family enemies and ending up in Sundown Alley.]
[Is that correct?]
With a casual wave of her hand, the screen displayed the materials she had collected: photos, written records, documents, confidential files...
She looked at the chibi Kiana with an expectant expression.
Full of thirst for knowledge.
[Nope~]
As expected.
Most of these official histories aren't very reliable.
The two-heads-tall chibi Kiana covered her mouth with a light laugh.
[Aponia found me very early on, back when I hadn't yet revealed my identity as the Herrscher of Finality.]
[She wanted to stay by my side and pledge her loyalty to me.]
The Vtuber lady's mouth opened slightly, clearly surprised.
But then, she pulled up other materials, looking interested, and continued asking.
[According to unofficial histories, Lady Aponia—even before becoming an Aeon, while still human—already had the ability to foresee the future. Is that true?]
"Huh?"
"Foresee the future?"
"Is it what I'm thinking?!"
Whose subordinate is this, for heaven's sake?!
This is so far-fetched!
I thought that, as of now, only Kiana as the Finality and Elysia as the Origin were the outliers, possessing unimaginably powerful abilities.
But if you, Aponia, are like this too... doesn't that make me seem a bit foolish?
"Could there really be superpowered individuals in this world?"
"This is a woman who can read the script!"
Meanwhile, in the video.
The chibi Kiana didn't deny it.
She nodded.
And said when she was still human, Aponia could only be said to have unusually sharp premonitions, like revelations.
It was only later, after becoming a MANTIS, that she could see the future more clearly, but even then, only to a certain extent.
[When she's near me, this ability of hers doesn't work.]
[But for her, that's not necessarily a bad thing.]
In the video.
Kiana emphasized again.
Without the ability to fully control one's own power, having such power can instead be a curse.
There was a time when Aponia, upon seeing the future and its tragedies, tried to change them but ended up causing the disasters instead.
In real life.
Aponia listened silently.
On screen.
The Yuzu lady asked again.
[Does Lady Aponia still have this issue now?]
[No... she learned to control it long ago.]
The two-heads-tall chibi Kiana smiled and continued.
[The Discipline, the Discipline… it's more like a restraint she places on herself. To restrain herself, refine herself, to transcend the material and the mundane, aspiring for a higher goal.]
[Because in her view, humans have desires, but only by mastering desire can you become a god.]
There's some truth to these words, actually.
It's not about completely eliminating human desires in favor of some heavenly principle.
It's about not being dominated by desire, being more rational, more serene, cultivating oneself, refining one's heart, achieving a spiritual sublimation from within.
This is actually her form of pursuit.
In reality, some people seemed thoughtful, while others didn't quite understand.
That's fine.
Aponia silently turned these words over in her mind.
Which prompted Elysia to look over at her playfully.
"Feels like she's really becoming a Buddha, huh? Mhm~ Bodhisattva Aponia?"
"Stop messing around, Elysia!" Kiana couldn't quite say whether what she mentioned in the video was right or wrong either.
Even her understanding of Aponia was still largely based on impressions from a past life.
But judging from their interactions in reality.
Aponia did indeed consciously control and restrain herself.
Perhaps it was her nature to be detached about many things, or perhaps she simply saw through many things clearly.
Therefore, she always gave people the feeling of a Taoist nun in quiet cultivation.
And quite an advanced one at that.
In the video, Kiana and the content creator lady were still chatting.
Using Aponia's ability to foresee the future as the topic.
Kiana also shared many amusing past anecdotes about Aponia with Miss Yuzu.
These anecdotes, for the content creator, could indeed only be considered tidbits of gossip.
But for the people in reality.
They were glimpses of a definite future! Enough to reveal many things.
"Quick, take notes!"
[I remember that because when she's near me, even after becoming a MANTIS and having her abilities enhanced, her power to foresee the future still doesn't work.]
[So whenever she really needed to use her ability, she'd have to move away from me.]
[It's like I'm the manual on/off switch for her power.]
In reality, Kiana couldn't help but laugh.
On screen, the chibi version of her continued.
[And because futures related to me are very blurry, or even, if she tries to observe me directly, it's like looking into a kaleidoscope—it just dazzles her.]
[Usually, she rarely uses her ability directly on me.]
The chibi Kiana went on.
Miss Yuzu kept nodding, listening.
[I remember one time, she foresaw that Mobius was going to have a bloody accident. It wasn't fatal, but she would get hurt.]
[She was still pretty green back then, didn't realize that the future she saw was essentially something that would happen.]
[So she went to help.]
[But through a series of mishaps, she accidentally pushed Mobius down the stairs.]
[Well, that bloody accident sure came true.]
[Mobius was hospitalized for a month or so. After that, she couldn't stand the sight of her.]
For heaven's sake!
Mobius glared at Aponia.
Aponia remained impassive, as if to say, 'You look your way, it's got nothing to do with me.'
Others were speechless, or scared, quietly edging away a bit. Better to keep some distance from this girl.
'Good grief, I can't tell now if she really can see the future or if she's just pulling a con artist act.'
'Personally bringing about the future, huh? I could do that too!'
"..."
Some people smirked, disbelieving.
Others couldn't help but feel exasperated.
Meanwhile, some focused on one particular point, feeling a sense of dread they couldn't shake.
--+--
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