As Bronya sank into confusion, Seele's words snapped her back.
"Whining and crying—annoying."
"What? A few self-pitying words, and you think I'll feel sorry for you? You can hide in a palace and overthink, or go to the front lines without risking your life. But the lower district folks? They're lucky to have a next meal!"
"'Even if you're just a faint glimmer, shine for others'—didn't you say that? Want to protect everyone? Instead of crying here, don't you have more urgent things to do?"
Bronya pondered, recalling Adrian's story and the elven girl's final outcome. She rallied herself: "You're right. Self-pity solves nothing."
"Thank you, Seele. Usually, when I'm lost in negative thoughts, people just console me. No one's ever dared to snap me out of it like you."
"Sigh~ See? Your baggage is too heavy. Why push yourself so far? Hmph, the future Great Guardian, from the same orphanage as me—what a twist of fate."
After finding supplies, Bronya and Seele visited the orphanage, leading to this moment.
"Wow… you two went through a lot," March 7th said, listening intently.
"Teacher Adrian, no offense, but… you tell a story and ditch? Were you really just there to tell a story?"
Facing March 7th's jab, Adrian stayed silent. If he'd gone soul-searching with Bronya, who knows what Aha (the mask) would've done in his room?
"Speaking of, I think I heard a faint scream last night. Maybe I misheard?" March 7th scratched her head.
"Not a mistake. I heard it too," Dan Heng replied. Stelle nodded—they'd all heard the mysterious wail.
Three gazes landed on Adrian.
"Teacher Adrian… you didn't do something shady behind our backs, did you?" March 7th's gossip mode activated. Who doesn't love juicy news?
"Miss March, what do you think I'd do?" Adrian countered.
"Uh… I got it! Secretly developing a new milk tea flavor! But that doesn't link to the scream, haha…" March 7th scratched her head awkwardly.
"Another reason Adrian's the Milk Tea Aeon," Stelle said, pushing nonexistent glasses, feigning profundity.
"Alright, alright. Since we're on the same side, no need to dawdle. Follow me—Oleg arranged a guide to take us to Svarog," Seele said, too impatient to let them chat. Business first.
"If I recall, you visited Svarog's base yesterday," Dan Heng said to Adrian. Why not just lead the way?
Simple: Adrian wanted to trail the group and slack off. So lazy…
…
Eternity Church, after sending the fainted priestess to the infirmary, Freesna stood between Blake and Tingyun, hearing their account.
"Sigh~ Poor fox lady, persecuted by an Annihilation Lord… nearly killed." She cast a pitying look at Tingyun, mimicking Blake by closing her eyes to sense Tingyun's energy.
"Oh! Such familiar power. Do you feel it? My hidden Eternal Iris… is stirring!" She clutched her left eye, murmuring.
Seeing Freesna go full chuunibyo, Tingyun smiled awkwardly. Who'd expect the Church's priestess to be this eccentric?
"She means… Miss Tingyun, you've been blessed by the Aeon of [Eternity]. This energy matches hers exactly," Blake translated, a role he excelled at.
"Hmph, hmph, hmph… A thousand years pass, Blake! The time has come! We shall witness THEIR divine gift again!"
"The Eternity Church will send all forces to aid the Xianzhou, contributing our strength. All for the Aeon of [Eternity]!"
Blake translated while suppressing his excitement.
After a millennium, he'd finally see Adr…Lord Ite again!
Blake was 100% certain Tingyun's energy came from THEM. Following her to the Xianzhou meant aiding the Luofu against the Anti-Matter Legion and meeting THEM!
Despite Freesna's chuunibyo tone, Tingyun understood her meaning.
"You mean… the Aeon of [Eternity] is on the Xianzhou?"
Tingyun pieced it together. The energy within her had been planted long ago, only surfacing during Huanlong's attack.
Recently, she hadn't encountered anyone tied to [Eternity]. The only link, Adrian, left the Luofu for interstellar travel and hadn't returned.
Wait, could it be…
…
"Miss Silver Wolf, long time no see."
Belobog, Sampo greeted the holographic projection, pulling a rose from his pocket.
"Yo, didn't expect you to break out of jail. Classic you. Reminds me of our time at the Church…" Silver Wolf chewed her bubblegum, reminiscing.
"Whoa, whoa, stop! I beg you, don't mention those four words."
"What's to fear? This planet's tech is so backward… plus, ravaged by the Anti-Matter Legion, it's long gone from the star chart. Relax, that Bishop won't show."
"If he does, we're not helpless. We can team up like last time and catch him off guard!" Silver Wolf had a battle plan ready. No prep for a high-difficulty boss? Unacceptable.
Second time's the charm. If they faced Blake, with perfect teamwork, Silver Wolf was confident they could take him!
No brain games, just pure brawn—easy fight. Unlike that Herta gremlin, teaming with Screwllum to trap her, costing her 76 game accounts.
Sampo swallowed hard. Was this girl misunderstanding Blake?
Are we fighting the same guy?
Those soap bombs came like a rapid-fire machine gun. No chance.
Silver Wolf saw Sampo's hesitation and shook her head.
"Sigh~ Can't win? No worries, we've got Adrian! Excited for their PK?"
Sampo shook his head frantically.
Sis, that's no joking matter. Saying this to Adrian's face is fine—Aeons don't care about mortal opinions.
But… say that to Blake? That's crossing a line.
Making an Emanator fight their boss? Even the [Elation] Aeon wouldn't pull that, right?
Hmm… considering the [Elation] Aeon once poured all THEIR energy into a bug, pitting a Mask of Fools or Lamenter against THEM? Yeah, THEY'd do it.
After waiting a bit, Silver Wolf vanished a minute before Adrian's group arrived, timing it perfectly.
"Huh, it's you!"
"Miss March and everyone, you wound me… Old Sampo helped you meet Oleg yesterday. With my performance, you didn't think of me? Sigh~"
"Uh, why so sentimental all of a sudden?"