Trissha blinked her large eyes, then suddenly seemed to remember something, adding, "Oh, right, right! Trianne seems to be looking for you! She said she has a secret to tell you!"
"Even though we share a connection of hearts and we all actually know the little secret she's keeping, we think it's better if she tells you herself!"
"Alright, I understand." Phaethon nodded, his tone gentle. "Receiving and guiding civilians from various small city-states must be quite taxing work, isn't it?Trissha-1."
"Not taxing at all! Not one bit!" Trissha immediately shook her head vigorously like a rattle-drum, her little face beaming with a vibrant smile.
"Deliverer Phainon and Deliverer Phaethon fight scary monsters outside every day and save so many people—that's what's truly taxing!"
"We're just staying in the safe city, helping newcomers adjust to life in Okhema. This little bit of work is nothing!"
Having said that, she turned to the villagers from Aedes Elysium, who still wore expressions of bewilderment and awe, and immediately slipped into her professional guide role, her voice crisp and full of enthusiasm:
"Hello, everyone! My name is Trissha! I'll be your guide in Okhema for the coming days! If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me!"
"Okhema is divided into five ring-shaped districts! The innermost First Ring is where Her Majesty Empress and the venerable High Priests of Kephale reside and handle administrative affairs!"
"The Second Ring is the old city district of the original Okhema. It's mainly a residential area now, with lots of ancient buildings."
"The Third Ring is where you'll be temporarily living and settling next! It's considered a new district, but it has everything you need!"
"The Fourth Ring is the suuuuper fun lifestyle district! The biggest library, the tastiest restaurants, the liveliest plaza market—they're all there!"
"The outermost Fifth Ring is where the allied generals and their armies are stationed for defense."
"Everyone, don't worry! In the dynasty ruled by Her Majesty, every subject who obeys the law is equal and receives equal protection and treatment!"
Phainon-1 listened to Trissha's energetic introduction, gazing at the miraculous holy city before him, and couldn't help but feel a surge of irrepressible excitement and ambition welling up in his heart.
He bore the mission to save the world and possessed powerful innate talent.
His homeland was in peril, yet he was saved by peerless powerhouses just in time! And those powerhouses... well... he definitely looked like they did in their youth!
This... wasn't this the most classic beginning of the legendary stories he'd read in those storybooks?
The next plot should be him training step by step in the holy city, accumulating merits, meeting like-minded companions, then joining forces to fight the Black Tide, and ultimately saving the world! The future was simply bright and full of hope!
Hmm... After saving the world, he could even wear his 'yellow top, purple bottom' outfit and go treasure hunting in the antique market of the Fourth Ring. How perfect!
Thinking this, Phainon-1 happily turned, wanting to share his exciting plans with Cyrene beside him, only to find the spot next to him empty.
"Huh?" He scratched his head in confusion, looking around. "Where did Cyrene go?"
***
The Fourth Ring of Okhema was bustling with a steady stream of people, noisy and vibrant.
Cyrene-1 walked lightly beside Phaethon, curiously observing this giant, lively city so different from her memories.
She leaned closer to Phaethon, the corner of her mouth curving into a sly, somewhat coquettish arc, and said:
"Hey, Phaethon~ Are you just planning to walk along like this? Don't you intend to fulfill your duties as host and show me around this city of miracles properly?"
"This isn't the Okhema I remember anymore; it's changed so much... Aren't you afraid I might get lost by accident, or get lured away by some bad person?"
Phaethon was caught off guard by her sudden proximity and overly "enthusiastic" questioning, his steps faltering slightly.
He turned his head, looked at the familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar smiling face before him, remained silent for a moment, then somewhat awkwardly managed to say:
"Cyrene-1... aren't you being a bit too enthusiastic? It's a little... different... from before."
The smile on Cyrene-1's face faded slightly, transforming into a more complex and tender expression.
She responded softly, her voice almost drowned by the street noise yet clearly reaching Phaethon's ears:
"Is that so? Perhaps it's because I feel that if I don't take the initiative anymore, if I don't get closer to you, you're going to push me far away because of that little barrier in your heart."
She stopped walking, looking seriously into Phaethon's eyes. "Lost memories might make me seem a bit different, even a little 'strange,' but losing memories doesn't change a person's essence."
"Phaethon, believe me, I will always be that Cyrene. This will never change, no matter how many recurrence pass. ♪"
Phaethon looked at the unchanging sincerity and warmth in her eyes, and a certain block of ice in his heart seemed to melt a little.
He slowly nodded, his voice soft yet resolute. "Mm, I know, Cyrene... -1. I will think carefully about what you've said."
As the atmosphere eased a bit, Phaethon seemed to remember something and hesitantly began, "By the way... about those memories of yours from the previous cycle..."
Before he could finish, Cyrene playfully interrupted him.
She blinked those lake-blue eyes, her smile becoming bright again:
"Those scattered memories? I actually hope you'll tell me about them yourself, little by little."
"Because, compared to cold memory fragments, the past narrated by you is sure to be much warmer. ♪"
***
Just then, an eager yet excited crisp voice chimed in:
"Little Snowy! Trianne finally found you!"
Trianne fluttered her small wings, hurriedly flying up to him, her little face wearing an "I've discovered a huge secret" expression.
She lowered her voice mysteriously. "Trianne wants to secretly tell you a secret! The Dolos kitten Agy picked up—Cipher! She sneaked into your room again!"
Hearing this, Phaethon actually seemed quite calm, as if already accustomed to it. "Oh? What did she take this time? The balance coins I left in the cabinet, or those little trinket trophies from other city-states on the table?"
"It's neither!" Trianne shook her little head like a rattle-drum, her expression growing even more mysterious.
"Hmm?" Now Phaethon was genuinely a bit curious. "Then what was it?"
"Trianne saw it with her own eyes!" the little one said with certainty. "Little Cipher took a red mask from your room! Whoosh—and she was gone!"