Normally, Castorice would face the mirror, gripping branches in both hands and dancing with all her might.
"Raising my cup, I invite the bright moon; facing my shadow, we become three."
With the shadow cast on the wall and her reflection in the mirror, the three connected as if she were walking hand-in-hand with others.
Aidelia is a land of snow, so it snows heavily year-round.
Castorice ran and ran like this, forging ahead through the sky-filling snow.
But her cries and her footsteps were drowned out by the howling wind until she collapsed in the snow, turning into scattered, fading snowflakes.
And so it continued.
The third shot showed Castorice grown up; she put on a coat, bid farewell to the former elder, and silently set out on her journey.
It was a very, very long journey.
Before the eyes of Guinaifen and the others, various scenes and murals flashed by continuously.
Castorice traveled like this through war, slaughter, and bloodshed, which once even reached her hometown.
Until, many years later, she returned once more to the snow kingdom of Aidelia.
Heavy mist hung in the air, and snow fell in flurries.
Looking from afar, only rows of tombstones remained...
Castorice's palm brushed past the tombstones, but after a few steps, she suddenly encountered an old woman offering flowers before a grave.
The old woman seemed to sense something; turning her head, she blurted out in a weathered, raspy voice, "Is it... Big Sister Castorice?"
Sushang blinked and whispered, "That couldn't be the little girl who held hands with Castorice back then, could it?"
Guinaifen gave no answer.
As expected, the old woman was indeed that little girl. After recognizing Castorice, the two strolled together across a wooden stick, just as they had years ago.
Castorice's elegance remained unchanged, but the other was now old and frail.
"Everyone... is already gone."
"Responding to the call of death, they have gone to its kingdom," the old woman said regretfully.
"It is time for me, as well."
As she spoke, she looked up at the sky, staring at the drifting snow.
She said she wasn't afraid, only a little regretful.
Staring at this scene, Guinaifen and the others—especially those on the Xianzhou—had seen too many long-life species.
That was why she didn't speak.
After all, they had seen far too many stories regarding the disparity of lifespans.
"Guinaifen..."
The old woman suddenly asked Castorice, "Watching over people's deaths all this time, you must be very lonely, right?"
"You must also want to embrace someone to your heart's content when parting, right?"
There weren't many long comments in the bullet chat, but the scrolling speed was getting faster and faster.
As her voice fell.
In contrast, Castorice dropped the wooden stick in terror and backed away repeatedly.
She shook her head, her eyes full of panic and bitterness: "No, I can't. These hands are very cold..."
But then, the old woman suddenly grabbed Castorice's hand.
Under Castorice's shocked gaze, she began to wither, wilt, and decay bit by bit, yet a smile remained on her face:
"Big Sister Castorice's hands are clearly very warm, just like a normal person's..."
Tears welled up in the corners of Castorice's eyes, and her voice began to tremble.
This was the final embrace.
Just as the old woman said, embrace to your heart's content, Castorice.
In the final moment before the other vanished, Castorice seemed to hear that crystal-clear "Big Sister Castorice" from her childhood.
Then, Castorice's suppressed, unwilling sobs completely drowned out everything as the woman finally dissipated in her arms.
In a daze.
Within the dream-like memories, there was a future that had never existed.
In the grayish-white picture, a young Castorice held a wooden stick in confusion.
Suddenly!
A colorful figure ran over, grabbed her hand, and led her on a wild run.
Everyone ran and ran, going very, very far.
Laughing like that under the white light, circling around a bonfire, gathering, laughing, casting colorful silhouettes.
She once tied up the hair of a beloved elder, embraced cute companions, and guided the way for vibrant living beings.
Surrounded by a circle of children, she was presented with a flower wreath, counted the stars in the sky, and was given beautiful birthday wishes by everyone.
So many things.
So many that in the end, only a tombstone adorned with antiling flowers remained, along with a line of epitaph carved upon it—
「Every flower has once bloomed with pride」
Standing before the tombstone, Castorice covered it with her remaining cloak.
She wanted to ask if such hands were truly warm.
Clearly, no one would answer her.
So she turned around once more; this time, perhaps, for the journey of Fire Chasing.
...
And at the very end of the screen.
A deer stepped forward, bringing the story full circle.
It looked directly at the screen, signifying both death and rebirth.
"..."
"..."
Both inside and outside the livestream, it was terrifyingly quiet.
It was like the calm before the storm.
Himeko, who tracked the game's progress at all times, was the first in the Astral Express Crew to finish this part of the plot.
After being immersed in the nearly six-minute animated short, she finally spoke with a complicated mood:
"I didn't expect it to turn out like this..."
These words seemed directed at Castorice, and also at Trailblazer.
The animation's performance was so good that Himeko's eyes felt a bit dry.
Time in Amphoreus was too long; the Chrysos Heirs within seemed to carry burdens heavier than the last.
A thousand years.
For most people in the galaxy, it was still quite a long time.
And within this long span of time, always being alone, unable to touch or embrace others—Castorice's loneliness could likely even be glimpsed by IX.
As a member of the Astral Express, and with Trailblazer and Dan Heng on the scene, Himeko also sincerely hoped that the Chrysos Heirs could all pursue what they desired.
But thinking back.
"Welt seems to have sent a message; I heard Ms. Herta has already entered Amphoreus." Himeko switched to the background to scroll through her mobile phone.
This was already the best news so far.
This way, Black Swan wouldn't have to take the risk herself.
One thing at a time, though; Himeko had a bad feeling. She was very worried about the mental state of Trailblazer and Dan Heng while they were inside Amphoreus.
"The fate of this planet seems too heavy."
"I can feel that one parting after another is inevitable. I hope she, being in the middle of it, can face it calmly with her own will..."
...
"No, I can't accept this!"
"Why..."
At the same time.
Elsewhere in Amphoreus, in Okhema.
Trianne's doll was buried under the sunlight. Tribbie, Trinnon, as well as a group of Chrysos Heirs and Trailblazer, were all gathered around.
Trailblazer stared into the distance, her voice revealing intense sadness in her disbelief.
Tribbie made a saluting gesture and, accompanied by the melodious and mournful music from the sidelines, spoke softly:
"The wind of Okhema smells of sunlight..."
"You used to like it here best, right, Trianne?"
As her voice fell.
Before Castorice could speak, Phainon was the first to frown with deep grief: "Trianne Teacher, why did it turn out like this?"
"She's right, I can't accept it either! It's because I didn't protect Trianne Teacher well that this tragedy..."
Hearing Phainon's difficult tone.
This time, Trailblazer didn't act playful as usual; tears actually welled up in the corners of her eyes.
But.
"Lord Phainon, those were my lines..." Castorice's voice rang out.
"Uh, don't mind it, Castorice. As long as the effect is there, it's fine," Phainon said with a slight apology.
Tribbie and Trinnon sensed something was wrong and adapted flexibly:
"Take it easy, Little Bai. Life always has its departures; it's just that 'our' farewells aren't as violent as those of ordinary people."
"Just as when 'we' set out on our journey, Janus had already handed down the prophecy. It's only natural for 'us' to take up its fate and walk the same path."
Hearing Trinnon say this, Trailblazer's gaze became particularly determined as her breathing grew heavy.
"My Teacher, may we meet again on the other side of the west wind." Aglaea lowered her head, her eyes full of sorrow.
"Lady Trianne, may 'death' care for your soul. At that silvery beach, the journey's end, we'll see you tomorrow!"
Castorice also stepped forward, even placing that glass gemstone she had never managed to give.
At this point.
Trailblazer looked up, and tears uncontrollably slid down from her temples.
"Trianne, Trianne, Trianne... we were still one step too late."
"Also, why is there strange background music playing around here?"
Everyone: "..."
Trailblazer: இдஇ
*Sob sob*... Trianne, may we meet again in the new world you promised.
"Trianne, I can't do anything, Trianne—!"