At the end of the story.
It was that sea of flowers again.
Before they even had time to cheer for the victory of the Citizens Assembly, Guinaifen and Sushang's perspective returned to the Underworld.
At that moment.
Not just them, but several members of the Astral Express were also paying close attention to this scene.
Stelle woke up alone and dazed in a sea of flowers.
In the next glance back, Castorice appeared beside her.
"Your Excellency, let's reintroduce ourselves."
Castorice's voice was gentle and soft: "My name in the mortal world is Castorice. Now, I am the Demigod of Death, the Life Aspect of Thanatos..."
"Welcome to The End of the West Wind, my Underworld."
Silence.
After a brief moment of silence.
"This is The End of the West Wind?" Seeing Castorice, Guinaifen felt a sense of strangeness and shock. "The The End of the West Wind Tribbie mentioned is the Underworld?"
"I thought it was just an abstract concept, but it actually exists."
"Mom, I'm finally done with my scenes!"
Option one: Stelle smiles.
To this, Castorice only joked, "You're as energetic as ever."
"Do you know, Your Excellency..."
Castorice spread her hands and began to softly introduce the sea of flowers in the Underworld to Stelle.
Legend has it that these flowers were personally sown by Thanatos, nourished by souls and drizzle, only to wither and die at the end, eventually ascending to the sky.
Just like every soul here, they will cycle through different forms in reincarnation until the end of the world.
This is the truth behind the cycle of life and death in Amphoreus.
As the one who sowed the souls, Castorice prepared to open the gates of the Underworld and send Stelle back to the world of the living.
The exchange was for Stelle to bring back the Spark of Death and complete the Journey of Chasing the Fire.
Seeing that Stelle was about to be resurrected, everyone in front of the screen felt joyful.
But suddenly, options popped up on one side of the screen.
[I promise you.]
[You... aren't you going back?]
[What is the price?]
Guinaifen's dazed expression froze.
That's right. Previously, to reverse life and death, Polyxia forcibly brought Castorice back to the mortal world, and the price paid was being trapped in the Underworld in eternal loneliness.
Her finger hovered over the options for a while before she finally chose:
"What is the price?"
Hearing this, Castorice shook her head and comforted her, "Don't worry. Rejecting death is inherently the divine authority of Thanatos. Moreover, Your Excellency's soul has not dissipated, so this isn't a resurrection from the dead."
"Then, aren't you going back?" Stelle continued to ask, a hint of sadness in her expression.
At this moment, as if sensing something, Guinaifen couldn't help but fall silent.
"Yes."
Without a doubt, Castorice nodded.
But as if it were a common occurrence, she still spoke calmly: "Just like the other demigods, I must remain here and embrace my own fate."
[?]
[?]
[?]
[...]
[What the hell? Are you kidding me?!]
[Aren't you coming home for dinner, Little Die? Didn't we agree to see each other tomorrow? How can we see each other tomorrow if you stay here!]
[Is this for real? Can the Demigod of Death not leave the Underworld?]
[At the end of the flower sea, the souls of the living shall warm your fingertips; after the embrace comes eternal parting...]
[Wait, could it be...]
[I initially thought Castorice's 'changing fate' meant resurrecting Stelle. It turns out the 'eternal parting' she mentioned meant staying in the Underworld herself. This way, even if Stelle is reborn, the oracle is still fulfilled?!]
Until the very last moment, few people had made the connection.
The final form in which this oracle was fulfilled would be so cruel and lonely.
It turned out Castorice never intended to change Stelle; her ultimate goal from the start was to be separated from Stelle by the boundary of life and death.
This way, even if Stelle didn't have to die, it could still be called an eternal parting.
Castorice's mind was made up, for the sake of the Journey of Chasing the Fire and for the only life she could save in this existence.
Stelle had no reason to refuse.
"The whispers of death are sweet and tranquil. If your will is insufficient, you will be held fast by the long arms of the Underworld," Castorice warned.
"I will do my best," Stelle responded.
Then, in the next second.
The road home opened.
When Stelle turned around once more, several familiar voices and memories appeared at a corner of the flower sea path.
"Stelle, over here, over here!" Was that March 7th?
"Keep walking, don't look back." And Dan Heng.
In the haze.
Those were memory fragments of the first time March 7th and Dan Heng woke Stelle.
Noticing this scene, Himeko couldn't help but feel a sense of relief, her lips curling up unconsciously.
But then a question suddenly arose.
How long had it been since March and Dan Heng first met Stelle?!
Even a veteran fan of the Astral Express couldn't possibly replicate the live footage directly.
"Don't tell me even memories have been invaded..." Himeko sighed.
Fortunately, the other party didn't seem to pose any threat.
Even Old Yang's voice followed, along with Himeko's own encouragement!
Welt: "I believe in you, Stelle."
Himeko: "Go forward, the Astral Express will be with you."
"Is that my voice?"
Himeko felt a warmth in her heart after the surprise, momentarily setting aside her previous doubts.
This was Stelle's truest side.
In her heart, everyone on the Astral Express was always at the very front.
As she continued forward, the voices of Kafka and Firefly rang out one after another.
Until the Chrysos Heirs at the end of the road.
"Hold your head high! Let's walk toward tomorrow together with 'us'!"
"That's right, toward where the dawn rises."
"Forward! Let me see your courage."
"partner, together with me—let's become heroes."
There were Trianne, Aglaea, Mydei, and Phainon.
And at the end of the path was Castorice, holding Stelle's memory fragments.
And...
A fleeting flash of red!
Just as Stelle felt the urge to look back, Guinaifen noticed that all the options on the right side of the screen had suddenly turned red?
"Don't look back, look forward!"
In a daze, a woman in a purple and white coat appeared from behind.
She walked forward with her arms crossed:
"Do not be afraid. At the end of that road, there will always be a dash of red."
"It will guide your way out. That way, you will surely be able to reunite under the sunlight."
With that said.
Various scenes from the past emerged one by one.
From Belobog to the Xianzhou, to Penacony, and finally to Amphoreus.
But at this moment, the bullet chat was in an uproar.
[Who? Who is this? Why don't I recognize her?]
[It's probably a memory fragment of Stelle's, but as a most loyal fan of the Express, there's no way I wouldn't know someone!]
[This shouldn't be right. I study everyone associated with the Trailblazer and every place she goes, yet I have zero impression of this purple-haired lady!]
[Is she another one of Stelle's former comrades?]
Before Himeko could be shocked by this scene, the next one to be hit hard would be Old Yang.
"All of this is the proof that you once lived~♪"
The voice of three question marks rang out in the void.
Old Yang couldn't hold his breath.
What was that sound?!
Elysia...
"So, go forward. Do not stop your steps. Do not fail her sacrifice and everything that once walked with you—"
The voice faded.
At the end of the white light, a little pink elf fluttered.
"Good partner, over here—!"
She smiled gently, her tone soft and sweet, tilting her head as she reached out a small hand:
"Take my hand, let's go home together—!"