And after the silence...
Carrying a sorrowful mood, everyone still had no choice but to move forward.
So, Phainon organized a citizen's speech, announced Aglaea's death, and led the citizens in a silent farewell for her.
"She was the garment reformer of Okhema, the leader of the Chrysos Heirs, 'Golden Weaver' Aglaea, and the greatest feat of her life—"
"—was to become a selfless person."
Phainon said thus.
With solemnity and affirmation.
Countless people clasped their hands together, offering their final remembrance for Aglaea.
In an instant, within Phainon's blurred consciousness, the figures of those long gone appeared one after another.
There was Anaxa, who had already taken Trianne and was gradually fading into the distance; there was Castorice, standing with her back against the blue sky; and there was Aglaea, whose form dissipated into light.
They each bid farewell to Phainon.
Phainon also silently responded to their expectations.
Trianne said: "Little Bai was so cute and kind when he was young, and now he's not as cute? But still very kind!"
"So, your light is dazzling! Keep it up, maintain it!"
Her voice was still so sweet and simple: "Goodbye, Little Bai~"
Anaxa said: "The Golden Descendant corresponding to Kefale... I really didn't expect you to be made of this stuff back when I pressed your head in the classroom to memorize formulas."
His tone was still overbearing: "Hah, truly unteachable. In the next life, let me properly teach you how to bear the duties of a deity."
And Castorice: "Lord Phainon, I experienced for the first time in you what friendship between ordinary people is like, even dangerously so, to the point where I occasionally forgot the power I possess."
She was as cold yet gentle as ever: "But please don't apologize, because despite that, the times we spent together still bring me great joy when I look back."
Finally, it was Aglaea's turn.
In her final moments, she was still concerned about the citizens of Okhema and entrusted Phainon with the decision to initiate the miracle of creation, to be returned to the people of Amphoreus.
As for what she had to say to Phainon...
"Even if only in your imagination, I'm not good at showing my vulnerable side," Aglaea admitted.
"Ha... it's fine. I've long known just how difficult it is to get you to say a single, completely unguarded, heartfelt word."
In response, Phainon whispered without surprise: "Thank you for bringing me here, Aglaea... you saved me."
But what Aglaea wanted to save was never Phainon, but this crumbling world.
She gave her final farewell to Phainon: "Goodbye, Phainon."
Phainon replied one by one:
"Goodbye, Aglaea."
"Goodbye, Teacher Anaxa."
"Goodbye, Teacher Trianne~"
"Goodbye, Castorice."
Farewells were uttered one after another.
Until everyone gradually dissipated, heading towards the end of the west wind, to the other shore of the sky sea, a red figure suddenly flickered.
"Hmph, forgot someone?"
He made his entrance with a hint of flippancy and arrogance.
Without a doubt, it was Mydei!
Phainon also responded with an equally flippant tone: "It's not like we're parting forever, you're just going to guard the gate at Kremnos City. Don't butt into such a tear-jerking occasion."
"Hah, you still know how to be unpleasant," Mydei chuckled.
In this rare meeting, the two agreed that one day they must have another match.
"See you later, Phainon of Aedes Elysiae."
"It's a promise, Mydmos."
Staring at the farewells on the screen again and again, Guinaifen and Sushang, for once, nestled together.
"Xiao Guizi, why didn't you notify me when I was coming?"
"Gave me an instant emotional explosion?!" Sushang sniffled while complaining.
She had just entered; what she expected wasn't news of Mydei's death, nor Hyacine's or Mao Mao's, but directly saw Aglaea falling into the bath pool!
At first, it was just shock, until the arrangements and last words after her death hit home with full force.
It was simply too regrettable and moving.
And the most heartbreaking one, Phainon!
When they first met, the other party seemed quite optimistic.
Until, after one farewell after another, Phainon's sense of responsibility and aura grew daily, but the smile on his face gradually vanished completely.
This meant he had truly transformed.
But the players in front of the screen knew he had also lost a great, great deal...
Of course, the next second.
It wasn't over yet!
"What a sorrowful, yet brilliant journey..."
"And it's not over yet, right?"
[That voice again?!]
[Wow, the character who only lives in the PV appeared again! Cyrene, it's Cyrene!]
[Cyrene gave Phainon a divination before? So Phainon already had the title of savior back then!]
The moment the remnant image and voice of a pink-haired girl appeared, the barrage instantly flooded the screen!
Players realized Cyrene was almost becoming a cyber ghost?
Clearly, the story said she had been dead for over a decade, yet in PVs, easter eggs, and memories, her figure seemed to appear everywhere?
What else could she be but a cyber female ghost!
...
"What else could it be? Of course, she'll become a cute, beautiful girl♪"
"Starting from the last version, haven't my appearances been increasing?"
"First stuttering when speaking, then being able to speak fluently, the next step should be for me to grow up, right~?"
Amphoreus.
Xu Qiong Bath Palace. Cyrene lay on a lounge chair next to Xu Qiong, stretching out five fingers as she gazed at the ceiling and spoke leisurely.
"Huh?" Xu Qiong turned her head, wearing an expression of surprise, "Guessed so accurately? How did you know you're about to become an adult?!"
Xu Qiong looked at Cyrene and joked, "But it's also thanks to you being so patient, not having a single bit of temper."
"Kaiser, noticing her absence in the ongoing plot, has reminded me several times."
"I'm really afraid she'll make me split into five routes to fight the black tide..."
Xu Qiong made a shuddering motion.
Then, on the other side, Cyrene did a sideways roll, propping up her chin with her arm.
Then, she stared straight at Xu Qiong:
"That's because, I'm very good at waiting, just like waiting for my great hero♪"
"And even though my full form wasn't shown, Mimi has been accompanying from beginning to end, so it's about time to grow up, right~"
Xu Qiong choked up a bit.
Not knowing how to reply, she just waved her hand and emphasized: "Cyrene, you really should be more careful of werewolves."
"Seers usually get killed very miserably, you know!"
"Heehee~"
The corners of Cyrene's eyes curved into a beautiful crescent shape as she smiled.
She gave Xu Qiong a playful wink.
"If there really is a werewolf who wants to kill me, my partner will definitely do their utmost to protect me, right?"
"So I feel very at ease~"
Hearing this, Xu Qiong shrugged, thinking, "Who would dare?"
What kind of werewolf would be so reckless?
Charging up to throw an elbow at a Fuli cosplayer!
Whether to protect or not aside, given the current conventional strength, he might not even be able to beat this pink, sparkling, seemingly easy-to-bully pink puppy in front of him!
"Hmm..." Xu Qiong stroked her chin, calculating as she answered, "Cyrene, you're so good at divination, why don't you divine whether I will or not?"
"Like, do I have a divine revelation specifically related to you, or you can make one up for me on the spot."
"My partner actually wants to know this?"
Cyrene tilted her head, suddenly beaming: "There really is one!"
"There really is?" Xu Qiong feigned surprise, then said expectantly, "Actually, I thought of a divine revelation for myself too, but I'd rather hear what revelation you have for me?"
"If my partner wants to know, I'll tell~"
Cyrene extended a little index finger, then suddenly sat up from the lounge chair, gradually moving closer to Xu Qiong:
"But..."
"Divination requires reading facial features, palm lines, and meridians, so..." Cyrene smiled mysteriously, then quite happily pounced, "You have to let me touch you properly~!"
"Wait..."
"When you divined for Castorice and Phainon, why wasn't there this step? Didn't you just draw cards?"
"Hee~ You're special to me, don't be shy, come on♪"
"Wait, wait."
"Don't come over, aah——!"