In the end, Elysia did something rare.
She behaved.
For once, she did not rush forward with her usual whirlwind enthusiasm, did not immediately latch onto someone without considering whether her warmth might frighten them.
Instead, she stood quietly and listened for a while.
Only after some time did she wander to the balcony, pull a pair of binoculars from her suitcase, and watch as the mother and daughters chatted and laughed their way out of the hotel.
A woman dressed like an attendant respectfully opened the car door. The three of them entered the back seat one by one.
When the door shut completely, that warm little scene vanished from her lens.
"Looks like the next few days are going to be boring."
Elysia tossed the binoculars onto a wicker chair and leaned lazily over the cool railing.
The faint night breeze carried the city's distant clamor and brushed her cheek, lifting the strands of hair by her ear.
Her legs crossed loosely. Pale skin shimmered faintly under the neon lights.
"…The wind in this city is a little cold."
She sighed softly, twirling a wind-tangled strand of pink hair around her finger.
"Wrapped in dazzling neon, yet it smells just like Siberia. A touch of loneliness… and something lifeless that refuses to fade."
Siberia and this city, though worlds apart, felt strangely similar.
There was no threat of Honkai here, and yet conflict still lurked beneath the surface.
Schicksal. Anti-Entropy. The Unified Government.
Powerful Anti-Entropy wore the label of terrorist organization largely because they favored mechanized warfare and constantly clashed with Schicksal.
As for the Unified Government, they were less an impartial observer and more a bystander lacking the strength to intervene. In terms of technology, they lagged far behind the other two.
The true hegemon was undeniably Schicksal, upheld by the three great families: Apocalypse, Kaslana, and Schariac.
"Sigh…"
Elysia gazed at the interwoven neon lights and thought of Cocolia's identity, her brows knitting slightly.
Alignments themselves were manageable. But there was one thing she could not ignore.
Her adoptive mother was a leading hawk within Anti-Entropy, someone who advocated direct confrontation and clashed with Schicksal on a near-daily basis.
She had only learned this truth a couple of years ago.
That special status complicated matters.
It made her desire to approach the girls of Schicksal far more troublesome than it should have been.
"I wonder how long I can play around on Schicksal's turf… Hmm. My background has probably already been investigated thoroughly. I do wonder what expression that person made after reading my file. It must have been adorable."
Two years ago, she had deliberately tweaked her personal file to make herself seem cuter.
Perhaps she would revise it again someday. Add a little more charm to her identity.
That had been back when she accompanied Cocolia to Anti-Entropy's headquarters and met the legendary Sovereign of Anti-Entropy.
Who would guess that someone commanding such a vast power would, after setting aside that mantle, resemble a gentle schoolteacher with warm eyes and an easy smile?
Her interactions with him had not been extensive.
And yet, from the beginning, he had placed great expectations on her, even suggesting she be considered a potential successor.
Elysia had waved that idea away with a laugh.
Heavy responsibilities bored her.
Rather than be trapped at the top of a rigid hierarchy, bound by rules and expectations, she wanted to be a traveler.
To wander freely.
To see the world.
To tell her story to anyone willing to pause and listen.
"Heh…"
Perhaps the drifting memories made her tired.
She let out a soft laugh and returned to her room.
She fell face-first onto the plush bed. The blankets swallowed her instantly.
Fatigue surged like a tide. Before she could even stretch her curled legs, her eyes closed and she sank into sleep.
In her dream, she found herself in a paradise.
The paradise she had always longed for.
—
Morning came with warm sunlight slipping through the curtains and landing squarely on her eyelids.
"Mm…"
She waved a hand lazily, trying to block the light.
Then she arched her back and rubbed her messy pink hair before fumbling for her phone.
"…Hm?"
When the screen lit up, her eyes widened slightly.
"It's already ten? I haven't slept that deeply in ages."
She stretched luxuriously, the bed creaking softly.
"Well then. Time to tidy up and head out."
In front of the mirror, she gathered her pink hair into a fluffy ponytail and dabbed her face dry with a towel.
The girl reflected in the glass still carried traces of youth, but her features were already soft and refined. Her fair skin glowed with a natural blush. Her lips were rosy without the need for gloss.
Soon the room filled with soft rustling.
She sifted through dresses on the bed, then darted into the bathroom to compare hair clips and earrings.
Finally, she sat at the vanity and brushed on a touch of light makeup, just enough to hide the faint traces of sleeplessness.
By the time she finished, the clock had crept to eleven thirty.
"Perfect. Meanwhile, Big Sister Bronya is probably still in bed at this hour."
She chuckled and decided not to disturb her.
Pulling a light brown trench coat over her shoulders, placing a wide-brimmed hat on her head, and sliding on a pair of sunglasses that concealed most of her face, she inspected herself once more.
Satisfied, she stepped out.
Her first stop was a dessert shop.
Moments later, she emerged carrying a delicate cake box. After the owner's cheerful farewell, she slipped into a nearby tea café.
Unable to wait, she lifted a forkful of strawberry mousse.
The cream melted on her tongue, mingling with fruit sweetness.
She closed her eyes in bliss.
"…Even sweeter than the ones back home."
The dark lenses hid her curved eyes but not her delight.
Just as she lifted her spoon to try the matcha mille crepe, the voice of a lively host sounded from a neighboring table's phone.
Elysia glanced over casually.
On the screen was news of Eden's European charity performance.
And the venue was this very city.
She had long heard of Eden and had seen her on television. The woman hailed as the Pearl of the East.
Noble and radiant features. Poised and elegant demeanor.
Exactly her aesthetic.
"My luck is incredible!"
She slapped the table in excitement, nearly knocking over her tea.
The nearby guests stared in alarm.
Elysia did not notice.
There was no way she could miss this concert.
Better yet, perhaps she could secure her idol's contact information.
She paid in a hurry, grabbed her coat, lowered her hat, adjusted her sunglasses. If she were a little taller, she might have passed for a private detective.
By the time she reached the ticket booth, a long line already stretched to the end of the street.
Every person clutched promotional flyers bearing Eden's image.
She was far from the only one drawn here by admiration.
"Such influence. As expected of Eden~"
Hehe…
I wonder when Eden will become my Eden?
The thought slipped out as a quiet laugh.
…
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