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"Sweetheart, time for bed."
Within the illusion, a cozy Russian-style room, Bronya lay on her bed next to a new Homu doll. A woman resembling Bronya but with a gentler appearance waved warmly at her before preparing to leave, softly closing the door behind.
This was the fantasy world crafted by Ana, reflecting what Bronya deeply desired.
In truth, to breach Bronya's psychological defenses and find her vulnerability, the most effective approach would have been through Seele.
And Bai Zhi could have easily exploited this, as she knew Seele intimately, both Veliona and Seele alike.
However, she chose not to. After all, this was just a test, not a life-or-death situation.
Instead, Bai Zhi aimed to partially fill the emotional void in Bronya's heart through this method. As it turned out, her expectations were met.
Bronya became fully immersed in the illusion.
As Alexandra Pavlovna Zaychik departed, darkness enveloped the room once more. Bronya closed her eyes, her face filled with tranquility.
In the darkness, Bai Zhi's figure quietly emerged, gazing at Bronya on the bed with a soft sigh.
"Getting lost in illusions isn't like you, Bronya."
"Isn't this what Teacher Bai Zhi desired?" Bronya countered from her bed.
Bai Zhi fell silent, taken aback by Bronya's unexpected defiance. However...
"When did you first suspect?"
"From the very beginning."
"Teacher Bai Zhi, you're not adept at playing the villain. There's no malice in you; Bronya knows there must be some underlying reason for your actions."
"Moreover, regarding Authorities, yours surpasses that of the Herrscher of Sentience. Given your understanding of me, I expected you to approach through Seele, but you didn't."
"You also know well that when it comes to my mother...I only remember Cocolia."
"But after hearing Hare's descriptions about her, I now feel..."
Bronya trailed off without finishing her sentence.
In truth, Bronya had no emotional attachment or memories of her original mother. She tacitly considered herself an orphan but never felt abandoned by her parents, considering Siberia had just endured the Second Honkai Eruption at that time.
Cocolia's Orphanage primarily took in children who survived the Second Honkai Eruption. Although Bronya was an exception, she too was essentially adopted as an orphan and ultimately trained to become an assassin.
However, she never imagined having such a revered and extraordinary mother whose life she owed for her own existence.
Bronya's situation differed from Durandal's; she didn't have a missing past, only absent parents.
Therefore, upon learning everything, it was natural for her to yearn for the warmth of family ties.
"..."
Bai Zhi fell silent for a moment before lifting her head again.
"In that case, I do have another piece of information to share with you. You may have heard about it, or perhaps not."
"Is it related to my father?"
Bronya was highly perceptive, which wasn't surprising given her circumstances. Now that she knew about her mother, it naturally led to speculations about her father.
"Speaking of your birth parents, they have quite a significant connection with Mother Cocolia."
"Cocolia..." Bronya softly murmured this name, deeply meaningful for her. Even now, she couldn't entirely escape its influence. However, Cocolia had been brought before a military tribunal, and Bronya didn't know where she might be at present.
In any case, it seemed unlikely they would ever meet again, nor did Bronya feel the need to do so. The actions Cocolia took against herself, her friends, and family were unforgivable throughout her lifetime.
"Your father's name was Alexey; he was a Colonel and also Cocolia's direct superior in the military."
"At that time, Cocolia was a highly principled officer who used her meager income to support the orphanage. Eventually, she reported your father."
"As a result, Cocolia ended up imprisoned," Ana recounted matter-of-factly.
During that era in Siberia, corruption, embezzlement, and black-market arms trading were rampant, often involving collusion across ranks. Bronya's father was merely one cog in this system, but Cocolia chose to expose him, perhaps due to her naive ideals.
Bronya's father was merely one piece of this corruption, yet Cocolia chose to report it all. One could only say she was overly naive at that time.
"Later, your father took your mother to visit this subordinate, and during their meeting, the Second Honkai Eruption occurred."
"The prison where Cocolia was incarcerated collapsed. Your father perished on the spot, entrusting your mother to Cocolia before his final breath."
Ana calmly recounted the events. Of course, Cocolia couldn't be faulted for her actions; in a sense, she had done her utmost under those circumstances. During the chaos of the Second Honkai, managing to safely evacuate Bronya's mother was already commendable.
"I see, thank you for sharing this information, Teacher Bai Zhi."
Bronya nodded, appreciating the clear distinction between right and wrong. Although she sensed that Teacher Bai Zhi didn't harbor much fondness towards Cocolia, objectively, no additional negative details were added to the story.
"But, Teacher Bai Zhi, how did you come to know all this?"
After a brief silence, Bronya asked the question weighing on her mind.
"Well..." Bai Zhi's eyes flickered momentarily. She initially wanted to say that she had known this information before her transmigration, but such a claim would be too extraordinary and unsuitable for disclosure. So...
"A good question indeed. This is precisely the truth you must confront next, your ultimate test." Bai Zhi chuckled softly. In any case, attributing everything to the Divine Self seemed plausible enough, after all, It embodies omniscience.
"Bronya, are you prepared to face the upcoming trials and truths?"
"Of course." Bronya took a deep breath.
"But... Teacher Bai Zhi, please let me feel her warmth one last time. Thank you..."
"Mm-hmm."
Bai Zhi nodded, sighing inwardly. At heart, Bronya was still a child longing for love. Despite having friends now and even family like Seele, the void left by the absence of her parents could not be filled so easily.
Moreover, Raiden Mei still has her father, as does Kiana, while Bronya remains alone. What about Welt?
Well, perhaps it's something to consider in the future, but currently, he hasn't fully recovered from the shadow cast by Otto. Besides, Welt primarily serves more as a mentor figure.
In the Golden Courtyard of the Elysian Realm.
Today was a special day for everyone here. The film directed by renowned filmmaker Ana had finally wrapped up, leaving only anticipation for its release.
However, that wasn't the main focus. What truly mattered was the live broadcast playing on the Golden Courtyard's television, titled - "Raiden Mei vs. Thirteen Heroic Spirits."
Unsurprisingly, this production was once again helmed by Ana herself. After today's premiere, it would be aired globally, well, specifically for the digital lifeforms to watch.
For the Heroic Spirits of the Golden Courtyard, such unity hadn't been seen since their last movie-making endeavor. With Eden constantly traveling around Eden's World, Aponia working night shifts, and Kevin occasionally needing overtime with Sakura, it made this gathering exceptionally rare.
"Stay focused! Don't let your mind wander during battle!"
On the screen, Elysia displayed a joyful smile before embracing the nearby Ana warmly.
"Oh dear, you know me so well! Love you too!"
"It certainly feels very much like Elysia," commented Eden from the side.
On the sidelines, Eden smiled and chimed in with her commentary. However, her gaze wasn't fixed on the TV screen but rather on the two individuals beside her. For Eden, shipping characters was far more entertaining than simply watching the live broadcast.
Although it appeared that she shared a close bond with Raiden Mei, in reality, Eden treated everyone similarly. As a public figure and artist, her demeanor remained elegant and gentle. Unless absolutely necessary, she rarely displayed any distinct emotions.
Contrary to this impression, the Eden on-screen held a musket, unleashing rapid fire upon Raiden Mei. While lacking sufficient damage due to Corruption Ana's influence, both the intensity and firepower were undeniably impressive—clearly showcasing her prowess as a formidable battlefield elite.
Indeed, despite her usual grace and gentleness, once engaged in combat, Eden transformed into an exceptionally fierce fighter. The weapon in her hand might resemble a musket, but its rate of fire was akin to a machine gun or submachine gun.
By Eden's side stood Aponia, who didn't adopt her aggressive stance from the Elysian Realm. Instead, she clasped her hands together prayerfully. Though it seemed like she wasn't actively participating, in truth, she had already made her move.
These were Commandments. Although typically associated with Aponia, Mei had already analyzed them extensively. The Divine Sounds emanating from Hua's body were actually derived from these Commandments.
Naturally, Corruption Ana's creations showcased their original potency to its fullest extent.
In response, Aponia merely clasped her hands together in prayer without uttering a word.
"Long time no see, little lab rat."
Upon hearing this voice, Mobius, watching on TV, furrowed her brow slightly. Nearby, the Heroic Spirits looked at her with amusement. Presently, Mobius had regained her original form, making her current shrunken state akin to a dark chapter in her past.
Mobius simply lowered her head, remaining silent. What was there to say? At that moment, she felt somewhat inclined to beat up her past self—though it couldn't truly be called her past self, as the present version could arguably be considered the real past.
"Pleased to meet you, Raiden Mei."
Hua's demeanor remained calm and unassuming, just like her attacks. As countless shadows of fists filled the sky, heading straight for Raiden Mei, it was evident that she meant business. One can only expect such unwavering commitment from Hua during these trials.
While some took the challenge seriously, others were completely coasting through it. As one side battled fiercely, Pardo lay snoozing under a tree nearby.
"Fight Sister Mei? No way I'm wasting my energy on that; I'll just surrender straight away." In her deep slumber, Pardo turned over and mumbled sleepily.
"Meow!"
Can beside her echoed with a purr, seemingly in agreement.
"What a pity, my Can is gone now."
Witnessing this scene, Pardo in the Garden of Eden shook her head regretfully. After the reformation of the Garden, unique entities like Can disappeared. However, in the Golden Courtyard, Pardo still cared for several cats.
Most of the time, these cats stayed outside the garden or within designated cat houses. Of course, the real-world Pardo didn't have any pets either.
The existence of Can likely stemmed from her fusion with the Superior Evolution Factor and her past experiences. Can was essentially a reflection of Pardo herself.
But as Pardo embarked on a new life, the original Can became unnecessary and vanished. The residual data was then utilized by Ana to create the cats in this world.
It could be said that every cat within the current Elysian Realm has some connection to Pardo.
Beside Pardo, another figure sat cross-legged, none other than Su.
Su's eyes remained closed, a faint smile on his face. Although he didn't actively engage, if Raiden Mei were to attack him, she wouldn't fare well. In essence, Su's ability, the Karmic Wheel, is incredibly powerful.
Adjacent to Su, Kevin leaned against a large tree, silent and composed. For him, this farce did not warrant intervention. As for whether Raiden Mei would suspect Corruption Ana was hidden within Kevin's illusion?
It mattered little to Kevin; regardless, he maintained his stance.
In reality, both Kevin and Su remained uncharacteristically quiet. Especially Su, who appeared as though watching TV but with his eyes closed.
"So, Su, can you really see everything clearly even with your eyes shut?" Observing this scene, Ana couldn't resist asking a question that had puzzled her for quite some time.
"I perceive through mental energy and intuition; sometimes, what you see with your eyes may not be the truth," Su gently explained.
Meanwhile, Kevin remained silent as well, but his eyes sparkled differently compared to before. Just like his counterpart in reality, he had shed those burdens and titles, once again reunited with Mei. Naturally, this allowed him to overcome his self-imposed isolation.
Without that isolation, he was still the outgoing young man he used to be.
"Roar, Kosma!" Little Griseo suddenly exclaimed on the screen, prompting the artificially fallen Kosma to join the battlefield.
All eyes immediately turned towards Kosma, who scratched his head, somewhat troubled. He wanted to explain, but felt any justification would seem weak. In the end, he decided to remain quiet, as that's just how Kosma was.
In reality, within the present Garden of Eden, although Kosma still tended to be reserved, he spoke more frequently than before—a significant improvement from his past behavior.
After all, there was no longer a need to overthink everything; simply following one's heart sufficed.