Regarding what Reveria was feeling.
The reactions from 'Saber' and Ruan Mei varied.
If anything, it was all a bit... upside down.
After all, the normal process involved practicing the Path first and obtaining power later—except for unique Path types like Propagation or Nihility. Every other Path followed that rule.
Even as a fallback, the Aeon would usually have to personally shove the power into you.
But now, thanks to the Elation Saint Graph that 'Saber' had tinkered with, it had become a case of "boarding the train first and buying the ticket later."
Moreover, the power wasn't even sourced directly from an Aeon. It made the whole affair feel quite novel.
"This is an unexpected discovery. To gain power first, only to have that power influence the self in reverse..."
Ruan Mei recorded today's experimental data.
The power of Elation stimulated an individual's desire to pursue joy in this manner.
Was it because of the nature of Elation itself, or was this an inherent effect of Path power?
While Nihility exhibited similar phenomena, Nihility was infectious by nature. Elation possessed no such quality.
'Saber' was also quite surprised.
After obtaining the power of Elation, her lifespan had increased significantly, yet no such impulses had been born within her.
Was it because Aha had given it to her directly? But was there really a big difference between getting it through a Saint Graph and having it stuffed into you by Aha? Or was there some other reason?
Unable to find a breakthrough for the moment, 'Saber' spoke up: "How does your body feel?"
"Um... no obvious sensations, but I think it feels a bit better?" Reveria said, sounding uncertain.
Although the Saint Graph merging into her body made her feel stronger, more energetic, and more mentally sharp, the Entropy Loss Syndrome hadn't noticeably receded the way it did when joining a Swarm collective.
If she had to describe it, it just felt... more comfortable.
It left Reveria somewhat bewildered. To verify things, she decisively chose to disengage her armor.
As the armor retracted, the young girl landed on the ground in her familiar combat suit.
She took the initiative to place the testing equipment against herself.
At the same time, she pulled a broken camera lens from her personal space, using it to observe the Entropy Loss monitoring device in detail.
"Come to think of it, I've liked observing the world through a lens like this since a long time ago."
"That lens looks ancient. Is it even still working?" 'Saber' sized up the camera. It was very old, and if she recalled correctly, it was supposed to be broken.
Glancing down at the instrument the lens was pointed at, the readings shifted constantly.
Based on the results, the symptoms of Entropy Loss were still occurring, but the severity had dropped significantly.
Clearly, the power of Elation was having a visible effect, though it wasn't enough to completely suppress the syndrome.
Still, any effect was good news; at least it proved this research direction wasn't in vain.
One had to wonder, if Reveria could truly grasp a sliver of the "meaning" of Elation, if the effects would become even better.
Reveria didn't seem to have much of a reaction to the result.
Instead, she answered 'Saber''s question: "It was already broken when I found it. But for me, it's not about recording anything. I just feel that by changing my perspective, everything feels completely different. It's the same with these glasses."
Reveria reached up and pushed her red-framed glasses.
For a clone, physiological issues like nearsightedness or farsightedness that could affect combat naturally didn't exist.
'Saber' nodded and exchanged a look with Ruan Mei.
"As it stands, the power of Elation within the Saint Graph seems to be working. However, it's hard to say if actually pursuing Elation would truly suppress the Entropy Loss."
"If you want my advice, you can stay with the Swarm and wait a bit longer. Compared to Elation, things should be much simpler once I get my hands on the power of Permanence."
Given the current situation, now that the effectiveness of the Path Saint Graph was confirmed, she just needed to make a trip to the Fanghu to borrow some power from Xuanquan.
As for the Luofu's new High Elder... it wasn't out of the question, but she felt that actually going there to borrow power would be a huge hassle.
Since she didn't need specific remains or physical tissues to carry the power, many things became much more convenient.
'Saber''s suggestion was sound, and Ruan Mei had no objections.
Besides, if they could actually secure a Saint Graph of Permanence, Ruan Mei could benefit as well by studying that ancient Path.
She wanted to see if the inability to reproduce normally was truly related to Propagation.
Reveria, looking a bit embarrassed, twirled one of her twin-tails resting on her shoulder.
"Would that be too much trouble for you...? You've done so much for me, and I don't even know how to repay you. Plus... I'm actually a bit interested in the Path of Elation."
'Saber' didn't care much about the first half. It wasn't that big of a deal anyway, and besides, she was a white-haired beauty to boot.
What was wrong with showing a little care? If she hadn't missed the chance to rescue the Queen of Glamoth, she probably would have spirited the entire Iron Cavalry back home.
But that second half...
"You're actually interested in Elation?? You're not going to become a Masked Fool, are you?"
"Well... I know the reputation the Masked Fools have in the universe. I don't intend to become a 'jester.' It's just... in the past, even after I left the Cavalry, I was still just drifting. I didn't know what I wanted or where I should go."
Reveria looked toward 'Saber'.
"Even this name was a gift from you. 'A slow boat, a lucid dream, weighing down the river of stars'... what a beautiful image. I too hope that one day, my beautiful dreams can truly adorn the starry sky."
Perhaps the Masked Fools were too flighty and chaotic, making the Path of Elation always seem so dangerous.
But Reveria felt it wasn't necessarily so.
Madam Bai Ming possessed such formidable power, yet she didn't come across as dangerous or a mere prankster, did she? Even within Elation, there were groups like the Mourning Actors.
She wanted to try following that impulse in her heart—to give herself meaning in this meaningless world.
Just as Madam Bai Ming had bestowed upon her a name full of beautiful expectations, she wanted to bestow a meaning of existence upon her own life.
Hearing her reasoning, 'Saber's' expression became a bit complicated.
Well... how to put it? That kind of mindset was actually quite suited for the Astral Express.
The problem was that before Reveria could encounter the Express, she had been stuffed with a piece of Elation Saint Graph. She had encountered the power of Elation first.
Now, Elation was clearly exerting its influence, and Reveria wanted to follow the first "meaning" she had come into contact with.
Under these circumstances, she couldn't exactly deny her or crush Reveria's subjective initiative.
"That's fine. It's a good thing to have your own thoughts. Let me fix that camera for you."
'Saber' smiled and reached out, taking the salvaged camera.
The technology was quite standard, and the lens was old. However, it was an easy fix—the kind of thing the local Smart AI could iterate on with ease.
She spent a bit of time repairing the camera while simultaneously observing the progress of the Entropy Loss Syndrome.
At first, the syndrome was progressing normally. The green patterns spreading across Reveria's body were expanding as expected.
But then, something strange happened. The Entropy Loss was taking effect slowly, making it look as though the symptoms were easing.
However, detailed testing revealed that the situation wasn't simply a matter of suppressing the syndrome. It was another, very strange state.
The Entropy Loss itself was still functioning normally, but there was another force mending Reveria's existence at the same time the syndrome took effect.
Because the efficiency of the mending couldn't keep up with the Entropy Loss, the outward state appeared as though the syndrome was being suppressed.
Without a doubt, this mending force could only come from Elation.
Regardless of whether Reveria's thoughts were triggering this power or if Elation was acting on its own—hypothetically, if the mending efficiency of Elation could match or exceed the onset of the disease, then on the surface, one could indeed claim to be free from the danger of entropy.
But in reality, the Entropy Loss itself would still exist, uncured.
Upon reaching this conclusion, both Ruan Mei and 'Saber' wore subtle expressions.
It wasn't that it was ineffective. In fact, it was not only effective but potentially very useful. But the direction of its effect wasn't aimed at the disease; it was aimed at existence itself.
One didn't know whether to call it a perfect match or to say "that's so Elation." Even when it came to curing a disease, it had to pull some kind of stunt.
"Even the way it takes effect is quite interesting. The Path of Elation truly lives up to its name." Ruan Mei, whether teasing or reflecting, stared at the test results for a long time before putting them down.
"Yeah... but this means that until we find other materials, it'll depend on Reveria's own efforts. Who knows, she might settle it herself before the Permanence Saint Graph is even finished."
"Perhaps that really will be the case," Ruan Mei agreed with a smile. When it came to the Paths, anything was truly possible.
She returned the repaired camera to Reveria and explained the situation.
As the person involved, Reveria didn't seem to mind. Whether it was a radical cure or simply making up for her disappearing self, as long as it looked like she was cured, it was fine by her.
To that, 'Saber' could only say she was certainly an optimist.
"So... you're saying it's best if I follow the thoughts in my heart for now?"
"In theory, yes. Get your armor out; I'll add a monitoring system to it so you can track your own status more precisely."
"Oh, okay..." Reveria nodded and handed over the summoner, letting 'Saber' tinker with it as she pleased.
She felt a bit of excitement in her heart. She still didn't have a clear goal, but she had certainly found a reason to do something for herself.
To the side, Ruan Mei moved to add another system.
"The Glamoth Iron Cavalry belongs to the Swarm. Theoretically, if there are hidden bugs in your area, the pheromones you emit will attract them and wake them up. This system can help you neutralize those pheromones, rendering them ineffective."
Ruan Mei couldn't modify Path powers, but she could handle things on a material level.
The fact that being lonely caused one to release pheromones to call the Swarm—while rooted in the Path of Propagation and difficult to change at a fundamental logic level—involved pheromones that were physical matter. They could be dealt with.
"...I have a function like that?!" Reveria was startled.
Ever since realizing she belonged to the Swarm, she hadn't been without thoughts of whether she released pheromones or something similar.
But being called out so bluntly by Ruan Mei was still a bit shocking. It was that creeping realization that she was a "bug" that she found rather unpleasant.
Ruan Mei nodded relentlessly. "You do. So, if Bai Ming hadn't taken you away from Penacony back then, given the Swarm you encountered in the Asdana Star System, they definitely would have followed your pheromones and appeared in Penacony."
"..."
Reveria's heart skipped a beat. Penacony was so prosperous; if she had truly drawn the Swarm there because of herself, she would have found it very hard to forgive herself.
Furthermore, if that were the case, had she been able to travel to so many places safely before only because of good luck, never having been near a place where the Swarm was hidden?
Seeing this, 'Saber' reached out and patted Reveria's head. "Don't dwell on things that didn't happen. That hidden danger has been resolved now anyway, so you can travel with peace of mind from now on."
"Mhm... thank you." Reveria nodded, her face flushing slightly. The palm on her head was very warm and reassuring.
--+--
Reveria left for the time being. The subsequent research didn't require her presence.
Meanwhile, 'Saber' took the opportunity to give her Saber-class Saint Graph a "super-enhancement."
Again, without a Holy Grail to worry about, as long as the Core could withstand it, she could fill in whatever stats she wanted.
For the sake of fun, and to create a suitable Saint Graph for Bai Ming, the two of them began tinkering all over 'Saber''s body.
Unlike the one given to Reveria for medical purposes, the purpose of 'Saber''s modification was singular: raw numbers.
Although the final result was a Saber Saint Graph so heavily modified by the two of them that it was almost unrecognizable, the stats had indeed reached a satisfying level.
At the very least, without using Path powers and relying solely on the Saint Graph's output, 'Saber' could likely shatter an average-sized planet with a single "Excalibur."
"This effect is about right. It feels worthy of you." Since it was only an interim solution, Ruan Mei didn't demand absolute perfection. Reaching this level was certainly enough.
"I'll cultivate a brand-new Saint Graph as quickly as possible. Once you're done with your business, come see me. Perhaps we can give Herta a surprise."
Knowing that 'Saber' still had to go find trouble with Celenova, Ruan Mei took the entire task of creating a temporary body upon herself.
"Then I'll leave it to you. But will Herta really be surprised? I feel like she'll just yell at me for not notifying her in advance." 'Saber' shook her head helplessly, but Ruan Mei laughed.
"I think you're being too pessimistic. Herta will definitely be happy to see your body; she's been looking forward to it for a long time."
"Is... is that so?"
Why did she feel like something wasn't quite right...?
Would a person like Herta really look forward to something like that?
--+--
T/N: If you want advance chapters, you can find it at [email protected]/AspenTL