Chapter 204: A Formal Introduction
Suddenly, a small, pink creature zipped in front of her, letting out a series of anxious chirps. "Mimi! Mi, mi!"
Strangely, even in this chaotic dreamscape, Stelle found she could somehow understand its unique language.
"Don't be afraid! This is memory! Your memory!" The creature, Mimi, circled her anxiously, trying to offer comfort.
"Memory? My memory?" Stelle felt utterly lost. "But I don't remember any of this..." Both this little creature and the vision of the Stellaron Hunters felt deeply unsettling.
"'The past' is calling to you!" Mimi tried hard to explain. "I am Mimi! I am a companion!"
Before Stelle could fully process the implications of a "Memory Spirit" and a "companion," the scene before her shifted once more.
She "saw" Kafka and her companions locked in what seemed to be a desperate battle against some unseen enemy.
"Danger! Battle!" Mimi sensed it too, its voice a sharp alarm in her mind.
Even though she knew this was likely a memory or a dream, the sight of Kafka and the others—even as mere reflections—struggling in a fierce fight immediately ignited Stelle's protective instincts. Her urge to jump in and help was overwhelming.
'Who cares if it's real or not? Fight first, ask questions later!'
In an instant, Stelle condensed the Path's power within her. The Flame Lance materialized in her hand with a searing hum, the blazing will of Preservation burning in her eyes. "You dare touch my Stellaron Hunter family?! I'll hunt you down to the ends of the universe!"
She charged forward on pure instinct, a voice in the depths of her consciousness screaming, 'Help them now!'
Brandishing the Flame Lance, she rushed toward the creatures of Destruction that had suddenly appeared, aiming to fight alongside Kafka, Silver Wolf, and Blade.
However, this battle, taking place within the fragments of memory, was unexpectedly... simple.
Her Flame Lance swung out, and the fiery glow of Preservation scorched the air. The enemy troopers twisted and faded before the attack even landed, vanishing without a trace like ink dissolving in water. They offered no resistance whatsoever.
It felt less like a battle and more like wiping insignificant smudges from an old canvas.
"That's... it?" Stelle stood rooted to the spot, lance in hand, completely bewildered. She hadn't even had a chance to properly stretch her muscles.
"Mi, mi! (Time... is running out... The fragments here are unstable... They will soon dissipate...)" Mimi stomped its tiny feet beside her, its voice laced with urgency.
Hearing this, Stelle immediately turned to look at Kafka and the others.
Now that the "battle" was over, their forms seemed even more transparent than before, and that eerie, unnerving stillness had subtly returned.
A thousand questions churned in her mind about this place, about the strange sense of familiarity she felt with them. She quickly walked up to Kafka. The mysterious, purple-haired woman was still watching her with that same elusive smile.
"Kafka! What is going on? Why are you here? Is this my memory? Did we used to..." Stelle spoke in a torrent, the words tumbling out at an astonishing speed.
Kafka's smile seemed to deepen just a fraction. She raised a slender finger to her lips, making a soft "shush" gesture.
Her lips moved, forming silent words. "I know you have many questions, but..."
Stelle strained to hear, to understand, and instinctively blinked her eyes—
In the single instant it took to blink, everything collapsed.
Kafka, Silver Wolf, Blade, Firefly, the troopers, the Astral Express—the entire world around her dissipated like a sand painting swept away by a fierce wind.
A powerful wave of dizziness washed over her, and Stelle's consciousness was violently yanked backward.
When she suddenly came to, shaking her head vigorously to clear her vision, she found herself still standing in the deep, radiant core of the Threefold Fate Palace.
Phainon and Castorice stood on either side of her, their faces etched with clear concern and deep relief.
"Hmm? I..." Stelle subconsciously touched the back of her head, her expression a little blank. She felt as if she had just emerged from an incredibly vivid but fleeting dream, her brain still reeling from the dizzying sensation of temporal dislocation.
Recalling that brief journey through "memory," the details were already hazy. Only the inexplicable sense of familiarity and Kafka's final smile—and her unfinished words—remained exceptionally clear.
"Your Excellency, are you alright?" Castorice asked softly, her tone full of worry, seeing that Stelle was finally responsive. "After you took that step forward, you suddenly froze in place. You wouldn't move. No matter how we called to you, you didn't respond, as if your soul had left your body. Then... this... wondrous existence appeared."
As she spoke, her gaze shifted respectfully to something at Stelle's side.
Castorice's words pulled Stelle's attention completely away from the strange memory. She remembered that she was in the middle of something important—finding a way to counter Nikador.
But that so-called "memory of the past" had already become a huge enigma, twisting itself around her heart.
Could it be that she, like March 7th, also had an unknown, forgotten past?
"I'm fine," Stelle shook her head, trying to temporarily suppress those distracting thoughts. Now was not the time to explore that mystery. "What happened just now? I feel like... I had a very long, yet very short dream?"
Phainon took over the explanation, his expression serious and inquisitive. "We're not sure either. We just saw you take a step forward and then stop. And then..."
He also looked toward Stelle's side, his gaze holding a hint of wariness and respect for the unknown.
"This... pink creature appeared beside you, accompanied by a faint glow."
"Pink creature?" Puzzled, Stelle finally turned her head to look where they were pointing.
There, she saw the mysterious creature named Mimi. It floated lightly in the air, its pink fur emitting a soft, gentle halo.
It was watching Stelle with a look of concern, possessing a spirituality and wisdom that far transcended its appearance. This was clearly no ordinary pet.
"It's her," Castorice's voice held a hint of awe. "Her appearance seems to be of the same origin as Lord Oloronis. Is she a gift from Lord Oloronis?"
Stelle looked at Mimi but had a different theory forming in her mind. She clearly remembered the indifferent, majestic figure she had seen in her memory, a being constructed from countless points of light.
"I actually think..." she muttered softly to herself, "she's more like a little mascot Fuli gave me after a single glance. You know, like my own personal Paimon..."
"Fuli?" Phainon keenly caught the word, his brow furrowing slightly. "Is that... one of those beings who wield the supreme Paths in the universe, as Dan Heng once mentioned? The... Aeon of Remembrance?"
He was clearly shocked by concepts so far beyond the understanding of Amphoreus, but he was trying his best to comprehend them.
Stelle was a little surprised. "Huh? Dan Heng told you about all that? When did that happen?"
She didn't remember that part at all.
[Inorin's Note:
Enjoying the story? Dropping a quick review, comment, or Power Stone means the world to me!
Want to read ahead on our official home, or unlock 50 advanced chapters (plus an Ad-Free experience) to feed your addiction? Help keep this shameless translator alive here:
(P.S. Replace the [.] with a regular dot . to use the links!)
🌐 Official Website: elysianreads[.]com
✨ Patreon (50 Advanced Chapters & Ad-Free): patreon[.]com/InorinTL
☕ Ko-fi (Support / Sponsor): ko-fi[.]com/InorinTL
Thank you so much for reading and keeping this project alive!]