Honkai Impact 3rd: The Girl Who Chases the Flame

Melutina turned her head and asked.

"Hmm, I think this issue isn't as simple as whether you two get along or not."

Alicia said with a smile.

"Personally, I don't dislike her, but..."

Melutina lowered her head.

"We really have an obligation to continue to promote current civilization..."

"Whether it's a pre-civilization or the current civilization, they're all human beings, right?"

Alicia interrupted him, which was quite unusual for her.

"Melutina, you can't let me blind you to your own worth, okay?"

"..."

Melutina lowered her head, remained silent for a long time, then stood up and silently left the hall.

"It's rare to see you talk to Metti like that."

Eden, holding a wine glass, struck up a conversation.

"Isn't Melutina too easily swayed by others?"

Alicia looked at the cup in her hand, a rare hint of bitterness appearing on her face.

“I don’t want her to do anything for me anymore. She should think more about herself, shouldn’t she, Eden?”

"It's no use asking me this question, because I hope you two can think more about yourselves."

Eden smiled and sat down next to Alicia.

What are your thoughts on the battle between Mei and Senju?

"This idea is indeed very interesting, but it's still not out of Aponia's control?"

Alicia didn't actually care about this.

"Miss Mei will not die at the hands of Senjaku."

Eden drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.

“Ellie, why did you give Velvi black and Medie gray? I thought you would do it the other way around.”

“Vilvie’s life is full of all sorts of colors, and when these things are mixed together, isn’t that black? As for Melutina…”

Alicia made that expression again, which made Eden feel a little sad.

"Do you really think that her life, along with Gretchen's, Hua's, and Patto's... should have ended there?"

"...They are all very young, some of them haven't even had time to understand how life exists."

Eden fell silent upon hearing this.

“You know what? Eden, I’m terrified whenever Mei mentions her civilization… mentions Hua, Kevin, Melutina…”

Alicia held the wine glass, her expression completely unlike her usual self.

"But I don't know Melutina... Mei doesn't know Gretsch or Paddo either... Are they alright? Did they survive to the next civilization?"

Did they have a perfect life? A perfect ending? Are they satisfied with their lives? Do they have any regrets?

"Ellie".

Eden's tone became more serious.

"I know, Eden, maybe I drank a little too much today?"

Alicia regained her usual enthusiasm and cheerfulness.

"I don't want to think about these unhappy things anymore. I still need to chat with Mei, who finally escaped the clutches of the Thousand Calamities Demon."

Watching Alicia skip away, Eden remained silent for a long time, then lowered his head to look at the remaining liquid in his glass.

"……actually."

She was talking to herself.

"I'd like to know those things too."

……

At the boundary between Paradise and the outside world, in a pitch-black space.

"Have you made up your mind?"

Her green pupils gleamed in the darkness as she asked.

Is this the best approach?

The golden pupils responded.

"Yes."

"……it is good."

"Don't you have any questions?"

Do you regret it?

"Regret what?"

"Everything."

"It is because I no longer regret that I have been able to get to where I am today."

"...but it's not so bad to be overwhelmed by guilt."

"She'll be sad, won't she?"

"Yes."

What you are doing now is what I used to be doing.

"The choice I made has become the future called 'you'."

"Then there's nothing to hesitate about." They said in unison.

……

Spiral Workshop

"...no matter when."

Seemingly sensing something, [The Great Magician] Velvet leaned against the wall.

"Vilvie's going to have to play the bad guy, my lovely junior, you better do your best. But... Kevin, is he going to be completely clueless again this time?"

……

Step by step, step by step.

As if announcing the coming of change, the woman in clergy walked with clear steps into the Paradise Hall.

Aponia...

We left the deepest place.

“Once an exception occurs, no number of exceptions will surprise you, Aponia.”

Eden saw the visitor and raised his cup.

"Long time no see... Eden."

Aponia greeted him in her usual unhurried tone.

"You are as beautiful and elegant as ever."

"I accept your compliment, Aponia. Didn't you see Metty?"

Eden smiled gently.

"...She often sees me, but recently, I think she seems to have made her own decision."

Aponia closed her eyes, then opened them a moment later.

“She is also one of the Thirteen Heroes. She won’t just blindly listen to me or Alicia like a child.”

"You seem to have overlooked Mebius."

Eden shrugged.

“No, Mebius won’t say anything. Her unwavering belief in the infinite will allow her to support whatever Metti does, as long as it’s not under duress.”

Aponia sat down at the bar, looking completely out of place in the tavern.

"However, everyone has weaknesses. Even Mebius might make a different choice than usual because of his soft heart."

"Dr. Mebius is a very remarkable person. She takes the paths that ordinary people dare not take and thinks the things that ordinary people would not think."

Eden swirled his glass, then refrained from drinking.

“But when she’s with Melutina, I often think… even Dr. Mebius has that side to him.”

"Eden, you seem to be wavering."

Aponia sensed something else in those words.

"If we're making an analogy... for you, that person is Alicia. So, what are you worried about?"

"Who knows? Maybe yes, maybe no."

Eden did not know the source of this unease.

"But... I can be cowardly like that sometimes."

"It's not so bad."

Aponia realized something, turned her head, and found that Eden was already asleep.

Chapter Eight: The Hidden Message

When Raiden Mei appeared in the Paradise Hall, she saw a little girl drawing there.