Today, I found myself standing before a mirror, watching how Eden made finishing touches to my outfit.
-"Perfect. You truly deserve the title of 'the guy I most want to sleep with'."
-"What?"-I looked at her in doubt.
-"Didn't you know? In the internal network, many such rankings existed before, and most of the time, you, Su, and Kevin competed for first place."-She smiled, reminiscing about the past.-"You won that one, and the man I most envy. Kevin won the title of most hero-like and the best husband, while Su was left with the best brother figure."
-"Poor Su."-I smiled, thinking of the expression he would make if he learned about those rankings.
-"Knowing him, he'd be happy that others treat him like a brother."-Eden shook her head.-"What do you think?"
I once again looked into the mirror reflecting my outfit. Since Eden learned of Laterano, she often created suits and garments with elements from Lateran culture, and this outfit was no different.
The core of this outfit was the floor-length, pitch-black cassock-like robe, creating an appearance of solemnity and monasticism. The robe was covered with many detailed accents, making it look heavy and textured. But that solemn appearance was somewhat contrasted with a tattered blue overshroud that was draped over my shoulders and wrapped around my arms.
The deep royal blue color and the severely shredded edges of this fabric, appearing almost floating with my every movement, broke the rigid structure of the black robe with a chaotic and ethereal grace. This was further accented by the asymmetry in the sleeves, as while my left hand was almost fully visible, my right one was covered in full, with my hand in a black glove.
With my pure white hair draped behind me and a few pieces of fine metallic embroidery and jewelry finishing my look, I had to admit that Eden truly was deserving of her name as personification of art and beauty; even the outfit she designed was perfect.
As for Eden herself, she wore a modified Lateran Saintes robe, making her appear both holy and gorgeous. She had already expressed her wish to be turned into Sankta, but with my connection to Law severed here, it had to wait until I left this 'Dream'.
-"Ready to go?"-She took my right arm and asked.
-"I'm the one who has to control everything tonight, so I'm as ready as I can be."-I nodded and started walking to the hall where the banquet would take place.
As the Honkai concentration had long ago surpassed what non-MANTIS could survive, all previously awake people had returned to the ARK, leaving only Flame-Chasers, a few MANTIS, Mei, and me awake. As such, outside the cooking that I was still forbidden from doing, all else needed my magic to work. From arranging the venue to keeping things fresh and serving the prepared dishes. But all that was happening out of view didn't matter now.
When two of us entered the hall, there were already many people inside, about three-fourths of those invited. Inside, everyone greeted us with smiles, quickly surrounding us and starting conversations. Not long after, everyone else also arrived, so the banquet could officially start.
Everything that was happening now could already be considered a reception, but I still decided to wait for half an hour so that everyone could mingle with each other. When I noticed that the conversations started to die down, I steered everyone toward the dining table on the side. When everyone found their seats, the first course appeared on the table.
For the appetizer, I served traditional French onion soup, something different from the usual meals many were used to, as the majority of people in the base were of Eastern descent. By observing the reactions, I could tell that most people had found this dish novel and enjoyed its flavor.
For the entrée, we returned to the more local cuisine, and rather than a single big dish, the whole table was filled with countless small plates of kaiseki meals. Sakizuke, Hassun, Suimono, Mukozuke, Yakimono, Takiawase, Agemono, Shokuji, Mizumono; each and every part of Kaiseki Ryori was present, and even the alcoholic drinks of various types were not absent.
The myriad of appetizing and colorful dishes instantly made the atmosphere lively again, with everyone tasting and recommending dishes to others. For better or worse, as everyone here, bar Mei and me, was MANTIS, their appetites were much bigger than that of average person, causing even such a great amount of food to be defeated in about an hour.
After that came the most important part of the meal, the dessert. Once again, the whole table was filled with everything from cold ice creams to still hot apple pies, from exquisite cakes to simple muffins. No matter what one imagined when hearing Dessert, it was here. All were, of course, prepared by me; something Elysia and many others insisted on for a long time. This took some time and required a bit of magic to pull off, but I succeeded, and now everyone could enjoy the best I could make.
As the dessert was nearing its end, I looked at Elysia, who was in charge of the next part, and she, noticing my gaze, stood up and walked to the prepared stage, taking out a microphone despite it being unnecessary and not working.
-"Everyone! I have something to say!"-Elysia showed a brilliant smile.
It took a short while, but everyone focused on her, waiting for her announcement.
-"As you know, we are about to face our greatest enemy, and we are gathering here to celebrate our story. So I hope that everyone can honor with me the heroes of this epic."-She waved her hand, causing fifteen sigils to appear around her.-"The fifteenth is the humble but unyielding Pardofelis, the Reverie."
As she spoke, one of the sigils floated toward the shocked cat girl, landing in her hands as a Signet of Reverie.
-"The fourteenth is our lively and never surrendering Rin, the Unbroken."
A sigil representing the Signet of Unbroken came to Rin's side, where she grabbed it.
-"The thirteenth is the ethereal and carefree Misteln, the Hare."
Like a lively rabbit, the Signet of Hare jumped into Misteln's hands.
-"The twelfth is the innocent but all-embracing Griseo, the Stars."
With a streak like a shooting star, the Sigil of Stars flew to Griseo's side.
-"The Eleventh is the resilient and unshakable Hua, the Vicissitude."
Similarly, a corresponding sigil flew toward the quiet girl, turning into the Signet of Vicissitude as it arrived.
-"The tenth is unyielding and relentless Mobius, the Infinity."
Signet of Infinity slithered to Mobius, who took it without taking a second look.
-"The ninth is quiet but courageous Kosma, the Daybreak."
His Signet of Daybreak flew to his side, but it was his partner, Dystopia, who grabbed it first.
-"The eighth is protective and disciplined Sakura, the Setsuna."
Before anyone could notice, the Signet of Setsuna was already in Sakura's hands.
-"The seventh is calm and caring Su, the Bodhi."
Like a leaf swaying in the wind, the Signet of Bodhi floated onto Su's palm.
-"The sixth is temperamental but steadfast Kalpas, the Decimation."
With almost explosive force, the Signet of Decimation rushed at Kalpas.
-"The fifth is eccentric and visionary Vill-V, the Helix."
Signet of Helix moved to Vill-V with a razzle-dazzle.
-"The fourth is radiant and graceful Eden, the Gold."
Without need for any embellishment, Signet of Gold elegantly floated into Eden's hands.
-"The third is guiding and attentive Aponia, the Discipline."
Signet of Discipline moved to Aponia in a direct but calm manner.
-"The second is your one and only beautiful girl, Elysia, the Ego."
Elysia bowed to everyone, then jumped lightly to catch Signet of Ego floating above her head.
-"The first is heroic and altruistic Kevin, the Deliverance."
The Signet of Deliverance flew to Kevin, then froze into an ice block, causing a small chuckle to break out.
-"Of course we can't forget everyone else, countless nameless heroes who shed their tears, blood, and even laid their lives for our cause; their names might never be all known, but we will never forget their existence."
Elysia put her hands together, making a praying gesture to commemorate all those nameless heroes. After a moment of silence, she spoke up once again.
-"But there are two more people who have to be celebrated today. One of them is the girl who took upon her shoulders the weight of the entire Fire-Moth, leading it from decay to glory, the captain of our ship, the great commander Mei!"
Elysia started the applause, with everyone quickly joining, all present here deeply respecting Mei from the bottom of their hearts.
-"And last but not least, is the light that saved countless others when they couldn't find hope, the fire that we all found ourselves chasing, the living proof that even when the god forsook us, our guardian angel never left: Eno!"
Elysia moved to my side and dragged me onto the stage with her. Then she turned to me, extending her hand to me.
-"Would you honor me with a first dance?"
-"I'll be honored."-I smiled and grabbed her palm, drawing her closer to me.
With a simple thought, I controlled the instruments prepared before, causing the music to slowly start, giving some time for other pairs to stand up and move to the dance floor. Elysia looked at me and moved even closer to me, making me embrace her in a rather intimate way. As we started to dance, she spoke up quietly, making sure only I heard her.
-"Eno."-She muttered softly.
-"Hmm?"-I hummed while leading the dance.
-"Thank you."
-"For what?"
-"For preparing this banquet and bringing everyone together."-She leaned her forehead on my shoulder.-"And for showing me the beauty of this world."
-"I can understand the first part, but what about the second?"-I leaned closer to her ear as I spoke.
-"You did, by appearing in my life. You showed me what strength looked like: that people can stand against the cruel fate without compromising their beliefs and losing themselves in hatred."-She answered me, her ears turning red due to my breath.
-"I'm not that great. I'm just an egoist who puts myself before the world."-I shook my head lightly, denying it.
-"In your eyes, maybe, but to me, you are someone who allowed me to understand that being a little selfish is not bad."-She looked up and met my gaze.
-"Then I can be happy that you learned that."-I smiled, seeing her shy expression.
-"Mhmm. Can I ask you to tolerate a little bit of my selfishness?"-She smiled to hide her bashfulness.
-"As a man, I have almost endless tolerance for the selfishness of beautiful girls like you."-I winked, helping her to change the mood.
-"Then follow me."-She turned around and walked away from the crowd while holding my hand.
I followed along, using Night Sorcery to make others unaware of our disappearance. After walking for a minute, we arrived in a garden under a tall tree with a swing hanging from one of its branches. Elysia sat down on it and had me swing her lightly.
-"Eno, do you know…"-She hesitated for a moment.
-"That you are a Herrscher?"
-"Eh? How do you know?"-She looked up in surprise.
-"I've known for a long time; Mei and Mobius also most likely are aware; while others might have their suspicions."-I shrugged.
-"What!"-This truly caused her to lose her composure.-"Mou! That's unfair. I tried so hard to make this reveal special, yet you...!"-She pouted and looked at me with tears appearing in the corners of her eyes.
I smiled and embraced her, burying her head in my chest.
-"I don't know what you are planning, but I have a feeling that you are trying to bid everyone farewell, and I believe that no one wishes you to do so."
-"Eno…"
-"So are you sure?"
-"Eh? Won't you try to convince me?"
-"If it could work, I would. But I know you've had long enough to understand that nothing can change your mind when you made a decision."
-"…"-My words silenced her, her arms embracing me back tightly.-"I have to."
-"You don't. But you want to, right?"
-"Mhmm. So that this story has a beautiful ending."-She nodded.
-"I don't like stories that end with parting."
-"I also don't like such tragedies."-Elysia agreed with me-"But this is not the end."
-"Oh?"
-"This is why I asked you to tolerate a little bit of my selfishness. Eno, can you wait… no, can you promise me to look for me?"
-"Always."
-"Thank you."-She answered me, a few tears sliding down her cheek.
I felt something changing in her, as if she started to disappear.
-"I have something I wanted to give you."-She left my embrace and created a crystal flower in her hands.
-"This…"-I looked at it in shock.
-"Something you stole without either of us knowing when."-She told me with a smile despite still shedding tears.-"My heart."
I took it carefully, afraid it would shatter at the slightest touch.
-"I know you and Mei plan to do something dangerous, and this might help you. Even I don't fully know what it can do, but it can give you the most precious thing: hope."-She put her hand on my heart as she spoke.-"So, I'll leave it to you. My hope, my love, my power."
Standing on her tiptoes, she kissed me softly; a kiss that conveyed reluctance, longing, and her true love. But before I could feel it properly, she disappeared into a soft pink light, floating toward the unknown. I just stood there, frozen. Only when a tear slipped down my cheek did I take a deep breath and close my eyes.
After a few moments, I opened them again, hoping to see that figure again, but she was nowhere. In the end, I looked down at the crystal flower, my eyes filled with complexity. She has left. After bursting into my life and becoming part of it, she just left like that. She even left me something to always remember her by, confessing her feelings without giving me time to respond.
I didn't know whether to cry or be angry, but one thing I knew: I had a new appointment to keep. It might take years, but even if it meant dragging her from the god of death, I would see her again. But before that, I needed to finish what she started.
Placing her flower on my hearth, I let it merge into my body, feeling its power fill me. Instantly, all her memories came flooding into my mind, from her childhood to this Final Banquet. Her every emotion, every wish, everything became part of me. This was her most prized possession: memories.
So I stood there, under the tree with an empty swing. Reminiscing about everything that happened, hoping to keep those memories forever and ever. My hair, a mix of pure white and light pink, swayed in an evening breeze.