Hearing that Coppelia wanted her help to remove the Abyss within her, Columbina was reluctant at heart.
She certainly hoped Coppelia could break free from that unceasing pain. But she dared not let herself be the one to "treat" the other. She feared she wouldn't do it well enough, feared her Lunar Force would dissolve parts that shouldn't be touched, leaving irreversible damage on Coppelia. If that result occurred, it might be even more cruel than directly ending the other's life.
She thought about it, but decided to refuse for now. "We can still find other ways," she said.
Other ways... If they existed, Coppelia naturally wouldn't want to choose this method that bordered on self-mutilation. So she asked, "During this time, have you found that kind of method?"
Columbina subconsciously wanted to speak; her lips moved, but no sound came out.
She didn't know of a better way to handle the Abyss. As soon as this thought popped up, she immediately began recalling what she had done these past days—decorating the Court of the Silver Moon, preparing food, performing spectacles...
"I... I seemingly didn't go look for that kind of method at all," she thought, cold sweat emerging on her forehead.
She realized that everything she had done only made Coppelia happy for a moment, temporarily forgetting the pain. However, the Abyss was the root of the problem. As long as that thing was still inside Coppelia, the pain would surge unceasingly.
Believing she had steered things in the wrong direction, Columbina felt a burst of intense shame. She pursed her lips tightly, lowered her head, and reached out a hand to cover her face.
"Didn't take care of the main point at all..." she scolded herself in her heart.
Immediately, she began searching her memory quickly for all clues related to the Abyss. But no matter how she thought, apart from those dangerous Khaenri'ahns, she didn't know who else truly understood and could handle the power of the Abyss.
Absolutely cannot go to the Khaenri'ahns. That would likely drag them into deeper danger. After weighing it repeatedly in her heart, Columbina raised her head, faced Coppelia, and said honestly, "I... I didn't find one."
Coppelia wasn't surprised by this answer. "It doesn't matter." Her voice was gentle. "Since there's no other way, let's try the method I mentioned."
Columbina still hesitated, her body not moving.
"Is it that," Coppelia looked at her, "you don't want to see me in pain?"
Columbina nodded, the movement very slight.
"Don't worry," Coppelia said. "It's just pain for today. After this, there won't be anymore."
If she continued to delay, searching for that vague "other way," it would only infinitely prolong the time Coppelia endured the pain and wouldn't help her at all. Although Columbina was still terrified deep down of personally causing harm to Coppelia, right now, there was indeed no better choice.
She finally nodded, agreeing to it.
Columbina took Coppelia and teleported away from the Court of the Silver Moon.
They appeared on a small patch of sandy beach on the westernmost side of Ilha Hiisi. To the east was a nearly vertical grey-white rock face; to the west, only the boundless deep blue sea surface.
There were no footprints here, no traces of seabirds stopping; only the monotonous sound of waves repeatedly washing over the gravel, hidden and desolate.
"Treating" here wouldn't disturb the other living beings on the island, nor would it be easily detected.
Coppelia took off the overly large black robe she was wearing, tossed it casually onto the sand to the side, and then sat down.
She said to Columbina, who was a few meters away, "We can start."
Columbina floated to her side. She took a deep breath and began to release Lunar Force. A silvery-white halo flowed from her, and under her precise control, like a layer of thin gauze, it slowly covered Coppelia's body.
Considering Coppelia had already tested with the Moon Spirits, Columbina controlled the initial concentration of Lunar Force to a level similar to the Moon Spirits.
That familiar scorching sensation wrapping the whole body descended again. Coppelia closed her eyes.
"How is it?" Columbina's voice sounded, somewhat tense.
"The Lunar Force can be more concentrated."
Columbina did as asked. The surrounding air seemed to grow thicker, and the light shrouding Coppelia became closer to substance.
The scorching heat on the skin was quickly replaced by countless fine, dense stinging pains. Coppelia's skin began to ulcerate; tiny breaches appeared, revealing the dark red muscle tissue underneath, and wisps of black mist dispersed from the wounds.
Coppelia clenched her teeth, her brows knitted into a knot, cold sweat seeping from her forehead. She strove to suppress the sharp signals coming from every part of her body.
"How is it?" Columbina asked again, her voice even tighter.
"I'm fine." Coppelia squeezed the voice out through the gaps in her teeth. "Keep it up."
Columbina maintained the current output.
Time passed bit by bit. The skin areas continuously covered by Lunar Force began to annihilate and peel off on a large scale. Soon, Coppelia's torso and limbs exposed to the light were almost all shrouded by a layer of constantly churning black mist; beneath the mist was dark red, squirming flesh.
It was time. Coppelia began to carefully relax the suppression on the Abyss power within her. The overflowing power was immediately captured by the injured body, flowing toward those ulcerated parts, transforming into "raw material" to repair the wounds.
However, no sooner had the new skin formed than it was again eroded and annihilated by the continuous Lunar Force. Immediately after, new Abyss power was drawn over, attempting to compensate.
Under the shroud of thin black mist, the layer of tissue on her body surface fell into a cycle: injury, healing, injury again, healing again.
A cruel dynamic balance was thus formed. In this cycle, the Abyss power accumulated within her was being continuously consumed.
Coppelia's fists were clenched until the knuckles turned white; her breathing became heavy and rapid, her chest heaving violently. Her face alternated between green and white, cold sweat soaking her temple hair. But at the same time, she clearly felt the explosive pressure inside her body, which felt like it would burst her apart, lightening bit by bit.
It works!
"Very good..." She squeezed a sentence out from her clenched jaw, carrying pain but also uncontrollable excitement. "Hold it!"
Columbina did not respond. She was fully focused, her spirit taut as a drawn bowstring, daring not to be distracted in the slightest.
Gradually, a considerable portion of the Abyss power within Coppelia was cleared away. The pressure she felt had lightened to a bearable range. She tried to relax the suppression further.
The Abyss power did not seize the chance to go berserk; it still followed the body's traction, flowing to the surface.
Her heart steadied, and she completely let go of the suppression on all the power.
Those powers remained quietly inside her body, no longer crashing wildly, no longer trying to tear her apart.
"Stop!" Coppelia shouted loudly.
Columbina withdrew all Lunar Force almost at the same instant. The light vanished abruptly. She floated backward a short distance as if drained of strength, her chest heaving, beginning to gasp for large breaths.
Losing the continuous scorching of the Lunar Force, the dark red muscles on Coppelia's body surface, uncovered by skin, began to squirm violently. They extracted a small portion of the residual Abyss power from within, rapidly proliferating and extending, re-"weaving" new pale skin.
Waves of pain assaulted her body surface. Yet inside, it was peaceful; the churning sensation no longer existed, and there was no more discomfort.
The burden that had oppressed her for so long was finally unloaded. She had succeeded. The Abyss problem was basically solved.
Columbina's gaze involuntarily fell on those squirming dark red tissues on Coppelia's body; her stomach instinctively sent a slight twitch of convulsion, mixed with unspeakable palpitations. She immediately looked away, looking at Coppelia's face.
The other's expression was no longer tense; her brows relaxed, and the corners of her mouth even hooked up into a very faint smile.
"Success, right?" Columbina asked, her voice still somewhat unsteady.
"Of course." Coppelia let out a long breath. "Thanks to you being here."
Columbina just gave a simple "Mhm."
The two waited quietly on the beach. The sound of waves rose and fell rhythmically.
Finally, all of Coppelia's lost skin finished regrowing, covering her whole body—still pale, smooth, and intact, as if she had never suffered any trauma. Only a very small amount of Abyss power remained inside, dormant and docile, posing no further threat.
No need to keep her spirit taut every moment to suppress it. No need to worry about exploding from the inside the next second.
An unspeakable sense of relief spread from her limbs and bones. Coppelia felt her body belonged to her more than ever before, light enough to float with the wind. She could even clearly feel the coolness of the sea breeze on her skin, the roughness of the sand grains, and a pure sense of steadfastness belonging to "being alive."
She picked up the black robe thrown on the sand and put it back on. Then, she stood up and tried taking a few steps. Her footsteps were light and brisk. She couldn't help but jog along the beach, bare feet stepping on the wet sand, splashing up tiny sprays of water.
After a brief, unrestrained run, she stopped. Her chest heaved slightly from the exercise, but what she felt was not fatigue, but a comfortable warmth.
Tired, she simply fell backward, lying on the soft beach. In her ears were the eternal whispers of the waves; on her face was the sea breeze carrying a salty scent. Once the nerves that had been taut for too long completely relaxed, heavy drowsiness swept over her.
Before long, her breathing became even and long; accompanied by the waves, she fell into a deep sleep.
Columbina floated to the side of Coppelia, who was sound asleep on the beach, and teleported them both back to the Court of the Silver Moon.
She levitated Coppelia's body, moving it slowly to the bedside, then gently lowering it onto the mattress. Next, she waved her hand; the quilt folded at the foot of the bed floated up, unfolded in the air, and gently covered Coppelia.
Watching the other's steadily rising and falling chest and relaxed brows in deep sleep, Columbina felt a burst of warmth in her heart.
But this warmth was quickly covered by another emotion. She remembered her busy days in the Court of the Silver Moon—decorating, preparing food, performing scenes... all these had failed to truly touch the core of the problem. A sense of guilt pressed down heavily.
"Need to be more cautious..." she whispered to herself, her voice so light it was almost inaudible. "More attentive..."
...
Coppelia slept a rare, peaceful sleep. When she woke, her mind was clear and her limbs loose.
She stretched her waist, arms extending upward, joints making soft cracking sounds. She sat up from the bed, moved her shoulders and wrists, and took a few deep breaths. Air flowed smoothly into her lungs without any obstruction or hidden pain. She wiggled her toes, feeling the touch of her soles against the sheets.
Limbs moving freely, no abnormal churning or pressure felt inside.
She let out a long breath. The problem was indeed solved.
At this moment, Columbina floated over and sat down beside her.
"Eat something first," Columbina said.
Coppelia rubbed her eyes and looked towards the voice. Columbina was extending a hand to her, holding a few green fruits in her palm.
"I found these in Natlan," Columbina said. "They're very delicious."
Coppelia took a fruit, put one in her mouth, and took a bite. The skin was thin and crisp, the flesh inside soft and juicy; a fresh and distinct sweet-sour taste spread in her mouth, carrying an aroma similar to raspberries, stimulating saliva secretion. She chewed a few times and swallowed.
Eating the fruit, she asked about business: "How is the Human-Dragon War over there fighting?"
"I found the humans, and also saw the dragons," Columbina answered. "But they haven't started fighting yet."
"That means it hasn't started yet," Coppelia said.
Hasn't started yet... That meant they might have to wait a long time to get the remaining authority. Columbina thought for a moment and asked, "Do you want to change methods, to go retrieve my other part of the Spatial Authority? Waiting for the war to end, will it... take too much time?"
"I know you want to get the authority back as soon as possible, and then help me go home." Coppelia looked at her.
"Mhm." Columbina nodded.
"No need to rush." Coppelia's tone was peaceful. "You will get it sooner or later. As for me, I also don't want to go home that much for the time being."
"What else do you want to do?" Columbina asked. "I can accompany you."
"I want to accompany you to two more places," Coppelia said. "One is Inazuma, one is Liyue."
Columbina remembered there were many wandering monsters on Liyue's land. As for Inazuma, she only vaguely remembered Coppelia mentioning the name.
"Go to these places for what?" She asked curiously.
"To find some answers," Coppelia said.
"Answers..."
Coppelia's gaze turned to Columbina. "Later, you will have to pass two thousand years through slumber. During this period, apart from the Moon Spirits, no one else will be by your side." Her voice was very serious. "I want to find a way to guarantee your safety during these two thousand years."
Columbina didn't know how to respond for a moment, simply remaining silent.
Coppelia lowered her head, looking at her own hands. "I told you before, my home is outside the False Sky. But my power is too weak; in the process of crossing the starry sky, I might encounter danger at any time." She paused. "So, I also want to find a way to guarantee my own safety on the road home. This way, I won't delay your return home because of my affairs."
Columbina looked at her, silent for a long time.
____
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