Hearing Faen's words, Syndra froze for a brief moment, but quickly regained her composure. She sighed with a look of helplessness. "Although Darkness told me about this a long time ago, and you've explained the reasons more than once... when it actually happens, it still feels surprising and frustrating."
Faen fell into a brief silence. To be completely honest, at the very beginning, Faen debated whether he should tell Syndra so directly. Even though Syndra hid it well, Faen knew she wasn't as peaceful as she appeared on the surface. The dark consciousness deep within her was constantly trying to bewitch the girl's mind.
For ordinary people, meditation is a form of cultivation, or even a form of rest. For example, long before arriving in Zaun, Faen had gotten used to replacing sleep with meditation. But for Syndra, every meditation session was a confrontation with her inner demons—a rigorous trial. And up until this very moment, Syndra had never surrendered to those demons.
Precisely because of this, Faen had considered whether quietly disappearing would be easier for Syndra to accept, especially since he was never a fan of tearful goodbyes. However, after careful consideration, Faen decided to talk it through with her properly. It was just like how, over the past few years, he would always explain his reasons before every training session, or before sealing her power and making her weak. He explained why he had come to this world, and why he had appeared by her side.
Darkness could amplify Syndra's negative emotions. In that context, deception and concealment would only serve as targets for the Darkness to exploit. Rather than burying a hidden danger like that, it was better to be straightforward and tell Syndra directly that he was leaving. That way, even if Syndra developed some ideological issues, he could communicate with her immediately and resolve them. If he left in silence, confusion and doubt would be catalyzed and magnified by the Darkness in her heart, eventually ruining all their hard work.
With these thoughts in mind, Faen lowered his head slightly.
"When we first met under the Spirit Willow, I more or less realized that the purpose of the Dreaming Pool's existence was to liberate the soul within your heart, not to trap you in an endless, repeating nightmare."
"Actually, I knew that a long time ago." Before Faen could finish, Syndra interrupted him. With a somewhat helpless expression, she said, "All these years, we've trained together. You and I. We traveled to every sanctuary in Fae'lor, conversing with masters and scholars from all over the world. Last year, Mr. Ryze even returned. This happy life made me forget those painful childhood memories for a time."
"But that Darkness is just so malicious. She must have waited in my Spirit Realm for a very long time, choosing the moment I finally relaxed to reawaken my childhood memories," Syndra continued. "I still remembered the day my brother and the bad kids in the village mocked, rejected, and isolated me. With nowhere to vent my grievances, I could only go alone to the Spirit Willow once again to soothe the bitterness in my heart."
"But at that time, whether it was the flowers on the grass, the dew dripping from the leaves, or the fluttering butterflies, everything felt so familiar... as if it had repeated hundreds or thousands of times. Then, you arrived, and I never returned to that day again. It was as if the entire world moved on to the next stage, beginning the true cycle."
"Even though my heart rejects it, I know that sooner or later, you will have to leave, Teacher..." Syndra let out a soft chuckle. She looked up at Faen, her narrowed eyes shimmering with unshed tears.
"I thought you would just disappear silently, letting everything here continue on its own. After all, I now have the ability to control and digest the darkness. And I have grown up; I am no longer troubled by the cycles of the Dreaming Pool itself..."
"But you chose to say it out loud, Teacher. That actually relieved me, because it proves you are still willing to believe in me and trust me. Just as I trust you."
Hearing Syndra's words, Faen blinked and asked, "So... are you going to stop me from leaving?"
"I want to very much, but I won't," Syndra shook her head. "Because if I did, I would become a puppet of the Darkness. I would become the person I least want to be, and it would be tantamount to denying all the training and effort we've put in over the past decade or so."
Hearing Syndra's answer, Faen smiled with gratification. He couldn't help but place his hand on Syndra's head. "I'm genuinely proud of this moment."
To have educated Syndra—who was so heavily influenced by Ionia's darkness—to this level, it was absolutely impossible for Faen not to feel a sense of accomplishment. Keep in mind, throughout this entire process, to prevent conflicts in the Spirit Realm, Faen hadn't even used the Joy Factor to take a shortcut.
Feeling Faen's hand on her head, Syndra smiled warmly. She looked peacefully into Faen's eyes and said, "Of course I can accept you leaving, Teacher. But before that, I hope you can leave something behind. Hmm, leave it in me."
Hearing this, Faen fell into a brief silence. Looking at Syndra, especially the unwavering smile on her face, he felt an inexplicable chill as he asked, "Leave something behind... what do you mean by that?"
At his question, Syndra no longer hid her true intentions. She opened her eyes—eyes as pure white as her hair—and met his gaze. She reached out, took Faen's hand, and placed it against her chest. Biting her lip lightly, she said, "Actually, Teacher thinks Syndra is very charming too, right?"
Feeling the softness beneath his fingertips, and seeing the undisguised desire in Syndra's eyes, Faen—who was never a vegetarian to begin with—sighed somewhat helplessly, "Well, if you put it that way..."
Seeing that Faen didn't push her away, Syndra chuckled softly. She then took Faen's hand, pressed it against her lower abdomen, and guided it downward from her flower-room, ultimately sliding it directly between her legs, right into the valley of her blooming flower.
Feeling Faen's fingers slip inside, Syndra's breathing quickened slightly, and a delicate pink flush spread across her pale, flawless face.
"Fill this place up to the brim, and I'll let you go."