"Huh? My ball?♪~" Elysia said, surprised.
"Yes, your final ball, the one where you invited all of us," Eden said nostalgically.
"But I'm sorry... we didn't all attend."
"Is that so? If you didn't attend, there must have been other important matters, right?♪~"
"..." Eden fell silent for a moment.
"No. Because the invitation we received for that ball... was to subdue the 13th Herrscher..." Eden uttered these words with some pain.
"But the 13th Herrscher... was you..."
"Huh? Elysia was the 13th Herrscher?" Elysia asked in surprise.
Eden extended a hand. On her palm, a golden crystal flower appeared.
"This... is proof of attending your final ball," Eden said, looking at the crystal flower with complex emotions.
The meaning of this crystal flower made her want to throw it away immediately, but it was the final proof Elysia had given them.
"Back then, besides you and me, there were three others who attended the final ball."
"The four of us who were present attended the ball because we believed in you. Those who were absent refused to attend because they believed you, Elysia, were not a Herrscher," Eden said, clenching her fist.
"Mm-hmm, Elysia believes in you all, just as you all believed in me, right?♪~" Elysia said with a smile.
"Was I wearing this beautiful dress back then?" Elysia asked Eden with a smile.
"Yes, indeed. I remember, this dress was a gift from me to you, so that you would have a splendid outfit after we defeated the Honkai," Eden said, looking at the radiant Elysia before her.
"What followed was our battle against the Final Herrscher... but we failed," Eden said, somewhat unwillingly.
"After that... came a new era," Eden said, looking at Purple Fairy.
"So, is Purple Fairy the Elysia of this era?" Elysia also looked toward Purple Fairy.
"No, that's not it," Purple Fairy gently shook her head.
"Elysia, do you remember what I said? I, and the Herrschers of this era, exist because of you," Purple Fairy said seriously.
"Because your sacrifice, Elysia, bestowed humanity upon us, gave us self-awareness, allowed us... to love or be loved."
"So it seems Elysia's sacrifice was useful after all. So Eden, you all shouldn't be sad anymore♪~"
Even after learning her own fate, Elysia remained her usual self.
Miss Purple Fairy spoke up then, "Elysia, why don't you love yourself a little more?"
After saying this, Miss Purple Fairy lowered her head.
Perhaps this was the greatest difference between her and Elysia.
Elysia would unconditionally love those around her, love everyone.
But Erosion, our Miss Purple Fairy, was not like that.
Purple Fairy also loved those around her, but what she loved more... was herself.
"Elysia loves herself very much♪~" Elysia said with a smile.
At the same time, she reached out and patted Miss Purple Fairy's head.
"Elysia isn't lying, you know. Elysia truly loves herself. It's just that Elysia shared the love meant for herself with the companions around her♪~" As she spoke, Elysia glanced at Eden.
Eden did not speak.
"Someday, you'll feel this way too. Just like in that photo you showed earlier. Don't you love the people in that photo?♪~"
Purple Fairy didn't speak. She couldn't refute it. Could she say she didn't like the people who stayed by her side?
Impossible. Such words could never be spoken.
"See? See? You can't say it. Doesn't that mean you care about them deeply?♪~"
"Especially when you introduced us to that Miss Mei. The expression you had then... is it okay to show it now? You and I are both Elysia; we shouldn't show such a painful expression♪~"
Miss Purple Fairy couldn't hold back any longer. She directly reached out and hugged Elysia.
Burying her face in Elysia's chest, she began to cry loudly.
Eden watched the crying Erosion, then looked at Elysia who was comforting her.
Silently, she placed the crystal flower aside and then left the place.
She had something to discuss with Kevin and Aponia.
This place... was best left to the two of them.
After crying for a while, Miss Purple Fairy finally regained control of her emotions.
But she still remained nestled against Elysia's chest.
"Alright, since you've cried enough, you should get up with a smile♪~" Elysia gently patted Miss Purple Fairy's back.
After a moment, Miss Purple Fairy raised her head.
Now, the sadness from before was gone from her face. A smile graced her features.
Only, her face was now very red.
"Don't laugh at me," Miss Purple Fairy said, sniffling.
"Yes, yes, I won't laugh. After all, even Elysia sometimes needs to vent her emotions♪~" Elysia said softly.
"How do you feel now? Much lighter, right? Is Elysia's embrace comfortable? Do you feel much more relaxed now?♪~"
Hearing Elysia's words, Miss Purple Fairy immediately turned her head away, not letting Elysia see her face.
"Mm," Miss Purple Fairy responded softly.
"Don't be shy. After all, we two are the same. Let Elysia see what Elysia looks like after crying♪~"
"No!" Miss Purple Fairy quickly rubbed her eyes and face with her hands.
Finally, she sniffled twice more. After making sure she had composed herself, she turned to look at Elysia.
"Elysia... if, I mean if... I know about some tragedies that will happen in the future, should I try my best to stop them?" Purple Fairy asked quietly.
"Mhm~ You've already asked this question, so don't you have the answer yet?♪~" Elysia rested her head on Purple Fairy's shoulder.
"You are the me of this era, after all. I would certainly never let anything happen that I would regret, right?♪~"
"Mm. I... hate tragedies," Miss Purple Fairy said seriously.
"Yes, we both hate tragedies. So shouldn't we do our utmost to prevent them?♪~"
After saying this, Elysia let out a soft sigh.
"Mm. I will do everything in my power to prevent tragedies."
"To fight for all that is beautiful in the world," Miss Purple Fairy whispered these words.
"Oh? That's a wonderful phrase♪~" Elysia heard it.
"To fight for all that is beautiful in the world. Mm-hmm, truly worthy of being me♪~" Elysia said happily.
"That phrase... wasn't originally mine. I... just repeated something someone else said," Miss Purple Fairy said.
"Mm-hmm, even if someone else said it, isn't this exactly what you want to do?♪~"
"So, don't worry about who originally said it. The one saying it now... is you♪~"
"The Elysian Realm is ultimately just the past. So, bid farewell to the past and move toward the future. Shape the future into the form you desire, understand? The other me♪~"
Elysia cupped Purple Fairy's face with both hands, making her look at her as she spoke the final words.
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