Chapter 236: I Want to Have Fun
Stelle's thoughts were always so flighty; one moment she could be downcast that her companions couldn't all be together, and the next, she would seize upon a new point of excitement and immediately act on it.
Just now, the desire to see Olonios spread through her mind like wildfire, instantly consuming her every thought. The reason she concocted for herself was a grand one: she was fulfilling a promise.
'Everyone knows that I, Stelle, am a person of my word, true to my promises!' she told herself, trying to imbue the thought with a veneer of righteousness.
She did recall her last visit to the Hall of the Triune Fates. When she had sought Olonios's help to retrace the history of Hanging Edge City and find a way to break Nikador's immortality, she had promised the Titan of Ages that she would bring March 7th to see him.
This was, absolutely, the primary motivation for her current impulse. It was definitely not because she keenly sensed the potential for entertainment hidden within the mystery of March 7th's background. Nor was it because she wanted to see what kind of fascinating reaction the enigmatic Titan would have upon meeting March.
No, absolutely not. Stelle nodded vigorously, as if trying to convince herself of the fact.
Her action-oriented nature was on full display. Once the idea took root, it demanded immediate execution.
She plastered on what she considered her most friendly and sincere smile. However, with the slight upturn of her lips and the distinct twinkle in her eyes, it came across as particularly mischievous. She turned to March 7th, who was busy organizing her camera nearby.
"March~" Stelle's voice deliberately dragged out the last syllable, dripping with a cloyingly sweet intimacy.
That single word, spoken in that peculiar tone, was enough to send March 7th's internal alarm system into a frantic overdrive.
She snapped her head up, staring at Stelle with deep suspicion. Her hands shot up to cross in front of her chest in a defensive posture. "Stop! You stop right there! Don't talk to me in that tone, you're giving me goosebumps! Every time you smile and talk like that, you're up to no good! Spill it. What do you really want?"
The smile on Stelle's face only grew brighter. She took a few steps closer, attempting to sling an arm around March 7th's shoulder, but the other girl nimbly sidestepped her.
"Hehe, how could you say that?" Stelle blinked, feigning innocence. "I'm such a proper person. How could I possibly be up to no good? Look into my sincere eyes!"
She pointed to her own eyes, which at that moment were practically screaming 'troublemaker.'
"Pfft! Your eyes are only saying 'I want to watch the chaos unfold'!" March 7th shot her down without mercy.
"You wound me!" Stelle cried out dramatically, before composing her features into what she believed was a serious and earnest expression. "I just want to solemnly invite our dear, beautiful, and brave little March to visit the Titan of Ages—Olonios."
She leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "How about it? Care to begin a journey full of knowledge and mystery with me?"
"Olonios? The Titan of Ages from Amphoreus?" March 7th paused, tilting her head in confusion. "Why would we go see him? Are we close?"
She vaguely remembered Stelle mentioning her experience in the Hall of the Triune Fates, but she didn't know any of the specific details.
Stelle immediately puffed out her chest and launched into an elaborate explanation of her "noble" cause. "It's like this! Back then, Phainon, Castorice, and I went to the Hall of the Triune Fates to ask Olonios for help finding a way to defeat Nikador."
"The process was incredibly arduous, a gauntlet of one puzzle after another, but thankfully I was exceptionally clever, and ultimately… (three hundred words of self-praise have been omitted here)."
"In short," she concluded, her tone ringing with historical importance, "at that crucial moment, I, Stelle, promised Olonios that I would bring you to see him! This is a promise that transcends time and space, and it absolutely must be fulfilled!"
As March 7th listened to Stelle's theatrical retelling, her brows furrowed slightly. 'Why would the Titan of Ages specifically ask to see me?'she murmured inwardly.'What connection could I possibly have with him? Could it be… related to my past again?' The thought of potentially uncovering another clue about her lost memories sent a jolt of anticipation through her, mingled with a strange, familiar unease.
Besides, she knew Stelle hadn't told her the whole truth. There was definitely a trap waiting for her somewhere down the line.
Just as March 7th was hesitating, Dan Heng, who had been observing the exchange in quiet amusement, finally spoke.
"As it stands," he began, his voice calm and analytical, "I do think Stelle's proposal has a certain feasibility."
His gaze swept over Stelle, then landed on March 7th's doubtful face.
"Firstly, March, your resemblance to the 'Pink Haze Celestial Maiden' from the legends of Amphoreus is uncanny. That is unlikely to be a coincidence."
"Olonios, as the Titan of Ages, presides over the past and all memories. His specific request to see you is very likely related to your own mysteries. This is an opportunity to understand your past." Dan Heng's words, as always, cut straight to the heart of the matter.
He continued, "Secondly, from a strategic perspective, our relationship with the Chrysos Heirs, especially Aglaea, has only just begun to warm up after our joint crusade against Nikador."
"Olonios is one of the most important Titans of Amphoreus. If we can successfully fulfill our promise and maintain a good relationship, it will only benefit our future actions here. Conversely, if we create friction over a broken promise, it could invite unnecessary trouble."
Finally, he gently offered a point that was powerfully tempting to March 7th. "also, when we went to the Hall of the Triune Fates before, we were mainly solving puzzles in the outer areas. We never explored its core sanctuary."
"Aren't you curious about the true residence of a Titan whom even the Chrysos Heirs treat with such caution? What kind of scenes concerning destiny and time are hidden within a place named 'The Hall of the Triune Fates'?"
He gave a small, almost imperceptible smile. "Consider it a journey that combines exploration with a bit of sightseeing. It's not an impossible proposition."
It had to be said, Dan Heng's well-reasoned argument, a masterclass in persuasion that appealed to both logic and emotion, struck a direct hit on March 7th's curiosity and her deep-seated desire to explore her own past.
She really did want to see what the interior of the "Hall of the Triune Fates"—a name that sounded so full of gravitas and destiny—actually looked like. And she wanted to personally meet the Titan who could manipulate the very flow of time.
Coupled with the fact that her companions were both inclined to go… well, as someone who valued friendship and enjoyed being with her friends, she naturally had to 'consider' their thoughts. It definitely wasn't because her own curiosity was about to boil over. Hmm, absolutely not.
After a brief internal struggle, March 7th finally took a deep breath, as if she had made a monumental decision. She planted her hands on her hips and looked at Stelle. "Alright, alright! Seeing as you're so 'true to your word'," she said, putting heavy emphasis on the phrase, "I'll reluctantly accompany you on this trip!"
She then wagged a finger at her friend. "But we have a deal! If I find you trying to get a laugh at my expense again, I'll cool you down with a blast of my Six-Phase Ice, got it?"
"Don't worry, don't worry! How could I ever trick you!" Stelle patted her chest, her grin giving away everything.
Once the decision was made, the trio wasted no time. After a brief preparation, they were ready to set off.
Ever careful, Dan Heng took a moment before they left their temporary residence in Okhema City. He used a local Amphoreus communication slate to leave a message for Tribbie, briefly explaining that the three of them were heading out for a while, likely near the Hall of the Triune Fates. He added that if anything urgent came up, she could leave a message, and they would deal with it immediately upon their return.
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