On the tree-lined path winding through the campus, Lucian and Himeko had just finished dinner and were taking a leisurely walk together to help digest their meal.
As they walked, the setting sun hung low on the horizon, bathing the surroundings in a warm golden glow as it stretched their shadows long across the ground. A gentle evening breeze drifted through the rows of trees, rustling the leaves overhead and making the atmosphere feel relaxed, peaceful, and pleasant.
After spending so much time together, the awkwardness from when they had first met had long since disappeared. Instead, they felt more like old friends who had known each other for years, chatting, teasing, and joking naturally with one another without any sense of restraint.
Himeko hugged several interstellar dynamics textbooks she had borrowed from the library against her chest, her thoughts still lingering on the story Lucian had told during dinner about the 'Aeon of Elation blowing up the Astral Express.'
Honestly, the more she thought about it, the more absurd it sounded.
And yet, considering how much mysterious knowledge Lucian seemed to possess, she could not completely dismiss it as nonsense either.
With both hands tucked casually into his pockets and a relaxed posture, Lucian suddenly turned his head slightly, the corner of his mouth curling upward into a teasing smile as though he had just thought of something amusing.
"By the way, Himeko, since you admire Akivili so much... do you know that THEY are actually my little bro?"
Himeko had been thinking about the Astral Express when she suddenly heard that statement and nearly choked on her own saliva.
In the next instant, she turned her head and looked at Lucian with an expression that clearly said, 'Are you okay?'
Lucian had not even been drinking today, so why was he suddenly talking nonsense?
"Fufu, even though you know a lot of things, that's a bit too..."
Unable to hold back her laughter, Himeko shook her head helplessly.
"Akivili is the Aeon of Trailblaze, a great existence who guided countless Nameless. How could THEY possibly be your little bro?"
As she spoke, she looked at him as though she were humoring a child who had suddenly started making outrageous claims, clearly convinced that Lucian was simply joking around.
"You don't believe me?"
Lucian raised an eyebrow.
"Nope."
Himeko shook her head decisively, her face filled with amusement.
"Unless you can call THEM out and let me see THEM, of course."
Naturally, she was merely playing along with the joke and did not take it seriously at all.
However, Lucian immediately stopped walking and looked at her with complete seriousness.
"Really? If I call THEM out, don't freak out."
Himeko copied Lucian's expression and nodded solemnly.
"Mhm, go ahead, call THEM. I promise I won't get freaked out. Do you need me to prepare some kind of ritual? Maybe set up an altar and light some incense or something—Hahaha..."
Before she could even finish speaking, Himeko could no longer suppress her laughter. Her shoulders trembled slightly as she laughed, and her eyes curved into crescents as she found the joke unexpectedly entertaining.
"Heh..."
Lucian laughed as well, a crafty gleam flashing through his eyes.
"Nah, that won't be necessary... but there are way too many people around here, so it's kinda inconvenient. How about this? Tomorrow's the weekend. I'll take you somewhere quiet and let you see it with your own eyes."
Himeko froze for a moment.
'Alone? Going out with him?'
Although they had already become quite close, going somewhere off campus alone with him still felt a little unusual.
After all, most of the time they spent together was either in class, in the library, or around the university grounds. Going somewhere together outside campus was an entirely different matter.
As a result, the thought lingered in her mind for only a brief moment before Himeko looked up and met Lucian's straightforward yet slightly expectant gaze.
In that instant, the small hesitation in her heart quickly vanished.
From her perspective, Lucian was not only a gentleman but also a knowledgeable and humorous man whose company was always enjoyable. Whether they were discussing academic subjects or exchanging casual jokes, every conversation with him felt engaging and enjoyable, never once becoming dull.
Besides, they were only going to 'witness a miracle,' so it was not some strange date.
In the end, after hesitating briefly, Himeko finally agreed.
"...Sure."
Himeko nodded readily, curiosity and anticipation clearly showing on her face.
Honestly, she still did not believe that Lucian could somehow summon Akivili in front of her. Even so, she was genuinely curious about what kind of trick or surprise he had prepared.
"I'd really like to see how you're going to turn the Aeon of Trailblaze into your little bro~"
Himeko's tone was filled with teasing disbelief as she spoke, genuinely curious about what Lucian was planning to do.
"It's settled, then," Lucian said calmly. "Tomorrow evening. Meet me at the university gate. Don't forget."
"Got it."
Himeko smiled and nodded before hugging her books a little tighter, already beginning to wonder what exactly tomorrow's so-called miracle would look like.
===
On the evening of the next day, Himeko deliberately changed out of her usual university uniform and put on a fresh, casual outfit instead.
Even though it was just a simple set of clothes, it highlighted her natural beauty perfectly. Combined with her short, neck-length crimson hair and elegant features, she looked youthful, energetic, and exceptionally charming.
Compared to her usual appearance on campus, she carried less of a student's scholarly air and more of a young girl's vibrant vitality and radiant charm.
As she approached the university gate, the evening breeze gently stirred her hair, causing several strands to dance lightly around her face and making her appear even more lively than usual.
When Lucian saw her approaching from a distance, he could not help taking a few extra glances.
It could only be said that every glimpse of the pure and innocent young Himeko was one fewer glimpse remaining.
After all, this version of Himeko would not last forever.
In the future, she would gradually become the mature, capable, and intellectual big sister known throughout the cosmos.
"Himeko, you look beautiful today. That outfit looks perfect on you."
Lucian's compliment came naturally and did not sound frivolous in the slightest, causing a faint warmth to spread across Himeko's cheeks.
"Thank you..."
Himeko replied softly, feeling a little happy inside.
She had heard many people compliment her appearance and clothing before, and under normal circumstances, she would simply thank them politely and move on. However, when the words came from Lucian, they somehow made her genuinely happy.
Perhaps it was because she subconsciously valued his opinion more than she realized.
"Where are we going?"
Himeko asked with a faint smile, a trace of curiosity flickering in her eyes.
"Do you dare go on an adventure with me?" Lucian extended a hand toward her, inviting her along, a hint of mystery in his smile. "Take my hand, and we'll be at our destination in an instant."
'Holding hands?'
Himeko blinked in surprise and froze for a moment. Her gaze instinctively fell on the hand stretched out before her, and for an instant, her thoughts came to a complete halt.
Truthfully, she had never had physical contact with a man before, so she felt somewhat embarrassed and shy. Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the strap of her bag as a trace of hesitation appeared on her face. For a moment, she found herself caught between curiosity and embarrassment.
However, Lucian clearly had no intention of waiting forever.
Seeing that Himeko was still acting hesitant, he decisively reached out and took her delicate hand himself, causing her to tremble slightly as the warmth coming from his palm became unexpectedly clear to her.
However, she did not resist or pull away. Instead, she merely blushed a little as warmth spread across her face and all the way to the tips of her ears.
Before Himeko could properly react, Lucian gave her a gentle push on the shoulder.
In that instant, the surrounding space distorted slightly, as though the very air around them had been twisted by an invisible force, and the two of them vanished together without a trace.
In the blink of an eye, the scenery before their eyes changed completely, and they arrived at the seaside.
"We're... at the beach?"
Himeko sounded pleasantly surprised.
Just a second ago, they had still been standing at the university gate, yet in the blink of an eye, the scenery around them had completely changed.
In her vision, the vast ocean stretched endlessly before them, reflecting the colors of the setting sun, while the sea and sky seemed to merge together at the horizon, creating a breathtaking scene.
At the same time, the salty sea breeze brushed gently against her face, carrying the scent of the ocean, while the rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore instantly filled her ears.
In fact, she loved the sea.
Its vastness, freedom, and endless horizon always made her feel refreshed and at peace.
Standing there and looking at the boundless ocean before her, even the fatigue accumulated from studying seemed to fade away.
"What did you do?"
Himeko asked in bewilderment as she looked around at the completely unfamiliar surroundings.
"Just a little trick," Lucian said, shrugging like it was nothing, his expression still as relaxed as ever. "I told you I'm Akivili's big bro. Teleporting is totally reasonable, right?"
Himeko could not help but laugh at his shameless response.
"Lucian, you're still thinking about that? I'd almost forgotten about it myself."
She assumed he had simply found an excuse to take her out for some fun and had used some sort of incredible trick to surprise her. Even now, she still did not take his claim about being Akivili's big brother seriously.
"Himeko, do you think some people, even after they've passed away, keep existing forever as long as they're remembered?"
Lucian's sudden philosophical tone caught Himeko off guard.
Himeko followed his gaze and saw only the endless sea merging with the horizon beneath the fading evening sky.
For a moment, the atmosphere became unexpectedly quiet.
The sea breeze continued blowing gently.
The sound of waves rose and fell endlessly.
"You mean that... as long as we remember the will of Trailblaze, Akivili will live on in our hearts forever?"
"Nope..." Lucian shook his head. "I mean it literally. As long as I remember someone, anyone can become immortal, including an Aeon."
As soon as those words left his mouth, Lucian took out his phone and began playing a piece of soothing music.
A gentle melody drifted through the air, carried by the rhythmic sound of the waves.
At the same time, he slowly spread his arms wide and closed his eyes, allowing the cool sea breeze to sweep past him and brush against his face.
For a brief moment, the world seemed to grow unusually quiet. Between heaven and earth, only the distant sound of rolling waves and the soft, calming music remained.
Himeko looked at Lucian in confusion, completely unable to understand what he was trying to do, and could only stand there silently, watching his every movement while waiting for some kind of explanation.
Just as she opened her mouth, wanting to speak, without warning—
*WOOOOOOO—!!!*
A long and majestic train whistle, as though it had originated from the depths of an ancient starry sky, suddenly exploded across heaven and earth, the sound piercing through her ears and striking directly at Himeko's soul.
Her entire body trembled violently.
Her eyes widened abruptly.
Every hair on her body seemed to stand on end.
Immediately afterward, under her utterly shocked gaze, an incomparably magnificent phantom draped in endless starlight suddenly appeared above the horizon before them.
Its figure towered over heaven and earth.
Countless streams of starlight flowed around its body.
An aura that felt ancient, free, and boundlessly vast spread across the entire sea.
As someone who possessed the will of Trailblaze, Himeko instantly recognized it.
That presence.
That aura.
That indescribable feeling.
It was the unmistakable presence of Trailblaze itself.
'Akivili!!'
Himeko was completely dumbfounded, her mind going blank.
'He... can actually summon the Aeon of Trailblaze?'
'It's not some special effects and the like, right?'
At this moment, Lucian stood with his arms spread wide and his face full of confidence while the Aeon's phantom on the horizon answered his summons.
The starlight illuminated his figure.
The sea breeze lifted the corners of his clothes.
From Himeko's perspective, it looked unbelievably cool.
"Why do I keep dying over and over again? Even death doesn't give me any peace. You again?"
Just as that sentence was finished, Akivili died again.
Unlike before, however, THEY managed to exist for half a second this time before disappearing. Although half a second was still incredibly brief, it was already a noticeable improvement compared to the previous attempts.
Lucian had spent a long time researching various pieces of information and steadily deepening his understanding of Akivili. Over this period, he had gathered countless records, stories, and fragments related to THEM.
However, if he truly wanted to gain a deeper understanding of Akivili and uncover more of the secrets surrounding the Aeon of Trailblaze, he would ultimately have to rely on Aha, a so-called 'Emanator of Trailblaze.'
He would have to find Aha later and learn more about THEIR best buddy, hopefully allowing Akivili to survive for an extra second the next time.
Even though the appearance had vanished in an instant, as fleeting as an illusion, Himeko had seen it clearly this time. Besides, she had been standing right beside the 'caster' and had been mentally prepared, so there was absolutely no possibility that she had imagined it.
Waves continued crashing against the beach, while the soothing music Lucian had been playing drifted through the wind, as if trying to convince her that everything she had just witnessed was truly happening.
"J-Just now?! Was that... Akivili?! Wait, that was you last time, too? And what did THEY mean by dying over and over again?"
Himeko was so shocked that her words came out somewhat incoherently.
Clearly, the calm and composed university student she had been just moments ago had completely disappeared.
Lucian slowly opened his eyes, then he deliberately put on a profound expression before sighing and spreading his hands.
"It means exactly what it sounds like."
"As I said, as long as I remember THEM, Akivili never truly dies."
"Don't believe me?"
"Watch this. Live!"
Lucian activated BGM and Existence Anchor once more, then...
*WOOOOOOO—!!!*
Suddenly, the familiar train whistle echoed across heaven and earth once again before Akivili came back to life once more.
Akivili: "You little brat..."
Lucian: "Die."
Akivili died.
Lucian: "Live!"
Akivili came back to life again.
Akivili: "Turn me into a..."
Lucian: "Die."
Akivili died again.
Lucian: "Live!"
Akivili came back to life once more.
Akivili: "Are you treating me like the Propagation?!"
===
[A bonus chapter for every 300 Power Stones]
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