Griseo possessed a special power to see the world through "colors". It was a metaphor for the "essence" of all things. Once she understands a 'color', she can paint them in a "blank canvas", giving them life. She can also use her colors to change an item's functions.
In simple terms, Griseo has a limited capability of reality manipulation. Her power was so special Aponia had to watch over her for caution's sake.
When Senti asked for Griseo to take on her colors, she did it out of concern. She had a feeling it might help Griseo resolve her inner conflicts—and also hers.
The moment she saw the Senti that Griseo had transformed to, her pupils shrank. The familiar yet unfamiliar school uniform resurfaced from her memories.
"I wonder why she didn't wear it. It's not half-bad."
Senti held an air of haughtiness.
"There's a reason she didn't make any friends! Don't you think so too?"
"...Hum."
The real Senti turned silent. Her shock was still apparent.
"If I had the chance, I would've beaten up those gossiping monkeys! Hua is too lenient…"
"Senti" talked a lot about Fu Hua's "mistakes" during her time as a student. She was the quiet girl who never interacted with anyone. She wore her martial arts uniform in school, too. She knew nothing about fashion and was branded as an outcast-slash-oddball within the classroom.
"We would be better off had she challenged the other dojos in the city. Or used the Internet to pull out some stunts. Anything would've been fine!"
There were also the financial problems her family dojo faced. Hua lived by eating bland wheat noodles thrice a day.
"Then, there's that. She lost her heart and acted like a coward!"
Senti was silent, though she saw the emotions within "Senti's" eyes: anger, loathing, and disappointment.
"Who would have thought that the mighty Hua went off to hide inside a trash dump? Tremblingly, at that."
The knee-high skirt fluttered along the wind, interrupting "Senti's" speech. Her pure white underwear was revealed. She hastily pulled the hem of her skirt down. Her embarrassment destroyed the momentum she built up from earlier.
Fortunately, there was only Senti with her.
"That's why she hated skirts…"
"Senti's" mutterings did not register in Senti's ears. The impact of seeing "Senti" cleared up her mind.
'No wonder… No wonder she acted like that.'
Senti had memories of Fu Hua. One time, Griseo did not know of the implications of her power. She unconsciously transforms into the people she spent a long time with. Fu Hua was one of them.
Senti knew that seeing the Griseo-transformed "Fu Hua" gave a lot of impact to Fu Hua herself. She couldn't understand why it was so, but now that she experienced it herself, she found the answer.
Griseo can glimpse upon a person's "true self" by seeing their colors. It is not a perfect interpretation. But not a lot of people can understand their "true self". Most of the time, Griseo's "interpretation" is deeper than the person themselves.
Fu Hua was lost after the seventh eruption. She, who had always survived, did not know what she could do for the deceased. She questioned herself, again and again, on her life's worth.
'If it was Carole who hid and survived and not me…'
'If it was the Major who survived and not me…'
Before she knew it, Fu Hua was heavily burdened with a survivor's guilt. It wasn't until Griseo appeared as "Fu Hua" that she got the answer she wanted.
"I want to know… what I can do."
"Don't worry. We have a lifetime to figure it out."
Senti faced the exact same situation at this moment.
"She did not lie. I… we are a part of her."
"Hum..? Why bother confusing yourself? Of course we are a part of her!"
Senti is the manifestation of Fu Hua's regrets. All of her "what ifs". She is the "Fu Hua" that was strong enough to face the things Fu Hua never dared to face.
If she was bullied in school, she would have beaten them up.
If they faced financial difficulties, she would have tried many things to help keep their dojo afloat.
If she faced the hordes of zombies and honkai beasts, she wouldn't have cowered behind a trash dump, but faced them all bravely and saved her sole friend.
Senti carried Fu Hua's expectations of a "better outcome" without any worry about the next thing… even if they are flawed.
Had she beaten up the gossipy girls, she would have been expelled.
The capabilities of a teenager are limited in the face of real world financial struggles.
The hordes of zombies and honkai beasts are a death trap had Fu Hua chosen to face them.
Flawed or not, it was undeniable she carried all of Fu Hua's ideals—self, future, and all.
"It seems we are the same as her… or not. Heh, wallowing in regrets is not my style!"
With the fog clearing up, Senti felt rejuvenated. She also sensed the impending breakthrough of her fourth level Tao Heart.
"Since she chose to remain in the past, I will remain in the present."
Fu Hua did not like interacting with others in the present. She had long accepted that she belonged to the past.
Senti chose the exact opposite. She will wholeheartedly accompany humanity in the present.
To her, it is fine too.
"Past and present. All that's left is to tread the future!"
"Senti's" temperament changed greatly as she saw Senti's changes. She no longer had the haughtiness of before. It was replaced with calmness.
"Thanks."
Senti did not need to say more. She left soon after. Only "Senti" with her schoolgirl uniform was left.
Just then, a newcomer appeared. She promptly faced him and saw his appearance.
Shoulder-length purple hair tied into a short ponytail. A pair of golden pupils that glowed with wisdom. A pointed nose that added a hint of elegance. His jawline was neither too prominent nor too hidden. Not a trace of excess fat could be seen on his face, much less the rest of his body. His overall build made him look like a chivalrous swordsman in one angle, and then a knowledgeable scholar in another.
The height difference of almost one head (i.e., 15 centimeters) forced "Senti" to look up at him.
The moment their eyes met, "Senti" saw his colors. She saw it shift from the serene blue to the benevolent green; the stagnant gray and the majestic red.
Things halted from there as the sheer brightness of his colors bombarded "Senti's" mind.
It was as bright…
No.
It was infinitely times brighter than the Sun.
'Ah…'
*****
A/N: Seele kickstarted this development. Mei took it further. Now, well....
PS: I set the timer wrong kek.