Ruan Mei pondered briefly. Her usually calm, indifferent eyes glimmered with a hint of scholarly curiosity.
The remains of Tayzzyronth, the Aeon of Propagation, who had long since fallen—their research value far exceeded that of the Starcrusher Swarm King. And did the Path of that romantic miracle relate to that Other who also disappeared from the universe around the same time?
Herta gently tugged Ruan Mei's sleeve. Ruan Mei snapped back to attention. "What is it, Herta?"
"Ruan Mei, you really want to study the remains of Tayzzyronth, don't you?"
Ruan Mei was about to nod, but she saw a glint of tears in Herta's eyes. Her expression was lost, helpless, yet she feigned composure and forced her usual demeanor. Knowing Herta as a fellow genius for countless Amber Eras, Ruan Mei had never seen this expression on her before.
Perhaps, at some point, she really has changed.
Ruan Mei stepped forward and handed Herta the long-finished little Herta puppet sleeve pendant. "Herta, go sit in the Ruomu Pavilion for a while, alright?"
Herta took the pendant and fastened it to her sleeve, then replied with proud aloofness, "Fine. I'll go sit. You discuss the remnants of Tayzzyronth with her. And this time, I'll be part of your research too."
"Hmm? What about Screwllum and Stephen?"
"Not this time. Just the two of us."
Without waiting for a reply, Herta turned and walked toward the pavilion. The delight in her brow replaced the earlier gloom. First, the little Herta puppet pendant she had been longing for was finally hers. Second, even if Ruan Mei's research on Tayzzyronth's remains helped those seeking a way to slay the Aeon of Abundance, she would be with her—sharing hardship, sharing life.
After Herta left, Ruan Mei calmly asked Jingliu, "Tayzzyronth's remains are indeed worthy of study. You want me to research them, unlock certain secrets, and find a way to slay the Aeon of Abundance. Am I right?"
Bailu, who had been holding Jingliu's hand, stared at them wide-eyed, stammering in disbelief. "Jing... Jingliu! Ruan... Ruan Mei! What are you talking about? Kill the Aeon of Abundance? This... this..."
Jingliu released Bailu's hand, bent down, and gently stroked her head. Her tone was cool, but there was a trace of concern. "Bailu, here are five hundred credits. Go buy some mille-feuille rolls at the snack shop ahead. I'll be there shortly."
Bailu didn't take the credits at first. She looked at Jingliu with tearful eyes, gripping her hand tightly, as if afraid she would disappear the next second. "Do you really have to go? To kill an Aeon? Aeons are terrifying, despair-inducing. Won't you be in danger? No, no, you can't go. You can't go!"
In that moment, the usually sensible, sometimes playful little Bailu seemed like a different person. She wanted Jingliu to live—truly wanted her to live. Even though they had only met a few times, her heart felt as if Jingliu were the most important person in her life. She would even face death in her place.
But the Vidyadhara have no family. Always alone. A solitary shadow.