NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 265: Welcome Home, Himeko-sensei
Silence. Darkness. In the deepest recesses of her mindscape, Kiana's consciousness slept peacefully.
In the boundless darkness, a golden light descended from above, like a spotlight, illuminating the sleeping girl.
The faint glow pushed back the encroaching darkness, warming Kiana's consciousness, slowly repairing the damage caused by Taixu Sword God and Flamescion's erosion.
After a long while, the girl's eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.
The light was blinding. As her mind cleared, she gradually discerned her surroundings through the hazy glow.
"A stage?"
In the magnificent Theater of the Domination, Kiana slowly rose from the center of the stage, the spotlight focused on her, obscuring the area beyond.
In her hazy consciousness, she sensed a familiar presence within the empty theater.
She moved towards the light, following the faint sensation, finally spotting the figure etched deep within her memories at the back of the auditorium.
"Ren!"
She reached out, wanting to grasp the departing figure, but this was only Kiana's mindscape. With her awakening, the space began to dissolve.
Within the crumbling theater, Kiana couldn't grasp the phantom-like Ren, shattering like glass.
"Don't go!"
Kiana abruptly woke up, gasping for air, her eyes filled with an unspeakable terror. She clutched her forehead, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Did you have a nightmare?"
A gentle voice reached her ears. Kiana realized she wasn't on the streets but lying in a bed.
Had she been rescued?
Temporarily suppressing the lingering emotions from the dream, she turned, intending to thank the girl. But the moment she saw the girl's face, her voice caught in her throat.
Emerald eyes, short dark green hair—the girl was so familiar that Kiana wondered if she was still dreaming.
"Wen... Wendy?"
"Huh? Do you know me?" Wendy was surprised, then quickly added, scratching her head, "Sorry, I've lost a lot of my memories. I might not remember you."
Looking at the girl's innocent smile, the shadows in Kiana's heart seemed to dissipate. She looked at her hand, confirming she was awake.
However, when she tried to call out to Fu Hua, there was no response. The Herrscher of Sentience was still slumbering.
"What's... going on?" The disjointed memories felt like a distortion of time, confusing Kiana. She looked around the room, her gaze settling on the familiar layout, and she froze.
Noticing Kiana's confusion, Wendy said softly, "Don't worry, Himeko-sensei will be back soon. She'll explain everything."
Click.
Just then, the sound of the door opening echoed. Himeko entered the living room, carrying several bags, asking casually, "Wendy, is Kiana awake?"
There was no reply. Himeko frowned, looking towards the bedroom.
She walked to the door and knocked. The door slowly opened, but it wasn't Wendy in her wheelchair who greeted her but a pair of teary, azure eyes.
"Himeko-sensei, welcome home."
…
The joy of reunion dispelled all lingering shadows. The bright moonlight, filtering through the night sky above ARC City, illuminated the boundless darkness.
Bathed in moonlight, Ren watched Kiana's joyful smile through the window, a hint of relief on his face. But he quickly suppressed it, his expression returning to its usual indifference.
"Goodbye."
With a silent farewell, Ren turned and left. All the preparations were complete. It was time for his own trial.
Eden's concert was attracting even more attention than anticipated. Thanks to Ren's subtle promotion, even those who didn't usually listen to music were drawn to the grand event, and ticket sales continued to soar.
The next morning, the entire city seemed to be buzzing with excitement for the upcoming concert. Everyone eagerly awaited the evening, creating a near-deserted city during the day as people made their preparations.
ARC City had just experienced a Honkai eruption. Everyone needed a chance to relax, and Eden, with Ren's influence amplifying her performance, was the perfect means of soothing their anxieties.
However, no one noticed that amidst the excitement, ARC City's communication links with the outside world were being severed.
Not only were travel and transportation canceled, but even Susannah's Schicksal-issued communicator was blocked by Ren, transmitting only fabricated information back to Schicksal.
All the nodes of the illusionary array, interconnected and synchronized, formed a massive spherical barrier, encasing the city. Projecting the Theater of the Domination into reality would inevitably generate powerful energy fluctuations. Ren had to contain them until the trial was complete.
As the concert countdown drew closer, the illusionary array neared completion. However, an illusion of this magnitude couldn't help but arouse suspicion in some.
"What's wrong, Sushang?" Susannah, dutifully following Li Sushang like a loyal follower, looked at her quizzically. She clutched two concert tickets in her hand, practically vibrating with excitement.
"Nothing." Li Sushang, sensing something amiss, gazed at the sky, but her Spirit sense detected nothing unusual. She looked back at Susannah, forcing a smile. "Just a strange feeling."
Her smile was strained. Since learning of Ren's fall from grace, Li Sushang had been deeply troubled. She blamed herself for teaching him Taixu Sword Qi, believing she had failed in her responsibility.
"It's alright, Sushang. You're so powerful; even if there's danger, you can handle it. Besides, I heard that Eden, ARC City's superstar, can heal people's hearts with her songs. Maybe after listening to her concert, you'll feel better."
Noticing Li Sushang's distress, Susannah had asked her resourceful friend Alvitr for tickets, hoping to cheer her up. Of course, attending the concert with her idol, Li Sushang, was also a dream come true for Susannah.
"I hope so." Faced with Susannah's enthusiasm, Li Sushang's worry about Ren eased slightly. She scanned the bustling street, about to speak when a familiar figure caught her eye.
"Is that the white-haired Herrscher girl?"