Honkai: Fire Moth Herrschers

"Why isn't it starting yet?! She's been on stage for ages! I should have gone to Vill-V's magic show next door, or Griseo's art exhibition…"

Mikael shifted his gaze from the "Elysia Debut Concert" banner, glancing at the white-haired young man in a mask and baseball cap complaining beside him.

"Be patient, Kevin! It's her first time on stage. Even if Eden is promoting her, she needs time to prepare!" retorted the woman beside him, also wearing a mask and baseball cap.

"Ugh… fine, whatever you say, Mei…"

Though they spoke softly, Mikael, with his enhanced hearing, caught every word.

"Kevin… Mei… could they be…?"

Mikael's gaze intensified. He couldn't be mistaken—it was Kevin, the internationally renowned athlete, and Dr. Mei, the prodigy who had won the Alfred Prize in biology, physics, and chemistry in three consecutive years!

There had been rumors they were dating. So it was true!

He instinctively raised his camera, but Kevin stopped him.

"Hey, buddy, do me a favor…"

Kevin glanced at the press pass on Mikael's chest, his tone a mixture of pleading and firmness.

Mikael sighed, lowering his camera.

Seeing him comply, Kevin turned away.

"What's wrong? Feeling down?"

Himeko whispered in his ear.

"A little, Boss…"

"Don't worry. Even if you took pictures, the Kaslana family would suppress the news. Save your energy for our mission."

"Understood."

Mikael took a deep breath, turning his attention back to the stage.

The neon lights illuminating the backdrop were bright, but the rest of the venue was dark, making it difficult to see clearly.

As a member of the press, Mikael had a good seat near the front. He could make out two glittering gems in the darkness—he felt a strange connection, as if their gazes met across the distance.

He held his breath, his muscles tensing.

He suddenly felt a surge of anticipation… no, not for the performance itself, but a premonition, a feeling that something significant was about to happen—something he would remember for the rest of his life.

She had been standing there, microphone in hand, for several minutes. Some in the audience were starting to complain, the murmurs growing louder in the vast venue.

Suddenly, a soft voice filled the air, silencing the noise.

Unlike Eden's powerful vocals, this voice was like a clear mountain spring, gentle and warm.

The world around Mikael shifted, Elysia now seemingly right beside him, singing softly:

"Say my name when a tree susurrates,

Once and again, telling a story lost in time,

The way it starts and the way it ends,

Never again making up stories in dismay,

With several starts, but just one end."

A sudden wave of dizziness brought Mikael back to reality. He gasped for air as the world around him returned to normal, the distance between him and Elysia growing again.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Himeko asked, concerned.

"I… I'm fine…"

He closed his eyes, feeling like he was back in that gentle stream, carried by the warm current.

"Elysia… Elysia…" He had never forgotten that name.

The unique girl from the orphanage, the girl he'd never had the courage to speak to all those years ago.

Why? Their names seemed so perfectly matched, yet she was so radiant, a shining jewel in a crowd, while he was so ordinary, easily lost in a sea of faces.

It was… self-consciousness.

He hadn't expected to see her again after ten years.

A tear rolled down his cheek, coinciding perfectly with the lyrics:

"Save your tears for the day so far away,

To irrigate the wilderness that's still asleep,

In the world waiting to be lit,

To spread over the riverbeds so dry and dead,

Let ships that ran aground re-launch their sails."

A wave of sadness washed over Mikael.

Where did this sadness come from? He didn't understand.

He couldn't explain it.

The girl on stage was lovely, and they had shared a brief connection in their childhood, but what did that mean?

Why did he feel this profound sadness—

Like an arrow shot from a distant star, carrying the scent of time and decay, piercing his heart.

The sadness suffocated him, overwhelming him… finally, he understood—

He had irrevocably fallen in love with this girl.

A simple, inexplicable reason, leading to such a bittersweet realization.

"Ah, how I long to embrace,

The future breaking out of shades from the past,

Still ablaze.

Seeds bear new life when flowers dare to fade.

Petals linger about,

Awaiting one last dance,

Shaking off all the dust from the past,

New stories have yet to start."

Mikael felt someone shaking his shoulder.

"Hey, are you okay? It's just a song. You're a reporter, you shouldn't be this emotional. Did it hit a nerve or something?"

Mikael opened his eyes. The venue was almost empty. Even Himeko, his boss, was gone.

Kevin patted his shoulder. "You alright? Your boss said she had to interview Miss Elysia. Since you're not feeling well, she said you could go home. She'll put your name on the article, don't worry!"

"Thanks," Mikael replied numbly.

"Well, we'll be going then. Bye!"

Kevin waved, leaving with Mei.

Mikael sat alone, the cleaning crew giving him strange looks.

He wanted to go backstage, to catch the interview, to see Elysia.

But what was the point?

After tonight, Elysia would be as famous as Eden.

What good would seeing her do?

If he went with optimistic expectations, and she didn't recognize him, wouldn't that be heartbreaking?

If he went with pessimistic expectations, and she did recognize him, wouldn't that be awkward?

So, why bother?

Mikael left the concert hall, found his beloved scooter, and drove aimlessly around the elevated highway, not wanting to go home.

He went to the monastery on the outskirts of the city.

Even late at night, the monastery chapel was brightly lit.

Hearing the scooter, a window in the dormitory opened. Pardo peeked out, waving at him. Before she could greet him, Aponia pulled her back inside, and the window closed.

He was practically family at the monastery, so no one stopped him—mostly because the gatekeeper, Kalpas, had skipped his shift, sitting by the chapel entrance, carving a piece of wood by candlelight.

Seeing a familiar face, Kalpas shifted to make way for him.

Mikael entered the chapel and lay down on a bench. The stained-glass windows cast colorful patterns on the walls, but he stared at a single candle flame, watching the wax melt and drip, until dawn.

He left quietly through the back door, sending Himeko a text message requesting a day off, then wandered into the woods by the riverbank.

The rising sun cast warm rays through the trees, dappling the forest floor.

A flash of pink caught his eye. He took a few steps closer, and this time, he couldn't be mistaken—

Lying amidst the knee-high grass and wildflowers, bathed in sunlight, fast asleep, was Elysia.

Such a serendipitous encounter, yet Mikael wanted to turn and leave.

Just then, a blue butterfly landed on her nose.

Elysia frowned, her nose twitching, and she sneezed.

The butterfly fluttered away. Mikael realized he'd been so captivated he'd forgotten to escape.

It was too late. Elysia rubbed her eyes and sat up, yawning widely.

Sensing the blocked sunlight, she turned towards the figure standing there.

"Huh?" she tilted her head, seemingly surprised.

Then, a flawless smile bloomed on her face:

"Long time no see, Mikael!"

"…"

Su gently pinched a leaf, and the scene before him vanished like smoke.

Mikael had been watching silently, observing his other self in that world, the familiar yet unfamiliar people, living their ordinary lives…

As the world dissipated, he smiled with satisfaction.

"So, there's a possibility we could become like that, right, Su?"

"…" Su paused before replying, "I didn't expect you to think that way, Mikael. You know the distance between that world and ours is perhaps greater than time itself. So… there's no comparison."

"The possibility is enough for me."

Mikael's voice was calm yet filled with emotion.

He left, satisfied.

"…"

Su only relaxed his grip after Mikael had left.

He knew what Mikael was satisfied about, but he couldn't let him see any more.

The Cosmic Juggernaut, Single Truth continued to turn, the interrupted vein on the leaf resuming its growth.

Then, the Honkai descended.

"I'm sorry, Mikael. I truly don't know how you'll react when you see this ending…"

"So far, you've secretly observed fourty eight thousand, nine hundred and seven worlds with Elysia using the Key of Infinity, but the previous fourty eight thousand, nine hundred and six couldn't escape the Honkai's clutches. Only this one… until now…"

"Will this make you despair? Do you… truly have the strength to face such a cruel reality?"

Su hesitated. He hadn't decided when to tell Mikael the truth.

Just then, a familiar voice spoke behind him, sending chills down his spine.

"Hmm… I understand."

"So, all evidence suggests that if the Honkai didn't exist, or emerged later than our era, Elysia wouldn't exist either, right?"