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When she was little, even in a remote place like Vladivostok 51, the New Year, where everyone had to rub their hands and blow on them to start the fire, was still lively. Taking advantage of the sunlight after lunch, everyone went out to play in the snow, except for her, the little clever girl, who insisted on staying behind, saying that there was always snow in the New Year, but she could not have much time with Mama Celia.
With a little scheme in mind, she puffed up her cheeks and asked a question: If the girls obediently helped Mama Celia run the orphanage every day, would they surely become as gentle and understanding as Mama when they grew up? But those noisy boys always slacked off and ran off to play elsewhere. Should they let the boys who were now outside throwing snowballs at each other also become like Mama in the future, mending clothes for the little ones and telling bedtime stories?
Hearing this innocent question, Mama Celia laughed. If she wasn’t busy with her needle and thread, she would have ruffled the little girl’s pink head. She told Elysia that every child here would eventually find their own place, somewhere far away, and become the person they hoped to be, regardless of whether they were boys or girls. And as for the joke, it might even come true. As long as they followed their true heart's desires, perhaps the future pillar of this orphanage, under the winter snow, would be among them.
The little girl named Elysia blinked her eyes, pouted, and insisted that she was being tricked. Of course, Mama Celia playfully pinched her nose.
"What's wrong? Did you have a quarrel with the boys again?"
"They took a girl’s doll without returning it," she innocently began to complain, "And the boys always talk big. Mama told them talking big would make them stop growing, but they never listen!"
Mama Celia’s smile grew wider. She hadn’t expected that little Eille would have this much of a sense of injustice. She wasn’t sure how to explain it to this young, incredibly cute little girl.
Time passed quickly, and the early memories faded, the tender pastel colors of childhood slowly blurred. Yet, Mama Celia's words remained unforgettable to Elysia.
On that day, Elysia also heard that innocent question, one that seemed to take her back to the days of childhood. It felt as though growing up had happened in the blink of an eye.
"I found the place where I belong, and now I’m going to it," she answered. But her answer seemed to have been known already by the other person, who didn’t ask the question for that reason.
Mama Celia had always said that boys were a group of children who would never grow up, but little Eille didn’t understand. She didn’t think that the other adults in the orphanage really looked like children. Even if they did, that wasn’t an excuse for the boys’ tall tales and boastful words.
It wasn’t until that day, when Elysia noticed that the tears on his face wouldn’t dry no matter how hard she wiped them, that she understood Mama Celia’s words were true. Because boys were a group of fools who would never grow up but wanted to seem mature more than anyone else, they would try to blow their own horn and puff themselves up to look like adults. They wanted to become heroes who could save the world in the blink of an eye. Little Eille used to think they were restless, but Mama Celia always smiled and said that was just their way of understanding the world: jumping around, fighting, and playing was their way of eventually becoming calm and steady; getting bruised and scratched from tumbling and stumbling was because of their insatiable curiosity, their passionate dreams, and the people they could never let go of in their hearts.
Elysia worked hard to learn the kind of romance her Mama had, but when she first met him, she couldn’t help but occasionally feel annoyed. He used to cause a lot of trouble, often sneaking off from training with his friends to go play basketball, or dragging the girls out for team-building activities. He had no sense of maturity or composure, and perhaps his nature was always destined to be cheerful and lively.
But now, he was so quiet, so very quiet. He shed cold tears without a word, and no matter how much Elysia tried to comfort, coax, or make him laugh, she couldn’t stop the sadness in his eyes.
Mama Celia had ultimately lied. She used to scare all the children by telling them that those who bragged and boasted would never grow tall. But the once frivolous boy had often boasted with others, and yet, he grew up healthy, tall, and when he hugged her, she didn’t even have to lower her head to rest her brow in his embrace.
Elysia heard it—his heartbeat, even mixed with trembling.
Elysia was Elysia, with no other meaning behind it.
If I must pull the trigger, I would choose to place everything I have into the dark barrel of the gun. I just want to save you.
In truth, it is the longing in my heart that has kept me going all the way to this point. If I were to abandon these feelings and sacrifice you, what would be the difference between me and a walking corpse endlessly searching for a place to die?
Compared to the fate of this world, some people are far more important. No matter what, I can fear nothing, I can try and sacrifice anything, but please, let it never be Elysia.
If anyone tries to exclude you, I will always stand by your side, no matter who they are or what their status is. I will always assert and protect you, telling our enemies that the person beside me is simply Elysia, a human being.
He said these words with all his strength.
Indeed, he still hadn’t changed his habit of boasting.
But Elysia loved his words deeply. Hearing them made her heart flutter and ache, her happy smile almost melting from the warmth, and she couldn’t help but shed tears of joy under his intense gaze.
But now, he was the hero of humanity, the starting point of everyone's hope, while Elysia had become the root of the world’s deepest hatred, and neither of them could turn back. Even if he truly decided to stand by Elysia’s side and fight the whole world, how could she bear to let such an unrealistic absurdity come true?
Elysia still remembered when Mama Celia had asked her why the boy had to take a girl’s doll. Little Eille had angrily said he took it twice already and always hid the doll behind him, making the girl anxious and upset. She thought the boy was just bullying the girl.
Later, Elysia understood—the boy wasn’t after the doll at all. His attention was always on the girl who was jumping around in a panic. Only her doll would be taken.
Hearing his words of favoritism, Elysia felt truly happy. Joyful tears ran down her cheeks, and she didn’t even care about the light makeup on her face anymore. But she had never crossed any boundaries with him, at least they had never admitted to it. So perhaps it was Elysia, in her greed, moving a little closer to him, her hand tightening slightly as it rested against his arm, or perhaps it was her smile, so full of joy and happiness, that made her seem to glow.
When he could no longer hold back and softly asked her to stay, Elysia didn’t pull away from his approaching face.
In truth, she felt the atmosphere, and logically, she should have said something to stop it, or at the very least changed the subject or acted clueless. But in that moment, Elysia’s heart raced, spreading the sweetness and tingling like a rising tide of honey. Her mind went blank, instinctively trying to tell her that anything other than a slight gaze, or a slight parting of lips, would be an unforgivable violation. Perhaps at that moment, when Elysia looked up and met his gaze, her unspoken feelings were already exposed, her heart laid bare without her even knowing it.
And so, Elysia was kissed, and after the kiss, she tried to scold him, her words slurred as she told him she’d never allowed such a thing, yet her heart was celebrating like the fireworks of a New Year’s Eve, warm and joyous. She pretended to scold him for taking advantage of the moment, but when kissed again, her eyes closed without hesitation. He, who had been shedding reluctant tears, pulled her closer, not letting her move an inch away. His cold tears touched her nose, and she gently wiped them away with her fingertip. She had never been treated so forcefully by him before, and even though she half-heartedly resisted with words, she couldn’t stop him.
Elysia always wanted to make him smile, to see the same determination and reason she once saw in his face. But no matter what, he couldn’t manage it. Anger or guilt, they had both witnessed countless sacrifices and goodbyes together. Elysia had always believed he was the one, steadfast on the front lines, while her own emotions were always more openly expressed. But now, when the time came for Elysia to bid him farewell, she couldn’t find even the smallest trace of restraint on his face. He had completely broken down, like a lost, homeless child. Every outburst, every fierce emotion, now clearly conveyed the irrefutable position Elysia held in his heart, a place where no one else could compare.
To him, she was one of a kind.
At first, Elysia gently pressed her forehead against his, occasionally teasing him with playful nudges of her nose. It wasn’t until he could no longer hold back his plea and the moment their eyes crossed, that Elysia realized how easily he could push her to the brink of losing her composure. By the time she managed to think clearly, she was already scolding him for crossing boundaries with that kiss, but her cheeks burned with heat, and her eyes were both embarrassed and eager. In the end, unable to hold back the deep pain and longing in her heart, Elysia, with a tender touch, wiped away the icy tears from his face, claiming his kiss filled with yearning and reluctance.
Elysia didn’t want the tears to freeze on her face again during their heartfelt kiss, their emotions intertwined.
"I'm sorry, Kevin," she gently stroked his ear, her eyes brimming with the happiness and fulfillment that he had given her. The warmth of her love seemed to surge, as if it might overflow at any moment. "I can't stay with you until the end..."
"Promise me, you'll always, always love yourself well," she whispered, tears unconsciously falling again. "Okay?"
Elysia insisted on hearing his answer, but he was afraid to respond. Perhaps he already knew that if he answered her, she would be satisfied and resolutely leave. But still, he couldn’t help but listen to her words. He nodded, determined, which brought her to smile through her tears, her hand lightly covering her nose.
Perhaps, more than anything, he was afraid of disappointing her.
This time, Elysia kissed him first. Without holding back, she poured out all her heartfelt emotions to him, one last time. After this, the kiss, soft and cool on her lips, and sweet enough to weaken her heart, was firmly rejected by her, marking the end of their paths that now led in opposite directions.
The tears Elysia shed were like his, unstoppable and never fully wiped away. Yet, she couldn’t stop the sad smile that would always touch her lips, her heart filled with warmth and happiness, as she longed for that bold kiss that marked their final confrontation with the world’s end. She awakened the core strength within her body, setting off a colorful whirlwind that spread outward. The silver threads, winding at the peak of the heavens, gradually revealed their traces, and with her unwavering determination, her eyes reddened with tears, the threads broke off from the center.
Elysia endured the pain, and with each thread of fate she severed, a part of her essence dissolved, scattering into nothingness. She knew what her final fate would be, but she had made up her mind, and she would not change it.
She could no longer hold on, stumbling and falling into the shifting cosmic sea of the origin. Her essence, like a candle burnt to the wick, was nearly spent, approaching the end of her journey.
In her final moments, she thought of him again. She suddenly realized how cruel she had been, leaving him alone, hiding her true identity until the very end. And yet, it was she who was granted redemption and transcendent love and truth in those last moments.
Regret surged like suffocating seawater, flooding Elysia's sorrowful heart, mingling with the pain in her longing, as though fire burned and needles stabbed, devastating her weeping heart.
"If I could have another chance... could I meet you sooner?"
"If I could have another chance... could I have the opportunity to confess my true self to you sooner?"
"I really wish I could hear you tell me again how important I am to you. I really loved hearing those exaggerated things you said..."
"I wish I could see more of the way you treated me specially. Could I go back to the past and notice the glances you secretly gave me? Would I get upset when you took away my doll? Would I argue with you because you deliberately played with my hair and poked my cheek?"
Such innocent questions.
In the dim light of the stars and sea, the girl with pink hair sank deeper and deeper. She closed her eyes and transformed her final fragment of essence into the power of this wish, smiling as his image and memories appeared in her heart for the last moment. She tightly grasped the light in her chest, letting it burst and spread like starlight, completely severing the last stubborn thread of fate, waiting for her self-awareness to silently arrive.
"The guardian process 141786813, this is your name in the main process ( the human world ) ."
"Elysia?"
It felt as though thousands upon thousands of choking hands had strangled her throat, dragging her from the depths of the sea, only to be thrown violently into the sky. Elysia snapped her eyes open, gasping for air, as if she had just returned from an endless cycle of death. The dark silk threads tied her arms, rendering her immobile, and the only source of light before her was a faint purple eye-shaped slit.
"Are you... the cocoon?"
"Why did you save me?"
"I am the calculation core (cocoon) assigned to the PID 714131008121502193173 main process (the world you left behind). I did not save you, Guardian Process 141786813."
"You independently manipulated the memory allocated to the main process’s scheduling (the primordial power of the herrscher core) to implant an infinitely recursive code block (cutting the threads) into the thread scheduling module."
"As the Guardian Process, the memory you requested exceeded the maximum limit (exhausting all of your primordial power). You were terminated by the automatically triggered Out-of-Memory Killer mechanism, and the memory was freed (dissipated)."
"I stopped the Kill-9 process and suspended you (severing you from the original world’s space-time system). You are an extremely rare and valuable error process in the log files (one times ten to the negative thirty-five power). Your existence can assist the Central Processing Unit (the tree of imaginary) in refining the computational structure, ensuring that no future main processes (new worlds on every branch) will have variables like you again."
"Process? Is our world just a process?"
"Of course, Guardian Process 141786813."
"You are the Guardian Process 141786813, with the PID 714131008121502193173 main process, serial number 0. This process node is designed to iterate the historical timelines of intelligent beings to help the Central Processing Unit gain more advantage in the competition (against the Sea of Quantum)..."
An unnamed sorrow rose sharply in Elysia's chest. All the lives lost and the trials she had endured, the satisfaction of departing in the love of her family and friends, and the heart-wrenching farewell with him, crying uncontrollably, feeling her heart ache to this day. All of this, it seemed, was just a fleeting variable in the program to Her.
Elysia once again drew upon her primordial power, even though the core had long been drained of its strength. The only reason she still existed was because the cocoon had frozen her existence in place. The primordial force beyond the negative limit reactivated the so-called termination mechanism from within the cocoon. Despite how minuscule and ridiculous her existence, and the world and people she loved, seemed in the grand scheme, she would not yield to this so-called god of the world.
"Stop your self-destructive behavior, Guardian Process 141786813."
The cocoon intervened once more to preserve her, but the pink-haired girl, suspended in the air by the threads and hands, only shot a glare before draining her primordial power once again with all her might, swearing to defy this emotionless god of the world.
"Stop your self-destructive behavior, Guardian Process 141786813. Even if you are really terminated, the dynamic instance will be meaningless. What you hoped to achieve has no result anymore. I have received the scheduling request and will soon shut down the main thread and restart."
"What?"
"Because of your existence, this main thread has turned into a process unworthy of continuing iteration. I will soon reset it entirely."
"Reset the world? Then, what about the people from before?"
"The variables (people) in the process will be regenerated. Based on the value of the random seed, they will most likely be reset (into other people), and there is a greater probability that they will no longer appear with the process (deleted)."
"But you are valuable, so I will keep you as a reference sample."
"No, please..."
"Don't hurt them."
Elysia gritted her teeth. The only thing she could do now was to once again foolishly exert herself and self-destruct, destroying all the so-called special value she held in the eyes of Her. However, the core that maintained the world immediately shut down the module that could completely terminate her existence. No matter how much she drained her core, it became as futile as trying to scoop water from the sea with a ladle—she could not harm herself in the cocoon's protection.
Even knowing this, Elysia still refused to stop. She couldn't bear to let go of the world she loved so deeply, the world that held all the people she had once loved. Even though every moment of draining her core caused excruciating pain, she couldn’t bring herself to abandon it.
"You are special, Guardian Process 141786813."
"Your actions have led to you being marked as a unique guardian process. Your behavioral logic data is now indispensable."
A great force, as overwhelming as a mountain, struck Elysia’s broken body, pressing from below and choking her neck. In an instant, all her strength to resist was halted. The feeling of helpless despair climbed into every corner of Elysia’s body. She could no longer use her power; even her Judicator core was cut off from her.
It turned out that the cocoon had the ability to easily sever any retreat she had from the very beginning.
"I'll go with you, cocoon." She cried. Her tone was more like a plea than a negotiation. "Don’t touch my world. I’ll give you whatever you want..."
“The Central Processing Unit will only deploy one main process at this node. There is no second one.”
“I will preserve all your data (memories) and reset this world, giving you a second chance at life, even until the predicted future iterations are realized, until we have gathered enough data samples of you.”
"Why must you destroy them?"
"Your former world has already been destroyed by the Final Guardian Process (Finality). Even though they preserved the seeds of prosperity and the means to restart, it will only lead to the same ending, replayed in the cycle."
"Destroyed? Has the Finality come?"
"Yes. The individual named Eden chose to perish with the civilization. The individual named Vill-V died on the Moon. The individual named Aponia voluntarily transformed into digital life. The individual named Mobius chose to take her own life."
Elysia's heartbeat felt as if it were being constricted by barbed wire, tightening with each painful throb. Tears fell from her eyes, the pain making every breath feel difficult, indescribable, as if she couldn’t find the words to express the sorrow she felt.
"But the individual named Kevin still survives in the main process."
Elysia watched as the dark clouds parted before her, revealing a few strands of gloomy light. In front of her was a cramped living room, the cold, windowless air heavy with a sense of despair that seemed to threaten suffocation. The iron door, solid like the hull of a ship, was barred shut, as if the person inside was terrified of revealing something to others.
At the steel table, a white-haired man slumped with his face resting in his hands. In the center of the table, an old tape recorder, frozen with frost, played the muffled voice of a recording trapped in its magnetic tape.
This is the last time.
Though I know you probably don’t have the energy to celebrate anymore, I still want to congratulate you on this special day, one that is unique to you.
Happy birthday, Kevin.
The gift is ready—it's something other than this tape. Well, I can't hold it in any longer, I’ll just tell you—it's an armband that matches your temperament perfectly. I’ve wanted to give it to you for so long, but I never had the chance to celebrate with you, so I prepared it long ago and kept it until now…
The binding threads holding Elysia loosened and withdrew, tossing her into the cramped room. The girl in a white farewell dress, her pink hair newly styled, ignored the sharp, tingling pain in her limbs as she rushed towards the man slumped at the table.
Elysia was casually freed from her restraints, unaware that her behavior data collection had already begun.
The pink-haired girl called out the man’s name, but the man, trembling and bent over the table, remained unmoved. Elysia watched helplessly as he pressed the rewind button on the recorder, playing the message from the very beginning, again and again. He knew it was futile, yet he continued to rewind the tape, as though hearing the voice on it could bring him hope, even knowing it was a final farewell.
“Kevin…”
The man didn’t hear her heartbreaking cries. He opened a small box on the table and tightly grasped the light gold armband in his hand. The man had once been the pinnacle of human strength, the hope that everyone had placed their faith in. Not long ago, he had delivered a fatal blow to stop the last Judicator. But now, even putting on the armband seemed to take all his strength. His hand trembled uncontrollably as he clutched it.
Finally, with a forceful effort, he attached the armband to his arm, clenching his fist and pressing it to his tear-streaked lips, breaking down in silent sobs.
Beside them, Elysia's tears flowed uncontrollably. How she longed to wipe away his tears, but every time her fingers reached for him, they passed right through, unable to touch him. The act of simply touching him had become an impossible wish. She regretted it all—she regretted the blessings and confessions she had left behind. She had always understood that when she left, everything around her should have been taken with her, that the love and whispers she left behind would only become the deepest curse, an endless torment for the living.
But when faced with that moment, she realized there were so many words she wanted to say, so much longing for affection that had filled her heart.
The man turned off the recorder, stood up, and placed the tape in his bag. He wiped away the tears from his eyes, the frozen droplets falling to the floor with a soft, crackling sound. He took a long moment to steady himself before leaving the room, his steps steady and resolute.
Elysia could feel the gaze of the cocoon upon her. THEM had silently watched yet another farewell unfold, never speaking a word.
“He’s the most foolish of all the boys I know,” she sobbed, a faint smile curling on her lips as memories surfaced, “I don’t know if he was always like this, or if it was just that he had no defenses when it came to me.”
“Don’t be fooled by his expression now. He’s the softest-hearted, the most playful, and the one who couldn’t bear parting the most.” Elysia scanned the empty, cold living room inch by inch, finally noticing a group photo on the bedside table. Many people crowded together in it, including herself and him.
“But in the end, it was him who carried all the responsibility. It was him who witnessed all the farewells...”
The cocoon’s voice echoed once more, indifferent yet precise.
"The plan of the individual you refer to as Kevin (the Stigmata) may indeed interfere with the operation of the main process, but the probability of such an outcome is negligible."
"In parallel processes outside this node (alternate worlds), the success rate of similar plans can only be meaningful when measured against an infinite sample size."
"The probability is even lower than the likelihood of encountering a similar version of him again in the rebooted main process (the newly started world)."
Elysia interrupted, her voice filled with a quiet but intense plea. “Cocoon, I believe that for you, fabricating reality must be an easy task.”
She turned her gaze toward the unending darkness, focusing on the eyes within it.
"Can you make the people from the world I once knew happy?" she asked softly, her voice trembling with emotion.
"Especially him..."
"I know I have no room to negotiate, but don’t you want me, this anomaly?" she continued, her voice growing firm. "If you agree to my request, I’ll cooperate with you, no matter which world you take me to."
"I’ll be your data. I don’t mind living over and over again in unfamiliar worlds. Just—" her words caught in her throat, but she pressed on. "Just promise me you’ll preserve their existence and ensure they have a future filled with happiness..."
The cocoon responded, its words cold and neutral, but its acknowledgement was clear.
"Request received."
This is the only response from the giant eye hiding in the abyss. Afterward, Elysia, now a ghost, passed through the heavy door and followed the sound, traveling through the pitch-black corridor. At the end of the passage, on the surface, she found him.
The world, filled with yellow sand, bore the marks of the final disaster that had once occurred here, with even the sun reluctant to look directly and hiding away. In the dark night, only the starry sky maintained its faint light. Beneath this pitiful starlight, on an insignificant little hill, a white-haired man sat on the ground, his body slumped as though he might collapse into the yellow sand at any moment. Elysia couldn't help but smile. Every time she saw him, the same smile would naturally appear in the corner of her eyes, even though she already knew that she had been torn away from this world.
She gently sat beside him, returning to the spot where they often watched the stars together. But at this moment, neither of them had the leisure to gaze at the night sky. Perhaps it was because they had both lost each other in this very moment.
Elysia gazed at his profile, his hair blowing in the yellow wind. He was so close, within reach, yet she could no longer move to gently touch his wooden face, which was looking blankly into the distance. He was so close, yet her heart felt as though it were light-years away, aching with longing to the point of madness.
"Can you let me touch him, Cocoon?" She sat cross-legged, feeling lost. "Even if it's just fake..."
“Of course.”
Cocoon’s ethereal voice suddenly echoed in this place.
“Now, as the core of the 714131008121502193173 main process, I officially inform you: The Central Processing Unit recognizes your value, and we will fulfill your request.”
"That's great..."
Elysia hesitated for a long time, not daring to stretch out her hand. Until her longing and love once again overcame her fear, she finally touched his arm. This was more than enough for Elysia. She looped her arm through his limp one and rested her head on his shoulder, even though the person far away in the world could not feel her presence, even though the sensation she leaned on was only a lie woven for her by the world's core.
"He is the most infatuated, the most lovable boy I know. So, please, make sure that in the new world, he reunites with everyone important to him. Please make sure he lives happily ever after with the one he loves most, okay?"
"Of course."
"He has a childhood friend named Su," she rested against the illusory arm, smiling as she closed her eyes and whispered softly, as if already falling into a beautiful, enchanting dream. "He’s an incredibly clever boy, with a kind and gentle face, and he's a doctor who helps others."
"Make sure they went to the same school when they were kids."
"Then, Ato... he could be his senior at work, and Mobius could be his professor for an elective course in college... and Hua could be his junior in college, they're exactly three years apart."
"Lastly, how could his life be complete without a unique person he loves?" She slowly opened her shimmering eyes, already filled with crystalline tears. "He knows a very, very beautiful girl, her name is Mei. She even knew him before she knew me..."
"Mei, she's an absolute genius," Elysia took a deep breath, unable to stop the tears flowing down her beautiful cheeks once again. "With her talents, they could travel around the world, taste delicious food, visit fun places, and experience all kinds of different cultures."
"They're both people who can't resist their curiosity, they're simply a pair of perfect companions..."
"Resource allocation has been completed. It's time to go, Elysia."
The world's node issued its decree, and time had come—everything would begin to change completely from this moment on. But deep in Elysia's heart, there were still so many things she hadn't been able to say to him, so many wishes for his happiness left unspoken. The dark nebula swirled and came closer, slowly carrying away her body that had been so tightly pressed against his. She knew that at this moment, she had already used up all the time she had left to offer him her words and blessings.
From this moment on, it would be an eternal farewell to him.
In the end, Elysia gathered all her strength, facing the expanding nebula, closing her tear-filled eyes. She gently pressed a kiss to his emaciated face, the tears softening the touch.
"Please, be happy... my most adorable fool...
Then the darkness swallowed up all of Elysia's senses. Even the voice of the Cocoon ceased to sound. She knew that what awaited her now would be a completely unfamiliar world, an endless cycle, a calculation formula that viewed her as mere memory—ultimately, she would lose all her reason, abandoned and deleted by the will of the world, in the countless cycles of existence.
A light appeared in the distance, a faint glow that resembled the unreachable stars in the deep night. The memories of the person once known as Elysia were vivid in her mind; the past, which she perhaps could never forget, lingered. How would her soul, now lost in this new world, adapt to the emptiness of longing? How could her heart, not belonging to this new world, witness the happiness of the old friends whose promises were fulfilled?
With trembling hands, she opened her eyes, greeting the unfamiliar new world bathed in white light.
The first beam of light that entered her sight revealed a pink-haired girl, tearfully staring down, her sorrow unknown. Was she, too, like Elysia, mourning the past she could never return to in her new life of solitude? The tearful girl, dressed in a gown as white as winter snow, her layered skirt adorned with violet butterfly patterns, looked as though she were preparing for the first chapter of her life’s new stage. Her pink hair, along with the veil falling behind her ears, suggested that this delicate appearance was the result of careful grooming, preparing for a life with the one she loved. But despite her heavenly beauty, she sat there blankly, shedding tears, as if lost in sadness.
A sudden sound of something clattering startled Elysia, and the tear-streaked girl’s face also showed surprise. A woman with light green hair had tossed a box of eyeshadow onto the immaculate vanity, arms crossed, complaining about the color. She argued that the eyeshadow was wrong, even commenting on the eyeliner, saying it was too soft, too sweet, and made her look easily manipulated. In her opinion, the eyeliner should be more angled, to make her look sharp and clever.
A softer voice interjected, steady and elegant, with a tone that made Elysia imagine that the speaker might be a talented singer. This voice insisted on its point, believing that the soft and alluring image was perfect for the bride stepping into her new life.
The two voices continued their debate until the softer, more resolute voice stepped into the warm white light, lifting the bride's face in confirmation of her opinion, as though arranging a beautiful doll.
The delicate touch of fingers on the bride’s face was so real, so vivid, that it almost felt as if Elysia herself were being touched. The sensation, combined with the voices, felt heartbreakingly tangible.
The woman with the strong voice seemed puzzled. She turned around, realizing that the wetness on her hand was not a mirage.
“Eille, why are you crying?”
“Elysia?”
The soft white light spread, transforming into a cozy little room, into sunlight filtering through a floor-to-ceiling window with white curtains, into the sounds of girls chatting and laughing, into a vanity exuding the scent of birchwood.
The green-haired woman with glasses, her legs crossed and a puzzled expression on her face, sat on a small stool, her ponytail tied up, wearing a pristine white mermaid gown underneath but covering it with a mismatched white lab coat. The woman beside the vanity chair, with her wine-red hair neatly styled, wore a bridesmaid dress, looking efficient and ready for work, her arms marked with several lipstick stains, and her fingers dotted with foundation residue like eggshells.
Elysia could hardly believe it—let alone the fact that two people could appear so similar in both image and aura in this new world. She suddenly sprang up from the soft vanity chair and rushed into the arms of the woman with the wine-red hair, tears streaming down her face once again.
Heaven knew how long those two had spent undoing her skirt decorations and fixing the pleats just to avoid ruining the wedding dress by sitting in it. Now, with her crying like this, they'd have to redo her makeup all over again.
It was unclear what had triggered Elysia to cry so uncontrollably, her mouth full of longing, as if she had just experienced a monumental separation. As for the result, she had indeed cried so much that her lower eyelids had smudged the eyeshadow, and her tears had carved visible streaks down her cheeks, washing away patches of foundation.
Now, the foundation had to be completely removed and reapplied, and most of the eye makeup redone.
Elysia, still confused but quieter now, couldn't help but smile foolishly as she looked up at Mobius. Every time her eyes smiled, Mobius, who had been focused, couldn't continue with her work. Elysia's grin made her want to grab the eyelash curler and pinch Elysia's eyelids out of frustration.
"Eden, you were saying... who got married?"
At first, Eden had finished touching up Elysia's makeup, gently playing with the back of her hand wrapped in white silk, while tidying up the strands of hair at her temples, curling them behind her ears. Eden had been joking about how Mobius had fallen for Elysia's antics. However, when Elysia suddenly asked that question, Eden couldn't hold back her smile any longer.
Elysia had been gazing at the two intimate friends for so long that she hadn't noticed the mirror in front of her. In that mirror, a fairy in a flowing white gown sat, her face delicately made up. The bride had just cried, looking lost and disheveled, only to break into a sincere smile. Now, the young girl about to step into the world of marriage stood frozen, caught in a question that, to everyone present, was undeniably an innocent question.
"I... get married?"
"To whom?"
In the end, even Eden couldn’t stop Elysia. No matter what the other bridesmaids said, they couldn’t change her determination. Even if it meant dirtying the wedding dress, she didn’t care. Some things, in Elysia's eyes now, seemed far more important than this wedding.
Fortunately, Sakura's quick reflexes saved the day by handing Elysia her phone, or she really would have run out empty-handed, holding her wedding dress and nothing else.
Eden had planned to accompany her, but Elysia gently declined. The bridesmaid’s mermaid gown was too constricting to allow for running, while Elysia was fully prepared to dash. She swiftly changed into the white high heels that were supposed to be worn only during the official ceremony. With the heels, the hem of her dress finally lifted off the ground, and she took off the veil pinned in her hair with a series of sharp, rhythmic sounds, running out the door, leaving behind a room full of bridesmaids who couldn’t stop her and were still left shaken.
"It’s a disaster! Elysia’s running away!!"
"If Kevin prepared all this, won’t it be a total failure? All that deposit, we won’t get it back! What should we do?!"
"Pardo onee-chan, stop saying nonsense!"
Elysia didn’t have this habit, but she naturally knew to wave down a taxi on the side of the road. The driver, who seemed to have been destined to meet her, turned around and spoke in a foreign language, distinct from everyone she had met earlier. But Elysia understood perfectly and instinctively stated the destination, even urging him to speed up in fluent words.
An indescribable sense of anxiety crept into her consciousness, the kind that prompted her to think through the situation calmly. But all Elysia felt was an unbearable restlessness, as if time had slowed to a crawl, each second dragging endlessly. She gripped her phone tightly, decorated with stickers and crystal stars. Through the small makeup mirror on the back of the phone, she saw her own terrified yet hopeful eyes staring back at her.
She flipped her hand over, and the dim reflection of the screen lit up. The phone unlocked on its own, and although Elysia knew it had never belonged to her before, she couldn’t help but gaze at the photo on the screen. The memory of the photo taken with him flowed through her heart like a gentle stream, steady and slow.
Messages on her phone popped up like popcorn. Colleagues’ congratulations and red envelopes, a flooded work group chat, a full page of communications from wedding contractors, and, lastly, a bridesmaid group chat that still had red dots of unread messages.
Scenes outside the window flashed by, making Elysia feel as though everything was somewhat unreal. The sparse tree-lined plains were occasionally interrupted by vibrant flower fields, while the driver, pressing the gas pedal with speed, congratulated the beautiful bride in the backseat with his country’s western accent.
She opened her photo gallery, and with each seemingly casual glance, a wave of memories hit her. There were the foreign dishes she had eaten on a date, the dinner they had prepared together, the first fireworks of the New Year’s Eve night. Of course, there were also the embarrassing photos of him sleeping in late, his snow-white hair resembling a mop draped over his pillow. Elysia scrolled back through the gallery, year by year, seeing Eden, seeing Mobius still in her white coat holding Griseo’s hand, and Hua’s shy face, along with their shared photos.
At the very bottom of the album, where all the deliberately preserved memories began, she found a photo of herself in her school uniform, from her graduation album.
In those photos, amidst the awkward and quirky shots, there was always the figure of a boy with white hair.
"If you’ve changed your mind about that silly boy, you should say it quickly. Several of the guys in my team are struggling to find girlfriends," Mobius had sent her several messages, ending with that remark.
When two people are truly in tune with each other, it's natural to make lifelong commitments. Life has its ups and downs, with sunshine and rain. The bond they shared had endured the storms of time, surviving the passionate summers and the cold winters, surviving simple meals and extravagant feasts. It had finally brought them to this day, when they had reached the moment of putting on flowers and golden garlands—this was the congratulatory message he had posted a few days ago.
At the entrance of the lush garden, the taxi could no longer go deeper. Elysia quickly thanked the enthusiastic driver, and without even looking at the message records of the years between them, she grabbed her skirt and paid. People in formal wear were scattered about, tending to carpets and garlands, trimming flowers and branches. Elysia was recognized at a glance. After several rounds of questioning, she stammered, unable to say the words "fiancé" right away. She had no choice but to refer to him by his name instead. Elysia politely declined their help, and after asking for a shortcut, hurriedly made her way down a stone path towards the innermost part of the garden.
Elysia dashed forward, weaving through the low trees and flowerbeds. The bright sunlight poured down, illuminating an open plaza. High above, a few white doves fluttered around the towering church, carrying with them blessings. The sunlight warmed the sound of rushing water, and even the shadow of the fountain seemed to soften under its rays.
She heard the bustling laughter, urging her to run faster. Despite having arrived hours earlier, the wedding carpet still muffled the sound of her high heels hitting the ground. The church’s entrance was so tall that she couldn’t see the top. Elysia ran down the red carpet that was meant to lead her to happiness, heading straight for the church doors.
A sense of confusion overwhelmed her. It was as if she had swallowed a whole cloud from the blue sky, unable to distinguish the truth from falsehood, right from wrong. She couldn’t tell if the roar in her chest was sadness or joy, nor did she understand if she should cry or smile in that moment.
Perhaps it was because his beige shirt was so precious that he had been sent off to stand aside, observing. The groomsmen, invited by him to take on the tasks of inflating balloons, hanging garlands, and handling all the miscellaneous duties, were running the show. Otherwise, he surely would’ve jumped in to help himself.
Thus, the white-haired groom, already dressed and prepared, could only stand with his arms crossed in the middle of the space, casting a helpless back toward the sunlight pouring through the church doors.
She was certain he was smiling. Elysia knew that his smile had long become an impossible fantasy in her heart. Forced into idleness, he occasionally gestured with his hand, making the groomsmen retaliate with red envelopes, turning the lectern into a lively scene.
Yet, Elysia still couldn’t hear clearly. She desperately wanted to call his name and rush into his arms, but her tired legs and sore heels kept her rooted in place, too numb to move.
Yes, she had to smile, Elysia realized. After all, she was the bride about to walk down the aisle into marriage, stepping into the next stage of life as his fiancée.
They had promised to say "I do" before the priest’s witness, and only then would they officially become husband and wife. Until then, they would call each other their awaiting partner.
At last, someone spotted Elysia, the mysterious bride who had appeared out of nowhere. A ripple of confusion and shock spread through the crowd. If it weren’t for a quick-witted gesture from Ato, who picked up a scrap of card and tossed it near his feet with a pointed glance, he might have continued blissfully unaware, still focused on the decorations of the space.
The moment he turned around, it felt as if time itself had paused for Elysia. She pushed up the corners of her lips with effort, trying to maintain composure, though her mouth trembled slightly. She desperately searched her memories for the familiar smile she often gave him when they first met, but her pupils were trembling like shattered ice crystals, fractured and unstable.
When his deep, ocean-blue eyes met hers, Elysia didn't sense even a hint of coldness. His bangs were neatly styled, a little unusual for him, but it only made him look even more charismatic. Having dealt with so much already, he had removed his suit jacket and tossed it over a wooden chair, like the groomsmen, rolling up his sleeves for practicality.
The white-haired groom rushed toward her, stepping into the beam of light slanting into the church.
"Eille, this...?" Concern flickered in his eyes. "What happened?"
His hand naturally reached out to hold hers, and sensing her distress, he immediately pulled her into his arms. His voice, familiar yet distant, filled her ears. At first, it sounded deep and steady, but as the warmth of his embrace seeped into her, it felt like the comforting sweetness of warm sugar water on a cold, aching body—soothing, gentle, and full of love. In that moment, being held by him was the most natural thing, the way it should always be, Elysia told herself. But as she gazed up, fearing that she might lose him in her eyes once more, she felt her heart heavy with uncertainty.
His gaze met hers, and his expression shifted in an instant. His hand moved instinctively to his pocket, only to find it empty.
"Kosmo, give me tissue!"
He turned back and called out, catching the attention of the boy named Kosmo, who was momentarily stunned, not quite understanding what the word "tissue" meant. He hurriedly opened his backpack, pulling out a piece of tissue and tossing it to him.
"It's okay... Kevin," Elysia smiled faintly at him. "I just wanted to see you... so, so much."
"How could it be okay if you're crying like this?"
The white-haired groom unfolded the tissue, folding its clean white edges into his palm. He gently pressed the delicate tissue, still adorned with floral prints, against his fingertips, using it to wipe away the tears that slid down Elysia’s cheeks. He no longer pressed her for the reasons behind her distress, instead softly soothing her trembling voice, joking that she looked just like the time when they were apart, when the once cheerful girl had cried at the ticket gate of the station.
"Yeah, leaving you back then... it was so hard, so hard..." Tears welled up in Elysia’s eyes again. "I almost thought... after that, I’d never be able to be with you again."
"It’s all in the past, Eille." He placed a brief kiss on her forehead.
Elysia wiped her tears with his persistence, looking at his face and asking if there was anything in his mind other than her. This time, her voice was softer, almost as if she were afraid others would overhear. She didn’t believe this moment could come true just out of the blue, and the only way it was possible was if the last boy who had bid her farewell in that broken world, the one who had wanted her and never gotten her, had been longing for her, wishing that, in the final moment of the world being overturned, she could bring him back all the happiness he had lost—only then could this all be real.
Now, in this new world, he smiled softly, keeping his answer to himself for a moment. He gently took her hand, intending to lead his beautiful bride outside to get some fresh air.
The urgency that once felt irreparable had disappeared. The hem of her white gown lightly brushed the floor, trailing behind her like a graceful breeze. The sunlight outside poured through the door, illuminating her dress and making her glow with warmth, even making the hands that held her, filled with longing, no longer feel the chill.
He honestly admitted that his thoughts weren't just about her. Besides her, he also had dreams of foods they still wanted to try together, concerts they hadn't attended, and places they had yet to travel to. He confessed that he had lost many things in life: the naive dreams of youth, early friendships, jobs he once desired, and even some fleeting hobbies or unfinished stories in novels. But after experiencing the highs and lows of life, and after everything had settled and washed away, there were some people and things that, like gold in a river, remained in his life, never fading away.
And she, among them, was one of those.
Under the gentle glow of the morning light, listening quietly to his lighthearted monologue, Elysia's heart fluttered. It felt as though they had returned to when they first confirmed their relationship. She couldn't help but touch his face, her fingertips brushing against his warm, full cheeks, her expression showing a hint of turmoil, as though she hadn’t touched him in what felt like a thousand years.
Elysia then told him about a disturbing nightmare she had. In the dream, she was a figure despised and feared by others. Even though she existed in the world, loved everything about it, and cherished every moment, the world itself was on the brink of collapse. It had lost its humanity and love, consumed by suspicion and fear. Many turned against her, pointing fingers and blaming her for the world's downfall. But the people who were most important to her, those who stood by her, vowed to stand with her no matter the cost, no matter who the enemy was.
Despite their promises, Elysia couldn't bear to see the ones she loved turn against the world they once protected. So, she confessed her truth to the world: Elysia was the last harbinger of destruction, the one destined to bring an end to everything.
The world, already tormented by fear, erupted in rage. They cursed, hated, grieved, and broke down. But even at the world's edge, Elysia looked back, nostalgic for the world that raised her, unwilling to let go. The people who carried her name tightly held her hands, speaking of their unchanging love and eternal memories, bidding her farewell as she prepared to leave the world behind, offering her life in exchange for a chance to change the future in the next cycle.
The final person to reach her as she stood at the boundary of this world was the strongest—someone who represented the will of all humanity, the symbol of hope, and the one person who had stood by her side, guarding civilization with her, entrusting his life to hers. He was also the one most deeply deceived by this truth.
Until the very end, he foolishly believed in Elysia’s humanity. It was the first time Elysia had seen him cry, and in that moment, she realized he was the most fragile among them. Without realizing it, they had grown so close that the fragile boundary between them shattered in an instant. The cruel reality pierced her heart like a nail, and the story should have ended with them turning against each other. But instead, he stubbornly insisted that she was who she was—the one and only her, unwavering and unchanging, and never an enemy.
He was foolish, ignorant of everything, always kept in the dark, yet instinctively decided to stand by her side, never questioning why. Even when the truth was laid before him, he couldn’t bring himself to accept it. He despised that word, hated all the pain and separation it caused, and he refused to associate it with Elysia.
It was the first time Elysia saw him impulsively deny reality. She realized then that he could easily forsake all notions of right and wrong, just to defend her in this moment.
"The fool in the dream... was you, Kevin," she said.
Elysia finally left. She could not bear to watch the people she loved turn against her or become the one weakness hidden behind the boy’s unbreakable facade, causing them to abandon the promises they had once sworn to uphold. After leaving the world, she was captured by the divine beings who governed humanity. The god rejected the small significance of human existence, and Elysia resisted with all her might, unwilling to accept that everything she loved was meaningless. The god easily gripped her throat, knowing she could not win against them. Desperate, Elysia pleaded and entered into a pact, offering her own value as leverage in exchange for the world's fate no longer descending into destruction and for the happiness of the people she once loved.
Sometimes, people’s emotions are unrelenting, and it is only when reality shatters their illusions that they awaken. It was like when the boy had said to her when they parted: “Can’t it be that you don’t bear such a heavy fate?” At that final moment, Elysia wished for the same thing: “Can’t he just have more of this happiness?”
After that, Elysia's dream ended.
She said that when she reached the end of the story in her dream, she could no longer put into words the depth of her feelings for him.
So, in this confusing, dream-like world, did the person she cherished deeply, the one who held a special place in her heart, who could fill a corner of her memories with their time together, finally receive such unique happiness?
In the sunlit courtyard, the branches and buds of green leaves rustled gently, stretching out in contentment. Amid the warmth, there was a faint cool breeze from the fountain, which spread refreshing mist into the air. A curious white dove fluttered down, landing on the cool fountain steps, observing the two people whose hands were intertwined. A distant bell rang, heralding the nearing time for another couple in the estate to declare their eternal vows.
The smile from the white-haired man in the sunlight was like the breeze, gentle yet unexpected. She could not see her own expression, nor did she notice the words she had just spoken. She had forgotten each second spent under the sunlight that had finally arrived.
The girl with pink hair gazed with such intensity that she didn’t realize she had tilted her head slightly, the crystal-clear earrings swaying with a delicate curve, occasionally catching the warm light. The faint wood-scented breeze tousled her hair, and the bright pink in her eyes, still holding the last traces of tears, made her look impossibly beautiful. The white dress trailing behind her had been left at the towering church doors, its fabric sweeping the ground, stained with the tears she couldn’t explain at that moment. In this world, they had shared the fragrance of books in classrooms, experienced misunderstandings and jealousy, endured the helplessness of being far apart, and, through the ups and downs of life, finally arrived at today.
When the sun sank a little more, they would stand at the center of the hall and, in front of all their witnesses, declare their eternal commitment. But the pink-haired bride suddenly hurriedly approached, dragging the white dress behind her, tears staining her face as she cried, asking only one question—whether he had found happiness.
Was an answer even necessary?
Such an innocent question.