"Are you alright, my friend?" Lin Wei had just returned to the hall from the memory terminal and entered the lounge when he saw the elegant woman sitting in the center of the room, her wine-red hair shimmering in the light.
Even alone, she exuded an aura of grace and sophistication, as if surrounded by admirers.
She truly was a star, once captivating both Kevin and Su.
Even though this wasn't their first meeting, Lin Wei was still struck by her beauty.
He remembered his first encounter with Eden in the Elysian Realm. He had been on his way to visit Kalpas when he stumbled into her domain.
She had been much the same as now, bathed in the perpetual twilight, reclining against a grand piano, a glass in her hand, her expression slightly tipsy.
"Greetings, Eden. My apologies if I've disturbed you," Lin Wei had said, referring to the soft music playing in the room, from one of Eden's beloved vinyl records.
He hadn't heard the music until he opened the door, perhaps because the melody was naturally quiet, or perhaps it was the lingering notes of a finished piece.
"There's no need to apologize, my friend. Don't worry about disturbing me. After all, art is meant to be appreciated, isn't it?" Eden's voice, always graceful and languid, held a hint of worldly detachment.
"...I'm afraid I'll embarrass myself by admitting this, but Miss Eden, I… I don't understand art. I can't offer any insightful critiques. The best I can say is… it sounds nice," Lin Wei had confessed, feeling slightly self-conscious in Eden's presence. Her elegance was intimidating.
Raiden Mei was a true lady, raised in luxury and well-versed in the arts, even after her family's downfall. She and Eden could converse as equals.
He, on the other hand, was just a rough-around-the-edges guy… what could he possibly offer?
(°ー°〃)
"There's no need for such modesty, my friend. Not everyone can be a musician, a playwright, or a critic, but everyone has the right to appreciate art, don't they? After all, the beauty found within art is a universal pursuit," Eden replied, her voice soft and melodious, offering him a gentle smile. "It's fate that brought us together here. So, would you care for a drink?"
"I wouldn't want to be rude," Lin Wei smiled, accepting her offer and taking a seat. "I don't have a high tolerance for alcohol, so please don't laugh at me if I get drunk easily."
"There's no need to be so formal, Mr. Lin Wei. Drinking is meant to be enjoyed. Drink as much as you like, there's no pressure," Eden said, picking up a glass, adding a few ice cubes, pouring in some brandy, and handing it to him casually.
Despite her casual demeanor, every movement was imbued with inherent grace.
She poured herself a glass as well, swirling the liquid gently, watching the ice clinking against the glass, then downed it in one go.
The flush on her cheeks deepened, her beauty blooming like a peony, exuding an aura of elegance and languid charm.
Lin Wei took a small sip, not matching Eden's pace.
Honestly, he still couldn't acquire a taste for alcohol. Is it really that good? he wondered.
More importantly, he didn't want a repeat of his previous "one-cup-down" incident!
(ノへ￣,)
Just thinking about it was embarrassing.
Eden chuckled, not pressing him further. She didn't mind if her precious alcohol was "wasted." "When you first entered, you seemed quite weary, but you look much better now. I'm glad," she said, her voice slightly slurred, raising her glass in a toast before elegantly emptying it.
This woman could really hold her liquor. Lin Wei sighed inwardly.
"Being trained by Hua and SAKURA every day is quite tiring, yes. But the fatigue disappears quickly after I exit the memory terminal," he replied, happy to chat with Eden and even share a joke. "Although, Hua's stick keeps getting bigger. First, it was a thin twig, then a thicker stick, and now it's a police baton. You have everything here in the Elysian Realm, huh…"
"Perhaps it's another one of Pardo's treasures? She has a knack for finding unexpected things in overlooked corners, surprising us in ways we can't imagine."
"Yes, especially when it's being swung at me…" Lin Wei muttered, gritting his teeth at the memory of Hua's training.
"Ah, that's Hua for you. Dedicated, serious, hardworking. Her light may be subtle, but it shines brightly. If she feels responsible for training you into a capable warrior, she'll give it her all. It's just… the process can be a bit… strenuous."
"I know, and I'm grateful for her guidance." One-on-one training with the young Vermillion Knight: others would kill for this opportunity.
"I also know that training me must be quite troublesome for Hua. I imagine you didn't expect such a weak 'successor'," Lin Wei said, swirling his drink and taking another small sip, his face twisting in distaste.
It was truly awful.
"Well, it was… unexpected," Eden admitted, her smile elegant, her beautiful wine-red eyes studying him curiously. "However, despite your… physical limitations, you still achieved the mythical feat of defeating a Herrscher, didn't you?"
"Physical limitations"? You're very polite, Eden.
Lin Wei shook his head. "Defeating a Herrscher? Perhaps, objectively, that's true. But for me, it felt more like… bringing a lost child home…"
"Is that why you came to the Elysian Realm?"
"Yes. RIN is a good kid, isn't she?"
"Indeed, my friend. We should all be grateful to you…" Eden murmured, raising her glass again and emptying it, her expression becoming dreamy, as if lost in a distant memory, a hint of melancholy in her eyes.
The vinyl record continued to play its soothing melody.
It was a style of music Lin Wei had never heard before, a relic of a bygone era.
Lin Wei finished his drink and excused himself.
Eden bid him farewell, her voice slightly slurred, then closed her eyes, lost in the music, or perhaps in the past.
Lin Wei carefully opened the door and stepped out. His room was in the other direction.
"Hi, Lin Wei! How was your time with Eden?" Turning a corner, he saw a pink-haired girl sitting on a bench, waving cheerfully. It was Elysia, of course.
"She seems a bit drunk. Shouldn't you check on her?" Lin Wei asked, rolling his eyes inwardly. She's everywhere!
"Hee hee, don't worry. Eden may look adorable when she's drunk, but she can take care of herself." Elysia winked mischievously.
"But I'm drunk~" Lin Wei deadpanned, refusing to play along.
"Really? Let me see. Oh my! Why didn't you say so earlier?" Elysia rushed over, scrutinizing his face, then leaning closer to sniff him. Her eyes widened in mock alarm. "Oh dear, you shouldn't be walking around alone when you're drunk! What if you fall? You're so troublesome! Come on, let me help you to bed~ There, there, don't be afraid, tell me which room is yours."
Elysia took his arm, her expression full of concern, leading him towards his room, chattering all the while. "Hurry, hurry, time for beddy-bye! And remember, no sleep-talking! And don't let me hear any little secrets!"
"…Thanks for the heads-up," Lin Wei muttered, rolling his eyes. She wasn't even trying to hide her intentions.
"Oops, did I say that out loud? Just a little girlish curiosity, don't mind me~" Elysia giggled, practically dragging him to his room, watching him get into bed, tucking him in, and making sure he closed his eyes and his breathing evened out before tiptoeing out and turning off the lights.
A few minutes later, Lin Wei opened his eyes, sat up, and—
Started taking off his clothes.
As if he could undress with Elysia watching!
How could he sleep with his clothes on?!
"Eek! Why didn't you say anything?!" came a startled cry from beside the bed.
"What the—?!" Lin Wei jumped, startled by the pink-haired girl.
Weren't you gone?!
It was dark, and she scared him half to death!
Didn't she know this was considered indecent?!
He glared at Elysia, who just grinned sheepishly, and watched as she reluctantly backed out of the room, closing the door behind her.
Finally, peace and quiet… he could sleep now…
But he couldn't sleep…
The room felt creepy, and he kept imagining he could hear someone breathing beside him.
Every few minutes, he would open his eyes, checking to see if Elysia had snuck back in.
Nothing. He would relax for a few minutes.
Then the feeling would return, and he would check again…
And again…
How could he possibly sleep?!
(╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻
The next day—
"Good morning! Did you sleep well? Oh my, what happened to your eyes?" As always, the first person he encountered was Elysia, her smile as bright as ever, as if nothing had happened last night. She looked at him with exaggerated concern.
Lin Wei, still groggy, just stared at her impassively.
Take a wild guess.
...
"You seem out of it today. Is something wrong?" Hua asked, noticing his fatigue the moment she saw him.
"It's Elysia…" Lin Wei recounted last night's events, including his paranoia and resulting sleep deprivation.
"..." Hua was speechless. After a moment of consideration, she said, "Elysia isn't usually this interested in successors. There must be something about you that intrigues her. Don't worry, she means you no harm."
"I know…" Lin Wei nodded. He knew Elysia meant no harm, but he still felt wronged.
He wasn't a Herrscher, nor was he a beautiful girl, and he didn't have any cute horns. What was so interesting about him?
What did she see in him? He would change it if he could!
He couldn't figure it out.
He also couldn't understand why he was so resistant to interacting with her.
She was kind to him, and he genuinely liked her.
So why did he feel so uncomfortable around her?
He couldn't understand that either.
"Come on, focus. It's time for training. It's just fatigue. Overcome it with willpower. Enemies on the battlefield won't give you a chance to slack off," Hua said, her tone stern and admonishing.
Lin Wei didn't object. He wasn't going to use his fatigue as an excuse to skip training. He wasn't that fragile.
Hua nodded, pleased with his attitude. "Today, I'll demonstrate some combat techniques. There's no need to rush. You have plenty of time. Master them gradually. The most important thing is to build a solid foundation. Remember, stay true to yourself, never waver!"
Lin Wei took his training seriously. He knew this was a world where technology and extraordinary powers coexisted and complemented each other. If he remained an "ordinary person," he would eventually encounter dangers he couldn't overcome.
So, he trained diligently, strengthening his foundation, never slacking, never relying on luck, never cutting corners.
Having the Elysian Realm as his "tutorial zone," with Flame-Chasers of the Previous Era as his instructors, was an invaluable opportunity to overcome his weaknesses. He cherished this chance and remained mindful.
He would have to leave eventually. The more he improved here, the easier his life would be in the real world.
"Boss Lin Wei! Boss Lin Wei!" As their training session was nearing its end, Pardo, ever the optimist, suddenly rushed over, her face alight with excitement. "I have something good for you!"
Lin Wei took the sealed envelope from her, opened it curiously, and read the contents:
"The Greatest Magic Show of the Century, now playing at the Deep End - Vill-V"
Just that single line, no other embellishments.
Lin Wei examined the note carefully, making sure he hadn't missed any hidden messages, then tossed it back to a surprised Pardo.
"Not interested."