Midday. The bright sunlight dispelled some of the autumn chill.
Unlike their arrival, this time Fu Li and the others' temporary departure was a simple affair, without any grand ceremony.
After all, when he had first arrived, the people here didn't know him well. For the sake of the sanatorium's future funding and to ensure the children could continue their carefree lives, they had no choice but to hold a grand welcoming ceremony.
But now, after two months of getting to know each other, Fu Li had quickly become one of them, these children he had once known so well. In the old director's heart, he had also shed the image of a proud, ceremony-loving superior.
So, when it was time for them to leave, everyone gathered spontaneously, crowding around Fu Li and Vill-V to offer their well-wishes.
"Big Sis Vill-V, this is my treasured candy. You have to eat it and remember to come back and play, okay?"
"Big Bro Li, this is an apple from the sanatorium's apple tree. It's for you!"
"Big Bro Li, next time you bring Big Sis Vill-V back, you have to remember to perform magic for us again, okay?"
Perhaps due to Aponia's upbringing, the children here were all very well-behaved. Although most of their gifts were just snacks, they were still a precious token of their affection.
And so, Fu Li prepared a box and filled it to the brim with all sorts of food.
Just as the gift-giving was winding down, Aponia and Pardofelis called out to Fu Li.
"Li, you're leaving. I don't have much to give you. This is a doll I made by hand."
Aponia placed the doll, made in her own image, into his hands, a meaningful smile on her face.
"Remember to keep it close, okay? If I see you next time and you've forgotten it, I'll be angry."
Her tone was gentle, yet it sent an inexplicable chill through Fu Li. He turned his head and, as expected, saw a wary-looking Vill-V.
She had also heard Aponia's words and was now staring wide-eyed with an expression that screamed, 'I thought we were friends, but you're actually after my man?!'
She looked aggrieved, as if she had been 'betrayed.'
But Aponia quickly explained, "Vill-V, don't let your imagination run wild. This is just a blessing. As long as he carries it, it will ensure your safety."
"Really?" Vill-V frowned, clearly unconvinced, but she couldn't find a reason to refute it.
And... to be honest, she always felt that Aponia's aura was too strong. She was constantly exuding a pressure similar to that of a 'mother.'
Even though they were about the same age, Vill-V always felt suppressed.
Soon, however, her attention was diverted to Pardo, who was acting like a sneaky kitten nearby.
The little girl was currently leaning against the car, gazing at the modified vehicle with the eyes of a money-grubber.
Noticing everyone looking at her, she gave a guilty cough and took out her gift.
"Um, Bro Li, I heard you like snakes. This is a gift for you. The craftsmanship is pretty good, isn't it? Hmph, hmph."
A necklace inlaid with emeralds was placed in Fu Li's hand. When he heard the words 'like snakes,' he subconsciously wanted to hide his reaction, but then he felt a slight warmth in his chest.
Fu Li looked down and saw his Black Cat Pendant.
Among all his cycle rewards, this pendant was definitely the most special, because sleeping within it was an adorable soul.
The Herrscher of Domination - Black Pardo.
She was usually in a deep slumber, only warming up at certain special moments, like the time Vill-V had forcefully kissed him.
But now, the pendant was clearly conveying a message: it wanted to temporarily return to Pardo's side.
'What does Black Pardo want to do?'
Fu Li was a bit baffled, but after a moment's hesitation, he relented. In any case, he had a special connection to all his rewards, so he didn't have to worry about losing it.
Besides, the sequence of the Honkai Eruptions had already been disrupted. Although his organization was nearby, he still felt a little uneasy.
This pendant might be able to protect Pardo and Aponia at some point.
"Pardo, thank you. This is my gift in return." After a moment's hesitation, Fu Li accepted the snake pendant and then took off the Black Cat Pendant from his own neck.
"This is a treasure of mine. You must take good care of it. You're not allowed to sell it, understand?"
Worried, Fu Li added a word of caution, afraid this cat-ancestor would actually sell the thing.
Pardo's eyes instantly lit up, and she nodded frantically. "Mhm, mhm! I get it, Bro Li! I'll take good care of it."
Fu Li chuckled. "Good, that's all that matters."
After saying their goodbyes once more, Fu Li and the others got into Miss Irene's car and headed for the airport.
Aponia watched them leave in silence. Pardo, meanwhile, played with the Black Cat Pendant. After studying it for a while, she found that there didn't seem to be anything special about it.
It just looked dark and black, like a piece of coal.
But for some reason, she felt an inexplicable closeness to this pendant.
How strange.
Pardo hung the pendant around her neck, completely oblivious to the fact that the moment she put it on, the black cat's eyes flashed for an instant.
And deep within Pardo's soul, a woman sitting cross-legged, with the same face but with pure black hair, jolted. A pair of heterochromatic eyes—left red, right white—slowly opened.
"Hah... my current power... is still too weak..."
Black Pardo had just opened her eyes when she closed them again in exhaustion, murmuring, "I still need to accumulate more power..."
---o---
Author's Note:
PS: By the way, what was Japan called in the Previous Era? Far East?