Though that dinner gathering set off a chain of unexpected events, fortunately, things turned out alright in the end.
What's worth mentioning is that after the two groups went their separate ways, Mei suddenly let go of Kevyn's hand, her attitude toward him seeming even colder than before.
Kevyn: ?
But with the dim lighting, there was no way he could see the blush on the girl's face or the way her eyes darted away.
After Ato and Emile drove everyone back, Mobius didn't seem interested in chatting any further with Durandal and the others, leaving with her own people right away.
The Flame-Chasers didn't feel like holding another small meeting either, so they all just returned to their own rooms.
However, just as Durandal got back to her room and was mulling over whether she should head to some remote wilderness to summon the Cosmic Juggernaut from the moon, she suddenly heard a knock at the door.
"Elysia?"
When she opened the door, Durandal was a bit surprised to see who it was.
"Mhm~ It's me, of course—ever lovely and graceful as always~?"
As she spoke, Elysia suddenly peeked into the room.
Durandal instinctively stepped aside, then asked, "What are you looking at?"
"I'm checking if you've got someone hidden in here. Otherwise, why would you keep someone as adorable as me waiting out here talking by the door?"
Elysia's voice carried a hint of grievance, even a faint tremble as if she might cry.
Durandal: ? What a drama queen!
"Alright, just come in."
Resigned, Durandal let her in and closed the door behind her.
Neither of them noticed that, at that very moment, several pairs of eyes were watching everything unfold.
Connie wore a look of pure 'wisdom,' glancing at Eden and Vill-V as if to say, "See? I wasn't exaggerating about the relationship between Lady Durandal and Miss Elysia, was I?"
After a moment of thought, both Eden and Vill-V gave Connie a thumbs-up.
Back inside Durandal's room, she looked helplessly at Elysia, who had plopped herself down at the foot of her bed.
"Whatever it is, you can say it now, right?"
"Don't be so impatient? If you're always this hasty, no girl will like you, you know~?"
Elysia looked up at Durandal, her tone playful and coquettish, with a teasing lilt.
But Durandal was no fool—she wouldn't be fooled by appearances.
Wasn't this just how Elysia acted with everyone?
And yet… perhaps Durandal hadn't yet realized that the Elysia in her mind was mostly the one she'd come to know through the Elysian Realm and the Storyline.
The living, breathing Elysia before her—the one she'd essentially picked up after the Second Honkai Eruption—had focused almost all her energy on Durandal since then, never showing this same side to anyone else.
The Elysia from her memories and the one in front of her overlapped in many ways, but they weren't the same at their core.
It was just that, for now, she was letting those similarities cloud her judgment.
"Haah~"
Elysia let out an exaggerated sigh, sounding quite put upon. "Just as I thought."
Durandal's frown deepened.
But before she could speak, Elysia went on, "Alright, alright~ I'll stop teasing you. You're no fun at all! Fine, I'll get to the point—before you kick me out~"
Durandal's expression softened slightly.
She wanted to say she'd never kick her out, but Elysia's next words made her swallow that thought.
Because, honestly, she was starting to feel like doing exactly that.
"You lied today, you know~?"
Elysia stated with certainty.
Durandal's eyebrow twitched, but she kept her composure. "About what…?"
"Everything~?"
That was Elysia's reply.
"You've got some nerve saying that!"
Durandal almost laughed. She was sure now—Elysia was just trying to bluff her.
"You're thinking I'm just bluffing you, aren't you?"
Elysia, as if reading her mind, hit the nail on the head.
Durandal's heart skipped a beat, but her expression didn't change. "Why would I be afraid of a bluff if I didn't lie?"
She still refused to admit anything.
Seeing this, Elysia paused thoughtfully before saying, "Maybe… I didn't phrase it quite right? Let me rephrase that—you didn't tell the whole truth today!"
Durandal: "…Is there a difference?"
"There sure is~?"
Elysia suddenly flashed a sly smile.
"Lying means you know something but say you don't. Not telling the whole truth means you know the gist of it but claim you don't know the specifics. If that's still not clear… let me give you an example~!"
Durandal made a show of listening attentively.
And then, from Elysia's lips, she heard these words clearly—
"For instance… you actually knew the Third Honkai Eruption would happen in Nagazora City—you even had a rough idea of when."
"But you used the excuse that no one can accurately predict when or where a Honkai eruption will occur, making everyone think your actions were just about protecting someone you valued before an unknown disaster struck."
"And your reasoning?"
Durandal suddenly felt a strange calm wash over her.
She looked at Elysia, wanting to know her reasoning.
"As for my reasoning…"
Elysia pointed at herself. "You know, I'm pretty capable~ So in the past, I've taken on jobs like bodyguard work."
"I know exactly what a protector's mindset is like. And during this time, I've been watching you at Chiba Academy."
"You haven't shown the slightest intention of preparing for a disaster that could break out at any moment.
"There are only two possibilities."
"First, you had no idea a disaster was coming—but that doesn't make sense."
"So, that leaves the other option: you knew the disaster wouldn't happen now, but at some point in the future. That's why you haven't shifted into gear yet. If I'm right, as that time gets closer, you'll probably start showing signs of restlessness."
Durandal let out a slow breath.
She neither admitted nor denied it, instead asking, "Then why not wait until I start getting restless to call me out? Wouldn't that be more convincing?"
Elysia fell silent.
Just as Durandal began to look puzzled, Elysia said something that left her at a loss for words.
"If we really wait until then, there probably won't be much I can do. But… we're comrades fighting side by side, aren't we?"
After a long pause, Durandal gave a wry smile. "I never thought… you'd find my weak spot so quickly. You win, Elysia."
"Mhm~? Well, who do you think I am? I'm the one and only Elysia, beauty and brains in one gorgeous package~?"
Elysia blinked, replying just like that.
--+--