Honkai Impact: I, The Herrscher of Ice, Am Loved By Players

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"It's an honor to meet you, Miss Eden. I've heard your recordings from other world bubbles; you truly deserve the title of a superstar from that era!" Ana exclaimed earnestly.

While claiming to have heard Eden's recordings from other world bubbles was not entirely true—it could be possible, but it wasn't the case—Ana had indeed listened to Eden's operas and even memorized entire compositions.

"Oh, really? I wonder which piece you heard, Miss Ana?" Miss Eden smiled warmly, but Ana sensed a hint of skepticism beneath her words.

No matter, Ana had thoroughly prepared for this encounter.

"It was the opera 'The Passing of the Slumbrous King.' I recall in Act III, 'Sparrows Bearing Twigs,' there's a line: 'In every realm, destiny follows its own course.'"

As she spoke, Ana mimicked Eden's tone and sang the phrase aloud.

"Ah, that act indeed brings back memories." Eden nodded with a touch of nostalgia, now seemingly convinced by Ana's detailed description, which could only suggest that Ana truly had listened to it.

However, replicating such an identical composition in this era was impossible. In a sense, Eden's art represented the pinnacle and culmination of an extraordinarily flourishing age. Unless this new civilization produced another Eden, it was unachievable.

From Raven, Eden knew this era did not hold such prospects.

"Yet, in my view, humans can triumph over fate. The so-called destiny is meant to be broken," Ana eloquently expressed.

However, Eden merely smiled without offering any judgment—neither agreement nor disagreement. She refrained from making hasty conclusions because she believed people could forge their own path.

Yet, deep down, she harbored some doubt. After all, in the previous civilization, they had made relentless efforts for survival, only to ultimately fail despite their striving.

The very purpose of the Garden's existence was to hope that future visitors would inherit the will and strength of the Heroic Spirits, charting a different course. Thus, they remained open to the possibility of altering destiny.

In truth, one particular Heroic Spirit indeed achieved this feat. However, those within the Garden would not directly reveal the answer themselves.

Numerous secrets lay hidden here, with the Heroic Spirits unwilling to disclose them outright. Visitors must uncover these truths on their own.

Throughout history, World Serpent had merely viewed this place as a testing ground for its leaders, never allowing it to fulfill its true potential. Raiden Mei's arrival marked a fundamental shift in its purpose.

At its core, the Elysian Realm existed solely to await the coming of the Herrscher of Human.

"Everything here is but a mirage of the past, dissipating like smoke. You need only believe in yourself and seek the answers you desire."

As Eden's words echoed, a golden glow emanated from her, enveloping Ana. Instantly, Ana felt a peculiar force akin to the previous red energy.

Without a doubt, this was the Golden Engraving.

In the game, gold represented energy, and similarly, the interpretation of the golden engraving signifies gaining control over one's power, mastering all that one possesses.

Initially, Ana thought the golden engraving might not be significant, but upon closer introspection, she could sense its enhancement. Her efficiency in utilizing her Authority had noticeably improved.

Of course, for a Herrscher, it didn't bring about a qualitative leap. After all, the limitation lies in their own output capacity, as Herrschers cannot be depleted by exhaustion.

Pure brute strength requires no meticulous energy management. However, this does not diminish the potency of the golden power; rather, its effects are simply less pronounced at Ana's current stage.

"Thank you," Ana expressed sincerely.

"You deserve this, Miss Ana. Everything you've gained within the Garden ultimately stems from your own potential. We are merely memory constructs, guiding you along the way; it's truly insignificant."

In response to Eden's words, Ana simply smiled without expressing agreement.

If everything were as Eden suggested, then what is the nature of this Primogenitor Power here? It seems that all the Heroic Spirits present have layered veils over the truth, choosing to be enigmatic figures who conceal the Garden's true essence.

However, Ana wanted to convey that she already comprehends everything about this place, making such explanations unnecessary.

It was understandable, though, rooted in a simple information gap. Eden did not know that Ana had essentially unraveled the entirety of the Elysian Realm's secrets; she was merely fulfilling her role.

This also led Ana to consider a possibility:

Had Eden chosen not to perish with her era but instead remained behind as the leader of the Spark Project, its progress today might have advanced significantly faster.

After pondering briefly, Ana reached a definitive conclusion.

Without question, as an executor of the Spark Project, Hua was suitable, but Fu Hua was not, for she herself became one of this era's sparks. Only someone truly detached like Eden is fit to carry out this plan. Mei undoubtedly planned everything meticulously when assigning roles, with the only unanticipated factor being the Heroic Spirits' private decisions.

Neither Griseo replacing Kosma to execute the Ark Plan nor Eden entrusting the Spark Project to Hua were within Mei's foresight.

However, given the situation now, Ana couldn't pass judgment. After all, Eden had every right to make her own choices. Sacrificing herself for the era aligns perfectly with her character. If Ellie were still alive, perhaps Eden might have stayed behind, but at that point, there was nothing left worth lingering for. The so-called new age lacked a vessel capable of accommodating her.

"Hey, Ana, are you okay?"

Elysia's voice interrupted Ana's thoughts. She looked up to see Elysia standing before her, scrutinizing closely—this sudden attention startled Ana.

"Oh, I'm fine; just got lost in my thoughts for a moment."

As Elysia leaned in closer, almost face-to-face, Ana blushed and hastily responded. This proximity... Although Elysia enjoyed teasing, it was unusually intimate even for her.

"Hmm, what were you thinking about, Ana? Can you tell me? I'm really curious!"

"Can I? Can I? Please?"

"..."

Ana glanced sideways and noticed Eden's equally curious gaze nearby. After a brief moment of consideration, she decided to share, "I was wondering how things might have turned out if Eden hadn't chosen to sacrifice herself for that era."

"No doubt, Dr. Mei has a keen eye for people, but Eden indeed lacked some political acumen," Ana remarked with a smile at Eden.

Eden's eyes flickered slightly, and she nodded gently.

"You're right, Dr. Mei was indeed an exceptional leader. Unfortunately, in our era, it proved futile to reverse the tide. It was simply too late..."

With that, Eden fell silent as well.

Her Memory Fragment was one of the last updated ones, so she understood her own choices and acknowledged they were somewhat impulsive.

This is why she could only rank fourth among the Heroic Spirits; the leaders and second-in-command possessed unbending determination.

Elysia chose self-sacrifice without hesitation, while Kevin endured loneliness and misunderstanding, steadfastly carrying out his mission.

"Alright, alright, let's not dwell on such heavy topics. The past has dissipated like smoke, let others discuss what happened."

Elysia stepped in with a smile, interrupting the conversation. She sensed that if this continued, their hard-earned girls' tea party might be ruined.

"You're correct, my fault. I apologize," Ana quickly responded with a light laugh and an acknowledgement of her mistake.

It's evident that Eden genuinely feels regret for Ana. She had the opportunity to survive until the present era; even if there were no ships of her time capable of carrying her, she could have built her own.

"As punishment, you owe us another drink!" Elysia feigned anger playfully.

"Alright, alright, no problem."

"But your alcohol tolerance isn't as poor as Aponia's, is it?" Elysia looked at Ana with some skepticism.

"Don't worry, I'm considered quite the noble lady in reality too. And being close friends with Raven, I often visited her just to enjoy some drinks."

Though sadly, she rarely let me have any, Ana refrained from adding aloud.

"That's good! The exquisite wine from Eden's collection would be considered a rare treasure even in our time, worth more than its weight in gold!"

"It's merely material possession, and fine wines are meant to be shared among friends," Eden said gently.

With those words, Eden turned away, momentarily disappearing. In the blink of an eye, she reappeared before them, waving her hand to conjure three chairs and a small table, all in the familiar European style Ana recognized.

With great care, Eden opened the bottle's cork and poured the wine into crystal glasses. Perhaps due to sharing with friends, she deviated from her usual glassware and used matching crystal goblets.

"You can drink, right?" Elysia handed Ana a wineglass, her gaze slightly uncertain.

"Why would you doubt that?" Ana smiled wryly.

"Miss Raven mentioned it before," Elysia explained. "She said you're still quite young."

From the side, Eden chimed in at the perfect moment, as if solving a mystery: "It's all Raven's fault!"

"It's alright. In my homeland, one can legally drink at age 16." Ana responded somewhat helplessly. If considering nationality, she was originally from Austria or Germany—though regarding her past life, well, that has little relevance here.

Raven's situation was different; she was actually of Russian descent but was taken by Gray Serpent at a very young age. Additionally, considering the children they had sheltered in Nagazora City, their origins were predominantly Asian.

"Alright, alright, just joking around, no need to take it seriously." Elysia laughed, defusing any tension.

"This is a space of consciousness and memories, so your experiences here may feel different than outside. Don't worry too much about it. Give this wine a try—it's truly exceptional even for our time. During a local performance, the speaker of the region gifted me several bottles."

"Alright."

Nodding, Ana picked up her glass, sniffed it gently, and took a small sip.

The wine was smooth and velvety, carrying a subtle aroma of oak with hints of apple flavors. There was also a distinct, indescribable undertone, accompanied by a fruity scent upon inhaling. Even without being a professional sommelier, Ana could appreciate its exceptional quality.

Moreover, tasting this wine within the Elysian Realm felt different from reality. The aftertaste seemed endless, as if she were fully immersed in the essence of the beverage.

"The locals here refer to this wine as Worry Forgetting Wine," Eden chimed in from the side.

"Worry Forgetting Wine? Ana, that's perfect for you!" Elysia added with a smile.

Ana nodded slightly, feeling indeed momentarily free from all concerns. However, deep inside, she remained aware of the impending crisis, keeping her senses sharp.

"What a pity..."

Gazing at the remaining amber liquid in her glass, Ana shook her head, somewhat regretful.

"As someone living in these troubled times, I cannot allow myself to be intoxicated by such fine wines."

"Speaking of..."

Ana looked up and noticed Elysia intently watching her with her chin resting on interlocked hands.

"As an outsider, can I truly leave my Memory Fragment here?"

"Oh dear, does Ana want to stay with me? How touching!"

With these words, Elysia playfully pounced on Ana, enveloping her in a warm embrace.

"Ellie...I'm going to fall..."

In the end, Ana was indeed tackled to the ground by Elysia. Fortunately, this being Eden's domain, the surface was incredibly soft, making the fall painless. However, it was unfortunate that the remaining wine spilled from Ana's cup onto her dress, staining it a deep burgundy color.

Staring at Elysia's face just inches away, a hint of determination surged within Ana. With a surprised yelp from Elysia, Ana swiftly flipped their positions, pinning her down.

"You're always causing mischief! This time, I must teach you a lesson!"

From her seat nearby, Eden watched with narrowed eyes and a faint smile, reminiscent of a proud aunt's expression.

This, perhaps, was Eden's joy.

However, after their playful antics subsided, they eventually returned to the original topic.

"So, why do you wish to leave a Memory Fragment here? Keep in mind, you already know all its secrets, and this fragment isn't truly you but rather an independent existence."

"Uh..." Ana blinked, pondered for a moment, and then slowly replied, "If my assumptions are correct, I'm likely not the only Herrscher to visit this place. After me, another Herrscher of Human and one more Herrscher will come here.

"I hope, as someone who came before, to provide guidance to the next Herrscher of Human, and also..."