Hold over Myriad of Worlds

Golden Hour. The place where the most prosperous moment stretches in perpetuity. I walked past countless partygoers, reaching the entrance of the hotel first.

I stood on the side and waited for the girls to appear. Looking around, one would only see a thriving city lined with restaurants and bars. Many would wish to never leave this place.

-"Yue!"

I looked over and saw Elysia running to me.

-"You are first to arrive, Elysia."

-"No, I'm second. You were first."

She said mid-air as she flew into my arms. I caught her, and she giggled and decided to hang on me like a koala. Smiling slightly, I patted her head and decided to ignore the additional weight on me.

-"Yue, can you tell me more about this place?"

-"Nope. I'll explain when everybody is here."

-"Mouu."-Elysia puffed her cheeks and pretended to ignore me.

This did not last long as soon, we could see Ningguang, Jingliu, and Fu Xuan approaching.

-"Elysia was faster, huh?"

-"This place is truly fascinating, but I feel that something is off."

-"You are keen as always, Fu Xuan, but wait for others to arrive before we talk more."

She nodded but was visibly on guard.

Astraea soon joined us, but Nobunaga and Tingyun were nowhere in sight. We waited for a few minutes more, but they still hadn't arrived. I decided to look for them and was able to quickly locate them.

-"I know why they hadn't arrived here. I'll take us to them."

I Teleported us to a different dream named Reverie. There, Nobunaga and Tingyun were fighting with two other women. Our arrival made the battle stop.

-"I advise you to stop fighting."

-"Yue."

-"Don't involve yourself in this."-Spoke a woman wearing a veil on her head.

-"Or what, Memokeeper?"

-"You know me?"

-"I do not, but it's easy to recognize someone who has thrown away his body."

-"Hmm... You are not normal."

-"I'll take that as a compliment."

-"Black Swan, don't antagonize him."-Said a woman carrying ōdachi.

-"Acheron, is something wrong?"

-"He's an Emanator."

-"Hmm? Aren't you also one?"

-"Emanator of Nihility? Interesting duo. How about we sit down and talk this over before we accidentally destroy this dream?"-I suggested.

Both women looked at me and nodded after some hesitation. We sat on a nearby sofa and introduced ourselves. Next, I heard what led to the fight we saw.

-"So It was a misunderstanding?"- I asked.

-"It seems so."

-"Sigh."

-"Sorry for that."-Spoken Black Swan.

-"Nothing happened, so don't worry about it."

-"What are you doing here in Penacony?"

-"We are on vacation."

-"What? Are you not trying to get Watch Maker Legacy?"

-"No."

My answer surprised Black Swan. After talking a little more, we decided to take our leave. Both Black Swan and Acheron promised to find us after completing their purpose.

I took us back to Golden Hour, and we decided to find a place to eat. Picking a nice-looking restaurant, we ordered food.

-"So, what do you plan to do, Yue?"

-"Today, simply play around. How about the bet? Who wins most gets a wish from a person of choice."

-"I'm in!"-Elysia instantly agreed.

-"Why not."-Nobunaga was also not opposed.

-"While I'm not a fan of gambling, I can play along this time."-Astraea was more reluctant.

Having agreed on what are we going to do, we started playing. 

-"So Ningguang, how about a round of poker?"

-"Good."

We found a table to play at and sat down. The dealer quickly shuffled the deck, and we started the first round. I placed the blind bet.

-"So Yue, what is your true purpose in coming here?"-Ningguang took a quick look at the cards given to her.

-"Well, my two main reasons were to have a chance to know you all more, and an invitation from Aha reminded me about a special thing in this place."-I also checked my cards.

-"The dream? How do you plan to use it?"

The first two cards were shown by the dealer.

-"Call. Memoria can be used as a medium for memories. Let them appear as dreams."

-"Memories? Call. You mean to uncover our past?"

The third card on the table was revealed. 

-"Not uncover, but give you the ability to show what you wish to share. Rise."

-"That indeed can help us understand ourselves better. Fold."

Quick shuffle, cards were dealt, and the second round started. This time, Ningguang placed the blind bet. 

-"Yue, will you also show your past?"

-"I had this thought, but I don't know what to show you, to be honest. Call."

-"Rise. You lived a really long life, after all."

-"Fold. That's part of it. More problematic is that my formative memories are derived from Long and Yaoshi."

The third round started, and it was again my turn to bet blind.

-"You mean you never had childhood? Call."

-"Yes. I always looked as I look now, minus the eyes. Call."

The dealer showed the third card.

-"I must say, this must be the most tragic thing I learned about you. Check."

-"Never thought about that. Open."

-"Don't you feel loss for never having childhood memories, dreams, even love? Call."

The fourth card is revealed.

-"In the past, when I traveled and worked in an orphanage for some time, seeing those children, I came to an answer that I was never given time to be naive. Childhood without the naivety of a child can be torturous. Open."

-"When you never know your parent, you dream of them being heroes. When you lose them, you only know the cruelty of the world. Call."

The last card was shown.

-"Yes. I always knew that I was different from them. Treating myself as 'human' was something that took me a long time to learn. Check."

-"I always dreamt of becoming rich. It was because of my childhood, as a poor family, I was surrounded by destitution and hunger from when I could remember. Open."

-"Hmm, then I finally can understand why you value the smiles of children so much. Rise."

-"Naivite, as you called it, to me is simply seeing the world for what it is, with to bias. I hope that truth can last in them. Call."

-"That goal, we will achieve it."-I showed my cards, Three of a kind.

-"Yes, after all, you will be there with me. You are the strongest card I could have been dealt."-Ninguang revealed her cards, Flush.

We smiled at each other and proceeded to the fourth round.

Leaving Ningguang after a few more rounds, I was able not to be bankrupted by her. Moving to where Nobunaga was, I arrived at a shooting range. 

-"Yo, Yue. Little contest?"

-"What rules?"

-"First to miss. Same bet as you chose."

-"Good, let's start."

We botch chosen positions next to each other. In front of me was 100 meters of space on which targets would appear.

-"Yue, if you were to describe me in one word and one sentence, how would you do it?"

-"Hmm... Frank. No matter the difficulty, face it head-on. What do you think?"-I started shooting.

-"Sounds about right. Now, my turn."-She also started firing.-"Detached. No matter what, always seeing a path forward."

-"Then we are quite the fitting pair. You will keep me on the ground. I'll show you where to push ahead."

-"True."

-"Then now my question. What is my biggest demerit."

-"Trying to resolve everything on your own. Your turn."

-"Headstrong to the extreme."

For a while, only the sound of bullets was heard.

-"Yue, can you tell me one thing."

-"Just ask."

-"Are we dragging you down?"

I was silent for a minute, finding the right answer.

-"You are the reason I want to move forward."

She also was silent for a while.

-"Then I'll make sure to become someone to move forward with you."

-"Thanks."

Our duel continued for over 15 minutes, but I was able to win.

-"Then what is your wish?"

-"My wish, huh? You will allow me to call you Nobu."

Nobu squinted her eyes but didn't say anything. Taking it as an agreement, I decided to call her that from now on. We played some more, with no bets this time.

After exiting the shooting range, I moved to a nearby bet shop. Inside, Astraea was sitting looking at the screen showing a horserace. Taking place next to her, I started talking.

-"Horseracing? Do you like horses?"

-"I definitely don't hate them, but I chose this place purely because of its atmosphere."

-"I can see that. You don't like to gamble?"

-"Yes. I saw how the chance of easily getting what you wish ruined lives. How about you?"

-"I think of gambling as entertainment, nothing more, nothing less. If it becomes a major part of your life, then it's a trouble."

-"Then what do you think of having fun watching animals compete? Those horses' life's only goal is to entertain us."

-"I think if you let them leave after their purpose was served and don't abuse them, then it's not a problem."

-"What if you exchange horses for humans in my question?"

-"Are you thinking of how gods of Oraria treat mortals?"

-"Yes."

-"To be honest, a long time ago, I hated humans. They are weak in both body and mind. This leads to countless tragedies. But I learned that they are a necessary part of nature."-I placed a bet on a certain horse.-"I don't care if humans or horses are racing, as long as neither of them is close to me. Only then would I care."

-"I see. I always thought that you believe in humans."

-"I know their capabilities, but I think that without someone to lead them, they are worse than the plague."

-"Then what do you think of gods?"

-"I believe they are too human to treat themselves as over them."

-"Too human?"

-"Yes, even though you live a long life and are influenced by your divinity, you are not a force of nature, working for the greater good. You are selfish beings, just like humans."

-"Looking at it like that, we are more human than humans."

-"Yes, that's why I think of gods to be equal to humans. Only more experienced and powerful."

-"Then do you think of yourself as a god, human, or something else?"

-"Before, I thought of myself as a witness or bystander. Now, I want to become who can show the way forward."

-"Wouldn't that be a leader?"

-"No, I don't mean like that, but rather advisor."

We talked a little more, but as evening was getting late, we gathered together again and moved back to the hotel. As for the bet, certain pink fairy won so much on slots that Ningguang almost doubted her ability to play.

She doesn't use her wish instantly, saying that she has a perfect moment in mind to use it. Returning to my room, I didn't go to sleep but rather teleported myself to a place where Memoria could be used by me.

After completing my preparation for tomorrow, I decided to ask someone to help me choose what memories I should show. Finding Fuli drifting in a sea of memories, I teleported to THEM.

-"Fuli, can you help me a little?"

~"Yue, of course, I'll help you. You rarely seek assistance."

-"I want to show some of my memories to girls, but I'm not sure what memories are important. Could you help me choose the right ones?"

~"I can pick them for you. Do you want to hide something?"

-"No. Just don't let them see things harmful to them."

~"Then, here, use this crystal to manifest the dream."

-"Thanks, Fuli."

~"No need to thank me. Just show me some interesting memories later."

I bid farewell to Fuli and returned to the hotel, where I lent the kitchen to prepare breakfast for the girls. They woke up sometime later, and we started our meal.

-"I've prepared space where we can show our memories. I'll take us there after the meal."

-"In the end, did you decide to show yours to?"

-"Yes, but I didn't choose them. Fuli of Remembrance chose for me."

-"Asking Aeon for advice, only you could do such a thing."

We ended our meal and went to show our memories. As we couldn't decide on the order in which to show the memories, girls drew lots, while I was to be last. 

First was Fu Xuan. She showed how she embarked on the way of the diviner, her training, and the moments that were most important to her. The most impactful moment was the story of her master. Knowing that she would be the reason for her death, yet still accepting her as a disciple.

Second was Ningguang, who showed her childhood and path to her current position. Her struggle was something different from most, as rather than fighting, she used her business acumen and intelligence to become what she is now.

Third was Astraea. Her memories showed war between gods long before the mortal realm. We saw how she came to descend into the lower world and live among humans. The length of her life was hard to understand, but seeing the world change so many times was an eye-opener.

Fourth was Tingyun. Her memories mostly involved her working in the Sky-Faring Commission and growing on Loufu. Showing life in the shadow of Mara and Abundance.

Fifth was Nobu. Her memories mostly showed how her family disintegrated and how she chose the way of the warrior. It also showed that the appearance of Hold was much more important to her than she shows.

Sixth was Elysia. She showed us her travels and how her world almost ended because of Honkai. Countless tragedies were shown before our eyes, but what was the most important memory to her was me saving Rin. I was able to understand that this was the moment she started having feelings for me.

Seventh was Jingliu. What we could see from her past was living with a sword in hand. When Mara consumed her, we could feel the powerlessness and despair. Similar to Elysia, her most important moment was meeting me again and finally standing by my side.

Lastly, it was my time. My memories showed how I witnessed and became part of Aeon's ascension. It explained why I have good relations with them. Other than that, some of my travels were shown, mostly when my mindset changed because of something I saw.

As time here passed differently, it took only a few hours for us to return, but this time meant much for us. We now could understand each other much better, and Ningguang decided that if I were to increase the number of family members one day, they would have to perform a similar showing of memories.

Back in Golden Hour, we sat in a restaurant and talked more about what we saw. After some time, Black Swan and Acheron found us and joined our meal. The subject of our talk changed to them, and soon, we got to know about what they were doing here. Deciding to follow them tomorrow to the Grand Theater, we went to rest.