Ch-13 < Truth and lie >

"Elysia, do you think humanity stands a chance against the Honkai?" Kevin asked, his usual calm demeanor shifting as he spoke with a gentle tone.

"Absolutely!" Elysia responded without missing a beat, her confidence shining through.

Kevin raised an eyebrow. "What makes you so certain?"

Elysia's face grew serious. "Are you doubting our potential? Humanity has always adapted and grown stronger. We've created advanced technology, powerful mechs, and formidable weapons. From humble beginnings, MOTH has expanded its influence across countries. Our progress speaks for itself!"

Kevin fell silent, feeling the weight of her words. He guess his presence will altered the world's original course.

He felt trapped between the abyss of the unknown future without a place to call his own.

Elysia's eyes gleamed as she met Kevin's gaze. "Do you know why people suffer, Kevin?" She can already guess Kevin problem.

"Enlighten me," he replied.

"Overthinking," Elysia said with a gentle smile. "We can't change the past, and we can't control the future. We must live in the present and make the most of every moment. Your overthinking might cause inner turmoil and pain."

Kevin already realized his fear wasn't about the future but about being unable to change her fate.

He fear the unknown , surviving into the next era without anyone with him. He remembered the scene of Kevin loneliness and elysia sacrifice and his eyes became misty.

Elysia stood on her tiptoes, gently patting Kevin's head. "Don't be too hard on yourself. Humans are resilient; trust in them!".

Kevin's eyes got filled with tears as Elysia's words struck a chord. He knew her fate - she would sacrifice herself to unite humanity against Honkai. The thought of losing her was unbearable.

Elysia, noticing Kevin's emotional face, immediately switched to her caring mode. "Oh, Kevin! Don't be sad! Let me cheer you up!"

She started making funny faces, crossing her eyes and sticking out her tongue. Kevin tried to hide his tears, but Elysia's antics only made him more emotional.

Next, she began to perform a silly dance, twirling around and waving her arms like a ballerina. "Look, Kevin! I'm a Honkai-fighting ballerina!"

Elysia pulled out her trump card—she began gently petting Kevin's head, saying, "There, there, Kevin! Elysia's here for you!" Her touch was tender, and her voice soothing.

Embarrassed, Kevin felt like a child being comforted. He hugged Elysia tightly, tears streaming down his face. Elysia, flustered and with a racing heart, recalled a book's words: "If your heart beats faster and you feel warm, it means you like that person..."

As they embraced, Elysia's playful demeanor softened. She stroked his hair and whispered, "Don't worry, Kevin. We'll face Honkai together. I'll always be here for you."

Kevin's tears slowed, replaced by a warm feeling in his heart. Elysia's kindness and playful spirit lifted his spirits, and he knew he couldn't bear to lose her.

"Remember your promise," Kevin murmured. "You'll always be there for me, right?"

"Yes," Elysia replied without much thought.

But realization dawned on her as she considered her situation. As a Herrscher, there was a risk humanity might turn against me. What would Kevin do if that happened?

Elysia's heart raced. She now understood that Kevin's feelings for her were deep enough that he might even defy the world for her sake. So she asked for clarification.

"Say kevin If, by pulling the trigger on me, you could save countless lives, what would you do?" Elysia's voice echoed in Kevin ears.

"In my eyes, those lives don't compare to the value of having you with me," Kevin murmured, his tone soft yet resolute.

He gently placed his hands on her waist, pulling her closer.

"Elysia, no matter what happens, promise me you'll never sacrifice yourself.

"Elysia felt her heart race under the weight of his words. His aura was overwhelming, and her cheeks flushed with a deep blush.

Kevin took a deep breath, and with a sudden movement, gently pushed Elysia against the wall. His eyes, intense and filled with emotion, locked onto hers. "Elysia," he whispered, leaning in, "I fell for you at first sight."

He closed the distance, placing a soft kiss on her lips. Elysia felt her heart flutter and her cheeks burn. Overwhelmed, she tried to pull away, but Kevin's grip on her waist tightened. He captured her lips again, this time with a passionate intensity that left her breathless.

As he pulled back, Elysia's eyes were wide with surprise and emotion. She felt her legs trembling, unsure of how to respond. With a soft smile, Kevin stroked her cheek. "Please, don't run from this," he murmured. "You're everything to me."

Elysia's heart raced, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The sincerity in Kevin's voice and the warmth of his touch made her feel safe and cherished.

She took a deep breath, nodding slowly as she found herself unable to look away from his earnest gaze.

His lips found hers again, this time with a passionate intensity that left no room for doubt.

When they finally broke apart, Elysia was left gasping for breath, her cheeks flushed, and her heart pounding. She looked up at Kevin, her eyes wide with a mix of awe and affection. "Kevin... you understand my nature."

As Kevin sat on the patio, he gently pulled Elysia onto his lap, resting his chin on her shoulder.

Elysia blushed but didn't resist.

"To say I'm completely okay with this would be a lie." Kevin's eyes softened as he gently took Elysia's hand, trying to convey his understanding.

"Elysia loves everything, which naturally includes all of humanity. Given her extroverted nature, she might inadvertently make me jealous." Kevin thought.

"But still believe that you, Elysia, are more important. After all, I'm one who you love most, and that's enough for me." He spoke to Elysia.

Elysia's heart raced with emotion, moved by Kevin's understanding and the genuine affection he showed. She leaned into him, savoring the comfort of his presence and the reassurance in his words.

"And if you're talking about your other nature as a Herrscher, I know about that," he said, his voice calm and reassuring.

Elysia's eyes widened slightly, though she didn't seem overly surprised. "Then... are you like me, a Herrscher?" she asked, her curiosity mixed with concern.

Kevin hesitated, torn between honesty and secrecy. He decided on a partial truth. "You could call me a pseudo-Herrscher," he admitted, feeling regretful for withholding the full truth.

Elysia looked at him, intrigued. "Do you know about your nature and mine?"

Kevin paused, considering how much to reveal. *It seems Elysia doesn't fully understand her Herrscher powers,* he thought. "Your nature is 'Origin,'" he explained, hoping to provide some clarity.

"Origin?" Elysia tilted her head, seeking more information. "At least give me more details."

Kevin smirked slightly, trying to lighten the mood. "Alright, but first, a kiss."

Elysia blushed and leaned in, shyly kissing him on the cheek.

"Your ability," Kevin continued, "is to transform wishes into power and manipulate the strings of fate."

Elysia's eyes widened in amazement, though she soon felt dejected. "Those are powerful abilities, but I can't seem to utilize them," she said, her voice tinged with frustration. "If I could, I might be able to help humanity more."

Curious, she leaned closer to Kevin. "But how do you know about my abilities so clearly?"

Kevin looked at her with a complex expression. "It might be hard to believe, but I possess some of the authority of the Final Herrscher," he confessed.

Elysia was taken aback. "The Final Herrscher? How is that possible?"

Kevin sighed. "Unlike you, I've severed my connection with the Imaginary Tree, leaving my authority incomplete. Now, I can only increase strength from Honkai beasts or possibly from other Herrschers soon ."

He lied again to make it more believable.

"So, you can increase your strength over time?" Elysia asked.

"Yes," Kevin replied. "And since I've fallen for you, I definitely won't fulfill the mission given by the Cocoon of Finality to destroy the world. As a result, I remain incomplete."

"What is the Cocoon of Finality?" Elysia asked.

"It's a higher existence that sends Honkai energy into this world and selects Herrschers along with their authorities for destroying civilizations ," Kevin clarified.

"So… am I sort of its child?" Elysia questioned.

"That's an interesting question," Kevin mused. "But I'm not sure if you can consider the Cocoon of Finality your 'mother.'"

She then asked various questions about Honkai and why it wants to destroy civilizations.

"Well, regarding that question, even I'm not entirely sure, but I can speculate two possibilities:

Think of the Honkai as a cosmic gardener—one that prunes the overgrown branches of existence, allowing new growth to emerge. It seeks to maintain balance by periodically resetting the world.

And the other is Since the Imaginary Tree is of an Imaginary nature, it might want to guide humans along a specific path so they can evolve into a similar existence. Or perhaps it desires for humans to embrace the Honkai."

Elysia processed his words, her mind racing. "And now a new Herrscher of Finality will emerge and the entity will reset the civilization ," she murmured, feeling the gravity of the situation.

Kevin nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, and Finality will pose a significant threat. But I promise you, Elysia, I'll do everything in my power to fight against the Honkai."

Elysia looked up at Kevin, seeing the depth of his commitment. She felt a mix of emotions.

"We'll face it together," she said softly, her voice filled with determination.

Together, they sat in silence, looking up at the starry night as Elysia rested on his lap while Kevin was again in deep thinking..

A/N~ it took too long to think and write this chapter.