LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 403: Fu Hua's Memories
"Hua?"
A girl's voice echoed in the darkness, distant yet close. The blackness rippled, then dissipated with the encroaching sunlight.
"Hua~ What are you spacing out for?"
A clear voice, close by, dispelled the remaining shadows. Kiana opened her eyes, blinking against the sudden brightness.
As her vision adjusted, she found herself standing on a sidewalk, surrounded by bustling streets and pedestrians. And a girl with a bright smile.
"Hua~ If you're bored shopping with me, just say so. Don't fall asleep in the middle of the street." Despite the playful complaint, the girl's eyes twinkled with amusement.
"Uh, I was just thinking about something," Kiana replied vaguely, unsure of the situation.
"Oh dear, my dearest Hua. It's your day off. Forget about work. Come on, let's get you some new clothes."
The pink-haired girl grabbed Kiana's hand, pulling her along.
Kiana's thoughts began to clear as she looked at the girl's back.
Unfamiliar architecture, not like Shenzhou at all. And these clothes… I've never seen them before.
A faint dizziness lingered, her memory fragmented. But she remembered arriving at Mount Taixu with Ren, seeking a way to awaken Fu Hua.
This disorientation was likely a side effect of the Fenghuang Down's power. She'd successfully entered Fu Hua's memory.
She looked down at her flat chest, the simple training clothes rustling as she walked.
So I've been placed directly into Sempai's past.
Relieved the Divine Key hadn't malfunctioned, Kiana focused on finding the key to awakening Fu Hua.
But who was this cheerful girl?
Fu Hua never spoke about her past. Before the Herrscher of Void incident, Kiana knew nothing about her.
Judging by the girl's mention of an "organization," and her friendly demeanor, she must have been Fu Hua's comrade, a friend.
"Here we are~"
They stopped in front of a clothing store. The pink-haired girl seemed to be a regular, leading Kiana inside.
"Welcome, Elysia-sama." The staff greeted them, confirming Kiana's guess and revealing the girl's name.
Elysia.
"Oh, no need for formalities. Just Elysia is fine." Elysia waved her hand dismissively. "I'm here with my friend today to buy her some new clothes. We'll browse on our own."
"Certainly."
Clearly not the first time Elysia had done this, she led Kiana to the second floor, where high-end women's clothing was displayed.
An air of luxury permeated the area. Even on mannequins, the fashionable clothes looked stunning.
"This is a clothing store Eden invested in. She designed many of these outfits herself."
"Eden?" Kiana knew an Eden, but this wasn't the one from ARC City.
"Yes, besides being a brilliant musician, she's also a world-class designer. I'll have her make you a custom outfit sometime."
Elysia stopped at a display, a mannequin wearing an elegant gown.
"Come here, Hua. Stand in front of the mannequin. Let's see if it suits you… hmm, I don't think gowns are your style."
"Oh~ This one looks promising."
"And this… how about this one?"
Elysia dragged Kiana around, trying on various outfits. But nothing seemed to suit Fu Hua's temperament.
Finally, they stopped in front of a qipao.
"Wow, this is it, Hua!" Elysia exclaimed.
Kiana looked at the dark blue silk dress, its intricate gold trim hinting at elegance. Two cloth buttons fastened at the neck, the slit revealing just the right amount of leg.
Even Kiana, with no fashion sense, could see how stunning Fu Hua would look in it.
"Try it on!" Elysia urged.
"..." Kiana was speechless. She was here to find a way to awaken Fu Hua, not go shopping.
And why would Fu Hua leave behind such a memory?
As she hesitated, an alarm blared from her pocket. She instinctively pulled out the communicator, a moth icon flashing red on the screen.
"Such bad timing. Guess we can't get you that new dress today." Elysia's cheerful demeanor faltered.
"Is it a Honkai eruption?" Kiana guessed.
"Yes. In this era, what's more important than the Honkai?"
Elysia quickly recovered, smiling again. "Let's go back to base. Don't worry, I'll have them hold this dress for you. We'll come back for it later."
They rushed back to the Moth base, where a helicopter awaited.
High above, Kiana looked down at the city. High walls surrounded it, dotted with countless anti-air turrets and other defensive measures.
She'd thought it was just a unique, bustling city. Now, seeing the military installations, she realized this was a world at war with the Honkai.
As they flew towards the outskirts, the smell of burning reached her. She stood up, approaching the window, then froze.
Scorched earth. Desolation. Ruins.
The landscape was scarred, the very earth cracked and blackened.
She looked back at the city, its protective walls now resembling a prison.