Inside the Sea of Quanta.
"Why... why isn't he in this world either..."
Seele had just escaped from yet another bubble universe.
So-called "bubble universes" were fragments of possibility—worlds that had fallen from the Imaginary Tree into the Sea of Quanta. Each bubble was a reflection of the real world and represented a different possibility.
The Previous Era's "Valuka Project" used the Second Divine Key to observe these infinite parallel worlds, hoping to find a way to defeat the Honkai from among them.
A method beyond the Stigmata Project...
Because bubble universes mirrored the real world, one could often encounter people there who looked exactly like those from the original timeline.
But even with the same appearance and genes, differing life experiences would naturally lead to entirely different paths. A person from a bubble universe wasn't the same as their counterpart from the real world.
For example, in the original world, Bronya might have twin drills, while in some bubble she might have three—or even four.
Real-world Mei was a cooking queen. Bubble Mei? She might never even touch a frying pan.
And Kiana in the real world might be a grasshopper—but in a bubble universe, she could be an unrivaled genius... though, well, that last one still felt far-fetched.
"This world doesn't have Papa Elias either... why? Why is it like this..."
Seele's eyes were filled with exhaustion and confusion.
She turned back to glance at the bubble she had just left. It was the 31st one she had entered over the past year.
(Seele, you need to rest.)
Inside her mental space, Dark Seele frowned in concern. But Seele only shook her head stubbornly.
"No... I have to find Papa Elias. He has to be somewhere in this world."
(You're so stubborn... Ugh! If only we could get more info out of that snake, maybe there'd be another way.)
"Uh, Seele thinks... maybe we should forget about that. That big snake always talks so... strangely."
Seele chose her words carefully, revealing just how kind and gentle she truly was.
After entering the Sea of Quanta, she had been adrift in a void until the shadow of a great serpent appeared and pulled her out.
They hadn't spoken much, but Seele had the distinct sense that the serpent was always watching her.
Still, that wasn't important.
(I will find Papa Elias, no matter what!)
One year ago, through the X-10 Experiment—
Seele had willingly cast herself into the Sea of Quanta.
Unlike the original storyline, this version of events was not the result of an accident. She had wanted to enter this space.
Why? Because the image of Elias disappearing after his space-time journey had looked too much like a person falling into the Sea of Quanta.
So she misunderstood.
And ever since gaining the ability to move freely in the Sea of Quanta, Seele hadn't stopped searching for him.
She didn't know how vast this place truly was.
She didn't even know if Elias was really here.
But as long as she hadn't found him—
Seele Vollerei would never stop searching.
Her determination left Dark Seele silently awestruck. Who would've thought the usually tearful, gentle White Seele—the one who hated hurting anyone—had such a tenacious will?
Yet despite all their efforts, they had made no progress. Only one strange discovery stood out:
No matter which bubble universe they entered—
They could never find a version of Elias.
"I can find people who look just like Bronya, Cocolia, Rosalia, and Liliya in these worlds... so why is there never anyone who looks like Papa Elias?"
Seele couldn't help but question it.
She wasn't a fool. After spending so long in the Sea of Quanta, having personally explored over thirty bubble universes, she'd gained at least a rough understanding of how this place worked.
Though she still didn't fully understand where she was, she had some good guesses—remnants of a sci-fi movie Elias had once shown them.
To her, these bubble universes felt just like the parallel worlds described in that movie.
At first, Seele had mistaken the familiar faces in those worlds for the real people she knew. But after some interactions, she quickly realized they weren't the ones from her memories.
Still, she had hoped to meet a version of Elias in a bubble universe. After all, even knowing he wasn't the real one, who wouldn't be curious about alternate versions of someone they love?
At least, Seele definitely was.
But as she explored more and more bubble universes—
She never found anyone who looked like Elias. It was as if he were truly one of a kind.
A being so unique that no alternate version of him existed.
Seele couldn't understand why, but she had no one to ask either... not even the giant serpent that had once rescued her. Whenever she asked it questions, it would only respond with silence or cryptic nonsense.
It left her even more confused every time.
Dark Seele had also expressed her frustration—saying that every time the serpent spoke, her blood pressure spiked. She constantly wanted to punch it and yell: "Can you just speak clearly for once?! Even a mute would be easier to understand!"
"There's another world over there. Next, I'll..."
(Stop! Seele, you really need to rest. You've been going nonstop for three days. You're at your limit.)
"But... I can't stop yet. I haven't found... Papa Elias."
(You can barely stand! At this rate, your body will give out before you ever find him! Is that what you want? For him to see you like this?!)
"...Sorry, other me... for worrying you. I understand. I'll rest for a bit."
(Hmph, that's more like it. Be sure to find a—)
"Right after I check this world, I'll go rest."
(You IDIOT!!!)
Dark Seele screamed inside their mental space. How had she never noticed how stubborn this girl could be? Just how much do you love that man?
The answer:
Hopelessly.
From the moment Elias had rescued her—an almost lifeless girl lying in the snow—and brought her back to the House of the Hearth, Seele Vollerei had fallen completely, deeply in love.
She wanted to hear his songs again.
She wanted him to pat her head again.
She wanted to feel his hugs again.
She wanted to go to the beach with him again!
Those sweet, happy memories had become her strength, supporting this timid, tearful girl as she crossed bubble after bubble in search of any trace of Elias.
"Other me, you want to find Papa Elias too, right? I can feel it... since we're one and the same, I know it—you love him too, don't you?"
(...)
Dark Seele went silent.
She clenched her tiny fists, refusing to answer—but her silence said everything.
Yes, of course she loved him too.
After all, when she was first born... even White Seele had feared and rejected her.
She was, at her core, a demon born from every negative emotion of that angelic girl. Inherently evil, inherently dark, inherently malicious.
And yet, despite that, Elias had accepted her without hesitation. As if it were only natural, he treated her and Seele equally, offering his love and kindness without distinction.
Even the peaceful relationship she now shared with Seele was thanks to Elias' efforts. Without his mediation, White Seele would probably still fear and reject her.
(Hmph! I never said I liked him. And now, Seele, hand over the body. You go rest—I'll explore this next world.)
"Other me..."
Hearing that, Seele was both touched and finally convinced to rest. Maybe she really had reached her limit.
She had gone three full days and nights without sleep. Her body, completely worn down, was constantly sending her signals to stop, that it couldn't match her will anymore.
If it were just her, Seele would've pushed forward until she collapsed. But to make Dark Seele bear the strain of this body? No—she wouldn't allow that either.
So she decided to rest.
Because Seele Vollerei was that kind of girl.
Too kind.
She'd push herself, but never someone else. Not even her other self, not even when they shared the same soul. In her eyes, Dark Seele was the most important person in the world—besides Elias.
But just as she was about to find a safe spot to rest her eyes—
"Seele—!!"
A voice echoed across the Sea of Quanta, calling her name.
Like thunder rolling across the sea.
"!!!" x2
The drowsy Seele snapped awake, eyes wide, spinning toward the source of the sound.
"Seele, did you hear that?!"
(No doubt about it—it's Father's voice!)
No doubt!
There was no mistaking it!
That was the voice of the one she cherished most!
"Papa Elias!"
Tears welled up in Seele's eyes.
But she quickly wiped them away—because tears would blur her vision, and she wanted to see him clearly.
Far off in the distance, a white light streaked toward her—a pure white shooting star blazing across the Sea of Quanta.
And when he came close enough for her to make out his face—
"Is that really you, Papa Elias?!"
(No doubt. We've found him—finally, we've found him!)
His appearance had changed—from a mature man in his thirties to a handsome young man in his late teens. But how could they possibly mistake him?
Seele trembled with excitement.
Her instincts urged her to rush forward and throw herself into his arms, to hold him tightly and never let go.
But fear and doubt gripped her heart—what if it was just an illusion?
If this was a dream, touching him might make it vanish.
If she didn't move... at least she could look at him a little longer.
But in the next moment—
"I finally found you, Seele!"
Elias flew toward her.
And wrapped her tightly in his arms.
So tightly that it actually hurt a little.
But that slight pain was proof—it wasn't a dream. This was real. He was real.
"Thank goodness... It's not an illusion. This isn't a dream. Waaaah... Elias... Elias, I missed you so much!!"
"Me too, Seele... I finally found you. I won't leave again. From now on, we'll always be together. Ah, you've gotten so thin... once we're home, I'm going to cook so much for you. Seele, my Seele..."
Elias felt so heartbroken it was almost physically painful.
He could already tell how terrible Seele's condition was—her body running on nothing but pure willpower. Without hesitation, he activated the Herrscher of Death's Authority to begin healing and restoring her.
"I'm so glad... I'm really, really glad..."
Tears streamed down Seele's face, glistening as they slid across her cheeks.
Even in their shared mental space, Dark Seele shed tears of joy. The ever-proud and aloof girl now cried openly, warmed by Elias' embrace as if his presence alone could melt them both.
"It's alright now. Everything's going to be alright, Seele."
"Papa Elias... I finally... finally—huh?"
Seele suddenly collapsed into his arms.
Her head felt heavy, her vision blurred. No matter how hard she tried to keep her eyes open, her eyelids felt like two massive doors falling shut.
"Silly girl... you've pushed yourself too far."
"Seele... isn't tired... just wants to keep looking at you... just a little longer..."
"You can look for as long as you want. We have all the time in the world now. But for now, sleep. It's okay—I'm here. I won't leave again."
"Mhm... then Seele... won't let go again either..."
"Sweet girl... haah~"
Seele fell into a deep sleep.
Her consciousness sank like a pebble into the sea, but it was a sea she was happy to drift in—
Even if she never woke again, she'd be okay.
And Dark Seele was the same. Slumped in her red chair, she too drifted off to sleep, lips curled in a rare peaceful smile.
Elias gently stroked Seele's hair.
He didn't know what kind of hardship she had endured, or how much effort she had poured into searching for him. But it couldn't have been easy—not when she had wandered alone through the perilous Sea of Quanta for over a year.
Just the thought of it made his chest ache.
The two of them remained there, held tightly in each other's arms. Elias carefully adjusted her position so she could sleep more comfortably, softly singing the healing version of "Deep Sea Girl," the lullaby she loved.
At the same time, he used the Herrscher of Death's Authority to heal her body, the Herrscher of Fire's power to keep her warm, and the Herrscher of Wind's power to silence all noise around them.
...
A long time later—
"Papa Elias... how long did I sleep?"
"Hm? Not sure... maybe an hour or two."
"Really? That's not too bad."
Seele let out a sigh of relief.
If it had only been a couple of hours, then maybe she hadn't troubled him too much.
But the truth was, Elias' embrace had been so comfortable that she had slept for two full days and a night. And during all that time, Elias hadn't moved an inch—afraid that any motion might disturb the angel in his arms.
He affectionately ruffled Seele's hair.
At the same time, he subtly rubbed his lower back.
"Hm? Papa Elias, why's your neck all red?"
"Ahem—nothing, I just... slept funny."
As soon as Seele asked, Elias quickly rubbed at his neck, trying to hide the red marks.
Even in her sleep, Seele had clung to him tightly—like she was afraid he might disappear again.
Even though she'd been too exhausted to stand, even though she had fallen into a deep sleep—
The strength in Seele's arms never loosened, not even once. It was as if only by physically prying her arms apart could one separate her from Elias.
...
Elias and Seele gazed at each other.
Neither of them knew how to begin speaking.
Seele had imagined this reunion countless times. She had even talked with her other self about what she should say when they finally met again.
Elias, on the other hand, looked at her with mixed emotions. In just a year, Seele's presence had changed so much—she had matured, grown stronger.
But she was still just as endearing.
"Seele... I've come to take you home."
He hesitated a moment before finally saying it.
"Mm! Let's go home, Papa Elias."
Seele nodded, crying tears of joy.
In that moment, she realized—
Words didn't really matter anymore.
Because just having him beside her again was enough.
That was more than enough.
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