"Sister Sandoval… and Qin Yu."
As the atmosphere in the courtyard grew tense, a calm maiden's voice suddenly cut through the air.
Qin Yu and Sandoval's expressions shifted slightly.
They both turned towards the source of the voice.
"What secrets were you whispering about?"
From the shadows beneath the eaves, an elegant and stunning figure emerged.
Columbina smiled, tilting her head gently.
She stood in the warm sunlight, a picture of quiet, beautiful grace.
Her skin was exceptionally pale.
"Sister Columbina."
Sandoval's beautiful eyes widened, a flicker of surprise and worry crossing them.
She could sense Columbina's currently poor physical condition.
No matter what, she couldn't let Qin Yu…!
"I'm fine."
Columbina softly approached Sandoval and gently rubbed her cheek with a smile.
She was like a neighborly elder sister returning home.
"I'm not a child anymore!"
Sandoval puffed out her cheeks, indignantly trying to push Columbina's hand away.
"You always said that when you were little too."
Columbina's smile deepened, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.
She looked at the silent Qin Yu and smiled.
"Now that we have the chance, let me tell you some amusing stories from when Sandoval was young."
"Don't try to change the subject."
Qin Yu, however, shook his head, his gaze fixed on the maiden's beautiful face.
This was not the time for casual chat.
What was this curse Sandoval had mentioned?
"Ah… so you were talking about the curse."
Columbina's long eyelashes fluttered as she murmured.
Even though Qin Yu had made his intentions clear, a faint smile still graced her face.
She seemed to have already come to terms with it.
The maiden raised her pale hand.
"!"
Qin Yu's pupils contracted. He suddenly felt an icy chill pierce him.
His gaze instinctively fell upon the maiden's slender hand.
In the sunlight, a deep, icy blue glimmered.
The source of the chill was in Columbina's hand, a small…
"Gnosis."
Qin Yu took a deep breath, his tone grave.
The Gnosis in Columbina's hand was exceptionally powerful, even containing divine power.
Was this the trump card of the third-ranked Fatui Harbinger?
"This Gnosis contains the divine power of the Cryo Archon."
Columbina said softly, then retracted the Gnosis.
"Its existence will help me suppress the curse and slightly delay the fate of the Aranara, who are destined to eventually dissipate."
She gently covered her chest, as if stating something commonplace.
"Sister Columbina… you won't."
Sandoval shook her head, tightly grasping the maiden's cold, pale hand.
"Aranara."
Qin Yu murmured, his eyes filled with recollection.
He remembered the resonance that occurred in the dream world when he first met Columbina.
The world would collapse, and nothing would remain.
The only surviving Aranara maiden chose…
"And I, owing to the Empress's grace, naturally promised to help her achieve her ideals."
"…And to complete my own story."
Having said this, the maiden raised her delicate face, facing Qin Yu.
She seemed to be waiting for his response and questions.
"A curse? Perhaps I can…"
Qin Yu pondered for a moment, about to speak.
If the world in Columbina's memory had been destroyed, then what was the current world?
Was it a "fake"?
"Aranara afflicted by a curse cannot love… they cannot get too close to men. Stay away from my sister."
Sandoval pushed Qin Yu away, frowning.
"It will only slightly accelerate the process of dissipation; the outcome will not change."
Columbina, with a warm smile, spoke a chilling truth.
"I'm sorry."
Qin Yu shook his head, indicating he meant no harm.
"It's alright even if we get a little closer."
Columbina smiled, reaching out to comfort Sandoval.
"We have both embarked on our journey. Before the final destiny arrives, let us do more things."
"Let us experience it together, and then record it, regardless of the outcome."
She said softly, as if she had long since accepted her fate.
Lingering in place pointlessly was merely self-consolation.
After meeting Qin Yu, Columbina had made a decision.
Qin Yu was special to this world.
To witness the ending, even if she were to completely dissipate…
"Is this why you wanted to record our story?"
Qin Yu's voice was calm.
Columbina nodded gently.
"Perhaps there is still a way."
Qin Yu looked at the pale-skinned maiden, his eyes flickering.
To arbitrarily record their story, and then want to hide away alone, abandoning it all?
Just because of some so-called destiny?
Who decreed it, the Heavenly Principles?
He disagreed.
"You…"
Columbina sensed Qin Yu's gaze, and her previously calm heart stirred with other emotions.
Knowing what destiny meant, yet still wanting to grasp it…
Qin Yu, you are truly special.
At that moment.
"Yes, he has a way."
A gentle voice sounded from behind Qin Yu.
"?"
Qin Yu was slightly startled and instinctively turned his head.
In the sunlight, a gentle, stunning woman with a mature, wife-like aura appeared.
It was Qin Yu's beloved, the Great Tree King, Madam.
"You've been out for so long, is it just to go on dates with two girls?"
The Great Tree King approached Qin Yu, feigning dissatisfaction.
It seemed energetic children needed to do more homework.
"I'm not, I haven't."
Qin Yu shook his head, a thought dawning on him.
The Great Tree King, as the first Dendro Archon, was also a priestess of the forest.
Could she also help with the curse…?
Before he could speak, a gentle voice echoed in his mind.
"You were thinking of me just now?"
"But this time, you should solve it yourself."
It was a family voice.
Qin Yu nodded outwardly, contemplating inwardly.
The Great Tree King's words only strengthened his conviction.
He could do it, using the power of the Irminsul…
Working on a thesis with Madam, he had progressed rapidly.
Qin Yu was now, in a way, a half-administrator of Irminsul.
It was just that due to Sky Island's surveillance, he hadn't connected to the Ley Line database yet.
…
Sandoval and the Great Tree King departed.
Columbina fell silent. Only she and Qin Yu remained.
Suddenly, warmth spread through her hand.
Her eyelashes fluttered, and she instinctively raised her face.
In her perception, Qin Yu's presence drew closer.
"Regarding that curse, let me try to suppress it."
He took Columbina's small hand and said softly.
At the same time, a rich life aura gathered, emitting a verdant glow.
"Why do you still possess the power of the Dendro Archon?"
Columbina's lips parted slightly. Her surprise grew.
This warm, life-giving aura was more suitable for suppressing the curse's erosion than the Cryo Archon's power.
But how could Qin Yu…
"A realization from working on a thesis with a certain Madam."
Qin Yu said helplessly. Those who understand, understand.
Columbina: "?"