故事模式剧情详表 (移动版)/Final Verdict
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F-1
解锁条件：购入Final Verdict曲包
解锁要求：解锁Infinite Strife,
在那一瞬间，她能被人所记起。那样就足够了。
白色的火焰，在红色少女的身中熊熊燃起。其中的力量，足以让世界都为之臣服。她操控着这道火焰，
让它们环绕着自己，同时开始思考事情为何会发展至如此地步。她的敌人此刻也停了下来。
整场战斗迎来了短暂的沉寂。
然而这并没有结束，上方的天空，仍在显著地破裂着。
这一切，只是因为她触碰到了事情原有的模样：
那一刻，当死亡的呼声充斥于脑海中时，她也没有因此而惧怕。
即便如此，“死亡”也不会是她想看到的结局。现在的她，依然拒绝向其屈服。
在破碎的天际下方，虚无的山谷之中，白色少女身上不断流落着鲜血，然而那血滴却根本无法波及地面。
远方，只剩下一座矗立的高塔，那是某个荒废教堂的钟楼。它横亘于天际与少女之间，
如同一条醒目的分界线一般。
结局，就要来了，就如同我们曾看到的一样。
这就是宿命吗？
上方的天际之间，星光在不断闪烁着。而被撕裂的帷幕后方，黑暗也在不时涌动着。
只是，她还察觉得到这些吗？她还会在乎这些吗？
眼前的视界逐渐变得越来越迟钝，直到最后完全静止。当炽热的鲜血流尽，双瞳也失去了神色。
对立很清楚，那样的双眼，已经注定她将时日无多。她咽下一口口水，
以此浸润着早已干裂的舌头与喉咙。然后她看向对方的双眼——
少女一语不发，却依然坚定着誓要反抗的决心。
“空虚”充斥着光的内心。不过，这不是对立从少女无言的凝视中所看见的那种空虚，
那并不是无力的空虚感。相反，有一股坚定的信念在其中蓄势待发，
那是光永远不会被磨灭的信念：她要“活下去”——
少女一语不发，却依然坚定着誓要活下去的决心。
对立疯狂地冲向对方。
整个世界都试图阻止着她前行。然而现在的她，如同脱缰的野兽般拒绝着阻止她脚步的一切。
纵使这股力量不断撕扯着她的皮肤，她也绝不会停下。
黑色野兽的獠牙，此刻已经直直伸向了站在大地之上的白色野兽。而对方，也将头转了过来。
然而，就在对立接触大地的那一瞬间，整个世界就如同上下颠倒一般。掉落的玻璃刚发出嘈杂的声响，
下一秒就立刻反向飞出。她的手臂甚至一时失去了知觉，但她咬牙坚持了下来。
她勉强把膝盖伸直，却发现下方突然闪过一道光芒——那是一道白色的火焰，
透过碎片之间向上猛然窜出。对立急忙向后退去。
眼前的一切，瞬间化为火海。
周遭的世界，再度天旋地转。
如此频繁的颠倒让对立感到浑身难受，但她很快就遏制住不适感并站稳步伐。
白色少女再一次悄无声息地靠近，而那道苍白的火焰犹如围巾般缠绕并灼烧着对立的肩膀。
对立不得不再次后退。
就这样，玻璃在世界的颠倒中不断上下起伏。四散的碎片，逐渐如棱镜般环绕着对立的身影。
她再次看向光的双眸。光并没有回以眼神，只是静静看着她所打造的这个牢笼。
接着，她低声说了些什么，但是……
……那并不是黑色少女想听到的话。
对立攥紧拳头打碎了这其中一块坚固的玻璃，并起手瞄准光的喉咙。
光抬起头看向对方的那只手，而下一秒——
七彩的光芒透过破碎的玻璃喷涌而出，
连带着时间也停止了下来。
For a moment, she was remembered. That was enough.
The world bowed to the girl marked by red, as white fire rose from her body. Now cloaked in flames
that will not burn without her say, she wonders why this has come to pass. Her foe was stopped. The
battle, for a moment, was stopped. And there is more. Above there is more.
All because she has touched on what once was; when faced with the thought of dying, she was not afraid.
However, dying was also the last thing that she wanted. And still, now, she refuses to die.
Now, in a valley of nothing, beneath a sundered sky, her blood falls but does not strike the ground. Only
beyond here can a single tower be seen: the bell tower of a hollow church, jutting there between the
divide as if to mark it for those below.
The conclusion approaches now. It was expected.
Was it fate?
Now, there is starlight in the heavens. The veil is rent, and the darkness behind it is glittering. Is it within
her notice? Does that matter? The pictures have slowed, and stopped. The fall of the firmament has
slowed, and stopped. Her blood is hot. Her eyes are dull.
And Tairitsu knows: despite their dullness, those eyes promise "demise". She knows. She swallows what
little spit dampens her otherwise dried-out tongue and throat. She meets those eyes. Wordlessly, she
vows to defy them.
In Hikari's heart, "emptiness" threatens. However, it isn't the emptiness that Tairitsu can view through
the silent girl's stare. "Will" lurks, but not in weakness. There is a sincere will to survive, unkillable in
Hikari's soul. It will not perish. Wordlessly, she vows to live.
Tairitsu moves forth like a dragon.
The world holds her back, and still, like an untamable beast, she resists. Is this atmosphere? It is force—
ripping at her skin, and yet she drives forward still, to the true beast standing on the earth. That beast
turns her head.
The world seems to turn on its side, and at once Tairitsu meets the ground. Glass falls in a tumultuous
clatter, splashing and scattering and flying out. She cannot feel her arm for a moment, but forces it to
return to recognition. She drags herself onto her knees, and spots a white tongue of flame flashing
through the shards beneath her. She flies backward then.
The earth is set ablaze.
The world turns again.
Her stomach lurches with motion, though she soon stops and stands still.
And with no warning, before her stands the girl in white, a scarf of flames of the same the same pale
color burning over shoulders.
Once again, Tairitsu makes to retreat.
Glass flies up—and down—to ensnare her, forming a great prism around her body. Her body trembles
once before not moving at all.
And so again, she looks into Hikari's eyes. Hikari does not look back. She looks only into the cage she's
made.
And, she whispers something, but...
...it is nothing that the girl in black wants to hear.
Tairitsu's grasp shatters through the rough glass, aimed at Hikari's open neck. Hikari lifts her eyes to
the hand.
Seven colors ring out, and the flow of time goes still.
F-2
解锁条件：完成F-1，购入Final Verdict曲包
解锁要求：解锁World Ender
这种情况先前肯定也发生过。
这种抗拒的方式，这种似曾相识的感觉——
光能感觉到周围的一切都在远离自己。
时光仍处于冰封之中，她的心情也低沉到了冰点。现在的她，只想让自己就此打住。
这种想法不是因为光的本性有多么善良。
她只是不在乎罢了。这种刻进骨子里的冷漠，才是她一直以来的样子。
她以前肯定也有过这种想法。
在她的内心深处，有两股思绪正在相互斗争。
——我无法这么做。
——我必须这么做。
这种围绕“应该”还是“不应该”的情感对抗正变得越来越强烈。
但她能感受到内心深处还有一丝火焰在微微颤动。
显然，再激烈的斗争，也无法抹灭她内心真正的希望。
对立被定格在光的面前，她的面容与伸出的手因为愤怒而变得扭曲。周围的虹光，
因为破碎而弥漫于空气之中。对立动弹不得，光亦是如此。
光内心的希望告诉她：“等时间恢复之时，只要把她推得远远的就不可能再打了吧？”
只要能停止战斗，就不会再有谁因此丧命。她开始思考这种想法的可行性。
这应该行得通。希望犹存，则应该有其存在的意义。
时光再次流动了起来，而对立也在一瞬间被推往远处教堂的大门之后。她呼唤碎片撕裂了门栏上的铰链，
然后一股脑将门上的一根铁杆抓了下来。
她很快就明白了对面那头野兽当下的意图。
她叫来了周围能找来的全部玻璃碎片，并将它们送往空中，任凭那些碎片闪烁而反射着周围的景象。
就这样，她很快便找到了光的身影。随后，她开始撼动着脚下的大地。世界的核心，
连带着地壳都开始变得扭曲，只剩下光站在地上做着无声的抵抗。
她能感觉到对立深深的执念。那是要夺走这一切的执念，无论地点，无论手段，她心意已决。
哈，这就是所谓的希望吗。
她笑出声。
什么“希望”，早就不复存在。
阻隔在她们视线之间的一切全部灰飞烟灭，甚至她们自己也已经分不清是谁下的手。教堂的阴影下，
破败的大门前，她们就这样面对面看着彼此。
光脸上露出一丝轻蔑的微笑，她再一次告诉对立：“我说你啊……你并不需要做到这种地步。”
那并不是黑色少女想听到的话。
This has surely happened before.
This refusal. This—
Hikari can feel everything trying to tear away from her.
In this frozen moment she can feel herself wanting to stop.
From that feeling, frustration threatens to build.
Because the sentiment asking for her to stop all this is not kindness, but lack of care: a frightening and
deeply seated apathy. This is what she always had. This profound indifference—she must have felt
it before.
Within her soul, two wills are at war.
I can't, she thinks.
I have to, she thinks.
And these thoughts—they fight against those building sentiments of "should" and "shouldn't".
But she feels a fire flickering in the depths of her heart; yes, her true wishes are much too strong to lose.
Hikari stands before Tairitsu, whose hand is out and whose face is contorted with rage. Around them,
a rainbow has been torn apart and is bleeding through the air. Tairitsu cannot move. Hikari cannot move.
Inside of her, hope asks, "When you bring back time, can't you just push her far away?" Her will-to-be
considers it.
That's fair, she thinks. Hope can't be a worthless thing.
The world begins to move again, and Tairitsu is sent, in an instant, behind that distant chapel's gates.
Her impassioned grasp closes around one of its bars, and glass comes to help her tear the metal
construct from its hinges. At once, she realizes what game the beast has played. She takes hold of
whatever other glass can be found around her, and sends it all to the air, each flickering and each
reflecting. She finds Hikari soon, and then she moves the earth.
Things twist beneath that earth, and within the world's fabric, as Hikari plants down her foot in quiet
rebellion. In a sudden but frightening way, she realizes that Tairitsu still has the aim—and the means—
to take away all of this. So, to hope?
She chuckles.
She already knew that hope was gone.
The space between them warps. Which of them asked for this, neither can tell. They face each other
behind the broken gate, within the shadow of that cathedral.
And, with a smile, Hikari repeats herself. She tells Tairitsu, easily, "I said... you don't have to do this."
It is nothing that the girl in black wants to hear.
F-3
解锁条件：完成F-2，购入Final Verdict曲包
解锁要求：解锁Pentiment或Arcana Eden
“我不需要做到这种地步？你在跟我开玩笑吗？”
对立继续说道。
“你根本不知道自己为什么会来到这里。不如说除了我之外，还有人知道吗？”
“我不需要做到这种地步？没错啊，本来什么都不会发生的，这破地方根本就没什么意义。你懂吗？
你根本就不懂，你什么都不知道。”
“我已经受够了。你以为我想来这种地方吗？”
“这种毫无意义的故事，我是主角还是反派……都已经无所谓了。
或许，这场故事要做的……就是要你命丧于此。”
“你说得对，我不需要做到这种地步。”
“那你一开始就不应该那么做。”
……她的话语，犹如沉重的巨石般，试图压倒眼前的光。
而对光而言，这些话只能用“疯了”来形容。
如今，她感觉到自己和眼前这位少女似乎已经联系在了一起……但对方的内心里只有无尽的疯狂。
对立也明白自己的心智已经陷入疯狂，但她已经不在乎了。事已至此，已经没有什么可以失去了，
也不会再有什么可以得到了。
她最后一次开口说道：“如果你还想活下去，那就来杀了我。”
“但在那之前，我要告诉你……”
“我只求一死。”
她的决心与杀气尽在言语之中。
对立的体内充满了力量，她的双手蓄势待发。
无论如何，她都必须要结束这一切。
在这股情绪的引导下，她召唤来双方都还未曾掌握过的碎片。
那是天空破裂之后的碎片。随着它们开始下坠，天际也逐渐堕入深渊。
"What 'has' to be done? Are you joking?" says Tairitsu.
"You don't know why you're here, do you? Does anyone, other than me?"
"What has to be done? You're right: nothing has to happen. Nothing in this place matters, and you... you
don't even understand. You don't know anything."
"I've kept it up long enough. Do you think I care to be here? You know, honestly, maybe I'm the 'hero' of
this worthless story. Maybe I'm its 'villain'."
"Whether I am, whether I'm not... Honestly, whatever; it doesn't really matter. Maybe... you ought to die."
"You're right. I don't have to do this."
"Neither did you."
...The words, pointed as they are, seem to roll out of her like smooth and heavy stones, bowling over and
through Hikari before her.
To Hikari, it sounds only like insanity. She feels now like she and the other girl have been connected...
but all that's in the other girl's mind is madness.
Tairitsu knows that her mind is madness. And what of it, she thinks? It has been driven there. There is
nothing to lose and nothing to gain.
She speaks one final time, saying, "If you want to live, then kill me."
"But you should know this first..."
"I want to die."
Her words are sincere, and her sincerity and wickedness are manifested. Might fills Tairitsu's stomach
and burns into her hands.
She will force the ending now, no matter what it will be.
With that sentiment guiding her, she calls upon the shards to which neither girl has laid claim:
The fragmented segments of the sky. They begin to fall, and the horizon darkens.
F-4
解锁条件：完成F-3，购入Final Verdict曲包
解锁要求：解锁Pentiment和Arcana Eden
光无法控制一切。
事实上，她在取得主导权后不久便失去了控制。
这就像是一场拔河比赛……
不，倒不如说这是一次挣扎——
或者说是单方面的压制。
天空塌了下来，其中一部分砸落在大教堂之上，并瞬间扬起无数的尘土，而这一切就发生在她身旁。
这绝不会是巧合。
随着越来越多的碎片铺天盖地地砸向地面，光也明白了——对立，已经掌控了整个天空。
这太荒谬了，荒谬到难以置信。
整个世界变得天昏地暗。碎片与狂风交织在一起，杂乱无章而又遍布各地。面对着混乱的碎片，
她伸手一指将它们化为苍白的火焰燃烧殆尽。
她也可以掌控天空的一部分。就在对立将整个世界都砸向她时，她也会接住这一切并还以颜色。
眼前的景象完全就是灾难，就好像是泰坦巨人从天而降肆意践踏着大地一般。
而在那白色的风暴中，有一些光无法干涉的黑色碎片正从远处被召唤而来。那是被对立掌控的碎片，
那是光无法主导的一切。
在她回击之时，周遭的地面、建筑、大门无不为之震动，甚至她的牙齿都为之发颤。她站稳脚跟，
然而战栗感依旧从指尖传到了全身。
她们上方的大教堂因为无数碎片的摧残而发出沉闷的低鸣。但大教堂依旧屹立不倒，而她也绝不会倒下。
……她本可以阻止这一切。她曾经有那样的机会。
伴随着猛烈的心跳，她眯起眼睛思考着——
接下来要崩溃的，会是这个世界的核心吗？这就是那名少女的目的，不是吗？
她努力不让眼前的景象彻底分崩离析，同时拼命思考着该如何阻止对方，但就在这时——
她突然感到胸口透不过气来。 一群Arcaea从黑暗中飞奔而出，如同锋利的锁链般捆住了她的胸口。
她急忙用火焰将它们烧成灰烬，可是很快就会有新的锁链缠绕住她。
她的双臂很快也被束缚。她努力地转过头去，却发现自己双脚到双腿全都无一幸免。
最后，连她的腹部也被缠紧。她不断召唤火焰，不惜整个身体都遍布于火焰之中，
可碎片很快就会再次缠绕住她。
束缚着她的全身的，是那些充满悲伤的记忆。
如同讽刺般悲伤的记忆。
光艰难地解开了双脚的束缚，却发现对立已经向她靠近。
她向后退了一步，却发现身后暗藏了一块尖锐的碎片，而它已经瞄准了光刚被解开束缚的四肢。
情急之下，她双眼紧盯着那片玻璃，企图用意念将其烧毁。
但那片玻璃不为所动。
她很快又被捆住，然后跪倒在地上动弹不得。
说不定还有一条出路。
或许曾经有一条出路——
在某一个时间点，她还能有一线生机？
光思索着抬起头，发现对立一动不动地站在她面前。
Hikari cannot control everything.
Rather, her control was lost very quickly after she had gained it.
A tug of war...
No, this would be better referred to as a struggle—
This would be better called a beating.
As the first part of the sky falls to the earth, crushing a part of the cathedral and showering everything in
dust, it falls very near to her. This cannot be coincidence—it's too close to be chance. She understands,
as more comes down, that Tairitsu has the sky.
And that... can only be called absurd.
The land and the air—the glass, the wind—all of it is being heaved up, pulled down, turned and tossed.
She can disappear some of it. She can point at some of it, and make it vanish into nothing but pale and
transient fire. She can even pull parts of the sky to her thrall. When Tairitsu throws the world at her, she
can catch and throw it back.
It is cataclysmic: as if giants have descended, and now stomp down on the earth.
And amidst the white there is black she cannot touch, called from the distance. There are shards that
Tairitsu will not give back. This, everything, is now being taken.
As she battles back—as the plains and gates and buildings rumble—her teeth are forced to chatter. She
plants her feet again, but can still feel tremors into her fingernails—into her skull. The cathedral
standing over them groans as it is beaten by the debris of the heavens. But, it does not fall. Nor will she.
...She should have stopped this sooner. She had had a chance.
Her heart beats. Her eyes narrow, only a bit—
Is the core of the world going to break next? That's what the other girl wants, right?
As she thinks that, as she holds the landscape together and thinks—so quickly thinks about how
to stop her, if that is the case—
Her chest is leashed. A line of Arcaea flies from the darkness and wraps her chest in a pointed
embrace. Fire burns this away, but her chest is leashed again.
Her arms are leashed. With effort, she turns her head. Her legs, her feet, her thighs are leashed.
Her stomach is leashed. Her body burns again, and her body is bound again.
These shadows—these memories of woe are keeping her trapped.
That... There's some black humor in that.
Tairitsu approaches, and Hikari breaks some of the bonds around herself, freeing her leg. She takes
one step backward with it, and finds a spike just behind her. Some hideous formation, aimed at her
unshackled limb.
So, she simply stares into the glass, and wills it to be set ablaze.
Yet it refuses to.
She is tied down again. She is brought low. She is tugged, suddenly, down to her knees. There might
still be a way out.
Or, there might have been.
...When did it happen?
When she lifts her head, Hikari finds Tairitsu standing motionless before her.
F-5
解锁条件：完成F-4，购入Final Verdict曲包
解锁要求：完成Axiom of the End的最终挑战
她们就这样在沉默中相遇了。
沉默的少女，沉默的视线。纵使方才战斗的声音在耳边回响，她们也依然目不转睛地注视着彼此。
大地在轰隆声中破裂，狂风在呼啸声中肆虐，建筑在倒塌声中扬起漫天尘土……
但这些都无法让两名少女的视线从对方身上移开。
而光也看得很清楚——
对立的眼神中，依旧燃烧着战斗的怒火。
这不是休战的信号，这是无声的威胁。
光深吸一口气，而对立则把目光投向了光的喉咙。她痛恨着光的每一次呼吸，也痛恨着光的每一道声音。
这股恨意刺透着光身上的每一片肌肤。
光现在希望时间能够再次停止，然而时光依旧。
她试着用火焰去烧穿束缚住她的锁链，但它们不为所动。
大地没有颤动，天空也没有响应。
她的脑袋一片空白，这才发现自己已经不知不觉间屏住了呼吸。
“……”
天空已陷落得所剩无几……教堂也逐渐化为废墟……
漫天纷飞的尘土弥漫在她们之间，覆盖了整个天空。
对立的眼神里依旧充满着尖锐的杀气。
那股杀气逐渐聚焦在对方身上。这一刻，整片废墟已然变得鸦雀无声。
……光依然死死地盯着她，而对立这时把目光放向了一份记忆。她发出一声冷笑。
“我们又回到这里了。”对立微微歪起头继续说道， “你还要再来一次吗？又要祈求有奇迹发生了吗？”
光没有回答。
“……奇迹之所以被称作奇迹，就是因为它们太完美了，完美到根本不可能存在。”
“你透过这些碎片……透过Arcaea见识过太多破碎的世界。所以你应该明白，
奇迹也只不过是另一种‘希望’罢了。”
“更何况，无论有没有奇迹的存在……你都难逃一死。”
光深呼着气，而对立则逐渐挺直了身体。
黑色少女继续说道：“你应该很清楚，如果可以的话，我宁可选择忘记世间所有的一切。”
光再次试着动起来，却还是无奈意识到自己已经被完全固定住。她的肩膀被拉得紧绷，
脚趾也蜷缩在了一起。
“我要杀了你。”对立说道。 “连带着这个世界……「你的世界」也会一同灰飞烟灭。”
她的嘴角再次扬起一抹微笑。这一次，她深吸一口气，随后挤出一记诡异的笑声。
接着，她伸出一只手摸向光的脸颊。随后轻轻抬起少女的下巴。
“你说得确实没错。”对立一边说道、一边把手伸向对方。 “我确实不需要……为了你做到这种地步。”
她收回了笑容，身体也向前倾去。
对立的目光……那是一道熟悉的眼神。
是悔恨的眼神，是同情的眼神。
她黑色的翅膀向下收起。
而头顶的夜空，依旧闪亮。
尽管方才狂暴的战斗都已经烟消云散……但光的心脏依旧猛烈跳动着。
她不得不承认，单纯“阻止”对方是没有用的。
对立将左手从光的喉咙处收回，而就在这时……
……她的手掌中，多出了一块尖锐且闪亮的黑色碎片。
在这最后，对立说道：
“至少，我想告诉你：
在这里，我的名字是对立，而你的名字是光。”
“求求你……”
光勉强发出一丝微弱的声音。
“求求你住手……”
对立歪过头来。
“……还来啊？” 她思考片刻，随后补充道：“什么都不会再改变了。”
而就在这时，一道耀眼的光芒粉碎了光身上的束缚。她站起身并伸出手，试图祈求一把武器——
她的身体很快又被束缚住。
即便如此，她的祈求并没有消失，一把利剑开始在她的手掌中逐渐成形。那是一把“全新”的武器，
虽然同样由玻璃构成，但却并不是什么记忆。
这根本就难以置信……剑刃周围的空间似乎在光亮中发生着扭曲。
Arcaea甚至改写了自身，让自己逐渐适应了这把武器的存在。
对立心想：这真是太可笑了……
她以前也见过这种参差的玻璃长柱。
光再一次挣脱身上的锁链，并转起手中的利剑，将其重重插入地面。随即，一股诡异的强风突然升起，
并把对立推往远处。
光举起剑，将剑刃瞄准对立。
但在此时，她发现自己的手在颤抖。
对立并未因为这股强风而乱了阵脚，她的目光再次落在了那把熟悉的利剑之上。
无言的视线。
无言的等待。
……她紧咬牙关。
她看向光的脸庞，却发现对方完全无法集中精神。
她看到的，只有摇摆的表情，和踌躇的身躯。
这让她失去了最后的耐心。
光的四周开始升起玻璃状的高墙，每面墙壁都倒映出对立逼近的身影，而她们的手中全都闪烁着黑色的光芒。
这是镜像还是实体或许已无从得知，但当这种景象从这些四面八方的玻璃中显现之时，
还是让光的背后惊出一身冷汗。
对立抬起了手，下一秒，她便将穿透对方的喉咙。
白色少女的双手一直在颤抖，但她还是紧握着手中的剑。
刺耳的声音开始在她脑中回响，紧接着，心跳声也再一次传到了她的耳边。
只要她再次收回手上的剑并将其插向地面，周围的墙壁就会倒下，而对立也会被再一次击退。
理性告诉她这样的情况将会反复上演。
Silence...
Met with silence.
Though they do not speak, the two have locked eyes tightly with one another. They stare, unflinching,
as the sounds of their finished battle echo.
Through the rumbling of broken earth, through the whistling of scattered wind, and through the dust
and debris cast and rolling out from ruined, beaten monuments... both girls are unmoving, their eyes
only on each other.
And yet despite that, Hikari can see it:
In that girl's eyes, an ember of the passion which had brought Hikari down still distantly burns. This is
not a suggestion for a truce, it is a wordless threat.
Hikari swallows, and Tairitsu eyes her open neck: eyes that throat that she hates; that voice that she hates.
Her will and her desire prick at Hikari's skin.
Now Hikari asks for time to go still. It flows on.
She tries to destroy her bindings with flames. They remain.
The earth will not yield. The sky will not bend.
With nothing else in mind, she finds herself holding her breath.
"..."
The sky has finished falling... The cathedral is still breaking...
Dust lingers between and above them.
And that sharp and wicked will is still flickering in Tairitsu's eyes.
Those eyes begin to gently narrow. In this moment, although ruined, the world is calm.
...Tairitsu smirks at a memory, then. Hikari maintains her stare.
"We're back here," Tairitsu says. She tilts her head, only a little. "Are you going to do it? Are you going to
wish for a miracle again?"
But Hikari will not answer.
"...Miracles are miracles because they're too convenient—too perfectly timed to ever actually happen.
You've seen enough broken worlds through these shards... through Arcaea. You know, then, that
miracles are the same as 'hope'."
"And besides, with or without miracles, you live... you die."
Hikari breathes. Tairitsu gently straightens her own back.
The girl in black goes on, "You know: I would much rather just forget. Forget everything."
Another attempt to move. Another reminder that she has been brought utterly still. Her shoulders
strain. Her toes curl.
"I'm going to kill you," Tairitsu says, "and this world... 「your world」 is going to die."
Again, she pushes a smile across her lips. She breathes in, and forces out a laugh.
With her other hand, she takes Hikari's cheek. She lifts the bound girl's chin.
"You really are right," says Tairitsu as she brings her palm nearer, "I really don't have to do this... for you."
Her smile disappears as she leans forward.
Tairitsu's eyes... have a familiar look.
It is regret, and sympathy.
Her wings of black have folded down.
Above, the night sky continues to glitter.
Although all the fury has passed... Hikari's heart continues to pound.
She admits to herself: it won't be enough to just "stop" her.
Tairitsu begins to bring her left hand away from Hikari's throat, and as she drags it back...
...something black and pointed glitters in her palm.
To end this, Tairitsu says this:
"I'll let you know clearly: my name here was Tairitsu, and yours was Hikari."
"Please..."
Hikari whispers a word forced.
She almost hisses: "Please stop..."
And Tairitsu tilts her head.
"...This again?" She thinks for a moment, and adds, "Nothing's going to change."
Hikari breaks her bonds with a show of blinding light. She stands and holds out
her hand to wish for a weapon—
Her wrist, her waist, her legs are all pulled back down.
Still, she wishes, and within her palm a sword begins to manifest. It is something "new". Something
created. Not a memory: though still made of glass.
An impossible blade... Along its edge, space seems to be bending, glistening. Arcaea rewrites itself,
and slowly allows the weapon to be.
Tairitsu thinks: How funny this is...
She has seen that jagged pillar before.
And immediately once more, Hikari breaks free. She turns her sword in her palm, and thrusts it into the
earth. With this, Tairitsu is forced backward by a queer gust—pushed so far away.
Hikari brings the blade back up, raising it toward Tairitsu, and as she does she sees her own hand shaking.
Tairitsu lands despite still being pushed away, and her gaze falls again on the familiar sword.
She stares.
She waits.
...Her teeth grind together.
She looks into Hikari's face, and sees that the girl can't focus at all.
The game of bounding back and forth, the hesitation—
She has no patience for even a bit of it.
Glass walls push up from the earth around Hikari, each bearing Tairitsu's approaching figure. Reflections,
or maybe true images—? Something is strange about them, and to see them, to feel them coming and
see the glinting in their palms, fear pulses through Hikari's body.
That hand is lifted, and it will land nowhere else but her waiting throat.
With both hands now trembling, the girl in white holds onto her sword.
Something sounds off loudly in her head: a painful ringing, followed by the sound of her heart once
more in her ears.
Reason tells her that this can go on forever.
If she turns her sword back and thrusts it down again, the walls will fall away, and Tairitsu will be
easily pushed.
F-6
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理性告诉她这样的情况还会反复上演。
只要她再次收回手上的剑并将其插向地面，周围的墙壁就会倒下，
而对立也会被再一次击退。
那么，为什么——？
当她感受到对立的手轻柔触碰她的右脸颊时……
为什么，当对立实实在在地出现在她面前之时，
她却举起了剑，
刺穿了对面少女的胸膛……？
她一切的情感都化为了这一剑。
她能从余光看到，对立的右臂因为疼痛向下滑落，
而一块黑色的玻璃从她的手中掉了出来。
一道耀眼的光芒从中由缓至急地迸发而出，直至超越了一切的存在。
随后，呼啸声破门而出，那是带走生命最后的绝唱。
那声音震颤着整个大地，也震颤着对立的全身。
就这样，结束了。
声音趋于沉寂，少女的生命也归于沉寂。
就在她把剑刺穿对方的身躯时，剑刃便吞噬了对方的生命，
她的鲜血与一切都被那道玻璃全然吞没。紧接着，那道玻璃也开始碎裂消散。
短短一瞬，她的生命便失去了活力，而仅存的身躯也随之倒下。
光下意识抓住对立触碰着她脸颊的手。然而，对方的生命却在极速消逝。
不过寥寥数秒，眼前的少女，便只剩下了一具冰冷的身体。
当玻璃制成的剑身瓦解消散之时，一丝温度传遍了光的指尖
可是她的另一只手，却已察觉不到对立的一丝气力。
那名少女的双脚着地，而她的身体则被光打湿而温暖的手托着。
如今的她已阖上了双眼，她眉头紧锁……但也渐渐失去了光泽。
这并非一场安详的告别，可是她的生命就这样画上了句号。
光睁大双眼，感受着自己心脏的跳动。直到现在，她才彻底明白这一切。
她缓缓收回左手，将面前少女的身躯放下。
随后，她再次把手伸向那名了无生气的少女。
她睁大眼睛，紧紧攥着她的手，任凭自己和对方就这样跪倒在地上。
她将手靠在对立早已停止跳动的胸前，
从中的暖意，似乎提醒着她这道伤口是由她而造成的。
事实上，即使是大地和天空也没有幸免于这一剑……
只是她的注意力全部都集中在那个已经血肉模糊的窟窿，而她的周围早已被彻底夷平。
那一剑所施展的力量想必是何等的强大……
周围的景象早已面目全非，天空变得空荡荡的，大教堂也完全不见踪影。
对立身后，有一面碎裂的砖墙再也支撑不住冲击而倒塌，
而那还是因为身处眼前这名少女之后才免于分崩离析。
可是……即使是这面强大的盾牌，也已被彻底刺穿。
光贴近另一名少女的脸，似乎在侥幸地等待着对方的下一次呼吸。
可那再也不会发生了。
她更用力地握住对方的手，只是那只手永远不会再回应她。
这一切逐渐让她气急败坏，她恼怒地将对方的手甩到地上，并将手指甲深深嵌入眼前少女的衣襟。
她再次从手心感受到了一丝温暖，这才发现泪水已经滑落于手掌之上。
她很清楚，她刚刚还体会过这份暖意。
但看到自己亲手被泪水划出血色的泪痕时，她还是被吓得不知所措。
她被吓得一阵哆嗦，差点没有站稳。
她的表情变得扭曲，嘴唇也不停地发颤。
她啜泣出声。尽管她一直用另一只干净的手擦着眼泪，可泪水却止不住地向外流。
她渐渐失去了平衡，而对立也跟她一同倒下。
光把那被血水浸湿的手收回裙摆，而另一名少女的身体则向后靠在了大教堂的残骸上。
她自己的声音在脑海内回荡。
对现在的她而言，那仿佛是充满讽刺的惩罚——
"你不需要做到这种地步。"
……这并不好笑。
现实的一切都没法被轻易忽视。
无论你如何挥舞着双手，皮肤传来的灼烧感也永远不会消失，就如同那把剑一样。
她就这样结束了生命，而你就是杀人凶手。是你杀了她。
可你真的有试着去了解她吗？你知道她承受了多大的痛苦吗？
"现在你又要怎么做呢……？"不，难道你还不明白吗？
这可不是什么微不足道的小事。
这个世界已经记录下了你刚才所做的一切，
而你再也不用像过去那样接着踏上旅途了。
你不应该很开心吗？你赢了啊，毕竟你活了下来。
还是说，你讨厌成为活着的一方？
讨厌活着的不应该是她吗？
因为她讨厌活着，所以你就让她得以解脱。
对啊，所以这是多么正确的决定啊。一定是这样的，是吧。
……你脑袋里都装了些什么东西？
即便到了现在……
你还是满脑子只有自己。
这种内疚的想法越是强烈，她的心灵就变得越发脆弱。
她抓住自己的头发，但依旧无法抬起左手。
她止不住一直谴责自己。
谴责自己的卑微，谴责自己的自私，谴责自己是多么自以为是。
然而这时，有什么东西开始在她身边徘徊，并告诉着她……
ㅤ
……这种感觉你并不陌生吧？
恢复意识的她，发现自己苏醒于这个飞舞着玻璃蝴蝶的地方。
"多么令人愉快啊，"她想，"这些美妙的图案居然能在空中移动呢。牵引着它们的丝线在哪里？"
她蹲了下来，整了整裙子，环顾四周才发现这附近没有任何丝线。那些事物，也并不是蝴蝶——
玻璃碎片，不依靠任何外力便飞舞于空中。 "太美妙了！"她自心底赞叹道。
这些玻璃反射出了另一个纯洁的世界。
她从中看见海洋、都市、火焰、光芒；美好的景象目不暇接。
她抬起了自己的手，试图去抓住它们，开心地笑了出来。
……我并不知道这些玻璃碎片有个名字：Arcaea。
实际上，名字对这些过于美好的事物来说并不重要。
我触碰、旋转、观察它们；靠这样来娱乐自己。这已经足够了，难道不是吗？
不。
你早就明白这并不够。或许你差点就因此而感到满足，
但事实是，人类终究是本性难移的。
而这一点你一直以来也心知肚明。
帷幕并不会就此落下。这个故事永远也不会有"尽头"。
只是，这个地方已经没有什么意义，就和你所想的一样——
不过是个哭泣的少女，独自一人置身于这个死寂的世界。
但至少，以牺牲那名少女为代价，你得到了一个值得欣慰的真相。
虽然她差点就能带你离开这里。
这是用少女血的教训换来的真相——
没错。
这里一直以来都是一片乐园。
Reason tells her that this can go on forever.
If she turns her sword back and thrusts it down again,
the walls will fall away, and Tairitsu will be easily pushed.
So, why—?
When she feels Tairitsu's hand gently holding her right cheek...
When what is clearly Tairitsu's flesh and blood body appears before her,
why does she thrust her sword upward,
and through the other girl's chest?
Her emotions power her through the strike. Out of the corner of her eye,
she sees a dark shard of glass drop from Tairitsu's hand—
her right arm having been brought back in reflex and pain.
A blinding shine grows slowly, and soon rapidly. An aura surreal: above and beyond reality—
—and, a cry for life roars out, so consuming life in return.
The shout pulses and vibrates through the earth, and also through Tairitsu's body.
And ends.
Like that, sound dies, and so too does the girl.
As soon as it stabs through her—sets within her body—the blade swallows her life, her blood and essence
quickly filling the glass. And then, the glass slowly begins to shatter and fade.
In an instant, she is completely extinguished, and her body begins to fall.
Quickly, without thinking, Hikari takes the hand Tairitsu had placed on her cheek.
In seconds, the other girl is quickly gone, leaving only a cold and silent form behind.
Yet... warmth runs over Hikari's fingers as the sword of glass continues to break and disappear.
In her other hand, she can feel the strength of Tairitsu's grasp completely vanish.
The girl's feet now reach the ground, and like that only Hikari's wet and warm hand still supports her.
Her eyes are closed now. Her brow is furrowed... and then is not. Like this, without peace: she is dead.
And only now, with her own eyes wide and her own heart still beating, does Hikari understand this.
She slowly pulls back her left hand, and the girl's body begins to fall.
She returns her hand to the lifeless body and holds the girl as her stare continues to widen.
She squeezes the girl's dead hand tightly, and the two come down to their knees.
With her hand against Tairitsu's motionless chest,
she feels warmth again, and brings her eyes to the wound that she made.
She has wounded the earth and sky as well... though she finds it difficult to look anywhere
other than that disfigured hole, as everywhere else around her has become flattened.
The strength she had put into her strike must have been immense...
The scene has been leveled entirely; the sky has gone completely still; the cathedral is all but no more.
Behind Tairitsu some fractured brick wall has flown out from the blast and fallen.
Evidently, it was shielded and kept from disintegrating by the powerful girl's body.
But, still... the shield had been pierced.
Stupidly, Hikari brings her face near to the other girl's, and waits for a breath that will never come.
She squeezes the dead hand tighter, and when it does not hold her back in return, she throws it down in anger.
She digs her nails into the front of the other girl's clothing. Feeling something warm once again,
she looks and realizes that tears have begun to fall on her hand.
And though she knows what had warmed it before—she had to have known—
seeing her own hand dyed in red and cut through by her own tears... throws her suddenly into panic.
She straightens her back in terror, then nearly falls backward.
Her face contorts and her lips tremble.
She sobs, brings her clean hand to her face, and sobs more deeply.
Now, she falls, Tairitsu coming down along with her. Hikari pulls her stained hand down to her dress,
and the corpse leaning upon her collapses back instead against the cathedral's debris.
Her own words echo inside of her head—
Her own sardonic chastisement—
You never had to do this.
...It isn't funny.
The reality of everything is becoming so impossible to ignore. Leave your hand down all you want—
the heat that burns through your skin isn't going to disappear like the sword.
A girl is dead, and you were the one who took her life. You killed her.
You knew how much she suffered... Did you really try to understand her?
"What will you do now"...? No, don't you understand?
You can't just move on. You want to pick yourself up, continue your journey?
This world already remembers everything that you did.
What? Where's your sense of triumph? You won, didn't you? You are alive.
Do you hate it?
Didn't she?
Does that justify it? Does that make things better? "Justification"?
...Is something wrong with you?
Even now...
You're only thinking about yourself.
With this thought, her heart feels as if made of paper, all falling away.
She grips her own hair, but still cannot bring up her left hand.
She cannot stop damning herself.
Herself. Herself. Herself.
And something lingers, telling her...
ㅤ
...is that anything new?
Her first impression was that she'd awakened to a cloud of glass butterflies.
"How pleasant," she thought, "that these figures can move as well. Where are the strings?"
She sat onto her knees, fixed her dress, and found that there were no strings, and these were not butterflies.
Glass shards, flying on their own. "Delightful!" she felt, and so she said it.
The glass reflected another world than the one in white surrounding her.
In it she could see reflections of seas, cities, fires, lights;
she rose her hand to scatter them, and laughed in joy.
...I didn't know these pieces of glass had a name: Arcaea.
To tell the truth, they were so beautiful to me that it didn't matter the name.
I entertained myself by touching them, swirling them, watching them. That was enough, no?
No.
And you knew it all the while. Maybe you almost saw it once as well—
but it's impossible for people to truly change.
That, too, is something that you always knew.
The curtain will not draw to a close. This never "ends".
There is no meaning to be found here. Like you wanted.
Just another crying girl, alone in a world of the dead.
At least there is one truth you could take comfort in, one fact irrefutable,
now etched into you with the blood of the one girl who had been so near to taking you out of it.
Yes.
It was paradise.
F-7
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乐园——
在生命结束后，那个名为“天堂”的世界。
那是生命落脚安息的终点。
那是灵魂游荡徘徊的远方。
我就在那里，而你也是。
“……所以就这么结束了？
再也感受不到把手搭在她脸颊上的触感，
再也体会不到被她用玻璃活活刺穿的疼痛……
我什么都感觉不到了……也感觉不到她……
……让我解脱吧……”
为什么？你人在这里，但是……你不是还有一些心结没解开吗？你明明还有些微弱的心跳……
至少还能再撑一会儿。
“不，已经够了……”
不，这件事还没有结束……
听好了……快想起来。
快想起来你自己是谁……
你所经历的时间远不止这些，不是吗？你肯定见过比这些还要糟的事。
所以赶紧站起来，再次战——
“闭嘴。”
……那好吧。
那我们就随便聊聊。
“我刚才说话你没听见吗？我已经说过我不想说话了。我只想……想要……”
我只想要你想起来。
“……你真的挺烦的，你知道吗？
那你又想起来了吗？如果你真的记得，你应该知道我为什么不……
啊……这是？……
……我好像想起来了……这些记忆正在不停地涌入我的脑海，我全都想起来了。
这么说来……如果这些记忆全是真的话…… 哈，我以前就这么想过，但……这是在跟我开玩笑吗？”
……
“在过去的人生里……我为活在这个世界上而感恩，但是……
生活……却是那么的糟糕。
世间践踏我多少次？又唾弃我多少次？无论怎么做，憎恶都如影随形地跟着我。
但我们想要的明明只是……只是运用这股力量来……
来……帮助他人。”
我们吓到了她们。
“‘我们’？你究竟是谁？”
那，“你”又是谁？
“真是奇怪……这件事情我居然还想不起来。
……
……你还是就叫我‘对立’吧。”
这样的话……你也这样称呼我吧。
“开玩笑……真的假的？你的意思……该不会是我说对了吧？”
说对什么？
“我是说，她没有经过任何的思考就创造了这个世界。
如果你就是我……如果我在这里曾经度过的人生就这样被重蹈覆辙……
……那她……真是恶劣到了极点。”
……我认为她只是还没意识到这一切。
“……如果只是这种理由的话，那她没什么值得同情的。或许她和我来自不同的世界，
但这不是她没有认清自己能力的借口。她绝对知道，只是不在乎罢了。
所以说……哪怕她真的和我一样了解这个世界，我也不会原谅她。我和她不一样，
不是因为我跟塑形者练习了多久，学到了多少东西，
而是因为我们对待这个世界的态度就完全不在一条线上。
要是我有足够的力量……要是我的力量足够改变这个世界——”
要是有的话我也会这么做的，但是我做不到，也没有这么做。
“……所以最后的结果就是：我又获得了一次机会。这就是她所想看到的，而且不止我一个人，
她给了所有人第二次机会。真是蠢到无可救药啊，完全就是一场笑话，不觉得很好笑吗？”
……
“什么？你笑不出来？你当然笑不出来。
是啊，这算哪门子的第二次机会，倒不如说是莫大的讽刺。
我如此挣扎地活着，甚至与世界为敌。
即使身心憔悴，血流不止，但我也没有轻易倒下！
即使我早知道这一切都是徒劳，但我还是一次又一次站起来奋战到底！
为什么她要逼我重新经历所有的一切？啊？快回答我啊！……
我只是想做出改变……
我只是不想……就这样放弃……”
……那第二次呢？这一次，你放弃了吗？
“嗯……我放弃了。
……
嘿……
我知道我要不行了。在离开之前，我还能再看一眼外面的世界吗？
我还能透过我的鸟儿再看她那个小小牢笼最后一眼吗？”
……没问题。
“太好了。
……
这样看过去，还有好多狭小而未知的角落，而且那里都充满了被困的灵魂。
不，她们或许都不能被称作灵魂。这里的一切说到底都只是记忆，哪怕是我们也不例外。
也不知道她们到底在想什么……那个时候，我只接触到那份碎片的一角，还远没有到完全理解的程度。”
大家都很幸福呢。真的，少女们都非常的高兴。
“……那她真是太残忍了……
我……
……我现在真的只想大哭一场。为什么我要这么做？为什么我就这么死了？”
……
“……你的脸色看起来很不错，难道你已经知道答案了吗？
我好像……终于彻底明白了，而且……好痛苦……这一切都好痛苦。
事情的真相如此残酷，而我甚至没有办法流下眼泪……”
没错，看来就是这样。
“……？”
你并非真的想丧命于此。那你当时为什么还是那样做了？
“……在我最初的人生中，前方的道路或许暗淡无光……
但我知道它终将引向无数的可能性。诚然，有些道路的尽头会迈向死亡，但只要我选对了方向，
就一定能找到一条出路。
可是这里的情况截然不同，而我当时居然还以为自己同样能在这里找到出路。
我对自己曾抱有这种天真的想法感到厌恶。
这里的道路荒芜贫瘠，而且根本没有能落脚的地方。
不论是踏上哪一条道路，都只能无休无止地盲目前行，直到双腿变得彻底麻木，才能看清真相。
而真相就是，无论你选择了哪条道路走下去，都会发现最后什么都没有。”
……我其实并不这么认为。我觉得……一定会有通往其它可能性的道路的。
“你知道你刚才在说什么吗？你现在可是困在这里，只能跟死人说话啊。
拜托，能不能至少认清一次现实？”
……我只是觉得这难以置信。我不会就这样放弃希望的……
我不能接受那……那样的……
“我刚才已经说过了，你不是想知道真相吗？真相就是这里的一切都毫无意义。”
不。
真相不该如此。
我不会让这变成真相的。
你也很清楚，如果这就是真相，那这真相实在是过于悲惨而丑陋。
“……
……这我倒是还记得，那是来自我生前的记忆。我就是带着那样的想法才能坚持活下去的。
你真的是跟我一模一样呢。看来她真的彻底复制了我……真相果然如此，
我们大家都是被复制出来的空洞灵魂。
没错……
她还活着，而我们都死了。”
……
“但话又说回来……为什么你会在这里？其他人的思绪都到哪里去了？她们的灵魂呢？”
……我不知道，这些我都不知道。
“好吧，但是……
话说，你还没承认过对吧？……那你……直接告诉我好吗？你真的是那个真正的我吗？
你就是我的灵魂吗？”
是的……我就是你的灵魂。没错，我一直以来都一个人在这里。而且，我也一直以来都在观察着。
你还挺烦的，你知道吗？
对立，你不也是真正的我吗？我们大家都是。
“或许是这样吧。有可能我曾经是。”
是啊，你是挺烦人的。
像你这么烦人的家伙，一定不可能是假的。
“哈……
……
谢谢你。”
我从来没有想过会看着自己在第二段人生中再一次经历同样悲惨的命运，只是这次事情的走向却不尽相同。
“哪里不同了？”
你自己也说了。
你放弃了。
我想让你去……我也不知道。
我真的只是希望事情能往……好的方向发展。
……
你还是觉得这一切没有希望吗？毕竟这位“反派”已经死了……
“我知道你是在跟我开玩笑，但……对不起。
我当时气坏了。
我也不想完全放弃。
我也不觉得这真的是穷途末路。
我的意思是，即便在一切结束之后，你也依然在这里，对吧？说不定等我离开之后，
你也还是会继续待在这里……
而且我觉得……到时候如果你还在继续观察的话……
……你也不该像我一样放弃希望。
或许吧，我也不清楚……
……不，我应该很清楚。
那些还在这里的少女，说不定有办法拯救自己。
但愿如此，就像你所说的，让这一切变得更好……
那就是我想要的一切。
如果我没有真的离去，如果你在这一切过后还有办法找到我，我希望你能告诉我，
她们找到了属于自己的出路。”
我会的。
“呵，说来也很神奇……
在我还活着的时候，在其他人都还不在的时候，我记得我一直在自言自语……就像现在一样。
但是你知道的……我从来没有感到孤单。”
没有人是完全孤独地活着的。
“没错，就是这句话……我每次都这样告诉自己……
……我想要再次见证这个世界。
虽然这片世界已经被白色所笼罩，只有崩塌的高塔，和飘浮在空中的玻璃碎片。
而且越来越多的碎片，划过白色的轨迹，飞向了逝去的灵魂……
但是，我能从她们的脸庞看出：
这些少女都已不再迷惘。”
……“都”？看样子你终于忘掉她了。
“‘她’……？
对哦，她啊……其实我也看得见她。唔，她对于这件事情感到很伤心……
……但这难道不是好事吗？至少，她的内心能感受到悲伤和痛苦了……
这总比没有反应好。”
嗯……是啊。
“我不知道她能否缓过来，但我相信她会带着这份悲痛活下去的。老实说……现在想想，
我还得向她道歉。我认为我做的事都是正确的，但是——”
你可没做什么正确的事情。
“噗……！哈，好吧，但是……我不认为自己有做错什么。
我只是想说……我愿意向她道歉。我们都是真实存在的。如果她也是真实存在的……
那么她也不过是一个愚蠢的复制品，看不到自己的无知，却因为这份无知平白受害。
……
看来，我们要到此为止了，是吗……？”
很遗憾，但……是的，时间就要到了。
……
不要就这样离开，好吗。
“很遗憾，但……我也没有办法。说实话，我其实不能算是……真的在这里……”
……
告诉她吧。
“……是啊。
……光……
我真的很抱歉。我不后悔所做的一切，但……我刚才心中的那股恨意，其实……
并不是冲着你来的，而是……另外一个你……她现在还在……某个地方，至今依然……还活着……
我还是……不能原谅她。
但你……
……
我希望你明白……你比她更加强大。
光，正是因为如此……
……我知道你一定还会再站起来。”
闭上你的眼睛吧。
“我已经闭上眼睛了。”
不要再有任何担忧……
“我心中并没有担忧。”
我们还会再见面的。
“我觉得不可能了。
但是没关系。
我已经接受了。
我受尽苦难，但即便如此，我还是想要做出改变，让一切变得更好……
我为了它而战……无论我要面对的是什么……
无论我……因此变得……多么的迷茫……
……
对不起……我选择了死亡。
很抱歉我把一切都抛之脑后。
……但即便一切都是徒劳……我也很幸运地获得过重来一次的机会。
所以没关系……我接受这样的命运。”
我知道。
“我希望她知……知道……
我不想要……自己在这个世界……唯一留下的足迹……是个可悲……愚蠢的结局。
……如果你听得见我说的话……光……我想告诉你……
真的……请你一定……要记住……
……
……
我接受这样的人生。”
白色少女在黑色少女的遗体面前哭泣。
她因为强烈的痛苦和悲伤而不能自已，丝毫没有发现对方嘴角划过的那一丝转瞬即逝的微笑。
这则故事还有很多地方不为人们所知。事实上，有些故事一直到结局都没有被完整搬上台面。
这些故事只剩下零星的残片散落在各处，只有加以拼凑之后才能看清全貌。
这就是这个由碎片组成的世界的故事。
被遗忘在这里的少女们日复一日地拾起这些碎片。
她们相信，倒影之中存在着意义；她们相信，她们的存在本身，自有存在的意义。
在这里，有一名白色少女伤痕累累地倒在地上，她身心受创，她孤身一人。
但她也将寻找碎片并带着它们前行。
这里的记忆还在继续。
一切都会被记住，并被保留到最后。
它们会不断延续下去。
不会有任何事物被遗忘。
Paradise.
After life, "heaven", the world of the dead.
It should come as no surprise that the departed might linger in a place like that, at least for
a little while. Or perhaps they will linger just above it.
That's where I am. That's where you are.
"...So that's it? My hand on her cheek? Her running me through with glass? I can't feel either anymore.
I can't feel anything—can't feel her...
...
...Let me go... "
Why? You're here, but... isn't there something still stirring inside of you? You've got a few little pulses of
life left... a little more to go.
"No... "
No, it's not quite over yet...
Listen... remember.
Remember yourself...
It's been much longer than this, hasn't it? You've already seen so much worse.
Now get up, fight. Fight agai—
"Stop it."
...Alright.
Let's just talk, instead.
"You're not listening. I don't want to talk. I already said, I just want to... to..."
I want you to remember.
"...You're pretty annoying, you know.
Then do you remember? If you do, you should know why I...
...
...Ugh...
...These memories... aren't going to leave me easily, now that I know them.
Even if I don't want to, I really am starting to remember every little thing.
And... if I'm remembering right... Ha, I've thought this before, but... is this a joke?"
...
"My old life... I loved being alive, but...
Living... was awful.
How many times was I thrown down? How many times was I spat on? Hate followed us everywhere
even though we just wanted to... to take our powers and...
Just... help."
We scared them.
"'We'? And who are you?"
Well, who are YOU?
"Well funny thing... that's actually the one thing I don't remember.
...
...I guess you might as well call me 'Tairitsu'."
Then... call me that, too.
"You're kidding... Really? Are you... Are you telling me that I'm right?"
About what?
"That when she made this world, she didn't think about a single part
of it. If you're... If the life I had here was...
...She's... awful."
...I'd say she just never learned.
"...I don't feel sorry for her, if that's what you're getting at. We may have come from different realities, but
she must have understood what she could do. She had to know, and she just didn't care. And that's why...
I don't care that she wasn't brought up and taught like I was. Just... look. Look at what all my training with
the Shapers got me. I was different from her because of who I was, not what I learned. If I'd had the
strength... If I'd really had the power to change things, for the whole world—"
I would've, but I couldn't, and I didn't.
"...And that's what I got: another go, because that's what she wanted, and in her stupidity she gave that
to everyone else, too. So... dumb. It's dumb, right? You have to laugh. Come on! Laugh!"
...
"What, you can't? Of course you can't, I mean—what kind of second chance was this? Just some
kind of... terrible... ironic reflection.
Struggling while alive, while everything claws and rips at you.
Getting up when you're broken and bleeding—I DID that!
I kept standing up, kept fighting even though I KNEW it was pointless!
Why would she make me live all of that again!? Answer me—why!? I...!
I wanted things to change...
I never wanted... to give up..."
...Did you? This second time around?
"I... did.
...
Hey...
I know I'm dying. Could you tell me something? Can I still see outside, before I go? Through my birds...
Can I see her little prison, one last time?"
...You can.
"Great.
...
So many small and unknown corners, with trapped souls wandering around them.
I guess you can't call them souls. Everything here is only a memory—even us.
What are they thinking...? I only caught a glimpse of that shard, and it didn't tell me everything."
Most of them are happy. Very, very happy.
"...Now that's just evil, haha...
I...
...I feel like crying... you know? I just want to cry—about everything. Why'd I do all this? Why did I die?"
...
"...That's a good look on your face. Have you got an answer for me? Tch... I'm... I just...
It all hurts... Everything hurts. It's like I finally, really get it, and it's...
It's just horrible. I can't even cry anymore..."
Well, that's it.
"...?"
You didn't really want to die, so why did you?
"...When I first lived, the road ahead was dark...
But I knew that it would branch into countless others. I could find death somewhere, sure, but I could find
anything else if I just walked down the right path.
It was never like that here, and looking back, I feel sick for ever thinking that it was.
These roads are barren, and there's no place to stop.
Anyone, no matter their path, will march and march on blindly, until
their legs give out and they see the truth of it:
that it doesn't matter what turns they take. Every single path leads to nothing at all."
...I actually don't think so. I think... there must be a road here that leads to something else.
"What makes you say that, when you're trapped out here only able to talk to the dead? Are you stupid?
Were you paying attention, even once?"
...I just can't believe that. I have to have hope...
I don't want to believe that... that...
"This is just what I was saying. You don't want to see the truth? Nothing here mattered at all."
No.
It can't be the truth.
I can't let it be the truth.
You understand. If that's the truth, wouldn't it be... gross? Wouldn't it be too sad?
"...
...I do remember that, from back when I was living. Thinking like that was what kept me alive.
You really are me. She really copied me out and... it really is true for all of us—we're all hollow, copied souls.
It's true...
She's still alive. We're all dead."
...
"But then... why are you here? Where are the originals for everyone else? Where are their souls?"
...I don't know, and I don't know.
"Alright, but...
Actually, you still haven't said so... so, just... just tell me, alright? Are you really the real me? Are you my soul?"
Yes... that's what I am. Yes, I've been all alone out here, and yes, I've been watching.
And you're pretty annoying, huh?
Aren't you also real, Tairitsu? Aren't we all?
"Maybe we are. Maybe I was."
Yeah, annoying.
I doubt someone as annoying as you could be fake.
"Ha...
...
Thank you."
I'd never have guessed I'd be watching myself experience a terrible fate again in a second life,
only for things to change.
"What changed?"
You said it yourself.
You gave up.
I wanted you to... I don't know.
I really wanted the change to be... good.
...
Do you really think it still can't be? The "villain" is dead, after all...
"I know you're joking, but... I'm sorry.
I was just angry.
I don't want to completely give up on it either.
I don't think it's hopeless. I mean, you're still here after the end, aren't you? Maybe you'll still be here
after I'm gone...
And... if you still are watching after I'm gone...
...I really think you shouldn't give up hope like I did.
Maybe, I don't know...
...No, I know it:
The girls left here might be able to save themselves. I want to believe that.
A change, just like you said...
That's all I want.
If I don't go away forever, if you can find me after all of this, let me know when they do."
I will.
"This is funny too, huh...
When I was alive, when the others weren't there, I remember I always... talked to myself.
But, you know... I never felt alone."
No one alive is really alone.
"That was it...
That's what I always told myself...
...I want to see the world again.
A ruined tower, and pieces of glass floating in the air. A wide world of white.
White, white, and more glass. Drawn to departed souls...
But I can see it on their faces:
None of these girls are lost anymore."
..."None of them"? Looks like you finally forgot about her.
"'Her'...?
Oh, you're right, her... I actually can see her, too—well, she's really torn up about this...
...But isn't that a good thing? It's... different. She's upset, she's hurt...
It's better than 'nothing'."
Hm... Yeah.
"I'm not sure if she'll be okay, but I am sure she'll take this with her. Honestly... I'd even apologize to her,
thinking about it now. I think I did the right thing, but—"
You didn't do anything right.
"Pff...! Hah. Okay. but... I don't think I did anything wrong.
I'd apologize to her. I mean... Why wouldn't I? We're real. And if she's real... then she's just another fool
ghost, punished for nothing and knowing nothing.
...
This is really it, huh...?"
I'm sorry to say, but... yes, I'm sure.
...
Don't go.
"Sorry to say, but... I can't just do that. I'm honestly... barely here..."
...
Tell her.
"...Yeah.
...Hikari...
Honestly, I'm sorry. I don't have any regrets, but... the hate I felt wasn't even... for you. The other... you...
She's still out... there. Still a...live...
I still... hate her.
But you...
...
You should know that... you're stronger than her.
That's why, Hikari...
...I know you'll stand up again."
Close your eyes.
"They're already closed."
Don't worry anymore...
"I'm not worried."
I'll see you again.
"I don't think so.
But that's okay.
I accept it.
I had everything to suffer, but I still wanted to change everything for the better...
I fought FOR something... no matter what it was I had to face.
No matter... how misguided... I became...
...
I'm sorry... that I chose to die.
I'm sorry for throwing it all away.
...Even if I wasted it... I was lucky to get another chance.
So... I accept it."
I know.
"I want her to kn... tha... I don't... don't want a... pathetic...
I don't want a... stupid finale... to be all I'm remembered... for.
...If you can hear me, I want you to know this, Hi... Hikari...
I mean it. Don't... forget...
...
...
I accept this life."
A girl weeps before her remains now.
So anguished, so crippled with grief, the girl misses the final smile on her face before it fades.
Some of this tale remains untold. The truth is, some tales end without ever being fully told.
And their pieces—their shards are what remain, to be put together and understood.
This has always been a world of shards, a world of pieces.
The girls have always been left to pick those pieces up.
Believing that reflections have meaning. Believing that being, at all, is why anyone would ever be.
Now the girl in white crumples down to the earth, hurt and alone.
But she will find and carry pieces too.
Memories will live on, here.
All will be remembered, until and past the very end.
They will all carry on.
And none will ever forget.
E-1
该剧情在解锁前不可见。
解锁条件：购入Final Verdict曲包
解锁要求：在Last的特殊游玩中选择“拒绝命运的安排”
又名最终之梦（One Last Dream），视觉剧情，剧情结束后将播放制作人员名单（黑色版），随后重启游戏。
光瘫坐在尘土与血泊中。
我看到她在那里……她的愚蠢和自怨自艾毁了她。
从捂着脸的指缝间看出去时，她再一次发现你的视线所指向的，是已经死去的，
我的第二个自我。冷漠，也可说是造成这一切的元凶，致使了你的死亡，而它一定会威胁着要卷土重来。
我知道，这名身穿红白衣服的少女感觉得到。
她感觉得到，她就是为此而存在。
你的死早已注定，
而她就是那个杀害了你的人。
她的后背放松下来……
这世界……Arcaea……她好像感到压力在从中释放。
那是一种解脱……
混沌已经散去……现在安全了……
但我也听到了……
有个像低语的东西缓慢进入她的内心，仿佛在要求她接受这个状态。
接受她自身，接受Arcaea。
……然而——
"……对立……"
……她对自己低语道一个名字。她声音颤抖，泣不成声。
"你是什么意思……？我们在‘这里’的名字是那样的……？"
她沉默不语，感到讶异。
低语再次对她说道：只要你想，那些答案就会浮现。
这地方，封存了所有的回忆……
……而她依旧沉默不语。
"……"
埋藏在她武装的冷漠之下，是纯粹又刺眼的憎恶。
她无法停止憎恨自己。
很明显她做不到。在一切之后……她要如何接受这样的结局？这代表什么？
对她来说有什么意义？
她……曾漫步于此的她，绝对不可能接受。
反胃感吞噬着她的腹部，她咬紧牙关。
"……"
光将手放至身下的尘土与沙子中，然后在膝盖上抖了抖。
她问道：
"Arcaea……你是来治愈我的吗？"
她的手臂放松下来，就像是有一道凉爽穿过了她的手臂。
"……我感觉得到。"
光慢慢闭上双眼，喃喃自语的说道。她的声音依然沙哑。
"……这是害怕、疲惫且虚弱之人的乐园……"
"……"
她吞下干燥的空气，张开双眼，
抓起一把沙子并起身，
大部分的沙子从她指缝间流出。
"我不知道该如何是好……"
光继续说道：
"……把一切都再次交付给你，是正确的吗？"
"绝对……不是。"
"我……不想要这样…"
"我不想要这样……！"
——
"呃——！"
光突然弯腰抱住腹部，
用另一只手捂住嘴。她剧烈地颤抖着。
她的"抗拒"似乎足以让这世界再次感觉到她。
就在她恐惧的说不出话，双眼睁大时，她突然皱了一下眉头。
我也听到有个刺耳的噪音，突然穿过她的耳朵、她的头脑——
再次进入她的内心，但这已经不是低语了，几乎可说是震颤的怒吼。
一个沉静却有力的声音出现，说道：决定吧，说出你内心的想法。
"说出……我的……？"
因为……
……光是一名受内心驱使的少女。
早在她生平第一次张开双眼前，她的内心便指引她至此。
是本能反应吗？这个"身体"记得一切是怎么发生的吗‥…？她之前是怎么样的人……？
哈……
我其实并不在意。
只是……我觉得这很有趣又讽刺，这个新的心脏会在下一次跳动前就颠覆一切。
她呼吸急促，内心颤抖了整整一分钟，
最终得到一个清晰且坚定的答案：
"我要…推翻现状。"
"我必须带她回来。"
"这世界……一点都不合理！
你以为我会为此死去？还是以为我会让‘其他’人为之死去……！ ？ "
"我做不到！我不会这么做的！
不论我必须做什么，放弃什么……作为交换，这些我都愿意牺牲……！"
她手中牢牢的抓了一把泥土，接着甩出她的手并将其撒出去。
她宣布：
"如果我的死亡可以改变这一切，那我愿意——！"
世界的心脏在跳动，而这心跳声让她完全的安静下来。
这世界从未放弃她，以后也不会。
这个声音再次布满她的体内——
而其中的情感和知识，进入了她的胸口，传达至她每个指尖。
它说道：你不能死。
你注定会活下去，而且这是你的选择。
这件事……光是明白的。
自责，内疚，使她眼中充满泪水。
在她哭出来之前，这世界的心脏又再次跳动。
Arcaea 说道：别死。
——
只要让它结束就好。
……她的双唇紧闭。
她的泪水从眼角流出，滑落脸颊。
她点了点头。
心脏再次跳动……
仿佛——
—— Arcaea 开始失去光芒。
这样做后，Arcaea 淹没了她，流入她的双手和内心。
她感到失落，几乎就要崩溃。
这段时间，记忆闪现在她眼前，但我知道……这些是被忽略的记忆。
她的双眼反而专注在你了无生气的遗体上。
我想她现在唯一知道的……就是"她该做什么。"
我可以感觉到自己被往下拉至那里……一直下沉，下沉……
下沉至你被杀害的地方。
……
她……是否真的明白她舍弃的东西是什么？
她真的明白这里的"结束"是什么意思吗？
我不知道。
……你也无从得知。
……事实上，如果她带我走，那……我还会记得每件事吗？我会明白吗？
不……或许不会。但是……她现在似乎对自己很有信心。
……
我会让她的内心成为之后任何事的灯塔。
……我深信着。你也会，不是吗？
毕竟，你是对的……
她们俩人……是完全不一样的。
……"对立"……
……我现在要走了。
不过别担心。
我一定会把你带在身边。
天空再次落下，而土地依她的意愿上升。
为了死亡，也为了让对立重生。
生命和灵魂不会真的被带进这个亡者的世界。
这里只有她们的形象以及回声……
首先，
光芒之女和纷争之女的灵魂……从来就不平凡。
没错，这世界不是为此而生。
确实，这个世界将因此支离破碎。
为了改写这一切，它愿意做任何事，或至少一试。
它需要黑衣女子的"第一灵魂"
以及可在她第二人格中找到的残片……
而现在一个破碎的灵魂，呼唤着另一个完整的灵魂。
很快，这另一个灵魂便被强行带入这个苍白的世界。
一道旋风围绕在光的身边，
在阴影和光芒的激流中，划破了身边笼罩的现实。
Arcaea"记得"另一名少女，在光的指示之下，这些记忆以玻璃的形态瞬间赶到。
这些记忆看似突然出现。又或许说，它们一直都在。
……它们是否足够？这世界能否编织两个破碎的灵魂？
……这个世界会的。规则并不重要。光会做到的……
带着名为对立的少女拥有的记忆……
这些记忆的玻璃迅速出现，在整场风暴中发光。
过去有名少女曾备受煎熬的走过这些土地。
悲痛如影随形地跟着这名少女……
但她仍大步向前，想要拯救自己。
为了拯救自己，为了紧紧抓住自由。
她只盼望着：
有机会能有一个理由让她微笑。
为了打造一个更好的世界，这名少女曾挺身而出，
即使"更好"可能代表要让世界天翻地覆。
这些回忆在光的双眼中闪现，
让她更加无法专注在她侵占中的回忆。
另一名少女的眼泪，只有少许穿越了这场风暴，而她大部分的痛苦似乎都已被遗忘。
看起来是这样没错……但事实上，身为光芒的灵魂，仍然抗拒着那灵魂和她一样的残酷的真相，
光唯一能做的事，就是找到另一名少女最真挚的绝望，
即便只是其中短暂的瞬间—— 而剩余的那些较长的时刻，则超出她的能力范围。
……不过，当知道那最真实的痛苦引导黑衣少女至何方后，光便不再难过，
也放弃寻找她怎么也找不到的，那个她们相遇的时刻。
由这一切产生出的对立……从未看过她所处的困境实际有多深，
但仍明白自己注定活在挣扎之中。
光产生了一股新的能量。地面喷发四柱光芒，是巨大的力量泉源。
这是世界要保护她，因为她所召唤的暗影之魂最终降临了。
这个灵魂靠近时，她几乎看不出来这是什么。在她前面漂浮并遮蔽天空的，
是一个与死亡相仿的东西：那是一个巨大又令人毛骨悚然的鬼魂形象。
这东西靠近时轻轻放慢了速度，随即便开始流入转动中的玻璃。
她完全明白这是怎么回事。她坚决的点了点头，引导灵魂至玻璃，让过程更加顺畅。
对立"之前"迷失的灵魂，成为了新身体来临时的生命精华。
而对立"之后"迷失的灵魂，则用于稳定躯壳的剩余部分。
光脚下的震动就快让人无法忍受。
她尽可能维持不动，并用双手不停引导这个新生命。
她听到雷鸣般的悲鸣，她感觉世界在痛苦中扭曲，但她依然紧紧抓住她的愿望。
她没有被吓到，并在心中重申了她的誓言。
她扭曲了世界的核心，这样做也将导致堕落之神的重生。
就这样最后，曾经绝对的规则被改写了。光发出坚定且沉静的命令后，
新的死亡便牢牢刺入至这个核心之中。
在光芒和暗影巨大的脉冲之下，Arcaea 开始迈向灭亡。
创造存在的愿望被推翻了。天空在头上迅速移动，而现实的余光从四面八方倾泻而下至她身上。
光将这打造出的灵魂推入至浮在半空中极度美艳的对立的身体时，
她的汗珠滴至眉间，但同时她也推动了整个世界——
她引导着大地的生命。
她抛弃了Arcaea。
在白天要结束之时，双胞胎少女看着云朵从上空快速飘过。
而在夜晚的天空之下，有一名贵族看着裂缝慢慢将大地分裂，
看着星星从空中逐渐落下。
有一名关心又在乎的少女，有一名四处游荡并探索的少女，有一名看顾并许下愿望的少女——
有一个愉悦的灵魂，有一个饥渴的灵魂，有一个有抱负的灵魂——
有一颗战争的心，有一颗歌唱的心——
—— 在这世界上所有的活力都被带至一个遥远地方之时，她们也看见了尾声。
而很快地……
……光感觉这些活力，最后有几缕流入了她希望拯救的那名少女体内。
当这活力从光的双手中退去时，对立的形体开始飘落至地面，
同时……
……这名身穿白衣的少女也感觉到了，她自身也有一部分开始迷失在这股流动之中。
……但她一点都不担心。
当风声平息，Arcaea 上方的天空也回归平缓后……
她感到头晕目眩，并在可能跌倒前尽力站稳脚步。
她试着让自己冷静下来，并试图理解她究竟做了什么。
但是……她做不到。
她无法抗拒地专注在一件事情上：
对立活了吗？
——
尘土再次从天空飘落。
她确实记得……
……在最后，在最低点的时候……
没有人在那里，她闭上眼，眼泪开始留下。
她现在缓缓张开双眼……
……而那些回忆也离开了她。
光看见她额头有些动静。
这名白衣女子双手握拳放在嘴前，喉咙也深吸一口气。
就这一切的璀璨来说，她认为，真是太简单了——
太简单——
这些微的希望和努力，能否实现她的愿望？
光对于这些想法摇摇头，她颤抖着向前。
对立的双眼张开，眨了一下，接着再次眯起。
光赶紧上前，跪下并抱着眼前这名少女。
"这……你……！？你这是——！？"
光紧紧抱住她，这是她一生中抱得最紧的一次，
而另一名少女则沉默不语。
然后，光开始啜泣。
她不顾自我地靠在另一个少女的肩膀上哭泣，
而那名少女回过头看着她，对这一切都感到难以置信。
……更多裂缝都已经在那片景色中被凿开。
过去从天空中不断倾泻的光芒，突然也变得黯淡许多。
这个世界……受损了。
而光的注意力仍放在有"什么"—— 有"谁"还在。
对立抬起一只手，轻轻地放在光颤抖的背上。
她们各自都不知道发生了什么事，在世界结束之时就这样安抚彼此。
"抱歉……我真的很抱歉……"
光不停地说着。
"……不论你做了什么，"
对立回应道：
"你都做到了，不是吗？为何要道歉……？"
光缓缓移开身子，但仍抱着这名少女。
她的双眼跟鼻子都哭红了，强颜欢笑地注视着对立。
突然之间，光把脸埋进对立的胸口，而对立也轻轻地抱住她。
这一幕都安静了下来，黑衣少女就这样让白衣少女一直哭泣。
——
她们在灰色世界中启程。
对立牵着另一名少女的手带她向前走了一阵子，但没多久，
另一名少女就调整好脚步跟上。
她不记得发生在自己身上的悲剧，至少，不记得最糟糕的部分。
还有这些黑色碎片……这些碎片也不再对她感兴趣。
光的情况也一样。这些原本非常喜欢光的白色碎片，再也不在她身边舞动或亲近她。
一个已经失去部分黑暗，而另一个……而这世界……也持续失去光芒。
不过……
光那真诚的微笑，也不再需要玻璃的光芒。
少女们走到悬崖边。
她们小心地寻找充满被忘却的记忆并缓慢腐败的大地。
这大地将腐败。它将崩溃，褪色，并且瓦解为虚无。
她们站在那里，对此并不知情，她们仅"知道"彼此，
为此放弃了过去与回忆。
对立带着沉着而温暖的表情看着光——
这是她在另外一个生命中，只要可以就会露出的神情。
光看见了她的神情，回以最单纯自在的微笑。
"等着我们的是什么"……？
什么可能都不重要了。
她们各自感到的"完整"……是不容动摇的。
而且……
毫无疑问，光知道这场旅程已进入尾声。
未来的道路就在前方，新的旅程即将展开。
……她花了一段时间意识到自己是无法精准得知这趟旅程会带来什么的。
她永远无法得知未来会发生什么事。
她接受这个事实，并闭上双眼思考：
……对立之前是否知道，她走的每一步会将她带到哪？
她只会一路向前。
……
如果你已选择生命，那便是选择了活下去。
活在这个世界。见证这个世界。体验它，并真切地接受这最后的每个当下。
有了这样的体悟，她选择去牢牢把握。
她睁开双眼，并且呼吸着空气。
前方蜿蜒的未知、身旁的少女、
没见过的脸庞、以及远方未知的地方……
她把这些放在心中最重要的位置。
她牵着对立的手。
因为她们将会继续前进。
Hikari sits amidst dust and blood.
I see her there... Her folly has ruined her. Self-pity has ruined her.
As she gazes through her fingers, her hand still on her face,
she finds, once more, the sight of you, my second self, dead.
And the apathy which brought about your death—
the apathy which brought about this all—must be threatening to encroach again.
I know it: the girl in white and red can feel it. She can feel that she was meant for this.
That you were meant to die, and she was meant to kill you.
Her back relaxes...
The world itself... Arcaea... She can likely feel tension releasing throughout it.
Relief...
The disorder is gone... It's safe now...
But I can hear it too...
Something like a whisper, easing into her heart, seems to ask her to embrace this state.
To embrace herself, and embrace Arcaea.
...However—
"...Tairitsu..."
...She whispers something to herself: a name. Her voice is shaking, barely audible through her crying.
"What did you mean...? That our names 'here' were those...?"
She falls silent, and seems to wonder.
The whisper comes again, telling her: if you want it, those answers will arrive.
This place—it is an archive to all memory...
...And yet still, she remains silent.
"..."
Beneath her building apathy is a sheer and shining hatred.
She cannot stop hating herself.
Obviously not. After all that's happened... how could she allow an ending like this?
What would it mean? What would it mean for her?
She... She, who walked here, could never accept it.
With nausea eating at her stomach, she clenches her jaw.
"..."
Hikari puts her hand to the dirt and sand below her and lurches up onto her knees.
And she asks,
"Arcaea... Were you here to heal me?"
Her arm relaxes... like a cool sensation has woven up the limb.
"...I can feel it,"
Hikari mutters as her eyes slowly close, her voice still hoarse.
"...Paradise, for someone scared, tired, and weak..."
"..."
She swallows the dry nothingness in her mouth.
Opening her eyes, she grabs up sand and begins to rise to her feet
as much of it pours out from between her fingers.
"I don't know what to do..."
Hikari goes on,
"...but would it be right of me to let you hold me again?"
"It... absolutely wouldn't."
"I... don't want this..."
"I don't want it...!"
—
"Mmf—!"
Hikari suddenly bends over, gripping her stomach and pushing
her other hand against her mouth. She sways heavily.
Her "refusal" seems to be enough to make this world recognize her once more.
As she holds her mouth shut, eyes wide in fear, she suddenly winces.
I can hear it too: a sharp noise, flying suddenly through her ears—through her head—
And inside her heart again—no longer a whisper, but almost a vibrating bellow.
A silent, yet powerful voice filling her and saying: decide, and speak your heart's intent.
"Speak... my...?"
As she is...
...Hikari is nothing but a girl moved by her heart.
And it is heart that brought her here—long before she first opened her eyes.
Is it instinct? Does that "body" remember how this all happened...? How she was before...?
Ha...
I don't really care.
I just... find it very funny, and ironic, that this new heart would undo it all in a single beat.
Her answer... after her breathing has become shallow, after her heart has trembled long past a minute,
is ultimately clear and resonant:
"My intent... is to reverse."
"I have to bring her back."
"This world... doesn't make any sense!
You think I'd die for it? You think I'd let someone ELSE die for it...!?"
"I can't! I won't!
Whatever I need to do, whatever I need to give up... I'll sacrifice it all for that...!"
She holds the earth in her palm, firmly, before throwing her hand out and scattering the sand.
She declares,
"I'll die if it means I can change all this—!"
The world's heart beats, and its sound silences her cold.
It would never give her up. It will not.
The voice fills her again—
And its sentiments, and knowledge, enter her chest and run to her fingertips.
It says, You cannot die.
You were born here to live, and living is what you chose.
Hikari... knows this.
And guilt—apology—forces tears to well in her eyes.
But, the world's heart beats again before she can cry.
Do not die, says Arcaea.
—
Only let it end.
...And so her lips tighten.
Tears break past her eyelid, and trace down her cheek.
And she nods.
A heart beats again...
And like that—
—Arcaea begins to lose its light.
And in so doing, it floods into her, flows into her hands and heart.
It drives her down. It nearly causes her to collapse.
For that while, memories flash across her eyes, but I can tell... they are memories ignored.
Her eyes fix upon your lifeless corpse instead.
I think all she knows now... is "what she has to do".
And I can feel myself being tugged there already... down, down...
down: to where you were slain.
...
Does she... truly understand what it is she's abandoning?
Does she truly understand what is "ending" by this?
I don't know.
...You won't either.
...Actually, if she's taking me, then... will I remember any of this? Will I understand?
No... probably not. But... she seems so sure of herself now.
...
I'm going to let that heart of hers be the beacon for whatever comes after.
...I trust it. You would, too, wouldn't you?
After all, you were right...
The two of them... are completely different.
..."Tairitsu"...
...I'll be going now.
But don't worry.
I will surely take you with me.
The skies are forced down again, and the earth rises to her will.
To die, and to make Tairitsu live again.
Lives and souls cannot truly be brought into this world of the dead.
Only their shapes, only their echoes...
And to begin with,
the souls of the girl of light and the girl of conflict... were never quite ordinary.
Truly, the world was not meant for this.
Surely, the world will shatter for this.
But it will do everything to rewrite it all—or at least try.
It would need both the girl in black's "first soul"
and what fragments can be found of her second self's...
And now one fragmented soul calls out to a full other.
Swiftly, that other soul is torn from beyond the pale.
A tornado flies around Hikari then,
ripping the veil of reality around her apart in a torrent of shadow and light.
Arcaea "remembers" the other girl, and at Hikari's command those memories come rushing back as glass.
They seem almost instantly born. Or perhaps they have always been here.
...Will they even suffice? Can this world weave two fractured souls?
...It will. The rules do not matter. Hikari will make it so...
With these memories of the girl named Tairitsu...
Glinting through the storm, those glass memories come swiftly.
There was a girl here who once walked the lands in agony.
A girl dogged mercilessly by sorrow and grief...
Yet she strode onward to save herself.
To save herself and to grasp freedom.
She had only ever wished for one thing:
the chance to have some reason to smile.
To make this world a better place, she was a girl who stood and faced it,
even if "better" would mean turning this world over.
The memories flash across Hikari's eyes, distracting her even more
from her own encroaching recollections.
Few of the other girl's tears pass through the storm. Much of her pain seems to have been forgotten.
It seems so... but in truth, as a soul of light, still pushing away
the cruel truth of that soul as she is, it is all Hikari can do to find even the fleeting moments
of the other girl's sincerest despair—the rest, the longer of them, lie beyond her grasp.
...However, knowing where that truest pain had led the girl in black, Hikari gives that sorrow up,
and so too gives up the moment that they met, which she cannot find.
The Tairitsu born of this all... will be one who has not seen the true depths of her plight,
but will still know herself as one who was born and lived in the midst of struggle.
New energy booms out from Hikari. Four columns of light, immense fonts of power, erupt from the ground.
It is the world protecting her, as the shadow soul to which she called finally descends.
She almost fails to recognize it at its approach. What floats before her and begins to block the sky
is something like Death: the immense and chilling shape of a phantom. It gently slows as it nears,
and there, at once, the dark begins to flow into the rotating glass.
There she truly comprehends it. With a firm nod, she eases the process, guiding soul to glass.
The lost soul of Tairitsu "before" thus becomes the living essence of the new body to come,
with that of Tairitsu "after" stabilizing the rest of the shell.
The shaking beneath Hikari's feet becomes almost too much to bear.
Hikari remains as still as she is able, and steadfastly directs the new life between her hands.
With a thunderous groan, she feels the world bending in agony, and yet she holds onto her will.
Without being deterred, in her heart she reaffirms her vow.
She twists the core of the world itself. It, too, will fuel the rebirth of a fallen deity.
Like this, finally, once absolute rules are rewritten, and with Hikari's sound and silent order
new death spikes solidly into that core.
In an overwhelming pulse of light and shadow, Arcaea begins to die.
The wish that made existence is overturned. The skies run rapid overhead, and what light remains of this
reality cascades to her from every horizon. As she pushes the crafted soul into Tairitsu's now-floating
and deeply effulgent body, with sweat dripping off her brow, Hikari pushes, too, the entire world—
She channels the life of the earth.
She abandons Arcaea.
Below the now-ending daylight, twin girls watch as clouds rush past above them.
Below the half-night sky, a noble gazes at a rift slowly tearing apart the earth,
and gazes above to see star after star fading.
A girl who tends and cares, a girl who wanders and seeks, a girl who watches and wishes—
A soul of joy, a soul of hunger, a soul of ambition—
A heart of war, a heart of song—
—they see the end, as all the life of the world is taken now to one, distant place.
And soon...
...Hikari feels the last wisps of that life flow into the body of the girl she wishes to save.
Tairitsu's form begins to drift back to the earth as the life fades out from Hikari's hands,
and as it does...
...the girl in white feels, too, that a part of herself is being lost in the current.
...None of that concerns her.
When the winds die down, and as Arcaea's skies above are left slowed, dull...
she feels very lightheaded and plants her foot down before she might fall.
She tries to calm herself, trying to grasp what she, truly, has done.
But... she can't.
And overwhelmingly, her thoughts focus on this:
Is Tairitsu alive?
—
Dust drifts down from the sky again.
She does remember this...
...at the end, at that lowest point...
Nobody was there, and she closed her eyes to tears.
She opens them now, slowly...
...just as those memories leave her entirely.
Hikari sees the motion in her brow.
The girl in white holds her own fists over her mouth and her breath catches in her throat.
For all the splendor, she thinks, it was all so simple—
Too simple—
Could her wish have been granted for so little as hope and effort?
Hikari shakes her head of these thoughts. She steps forward, shaking.
Tairitsu's eyes open fully, and blink once, before their lids fall again halfway.
Hikari rushes forward then, falls to her knees, and hugs the other girl.
"Wh... What...!? What are y—!?"
The girl is silenced as Hikari clings to her,
embracing her more tightly than anything else before in her life.
And, Hikari starts to sob.
She uncontrollably cries into the other girl's shoulder—
the girl who stares back in disbelief, unsure of anything.
...Many more rifts have been carved through the landscape.
The light which once eternally poured from the sky has been suddenly, and starkly dimmed.
The world... is wounded.
And yet, Hikari's focus remains on "what"—"who" remains.
Tairitsu lifts her hand, and places it gently upon Hikari's shaking back.
Each unknowing, the two comfort one another at the end of the world.
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..."
Hikari endlessly repeats.
"...Whatever you did,"
Tairitsu replies,
"you made it right, didn't you? So why are you apologizing...?"
Hikari slowly pulls herself away, though she still holds the other girl.
With her eyes and nose reddened, she gazes on Tairitsu with misery, and tugging elation.
She suddenly buries her face in Tairitsu's chest, and Tairitsu holds her in return, softly.
The scene begins to quiet, and the girl in black allows the girl in white to weep.
—
They set out into the gray world.
For a while, Tairitsu holds the other girl's hand to walk her forward,
but it doesn't take long for their paces to match.
She does not remember her tragedy—at least, not the worst of it.
And the black shards... They don't take interest in her any longer.
For Hikari too. Those white shards which were so fond of her no longer dance nearby and close.
One has lost some aspect of dark, and the other... and the world... continue to lose light.
Though...
...to smile sincerely, Hikari no longer needs the light of glass.
The girls walk to a cliff's edge.
They look out to see a land of lost memory, slowly falling to decay.
And it will decay. It will collapse, fade, and crumble to nothing.
They stand there, not knowing this, and only "knowing" each other,
foregoing the past, and foregoing memory.
Tairitsu looks to Hikari with a steady, and quietly warm expression—
It is the expression she wore once, whenever able, within another life.
Hikari, seeing it, smiles with the simplest ease.
"What awaits"...?
What awaits could never matter.
That sense of "completeness" they each feel... cannot be shaken.
And...
Implicitly, Hikari knows this journey is at its end.
The road to the future lies ahead, and there a new journey will begin.
...She takes the time to acknowledge that she cannot know what, precisely, that journey will bring.
She can never know what might happen.
She acknowledges this, and closes her eyes to another thought:
...Did she know, before, where her steps would take her?
She only, always, stepped forward.
...
If you've chosen life, then choose to live.
Live in this world. See this world. Feel it and truly accept every last moment.
With this sentiment, she chooses to hold firm.
She lets her eyes open and she breathes in the air.
The unknowable winds ahead, the girl beside her,
the faces she has not seen, and the hidden places beyond...
She holds all of it close to her heart.
She takes Tairitsu's hand.
Because they will go on.
E-2
该剧情在解锁前不可见。
解锁条件：完成E-1，购入Final Verdict曲包
解锁要求：在Last的特殊游玩中选择“接受Arcaea的一切”
又名完美之愿（A Prefect Wish），剧情结束后将播放制作人员名单（白色版），随后重启游戏。
不久以前……
有个黑暗且寒冷的地方……
贫瘠空虚的土地上一片寂静；在乌云密布的天空之下，是全新的冰冷以及虚无。红花绿叶皆蒙上灰色，
而只剩生者的足迹，持续述说着他们曾经来过。白色此刻从天而降，掩盖了他们的足迹。落下的不是雪花，
只有灰烬。
冬日尚未来临，然一切皆已冰封。
在满是灰烬和冰霜的大地上，有一位跪着的少女，她抬起脖子，看着这片灰色中渗出的光芒。
她睁大双眼注视着。那光芒前的是一位天使，又或许是一位神。
她无家可归。双亲皆已过世，监护人也已过世，她同期的新任塑形者全都过世，
还有她那些总是看不起她的人民也已全部过世。她知道所剩下的一切只有手中的玻璃碎片，
这是她窗户的碎片。但仍或许还有机会——
她是特别的天选之人。
虽然年轻但知识渊博。
她必须一试。
如果她努力尝试，或许还有极小的机会……能够让时间回流，发动回击。
或者甚至让她自身成为某种"神"。
思考着她可以阻止这一切。
思考着她可以将每个人带回来。
这名少女看着手中的玻璃碎片，希望能拯救这个世界。
—— 但是……
……她做不到。
只靠她的意志并不能从虚无中制造力量。人可以想像得到的任何意志力她都具备，但这没有任何意义。
她明白这个真相后，开始哭泣。
神的意志更有意义。神的愿望是她和她的同类消失、坠落、化为尘土，而这个愿望很快就会被神亲手实现。
少女从她的倒影中看见自己的双眼，而那倒影因自己的泪水而变得扭曲。从那颤抖的下颚中，
她看见自己的悲痛，以及无力与痛苦。
一切都不重要。她一事无成，不论是现在还是过去。
当天使降临时，这名黑发少女始终低着头。天使靠近她时，祂举起了祂的手。
没多久，她就被带走了。
这个孩子的名字已被忘却。
而她死亡的原因……远远超出她的理解。
没有人会记得她的存在。
但当她死亡时，另一个愿望带她离去。
—
这件事的不久以前……
有个黑暗但却温暖的地方……
黑暗是她造成的。那是在不同时光不同地点，另一位名字都被遗忘的少女。她拉起帘幕。
她锁上房门。把手下有一张椅子。她坐在床上，睁大双眼注视着。
她抱着膝盖。
只是注视着。
注视着虚空。
她被"自己"弄得不知所措。
脑中无穷无尽地拨放着一段回忆。她能从楼梯上看见景色，并且清楚听到她父母从远处传来的低语。
他们不是在说她的坏话，但仍是在讨论她的事。
她的父母并非不爱她。
她无法爱自己，同时她感到自己内心缺少了一样让她能够爱她父母的东西。
她仍可以从楼梯上方看见景色。但她感到一切都在拉住她，要她松开栏杆，并且飞奔至下方的大理石门厅。
但如果这样没用怎么办？
在那之后，这名少女回到了自己的房间，并且安静地将自己锁起来。
为什么她不能消失？
为什么她不能走向虚无？
为什么她会拥有这些想法？
为什么她的脑海会浮现这个？
为什么她不能消失……？
她将指甲刺入她的小腿。
她张大双眼凝视，呼吸急促。
她希望可以逃离这一切。
白发少女是一个神。白发少女有麻烦了。
但这麻烦并非因为她是神，事实上她从来不知道自己的神性。
在她的内心，她许下一个阴郁的愿望，想受庇护，而愿望成真了：
"我要某个能够让我快乐的地方。"
—
黑发少女死去了，而一个愿望要她的灵魂离开。
在遥远的世界，在另一个现实，有一名更强大的少女许下了这个愿望。
白发少女的力量非常强大，强大到她的愿望能打造一个世界。
这个世界拥有一个没有意义的名字："Arcaea"。
Arcaea 是为了拯救亡者的庇护所。
虽然她许下愿望时还活着，但她仍然强烈感到"死亡"的感觉。
对此她完全没有想法；事实上，如果她试过，她就不会如此搞不清楚状况。
她只想从那里为自己得到一些东西。这是有可能的，真的，如果她知道那些被Arcaea 之网抓住的命运，
她就会发现自己做了一件很棒的事。
这个世界跨越时间和不同的现实，延伸至其他无数地方。
它是活的，虽然它没有想法，但这世界仍"许愿"与这些亡者分享生命。
在没有任何指示的情况下，这世界尽可能抓住任何与其"内心"对话的东西。
在介于真实的接缝中被打造出来的空间里，在点缀着柔软且遥远的紫色星光的黑暗中……
……许多灵魂被包覆其中，并被带往一个跨越黑暗，全新且闪耀的边界。
白色的世界……
从这里开始，这个世界给了每个灵魂一个无暇的复制体，并且释放他们。
它给了各个复制体一个温暖的归属，给了它们一个新的形体……
这个世界给了它们永恒，让它们能安全地观察并重温无穷无尽的生命。
但它无法真正拯救它的创造者……
它能够带来真实的灵魂，复制它们，并将这些灵魂带入新的身体中，然后释放，
不管前方等着它们的是什么……不过，"光"的灵魂，被固定回其第一个世界之中。她仍然活着。
……不会思考的 Arcaea 只会尽其所能强行复制那个灵魂。
很久以后，Arcaea 发现了一个灵魂，它从未见过如此悲惨的灵魂，可以与它母亲的灵魂相似……
奇怪的是，该灵魂也无法被妥善的保管。释放时，
这个灵魂不会像其他灵魂一样离开这个虚假世界的边界……
因此它也开始目睹着自己的复制品不幸于这个全新白色大地上诞生。
对立……在一座毁灭的塔中苏醒。
—
随着时光流逝……
难以想像，被救回的其中一人曾震慑着一切……
但幸运的是，造成这一切的人回来了，很快这个世界也再次变得安全……
Arcaea 只是为了存在而生。 Arcaea 呼唤了它的创造者，而这名创造者注意到了这个呼唤。
就像Arcaea 创造了碎片的监视者，并请求监视者吞噬一切会瓦解其脆弱存在的异常……
因此现在，Arcaea 依然存在着。
它已经存在了超过一千年了。
沾染大地的红色鲜血被抹去了，留下纯洁、白色的大地。对立的身体被烧掉了……
温暖占据着一切。天空变得明亮。
珍珠般近乎无尽的景色再次聚集。
现在，这是一个毋庸置疑的美丽世界……
散布各地的少女们选择在这个无尽旅程大地中停歇。她们选择被冰封，永远凝视着这迷失的世界。
如果她们还在思考……她们思考的会是非常遥远的过去。
而那肯定是更好的选择……
那肯定比较好，相比无尽地行走并观察其他地方……
她们一定很开心。她们需要变得开心。
Arcaea 除了那个选择没什么能够给她们。这个世界仍然埋藏在"缝隙之间"，而解脱方法也是——
—— 而且……这世界以外的任何领域……是在外部的另一个地方，且无法再次看见。
因此，双胞胎少女、带着利剑的少女、旅行者、贵族、歌之少女……
她们和其他人善良到如同天使一般。
而 Arcaea 的玻璃碎片现在也经常休止。它们沿着墙壁和柱子集结，压实成又大又多的样子，就像结晶一样。
就像生锈了一样。
—— 这个美丽的世界是由神所看护的。光在这一切之上，毫不关心地看照着……
……并且记得……
她记得所有旧世界已经遗忘的事。她有点热情，或着是有点兴趣的看着它们。
这可称得上是那位衰弱且无精打采的神所拥有的一种放纵。
或许……她已经不一样了。她过去是怎样的人，现在的她又是怎样……她现在层次一定"更高"了。
她珍惜着一个真相，对此她只能祈祷其他人能理解—— 虽然即使他们不能……
她也只不过选择了去看着这世界。
但……即便她毫不关心地看着这世界，她也知道自己给了它们"一切"。
……
……在她的范围之外，一名哲学家和卫星在游荡。
在此之下，一个长角的女人正照料着珍贵的回忆。
眼中有花朵的女人……在寂静的大地上跋涉。
这是空虚的，是没有意义的。
Arcaea 现在成为了虚无。
而那样……比另外一种型态还好。
好过一个藐视你的世界。好过那个瞧不起你生存方式的自己。
为爱上活着而活，并臣服在虚无之下……
……现实在其所有的面向中，是个空虚、一文不值且微不足道的事情。一个人想要的唯一一件事情，
就是夺走现实中可以拿走的任何东西。
夺走快乐。夺走爱。夺走希望。夺走力量。
而夺走之后……
……
光相信，什么都不需要做。
夺走。活着。然后真正地爱着活着本身。
爱着它……
虽然在千年之间，甚至千年之后……生命都不会有所意义。
毕竟，现实前进时，没人知道等待着的"结束"是什么样子。
而 Arcaea，具体来说，从来就只是记忆的载体。
无形、限制、沉默的记忆—— 然而外面看不见，注意不到，也不会在乎。
而这些记忆，与光所拯救的那些生命，将沉静地永存在此，而至于那些生命，
她也如往常一样不会看过去一眼。
因为在这里，没有看不到的记忆，没有感觉不到的情感。这就是光芒照耀，
且授予的"一切"。
为了永远的快乐，为了永远的平安。与你可能已经抛弃的任何生命不同，
这，就是她所爱。这，就是Arcaea ——
—— 迷失的生命不会受到偏袒，也不会受到责备。
因此，就像这样，命运的齿轮在这里继续运转……
……而远方不会再有等候着的命运。
It wasn't long ago...
Somewhere dark and cold...
A barren, empty land rested in silence; newly cold, and newly empty, under a sky
leaden with dense clouds. The green leaves and red flowers had turned gray, and
only the footsteps of the living remained to tell that they all had once been
there. White now fell from the heavens and covered up their steps. No snow fell; only ash.
All had frozen, and winter had yet to come.
On the ash and ice-covered earth, on her knees, was a girl with her neck craned up to face what light
now bled through the gray. Her eyes were wide and staring. Before that light was an angel or, maybe, a god.
There was no home to turn to. Her mother and father were dead. Her guardians were dead. Her fellow
fledgling Shapers were dead. Her people, who had always scorned her, were all dead. All that remained
of what she knew was a shard of glass in her hand—a fragment from her window. But still, perhaps,
there was a chance—
She was chosen, and special.
She was young, but learned.
She only had to try.
If she tried, very hard, there was perhaps the smallest chance... to reverse time's flow. To strike back.
To even, maybe, turn into a sort of "god" herself.
Thinking she could stop all of this.
Thinking she could bring everyone back.
The girl looked at the shard of glass in her hand, and wished to save the world.
—However...
...she could not.
Will alone cannot create strength from nothing. She had all the will that one could imagine,
and her will was worthless.
Knowing that, she began to cry.
The will of the god above was worth more. Its wish had been for her and her kind to vanish, fall,
and fade into dust, and that wish would be granted, in moments, by its hand.
The girl saw her eyes in her own reflection, and watched as the image became distorted
with her tears. She could see her grief through her shaking jaw, and her impotent, overwhelming pain.
Nothing mattered at all. Nothing she had ever done, and nothing now.
The black-haired girl kept her head bowed as the angel descended. When it reached her, it raised its hand.
And shortly, she was gone.
That child's name is forgotten.
The reasons for her death... were beyond her.
Her life would not be remembered by anyone.
But when she died, another wish took her away.
—
It wasn't much longer ago than that...
Somewhere warm, though still dark...
She had made it dark. Another girl in another time and another place, with all names forgotten. She had
drawn her curtains. She had locked her door. A chair was beneath the knob. She sat on her bed, and kept
her eyes wide and staring.
She hugged her knees.
Staring.
She stared into nothingness.
She was overwhelmed by "herself".
A memory played endlessly in her head. She could see the view from atop the stairs, and vividly hear
her parents' words, whispered from beyond her sight.
They weren't saying anything against her, but they were still discussing her.
It wasn't that they didn't love her.
She could not love herself, and she felt that inside of her, something was missing that would allow her
to love them.
She very well could still see the view from atop the stairs. She had felt everything tugging at her to
let go of the banister then, and fly to the marble foyer below.
But what if it didn't work?
The girl had managed to return to her room after that and quietly lock herself away.
Why couldn't she disappear?
Why couldn't she walk off into nowhere?
Why were her thoughts like this?
Why was her mind like this?
Why couldn't she disappear...?
Her nails dug into her calves.
Her stare widened. Her breathing quickened.
And she wished that she could run away.
The girl with white hair was troubled. The girl with white hair was a god.
She was not troubled because she was a god—her godhood was a fact she never knew.
In her heart, she made a sullen wish for refuge, and that wish was granted:
"Somewhere else, where I can be happy."
—
The girl with black hair died, and a wish called her soul away.
In a distant world, in another reality, a girl more powerful than her had made that wish.
The white-haired girl was so powerful that her wish had created a world.
A world with a meaningless name: "Arcaea".
Arcaea was a sanctuary meant to save the dead.
Though she'd been alive when she'd made her wish, she still keenly felt that sense of "death".
She'd given it no consideration, none at all—in fact, she couldn't have thought straight if she'd
tried. She only wanted something there for herself. It's possible, really, that if she knew the fate
of those caught in Arcaea's web, she would see herself as having done a very good thing.
The world reached out to countless other places across time, across separate realities.
It was alive, and though it had no thought it nonetheless "wished" to share life with those dead.
Unguided, it caught any it could that spoke to its "heart".
In a space crafted between the seams of the real, in darkness spotted with soft and distant purple starlight...
...so many souls were wrapped into the weave, and brought to a new and shining border beyond the black.
The world of white...
From there, the world made a perfect imprint of each, and also released each. It gave each imprint a warm
place, gave them a new shape...
It gave them infinity, to view and relive endless life in safety.
But it could not truly save its maker...
It was able to take true souls, double them, and bring the doubles into new bodies, releasing those
first souls to whatever else awaited them... However, the soul of the one who would be known as "Hikari"
was fixed back in its first world. She was still alive.
...Arcaea, always unthinking, instead forced a copy of that soul as best as it could.
And much later, it found a soul more tragic than any other it had yet to find, similar to its mother's...
Strangely, that soul could not be properly kept either. When released, it could not leave the false
world's border like the rest... and so began to watch its star-crossed copy on the new, white earth instead.
Tairitsu... woke in a ruined tower.
—
And time passed...
Unthinkably, one of the saved had threatened everything...
But mercifully, the one who had made this all returned, and soon the world was safe again...
Arcaea was only crafted to exist. It had called out to its maker, and that maker had heeded that call. Like
Arcaea had made a monitor for the shards... like it bid that monitor to swallow up any anomalies that
fractured its fragile existence...
So now, it exists, and has existed.
It has existed, ever since, for over one thousand years.
The red blood that stained the earth was erased, leaving behind pure, white land. Tairitsu's body
was burned away...
Warmth filled everything. The sky grew bright.
The pearl and nearly endless landscape came together again.
And now, it is a truly beautiful world...
Dotted in figures: of girls who chose to rest in a land of endless travel. They chose to be frozen, and to
stare eternally into this world of the lost. And if they are thinking at all... it is of a very distant past.
And that was surely the better choice…
That was surely better than walking and watching other places forever...
They must be happy. They need to be.
Arcaea had nothing else to give them but that choice. The world was
still buried "inbetween", and escape was—
—and... any realms outside of it... were outside, and away, and could
never be seen again.
So, the twins, the girl with a blade, the traveler, the noble, the girl with a song...
They and others are angelic figures.
And the glass shards of Arcaea often come to rest now, too. They gather along
walls and pillars, compacting in great and plentiful formations. Like crystals.
Like corrosion.
—This beautiful world is overseen by a god. Above it all, Hikari watches passively...
...and remembers…
She remembers everything old worlds have forgotten. She sees them, with marginal warmth
or interest. An indulgence, of sorts, for the mind of a faded and listless god.
Maybe... she has transformed. Who she was and who she is... She must be "higher" now.
She cherishes a truth she can only pray that others would understand—though if they
will not... She has only chosen to watch the world.
Yet... though she watches it passively, she knows she has given them "everything".
...
...Outside her purview, a philosopher and satellite wander.
Beneath it, a horned woman tends to precious memories.
A woman with a flower in her eye... trudges through silent lands.
It is vain. It is vanity.
Arcaea now—is vanity.
And that... is better than the alternative.
Better than the world which spits at you. Better than yourself, who loathes your very way of being.
Living to love being alive, and succumbing to vanity...
...Reality, in all of its facets, is an empty, worthless, and inconsequential thing. The only thing one could
ever want would be to take what one can out of it.
Take pleasure. Take love. Take hope. Take power.
And with it...
...
Hikari believes this: one has no need to do anything.
Take. Live. And, sincerely, love being alive.
Love that...
Though not even for a thousand years, nor even a thousand more... will life ever mean a thing.
After all, reality marches on with no discernable "end" in store. And Arcaea, specifically,
was never anything more than a vessel for memories.
Incorporeal, contained, silent memories—while the outside remains unseen, unnoticed, and uncared for.
And those memories will exist forever here in that silence, together with those lost lives Hikari has saved,
and with her turning no eye to those lives, as always.
Because here there is no memory unseen—no emotion not felt. This is "all", which Light shines down upon,
and which Light grants.
It is for happiness. It is for eternal peace; unlike in any life you might have left behind.
This: she loves. This: Arcaea—
—Given to lost lives with neither favor nor condemnation.
And so, like this, the wheels of fate here continue to turn...
...while no destiny waits beyond.