"Hey Echo, what do you think about love?" Echo's ears perked up at her right before turning her head to her classmate.
"Love?" She tilted her head, gnawing on carrots.
At the first thought of love, Symboli Rudolf first appeared in her mind, then the images of the tracks, carrots, the sensation of running, her friends, and the people she raced against.
"Well, what about love?" Echo tilted her head again, unaware that her classmates were trying to get some gossip out of her. They wanted to hear any improvement in Rudolf and Echo's relationship.
Ever since their return from their training camp, everyone naturally noticed that Symboli Rudolf and Echo Eclipse did not train together anymore, but were still deeply part of each other's lives.
"You know, like, romantic love." They said as Echo slowly blinked at them. Echo hadn't noticed that she was surrounded by at least 4 girls.
Her thoughts went back to the blue-haired goddess, Godolphin Barb. Love is the principle that she holds dearly.
'Does she love platonically or romantically? Or does she love everything, no matter the difference?' Echo's tail swayed as she tilted her head in silence; her classmate was left in confusion.
They aren't getting any reaction or blushes from Echo Eclipse; they remembered when she used to blush when seeing Rudolf. What happened?!
...
Then, after some time, Echo nodded.
Before proceeding to leave the classroom, giving no answer to the question, stunning them again before sighing. They probably never will understand the thought process of Echo Eclipse.
Echo remembered when she was born, after learning Japanese and getting used to her new body. She immediately searched for the three goddesses who had reincarnated her.
They were the three symbols of Uma Musume, even when there were no records of their existence. People and Umas still believed in their existence.
The reason?
Well, isn't the existence of Uma Musume proof enough?
Even after all this time, Echo had never forgotten the promises she made to them during her process of reincarnation.
"To keep running no matter the obstacle I face," she had promised Byerley Turk, who is to uphold the principle of discipline.
"To not be afraid of failure, of sadness. To be brave," she had promised Darley Arabian, who is to uphold the principle of bravery.
"To not hate, to love the world, and to share my love with others. To be kind, happy, and thankful," she had promised Godolphin Barb, who is to uphold the principle of love.
And those promises she made eventually became the core of her personality in this life.
Even if she felt alone on the track, envious of others who were giving their all to win against their rival, even when they could only chase her shadow.
She would still run.
Even if her friends retired earlier than her, even if she got an injury, even when she would be alone at the top.
She would still persevere and face the lonely future alone.
She could be all alone; her parents would've passed away; her friendships may have fractured; even if she became lost on the track called "life."
She would still love the world and herself.
This is the existence called "Echo Eclipse," even if she was a lonely existence in the end.
"Love..." Echo mumbled as she arrived at the statue of the three goddesses. She felt at peace here, like she could be vulnerable without worrying about being spotted.
They each have their principles that they uphold.
What about her?
Echo Eclipse ran because she wanted to move.
Echo Eclipse trained because she enjoyed running at a higher speed.
Echo Eclipse raced because she yearned for someone to run beside her.
But those reasons are superficial.
Not everyone could forever run on the racecourse called "Life."
Not everyone could run without growing up in the process.
Not everyone was meant to run on the track.
What about Symboli Rudolf?
What principle does Rudolf uphold?
"Absolute justice and unwavering leadership." That is the core of the Emperor: to create a world where all Uma Musumes are happy.
Then what about Mr C.B.? What principle does she uphold?
"Absolute freedom and following her own heart." That is the core of the Director of Turf: to create a world where all Uma Musumes could run without obeying the strict rules of racing.
But what about Echo Eclipse?
What is her principle?
Echo's breathing heaved as she leaned against the base of the statue, kneeling and resting her forehead against the cool marble.
Sometimes fate is cruel.
Among countless Umas of this world, all of them are destined for something. They already know why they run or are in the process of learning why.
They already and subconsciously know the principle they uphold while running.
And Echo Eclipse is the sole Uma who isn't destined for anything.
All she could do was affect others with the ripples she causes.
"What principle do I uphold?" Echo whimpered with a hoarse voice; she hadn't realised she was crying.
Slowly, the existence called "Echo Eclipse" was emerging out of her egg.
"What is the significance of my existence?"
Echo had only known the world inside her shell, and for the first time, Echo was learning the core of her existence.
Echo lifted her head and turned around. Sitting against the statue, she glanced at the blue sky.
She knew she was born to change the fate of others, but she never learned the purpose of her existence.
"We were born to experience the beauty of the world..." Echo muttered, her vision warping as her mind churned.
She felt tired.
She felt sick.
She felt lost.
It's hard. Trying to understand the core of her existence, trying to comprehend it.
It could've been easier if there was somebody to tell her the purpose of her existence.
But no matter how long she waited, nobody responded. Including the goddesses.
Tears trickled down her cheeks as she buried her head into her arms.
Then, she remembered Yayoi Sho.
She ran ahead, and everyone chased after her. They weren't mad or sad about losing to her; they were smiling.
"If you think you are worthy of racing against me, then give it your all! Try to catch up to me, try to overcome me, try to surpass me! But you will never touch me." Her illusory self confidently said while running around the corner.
Echo Eclipse lifted her head, watching each illusory figure run past her, chasing after her illusory self.
"Why were you all smiling? Why were you all chasing me that much?" Echo mumbled, confused. She isn't the Unbounded Wind currently, right now.
She was simply Echo Eclipse.
The rest of the illusory figures kept running forward, all but one.
Illusory Suda Hawk slowed her pace and turned her head toward Echo Eclipse.
"Ah… well, even though I know that I will never win against you. You didn't crush our hope; you didn't make us regret ever racing you." Suda Hawk gave the happiest smile Echo had seen, embarrassingly rubbing the side of her neck, as if she was talking to a celebrity.
"You invited us to chase you, no matter how slow we are, no matter how weak we are. You invited us to catch up to you." Suda Hawk stared determinedly at Echo, as if there was a goal in her eyes.
"That is why we run without caring if we lose or not."
Echo Eclipse could only blink before the illusory Suda Hawk sped up and ran ahead, wanting to catch up to the illusory Echo Eclipse.
Then Echo laughed.
Echo Eclipse was the Unbounded Wind, but the Unbounded Wind was also Echo Eclipse.
The answer was obvious from the very start.
The existence named "Echo Eclipse" finally spread her wings outward, no longer contained inside her shell.
And so, Echo Eclipse wiped her tears and stood up. Standing determined in front of the statue.
The principle of Echo Eclipse was simple.
"Unbounded resolve and unwavering companionship." That is the principle of the Unbounded Wind: to create a world where no Uma Musume has to run alone.
She turned around and walked away from the statue.
Three illusory figures were watching beside the statue, smiling with satisfaction.
Echo Eclipse had found the purpose of her existence.
She is no longer lost.