"Grandma Yaoshi!"
Kiana's clear, bright call stunned everyone present.
Zephyro: ???
Firefly: ???
Even Phantylia, sealed within the Stellaron, stopped thrashing about. A wave of utter disbelief rippled out from the ball of light.
What the hell???
Who exactly was she calling Grandma?
And yet, to everyone's astonishment, a faintly gratified expression really did appear on Yaoshi's face.
"Good child…"
She spread her arms and gently embraced the girl who had thrown herself at her.
"Grandma Yaoshi, did you come all this way just to see me?"
Kiana looked up, her eyes so much like Cecilia's, filled with curiosity.
Yaoshi gave a slight nod.
"You are that child's daughter. I… wanted to see you."
At that, understanding dawned on Kiana.
That was right. No matter how one looked at it, whether on the surface or in truth, this account of hers was pure Destruction through and through. It had nothing to do with Abundance.
But that did not matter.
She herself might have no connection to Abundance, but Cecilia certainly did.
And if Kiana was Cecilia's daughter, then how was she not Yaoshi's granddaughter?
After all, Kiana had seen with her own eyes how Yaoshi treated Cecilia back on the Luofu.
So the moment she sensed Yaoshi's presence, she immediately understood what was going on.
She grinned without the slightest hesitation. "Then why didn't you come out earlier? Did Mom know you'd been following me the whole time?"
Yaoshi lowered her gaze slightly.
"She knew."
"But I was afraid… afraid you might not like it."
It could not be helped.
Back on the Luofu, even though Cecilia had never once shown the slightest resistance to Yaoshi's affection, the truth remained that Cecilia had never called her Mother.
That was right—Yaoshi had been making her presence known again and again, giving gifts, helping fight monsters, not only because she doted on her child, but also because she wanted, with all her heart, to hear that child call her Mother just once.
But reality had been cruel. Until the day Yaoshi left the Luofu, that wish had not been fulfilled.
Still, the granddaughter before her was just as adorable.
And more importantly—
She had just called her Grandma Yaoshi!
Though the girl walked the Path of Destruction, that was no matter. As long as she was her child's daughter, then she was Yaoshi's granddaughter too.
"...You don't mind me following you?" Yaoshi asked carefully again.
In her understanding, those who walked the Path of Destruction were usually hot-tempered. So she could not help worrying that perhaps her granddaughter was in a rebellious phase.
Kiana blinked, then smiled even more brightly.
"Mind? Why would I mind?"
She looped her arms around Yaoshi's, sounding perfectly matter-of-fact. "You're my mom's mom, which makes you my grandma. A granddaughter being close to her grandma is only natural!"
Yaoshi's figure trembled ever so slightly.
On that face that was eternally gentle and compassionate, an expression close to being moved finally surfaced.
"You truly think so?"
"Of course!" Kiana nodded vigorously. Then, as if remembering something, she added, "But Grandma, next time, if you want to see me, you can just come out directly. You don't have to keep sneaking around."
"If my mom knew, she'd definitely say the same thing."
Yaoshi fell silent.
She remembered how, back on the Luofu, Cecilia had never once spoken the word Mother aloud.
Though that child had never resisted her affection, had accepted her gifts, and had even shown a trace of reluctance to part when she left...
That form of address had still never passed Cecilia's lips.
Yaoshi had once thought that was already the best response she could hope for.
"Child, is there any gift you would like?"
At that moment, Yaoshi spoke again.
When it came to Cecilia, she had already been fond of giving this and that, and now that she had met Kiana, she naturally had no intention of showing favoritism.
Kiana blinked. "A gift?"
"Mm." Yaoshi nodded lightly. "You are that child's daughter, which makes you my granddaughter. I wish to give you something."
Hearing that, Kiana was secretly delighted.
Although this Kiana account was her starting account—the one she had invested the most thought into—it was still just a little short of being maxed out.
If Yaoshi was willing to give her something, there was naturally no reason to refuse.
And judging by how generous Yaoshi had already been, Kiana could not help feeling a little excited.
Still, despite her inner thoughts, she answered with the most polite—and most pleasing—response she could manage.
"As long as it's from Grandma Yaoshi, I'll like it."
At that, Yaoshi smiled softly.
For beings of pure concept, most Aeons had long since lost what people would call human emotions, and Yaoshi was no exception.
Yet ever since she met her child, she had begun to feel almost human again.
Sure enough, after hearing Kiana's perfect answer, Yaoshi's expression brightened visibly.
She lifted a hand, and a warm light gathered in her palm.
"Then… would you like me to take you somewhere?"
"What place?"
"The interstice of the Path of Abundance."
As she spoke, Yaoshi extended her hand. A裂缝 split open within the phantom light, and beyond it lay a realm impossible to describe in words.
"That is the root of my authority. The proof of my existence."
Yaoshi looked at Kiana, expectation clear in her eyes.
Of course, even without the explanation, Kiana knew very well what this place was. She had already been there once before, when using Cecilia's account.
So Kiana agreed without hesitation.
"Sure."
She nodded, then turned and handed the Stellaron containing Phantylia over to Zephyro.
Taking the Stellaron, Zephyro frowned slightly.
To be honest, she was still deeply worried.
Even if Yaoshi had shown no hostility toward her young lady so far, Zephyro did not dare gamble with her young lady's life.
If they were outside, then perhaps, if anything happened, Nanook might still sense it and come to help.
But if they entered the interstice of the Path of Abundance...
Even Zephyro could not predict the outcome.
"Miss, isn't this too dangerous?"
She tried to dissuade her one more time.
And upon hearing that, even Yaoshi grew tense.
After all, this was her first meeting with Kiana. The girl was an Emanator of Destruction, and Yaoshi was the Aeon of Abundance.
Destruction and Abundance—two Paths utterly opposed, naturally distant from one another.
But fortunately, Kiana's answer did not disappoint her.
"It's fine." Kiana waved a hand casually.
"Grandma would never hurt me."
At that, Yaoshi said no more.
But in her heart, she silently made up her mind.
This child—she would protect her well.
Just as she had protected her mother.
"Zephyro, Firefly, wait for me here," Kiana instructed.
"I'll be back in no time."
…
The scenery within the interstice of the Path was not much different from what Kiana remembered from last time.
Still, she looked around with deliberate curiosity.
"So this is the interstice of the Path of Abundance?"
Yaoshi stood beside her, her phantom form looking all the softer within this realm.
"What do you think? Is it beautiful here?"
...What kind of question was that?
Kiana was briefly caught off guard.
But then again, taking a closer look now, she was surprised to find that Yaoshi really had decorated the place with care.
Of course, Kiana had not come here for a sightseeing tour.
"Grandma Yaoshi, you didn't bring me here just to show me around, did you?"
Yaoshi smiled gently.
"Mm. There is something I wish to give you."
Then she raised her hand, and countless motes of light around them began gathering into her palm.
Those points of light intertwined, fused, and finally condensed into a warm radiance.
It seemed to be of the same origin as the tender leaf she had given Cecilia before, yet somehow different.
"This is one of the most fundamental authorities of Abundance."
Yaoshi looked at Kiana, anticipation shining in her eyes.
"I wish to give it to you, child. Would you be willing to become my Emanator?"
Oh?
So Yaoshi wanted to make her an Emanator too?
Kiana naturally knew that it was possible for an Emanator to walk more than one Path. Most such existences, in fact, came from Destruction.
Like Zephyro, for example.
As the shadow behind a Harmony Great Commander, even if she did not formally hold the title of Emanator, her attainments in Harmony had long since reached that level.
So this meant... she could pick up Abundance too?
"Since Grandma's offering, then I won't be shy about accepting," Kiana said happily.
She extended her hand and took the light.
Yaoshi nodded in satisfaction.
Yet just as she was about to take the next step, another accident struck.
A violent force began forcing its way in, trying to invade this world that belonged to Abundance.
Kiana looked up sharply, surprise flashing in her eyes.
Because this aura felt very familiar.
That seemed to be… the aura of Destruction?
And so, within what had moments ago been the vast, empty interstice, another figure slowly appeared.
Kiana's heart jumped as she recognized the newcomer at once.
Nanook.
Why had he come here?
Then Nanook's voice resounded throughout the interstice.
"Yaoshi. You have overstepped."
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 132)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter140)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter95)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter165)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 145
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 135
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 95
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 155
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 125
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 105
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 62
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 80
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 66
Uma Musume: From Beginner 80
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 62
Uma Musume: I Want All 65
I Can Copy Unique Skills 53
Summoning an Evil God, but the 41
Supernatural Multiverse 45
My Harem Is Indescribable 35
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 46
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 26
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 36
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