"We're here."
"Come in."
Following Indifferent Lumina's footsteps, the group arrived at another new door.
Indifferent Lumina murmured a few words, then gently and slowly opened the door, leading March 7th and the others inside.
As they entered the room, their eyes were greeted by a space that was strikingly simple yet remarkably cozy.
Unlike the other areas they had seen, this room contained none of Lumina's Emotional Avatars. It felt like a warm, intimate sanctuary.
A bed, a table, a chair, a bookshelf, and a full-length mirror standing 1.6 meters tall were the only furnishings—a room stripped down to its bare essentials.
Then, they saw her: a figure in a pristine white dress, adorned with no embellishments, yet radiating a celestial beauty as if she had stepped straight out of a painting. She sat quietly at the head of the bed, her expression filled with innocent bewilderment, like a pure-hearted little girl untouched by the world's complexities.
"Hmm... Which Sister Lumina is this? Why does she seem so different from the other Emotional Avatars?" March 7th murmured, her curiosity piqued.
This Lumina was different from the others. Both her height and appearance were slightly more youthful than the Sister Lumina March 7th and the others remembered.
She seemed to be somewhere between Nahida and the "real" Lumina in maturity.
Faced with this entirely unfamiliar Sister Lumina, March 7th and the others naturally turned to Indifferent Lumina for answers.
"The rest is up to you now. Just follow your heart."
But this time, Indifferent Lumina offered no helpful advice or explanation. She simply nodded gently at March 7th and the others, left behind a cryptic remark that sounded like something from a riddle-loving sage, closed the door, and left.
Seeing this, the trio exchanged puzzled glances, unsure what to do next.
"This must be an Avatar of Sister Lumina's pure emotions," March speculated. "But why would she be kept alone in a room like this?"
After another exchange of glances, they cautiously approached this Sister Lumina, who stood above Nahida but below the "real" Sister Lumina.
Seeing that she hadn't noticed them yet, March 7th spoke softly, "Um... Sister Lumina?"
"Hmm?" Hearing March 7th's call, Lumina slowly raised her head, tilting it slightly as she gazed at the three beautiful girls before her. A gentle smile bloomed on her face as she waved a hand in greeting.
"Hello there~"
Ugh...
Sister Lumina's sudden display of cuteness pierced their hearts like Cupid's arrows, nearly overwhelming them with sheer adorableness...
The three girls clutched their chests, exchanging glances as their eyes communicated unspoken thoughts.
Though their individual thoughts differed, their conclusion was unanimous:
This emotional Lumina is a Great Terror!
With a nod, they aligned themselves on the same battle line, forming an alliance without a single word spoken—an alliance against the "Great Terror" Lumina before them!
"Hmm... May I ask, who are you?"
Just as the anti-"Great Terror" Lumina Alliance prepared to continue their silent communication to strategize and devise tactics, the "Great Terror" Lumina suddenly spoke up.
Pfft... Bang!
Upon hearing the soft, sweet voice, as innocent and naive as a young girl's, the newly formed anti-"Great Terror" Lumina Alliance crumbled and dissolved instantly, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
The three women clutched their hearts with one hand and their noses with the other. To an outsider, they might have looked like monkeys escaped from a zoo.
Hmm?
The "Great Terror" Lumina tilted her head, a hint of confusion and bewilderment in her jade-green eyes. She seemed unable to understand why these three strange Big Sisters were clutching their chests and pinching their noses.
"Then... uh... that is, Sister Lumina, don't you remember us?"
Having regained their senses from the "Great Terror" Lumina's devastating blow, the three women finally noticed something odd, something off.
Even though they had never seen those particular emotions or expressions on their own Sister Lumina—whether it was Indifference, flirtatiousness, depravity, or that "Pervert" persona—she always recognized them.
Ever since they entered this place, they had felt the gazes of the other Lumina's Emotional Avatars around them, which seemed to recognize them.
So why, despite being an Emotional Avatar of Sister Lumina just like them, did this "Great Terror" Lumina not recognize them?
This realization plunged the trio into silence.
Since the "Great Terror" Lumina didn't recognize them, and Indifferent Lumina offered no clues, they were at a loss for how to continue the conversation.
But then again, this Sister Lumina seems so innocent...Does that mean she'll believe anything we say?
Various thoughts flooded the minds of March 7th, Stelle, and Little Swarm. Though these thoughts were diverse and bizarre, they all converged on a single, audacious notion: rebellion, insubordination, seizing control...
"Hmm? You... remember me?"
"Who are you? I don't recognize you..."
"And... 'Sister Lumina'? Is that my name?"
The "Great Terror" Lumina bit her finger in confusion, asking in a dazed, bewildered tone.
K~O!
For some reason, it felt as if her health bar had been instantly emptied, as if she'd been one-shot by a Boss. Suddenly, a "K.O." sound echoed through the air.
March 7th gazed at Sister Lumina, who looked like a little angel... No, not just looked like—the Sister Lumina before her was a little angel!
A faint blush crept across March 7th's cheeks as she finally understood why perverts existed on short-video platforms...
Because she herself seemed to be one too—a pervert harboring certain thoughts about her beloved Sister Lumina...
Hmm... Since Sister Lumina doesn't know anything right now, does that mean I can...?
March 7th swallowed hard, a rebellious, insubordinate idea gradually taking over her body, completely dominating her.
Forgive me, Sister Lumina... I just want to be a little selfish, just this once!
March 7th's eyes suddenly hardened, her hidden thoughts finally surfacing, no longer concealed: "Sister Lumina, I'm March 7th! Your most precious daughter!"
"Daugh... Daughter?"
"Exactly! Sister Lumina... No, revered Mother, please look at me!"
"Ah? Ooh, hmm? Oh..."
Though still utterly bewildered, "Great Terror" Lumina didn't doubt the truth of March 7th's words.
Hmm... Or perhaps "Great Terror" Lumina simply didn't understand the meanings of "daughter" and "Mother."
Gulp...
When had March 7th ever seen Sister Lumina like this? Faced with such a version of her, March 7th knew she'd go mad if she didn't do something today!
So, she threw herself into "Great Terror" Lumina's arms, snuggling against her like a little kitten.
Mmm~ As expected, no matter which Lumina it was, her embrace was always so comforting, so warm.
"Hm?"
Watching March 7th throw herself into her arms and nuzzle against her, "Great Terror" Lumina tilted her head in confusion. Yet she didn't push her away. Instead, she reached out and gently patted March 7th's back.
"Hm? Good girl, don't cry. There, there... Mother is here."
Though Lumina, the "Great Terror," didn't understand what had happened or why March 7th had suddenly buried her face in her chest, she didn't mind. Following March 7th's earlier words, she continued speaking.
Even so, Lumina still didn't grasp the meanings of "daughter" or "Mother."
Just as I thought... No matter which Sister Lumina it is, she's always the embodiment of tenderness. Though the "Great Terror" Lumina had clearly misunderstood her intentions, March 7th still felt immensely happy, even if she was taking advantage of the situation.
Even if she was only capitalizing on Sister Lumina's confusion, March 7th still felt immensely pleased.
After a moment, under the unwavering gazes of Stelle and Little Swarm, March 7th reluctantly sat up from Lumina's embrace. She shot them a resentful look, her heart brimming with boundless dissatisfaction.
Seeing March 7th finally break free from Sister Lumina's embrace, Stelle's eyebrows, which had been raised so high they couldn't go any higher, gradually returned to normal.
"Sister Lumina... No, Mother! I'm your eldest daughter, your firstborn. So, please hug me too and comfort me!"
Simultaneously, she began spouting utter nonsense with a completely straight face, giving March 7th, Little Swarm, and the "Great Terror" Lumina no time to think. Mimicking March 7th's earlier actions, she immediately threw herself into Sister Lumina's arms, nuzzling her like a little kitten and perfectly replicating every step of March 7th's earlier routine.
"Mmm... Good girl, my eldest daughter. I am your Mother. Don't cry."
Witnessing this scene, though still unsure what "Mother," "daughter," or the "Great" prefix meant, the "Great Terror" Lumina gently patted Stelle's back, offering her comfort.
After a moment, Stelle slowly stood up. This wasn't because she had lost her nerve, but because she was satisfied.
Her mother's embrace was warm and reassuring, but as a cosmos-conquering, carefree, and unrepentant Galactic Baseballer, how could she possibly succumb to her Mother's tender embrace?
"Uhm... that..." Seeing Stelle finish so quickly, Little Swarm stepped forward, nervously clutching her dress, twisting and stuttering, as if trying to do something.
Taking a deep breath, Little Swarm mustered her courage and blurted out in one breath: "Mother, my name is Little Swarm. I'm your third daughter. Please... please grant me a warm embrace!"
After rushing out these words, Little Swarm shrank back, immediately closing her eyes, seemingly terrified that her request might anger the "Great Terror," Lumina...
Unlike March 7th and Stelle, Little Swarm lacked the courage to throw herself into Lumina's arms without permission.
"Hmm?" Seeing this, the "Great Terror," Lumina, tilted her head in confusion, puzzled why this blue-haired beauty hadn't rushed toward her.
No matter, Lumina thought. If she won't come to me, I'll go to her. With a gentle rise, she opened her arms and pulled Little Swarm into her embrace.
Recalling the words she had spoken to March 7th and Stelle earlier, she murmured softly, "Good girl, Third Daughter. Don't cry, Mother is here. No more crying."
Lumina, the Great Terror, gently patted Little Swarm on the back, offering her boundless warmth.
Little Swarm: ...
Ugh...
"Gr-Great Creator..."
But this time, Little Swarm was clearly different from March 7th and Stelle. Held in "Great Terror" Lumina's arms and comforted by her touch, Little Swarm's eyes instantly welled up with tears.
Realizing the emotion flooding her eyes, Little Swarm bit down hard on her lip, fighting to suppress and endure it.
In Little Swarm's eyes, the Great Creator was sacred, holy, and absolutely inviolable!
Her tears, these tiny pearls that threatened to fall, would stain the Great Creator's robes, sully her gaze, and forever brand her as a weak, weepy "failure" in the Great Creator's eyes. This was something Little Swarm would never allow.
But... but... but... this embrace... it was so tender!
Waaah! Waaah! Wahhh! Waaaaaaaaah! ( ˃̣̣̥o˂̣̣̥ )
In the end, despite Little Swarm's desperate attempts to endure and restrain herself, she succumbed to the tender embrace of "Great Terror" Lumina and burst into tears on the spot.
But to avoid staining the Great Creator's robes, Little Swarm quickly turned her head before her tears fell, ensuring her dirty tears wouldn't touch the Great Creator's esteemed garments.
"Huh?" Watching her Third Daughter, whom she had been comforting, suddenly erupt into sobs, "Great Terror" Lumina was momentarily stunned.
"There, there, Third Daughter, Mother is here. Don't cry anymore."
Thinking she might have said something wrong, "Great Terror" Lumina repeated her earlier actions and words, gently patting Little Swarm's back and enunciating each syllable to ensure her words contained no errors.
"N-no... No crying, I won't cry... I won't cry!"
Under the soothing repetition of "Great Terror" Lumina's gentle voice, Little Swarm gradually calmed down, her tears finally ceasing.
Hmm...
Seeing this scene, Stelle and March 7th exchanged glances, both recognizing a hint of regret in each other's eyes.
If only I'd cried earlier!
If they had known that crying wouldn't earn them Sister Lumina's scorn and insults, but instead would elicit her gentle comfort, March 7th and Stelle would have forced out a few sobs themselves...
A moment later, Little Swarm slowly rose from "Great Terror" Lumina's lap, her face flushed crimson. "I-I'm sorry, Lady Lumina..." she stammered.
"Hmm..."
Hearing this, the "Great Terror" Lumina didn't respond immediately. Instead, she continued to chew on her finger, lost in thought for a while.
"Lumina...? Is that my name?"
"It sounds so lovely!"
"From now on, I'll call myself Lumina!"
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
Lumina clapped her hands with delight, a pure, innocent smile blooming on her face, utterly free of worldly taint.
March 7th, Stelle, and Little Swarm: ...
The trio held their breath, deeply etching the image of "Great Terror" Lumina into their hearts...
That day, an angel appeared...