"Amber King?"
Audrey and Alger exchanged looks, then both turned their eyes toward Sairuis.
"The Amber King, huh," Sairuis looked at Derrick, "you actually know of the Amber King? As expected of a city-state that's survived from the Second Epoch."
"In fact, we only found out recently," Derrick said honestly, dismantling Sairuis' intended mystique in one breath.
"Tch, I see." Sairuis changed the topic smoothly.
"Well, since you want to know, I'll explain it. Just so happens I can give everyone a bit of popular science, too. Who knows—maybe one day you'll all walk the path of Paths yourselves."
Klein immediately caught on—Path of Paths?
So the "Amber King" was a title of some Pathstrider?
"The builder of the Celestial Comet Wall, the Subspace Crystalline Barrier, and the Great Attractor Base. Their worshippers call THEM—the Amber King." Sairuis spoke in a chant-like tone.
THEM?
Everyone except the Little Sun looked confused at the use of a divine pronoun.
"THEY have another name—one much better known: Aeon of Preservation, Qlipoth."
Sairuis continued, "But to understand what an Aeon is, we must first talk about the concept of Paths."
Seeing the Taro Club members' curious, puzzled eyes, Sairuis began his explanation:
"The so-called Paths have no precise definition yet. Their essence remains under study. Some say that, for now, the easiest way to describe it is as a philosophical concept—something that can only be understood as a phenomenon."
"Someone once explained it to me like this: It is a fragment of imaginary numbers, a formal aggregation of consciousness. When certain conditions are met, that fragment can be entirely occupied by a sentient being."
"That sentient being becomes known as a Aeon, and the energy they wield is called their Path. An Aeon can use the power of their Path freely—but they are also eternally bound by it."
["You just copied Old Yang's original quote word for word, didn't you."]
"Well, what else was I supposed to do? If I tried to phrase it myself, I'd just start arguing with you again." Sairuis retorted through the team voice chat.
["Fair point. It does give me a headache when I don't argue with you."]
["Wait no—who says Old Yang's right anyway? Who says MiHoYo's writers are right?"]
"You're just being a pure fan contrarian now."
Audrey timidly raised her hand. "Professor Banana, why have we never heard of Aeons before?"
She actually remembered to call me Professor Banana… she's too precious, I could cry.
"Good question, Miss Justice." Sairuis nodded approvingly. "That's because Star Gods rarely appear before the public. Even if someone witnesses a miracle, they'd most likely fail to recognize it as an Aeon's work."
"Though the concept of Aeon is common across the cosmos—and even beyond it—our world is a rather remote one, disconnected from the galactic whole. That's why you've never heard of them."
"In fact, from what I know, Aeons have only appeared once in roughly the last three hundred years."
"They were the Aeon of Trailblaze, Akivili, and the Aeon of Elation, Aha."
Audrey asked again, "So how many Aeons are there in total?"
Sairuis cleared his throat. "I don't know all of them, but as far as I know, there are around eighteen."
He deliberately left himself some leeway—after all, when he transmigrated, Honkai: Star Rail hadn't even finished yet.
"First, there's the Aeon of Trailblaze, Akivili. The universe's wandering vagabond—drifting from one galaxy to another. They ceaselessly pioneer the unknown, expanding the universe's boundaries."
The word "vagabond" was a Roselle term—everyone except the Little Sun understood it, though even he could guess from the rest.
"There are two main groups who follow the Trailblazer's path—the Nameless and the Named. The Nameless are also called Trailblazers, known as the Good Samaritans—or tragic heroes—of the universe."
"I have a Nameless friend," Sairles smiled. "If you truly need help and make a proper request—no matter the reward, even if it's just a single piece of candy—she'll still do her best to help you."
That's… a genuinely good person, thought Audrey, Derrick, and Klein.
Fools… but undeniably good people, Alger thought.
"They say:
'The compass of destiny points to three directions—the unknown, the known, and the unknowable. One can endure the unknown—but must never bow to the unknowable.'That's why their exploration never ends."
"They also say:
'The clock's hands move endlessly, just like yours always point forward. Trailblazing has no end. The journey's destination—only you can decide. To blaze a trail is to continue where others could not, to go further than any before.'"
"How romantic," Audrey couldn't help but say, her eyes sparkling like tiny stars.
(And no, not Leonard.)
"Next," Sairuis continued, "is the Aeon of Elation, Aha—a god of amusement. It's said that no matter where you are, you can catch a glimpse of them somewhere."
"But the 'Elation' here doesn't mean simple pleasure, and certainly not the base indulgence of demonesses."
"Everything meaningful is Elation. Feeling happiness is Elation; feeling unhappiness is also Elation. One can find joy within bliss, and also within pain."
Sairuis patted his chest proudly. "We, the Masked Fools, are the followers who walk Aha's path."
Klein nodded inwardly. So the "Heavenly Lord of Freedom and Elation" Sairuis mentioned in his letter must've been this Aeon of Elation.
"Those who walk the Path of Elation live to find amusement. Whatever brings us joy—we do it."
"Many don't understand us. They think we're lunatics, idiots… fools. Of course, I don't mean you, Mr. Fool."
Klein nodded calmly to show he didn't mind.
"But so what?" Sairuis grinned. "Even their misunderstanding is entertaining."
He chuckled a few times.
"The truth of the world is but a joke; the ultimate meaning of all things lies in pure laughter.The universe is indifferent—but joy can dissolve pain, wash away sorrow, defy the void, and heal all wounds. Laughter is the birthright of sentient beings—it is the only true answer."
"Some say we Fools stir up chaos wherever we go, all to seek amusement. We laugh at heroes' arrogance, kings' greed, lovers' entanglements, and sages' overthinking.
All to stir the stagnant pond of life—so that in its ripples, we can glimpse mockery worth laughing at."
"And they're right. That's exactly who we are."
Sairuis leaned forward, lowering his voice like he was revealing a great secret.
"You can find us anywhere—because we are everywhere."
Just as everyone was listening intently, Sairuis suddenly raised his voice—
"But!"
Everyone jumped.
"In our Masked Fools, those who are self-absorbed, who bring no joy to others, who only indulge themselves—are the lowest of the low." He said this with deep disdain.
"But if someone can actually fool us…" Sairuis paused, grinning wide, "then that is the most precious joy of all!"
He shifted in his chair. "Besides that—meaningless things are also Elation. Because Aha believes that meaninglessness itself is a form of meaning."
"In the cosmos, there's a group known as the Mourning Actors. They walk the Path of Elation—yet deny Elation, preaching asceticism instead."
Klein remembered encountering such mimes during a simulated universe run.
"Can you guess how the great Aeon of Elation responded to them?"
"Suppressed them?" Audrey asked uncertainly.
"Wrong!" Sairuis crossed his arms in a big X.
"The Aeon of Elation shared Their power with them."
"What?" everyone gasped in disbelief.
"Because they found meaning in denying Elation itself. They found their own path."
"Many people live without any meaning at all…" Sairuis said softly, voice tinged with melancholy.
"Since that's the case—" his voice rose again, firm and resonant,
"—then the Aeon of Elation gives them meaning!"
"You may believe in Me. You may deny Me.You may mock Me. You may hate Me.All of it has meaning. All of it is elation."
"If you can find your purpose in rejecting Elation, then do so boldly—for the God of Elation will be your greatest supporter."
"Even amidst the beauty of tragedy,the God of Elation witnesses the blossoming of radiant laughter."
(End of Chapter)