The scene of us being on a tall cliff. That's all I can make up on that vague memory. Why we're there or what we're doing there, I have no idea. I don't know if it is just buried too deep that no matter how I tried to recall it, that's the only thing I could remember or I still need to do something to fully remember it.
It's a memory from a previous life. It confirmed that I'm also a reincarnator.
If the memories ripped off me concerned the memories I recovered about my previous life, then… my memory of not only Yuko but also of Sofiel was included in it.
Then this vague memory is just something that was imprinted deep on me. If I didn't meet her and hear how she calls me using that endearment, it would never surface.
Though vague, I still tried to make up what's in that memory. The tall cliff doesn't seem like it's from here in the World of Element or Earth. It's a world with big stars in the sky.
"… Yes."
That's all I could answer but upon admitting it, it gathered a more exaggerated reaction from Sofiel.
She jumped around cutely and her wings that were quite silent earlier flapped excitedly. Fleur who was watching all of it took a step back and decided to watch from a distance.
"I knew it! You will eventually remember me! I'm happy, darling. Can I hug you?"
"No, I mean you can hug me but I told you it's a vague memory, and that is the only thing I can remember."
"It doesn't matter if that's the only thing you remember for now. I'm going to tell you how special that scene is for us, anyway."
Sofiel muttered a soft 'ehehe' as she snuggled herself to me again. I couldn't just push her away when she's this happy.
"That scene you remembered was the first time I called you darling. Or to be more precise, that time was when I became yours."
When she calmed down, Sofiel softly narrated the events leading to that scene while not letting go of me.
I already moved us out of the room and down to the seats neatly placed in this room of hers. Before moving onto how this Great Protector's Church came to be, knowing our story which she remembered comes first.
I had Fleur sit near us. Though she's not saying anything, her expression showed how curious she is about my history with Sofiel. Though it would all be in her perspective, knowing things about the past I couldn't remember also somehow excites me.
The memories she managed to remember weren't complete. It's not that it was sealed, but her head filtered it so she wouldn't be overwhelmed with the burden of remembering everything from her previous life all at once.
That tall cliff was called the Punishment Cliff. Though it sounds cliché, nothing of the sort where I went there to rescue her happened. It just became our meeting place after being separated for a few years.
According to her memory, that World, where it happened, was a Level 2 World that serves as a converging hub for Mortal Worlds' Transcendents. Though it's still possible to continue advancing from a Mortal World, moving up to a Level 2 World was the normal way for a Transcendent to progress further.
Just like in the cultivation novels, after ascending from a lower realm, they will arrive in a higher realm which was connected to numerous lower realm.
It's almost the same concept, except not all Mortal Worlds have that connection. She couldn't tell me more about it since she also couldn't remember the complete information about it.
If I remember correctly, that Old Man in the Mansion Ruins told us that after reaching Transcendence we will be able to know more. However, aside from the Transcendent Pathway and Source Energy Types, becoming a Transcendent doesn't tell us anything. I assumed that those two pieces of information were what he was talking about, but now that Sofiel mentioned about a Level 2 World that serves as a converging hub, that's probably what he meant by being able to know more.
After becoming a Transcendent, we should have ascended to a converging hub and become exposed to more information about various worlds, be it Mortal or Transcendent Worlds. It was also probably possible to acquire knowledge about a world higher than a Transcendent World there.
With this information, I could safely conclude that something is different to the Mortal Worlds that was being invaded by the Dark World. It's not connected to any converging hubs like that. Because if that's the case, Nysia, Fleur, Sofiel or any other Transcendents should have already ascended to it or at least have information about one instead of staying in a Mortal World where their progress slowed down.
Will the Principal have information about it? Or maybe I have to visit the Old Man in that Mansion Ruins?
Ah. I'll think about that later. Earth is supposed to be a world higher than a Level 2, so the problem probably started with it.
Anyway, continuing her story, we met in that Level 2 World and were on each other's throats most of the time. She was a Transcendent from a Mortal World who ascended there to further her cultivation and I was more like a young master from a Higher World who visited that world with a number of women at my side.
At one point she offended someone stronger than her and I saved her from it, but that didn't improve our relationship at all. She was thankful, but that's it.
However, our story didn't end there. From her memory, she told me how at each turn we would meet each other until she naturally became someone I traveled with. It's not a great love story where she's always a damsel in distress, but it's just a normal one where we eventually bonded.
At one point in time, we had to separate because I had to go back to my homeworld.
Since she's narrating from what she remembered, she told me how I promised that I would come back to go on an adventure with her again. Along with that promise, we set that Punishment Cliff as our meeting place.
Only after being separated did her feelings for me bloomed. She realized that I'm already someone important to her.
Because of that, she started to come back and wait on that Punishment Cliff for my return every year.
"The scene you remembered was the time when you finally returned a few after our separation. Right there and then, you confessed your love before I could throw all my frustrations to you. Because of that confession, all of it vanished and I jumped into your arms like this. I was so happy back then I started calling you 'darling' which you never rejected. How is it? Our story isn't that beautiful, right?"
Sofiel ended her story with a bitter smile and tears streaming down her face.
Right. It's too normal that the only notable event was that one time I saved her. Other than that, it became somewhat of a rom-com where I will always meet her and we will be at odds. However, through the continuous meetings, our bond grows ever so slowly. And with the separation, the feelings she bottled up exploded.
With only one perspective, it's still not enough to clear up the vague memory I remembered, but seeing her becoming sentimental by remembering the long wait she had, my arms naturally enclosed her to an embrace.
As soon as I did that, the familiar notification sound rang out inside my head. And the same feeling of our destinies converging filled my senses.
[Rank 2 Transcendent Sofiel has been added as your Companion.]
[Received a Passive Skill from Rank 2 Transcendent Sofiel: Enhanced Light Elemental Spells]
[Enhanced Light Elemental Spells: A simple enhancement derived from Transcendent's ability which was shared to those connected to her. 20% additional power and efficiency to the experience gained for Elemental Spell Proficiency.]
"As for the events after that, it's all boring adventures with only the two of us. How I died or if you really kept me by your side until the end, like you, it's also a vague memory. There were you stepping in front of not just me but everyone else against a terrifying enemy. I'm sure I would be able to remember that sooner or later. Meeting you again is something I looked forward to ever since remembering about us."
Ignoring the notifications that appeared in front of her, Sofiel continued.
Stepping in front of them against a terrifying enemy. Why does that sound similar to that image which Yuko saw? Is it really a glimpse of her future or a glimpse of our past? But Zerina is there. Is she also someone reincarnated? I don't know. There's also the possibility that what happened in the past will also happen in this present.
Haa…. There's no use overthinking to look for an answer to that. If it will happen, it will happen no matter the odds.
"Though it still feels surreal, my system went ahead of me and already made you my Companion. That proves our connection, Sofiel. I'm sure I will also remember that in the future and if I did, I will do the same and reminisce about it with you."
"Un. I'm confident we will be reconnected, but it appears that I'm not the first one."
Now that she checked the notifications she received after being recognized as my Companion, she also got to see the names of my other Companions.
"Well, I've already been to four worlds before here. Can you determine if there were others like you among them?"
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