After her body shattered and her form dissipated, Rachel could feel her consciousness being drawn by a force into a warm place.
A warmth like sunshine enveloped her soul, leading her through a long passage until she finally arrived at a large door at the end.
The door slowly opened, revealing a familiar and welcoming scene to Rachel.
The sun was shining brightly, and the sky was cloudless.
The square in Muxi City was packed with people, and everywhere was decorated with festive flags.
A grand celebration was held here, with countless fine wines and delicacies, and all kinds of booths and stalls set up in all directions of the square.
The appearance of Rachel was met with cheers from the Knights of Twilight, the Crusaders, and many citizens of Twilight City, as well as everyone in the square.
"The hero who defeated the undead!"
"Our president!"
"The highest respect to Ms. Rachel!"
Looking at the familiar faces in the crowd—Cumberland, Emerson, Alfonso, Randall, Wayne…—Ratchet’s smile became somewhat restrained; she seemed not to have expected such a scene.
Amidst the welcoming crowd, Rachel walked towards the center of the square and saw the figure she had longed for day and night.
Todd stood on the high platform in the square, smiling as he extended his hand to him.
Slowly ascending the steps, Rachel took Todd's hand and stood atop the platform. Looking at the surging crowd before her, she whispered, "I've always wanted to ask, what's the deal with that giant dragon?"
Todd replied, “As you can see, these people have voluntarily given up the protection of heaven and given me a chance to fight again with their souls.”
Rachel looked up at the sky and asked, "So, this is considered your soul space?"
Todd: "It's not just mine, it's theirs too. The power of everyone's souls, gathered together, is what built that dragon."
Rachel patted her chest, saying with lingering fear, "When I opened my eyes earlier, I saw you falling into the lava, and I thought I had lost you forever."
Todd sighed deeply: "At that time, my soul went to a place you'd never guess where it was?"
Rachel turned her head curiously, waiting for Todd's answer.
Todd: "I saw the Crystal Star, which showed me the secrets of the entire universe."
Upon hearing Todd mention the name "Crystal Nest," Rachel suddenly remembered something.
She quickly looked down and her face immediately turned completely pale.
Noticing the change in Rachel's expression, Todd frowned and asked, "What's wrong?"
Rachel turned to look at the crowd in the square and said in a trembling voice, "Todd, I want to go somewhere else."
Todd: "What? You're not used to this kind of situation?"
Rachel's words betrayed unease and sorrow: "That's only one reason, but more importantly, my time is running out..."
Rachel raised her right hand, and Todd was surprised to find that the fingers of the former had begun to fade and gradually become transparent.
Todd was stunned: "How could this be?!"
Rachel: "Have you forgotten who we are? We are both reborn beings. After death, our souls will enter another cycle of reincarnation and start anew... That's why I said my time is running out..."
Todd frowned: "I thought that by bringing your soul here, I could break free from the shackles of rebirth and reincarnation."
Rachel shook her head: "The karmic burden of rebirth on the soul is much stronger than you imagine."
Todd glanced at the crowd below the stage and asked, "Is there any way to prevent the reborn from entering the cycle of reincarnation?"
Rachel shook her head vigorously: "There is no way. Even in such a soul space, the soul of the reborn will still be extracted and forced into the next cycle of reincarnation."
Rachel looked down and saw that both of her palms were gradually becoming transparent.
Todd asked, "I'll take you away from here now, to somewhere else. Where would you like to go?"
Rachel thought for a moment and said, "You once said that you attended a university on Earth, and there was a lake in the park there."
Todd nodded, waved his right hand, and the two souls instantly arrived at the artificial lake on the university campus.
Autumn leaves drift down the lakeside and fall into the clear water, creating ripples.
The small pavilion in the middle of the lake, with its four benches and a stone table, appears exceptionally elegant.
Rachel slowly leaned back on the bench, gazing at the scenery on the lake, and said softly, "It's beautiful here."
Todd sat down beside her, trying his best to avoid looking at her disappearing body. Pointing to the buildings in the distance, he introduced them: "That's the teaching building where I used to have classes, the one next to it is the library, and further away, that little gray building is the graduate student dormitory..."
As Rachel listened, she smiled and said, "Without war and persecution, I really want to try to study and live carefree on this campus like an ordinary person."
Todd tried to hold Rachel's hand, only to find that he was touching nothing but air.
Rachel's palms and forearms began to slowly become transparent.
A look of pain crossed Todd's face. He gently put his arm around Rachel's waist and said slowly, "I will take you there someday."
Rachel turned to look at Todd, forcing a smile through her grief, and said, "You're just talking big. After my rebirth, I will be born in a remote corner of the world, perhaps on another planet, or perhaps in another universe."
Todd said firmly, "No matter where you are, I will find you!"
Rachel's eyes reddened slightly: "After being reborn, I will no longer look like I do now. My face may be hideous, and my body may be deformed and bloated."
Todd: "No matter what you become, I will always be by your side."
Rachel could no longer hold back her grief. She closed her eyes, her voice choked with sobs, letting tears stream down her face: "After being reborn, I will forget everything. I will no longer remember your name, our past, or even all our promises..."
Todd pulled Rachel into his arms: "As long as our souls remain unchanged, we will always remember each other."
Rachel pressed her forehead against Todd's chest, her lower body gradually becoming transparent.
Her body trembled slightly: "Todd, I am not afraid of death, but I am afraid of being forgotten."
"For me, the most important people and the most important memories—if I were to forget these, it would be more painful and despairing than eternal inferno!"
Todd hugged Rachel tightly: "Then let's engrave each other into the depths of our souls, so that a single voice or a glance can awaken that dormant memory."
Rachel's upper body began to blur, leaving only her face with a vague shape and warmth.
Gently pressing her lips to her lover's, Rachel, her tears still wet, gave a final smile: "Todd, don't forget me. Goodbye."
She has passed away, vanished like smoke.
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