"Ai'er, are you sure? You really want to tell me? We can talk about it later after deciding what we will do the next few days."

Mei Wu's question cut through the tense atmosphere. The pink-haired woman looked at her lover in worry, frowning.

The reunion with her beloved was truly relaxing for both of them, and it helped in calming down their spirits after what happened in the morning, and they took their time to embrace each other, something that Mei Wu truly enjoyed as much as Kasumi Ai did (and Jiko Ai, from what Mei Wu faintly sensed).

Unfortunately, good things must come to an end, and it was clear that they might need to talk about whatever that happened to Kasumi Ai and Mei Wu would easily admit to herself at least that she was curious and worried about today's events. A lot.

There were simply too many things to think about, and at the very least prepare for when they would be discussed. Mei Wu was genuinely interested and concerned about how Jiko Ai was formed, not to mention that the Narcissism also hinted on the fact that Kasumi Ai's 'spiritual' age that was clearly bigger than her physical one was a part of the mystery.

It was simply normal for her to want to ask some questions and get some answers.

Which is why she had just asked the alraune about it, though seeing the hesitant and reluctant expression on Kasumi Ai's face, Mei Wu tried to make it clear that it was the alraune's decision to choose if she wanted to talk about it right then or later.

Especially since they would optimally have only a few days to prepare themselves, talk with the Queen Bee about what to do now that the hive was discovered, and if they might have to go their ways, stick around, or leave together.

So it was surprising that Kasumi Ai was the one who decided to just start the discussion, despite her reluctance.

The alraune, hearing Mei Wu's question, only shook her head. "It was only a matter of when you will ask. Plus, Jiko Ai made it clear that I might as well get it over now and then see what we have to do next, besides the obvious."

'Well that was completely not ominous,' Mei Wu thought, feeling the sensation of fear emanating from her friend as the Qi of Nature seemed to try and hide, yet at the same time it felt hopeful?

The silence felt so thick even though they didn't even really begin the talk.

The alraune honestly had no idea how to even start the subject. How can she talk about her being reborn into a different world? She can't exactly say "Hey, I'm a reincarnator! Want me to tell you about my previous life?", can she? Well, she can, but it would be confusing, and even more so, very insensitive.

"... So, I suppose I should start the talk about why I appear older in spirit than how I looked physically?" Kasumi Ai asked, thinking on how to broach the subject. Barely stopping even as Mei Wu silently nodded her head, the alraune continuing her talk, looking both resigned and hopeful. Of what, Mei Wu didn't understand.

"I will be blunt, I am far older than a few months. I'm in my thirties actually. Mentally and spiritually that is."

Mei Wu blinked at that, then frowned in confusion. She could sense no lie from her beloved, but the meaning of the words wasn't something she understood or was able to process right away.

Her friend is telling her that she is a thirty-something years-old alraune, that much was clear, but why say mentally and/or spiritually? Is the green-haired prehaps saying...

The conclusion that her mind reached felt ridiculous, but it was the most logical one.

"Are you telling me that somehow your soul is way older than your body's age? Ai'er, that..." incredulity was clear in her tone along with confusion. It just didn't compute for her even when she knew that she didn't hear it wrong, and that Kasumi Ai was not lying.

So what did that mean? How is the alraune's soul older than her body?

"That's the truth though." Kasumi Ai answered her softly, anxiety clear in her voice, and making it clear that what Mei Wu heard was correct.

Frowning, the pink-haired woman's mind worked overdrive to comprehend the meaning what she is being told.

'... Reincarnation then?' Mei Wu found herself thinking. She didn't think of herself as one overly philosophic and deep, really, and she didn't think that she was so much smarter and insightful than any other ranker (even if she is, thanks to her extremely potent Qi senses), but like any other person, she did ponder on the nature of existence from time to time.

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It was normal for one to be curious and to seek answers, and the nature of soul and all the other mystical things in the world, and Mei Wu was no different. Of course, she heard about reincarnation and souls, even if she didn't see or experience it herself.

Compared to the existence of the Innates and Mythical Beasts, and with the many legends of precious treasures and items, believing in the fact that souls would always reincarnate (unless destroyed, an idea that made her shiver. Sensing one's Qi vanish when they died -if she didn't hate them- was quite creepy. She doesn't want to know how one having their soul destroyed would feel like) is easy to accept.

But of course, thinking and believing in something and finding it being the subject of a discussion, especially one that was most definitely related to her bonds and life, were completely different things.

And of course, Mei Wu just couldn't understand the feelings she was dealing with. The discovery was ludicrous.

"Reincarnation. You are reincarnated, aren't you, Ai'er?" her voice is filled of multitude of emotions for various different reasons.

Shock from this being in any way logical and actually true, and right in front of her, especially with the serious nod that her lover gave.

Happiness that this was real at all, knowing that as long one's soul was intact, they would simply return to the cycle of reincarnation.

And painfully, a feeling of doubt and worry now that the fact that Kasumi Ai was reincarnated, was hammered into Mei Wu's soul.

"How?" came her simple question.

Taking a moment to breathe and organize her thoughts, the green-haird woman looked at her. "That might be the simplest yet most confusing thing I have to explain." she sighed tiredly. "I don't know how to explain it in words, but I will try my best. I think your sharp Qi senses would be a massive help in explaining this, I hope."

Mei Wu's heart was beating faster at that.

"You know how there are many worlds and dimensions in reality correct? We both know that the Tian Tong Tower's floors count as complete worlds, especially in the higher floors. And we know that there are many dimensions, both discovered and hidden even to this day, some inhabited by many races..." Kasumi Ai looked at her patiently, but Mei Wu could see the frustration. It was honestly difficult for the alraune to put what she wanted to say in words.

If only she could just show her memories or something to Mei Wu, then she wouldn't be this frustrated!

'You can always try to dual-cultivate with her now and let me do the work of showing her your memories, you know?' Jiko Ai, still awake, mentally told the one leading their shared body. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Kasumi Ai sensed that her alter ego was quite amused.

'I would appreciate if your help is actually helpful.' the alraune retorted mentally, her eyebrows twitching in irritation, a reaction that Mei Wu noticed and tried to comprehend, along with the less-than-helpful short lesson her lover gave about dimensions, knowledge that everyone even attempting to be a ranker or a warrior would learn.

Hell, even ten-years old kids would most likely know that at some point. She would have been insulted had she not known that her Ai'er just couldn't know how to explain what she wanted to say in just words.

"Are you and Jiko Ai talking about how to explain this to me? So far, I only understood that you're reincarnated, which I admit I have some... well, not really a problem, but it's a bit weird and confusing?" she asked, feeling Jiko Ai's Qi flaring at that as Kasumi Ai sighed, a metaphorical arrow stabbing her heart at the word 'weird'. Why did it have to be described as such?

"Yeah, she just told me to show my memories via a dual-cultivation which..."

Yeah, Mei Wu could understand why her girlfriend is not exactly willing. One mistake and they could cripple themselves forever, so better not risk it.

Mei Wu then blinked as she heard Kasumi Ai snapping her fingers, apparently getting an epiphany as suddenly the pink-haired woman could feel the alraune had apparently found a way to explain what she wanted to say clearly, along with Jiko Ai's faint amusement.

"Oh, wait, I think I have an idea to make this talk actually go somewhere. The second time I would pull this trick with you, Wu-chan."

"Huh?" what did that even mean?

Mei Wu wondered if her friend just hated serious atmosphere and wanted to ruin it, which wasn't wrong, really. After all, the alraune usually preferred things to be normal and as far away from being serious as possible, even though she knew when to take a situation with the importance it deserves. But, if so, then Kasumi Ai was doing a great job at making the situation feel trivial.

'Geez, you really are childish despite being in your thirties.' Jiko Ai snarked mentally, amused as she felt Kasumi Ai's Qi pulse to generate and shape nectar from her eyes.

'Shut up and let me do my thing.' the alraune taking control retorted, creating multiple golden orbs and allowing them to float in front of her and Mei Wu, who was looking at the sight in interest, trying to understand the point of this visual show.

She finished her preparation by generating a large amount of water and contained the nectar orbs before smiling contently, as if she did a great job.

"... I don't get it. Is this supposed to hint on how there are worlds inside worlds or something close to that?" Mei Wu asked, uncertain.

"Well... you're not wrong..." Kasumi Ai began, now clearly more confident and certain of herself. "Though I won't exactly say that this is about worlds as much as I'm going to talk about something that is most definitely orders of magnitude larger. Universes, multiverses, and cosmology as I know it from my original world, or maybe universe or reality is more accurate?"

'... What?' Mei Wu found her thought process stopping for a while. How in the name of the heavens did them attempting to discuss about Kasumi Ai's reincarnation turn into a lesson about the nature of the universe and multiverse (what even are these? Some bigger version of a world or dimension?)

The alraune though apparently ignored the baffled look on her lover's face, and created a small cane from a branch, pointing it towards the large orb of water.

"In the beginning, there was nothing. No space, no time, no matter. No physical or mystical laws that shape the reality or multiple realities that you and I know. And then, it exploded."