The Dahlia

The sweet dream burned down the Ever-Flame Mansion, taking with it every trace of "her."

Destruction, Remembrance... flowers of betrayal bloomed wherever they passed.

To return to the dreamscape no one remembers, who will be the one to set her aflame again?

She escaped from the deepest depths of The Abyss, burning away every memory tied to her existence.

Following the trail of scorched marks, we tracked her to this place, where the countless Garden of Recollection's mirrors reflected the silhouette of a lone girl.

"Memokeeper Dahlia, why did you betray the Garden of Recollection?"

She tapped her cheek with her claws, her smile reflecting the same curve across innumerable mirrors.

"I simply grew tired of it... just as I once betrayed the Destruction."

Her gaze swept across numerous reflections of herself in the mirrors.

"Yes... I have fallen into your mirrors. But doesn't this mean that when I set my memories ablaze, all these mirrors will burn along with me?"

She pranced into a strange dance, her skirt twirling simultaneously in thousands of reflections... The cold flames on her dress hem gently licked the mirrors' surfaces, before swallowing them into the fire.

In the reflections of the Garden of Recollection's mirrors, I saw that lady offer all her bouquets of memories to the raging flames. Her childhood burned to ashes, her youth turned to dust, and finally, all of her past...

And burning along with them, our myriad mirrors.

"Feeling hot and restless? Then step into the gentle flames with me..." Through the mirror ahead, she smiled at me.

I can no longer hear those cries... With joy in my heart, I step into the mirror, chasing after that dancing figure. As I followed her steps, then matched her rhythm, I finally grasped the hem of her dress...

And at last, she met my gaze. In the flickering light, her hands smoothed over the hem of my dress, and the blue of her eyes drowned all of me, like tender waves.

— A Memokeeper's memory

"The Memokeepers thought I surrendered all my past, but who said those memories were 'mine'?"

Toying with the flames on her tail, she walked toward the next memory.

"Constance... though not the eldest among the siblings, she was like our big sister. When teaching us, her tail was intimidating, but it never harmed us."

— The Scribe's memory

"When we learned the skills of 'Destruction' from Father together, Constance was the only one who mastered them the fastest, as if... she was recalling some long-forgotten instincts. Scary, isn't it... yet her voice remained so gentle."

— The Shacklebound's memory

"With her slender fingers, she would tune my strings and teach me to pluck passionate melodies. Ah... I know... though flames dance at her fingertips, her heart remains cold."

— The Tuner's memory

"Constance... my most ambitious and most excellent child. She needs not the flames of Destruction bestowed by me. She has long been ignited by the flames deep within her heart.

Such prodigious ambitions. The Ever-Flame Mansion favors members like her. I have no doubt that one day she'll grow tired of the Annihilation Gang's games. When that time comes, our Master will welcome her with open arms, for only the most violent destruction brings THEM joy..."

— Duke Inferno's memory

On the night when twilight rain fell, Caterina, Dubra, Akash... they vanished in the flames.

Yet she who is partial to conflagration did not set the mansion ruins ablaze, but gathered the memories from the embers...

"Father, for your death I shall mourn. I will become the smoldering flame beneath sweet dreams, embracing all that yearns."

Under the curtain of Nihility's rain, no one could make out her expression. Was she smiling, sobbing, or perhaps...

She said her name was Constance.

That was the first time I saw her. Wearing a white dress, she was fixing my hair as I had just woken up from the incubation pod.

She said her name was The Dahlia.

That was the second time I met her. During a mission, her white gloves wiped away blood stains off me... just like my sister used to do.

"Don't be afraid, I'll always be by your side."

She vanished into the depths of the sweet dream, leaving behind only a faint trace of floral fragrance.

The Planet of Festivities is full of eager Dreamchasers, yet she casually becomes a part of others' memories.

I follow the script's directions to take action, while she never took any of it seriously.

During this long banquet, she twirled along the musical stave of the Paths, seemingly unable to refuse any invitation...

She traverses through the Order's melody, yet can't resist touching the notes of Harmony. Listening to the hum of Propagation, and under destiny's playful whims, she willingly lets herself be swallowed by the shadows of Nihility, while deliberately or not... becoming entangled with the dance partner of Remembrance.

As always, her enthusiasm was intense, yet fleeting.

She said that only by putting her life on the edge of a blade could she truly feel the joy of being alive.

So, her gaze upon me was complex...

On her face, I saw pity for my inevitable death. I also saw delight, as if she had created another beautiful memory. Not to mention curiosity, to see how I would defy my destiny.

I asked her to burn away the Nameless' memories of the Finality, for those memories were far too dangerous.

With the flames from her tail, she set the Nameless' past ablaze. Yet, she smiled as she told me,

Nothing is ever truly forgotten, even through the most intense combustion.

Perhaps she has done this millions of times before.

She abandoned much, all because she was always searching for something.

Perhaps this is why she keeps attending banquet after banquet. Even as the attendees whisper and curse her as the symbol of mourning and decay. Few remember that mourning is a tribute to life, that withered things once had their moment of glory.

— A certain Stellaron Hunter's distorted memory

If she were to be cast in the play of the Finality, among the confluence of countless possibilities, she would find ways to rebel in every single one.

The Stellaron Hunters hold too many secrets of the cosmos, and as she peers into these memories, the Destruction will one day cast THEIR gaze upon her.

Weary of her endless suffering journey, she hastens the coming of Finality by becoming the Overlord who destroys Remembrance, taking the name "Ephemera."

In one possibility, she would make everyone in the cosmos forget her ascension, as if the eighth Lord Ravager had never existed.

When time reaches its end, her flames will engulf the Eden of Blessed Insight, burning every trace of the universe's past to ashes. Thus, she declares to all Pure Children of Anāsrava that she will leave behind a tomb of the Remembrance for the cosmos.

Therefore, I rejected her request to join the Stellaron Hunters, to sever this raging possibility.

— Script Notes

"Remembrance, Destruction, Finality..."

With a smile and flowing skirt, she twirls ceaselessly.

In the end, she still doesn't know which destiny she should embrace, perhaps nothing will ever truly satisfy her...

"But this way, I'll never be Destiny's Slave."

As the dance ends, only echoes linger in the ashes.

"So let us fall in love again, rebel again, and cast ourselves into destiny's currents once more."

First Meeting: Your memories... are quite thorny. So, why don't we start with me laying my thoughts bare...? My name is Constance, and those who have fallen to my charms call me "The Dahlia." Don't be afraid. Come with me. In this duet belonging only to the two of us, you will learn how the past is being cremated and how the future is being buried...

Greeting: It's me. Did I scare you with how I... popped up without a sound?

Parting: How I wish I could preserve this moment as a frozen specimen, and keep it forever... Pity that this loveless fate insists on separating us. Oh well, let's save the blossoming for our next encounter. I only hope, by then, you'll still pique my interest...

About Self: Betrayal: I joined the Garden of Recollection out of my dislike for the unchanging Destruction. Soon after that, I grew tired of the rotten Remembrance and have been walking this universe as a Cremator ever since. Some say that it is in my instincts to betray, but I say that I enjoy the moment of "betrayal." Even if my heart bleeds in pain when I tear apart the shackles of fate, I still feel such an unparalleled delight...

Chat: Hands: Are you curious about my sharp right hand? It brings peaceful rest to life when its coldness slithers across a neck. While attending funerals, however, I'll don a veil and offer a withered flower with my other hand... the one that's never been stained with blood.

Hobbies: Isn't it fun... to role-play in someone's memory as an "Aunt" that had never existed? People are so trusting. Even in their final gaze upon me, they seem convinced they've suffered a tragic betrayal.

Annoyances: From the moment I became a memetic entity, no matter how much I sunbathe, this pallid skin never changes...

Something to Share: Do you still remember the Ever-Flame Mansion? In the Duke's memories, I was the child whom he always took the most pride in. I stirred up the flames of his ambition, and he fell on the road of the Destruction, only to create an opportunity for you to cross paths with the Nihility... A mere stoking is all it takes for the many "fates" in this cosmos to erupt into flames powerful enough to incinerate countless souls.

Knowledge: Memory Aesthetics: Wantonly editing memories or burning them all up without a second thought... That's how unbelievably banal my colleagues often are. But I like to wait. I wait for glorious things to fall into the past, for them to rot bit by bit like a pile of fallen petals, until they are covered with worms named lament and hatred. Then, under candlelight, I finally pick cherished mementos to be buried with them... The thought alone is intoxicating...

About Trailblazer: I see THEIR glances in your memories. I see all the choices you've made on your journey, as well as your lively and astonishing... essence. Without a doubt, I'll always, always... follow you and the steps you leave behind in the cosmos.

About Acheron: If I could dance with that enchanting lady, then perhaps I would bow before her charms. Ahh~ That would be so... SO beautiful...

About Black Swan: That arrogant woman? I may shy away from her pretentious airs, but as a Memokeeper, her ability to open doors for fate and create resplendent memories... is something I cannot help but admire.

About Firefly: The Stellaron Hunters are meant to be prisoners to the "script," yet she rebelled against fate time and time again... When will her blaze finally burn away the past which the Swarm has buried?

About Duke Inferno: His ambitions were doused by a sudden rain, and the glance of the savior never descended. None will remember his death... except me. I do not remember him out of guilt or sorrow. I just... can't forget the look in his eyes when he finally learned the truth.

About Jade: Using a mere paper contract to bind two parties... Should I call it naivety, or does a poisonous serpent truly hide under that woman's petals? Perhaps that's why the strange fragrance one picks up when entangled with her... feels so irresistible.

Eidolon Activation: Pretty bold. What if... we both end up being burnt to ashes?

Character Ascension: The flame flickers ever stronger.

Max Level Reached: Time to consider when to move on to my next destination.

Trace Activation: Is it that hard to change our past?

Added to Team With Trailblazer: Step closer... that's the only way we'll find real accord.

Added to Team With Black Swan: To stand beside me is to court death at any time... though don't mistake this for a threat.

Added to Team With Firefly: How will you rebel against fate this time?

Added to Team With Acheron: Can I take your arm and awaken your memories?

Battle Begins: Weakness Break: Fallen for me already?

Battle Begins: Danger Alert: Your ashes must be beautiful...

Turn Begins 1: Any last words, sweetheart?

Turn Begins 2: The candle flickers... You're breathing fast.

Turn Idling: Don't make this boring for me...

Basic ATK: Look at me~

Skill 1: Immolate yourself in my dance!

Skill 2: Etch me into your bones!

Hit by Light Attack: This is getting fun.

Hit by Heavy Attack: Still the same old?

Ultimate: Activate: Memory's tomb has opened its maw...

Ultimate: Unleash: The moment when it all dies... is so beautiful.

Talent 1: Can't wait anymore?

Talent 2: You want to betray me?

Downed: Come... With me...

Return to Battle: Mmm. I missed you.

Health Recovery: You're such a good person.

Technique: Come, ignite memory~

Battle Won: Time to head to the next funeral.

Treasure Opening 1: Winning takes out all the fun.

Treasure Opening 2: Hmm. How would it... rot?

Precious Treasure Opening: At long last, my wait was worth something.

Successful Puzzle-Solving 1: Destroying it is also a solution, you know.

Successful Puzzle-Solving 2: How about something new and refreshing next time?

Enemy Target Found: Here comes a difficult dance partner.

Returning to Town: I wanna go sunbathe again. Come with me, will you?