Elegy from Another World

In the days that followed, Tia was indeed much more relaxed than when she first arrived, but that relaxation seemed superficial. She still spent most of her time following me around like a little shadow, observing how I managed Utopia, or eagerly absorbing all sorts of knowledge in the "library." Other residents of the symbiotic network would occasionally kindly invite her to participate in activities, but she mostly declined. Only when I asked would she agree without hesitation, as if her world revolved solely around me.

She also demonstrated remarkable learning and practical skills, proactively assisting me in developing new tentacles. We successfully created tentacles capable of casting basic attack magic, which undoubtedly enhanced Utopia's defenses. However, whenever I asked her if she was tired, she would stubbornly shake her head. But the symbiotic network doesn't lie; I could clearly sense her mental exhaustion and the accumulated strain on her body. At times like these, I had no choice but to firmly order her to rest. Initially, she was reluctant, until I seriously warned her, "Only by maintaining a healthy body can you have the resources to continuously grow stronger and better help me." Only then did she obediently comply.

Seeing her working herself to the bone like this, I knew I had to do something to break this cycle and guide her to confront her own heart, instead of just seeing me as her only support and a tool for revenge.

When I forcibly sent her to rest again, and she woke up with a stubborn look in her eyes, I said, "Tia, let's make a promise."

She immediately looked up, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"If you can meet one condition, I'll formally accept you as my apprentice, how about it?"

"Really?" She practically jumped out of bed, eagerly asking, "What are the conditions? No matter how difficult it is, I'll definitely do it!"

"The conditions are simple," I said calmly. "You've helped develop so many new tentacles, so it's time to test Utopia's current defense strength. The requirement is: starting from the outer ring, find a way to break through all the defenses and reach the core area. As long as you can reach the core, you've succeeded. Of course, you can also see this as a practical test of your abilities."

Tia agreed almost without hesitation: "No problem! I accept!"

To prevent her from "cheating" by relying on the information advantage provided by the symbiotic network, I temporarily disconnected her from the network. The trial officially begins.

The battle raged in the outer passage. Tia had indeed improved rapidly, skillfully using the magic she had learned during this time to dodge or repel the attacking tentacles. Acid sprays, magic missiles, binding spells... she dealt with them quite methodically, and initially, her progress was quite smooth.

However, the core idea behind my defensive system is to delay and wear down the enemy. If a quick victory cannot be achieved and the battle drags on, the invaders' physical and mental strength will be severely tested. Sure enough, as the battle continued, Tia's movements began to slow, her breathing became rapid, and her forehead was covered in sweat. The magical light also dimmed considerably.

"Are you going to give up?" My voice rang out in the tunnel through the amplified tentacles.

"No!" she gritted her teeth and insisted, gathering her magic power once more.

However, the weakness caused by exhaustion proved fatal. In one dodge, she was a fraction of a second too slow, and a tentacle wreathed in icy magic slashed across her like a blade, severing her left arm at the shoulder!

"Tia! Abandon the trial! Now!" I shouted immediately, while ordering the tentacles to carefully put away the severed limbs.

The excruciating pain turned her face deathly pale, but she stubbornly shook her head, supporting herself with her remaining arm: "No... I can... continue..."

Seeing her so reckless with her life, my heart sank, but respecting her choice, I could only let the attack continue. Soon, her consciousness blurred from blood loss and excruciating pain, she was struck on the side of the head by a tentacle and lost consciousness.

When she awoke again, she was lying in the inner ring's medical room. Her severed arm had been carefully reattached by special regenerative tentacles and was wrapped in a biofilm radiating a soft, healing light.

"Your arm has been reattached, but it needs time to heal. Don't move it around too much for now," I said softly, standing by the bed. "You should rest well."

Tia nodded blankly. I sighed, turned and walked out of the medical room, squatting by the door with mixed feelings.

Not long after, suppressed, intermittent sobs came from inside the door, interspersed with broken sobs: "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... Father... Mother... Sister... I'm so useless... I couldn't even pass this little test... I can't avenge you..."

I pushed open the door and went in. I saw her curled up on the bed, her pillow soaked with tears. I sat down beside her, gently stroked her head, and asked, "Why did you say sorry?"

She sobbed, her words broken and fragmented: "I...I'm powerless...I'm so weak...I couldn't even pass the trials you set for me, Lady Liscia...How could I...how could I possibly defeat that man...to avenge my dead parents...and my sister...I've let them down..."

I wanted to say, "They would much rather you live a good life than be bound by hatred," but I swallowed the words back. Empty words of comfort would be meaningless at this moment.

I simply continued to gently stroke her hair and whispered, "Tia, you've already tried very hard, more hard than many others. I set up this trial not so that you would actually break through all the defenses—that would be an almost impossible task to complete alone."

She looked up at me with teary eyes.

"What I want you to understand is that you shouldn't be too hard on yourself, don't put all your hopes and pressures on yourself, and don't deny the meaning of your existence because of a temporary setback."

"Becoming stronger is a process, and revenge is not everything in life. Look, in this utopia, everyone supports each other, and everyone has their own place and value. You don't need to bear everything alone. Your value goes far beyond the goal of 'revenge'."

Hearing this, Tia's tears flowed even more fiercely, but it was no longer the desperate crying of before; instead, it was a mixture of grievance, relief, and a touch of being understood. She buried her face in my arm and, like a child, burst into tears, as if to release all the pain, fear, and loneliness that had been building up for so long.

I sat quietly beside her, letting her cry, only stroking her back repeatedly. I knew that these tears might be the beginning of her truly letting go of her heavy burdens, trying to accept this new home, and also the beginning of rediscovering herself.