Y/N, THE 14TH MEMBER OF THE FLAMECHASERS: An [Honkai Impact 3rd] Mini-Story

EX. PRISTINE MEMORY [4]

Elysia had a memory that she didn't have within her data.
She was all alone in the lounge.
She had time to think of it before her successor came into the room.
It was a heartbreaking memory she didn't expect to come in so soon.
Her usual smile wasn't there, it was a first that she made such an expression since her upbringing in this realm.
The person who came into the room thinks otherwise.

???:  "Elysia?"

Her training of thought of that memory fluttered away as soon as she heard a familiar voice.
Her usual smile came back shining and bright.
Elysia:  "Oh Mei, you came here already?"
Elysia:  "You have something to ask of me?"

Mei:  "Yeah..."
Mei:  "There's something that has me a bit bothered."
Mei:  "..."
Mei:  'That look of sadness, yet she hides it with her mask of happiness...'
Mei:  'What memory unlocked within her this time?'

Elysia:  "So, you're here at the right time."
Elysia:  "What is it?"

Mei:  "What's with the ranking order that has no actual meaning around this community?"

Elysia:  "That rude question will make me cry, you know?"

Mei:  "..."

Elysia:  "Well, it's not meaningful for your purposes."
Elysia:  "But there had to be some structure for managing the MOTHs."
Elysia:  "It was tough, but I tried to rank everyone based on my best judgement."
Elysia:  "Of course, I made it look legit and performance-based."

Elysia:  "Naturally, I settled on Kevin and I for first and second."
Elysia:  "Then came Su, seven is a special number and suits him just fine."

Elysia:  "Hua was still too young to be involved in politics, so I picked a safe spot for her—the twelfth."

Elysia:  "Kalpas was a headache, a lot of eyes were on him."
Elysia:  "I needed a balanced spot for this one."
Elysia:  "I thought hard about it and the sixth seemed right."

Elysia:  "The same with the tenth."
Elysia:  "I didn't hate her but I didn't want to give her too much power, and she knew that too."
Elysia:  "What happened next was a classic tale of girls backstabbing each other... and I won of course."

Elysia:  "Discipline, Stars, and Voider have their stories, but I'll save them for later since you haven't met them."
Elysia:  "The remaining five were easy."

Mei:  "To me, seems like that list is just formality."

Elysia:  "Don't say that."
Elysia:  "I spent a whole afternoon on it."
Elysia:  "Besides Mei, you know we can never put a number on someone's ability and conviction, right?"

Mei:  "Well..."

Elysia:  "You know better to put someone in a rank that they don't deserve."
Elysia:  "Even put someone there just because."
Elysia:  "It wouldn't be fair."

Mei:  "If I were to meet everyone here, I would know why everyone was put in their spot?"

Elysia:  "Yes, you will eventually."
Elysia:  "Just like I denied to you once, I'll say it again."
Elysia:  "This list is not for formality."
Elysia:  "Although then again, it did remind me of some good memories while we're talking about it."
Elysia: "I don't mind sharing more with you, only if you want to hear it."

Mei:  "..."

Elysia:  "Geez, you and your silence..."
Elysia:  "You don't have anything else to say?"

Mei:  "..."
Mei:  "There's nothing for me to say."
Mei: "If you'll excuse me."
Mei walks off and leaves the lounge.

Elysia smiled as if she was enjoying this...
Elysia:  'She's such an interesting one...'