Baizhi

When mentioning Baizhi, her colleagues in the Academy would often remark that she seemed cold and difficult to approach.

Despite working in the same department, she was rarely seen engaging in casual conversation or joining in on shared frustrations or moments of levity. Instead, they would find her calmly and methodically analyzing data, seemingly lost in her own world of processing logic. She exuded a cool and collected aura, making it difficult for others to connect with her on a personal level.

Baizhi's presence brings a quiet stillness, isolating her from the bustling crowd. This reflects her lazer focus and self-discipline in her research.

Baizhi's schedule is meticulously planned: Mondays and Wednesdays are reserved for monitoring the artificial Sonoro Sphere, Fridays are dedicated to analyzing Remnant frequency bands, and the rest of her time is spent on field research, observing Remnant biology, and integrating cases. She adjusts her plan as needed, moving forward with precision and purpose.

Baizhi remains composed and self-sufficient, unfazed by unfinished work or challenging problems. She diligently studies until she grasps them with ease. This sense of calm makes it hard for others to approach her. With a cold expression and a distant tone, she unintentionally creates a feeling of distance. People can't help but imagine themselves being pushed away.

"Your report for the previous week was not submitted before its designated deadline."

"Ah... Yes... I, uh... The original Echo samples were contaminated. I had to..."

"Uhh, I'm sorry! No, I'm deeply sorry for my negligence! I... I'll make up for..."

Seeing Baizhi approaching closer and closer, the reporting researcher nervously clutched his clothes and subconsciously bowed his head even lower. But the next moment, a processed sample slice was handed to him.

"I presume samples from a Fission Junrock would suffice?"

"But, that's your work..."

"You may complete your report before the stasis-evolution. Having anticipated this potential scenario, I have allocated adequate time to mitigate any deviation."

"Please inform me ahead of time should any analogous scenarios occur in the future. You were... trembling intensively just now. May I suggest increasing the ambient temperature?"

Her pair of emerald eyes finally revealed a pure and unconcealed sense of confusion.

The researcher was stunned, then suddenly remembered the other half of the sentence about Baizhi that the other colleagues had added—She seems cold and difficult to approach, but that's just how she seems to be.

A small sphere began to roll, then fell down a curve, and the end of the lever tilted upwards, showcasing the transmission of force.

11-year-old Baizhi observed the sphere as it once again stopped at its predetermined spot. She concluded that no matter how complex it may appear, the sphere would always roll uncontrollably to its destined end according to the device's design. This brought to mind a theoretical hypothesis from a recent book: Throughout history, human civilizations have failed to break through the bottleneck of this apparatus and inevitably meet their downfall. No exception.

If the results are always consistent, then isn't everything that has ever happened only a predictable repetition? Is there truly a meaning to it all?

Baizhi was consumed by this question, and her parents shared her concern for a different reason. While her passion for knowledge was admirable, Baizhi's obsession with theoretical concepts had distanced her from reality. She spent hours poring over esoteric texts and conducting simulations instead of enjoying life or making friends.

Some days later, Baizhi received an invitation to the Huaxu Academy's scientific expedition base. That afternoon, she saw a device larger and more intricate than any before—components symbolizing different variables, intricately connected like a complex organic system. Yet, despite its grandeur, the device was still incomplete and too uncertain to become her "sphere" in what she was planning to achieve. With pensive eyes, Baizhi examined each part and formed hypotheses on how it functioned.

"How do you like it? Our team plans to finish building this someday."

The group's leader, who triumphantly returned from one of many grueling scientific expeditions he led, smiled warmly at Baizhi.

"Right there... If designed in such a way, the remaining energy will not be adequate to support the further distances, thus the information cannot be transmitted."

"Aah. So you've spotted its problem already... The Director was right about you. You really are talented! What say you? Do you want to join us?"

"Any rolling sphere will only end up in one way: to ultimately stop at a certain location. But I fail to see where your design will end up in."

"I would say, it will be in a place... unknown now, but can be made known one day? I agree there must be an endpoint. As to where it should end up... Well, maybe you can join us to find the answer. Together."

As he finished speaking, the half-opened door suddenly burst open, revealing the rest of the team who had been hiding behind it. They stumbled into the room, their faces a mix of embarrassment and eagerness for Baizhi's response to join their mission.

At that moment, Baizhi thought she heard a faint crackling sound of a sphere being placed into its starting point.

In her fourth year on the scientific expedition, Baizhi encountered that piece of Remnant band for the first time.

During that time, Baizhi's passion for research was at its peak. No longer isolated in her studies, she delved into every aspect of civilization with the rest of the scientific expedition team.

As she ventured out into the frigid environment, she came to realize that true cold cannot be defined by a simple temperature reading of "-25°C." It was more accurately painted by endless blankets of white snow, the shivers that still crept through insulated gear, and the desperate knocking of frozen instruments. This theory was merely a skeleton, in need of real feelings and experiences for true understanding. Baizhi dutifully accompanied her team to other sites, not just ordinary ruins but surreal places filled with Remnant Energy—pure and complete information that remained elusive and intangible. Despite their advanced technology, they could not capture or analyze this powerful force.

Baizhi's ninth Sonoro Sphere expedition revealed a breakthrough.

The buildings within were neither distorted nor a reflection of reality; their material remained unknown.

From above, light flowed through a hole in the dome, casting a soft pearl shimmer upon them. Baizhi and her team's arrival seemed to have triggered a mechanism. The geometrical buildings, originally suspended, began to change in their arrangement rapidly, forming unique images of symbols and numbers.

Baizhi was unable to decipher the purpose of the Sonoro Sphere or determine if she was witnessing a glimpse of the past, present, or an unknown future. But there was no time for wonder as her research instincts kicked in, pushing her to record every detail. This could be a breakthrough for a new theory—

The survey instruments displayed live fluctuation of frequencies. Baizhi cut off all distractions and focused on the displays. Her cumulated theories and feelings all came in handy for this exact moment.

The shorter the distance, the lower the energy consumption. Two points form a straight line, which leads to the source.

Just like constructing a device channel, Baizhi selected the two ends of the extension, connected them into a line, and picked up the sampling device towards the center of the gathering—

The surging light responded to Baizhi's actions, condensing into a ball of pure white light.

The Remnant band was thus captured and manifested, full but like an empty shell, pure and free of impurities.

Little did Baizhi know back then, it would forever stay with her and shape her lifelong research.

To Baizhi, making a wish was a perplexing action.

"Knowing that wishes are unlikely to come true, what is the point of making them? This action does not even have a clear object. Once you make a wish, will it be answered? Who will answer it?" Faced with Baizhi's sincere questions, her teammates were once again left speechless. Fortunately, after knowing her for a thousand days, they understood her seriousness and indirect tone as a means of seeking the truth and avoiding inconsistencies when judging or stating things.

Though Baizhi never made a wish herself, she always stood beside her teammates, as they made wishes on candlelights, shooting stars, or anything else.

Though confused, she still tried to understand them and be there for them, like what they did for her.

"Please, I hope we can completely unravel the mysteries of Remnant Creatures!"

"It can be done, but unlikely within our generation."

"Ahh, it's true... yet disheartening nonetheless! No need to overthink it, making wishes and reality are two different things... Anyway, you'll understand when you have one!"

In the dead silence of the icy field, that fateful day arrived.

The world collapsed without warning, as it often does. Vivid figures were dismantled by Tacet Discords, and eyes that once spoke of the future grew cold. Baizhi felt her pulse weaken and her thoughts spiral out of control. Why was this happening? So much had been lost in the search for the Sonoro Sphere. This couldn't be how it ends... She couldn't imagine a future without them.

"Please... I hope they can wake up again."

She finally made a wish of her own, but she didn't know who could grant it.

As the Sonoro Sphere collapsed, Tacet Discords swarmed towards her. A tumultuous mix of emotions churned inside her, unable to stop her burning desire for everyone to wake up and return to her. She longed for them to open their eyes like they used to...

At that moment, a Tacet Mark appeared on her body, and a Remnant Creature resembling an Epiphyllum appeared before her as if responding to her wish.

Nowadays, Baizhi still doesn't make wishes.

Wishes are not facts. She focuses on the tangible and what she can control instead.

As for the sole wish she has ever made, it was like a number infinitely close to zero, a longing buried deep inside her. It seems unattainable, yet it never fades away.

Everything that happened under the glacier is already in the past.

As the only survivor, Baizhi never mentions it on her own accord.

Despite attempts by nosy individuals to uncover her secrets, nothing was revealed. There was no shady secret that could not be revealed. Everyone did their best. The public could not assign blame, and even the most diligent researchers understood the inherent risks in scientific expeditions. They push themselves to the limit, sacrificing their bodies to discover the truth, while also recognizing death as a possible outcome.

Baizhi's silence is rather more of her not knowing how to convey her thoughts.

Reflecting on the past is futile. Baizhi prioritized her time on crucial tasks, unique to her as the only survivor.

Soon after joining the Academy, Baizhi was seen rushing between various labs in the Branch of Remnant Ecoacoustics, making countless innovations in the fields of Waveband Analysis, Applied Echo Studies, and simulated Sonoro Spheres.

She proposed that Remnant creatures are energy bodies derived from "empty shells." They may be able to resonate with humans and be formed in a form beyond the band. By mastering the principle, humans may be able to develop artificial Sonoro Spheres and more Remnant creatures. These hypotheses shocked the academic community, but the Remnant creature that returned from a Sonoro Sphere with her perfectly proved her point.

She dubbed the Remnant creature You'tan after the udumbara, a mystical flower sometimes associated with the Epiphyllum. This night-blooming flower, like the elusive Dharma and ultimate truth, vanishes quickly after a brief blossom. Despite years of searching, researchers have only found glimpses of what they seek—a concept no more tangible than the ephemeral Epiphyllum blossom.

Perhaps the name was a tribute to her lost comrades, or a constant reminder to keep pushing forward in her quest. So many answers await, and Baizhi knows she must find them all.

But she doesn't rush, for the destination lies ahead. She takes each step with patience as she journeys on before time runs out.

And this is not a lonely journey, for Baizhi has found a partner along the way—someone who shares her path and purpose.

On the outskirts of Huanglong, Baizhi met the "honored guest" for the first time. Though she did not know where they came from, the moment Baizhi witnessed them absorbing the "sound" of an Echo, that tiny crackling of a sphere rang in her ears again.

Look, she thought. The "unknown now, but could be made known" endpoint... It is within human's reach indeed.