Above The Sky
Chapter 486 - 486 455 The Inheritance of Beauty and Memes 23

486: 455 Chapter: The Inheritance of Beauty and Memes (2/3) 486: 455 Chapter: The Inheritance of Beauty and Memes (2/3) “Why does Frost Butterfly call you father, sir, rather than ‘Senior’?”

At this question, while packing up her tent, Miss Hua’an blinked with a hint of bemusement, twirling a small parasol in her hand that resembled a large mushroom, “I’m not very sure…

However, ‘Senior’ besides referring to any fae older than oneself, in formal situations, also refers to the Fae who ‘shaped’ oneself and guided one’s growth.”

“In human culture, that would probably equate to parents.

But we fae are born without requiring other fae’s assistance, so there’s no direct human equivalent…

It’s just that, over the course of hundreds of years, there have been very few humans who could shape a fae, and you are an exception.”

This wasn’t surprising.

Even if there were cultivators who had evolved their ‘Fairy Bloodline’ to the Third Energy Level, or even completely transformed into fae, they might not fully integrate into fae culture.

At best, they could pass the Origin Structure of their bloodline to their offspring, creating a fae family.

Thus, this constituted a parent-child relationship, not the typical seniority hierarchy.

“I see, I think I understand now.”

Ian nodded slightly.

He wasn’t troubled whether Frost Butterfly called him father or Senior—it was merely a title.

He was, at most, momentarily surprised but not inconvenienced by it.

He looked at Ice Butterfly, who was seated upon the Entangling Void Armor, the newborn fairy miss observing the surrounding woods with a pair of clear, golden eyes, as though recognizing this seemingly familiar yet slightly strange world anew.

Although expressionless, the peculiar ice wings fluttering behind her indicated she was quite content.

The newborn fairy miss was traditionally named Frost Butterfly Ian Hua’an, or Hua’an Ian.

According to the fae’s cultural naming order, the sequence was unimportant; what mattered was the Inheritance relationship between ‘oneself’ and ‘the one who guided oneself into the world.’

“Come, let’s go!”

By this time, Hua’an had finished packing all her luggage—a compressed box that was slightly larger than herself.

Ian sensibly detected that Hua’an’s box utilized some unique Rune Technology…

probably similar to the ‘Ether Conversion Inscription’ used by the Spiritual Tool Church and the one he applied on his Heavy Abyss Iron Sword.

Fae relied on this technology to carry their belongings as they traveled across different parts of the continent.

The elegant Fairy Miss floated atop a huge iron trunk that resembled a royal armchair, sitting comfortably as she propelled her luggage chair forward, “Where is your next destination?”

“Imperial Capital.”

Ian answered, eyeing the seat beneath Hua’an, curious about the technology within: “Miss Hua’an, are you planning to join us?”

“Of course!”

Hua’an declared as a matter of fact: “Frost Butterfly is my junior!

I haven’t had my shaper certification for long, and she’s my first junior!”

“I must accompany her diligently until Frost Butterfly becomes a qualified Fae!”

—What about the mission?

The mission to South Sea Great Labyrinth at Harrison Port?

Ian glanced at the happily bobbing Frost Butterfly on his shoulder and decided not to voice the question.

Honestly, the mission wasn’t that important.

He could simply reveal his status as the Labyrinth Master to her, then provide Hua’an with a mark that would grant her free passage through the Great Labyrinth, and, furthermore, invite her to the Ruins of Ice Abyss, the former cooling facility, to see the situation of the Primal Fairy community.

Although the circumstances had greatly changed, fae were quite a resilient species.

Before leaving the Southern Sea, Ian had observed that the group of Ice Fairies had now turned into Hot Water Fairies and were living quite merrily.

Frost Butterfly might be the only remaining Ice Fairy from that gathering place of fairies.

“Since you all are heading to the Imperial Capital, you must go to Bart’s Grand Station.

Let me show you the way.”

As Ian pondered, Miss Hua’an had already made plans for the next leg of the journey.

She patted the luggage beneath her, causing the seat-shaped box to turn around.

While flying backwards, she smiled and waved her umbrella in greeting to Frost Butterfly, “Come here, Frost Butterfly, let me teach you a trick!”

After a glance at Ian and seeing the boy nod, Frost Butterfly also carried a smile and whipped up a cool breeze to fly over.

“Ah, now that I take a closer look, you really are quite beautiful…”

Miss Hua’an scrutinized Frost Butterfly’s face, then let out a cheer, “Excellent, this proves that my understanding of beauty has been passed down!”

“Shaping…

appearance…

seniors and juniors, huh…”

Watching the two Fae fly before him, Ian faintly understood that this was actually a kind of Fae inheritance, a unique culture.

Fae do not have ‘Bloodline’ in the usual sense.

In their own bodies, as well as all those who supposedly possess the ‘Fairy Bloodline’, they are essentially turning their Flesh and Body into ‘Fairy Body Shells’ that true Fae can control.

Only when they reach the Third Energy Level, the soul sublimates, and the Heart Light Body is condensed, can the Sublimators of Fairy Bloodline truly appreciate the essence of this inheritance.

But how few are the Sublimators at the Third Energy Level?

Even fewer are those who cultivate Fairy Bloodline.

Fairy Heritage emphasizes spirit, and their bodies only have their unique Origin Structure and Inscriptions design.

Most cultivators of Fairy Heritage have ‘powers similar to Fae’, but can never experience the essence of Fae spirit and core.

Therefore, Miss Hua’an did not initially realize that Ian was not a True Fairy, because Ian’s way of thinking is starkly different from most Humans who choose the Fairy Bloodline—his thinking is quite special, as special as that of real Fae, and he also possesses Spirit Energy.

Now, the boy faintly understood.

The birth and heritage of Fae, reincarnation and shaping, are entirely different from Flesh and Blood nurturing.

Their very existence is a form of life that is starkly different from the sexually reproducing Humans.

In other words, Fae are indifferent to things that Humans care about, because what they really need to pass down is ‘memes’ rather than ‘genes’.

The latter are necessary for Humans to procreate and create offspring, and are the reason itself.

But Fae value things that others might consider as intangible, such as ‘names’, such as ‘appearances’…

The first impression Fae can give to someone, like Miss Hua’an, that blend of ‘beauty and delicacy’, that notion of ‘freedom and joy’; these vague yet real impressions, are what they truly desire.

—Why have such a name?

Why have such an appearance?

Why choose such a posture to present in this world?

Why hold on to such beliefs and ideals?

Fae hope that someone will be curious about these questions, that someone will be interested in their ‘choices’ and ‘thoughts’.

Fae hope that someone will remember them, whether it’s their appearance or their ideology.

That’s why most Fae are so beautiful that they’re unforgettable, and their actions and thoughts are idiosyncratic.

Passing these things down is of the utmost importance to Fae, even more so than Humans’ value on continuing their own Bloodline.

In the end, this is because a person who does not care about Bloodline may still have children, but a Fae that does not value ideas and memes will ultimately only have their memory return to the Fairy Homeland and struggle to reemerge in the world.

This is the Fae, a heritage of beauty and memes.

Returning to Yellow Vine Town, Ian brought out the Camel Beast from the inn, gathered all his luggage, and then set off following Miss Hua’an.

Heading north.