Chapter 103 I'm All-Father?s successor?
Holy Sword Tournament Arc II
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(POV: Akashic Records)
All-Father looked deeply into Lumiere's eyes, a solemn expression on his face. "Lumiere," he began, his voice filled with a mix of wisdom and anticipation, "there are some things you must know."
Lumiere leaned forward attentively, ready to absorb every word.
"You see, in the grand tapestry of fate, Stellaria was originally destined to be your beloved," All-Father revealed, his voice tinged with a hint of regret. "But your luck was utterly abysmal. It pained me to see such a talented young Integrator endure countless hardships."
Lumiere's eyes widened in surprise as he processed the unexpected twist. "So, you... changed our fate?" he murmured.
All-Father nodded, offering Lumiere a reassuring smile.
"Indeed. I saw a different path for you—one where your true potential would bloom. And so, I promised you Serendipity's hand in marriage, the goddess of fortune herself."
As the weight of All-Father's words settled, Stellaria's playful smile widened into a mischievous grin. She leaned in, her lips tantalizingly close to Lumiere's ear, and whispered, "Remember, beloved, I was meant to be your first."
Her voice sent shivers down his spine, and as her soft tongue sensually caressed his neck, a mischievous chuckle escaped his lips. Realizing Serena's piercing glare, he quickly composed himself, his cheeks ablaze.
Stellaria and Serena exchanged a knowing glance, one filled with both rivalry and desire. Isadora, sitting nearby, muttered under her breath, unable to fathom sharing Lumiere with someone as terrible as Stellaria.
All-Father's voice broke the tense atmosphere, returning everyone's attention to him.
"You see... originally I had planned for you to marry only Serendipity and take care of this world as the next Apostle of the Gods," he explained, his voice filled with reverence. "But today, I've had a change of heart. I want to see you succeed me and bear the mantle of the next Apostle."
Lumiere's eyebrow raised in surprise and skepticism. "Really?" he questioned, his tone laced with uncertainty. "It seems so sudden."
All-Father let out a hearty chuckle, his deep voice reverberating through the room as he looked at Lumiere with a twinkle in his eye. "My, my, I must say... I didn't expect such a response from you," he remarked, his voice laced with amusement.
Lumiere, slightly taken aback by the unexpected reaction, couldn't help but ask, "How so?" His amethyst eyes locked with the All-Father's, curiosity filling his gaze.
With a knowing smile, All-Father leaned back in his chair, reminiscing about their previous encounters. "Do you recall our last discussion, young Lumiere?" he inquired. "I told you something along these lines, and you told me you were nothing special."
Lumiere's mind raced back to that moment, the memory flooding his thoughts. He felt foolish back then, but now, as he stood before him, Lumiere realized how much he'd grown since that encounter.
A flicker of pride danced in All-Father's eyes as he continued, "You see, Lumiere, you've proven yourself. I wanted to test you, to see if you were truly up to the task or if another Integrator would be better suited for the position."
Serena, still seething with anger, couldn't resist interjecting. "And that," she exclaimed, her voice tinged with resentment, "is why I've been reporting to him bi-monthly. It was all part of the plan."
Isadora, uncertain, piped up, "So, he passed the test?"
All-Father extended his hand across the table, his weathered palm finding its place on Lumiere's shoulder, imparting a sense of reassurance. "My dear boy," he declared, a prideful glimmer in his eyes, "you passed with flying colors."
Lumiere's eyes widened at the confirmation, a mixture of uncertainty and gratitude swirling within him. "While I may not be entirely certain if this is what I desire," Lumiere confessed, his voice tinged with hesitance, "it would be unfair to disregard your wishes, given all that you've done for me."
"Then, I'll ask again" All-Father inquired, his voice deep, "do you agree to marry Stellaria then?"
Lumiere's eyes flickered between Serena and Stellaria, taking in their contrasting expressions. He could see the genuine sadness in Serena's eyes, how she looked down at her feet in silence. Reluctantly, Serena then spoke up, her voice weighed with resignation. "I... I suppose I'm fine with it."
"( Serena must really not like Stellaria... )" (Lumiere)
"It's always been like that." (All-Father)
"Eh?" (Lumiere)
"Eh?" (All-Father)
Stellaria, seemingly blind to her sister's underlying emotions, wrapped her arms around Lumiere, pulling him closer. A sparkle danced in her violet eyes as she whispered, her voice filled with excitement, "Oh, Lumiere, we'll be a truly magnificent couple."
"I agree." Isadora held her silence, but her smile spoke volumes, a silent threat lingering in her gaze. Lumiere felt a slight unease at her unspoken intentions.
Lumiere, though not necessarily thrilled by the prospect, understood the necessity of such arranged marriages. Sometimes, it was vital to sacrifice personal desires for the greater good. Especially in a world where having an exotic harem guaranteed more power for the love interest.
Letting out a heavy sigh, Lumiere met All-Father's gaze and reluctantly nodded. "Sure... I'll marry Stellaria," he conceded.
All-Father's smile spread across his weathered face, a testament to his satisfaction with Lumiere's decision. "You've made the right choice, Lumiere," he declared, pride resonating in his voice.
Lumiere ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of uncertainty.
"Somehow, I doubt that," he muttered under his breath.
Stellaria, her seductive smile still intact, leaned in close to Lumiere, her voice filled with a hint of playfulness. "You can be so cruel, Lumiere," she teased, her arms still tightly wrapped around him.
Lumiere, eager not to offend, replied with a hint of sincerity, "No offense intended, Stellaria."
All-Father's chuckle filled the air, but then his expression turned serious, "I have something else I need to tell you before you leave... don't worry, I won't be long."
"Lumiere," All-Father began, his voice tinged with a hint of warning, "you must understand that with the way you are, you'll never reach your fullest potential."
Lumiere furrowed his brow, confusion etching into his features. "I don't understand, All-Father. What do you mean?" he asked, a tinge of seriousness coloring his tone.
All-Father cleared his throat before continuing, his voice becoming more direct. "Let me be blunt," he said, his eyes piercing into Lumiere's soul. "You have the potential to become the strongest being in your world. But your inability to be heartless, will hold you back."
Lumiere's eyes widened, his heart pounding in his chest. "What are you trying to say?" he asked, his voice slightly trembling.
All-Father leaned forward, his presence commanding.
"I'm not telling you to be unsympathetic," he explained. "But you must learn to be kind, not merely nice. The world you live in is cruel, Lumiere, becoming stronger doesn't determine success for you, taking action is what will guarantee your success. If you don't learn to protect those you hold dear, you'll witness their deaths."
"I won't let that happen.." Lumiere simply said.
All-Father's expression softened, a hint of sadness in his gaze. "I hope so, Lumiere," he whispered, his voice filled with a weight of wisdom. "Fortune alone, isn't always enough in battle."
As he finished speaking, the white world faded away, replaced by blinding white light. When the light subsided, Lumiere found himself back in the room with his female companions. Time stood still once again, the world of All-Father momentarily frozen.
Not much time had passed in this world.
"Great," said Lumiere with a flat voice.
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