Chapter 346: The Divine And The Damned
[Music recommendation: Osi and the Jupiter - Empty Moons]
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She wondered what she was doing here and how she had even arrived in the first place. But the moment she tried to think about it, her mind remained completely blank. No memories surfaced, no matter how hard she tried to recall anything.
"You’re finally awake." A woman’s ethereal voice reached her from behind.
She turned ever so gently, only to be met by a blinding golden light. The glow was so intense that it obscured the mystery woman’s face, forcing her to raise the back of her hand to shield her eyes.
A beautiful, gentle laugh escaped the woman’s lips at the gesture. She took a step closer until she stood directly in front of her. The woman extended a milky hand that continued to emit rays of pure, divine gold.
"We finally get to meet, my dearest Solaira," the woman said. Her voice was filled with a warmth so compelling that it forced her to lower her hand and look.
And when she did, she realised she was looking at the most beautiful woman she had ever seen.
The woman was tall, with smooth, milky skin that emitted rays of golden light, clinging to her like a second skin. She was dressed in a long, flowy gown just like Solaira’s, with a white trail that followed her every movement.
Her arms were adorned with beautiful, intricate golden bracelets, while her ankles bore thin, elegant anklets. Her features were sharp yet soft, complemented by long silver hair that flowed well below her hips. Her golden eyes held eons of knowledge and wisdom so deep it made one want to drown in them.
Her aura was so powerful that Solaira felt, in her entire being, that she was staring at the very source of her creation.
Solaira looked at the hand extended toward her. Without a moment of hesitation, she placed her own hand within it. The moment they touched, every atom in her being hummed with tremendous power, as if they had been jolted awake by that simple contact.
Shocked by the sensation, she finally pushed herself off the ground to stand on her own feet. She did not let go of the warm hand that held hers. The woman in front of her graced her with a gentle smile, one that filled the hollows of her heart with a newfound warmth.
"Who are you.... and where am I?" Solaira finally found her voice. She asked the burning questions while her golden eyes continued to stare at the beautiful woman, who possessed the same eyes as her own.
"Who do you think I am?" the woman asked innocently, her smile never fading.
"I know you..." Solaira was sure of it. She closed her eyes, trying to reach for a name or a face, but she found only blankness. "I know you, but I cannot remember. I cannot remember anything."
"My child, are you certain you cannot remember anything? Or is it that you do not want to remember?" The ethereal woman’s eyes softened even further as she stared at Solaira.
Solaira continued to stare at her, her eyes filled with questions.
The mystery woman continued, "Many souls that come here often do this to themselves. They will themselves to block their memories only because it is easier to live here. They do it because.... it is simply too painful to remember." As she spoke, her eyes filled with immense sadness.
Before Solaira could respond, the woman let go of her hand and pulled her into a warm embrace.
Solaira was stunned by the mystery woman’s actions.
However, as soon as the warmth of the embrace registered, she melted into it. Her eyes filled with tears, as if she had yearned for this specific warmth for a very long time.
Before she realised what she was doing, she raised her shaky hands and embraced the woman back. Silent tears continued to roll from her closed eyes.
She felt the woman’s gentle caress on her hair, like a mother comforting her child, and Solaira did not realise when a sob escaped her before she completely broke down in the woman’s arms.
She did not know why she was crying so hard while holding onto a stranger, but it felt as though her soul was bleeding, and this moment was something she had craved for the entirety of her existence.
An unconditional love, filled with warmth and purity, wrapped around her like true motherly affection.
"Let it out, my child... you have suffered so much. You have been so strong, my dearest daughter. Let it all out and then... let it heal you. Let it make you stronger than you already are."
The woman’s gentle whisper reached her, and it stirred something deep within her.
Those words alone were so powerful that Solaira felt as if this woman would absorb all her suffering. Even though she could not remember what exactly had led her to break down in this manner, she continued to hold onto the woman as if she were the only thing keeping her whole.
After some time, when she had finally calmed down, the woman moved away slightly. She looked into Solaira’s eyes with the same warmth and gentleness, raising her hands to wipe away the tears. "Feeling better?" she asked.
Solaira nodded. "Yes. I... please forgive me for-"
"Hush, my child. You do not need to apologise. You have finally allowed me to hold and soothe my daughter as she cried. It is what a mother does, after all." The mystery woman smiled as if a long-held wish had finally been fulfilled.
"Like a mo...ther. You... you called me your daughter," Solaira said, her eyes wide. She watched the ethereal woman continue to stare at her in silence, as if waiting for her to say more. "So, are you saying that you are my mother?"
"Yes, my dearest daughter." The woman raised her hand and caressed Solaira’s head lovingly, her smile radiant. "I am your one and only mother, and you are my one and only daughter, Solaira."
Solaira froze as she saw the woman’s eyes become serious. "I am afraid we do not have much time, my daughter. Come with me. I need to show you something."
The woman turned and began to walk. Solaira followed her until they reached a pristine lake. Diamond-like crystals lined the waterbed, making the entire lake sparkle with a brilliant light.
Solaira was taken by the breathtaking view. "It is beautiful," she whispered. "Why are we here?"
"Step closer and look into the lake, Solaira. Then, tell me your decision. I will respect whatever choice you make," the woman replied.
Solaira stared at the woman, who seemed to be speaking in riddles. Nevertheless, she sat at the edge of the lake. As she peered into the water, the first thing she saw was her own reflection. Then, the scene began to transform into something else, and a sharp gasp escaped her lips.
...
Back on the ground near the mouth of the volcano, the earth was now painted black with the blood of the dark ones as they were cut down one after another.
After Ivan had dealt with the Azrathuls one by one as though they were not serpents from hell but mere creatures of the living world, he wasted no time charging towards the cowards who had been hiding behind their minions. The first target to whom he would deliver a brutal death was none other than Clair.
Clair struggled within Ivan’s burning grip, and a painful scream tore from her lips as she clawed at his arm and tried to break free, but it was of no use.
"L-Let me go!" she shrieked as she attempted to chant another dark spell to hurl at him, but Ivan simply clamped a hand over her mouth. His body temperature was so high that the mere touch of his skin caused Clair’s flesh to burn.
She continued screaming when Ivan suddenly removed his hand from her mouth, which was now badly burned and blistered.
Without a shred of mercy, he hurled her across the field with such force that she crashed violently against one of the black volcanic rocks, which splintered on impact.
But he did not stop there.
In the blink of an eye, with the help of his incredible speed, he appeared before her again, cutting off any chance of rescue from her comrades. Then she finally heard him speak in a low, cold voice.
"You... let us see what sins you committed against my beloved."
He then placed a burning hand on her forehead, and another shriek tore from her lips as he once again burned her where he touched her, but Ivan simply looked into her eyes with fire in his eyes as if he could see every single atrocious sin she had committed against Evelyn.
He placed a burning hand on her forehead, and another shriek tore from her lips as he scorched her skin, but Ivan simply stared into her eyes. The fire in his gaze seemed to pierce through her, witnessing every single atrocious sin she had committed against Evelyn.
Within seconds, he let go of her forehead and whispered sinisterly, "So you are a ghost from the past. These are the very hands you used against a child."
