Chapter 131: Relics - I Forged Them in Darkness, and They Buried Me in It

### Chapter 131: Relics Thick black mist surged, coalescing into a tangible form. The twelve imposing black wings slowly vanished, converging into a human shape. Selena's figure emerged from within. Her once fair face had turned pallid as snow, and her once lively eyes were now dull and devoid of any sparkle. Yet, she still moved with light steps to the side of the young girl. She gently embraced Eileen, quietly comforting her, "Eileen, Lord Lucius would not want to see you like this." The girl didn't lift her head, burying it deeply in Selena's embrace. The halo of divinity hadn't made her stronger; instead, it left her appearing even more isolated and fragile. The man was gone. And it felt as though they had once again become those abandoned children. The difference now was, unlike the chaos when they once had to hide, they had become the rulers of this world. Yet, the man who always wore a mild smile had drifted away like the wind. At this moment, only a tight embrace could offer the girl a sliver of solace. But while the embrace alleviated Eileen's pain, who was there to embrace Selena? She could only press her lips together, her eyes long reddened. Finally, the girl in her arms stirred. Responding to the embrace, she rubbed her cheek against Selena's. "Thank you, Selena. You're right; I shouldn't be like this." She forced a reluctant smile. "Let's go." Go. But where to? Selena, who shared her thoughts, knew she intended to sort through the man's relics. Both tacitly understood yet left the words unsaid. Together, they silently moved towards the study. The study was the place where the three of them had spent the most time together. Initially, it was just Selena who would come every day to cling to Lucius, accompanying him to read books, write, or simply chat. Every moment spent with Lucius made Selena feel relaxed and at ease. Later, it slowly evolved into a space for the three together. Because back then, Eileen felt that leaving the two alone would eventually lead to some less than pleasant events. Reflecting on it now, she could only feel regret. Regret for why she couldn't have been bolder back then? Even if it meant not interfering with Selena's actions... Carrying these bittersweet emotions, the girl gently pushed open the door. The door creaked, and a cloud of dust rose. Dust danced in the sunlight, and the air was filled with an indescribably pleasant aroma. Perhaps it was the faint musty scent released by the many books piled on the shelves. Or maybe it was simply because anything related to the man drew them closer. Eileen reached out and took Selena's hand. This small, ordinary gesture made her nose tingle, her eyes instantly reddening. Because she suddenly recalled how the man had often tried to hold her hand like this. Yet, apart from those rare few times, she had almost always refused. Sometimes walking away silently with a cold demeanor, or brushing him off with disdain. These thoughts only made her tears well up more. Things change, and people move on. Even if Eileen wanted to reach out now, no one was there to take her hand. This inadvertent heartache, like a small knife cutting into flesh, wasn't particularly sharp but persistent, almost suffocating. The gentle sensation in her palm drew her attention. Eileen looked up, meeting Selena's encouraging gaze. They both understood, with his character, he would never want them to dwell in pain. Just as he had often said himself. His dream was simple. He just wanted them to be forever happy. Endless black mist continued to seep from Selena's body. It seemed to sense her emotions, moving slowly and gently. The mist carefully enveloped everything in the study. Then, the black mist began to engulf. First, the tall bookshelves, one by one, along with the books placed upon them. Selena controlled the mist meticulously, ensuring no objects were displaced. Soon, the mist reached the final pieces of furniture, desks and chairs. On a chair hung a familiar, thin cloak. Selena remembered clearly, on the first night she met Lord Lucius two years ago, how she had misunderstood him. Stumbling into the study in a maid outfit, mistaken and embarrassed. Yet, Lord Lucius hadn't blamed her nor said anything special. His first reaction was simply to grab a cloak and gently place it on the girl. That night marked the first time the girl felt what warmth meant. Now the flimsy cloak remained, but no longer bore the warmth of Lord Lucius. The black mist swirled around the garment, bringing it to the girl. Selena reached out to grasp it, feeling its coldness. Much like her heart at that moment. The mist continued to consume, but stopped in front of the final desk. On it lay a book with a black cover. Calling it a book now, it seemed more like a notebook. Eileen said nothing, her black dress swaying as she personally took the notebook in hand. Selena quickly collected her thoughts and followed. She was curious. “What is it?” Eileen quietly gazed at the book, eyelids lowered. The weight in her hands felt heavy. Without rushing to explain, she turned to the first page. Familiar handwriting met the eyes of both girls. "So it turns out becoming a god doesn't require some awe-inspiring sacrifice, nor a complex and tedious ritual." Reading this line, Eileen spoke softly, "It was upon seeing this that I started acting strange..." Hearing this, Selena was momentarily taken aback. "I see..." A stark silence followed. Eventually, Selena was the one to break it by asking. "And after that?" Eileen shook her head, "I don't know." She confessed truthfully that she had only glimpsed that one line before being caught off guard when the man returned. Holding the notebook again, her hands trembled slightly. Eileen hesitated for a moment, yet reached out to turn to the second page. The first page had merely been a cover page. From the second page onwards lay the true contents of the notebook. The writing on it was somewhat messy, likely hastily scrawled. They both knew he had a habit of mulling things over while idly scribbling notes. [Tsk, these two little ones are strikingly exquisite.] [Seriously, how are they any different from characters in an anime world?] That entire page held only those two crooked lines. The writing was handsome, free, and vigorous. Yet it was so casually written that it appeared crooked. (End of the chapter)