The next moment, Nyara and I, who were subtly floating above the black lake, began to descend in a slow, almost solemn motion. Moments later, our bare feet gently touched the surface of the water, creating a light and elegant ripple that spread out in uneven circles.
I felt the icy cold climb up the soles of my feet, as if the lake itself was silently breathing beneath us. I blinked briefly, then tilted my head slightly to the side, letting my gaze get lost in the deep darkness that covered the entire stretch of that shadowy lake.
Honestly, I still didn't fully understand what this lake really was. Of course, I knew the basics — some vague information that had recently come back to my memory — but, at its core, it remained a mystery to me. Even though I had considered destroying it, the truth was, the moment my hand touched its waters, I realized how impossible that would be... at least for my current self.
There was a latent, ancient, and deeply complex force there — something that transcended any logic or power I had so far. Only now, recalling forgotten fragments of my past, did I begin to understand — or at least feel — the true magnitude of that energy hidden in the depths of the lake.
Just imagine a simple string. To destroy the lake, all I'd need to do is cut it. Simple in theory... But by now, that same string had already branched out into dozens, maybe hundreds or even thousands of intertwined threads, each following a different path, spreading like roots across the entire ground.
Which of those branches would lead me back to the original thread, the core where it all began? I'd probably spend so much time trying to find the right way that, by then, the Earth would already be nothing more than a barren, uninhabitable planet, just like it was in its origin.
The other option would be to destroy all the strings at once. The only problem... is that I don't have the strength for that. At least for now, it's simply impossible for me. I couldn't help but find the whole situation ironic: me, unable to undo my own creation due to sheer lack of power. If this wasn't a cruel trick of fate, honestly... I have no idea what it would be.
Anyway, moments later, Nyara and I began to walk calmly across the surface of the lake, as if the water were solid ground beneath our feet. We headed toward the watchful eyes that followed our every step, ever since we left that strange "Dimension" where Nyara had initially been confined.
My golden eyes gently scanned the surroundings, calmly and attentively analyzing every detail. For a brief moment, I held my gaze on each of those people, reading their expressions, their hidden feelings... until finally, my eyes stopped on a single figure: Arthur.
By the way, I had never really stopped to notice this before, but now that I'm beside Arthur, the difference is striking: I've grown, and not by a little. Before, my head barely reached his waist height — it was almost comical how small I looked next to him. Now, however, I can nearly reach his neck.
In other words, he finally doesn't have to practically look down every time he wants to talk to me. Just thinking about it, a small involuntary smile escaped me... it was a silly detail, but somehow it gave me a strange feeling of pride.
Anyway, while I was lost in my own thoughts, Arthur's voice broke the silence, low but firm enough to reach my ears: "You... have changed a lot" he commented, with a tone mixing surprise and curiosity. His eyebrow raised slightly.
Well... honestly, I couldn't deny his words. Of course, it's not like growing up made me feel more adult or anything like that. My mind was practically the same, for better or worse. The way I see the world hasn't changed as much as maybe it should have.
The fact that I care very little about most humans also remained the same... This indifference seems engraved in me, something time hasn't been able to wear down. For a while, I even thought there was something wrong with me. But looking at it from another perspective... I guess I've always been like this. This cold, distant way toward almost everything that doesn't directly involve my family... maybe it's just part of who I am.
"Anyway... that fog that covered everything... does it have anything to do with her?" Arthur asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously as his gaze slowly turned toward Nyara, who, shy, still stood half hidden behind me, almost like seeking protection.
In response to Arthur's question, I nodded silently, feeling my words reverberate in his mind right after: (Yes and no. Nyara herself had no direct connection to the fog. Her powers were slowly returning, and the seal naturally couldn't hold them anymore. I clearly remember having reinforced the seal, making it last long enough for me to return safely. It was a desperate but necessary effort)
Arthur raised his eyebrow, a subtle gesture loaded with doubt, as he heard my words. His eyes reflected genuine confusion, as if trying to decipher the exact meaning of what I had said. However, I had no intention to correct or rephrase anything — my choice of words was intentional.
Besides, I didn't feel the need to explain or justify my thoughts to him. After all, to be honest, I still can't fully remember what led me to act that way, as if part of my own memory was shrouded in fog.
Anyway, at that moment, Eve — the woman with blonde hair streaked with purple that shimmered in the light — and Adam, the boy with hair as white as freshly fallen snow, slowly approached. I glanced at the two, quietly curious about what they were going to say.
From the start, I had already noticed something: Adam seemed to have been brought there by Eve, maybe just to see Nyara. However, honestly, I had no clue about the nature of the relationship between Nyara and Adam. And, to complicate things further, I still wasn't clear about the bond Eve had with Nekra.
Eve was the first to speak. Her gaze, as it swept over both me and Nyara, carried an almost fanatical intensity, a strange gleam that made me visibly uncomfortable. It was as if there was something more behind that expression, something unsettling and hard to decipher.
Then, with a smile that seemed forced, she said: "It's a great pleasure to see you gradually reuniting your family. I'm sure my lady will be deeply pleased to hear this news"
Although Eve was smiling, there was something strange about that smile — a mix of pleasure and unease I couldn't quite put my finger on. It was like she was feeling an almost disturbing satisfaction, something that made me uneasy without knowing exactly why.
From the moment I met Nyara, she always seemed a bit fanatical to me—a hidden obsession that showed in her eyes. At first, I confess I didn't care much; after all, personally, it didn't bother me yet, but it was impossible to ignore how strange she was.
But putting Eve aside, we still had Adam. The look he gave Nyara was one of genuine, serene happiness—nothing like the fanatical obsession Eve showed. It was more like the sparkle in a child's eyes when they reunite with old friends after a long time, full of surprise and innocent joy. From what I could tell, Adam hadn't been corrupted by Eve's influence yet; his purity remained intact, like a faint light still resisting the darkness around.
As I got lost in a whirlwind of thoughts, Adam's voice broke the silence, echoing through the room with a calm tone, yet carrying a certain childlike innocence. Nyara, as always, quickly retreated and hid behind me, her small hands gently gripping the hem of my loose shirt, conveying a mix of insecurity and protection.
"Ma'am...?" Adam's voice sounded light, almost cheerful, as if he'd been waiting for this moment for a long time, a spark of hope shining in his eyes.
When I heard Adam's first word, I raised an eyebrow, surprised. For some reason, he seemed to address Nyara as if they were old friends, but unlike his usual tone, now his voice carried deep and genuine respect. I grew curious, trying to understand the sudden change.
It didn't take long to find out why: when I glanced away, I found Eve watching the scene with a satisfied smile, the same maternal look, full of pride, a mother's gaze reserved for a child who just achieved something important. It was clear that, for her, Adam deserved all the admiration at that moment.
Nyara didn't answer. She just lowered her head even more, as if she wanted to disappear right then. I felt her hand clutch my loose shirt with renewed strength, almost as if she was seeking support not to collapse.
Despite time and changes, Nyara didn't seem much different from the memories I had of her—she was always shy, perhaps the shyest among all our sisters, the one who preferred silence over words. Meanwhile, I noticed Adam taking a hesitant step forward, his gaze full of doubt and concern, clearly shaken by Nyara's silent yet intense reaction.
"It's me... Adam... Do you remember me?" he spoke, his voice filled with a mix of hope and nostalgia: "You saved me a long time ago, played by my side... and said I was your most precious friend..." His face lit up with a sincere smile, his eyes shining as he relived those special memories.
Nyara shrank even more, as if she wanted to disappear. I felt the warmth of her body almost glued to my back, her shaky breath against my skin: "I... I'm sorry..." she murmured, so low it was almost a whisper loaded with guilt, without even looking up at me: "I... don't remember much from the time I was sealed..." her voice faltered, as if trying to access those memories was too painful: "My memories are... confused, jumbled"
The silence that followed was almost suffocating, heavy like a cloud about to burst. Adam opened his mouth, hesitated, seemed about to say something, but gave up halfway. Instead, he forced a melancholy smile, the kind of smile that tries to hide inner pain. He nervously scratched the back of his neck, and his eyes betrayed a childlike vulnerability—like a sad child trying to appear strong in front of their parents, pretending everything is okay when it's not.
"Ah... it's okay... It's not your fault, right?" His words, soft and reassuring, seemed to show a serene calm, almost unshakable.
However, his eyes betrayed silent restlessness, and the slight tremor running through his small body revealed the whirlwind of emotions he was trying to hide. Despite his composed posture, it was clear that inside, he was not alright.
Amid all that tension, I remained still and silent, as if time had slowed down around me. I fixed my gaze on Adam for a few seconds, trying to decipher his expression before shifting to Eve.
She kept that slightly silly, almost maternal smile, as if watching a fight between old friends—a smile that seemed to say: "I've been expecting this" There was something in her serene manner that made me believe she somehow already knew exactly how this would end. It wasn't much different from what happened with Nekra, a cycle that seemed to repeat silently.
Eve noticed my gaze and looked back at me, but this time, her smile carried a subtle, almost imperceptible sadness, as if hiding something behind that delicate expression. I felt a lump in my throat at the discreet but significant change. Instinctively, I looked away and returned my gaze to Oliver.
His expression remained impassive, as if none of it really touched him—a mask of unshakable calm. Yet, when he noticed my fixed gaze, his eyes met mine, and a small smile appeared at the corner of his lips, discreet, almost enigmatic.
After a few seconds trying to decipher the true meaning of that enigmatic smile, I simply gave up. I then remembered that it no longer mattered at that moment. There was something more urgent to do—a last task that needed to be completed before I could finally go home.