Chapter 90: Previous life (5)
[Physis POV]
Upon opening my eyes, the first sight that greeted was Adilun. She had unknowingly fallen asleep while watching over . I wanted to thank her right away, but I couldnt bear to wake her up.
It struck as odd that soone, who had been ardently calling out to and waiting for my awakening, would fall asleep so abruptly. However, I soon pieced together the reason.
I had witnessed the future Adilun gradually fading away, journeying to an unknown destination. It was more than a re vanishing act; I could discern traces of her existence dissolving and dispersing...
Perhaps, at this very mont, Adilun was facing her future self.
I gently cradled her and headed to her room. The night had grown late. It was a serene nightti landscape, devoid of any awake souls.
Her peacefully sleeping face was incredibly charming. If it hadnt been for her... I might have lost my mind, reverting back to my old temper, possibly losing the very humanity I had co to realize.
I softly kissed her on the lips and settled into a chair, keeping watch. I patiently waited, hoping she would overco her internal confrontation and, when all was said and done, that Id be the first person she saw.
If until now it was my domain, from here on, it would be hers.
* * *
[Adiluns POV]
I opened my eyes. I was certain that I had been watching Physis in distress.
Where am I?
I looked around, and my favorite scenery of Rodenov ca into view.
Specifically, the bell tower of Caltix Castle caught my attention. I had occasionally frequented its pinnacle to relish the view of Rodenov.
And there, I wasnt alone. I saw the figure of a woman, surrounded by black mist.
[ What... is this place? ]
As she opened her mouth, the swirling black mist around her began to settle, slowly unveiling her appearance.
The ends of her black hair were split and looked ragged. Her blackened, cracked horns were painful to see. Especially the black scales scattered across her body, they were distinctly different from the ones I had shed.
Above all... the dark stigma embedded above her chest.
Every morning, as I gazed into the mirror, the reflection staring back bore that very face...
It was .
...?
[ How... How am I here...? ]
Who are you?
I was certain I had been taking care of distressed Physis. Yet, suddenly pulled into this space, I was now facing myself. A version of that appeared to bear imnse pain and fatigue.
For reasons I couldnt quite explain, I addressed her in the softest of tones, as though comforting a distraught child.
She briefly t my gaze, sighed, and then murmured.
[ Haa... So thats how it is. ]
Yes?
In response to my question, she looked up to the sky as if realizing sothing and then turned her gaze back to . Her face was full of determination.
[ I am you. Adilun Rodenov. To be precise... I am the future you. ]
The future ?
That saddened figure was what I would beco in the future?
Perhaps... Can you tell what happened?
[ Ah, I forgot to explain one thing. To be precise, I am the version of you where Physis never fully repented. ]
...What?
[ In the tiline you are living in now, he has changed. But in the tiline I lived in, he hadnt. ]
So, you beca like this because of him?
[ It wasnt all his fault. But yes, he was the reason I beca like this. Let explain in detail. ]
I was surprised at her words, and perhaps it was because I had shown her kindness, she began to narrate her story with a slightly softened tone.
She said that I was currently in a period where ti had turned back, and she was the original, the starting point version of .
Unable to overco the hurt she had received from Physis, she ultimately killed him... making it impossible to nd the relationship with Ortaire.
Bearing that pain, she lost her parents to the Demon King and struggled to rebuild the North. She managed to drive out a plague, but her rage at human greed led her to full corruption.
From there, she proceeded to annihilate the beings of her continent and moved on to another world, slaughtering its inhabitants.
And then... she died with reincarnated Physis and woke up in the place tainted by his inner evil after ti was reversed.
It was an unbelievable story, but I could accept it.
So that explained it...
That was why Physis had changed.
A mixture of joy and sorrow welled up inside . I was glad that because he had changed, I could avoid such a tragic fate. But the tragedy experienced by the first version of made my heart heavy.
[ So, you have nothing to worry about. Kind-hearted ... He has completely abandoned his inner evil. Moreover, since youve already dealt with the Demon King... You probably wont have to experience what I did. ]
And what about you?
At my question, the original gave a bitter smile.
[ I guess Ill have to disappear now. Theres no place for anywhere. Still... Im glad that this ti the things I loved didnt shatter. ]
Isnt there any way for you to continue living?
[ I dont think so. Theres no place for . Originally, I could exist where Physis evil resided, but even thats not possible now. ]
I couldnt bear the thought of her simply vanishing. At the core, she was , wasnt she? To fade away after traversing such a sorrowful path... it seed unjust.
Watching her slowly dissipate with a look of relief, I impulsively grabbed her hand. A part of my hand darkened, probably because we were the sa, she seed to be affecting .
So, what about rging with ?
[ Are you in your right mind? I represent pure negativity now. If you accept , theres no telling what could happen. It might even distort your relationship with Physis. ]
Its okay. Ill overco it.
[ I dont know where that confidence cos from, but I refuse. I dont want to have regrets... not anymore. ]
Lets live a bit more... together. There could be monts of joy ahead.
[ There might be. However, Im too spent to cling to such uncertain prospects. ]
So, youre thinking of just disappearing like this?
[ Yes. Ive lived too long. Ive withstood and endured the flow of ti... to get here. At least Im relieved that you guys can be happy. ]
I couldnt say anything. Looking at her exhausted form, I could sense the imnse pain and despair she had lived through.
However, a sudden thought struck . If I let her disappear like this, I would regret it for the rest of my life.
So, I impulsively grabbed her hand and pulled her into an embrace. It was an instinctual movent. As our contact deepened, I felt a part of becoming darker... Perhaps doing this might be the solution.
And that instinct was right.
[ You...! Are you mad? ]
I can overco it- the storm of negative emotions, the tidal waves. So... Lets endure it, side by side.
Seeing my stubborn face, she shut her mouth.
[ Whether its you or Physis... you both are foolish. ]
Maybe. Our likenesses might be why were so drawn to one another.
[ ...If you accept , I might be absorbed by you. And we will beco one. The mories and life Ive lived will weigh heavily on you. You will be yourself but also . The process will be excruciatingly painful. You might even lose yourself. Still... is that okay? ]
Without hesitation, I nodded. I was well aware of the impending pain and trials.
But... in doing so, couldnt she and I beco a complete whole? Together, loving the sa person, looking forward to the future? Not a painful future, but hoping for a happy one.
It was a risky gamble. The chances of success were probably slim.
But I had no intention of backing down. Physis would probably hope for the sa.
Its okay. We can overco it. He will guide you and , just as I did.
[ ...Alright. Rember, you allowed this. ]
With that, my body began to darken, and once again, the scales I had despised started to form.
And a wave of negative emotions, coupled with mories filled with despair, washed over .
I let the tidal wave sweep away, dreaming of hope and certain that if I falter, he would guide .
Surely, he will.
* * *
[Physis POV]
Changes began in the sleeping body of Adilun. Her peacefully resting form shuddered, and scales appeared and receded on her skin. Parts of her arms, legs, and body turned dark and then reverted back to their original color.
Uh...
Pained groans escaped her lips.
I quickly approached her. She must have reunited with the future Adilun. And given her kind nature, she must have accepted her.
I held her hand, just like she did, and talked to her endlessly.
Adilun, its okay. Youll be alright. You can co back. Dont be defeated by those negative thoughts. Dont be consud by painful mories. Think of the future we will share.
Whispering softly, I painted a picture of our shared future, conveying it to her.
Her expression began to soften. Though she still seed to be in pain, it was clear she was gradually overcoming it.
I continued to speak to her. I suggested that once this was over, we should travel. I told her of the vast oceans in the warm southern region and how through them, we might even be able to venture to other continents.
Lets enjoy and experience all the wonderful things out there.
Then, gradually, Adiluns painful moans began to fade. And her body began to stabilize.
On her skin, just like the future Adilun, scales began to form. They appeared endearingly on her chin, cheeks, arms, and legs. Unlike before, when they covered her whole body, now they only seed to enhance her beauty, making her look sowhat more charming.
Soon, glimring white scales gracefully appeared over her slightly exposed nightgown.
When the transformation was complete, her eyes snapped open.
Physis?
Adilun.
Ive accepted it all. I have beco the future Adilun, and the future Adilun has beco . Our personalities rged, her mories, my mories, and our emotions have all combined.
I know.
Are you... okay with it? I may not be exactly the person you fall in love with.
No matter who you beco... Its okay because Im determined to love you.
Yes.
Im so relieved youre back, Adilun.
Thank you for constantly calling out to . Because of that, I could overco it.
Im sorry thats all I could do, given how painful it must have been.
No, its okay. If it werent for you, I wouldnt have been able to overco it.
Do you still resent ?
No. Perhaps we have reached this point because of everything we went through. We hated and grieved each other, but perhaps thats why we found each other again.
That might be true.
Thats why its okay. The who loved you, the who felt resentful and fell into corruption, and the current were all the sa person. Just like how you, devoid of humanity, the future you who sacrificed your life for others, and the current you, are all the sa person. So... its okay.
Yes.
So now, I suppose theres one essential thing left to say.
What is it?
I love you, Physis.
I love you too, Adilun.
We held each other, with nothing more to say, feeling the warmth of each others embrace.
--- End OF The Chapter ---
[TL: Join Patreon to support the translation and to read up to 10 chapters ahead of the release: /taylor007 ]
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