The kiss was like nothing I'd ever experienced—intense, overwhelming, and electric. Her lips were impossibly soft yet commanding, her floating hands cradling my face as if I were sothing fragile and precious. The sensation spread through my entire being, a heat that burned and soothed in equal asure, as though her very essence was seeping into .
Ti itself seed to falter, the swirling reality around us dimming into a haze of emotion.
I lost myself in her, the passion of the mont breaking through every barrier I'd built around my heart. Her hands, no longer chaotic or uncertain, now moved with purpose, pulling deeper into the embrace.
When she pulled away, a soft, ethereal glow surrounded her, and I felt a surge of energy ripple through .
Her floating hands moved with deliberate grace, their gestures weaving the very fabric of creation.
"When a new living being is biologically reproduced, their brand new vessel will be either be inhabited by a pure and unblemished repurposed soul, which we call reincarnation, or it will form an entirely brand new soul through the union of two or more essences of already-established souls.
"And now, from my essence and yours," Eve said, her voice steady and reverent, "I will create a new soul."
The light around her coalesced into a single point, pulsating with raw energy. Slowly, it began to take shape, forming into a small, delicate figure. The radiance dimd to reveal a girl, floating serenely in the air.
She wore a pristine white dress, unblemished and simple, and her hair was as pale as freshly fallen snow.
"And with it," Eve said, her voice steady, "I've bestowed you an incorruptible place of refuge, a powerful and indestructible umbrella against the vile sches of fate and those who attempt to wrong you.
"I had also transferred a great level of existential authority while also enhancing all of the beneficial traits that you already have. Think of this as an extra reward that cos with the package, just like what you wanted."
My breath caught as the girl floated down into my arms. Her complexion was both delicate yet resolute, and her face mirrored mine—a perfect reflection of my features, yet distinctly her own. Thick lashes frad her closed eyes, and a faint smile graced her lips as if she were dreaming of sothing beautiful.
"She is a new soul," Eve explained, her tone reverent. "Born from the essence of my soul and yours. No god, no force, no entity can influence her. She will always be prioritizing yours, as is her purpose.
"She also carries my mories—from the Holy Saint to the Holy Witch—and she will awaken with the weight of those experiences. She may cry, she may falter, but she must know her origin to make her decisions with purpose.
"She is the culmination of my connection to you, a gift that ensures I am always with you in so way."
I held the girl close, overwheld by the weight of Eve's words. Tears welled in my eyes as I looked down at her peaceful face. "She's... beautiful," I whispered.
"However, as great as it sounds," Eve said, her voice thick with emotion. "She is not perfect, Narcissus. She will need you as much as you need her. Show her the affection and care neither of us truly had, the kind that we utterly sought amidst the darkness we paved until this very mont...
"... And now that I see it, it reminds of my past naive self," Eve contemplated with a bittersweet smile. "I know that this is a gift, but if possible, can you take care of this girl and bond with her to beco an upright person, to feel that she is loved back, to make her existence aningful in the eyes of soone…?
"I hope that it's not much… After all, you have the right to do whatever you want with this gift of mine."
I nodded, my voice trembling. "I will. I promise, Eve. I'll make sure she feels loved—truly loved."
Eve's floating hands brushed against my shoulders, her smile softening. "I'm truly glad that I chose you for this" She hesitated, her gaze lingering on the girl. "In her, I've left a fragnt of myself. And in you, Narcissus, I leave the part of that finally understood what it felt like to truly connect with soone."
Unable to hold back, I let my tears fall freely, clutching the girl closer. "Thank you, Eve. For everything…"
The sincerity in my voice seed to reach her, and for the first ti, her true composure wavered. Her floating hands trembled faintly as they brushed against my cheeks, wiping away my tears.
"You must also take care of yourself, Narcissus," she said softly. "Eat well, stay warm, surround yourself with those you trust. Don't let the weight of this world crush you. Just like how I'm your first ever person you connected with, you're also my first ever person that I deem more precious than anything I have."
I choked back a sob, her words cutting through the grief that encroached to consu . "I will," I promised. "I'll stay strong—for her, and for you!
"With her at my side, I will never ever forget the warmth that you introduced to ...!" I forced a smile on my face, even though the tears kept on flowing as freely as my uncontainable sadness. "Right, she needed a na, she is technically a newborn, and you haven't told your na yet..
"Her na must be beautiful, and easy to utter. There will be a mont where she might try to get to know the aning of it too, like a curious fairy excited to know its origin...
"Her na will be Charis… Yes, that's it! Her na is Charis! It ans grace, kindness, and life! Just like the very gift that you bestowed ...!"
Hearing those words, Eve let out the most beautiful smile that I had ever seen on her face. "It's a great na. I'm sure that she will like it...!"
I have nothing but my fool's hope… And I want nothing more. It has been, it still is, faithful to .
"Yes… I'm sure she will like it, it's the na that I've chosen, after all."
Why should I begrudge it, since during the hours when my soul crushed the depths of my heart, it was seated there beside ?
"Just, don't let your narcissism seep into her."
O painful hope, I have transford, you see, by respecting you, because I am certain you will never leave .
"Narcissism is beautiful, you know? You just need the right amount~"
Ah, I realize it, your beauty lies in the force of your being. You are like those who never left the sad fireside corner of my fool's gold heart.
"Right, whatever you say~"
O my graceful hope, you are better than a well-beloved: because I know that on the day of my final agony, you will be there, lying in my sheets.
O beloved hope. So that you might once again attempt to enter my heart.
"Ah, my ti is up... It arrived faster than I expected..." As Eve's vessel began to disintegrate, she maintained the pride and hope that the Holy Saint had always carried from the start. "I guess it is the ti to inform you of what I want to deliver back then. Listen closely to what I have to say."
Eve's form continued to flicker, her glowing hands now a faint shimr as her body began to break apart like delicate ash caught in an unseen wind.
The girl cradled in my arms stirred faintly, her lashes fluttering as if she were on the verge of waking, but she remained silent, nestled securely against . I turned my tear-streaked face toward Eve, my voice was still trembling as I tried to hold onto this fleeting mont.
"I'm listening," I said, gripping the girl tighter, as though she could anchor against the impending loss.
Eve's fragnted form paused, her presence still radiating an undeniable strength despite its fragility. Her gaze locked with mine, and for the first ti, there was no trace of chaos or tornt in her expression—only a serene, almost maternal warmth. Explore more adventures at empire
"Before the Ti of Nihil," she began, her voice steady and deliberate, "I was visited by a figure cloaked in void—a being that radiated malice so profound it made even my fragnted soul shudder. They spoke of you, Narcissus. Of your bastioneers. Of your secretary. They knew everything."
A chill ran through as I processed her words. "A figure cloaked in void...?" My voice was riveting with anger, "Who!??"
"I failed to identify them." Eve's floating hands twitched faintly, their diminishing light betraying a hint of unease. "They didn't make their intent clear. But their words were laced with venom. They spoke of finding you, of leading to you. They knew I was unstable, that I was on the brink of destruction. They wanted to use to dangerously unravel you and those you care about."
Her words hung in the air like a dark on, and I felt a cold knot form in my chest. "But... you didn't," I said, my voice firr now. "You didn't unravel , Eve. You chose a different path."
Eve's faint smile returned, bittersweet and fleeting. "I did. Despite their intentions, they underestimated sothing crucial, in a way I didn't think was possible. You turned a weapon ant for your destruction into an ally," she said with a poised yet amused tone.
At this, Kuzunoha finally spoke, her massive form shifting as her sharp, crimson eyes narrowed with thought. "So this cloaked figure... They wanted to use you as a weapon to eliminate Narcissus…
"It might not succeed now, but there will be a great chance that there is a repeating attempt in the future." Kuzunoha deliberately sighed. "Still, this is troubling news," Kuzunoha was put in a troubled thought. "A being with that kind of knowledge and intent... We'll need to prepare for whatever cos next."
I nodded, the weight of Eve's revelation settling heavily in my chest. "We will be ready," I said, determination seeping into my voice. "I'll beco stronger, and crueler to those who dare to snatch my beautiful haven from ."
Eve's fragnted form flickered more violently now, her essence scattering like the final remnants of a dying star. She reached out, her floating hands brushing lightly against my cheek one last ti.
Eve's smile widened slightly, her eyes now glistening with unshed tears. "Then I can leave with peace in my heart." She turned her gaze to Kuzunoha. "Help her when she needs it, fox. And keep her self-esteem high with praise and words of consolation. She'll need soone like you in her heart."
Kuzunoha's massive head dipped in a solemn nod. "You have my word, Holy Saint."
"You make it sound like I'm a child who easily crestfallen," I protested with a snicker.
"Isn't that what you're?" Eve chuckled.
"What a cruel reminder at the very end of this…" I gave her a weak smile, the weight of the mont still heavy on my chest. "Eve... will you be truly gone now?" I asked for confirmation, my voice soft and unsteady.
Eve hesitated, her form flickering one final ti. "Not yet," she said. "There's one last thing I must do."
With the remnants of her power, she raised her hands, channeling a surge of energy into the swirling dinsion around us. Light, gentleness, and cacophony. The fractures caused by the Ti of Nihil began to nd at an extre rate, as the fragnted chaos settled into harmony.
As her light dimd for the final ti, Eve turned to , her voice a gentle and youthful whisper, "I love you." She then flashed a mischievous smile as if this was her plan from the very beginning. "Take care of our daughter very well while I'm gone, kay~"
Eve's last words being this playful probably showcase that she didn't want to end the note in a somber rain.
Yet, I just—couldn't stop crying.
"... Haaah, what a cruel mother you're, Eve."
Her form dissolved into light, scattering like stars across the void.
I clutched the girl to my chest, my tears falling freely as I whispered, "Goodbye, Eve. Thank you... for existing."
With that, Eve's form dissolved entirely, her floating hands vanishing into wisps of light that danced briefly before fading into the swirling dinsion. The silence that followed was deafening, and for a mont, I simply stood there, clutching the girl to my chest as if she were the only tether I had left to the fragile connection I'd forged with Eve.
"Narcissus," Kuzunoha said gently, her voice uncharacteristically soft. "She's gone."
I nodded slowly, my tears falling freely now as I gazed down at the girl's peaceful face. "But not forgotten," I whispered. "Never forgotten."
The air around us shimred, and I felt a faint warmth settle over —Eve's final blessing, her presence lingering in the faintest traces of light.
There was also sothing that had been enhanced and elevated within . Just like what Eve promised, it seed that she had granted so level of necessary power to protect myself.
Though, she didn't utter what it was, nor give a ntal manual like what Kuzunoha does.
It seed like there would be a great deal of howork after this.
"She's truly remarkable," Kuzunoha murmured, her eyes focused on the girl in my arms. "You'll take good care of the lass, I'm sure."
I t Kuzunoha's gaze, my resolve hardening. "I will. She deserves everything Eve and I never had. And I'll make sure she gets it."
"Then let's make sure the place she grows up in is one worth living for." Kuzunoha in her godly fox form had her mouth curled into a small, approving smile. "Also, stop crying. Your so-called 'daughter' will truly be embarrassed to know that her father is a crybaby."
"What do you even know of what it ans to be a parent…!?"
"Well, for one, I'm about to beco her aunty." Kuzunoha snickered. "And then soon, her step-mother."
"You t a little bit too late, I'm planning to marry Verina first."
"And here you're, already talking about marrying another woman right after the girl's mother left. I don't know that you're this shaless, Narcissus."
"Said that person who imdiately coveted a widower right after she lost her loved one."
"Heh, Verina will have a field day after you bring this lass with you back."
"Hahaha, I'm sure she will."
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