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And once the decision was made, they started to evolve. One after another. Their evolutions were all different. Nyx was encapsulated into a cocoon of black crystals, Lucifer turned into a cloud of darkness and phantasmal black flames, Emeraldine was engulfed by a bright tree, and Partner was covered by a storming spiraling and swirling cloud made of blood essence.

They were all unique and amazing, the very act of evolution was one of great intrigue to me. It brought so many variables and forms to a living being. It was very strange that humans for some reason were not allowed to evolve. It was something that was a thing even in Yggdrasil, a world of magic.

Does this mean that humans themselves are indeed not magical enough to perform the act of evolution and always need to first become a non-human being to be able to? I don't know what sort of non-human I could make Jonathan into without needing him dead first though.

Maybe some sort of Vampire if I use the Blood Skills I have somehow? But nah, that's not something he would have wanted anyways, and I don't want to force him into becoming a non-human being either. He's happy and fulfilled as the human he is.

And I, myself was a human as well. And as strong as it made me to die and become a ghost that could evolve, there is not a single day I didn't wish I could simply go back to the simpler times, when I was a human that reincarnated here, living with my noble family, a happy-go-luck slice of life as an adventurer witch, with her heroic boyfriend.

Yeah, I've meet so many people I love now, hell, I even got a daughter and maybe a few more children on the way too! But… the simplicity and innocence of my first life can't be easily replaced even now. It is something that still remains within me, perhaps as nothing but a reminiscence of the "good old times".

Nonetheless, I can't return to the past, the present is now, and there's many things to do. I've evolved, and I've gained even more strength, this power I've been building since my resurrection as an Undead won't go to waste.

I'll use it for good, I'll save people, I'll try to find my brother, and we'll crush these fucking vampires once and for all. And once I am done with this, I'll go relax back home, and spend time with my lovers and my kid until the next big war happens!

It might sound dumb and overly simple, but I just want to rest for once. And once we're done with this damned trial in front of us, it'll be finally over.

"So we'll need to find the cubes first?" Jonathan wondered as he sat down over the dunes at my side, looking everyone evolve.

"Yeah, I think I might be able to break through the Divine Blood Barrier on my own though, even without finding those weird cubes or whatever." I shrugged. "But it is better if we go to the other places first to secure all the innocents are safe. We won't take turns though; I've decided to go to all three places at the same time."

"At the same time?!" Jonathan was flabbergasted. "Can you do that? Wait, right you can."

"Yes, I can separate my body thanks to a Privilege gifted to me." I smiled. "I've obtained many new Body related Skills, and I can even combine them together, so these three versions of myself will still remain very powerful, don't worry."

"It's not that I am worried." Jonathan sighed. "I just want to quickly find your brother… I hope he's okay, wherever he is."

"Do you have memories of Arthur?" I wondered.

"I do, I only met him a couple of times, but every time I met him, that little boy was always so eager to see me. He admired me as a hero, and always got really happy whenever he said that his sister was going to become the hero of light's wife." Jonathan laughed slightly bitterly. "He was a boy full of innocence and life. I can't even begin to fathom all the pain and agony he had gone through since you were executed… And your family too…"

"But if he had truly survived until now, he might have changed a lot, and become much stronger too." I sighed. "But he might be now scared of what I've become… After evolving into what I am now, I think I've become even more alien than before. A strange being. Although it brings me a lot of power, it also makes me feel uncomfortable, a bit."

"Really?" Jonathan wondered, touching my hand gently. "Maria, you shouldn't feel like this. Although your soul and body have changed, you're still the same you, deep down. Even more now, that you've recovered your memories!"

"You think so?" I wondered. "But sometimes, it also feels like my personality is changing, my body, my soul, it slowly affects it. I might be even slowly… being eroded away, and losing my true self as whatever I am becoming takes over."

"No, that's not true. Sometimes we get mood swings, maybe because of all the stress you've gone through…" Jonathan said. "But you're the same as ever, Maria. I can tell, looking at those gentle and thoughtful eyes. You might have become desperate, even furious. And I can tell that's also justified, seeing the circumstances of the last days… But that doesn't mean you'll stop being yourself."

I stared at Jonathan blankly. This man really doesn't give up, huh?

"Okay, okay, I guess! I am still the same, maybe I've always been insane anyways…" I sighed, looking into the blue sky, and then into the faraway city. "Let's do the best we can now too, so we can finally get some rest afterwards. I've been accumulating too much stress I suppose."

"Yeah, I'll be your shield, as always." Jonathan smiled, his eyes shining brightly.

I have been a bit selfish, thinking only about myself, when someone like him, who doesn't even know how his family is back in the Empire of Light, is constantly helping me.

Jonathan is a very selfless man, isn't he? Almost too much.

"You're a good man, Jonathan." I caressed his handsome face, giving him a kiss. "There's your reward."

"M-Maria…" He blushed cutely. "See? You're still the same as always."

"Hahah, dummy." I giggled.

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