TFSAWE - Chapter 253: Hopes To Fulfill (Patreon)

As Evelina finished speaking, a stone emerged in the air, emanating a bright light. In the empty space where she had been, unfamiliar characters, unrelated to this world, began to be engraved. Although the meaning was clear, it was a phrase she had uttered just a moment ago. As the sentence was completed, Aslan rose from his seat and, with trembling arms, embraced her.

Finally, what I had desired had come to pass. A large hand gently caressed her lower abdomen. The offspring of a demon differs from that of a human. From the moment of conception, it possesses a faint yet distinct will and seeks to establish communication with me first. While responding to its call, Aslan found himself contemplating his own peculiarity.

It was his long-awaited offspring. However, the reason for his joy lay elsewhere. It was not just an ordinary offspring. It was a child conceived between him and Lina. That fact brought Aslan great joy. He now directed his intentions toward the newly conceived life.

"The vessel that holds you is fragile. Therefore, cease your growth and wait," he said.

Perhaps realizing that it was a formidable existence that could not be opposed, the offspring, which had been trying to increase in size from the moment of implantation, halted its movements.

"Wait. You shall have the opportunity to be born," Aslan continued.

Once again, as Aslan conveyed his intentions, a very delicate and slender cry echoed in his mind. It meant that it would obey his will and wait.

Aslan embraced Lina. She had been precious to him before, but now she could become even more precious. Aslan turned his head and gazed at the stone. Floating next to the two of them, the glowing stone radiated light as if demanding swift action.

"Destroy all the temples on the continent," it said.

It was a task that posed no difficulty. If it had been asked of him in a gentle and pleading manner, even without such a stone, he would have granted it without hesitation. After all, he detested the temples as well.

As Aslan embraced her, they took flight. As he soared into the air, the energy that he had been suppressing surged forth from his true form. In the empty space, only the two of them existed, but beneath them, in the sea, there appeared a creature resembling a lion with four enormous wings and fiery red fur.

All who lived on the Island of the Sorcerers kneeled and worshipped in reverence to the energy emanating from Aslan's true form, which had not been revealed in thousands of years. It was a fitting act of adoration for the most powerful being in this world.

The colossal figure above the sea turned its head. At the end of its gaze, there lay the continent. From now on, that would be the place he had to destroy.

Evelina embraced me and laughed as we headed towards the continent in the arms of the demon. From within her consciousness, she heard a voice calling out.

"Evelina!"

The owner of that voice was the soul of another world that she had summoned. Despite the urgent plea, Evelina turned her head without responding.

Long ago, Evelina had read a book. She couldn't recall how she had obtained it. It was a book that seemed to have fallen out when she couldn't resist pushing the bookshelf in the library of the temple. For some reason, she brought it with her to her chambers. Then, she threw it onto the bedside table and forgot about its existence.

That's when she cut her wrist. She couldn't remember how many times she had done it. She felt her blood draining away as she picked up the book that rolled on the bedside table. It would be the same today. Slowly, all her strength would drain away, and she would reach the boundary between life and death. However, as a saint, she couldn't surrender herself to the comforting flow of death. Instead, she would be driven back into reality.

As Evelina read the book, inching closer to death, its contents proved to be utterly insignificant. It was a story about a weak girl who, after being admitted to the hospital, spent a short life and died.

Evelina read the book with no sense of sympathy. Why did one struggle so desperately to survive life?

She couldn't understand why such a book would be in the library of the temple. It was an utterly inconsequential tale. As her eyes gradually grew heavy, Evelina reached the end of the book. Her eyes widened at the final passage, devoid of any sincerity.

The woman in the book had read the book before she died. And Evelina realized that what was written in the book was her own story.

"What is this?"

Startled, she tried to sit up, but her strength dwindled, and her vision darkened. Once again, Evelina embraced the familiar embrace of death.

She opened her eyes in the darkness she had seen many times before. As she turned her head, she saw souls drifting away, as if they were asleep with their eyes closed. Death was the final destination for them. Evelina had tried to join that flow numerous times, but each time she couldn't blend in and had to return to life.

Today would be no different.

Evelina pondered the tasks she would have to perform once she woke up again. Just thinking about it brought a deep sense of fatigue that made her want to collapse. How much longer would she have to endure until she obtained what she desired?

What frightens her the most was the possibility that she would eventually lose herself and believe that everything she had experienced was nothing but a figment of her imagination.

With him by her side, faithfully fulfilling the duties of a saint, she could return to those days when she knew nothing.

She was gradually losing herself. The moments when she lost consciousness were becoming longer.

"Just for a moment, it would be nice."

If only she could fall into a deep sleep without any thoughts. If only she could briefly escape from her dreadful existence. It would sharpen her desire for revenge even more.

With that thought in mind, Evelina turned her gaze to the river where souls were flowing.

Among the countless souls, she caught sight of a woman. There was nothing particularly remarkable about her, except that her body was extremely emaciated—a deceased woman.

"You!"

Instinctively, Evelina knew. It was that woman. The one she had read about before she died, the woman who had fought desperately to stay alive, fearing death until the very end!

Evelina rushed forward and grabbed the woman. She had expected the woman to push her away like the other souls, but it seemed as if the soul had been waiting, for it followed her touch and deviated from the course of the river. At that moment, Evelina had a premonition. She didn't resist the presence of this other being. It was as if they had been one soul all along.

"You wanted to live."

Unlike herself, who had no desire to live and was tired beyond measure, this woman had struggled to survive.

Evelina embraced the woman tightly.

"Live in my place."

Lost in her reminiscences, Evelina suddenly snapped back to reality as she caught sight of the distant continent.

This journey, which would take a month by ship, was completed in an instant by the specter. As the embodiment of Aslan appeared on the undulating sea, a crimson aura began to envelop it. At the edge of the continent, the temple on the cliff was filled with screams of people astonished by the massive power emanating from the sea.

Enormous fireballs appeared above the temple. Screaming, everyone hurriedly fled from the temple, but the fireballs poured into it without hesitation.

The buildings crumbled, and even the eternal stone pillars seemed to succumb to the flames. However, it seemed that Aslan's power was not satisfied. It relentlessly searched for the source of the young power within the temple, obliterating the thin currents of power under its tempestuous might.

Watching this spectacle, Evelina smiled. The tablet still shimmered by their side.

"It's not over yet."

She had more than one wish for Aslan. Evelina sincerely whispered to her inner self, to Lina, who cried out from within her.

Thank you, Lina.

Thanks to you, I feel like I can fulfill my hopes.

***