TFSAWE - Chapter 264: Completely Surrendered (Patreon)

"It's a magic scroll. Besides, there are other artifacts. It's fortunate that we can use these things freely, considering all we possess is wealth and power."

With those words, he tossed the piece of paper he had been holding in his hand. The paper fluttered as if it were alive, floating in the air.

I had heard that warring nations employed sorcerers to create objects that allowed even ordinary people to wield magic, but I never expected to witness it for the first time in this situation.

Leon embraced me and soared into the air, taking us to a distant place. Finally, I could see Aslan, the ancient deity, and Latvan all at once.

As everyone gazed at the chaotic scene, I belatedly felt a surge of anger.

"Evelina!"

Leon looked at me with a perplexed expression upon hearing my outcry, but I had no time to explain the current situation. In an instant, my vision darkened. In the past, I would have felt bewildered, but now, it was different.

"Remarkable."

I turned around at the sound of her voice, and Evelina stared at me with an expressionless face. Upon seeing her, I could discern that I now held complete control over her body. Perhaps it was because Evelina had completely given up.

This place, which had been engulfed in absolute darkness, had traces of gold scattered everywhere like shattered glass. It seemed as if Evelina was indicating that she could no longer withstand the presence within me.

"You."

Approaching Evelina, I seized her by the collar. She made no attempt to evade, as if she had no intention to resist, and meekly followed my lead.

"I never thought that the demon would sacrifice itself to save you!"

Before her words could come to an end, there was a sharp sound, and Evelina's face turned away. She raised her hand to touch the cheek that I had struck, as if she couldn't believe she had been slapped. Gripping her collar even tighter, I spoke.

"From the beginning, I've wanted to strike you like this."

Evelina looked at me with wide eyes. I knew all too well that I couldn't speak of the depths of fear she had endured. I, who had never experienced the time of fear she had to endure, could not casually measure its intensity.

But Aslan had nothing to do with her vengeance.

I recalled the time I referred to him as my mate and urged him to stay. Although it was somewhat burdensome to have him eagerly rest his head on my lap, he was someone I didn't dislike. The reason my heart grew heavy whenever I saw him was one: he was giving me an affection I could never repay.

Even if it was due to our deal, he was overly kind. Although he occasionally made eerie remarks about killing everyone, he had never once violated the things I asked him not to do. Looking at his original appearance now, I realized how unreasonable the things I had asked of such an extraordinary being were.

I loved that an overwhelmingly powerful being loved someone as weak as me. I willingly bowed down and humbled myself, without any hesitation. And now, he was willing to sacrifice his life for a wretched creature.

"You will never again have control over me."

I said, glaring at Evelina.

"Pretending to be alive all this time."

In response to Evelina's cold remark, I immediately replied.

"No, now you will be the one pretending to be me."

At that moment, the owner of the body was decided.

When I lived pretending to be Evelina, the body belonged to her. But the moment Evelina pretended to be me, the body became mine.

And I had no intention of continuing to live as Evelina.

As long as I lived as myself, without being swayed by anyone, I could speak my mind and do what I wanted.

"Now you can never wield power over me again."

As I spoke, Evelina's consciousness collapsed at an even faster pace. Light poured into the space that had been filled with darkness. I released my grip on Evelina's collar. Her figure was becoming blurred. While her body was not dead, there wouldn't be much time left for Evelina's soul. She had never harbored any attachment to my physical body to begin with. When she realized that she had failed to complete her plan by using Aslan, she seemed to have completely let go of any remaining attachment.

"What use would I have for this body anyway?"

With those words, Evelina weakly smiled, as if she had no further business with me, and attempted to turn away. At that moment, a piercing voice reached my ears.

"Sister!"