v2c17 : A Misguided Love
Clang!
The heavy stone slab was lifted aside, revealing a tomb adorned with intricate carvings.
The occupant’s attire differed from the others. Instead of the usual tight-fitting tunic, this individual, curled up in the tomb, wore a loose-fitting purple robe. Their body wasn’t pierced by a dagger, but they seemed to be clutching something in their arms.
Abyss apologized to the deceased, then chanted a spell, manipulating the desiccated corpse to open its stiff hands, revealing the object it held.
It was a small statue, but it didn’t resemble the native inhabitants of this world. It depicted a slender humanoid figure with smooth, featureless limbs and a blank face, like a cheap wooden doll—except this one seemed to be made of metal.
Intrigued, Abyss jumped into the tomb and took the statue from the corpse’s hand.
Boom!
The moment his fingers touched the statue, a vision surged into his mind!
“Praise the great Lord of Silence!” Countless natives prostrated themselves before the massive altar, chanting in a language Abyss had never heard before but could somehow understand.
A colossal figure stood silently atop the altar, plumes of thick smoke rising from the chimneys and converging around it, merging into its form. The figure resembled the statue Abyss held in his hand.
“Lord of Silence, save us from this calamity! Grant us rebirth!” In the vision, a figure in a purple robe stepped forward. It was the deceased from the unique grave, its fanged mouth wide open, its voice a desperate cry. “The sacred smoke has risen! The world is ready to receive your blessings! Lord, grant us your will!”
But the “Lord of Silence” atop the altar remained motionless, unresponsive to their prayers and praises…
The vision ended abruptly, fading into a memory. Abyss shook his head, the influx of information causing no discomfort. It seemed to be a form of magic embedded within the statue. He tossed it into his magical catfish’s mouth, deciding to examine it later.
Although the vision was brief, ending before he could grasp the full context, Abyss had gleaned enough information to understand the likely cause of this world’s destruction.
These people had worshipped a deity called the Lord of Silence, their devotion so fervent that they had released toxins into the world, driving their population to suicide. But their god had offered no salvation, passively witnessing their self-inflicted annihilation.
Abyss sighed. What kind of desperation had driven these people to such extremes? He felt both pity and sadness for them. Their god hadn’t cared for them, their worship and devotion unacknowledged, perhaps even misunderstood.
Entrusting one’s fate to a deity, surrendering control over one’s destiny, was, in Abyss’s view, the ultimate folly.
He copied the inscription on the tombstone, then stopped his excavation, chanting a spell to reseal the graves he had disturbed. He then returned to the three girls, who were no longer working, but sitting in a circle, chatting.
Rebecca’s charisma was truly remarkable. She had managed to bond with Flora and Leona in such a short time, their laughter filling the air. Abyss silently acknowledged her social skills. This intellectually gifted girl was also emotionally intelligent.
He had been worried about potential conflicts between them.
“Abyss, you’re back!” Rebecca exclaimed, waving enthusiastically as she saw him approaching. “We’ve been waiting for you! The crystals are ready. We can try to return home now!”
Abyss smiled and waved back. “I’m done with the graves. And I’ve figured out how the native inhabitants of this world died.”
“Wonderful! Tell us everything later. I’m so curious!” Rebecca said, beaming at him. Her smile was as bright and cheerful as the morning sun.
“Hmph, ABC, just so you know, Flora and I are protecting Rebecca now. If you try to bully her, we won’t stand for it!” Leona declared, puffing out her chest. “If you want to bully her, you’ll have to go through me first!”
“Your dress is dirty,” Flora said, approaching Abyss and gently brushing the dust off his skirt.
Abyss looked at the three girls, a sense of accomplishment washing over him. He had gathered three out of the five geniuses, and although he had no leads on the other two yet, he had completed more than half of the first stage of his plan. And he had earned the trust and respect of Flora and Leona. He couldn’t help but feel a surge of happiness.
He realized he needed to be more considerate of their feelings, provide them with a better life.
He decided to start looking for a suitable location, a place with mountains and rivers, to build his grand graveyard.
The portal had been his biggest concern, but with Rebecca’s expertise, everything had changed.
Once they resolved Rebecca’s situation here, they would head towards the Elven Kingdoms, a land of breathtaking beauty. He would find the genius druid there and perhaps purchase some land, establishing his base of operations, giving these girls, who had been disconnected from the world for forty years, a place to call home. They wouldn’t have to follow him on his adventures, enduring hardships and uncertainties. They could come and go as they pleased.
“Let’s pack up the equipment and head to that altar,” Rebecca said, starting to gather her belongings from the alchemy table. “My portal is inside. And besides returning to Hai-Teweru, I have another important task to complete.”
She winked, her hips swaying slightly, drawing attention to a glass vial filled with a clear liquid hanging from her belt.
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