Chapter 1092: Permission To Enter Paradise, The Flawless Aurora
Chapter 1092: Permission To Enter Paradise, The Flawless Aurora
Ilse took Liora and ensured the newborn was resting peacefully in her arms. With the time dilation within the Golden Palace, she had more time before returning to sleep.
"Watch over them while I'm gone," Orion said, refocusing on Aerialia.
Receiving Aerialia's nod of assurance, Orion turned around and exited through the illuminated front door.
Arriving on the other side, Orion swiftly changed into his Supreme Leader's outfit-the same one his wives had prepared for his exploration before he ascended into the sky. He quickly reached the barrier, where Seth and a Dragmin woman, dressed in an elegant red and white long-sleeved midi dress, were waiting.
Seth nodded respectfully. Meanwhile, Zarelia looked around in confusion, a deep frown etched firmly on her face. She quickly noticed Seth's actions and composed herself, her expression becoming emotionless.
At that moment, Orion soared out of the Primordial Barrier. Zarelia's eyes widened in shock, startled by his sudden appearance. She flinched backwards instinctively, almost hiding behind Seth. But realizing it was the Supreme Leader of Paradise, she remained where she was, her body tense.
"Normally, you wouldn't be allowed into Paradise until you've proven yourself worthy. But, considering the current situation and the fact that you serve directly under one of our key leaders, I will make an exception. You may enter," Orion said, his voice cold and focused on Zarelia.
"Thank you for your benevolence, Supreme Leader," Zarelia replied, bowing respectfully.
Initially, she thought she would suffer worse after being taken by Seth, one of Paradise's key leaders, unlike Evaline, who was taken by a high-ranking warrior. However, to her surprise, she had been given an apartment within the Outward Stronghold, guarded by numerous powerful warriors capable of defeating any elite group from the Trekking Flamingo Runaway City.
It made her realize how foolish it had been to think they could battle Paradise and emerge victorious. Seth, however, had shown interest in learning about the Dragmin race and the Trekking Flamingo Runaway City.
As for engaging in intimate acts, Seth had been surprisingly open-minded, choosing to learn about her culture before engaging. His words were,
'If this is what your parents and ancestors did before becoming intimate, then I see no reason I shouldn't study it too.'
Although Zarelia had an inkling that he was planning on making her bear his child- something she foresaw as futile, given that only a one-in-a-billion Dragmin could give birth to an offspring with three bloodlines-she couldn't wrap her head around his words, leaving her confused by him.
Zarelia didn't understand the dynamics of their relationship but treated him with the utmost respect like a servant does to a master.
And now, during a strange phenomenon capable of making her senses go haywire and nearly sending her unconscious out of fear, he had brought her to Paradise-the mysterious land she believed was home to beings capable of rivalling those from myths and legends.
Witnessing the Supreme Leader of Paradise appear out of thin air only confirmed her suspicions. In some way, she couldn't help but pity Evaline, as she was certain Evaline had gotten the short end of the stick.
Seth gestured for Zarelia to follow him, flying forward. Zarelia nodded and followed, but to her surprise, an invisible oppressive force-far more powerful than anything she had ever sensed-filled her with dread as it scanned her entire being before vanishing.
Zarelia's eyes widened in amazement as a floating island appeared before her, stretching as far as the eye could see, as wide as the Vylkr alloy mine and encased in a bizarre, powerful barrier.
It wasn't a mechanically mobile city that had to keep moving for survival, but a fertile land filled with trees and a thriving civilization in the distance- the place she had only read about in stories of myths and legends.
'This is Paradise!' Zarelia thought. '... it's beautiful!'
Zarelia was sure she hadn't gotten the short end of the stick. She knew she wouldn't have the luxury of enjoying the view for long, so without hesitation, she followed closely behind Seth as they made their way to the edge of the floating island.
Watching the two disappear into the distance, Orion decided to take a moment to survey his surroundings while waiting for Seth's return.
After several minutes, Seth reappeared, and together, they soared toward the Vylkr alloy mine. They saw Zogar observing the Vylkr artefact's magical formation from the sky as they approached.
They landed beside him.
Zogar nodded respectfully toward Orion.
"Has it shown any other strange behaviour?" Orion asked, his eyes fixed on the dense whirlwind of immense Vylkr energy above the alloy mine. Instinctively, he commanded Morphic Puppet to wrap around his body like armour, ready to defend against hidden attacks.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
"No, it hasn't. Though I suspect it might soon," Seth responded thoughtfully, glancing at Orion before refocusing on the magical formation.
Orion nodded in acknowledgement.
The three of them stood silently, observing the Vylkr artefact's magical formation, hoping for the best.
Aurora hovered high in the sky. Her entire body, except for a considerable part of her face, had transformed into a slightly thicker shadowy figure, almost identical to the inky black beings she had been trying to escape.
They continued their persistent attempts to merge with her. Behind her, two large black wings, threaded with tendrils that stretched skyward, connected her to both the heavens and
the Garden below.
"Why continue?" Aerialia taunted from a distance, her expression twisting into disdain. "You are destined to fail like the rest. And your child will die soon after. That's all you are-a hollow weapon that will destroy itself."
Aurora's eyes flickered open, her irises now deep inky black, replacing the whitish hue they once held. She locked eyes with Aerialia.
Aurora attempted to move forward with a flap of her wings, but her body felt weighed down, and her strength seemed to dissipate into thin air. Her mind echoed with the voices of the shadowy figures, each urging her to surrender to them.
Gritting her teeth in frustration and anger, Aurora stepped forward, her foot pressing firmly onto an invisible platform beneath her. She stretched out her leg again and took another step.
Her outstretched wings followed.
Step by step, she advanced.
By her sixth step, she stood before Aerialia, her movement ceasing as she came to a halt.
Behind Aerialia, in front of the cradle, a colossal ethereal figure materialized in the sky. Aurora's eyes widened in shock as the form continued to take shape.
The enormous figure was a replica of her, except for the two radiant wings emerging from her back. Her feathers glistened with an otherworldly glow and scattered around her like falling leaves in autumn. She was adorned in a bright, shimmering dress that reached her ankles. Her eyes were whitish, radiating a calming yet chilling glow that would cause anyone to bow their heads in reverence. A halo appeared behind her with such intensity that Aerialia's radiance paled in comparison.
Aurora felt this was somehow the flawless representation of what she was meant to be but
never could become.
"You were meant to be me," the perfect Aurora said, her voice tinged with contempt. "Yet, you could not live up to the perfection that I am. You are so irritating to look at." Unable to maintain her gaze on the perfect Aurora before her, Aurora closed her eyes. She reflected on everything that had transpired. She felt that the shadowy figures represented her doubts about her worth, her previous failures, and the haunting truth of her imperfection, which stemmed from her internal fears. Her mother, Aerialia, and the flawless Aurora before her must also mean something.
Aurora's mind spun as she tried to decipher the meaning of their presence. Suddenly, Aurora stopped, snapped her eyes open, and fixed her gaze on her child in the distance, illuminated by the calming radiance of the crimson moon. Her expression shifted to one of realization. Aurora opened her lips and laughed for the first time since her ascension trial began, "НАНАНА!!"
Tears streamed down her face, starkly contrasting her joyful expression. "I've been thinking about completing this trial all wrong," Aurora said, wiping the tears from her cheeks. "I have a child born from this imperfection," she said, glancing at the thick, inky black, shadowy
form.
"A husband who loves me with all his heart, extremely possessive and would never trade me for anything, even if you offered yourself to him in my place," she continued, raising her head
to look at the rageful Aerialia wielding her crimson Greatsword. "And most of all, I have a mother who looked at all I am and willingly called me her child."
"What are you talking about?" the perfect Aurora asked, her flawless expression morphing
into a deep frown.
"It means that I no longer have to be haunted by the fears of my flaws. They are a part of who I am, so getting rid of them would be the same as getting rid of the Aurora everyone knows,"
Aurora replied.
Her thick, swirling, shadowy form began to refine, revealing her slender figure. The tendrils stretched outwards towards the Garden, and the heavens behind her slowly retracted, becoming more stable.