The Keys

Love will find ways, death won't break us apart.

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It's been hundreds of thousands of years; Xael has lost count of how many times she was transmigrated. Yes, she was continuously transmigrated into several of profile from the lowest to the highest characters one could think of ever since she operated the Afterlife 0021.

Who would imagine that what Willow said was almost accurately correct on what she's doing.

"No happiness is given without effort and sacrifice, if you want 'your' regrets to be fulfilled, then fulfill all the regrets 'you' have".

For thousands of times, Xael did her best to satisfy the regrets her current identity has. From revenge to wishes, from dirtiest to purest and finally, she was able to obtain immeasurable knowledge from her so called training.

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✽Willow: [ Congratulations sweetcheeks! You're now ready for the real game! ]

✽Apollo: [ The host was also able to complete the worlds amazingly. This guarantees that success of gathering the keys we needed in no time. ]

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After entering the first world in her training session, Willow and Apollo slowly explained the real deal of the current events.

The moment that Xael has activated the project, the three of them was required to pass several tests, unfortunately only she alone was able to pass through all of them.

Zeether was then sealed in a reddish glass coffin covered in different chains and locks while Xyther was placed in a similar one with the shade of violet, the only difference is that Xyther only has one large purplish lock. This is like a standby mode.

In other perspective, the locks is the empty spaced that each of the person needed to have in order to pass the test the system mentioned while the keys are the series of data Xael has to collect in order to fill that space. If she did, then the three of them could finally live in peace.

The locks in Zeether's coffin has respective keys divided into three sets; the body set with three keys, the spirit set with seven keys, and the soul set with only a single key. Yet it was unexpected that during those years in training, Xael was not able to obtain a single piece.

In the end, Apollo explained that the keys will only appear when she finishes her true mission.

On the other hand, Xyther's key was finally in her hands.

Who would ever do some work without gaining even a single thing from the end, for someone like Xael who would only move her bone if she wants to, it was impossible to instill her into earning experience with insufficient reasons.

Though it was essential in order to obtain the qualifications in the requirements, the experience she painstakingly gathered was actually the key on Xyther's lock.

Xael, who's holding an experience key, stood in front of the purplish glass coffin. She gazed at her sons face. "My son."

As she finally inserted the key, it glowed with variations of violet lights. Excited on what's happening, Xael crouched down before slowly opening the lid of the purplish glass coffin.

"…ma…mie~…"

"My… little bun…?"

Instead of freaking out more and question anyone, Xael didn't even batted an eye as she stretched out her arm to pick up her son who's now in a form of a toddler before hugging it like her life depends on it.

Xael who usually cried loudly wept as if she's hiding her tears, slightly making space between them, she gazed at the face of her son before giving his nose a peck. "My little bun… my precious…" She then again gave Xyther a soft kiss on his forehead.

Wanting to share the happiness to her husband, Xael turned to look at the other coffin before finding it empty.

After being silent for a moment, "...wǒde mā ya*! Zeether!"

She was so stunned that her legs almost faltered while Xyther was clueless on her mother's worry.

Xael tried to stride in front of his husbands coffin when a large mahogany door similar to the one back then emerges, it opened on her path that Xael was not able to stop her steps and directly entered it.

Inside, countless tinge of bright colors encircled her, Xyther who was in her arms snuggle up close to her, not in a scared way but in a stance that is trying to protect her mother.

Xael was clearly touched on her son's action when Willow's voice echoed in her ear.

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✽ Willow: [ Sweetcheeks, I'm sorry to cut your moment but there's a problem going on with the whole Ethereal Void Space. Right now, you're about to undergo abrupt transmigration. I really apologize that your first real world would be like this. ]

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"What is happening!? Explain this to me, Willow." Xael was now worried; her husband's body was missing, her son turned into a kid, and now this unexpected transmigration, this is enough to make her crazier.

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✽Willow: [ The project was infected by a virus. It tried to snatch your husband and son's data but Apollo tried to stop it. We didn't stand a chance, the virus was too strong. Xyther was reduce to this state while Zeether, he was taken away with Apollo. I can still feel their brain waves through my sensor though their location is still unclear; completing the keys is currently the only way to bring the both of them back. About the transmigration, the Ethereal Void Space will enter a purification stage, the host, sweetcheeks, is restricted in that subject. ]

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Xael wanted to speak but found no words escaping from her mouth; she looked at her son as she slowly caresses the boy's cheek. "I was too naïve. Just like when Zeether and Xyther died, I became too at ease, thinking that everything will never change." she sighed before continuing. "I'm so stupid for falling into this kind of trap again."

Willow, who was ready to comfort her stopped, it was not because she was out of something to say but because Xael's eyes didn't held any signs of anxiety or depression, and it was still clear like ice.

"I didn't back down before, why would I back down now. I already challenged the heaven and hell; just a virus won't make me fall so easily." As Xael said those words, Willow smiled to herself assured.

Xael who's almost blind because of the lights were suddenly covered by darkness. She knew what's going on; the transmigration has finally taken effect. She slowly opened her eyes, glancing around; the first thing she did was to look for is her son.

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✽Willow: [ Worry not, Sweetcheeks. Your baby is here with me. ]

✽Xyther: [ Mamie~! Mamiee~! ]

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Knowing that her little bun is safe, Xael heaved a sigh. It's no used fighting and trying to return to the Ethereal Void Space as it's not possible to open the portal if she's already transmigrated to the world, it would definitely cause unbalance and chaos. Unless she dies, she wouldn't be able to comeback.

"Wait for me, Xyther. I just need to bring your father back. I'm sorry that we have to be parted again but I won't make the same mistakes twice." She again closed her eyes as she begins to prepare for her first world.