Chapter 1023 ‘Aria’

"Haaahhh... Haaahhh... Haaahhh..." Catching her breath, Ais doesn't know how long she had been staying in this strange dark world where she could completely see herself despite the absence of light. Regrettably, she couldn't enjoy the insanity-inducing darkness as she was not alone in this world.

Sensing the danger on her side, Ais gritted her teeth and dodged while parrying the unknown threat using her rapier. A loud clang resounded and sparks erupted before she was thrown away from the force behind the attack. But no matter how much she waited, Ais never felt any walls and was able to stand back up while looking at the single red light that was reflected in the distance that had a row of sharp teeth below it.

As if mocking her, the mouth full of razor-sharp teeth smiled at Ais before disappearing into the darkness once again.

'How long has it been?' She asked herself. This kind of clash has already happened at least ten thousand times and she had already stopped counting long ago. Her body didn't seem to get tired but her mind was already about to snap. Still, she couldn't give up no matter how hard things became and how much this monster played around with her. She doesn't know when, but she had to wait for a gap to leave this place. It was her promise to her late mother.

.

.

.

She didn't know when it happened, but she was watching a 'meteorite' pierce through the hateful Black Dragon, and instead of feeling gleeful, she instead felt an immeasurable sadness that took over her heart. And before she realized it, she was already standing on a familiar small hill with a single towering tree on top of it.

"This is..." It was the hill that was near their house, the spot where she spent most of her childhood playing around. The scent of the air, the rustling of grass and leaves, the gentle touch of the sun, it was all the same as she remembered it. Closing her eyes to take in this moment, a single tear streamed down her cheek.

"Everything here is just an illusion that you created." Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind the tree, and a second later, a figure stepped out from behind it.

"...M-mother."

Ais ran towards her and grabbed her into a big hug. The floodgates that were keeping most of her tears away were once again opened, "M-mother!" Although she was able to hear her words inside her head after she disappeared once again yesterday, she dearly missed her mother so much that she wasn't able to sleep.

Aria returned the hug and patted her head gently while smiling. However, that smile of hers has a tint of melancholy in it, 'This is the end, huh?'

'We still have some time.' Aria thought after taking a quick look at the sky so she entertained Ais to the best of her abilities.

After Ais calmed down, the two of them sat down under the shade of the tree and started talking about random things just like in the old time. Although her father was not present, she was incredibly happy that this was even possible. She was so glad that she wanted to stay in this dream forever.

But the more they talk, the more the illusion seems to break down, with Ais finding some discrepancies with her 'mother' Aria. There was a nagging feeling that she kept ignoring because she didn't want to end this blissful time.

"And Tione kept pestering me that I should soon find a man for myself since I'm already old enough. But I'm not really interested and she doesn't have one too after she gave up on the captain."

"Ara~ I failed to realize that you're already at that age. And Tione is truly an unfortunate woman, setting her sights on a man that would never reciprocate her feelings. It must have been hard."

Ais looked up at her and added, "I don't really understand those sorts of stuff. I'm busy enough to get stronger, so why should I waste my time on companionship? I've seen enough relationships that aren't so great and if its purpose is to leave an offspring, I already have Lysa that I want to take care of."

"Then let me ask you a question, what is Lysa to you?"

"Lysa? I don't really know what it means to become a mother but I consider her as my daughter. I'd sacrifice everything for her."

"You're already doing a good job. That's what it means to become a good parent to their child." Aria chuckled, "Now let me ask you a different question, what do you think of Tiona, Tione, Lefiya, Filvis, and the others close to you?"

Ais didn't know what Aria was trying to say but she still answered, "They are my important friends. They are my family."

"Finally, here's the real question. Did you choose Lysa to become your daughter? Did you choose those from the Loki Familia to become your friends and family?"

Ais immediately sat up and denied her words, "No!"

"Right? All genuine relationships are like that. You may choose who to approach first, but making them an important part of your life comes gradually and naturally even if you don't know how to. That's the same for love. You'll meet people and even without you realizing it, you might even be able to find the one." While saying all of this, Aria looked up.

"Is that how you got together with father?"

Aria looked back to her and now with a defeated smile on her face, "Yes... That is what I'd like to say, but I never really know what kind of person your father is nor do I even remember what he looks like."

"...What?" Ais became distraught and her heart rate started going up, "W-what are you saying, mother?"

Unconcerned with her confusion, Aria continued, "I only knew him for a brief moment, much less love him. In the first place, it's impossible for me to feel any love... Is what I thought eons ago."

A sad and longing smile then emerged on Aria's face, "You really are a child of a miracle... Making me betray my own origin and letting me feel what's impossible."

Ais' heart dropped and grabbed Aria's hand, "W-what are you saying? I don't understand..."

"Ais... You already know the truth but you're just ignoring it... I'm a mere fake... A mark to your downfall."