Aslan delved deep into the Abyss, seeing many things.
Things like memories and thoughts entangled within the Abyss.
Among them were landscapes that Aslan recognized, ones he didn’t know at all, and some that could only belong to Geladridion.
They must be landscapes grown by consuming formless entities.
Since the Abyss consumes souls, the memories embedded in those souls drifted in its deepest parts.
It was unclear whether it was because they were the heaviest or because they were the most important things to humans.
Aslan wasn’t well-versed in knowledge, nor did he want to be.
The only thing Aslan wanted to know now was one thing:
The place where Lewena was, or a way to save her.
Either would do, so Aslan crossed the Abyss.
The Abyss clung to his body, trying to gnaw at him, but was blown away by the winds of the netherworld. The darkness and thoughts trying to consume Aslan were deflected by an extraordinary spirit.
Thus, Aslan focused on other landscapes while crossing.
The breadth of visible landscapes narrowed. The deeper he went, the more monotonous the landscapes became.
And while observing these landscapes, Aslan realized he was heading in the right direction.
Finally, upon reaching a certain landscape, Aslan barely stopped.
It was a familiar landscape.
An endless snowy plain stretched out, a desolate land.
It was the western part of the southern continent, a very long road continuing from the Duke of Hudedail’s territory.
The settlement obtained at the end of that journey.
The road marking the end of Aslan and Lewena’s travels.
Occasionally, strong distractions mixed with the scenery as Aslan recalled Lewena’s appearance.
Her initial appearance was emotionless and mechanical.
There was even a faint trace of malevolence.
Therefore, at first, Lewena was merely an evil being.
To the point where even Aslan doubted if this choice was the right one.
She was ambiguous enough that she could hardly be called human. Yet Aslan traveled with such a woman.
Through mazes, working as mercenaries, exploring, and occasionally performing good deeds.
During that journey, Aslan realized that although Lewena might not have been fully human, she was an excellent companion.
Skilled in all kinds of magic, her illusion magic reached its peak, making her formidable in battle.
Even aside from that, the Abyss she wielded was useful.
Though annoying situations often arose, she was otherwise a compliant companion.
She occasionally asked questions that troubled Aslan, but overall, she wasn’t troublesome.
Sometimes she revealed her malevolent nature, but it was within a range that could be stopped.
Except for the tragedy in Beryl, it could have actually been stopped.
Therefore, the journey with Lewena was enjoyable.
Despite moments of danger, it was truly a pleasant journey.
It was unsurprising given the context when Aslan reached the destination.
Whistling wind sounds filled the savage place. Aslan felt a sense of familiarity looking at the cold and desolate snowy plain.
A chill that froze memory itself. Aslan was familiar with that coolness.
So Aslan walked. He strolled through the snowy plain, following a path familiar to his eyes.
A barren trail made from layer upon layer of footprints.
At the end of the trail stood a house.
A familiar house.
A house made of logs.
With a terrace, and on the terrace, there was a bench. Neatly placed on the bench was a blanket for the woman who often sat there all day.
Turning along the grain of the bench, not far from the house was a stump.
A stump where an axe was often stuck, used for chopping firewood and carrying it home.
Turning slightly from that stump, there was an apple tree.
An apple tree that hadn’t borne fruit yet, but was left alone under the assumption that it might grow when spring came.
It was a vividly remembered scene even when closing his eyes now.
Aslan smiled faintly at the sight of the familiar house and approached it.
Thinking that Lewena might be here.
So, when Aslan approached the house and opened the door, he was disappointed.
Only desolation greeted him.
Aslan looked at the desolation and thought.
Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.
Reflecting on the proper truth, all that remained was bitterness. Aslan entered the house and surveyed the furniture with that bitterness.
A subtly narrow bed, good for two people sleeping together.
A pot placed by the fireplace.
A small table and two chairs where they often sat to eat together.
A bucket where water was fetched and kept.
Clay jugs neatly arranged along the stone chimney.
A surprisingly nostalgic scene.
Though it had only been about a year, it marked the most precious time in Aslan’s twelve years.
With a wistful expression, Aslan reminisced over those memories.
Then, closing his eyes and reopening them, he sighed.
Lewena’s self was somewhere nearby, no, somewhere deep down.
Since Lewena’s self consisted of memories and recollections shared with Aslan, as well as every thought that arose in that situation.
It couldn’t just be that, but the strongest element was that.
Lewena’s essence was void, undoubtedly.
Thus, what was needed lay below.
Aslan drew his Abyssal sword.
When the Abyssal sword swirled, memories shattered. Beneath the crumbling landscape, Aslan struck the sword downward.
*
Lewena.
She is a hybrid of the Abyss.
In fact, she could be considered a mongrel.
Simultaneously, she is the sole Abyssal mongrel.
Possessing high purity Abyss, since no one attempts to interact with the Abyss, she remains unique.
Hybrids instinctively resemble their creators, akin to dark deities.
Thus, the woman was naturally greedy.
She had to possess whatever she desired, driven by desires that frequently surfaced due to her hollow heart.
Starving and influenced by the strong survival instincts of the Abyss, the woman couldn’t maintain relationships for long.
Of course, fate played a significant role, but still, the fact that Lewena couldn’t overcome her destiny or nature remained unchanged.
Indeed, in Geladridion, few can overcome what they are born with.
If one is born evil, they remain evil; if born weak, they become cowardly.
Likewise, if born strong, they become arrogant.
There was only one exception.
■■■’s husband, ■■.
The man she loved, whom she could confidently call her lover, was neither strong nor arrogant.
Even though choosing the easier path of evil could have been convenient, he willingly chose the difficult and righteous path.
These incomprehensible actions puzzled her.
Initially, she thought his behavior was simply dull-witted.
But the man was surprisingly astute, calmly providing convincing answers to her questions despite appearing troubled.
Through these understandable answers, the woman gradually understood the man.
The man was kind.
Though somewhat dogmatic and vulnerable to desire, he was kind.
He sometimes got angry and irritable, but overall, he was kind and considerate.
He had weaknesses, but he didn’t harm others to erase them.
Most importantly, the man wasn’t swayed by the world.
In Geladridion, righteous acts don’t exist.
Weak beings are meant to be trampled upon.
Yet, the man acted differently.
Thus, ■■ was truly the sole exception in Geladridion.
Perhaps the woman was drawn to that fact.
A fact that even the difference in their innate nature couldn’t hinder.
Lewena coveted that uniqueness.
Even after obtaining it, she still lusted for more.
The woman regretted that fact.
The relationship between Lewena and ■■■ was very special, exceptional, and unique.
It was also peculiar, which made her regret it.
Had she been a little more ordinary, she wondered.
She wanted to exchange love more plainly.
She wished to speak more honestly and whisper the words she hadn’t dared to say.
She hoped ■■■ could act more comfortably without guarding against her inherent malevolence and wished for his happiness.
Now, it was too distant.
Because Lewena’s wishes wouldn’t reach where ■■■ was.
Lewena thought.
That her presence wouldn’t make ■■■ happy.
That she would forever be bound by fate, unable to escape it.
That she would hurt ■■■ again.
Thus, perhaps it was better to exit this way.
She silently prayed for the happiness of someone whose name she couldn’t recall and for ■■■’s victory over the Abyss before closing her eyes.
Closing her eyes, Lewena immersed herself in the darkest blackness, and soon silence enveloped her.
An eternal silence that would encase the woman and dissolve her faint self into silence.
Just as the woman was about to return to the Abyss…
Tzjik.
A sound came from somewhere. A sound even the closed-eyed woman couldn’t hear clearly.
At first, she ignored it, thinking she hadn’t heard it, but the sound continued.
Tzjik!
Louder this time.
The woman flinched.
Various hopes arose and then sank. Most of the submerged hopes were unrealistic.
For instance, the idea that he had come to rescue her.
But that was impossible.
There was no way to save the woman.
The woman’s faint self wasn’t something visible or tangible, nor something that could be found by simply feeling around.
Thus, she thought she must have misheard, but the sound persisted.
Tzjik!
The splitting sound rang out again.
It was definitely a sound of destruction. Realizing this, the woman opened her closed eyes and looked toward the source of the sound.
Bathed in darkness, with her body stained black, she raised her head to look.
On the horizon, a white crack was etched. A crack that stood out excessively in the midst of darkness.
Light seeped through the crack.
As the woman blankly stared at the light, the sound continued.
—Boom
A heavy rumbling sound accompanied the spreading crack.
Shards of the Abyss fell to the ground with a thud.
Falling shards. Behind where they fell, light was seeping in.
It was a captivating sight. Even the woman, who was usually indifferent, couldn’t help but gaze at it.
Boom, Boom, Boom!
The heavy sound continued several times.
Until the shell encasing the woman broke.
Tzjik, Crack!
The shell broke, and the woman looked outside.
The seeping light was blinding, preventing her from clearly seeing the figure entering from outside.
However, the figure seemed familiar somewhere.
Tall, cloaked.
The glimpsed hair was curly, giving off a soft impression.
But she couldn’t identify who it was. Her lost memories prevented her from recognizing.
Likely, the person entering couldn’t recognize her either.
Gone was Lewena’s beautiful appearance; only a shadow-like figure stained black remained.
Lewena, swimming in the black darkness,
More accurately, the Abyss that was once part of her silently watched the newcomer.
A man who evoked an astonishing sense of familiarity and longing.
The man quietly raised his head and looked at Lewena.
Looking at Lewena, who resembled a black doll or shadow, the man said,
“I’ve come to take you back.”
