Aengus held her close, feeling her tremble in his embrace as she silently wept. Her warmth pressed against him, and he tightened his arms around her, his heart heavy with guilt.
"I'm so sorry, Aria," he whispered, his voice sincere. "This is all my fault. But I don't want you to leave from my life. I want you and Bella with me on this journey, and I promise we'll never be apart."
Aria wiped her tears with the back of her hand and slowly lifted her head, their faces close. Her emerald eyes, still glistening with tears, locked with his.
"No, It's not all your fault, Ethan," she said softly.
"My mother always told me that it's fate that decides our lives. Perhaps she was right. Maybe this was unavoidable. If only I could have saved you instead of her... none of this would've happened. But no, I wasn't capable.
So, maybe it's fate."
She paused, taking a deep breath.
"I'm glad she saved you. I forgive you, Ethan, but I can't promise that I'll be able to get along with her. A demoness... the same kind who killed my clan members. It's hard, but I'll try— only for your sake."
Aengus's chest tightened at her words, and he was about to respond when Aria spoke again.
"I have only two demands, Ethan," she said, her voice firmer now.
Aengus, visibly relieved, caressed her silky silver hair as the wind rustled around them.
He gently asked, "What are those two things, Aria? I will fulfill them no matter what," his hand reaching her soft cheek, wiping away the tear stains tenderly.
Aengus turned serious.
"Aria, I've found some information. And my memories are slowly coming back. I can now remember my mother... and my father, though I'd rather not speak about him. What I want to say is that this world is just like an illusion. You're all trapped here. The stars, they're fake... the moon might be as well."
Aria was stunned by the revelation. "What about you, Ethan?"
"Yes, your guess is right," he confirmed. "I am not originally from this world. I come from a primal dimension where people harness the power of laws and nature, calling themselves Seekers. They are spread across endless stars and planets, conquering whatever they find, waging war against each other for resources."
"Oh..." Aria's voice trailed off in astonishment, her thoughts racing as she tried to grasp the reality Aengus had just revealed.
She had always been curious about the stars, but no one had ever given her any real explanation. Now, the idea that they were stuck in this world—trapped beneath a false sky—left her both intrigued and unsettled.
Instead of feeling fear, her mind began to imagine the possibilities: adventuring from one world to another, meeting new people, growing more powerful beside Ethan. The thought of such endless exploration was tantalizing. But alongside the excitement came an unsettling realization.
"If everything he said is true, are we really stuck here?" she wondered. A new sense of doubt began to creep in her. "Am I truly human? Or are we just figments in some grand illusion, a dream crafted by a powerful being? Her thoughts drifted to the idea of a true God, perhaps orchestrating this confinement for reasons beyond their understanding?
She glanced back at Aengus, her mind swirling with questions. "Ethan, do you think... we are just pawns in someone else's game? Am I even real? Just like a illusion that you said?"
"No, it's not that, Aria. They use this world as a trial ground for people who can't wield the power of laws, like me. I came here for the same reason—to gain power.
Besides, if you feel alive, that means you are alive, Aria. I believe there are mysteries behind this, and I'll make sure to unravel them. But for now, reviving people that havd been dead is my main focus. We need to deal with Beelzebub and others and work on stabilizing this world to bring peace."
"Okay, forget about me for now. Tell me about your newfound power. How did you become this strong?" Aengus asked, finding the mystery surrounding Aria deepening. He tried to probe her stats repeatedly, but each attempt failed miserably.