Chapter 93

Chapter 93

Winter.

It was a night when the snowstorm was severe.

Asilia grasped the sword.

Someone grabbed and pulled Asilias hem as she cautiously stepped out of the house.

Um. Where are you going, Mom?

Asilia suddenly felt afraid.

Would she not be able to see her daughter anymore?

If that were the case, could this small child of hers stand alone?

But she had to do it.

To hide her trembling eyes, Asilia hugged her daughter.

-Mom has something important to do.

Are you going to catch the bad guys? M-Mommy, are you going to the blood religion?

Thats right.

What if something happens while youre gone? Cant you stay?

Asilia hesitated as she looked at her tearful daughter.

Should she just run away?

If they ran away together, could they survive a little longer?

That wouldnt be possible.

They are everywhere.

So Richard made sure that even her daughter

Therefore, they couldnt run away together.

Sharon. My baby.

Sharon isnt a baby anymore! I can wait!

Huh?

How many times do I have to count this time? Last time, I counted thirty times!

Asilia looked at Sharon.

With a determined expression, she folded her fingers back and forth, eventually bending both hands three times, the odd child.

Th Thirty! See, Mom! So tell me. How many times do I have to count this time!

Could she give the child false hope?

But she couldnt bring herself to say it to those round, innocent eyes.

This time, she probably wouldnt come back.

All that her mom could do would be to go on a journey.

Ten thousand times.

Ten thousand times! I dont know how many that is.

Sharon, who bent all ten fingers, asked.

You have to count a hundred times a hundred.

Huh A hundred times! Thats too much!

Asilia hugged Sharon.

She would hug her as much as she couldnt in the future.

Mom Im suffocating

Sharon, while counting to ten thousand, you must chew your food well, okay?

Okay.

And dont leave any carrots behind. Eat them well.

Ehh Carrots

Dont you have to practice swordsmanship a lot? Dont you have to become strong enough so that nobody can hurt you?

Yes! I want to become the best knight like mom!

Thats right. Promise.

Yes. I promise!

Mom!

Ill eat my carrots diligently!

So, you must come back?

She couldnt bring herself to answer.

Asilia hugged the boy, reminiscing about the day she was defeated by Richard.

Anxiety, restlessness, and tension.

The boy was pushing away the emotions that should rightfully be there into a corner of his heart.

Asilia wanted to relieve him of that burden, even a little.

Youve been through a lot.

Why did she want to comfort this child?

Perhaps because he reminded her of her own childhood.

Or maybe because he was the same age as her daughter.

Sharon must have grown up by now.

There were many things she wanted to teach her.

Many things she wanted to do together.

But have you ever felt it?

Asilia, holding Ians hand, placed it directly on her left chest.

What it feels like to hear someone elses heartbeat.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Through his hand, he could feel her heartbeat.

It was gentle. But there was a definite resonance indicating that she was alive.

Its my first time feeling it.

How was it?

I felt vitality.

Good.

With a bright smile, Asilia nodded.

What I want to convey is values.

Values?

Shall we take the Bloodstone Cult as an example? They are those who have chosen to absorb others as a means of growth. They dont know how to love or acknowledge anything other than themselves. They only see others as objects of absorption.

Its true.

Theres no normal way to catch up with the growth of the Bloodstone Cult.

Then how should we confront them?

Youre not suggesting more effort?

Asilia tilted her head, asking.

Have you ever heard the sound of snow piling up?

Ian shook his head.

Have you seen Danyas lips curl up beautifully when she secretly looks at you?

He couldnt know since it was done secretly.

Linas passion may seem excessive at times, but sometimes new experiences arent so bad.

He knew that too well.

Then what about love? What does it feel like?

I dont know.

Asilias face drew closer.

Her soft hair brushed gently against his cheeks.

Her eyes were clear and blue, like the sky after a snowfall.

A gentle touch on the shoulder.

It traveled down his arm to the fingertips.

There are things you only learn when you love.

She clasped his hand with hers.

How the other persons fingers move when theyre happy. The disparity between the eyes and lips when theyre upset.

The trembling when sharing love, the rough breaths.

Ian was lost in thought.

He felt like he understood what she was trying to say.

But it eluded him as if it were just out of reach.

Feel the world. Listen to the various sounds and colors, landscapes and shapes. Pay attention to everything.

Asilias face was warm.

Infinitely natural.

When I become one with the world.

He realized then.

Why he couldnt help but miss Asilias movements moment by moment.

The moment when the world becomes a part of me.

Asilia was the sky.

She was the wind, the earth, and soon, nature.

Everything is one.

Asilia chuckled at Ians murmur.

Its not quite that profound.

She took a step forward.

Footprints engraved on the snow.

Asilia raised her hand high.

It resembled a tree branch in winter.

One, then two snowflakes fell from the sky.

As the weight of the accumulated snow overpowered the branch, Asilias arm gently descended.

Snow scattered.

Countless snowflakes bloomed following Asilias hand movements.

It looked like snowflakes, hence people called it the Snowflake Sword, Snowflake Technique.

It was a sword technique but at the same time, it was undoubtedly snow.

Thus, like melting snowflakes leaving traces on the wall, they disappeared.

She sheathed her sword.

It was only then that Ian realized Asilia was holding the sword.

If I exist within the world.

Asilia turned to Ian.

Then soon, the world will exist within me.

Sasha Asilia, the Snowflake Swordmaster.

She asked him to become her disciple.