Chapter 114: Leave My Tomb Here
At the end of the western road, on the edge of Godfall Land.
This place had once been an endless dense forest, but thousands of years ago, a meteor fell, and an all-consuming black mist covered everything. Now the black mist had hardened into a substance like black mud.
This was "black mud" formed after divine power was corrupted entirely.
The Fertility Goddess's power should have been the purest Life Goddess's divine power, but to completely seize the Life Goddess's body, she had signed a contract with the Demon Race, making them her dependents.
She continuously obtained power from this, allowing her to suppress the Life Goddess's counterattack. However, the power from the Demon Race wasn't easy to acquire; it corrupted her origin, filling her divine power with chaos and death.
After Kurtz killed the Fertility Goddess, this power leaked out, becoming the current black mud tide that swallowed everything in Godfall Land, leaving only oppressive, suffocating silence.
Serie stood not far from this boundless darkness on a mountain peak, her golden hair scattered by the strong wind while she held Athos tightly in her arms. She had been standing here for a very long time.
Her golden eyes stared at the consuming darkness before her. She could feel the terrifying power within it, enough to destroy souls, something even she dared not touch easily. Even when everyone first came to Godfall Land, the black mist covering it hadn't given her such a terrifying feeling.
Though this black mud was dangerous, the actual owner's power had faded entirely. Perhaps in a few thousand years, the black mud would weaken considerably, and after ten thousand years, it would disappear completely.
But she couldn't wait any longer.
Serie's gaze pierced through the black mud, looking into the deepest part of Godfall Land where Kurtz had disappeared.
The obsession to find him burned her soul, supporting her return here after thirty years, a full thirty years of persistence that ultimately returned to the starting point where he last disappeared.
She had searched every corner of the continent, questioned every mage who might have encountered him, pursued every rumour, but all roads had led her back here.
Previously, Serie had not dared step into it, but now she had no choice. She had to get an answer for herself.
If Kurtz was still alive, if his soul fragments remained in some corner of this land of death, that would be the best reward for her search. Only here was her last hope and also her final despair.
"I can't wait any longer. It's been long enough." Serie's voice was very soft; only she could hear it, but it carried determination as her fingers tightened around Athos's hilt.
She had lingered in this area long enough. Every time she wanted to step in, she would be blocked by this aura that made even her soul tremble.
"It can't go on like this," she said, seeming to speak to Atos and also to herself. "No matter what, I must find the answer."
After making up her mind completely, Serie did not set off immediately. Instead, she left the mountaintop and gently placed Athos on the cold rock beside her. She wanted to prepare a tombstone in advance for him, and also for herself.
Using levitation magic, Serie began moving the scattered black stones nearby with slow, careful movements. Each rock was carefully selected and then piled up by her, choosing only the most complete rocks.
In Kurtz's words: Always leave yourself a way out.
Though Serie didn't know if this counted as a way out, it should, right? At least it would let those who came later see that she and he had come here.
Finally, the two largest black rocks were erected by her as the main body of the tombstone, with smaller stones used to build a base around them. When the tombstone was finished, Serie's fingertips glowed with magic, condensing into a carving knife as she slowly carved on the stone surface.
"Kurtz's Tomb."
After carving the last character, Serie paused. If she really found that man, would doing this be a bad idea?
She didn't know. If it were truly as he used to say, to believe in miracles, to believe in reunion, then she would find a time to come back and destroy this tombstone, right? Secretly?
Having made up her mind, Serie turned her gaze to the vertical stone next to it. This time, she carved more slowly, with more hesitation, seemingly considering what name would be appropriate.
Finally, words carrying complex emotion appeared on the rock: "Close Friend, Serie."
The words "Close Friend" were carved with unusual force, much deeper than the other characters.
After carving, Serie stared at the two tombstones for a long time without moving.
Was she and Kurtz really just close friends?
No, that wasn't right! They were initial companions, the closest fellow travellers, teachers who taught each other. They had shared knowledge and seen each other's growth over the years.
It seemed that a simple "close friend" was not enough to describe their relationship, but Serie couldn't think of any other words.
If Kurtz were here, he might say something more fitting; he always had a talent for finding the correct phrase. But he wasn't here, and thankfully, he wasn't here to witness this moment of weakness.
"This is fine," Serie murmured softly, as if making a final farewell.
She stood up again, brushed the dust from her robe, picked up Athos and turned to leave. After walking a distance, she took one last look at the two tombstones that appeared incredibly small between the sky and earth.
There were two, so it wouldn't be too lonely.
Then, taking a deep breath, she put all her hesitation aside. She no longer looked at the tombstones, nor did she retreat, her gaze fixed directly on the dark mire as she took a step and entered the consuming darkness.
Just after Serie left, a dust-covered figure appeared in front of the tombstone. He saw the tombstone Serie had just finished building, his eyes immediately catching the words "Kurtz's Tomb" on it, his expression becoming strange.
Upon seeing the tombstone next to it, his body stiffened for a moment, then he immediately released magic and, after sensing it was just an empty shell, let out a sigh of relief.
He couldn't help but curse under his breath: "Who is it! Spreading such rumours here! Don't let me catch you, or you won't get off easy!"
However, the only one who could do such a thing was Serie. She didn't even mind the bad luck, setting up a tombstone for him in advance.
He squatted in front of the tombstone, picking up a stone. The soil on it was still fresh, indicating it had just been built.
"Looks like I can make it."
After speaking, he did not hesitate any longer, immediately taking steps and rushing in the same direction as Serie.
"Wait for me, Serie."
[End of Chapter]
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