Chapter 248: Gold of Life

Noticing the strangeness of Aurelia’s expression from the side, Regis immediately excused himself.

He made his way through the densely packed crowd with some difficulty and exited the Hall of Awakening in less than half a minute.

’Ugh, there’s nowhere to hide in...’

Aware that he was running out of time, Regis immediately sat on a golden bench beside the statue of what seemed to be a crow, which had the same golden luster as the bench.

He then made himself comfortable and leaned backwards, his head in a relaxed position as he ’fell asleep’.

However, within Regis’s mind, where no one but him could hear, a chant silently echoed.

[Soul Possession]

***

At the same time, back in the Hall of Awakening...

Sweat trickled down Aurelia’s temple as her face contorted.

Fortunately, her back was facing towards the crowd, so no one was able to notice the abnormality within her.

’W-What’s happening!?’

She asked inwardly in a desperate manner.

At this moment, she could feel ’everything’.

The statues, the pillars that supported the building, all of the Hall of Awakening, the park where children and animals played, the insects, bystanders, and everything else.

Aurelia could feel the connection in the whole of Ruins of Gold.

She felt stiff, as if moving just a little bit would cause everything to collapse.

Fortunately, an ever-so-familiar voice resounded within her mind.

(What’s happening?)

The stress on Aurelia’s face was instantly alleviated as she cheerfully responded, ’Regis! Please help me, I don’t think I can hold on for much longer.’

( I can’t take control so suddenly since it might be more dangerous...)

Regis’s voice was tinged with cautiousness, (Calm down and describe what you feel first.)

’Okay...’ Calming herself down, Aurelia began to recount what happened right from the start.

As they had planned, she began to feel a connection with the first golden statue she chose, ensuring she would not be overwhelmed.

However, things quickly got out of control as soon as she tried to feel for the connections with her gift.

Her ’feeling’ quickly expanded as she soon felt all of Ruins of Gold within her mind.

’I-It must be because I lost focus for a second... I’m really sorry...’

Aurelia was on the verge of tears as she could not help but blame herself inwardly.

After all, she felt as if all her hard work in the past few years was in vain.

Added to the fact that Regis, who had tirelessly accompanied her.

’I’m sorry I ruined everythi—’

Before she could continue, Regis interrupted her in a gentle voice, (Don’t worry about it. Mistakes happen.)

Due to her final test earlier, which involved him controlling his Perfect Adaptation to be repeatedly turned to gold and vice versa, he now had a deeper understanding of her gift.

(I’ll slowly take control, but don’t relax, okay? We’ll do this together.)

Aurelia, who was on the verge of breaking down, subtly nodded her head.

Fortunately, Aurum had reminded everyone to be silent, as even the smallest of sounds could negatively affect his daughter.

Therefore, even with the abnormal silence, no one dared to utter a word, much less express dissatisfaction.

Before long, Aurelia began to feel the burden on her mind significantly lighten.

She felt as if someone was behind her, holding her arms in order to lightly guide her actions.

At that moment, Regis also took control of Aurelia’s body without her letting go.

It was as if there were now two minds governing her body.

(Listen, whatever we do from now on— we need to be in sync.)

’Understood.’

As the majority of the pressure on her had now been taken away by Regis, she now had the capacity to reply.

’Shit... the whole Ruins of Gold really is large... It seemed to be even larger than Toran City’s slums back then...’

Careful not to let Aurelia hear his thoughts, Regis ranted inwardly.

Fortunately, he could still use his gifts and abilities through the connection he had with his body.

’I can feel my mind becoming clear and... tranquil.’

Aurelia thought as she was also affected by the connection, ’I feel like I’m getting used to the pressure bit by bit... Is this the Perfect Adaptation that you told us about?’

(Yes.)

Regis replied, (Now, let’s focus and feel the connections one by one.)

’Understood.’ Aurelia subtly nodded again.

The following ten minutes were filled with silence.

The crowd’s expressions ranged from nervous to impatient as they stood in tense silence, unwilling to cause a disturbance that might interfere with the ’lifting of the curse’.

Fortunately, it did not take long for the miracle to begin.

The citizens watched in breathless wonder as the impossible unfolded before their very eyes.

The Hall of Awakening— long a solemn monument cast in unyielding gold for more than eight years— began to shimmer and shift.

Its once-immaculate golden sheen dulled, fading like mist under sunlight, revealing the muted grays and earthy hues of its original form.

Outside, the blades of grass that had glimmered like gilded needles swayed gently in the morning breeze, their golden sheen melting away to lush green.

The land stirred.

Tiny wings buzzed.

Insects, once frozen mid-motion, shed their metallic husks and flitted once more through the air— life returned without blemish, as though time had merely paused.

Then came the soft stirrings of fur and feathers.

Cats stretched, dogs shook their heads, sparrows chirped, crows cawed, squirrels darted— each creature moving as if awoken from a deep dream.

Wings that had once been still sculptures now fluttered skyward.

Barks, meows, chirps, and the gentle rustle of movement began to fill the air, like the symphony of a forest after the rain.

But most breathtaking of all...

The golden statues of people; fathers, mothers, sons and daughters, old friends, lovers, and strangers, began to change.

Cracks of light raced across their gilded forms.

Gold flaked away like dust on the wind, revealing flesh beneath—pale, breathing, warm.

It was not just a transformation.

It was a resurrection.

Time, once suspended in this graveyard of gold, began to move again.

The moment the statues stirred, their eyes blinking open, their mouths parting in disbelief, their hearts thudding once more, was nothing short of transcendent.

For the first time in eight years, the Ruins of Gold no longer held their name.

They lived again.

Soon enough, the echoes of joyful cries and heartfelt reunions rang out across what was once the Ruins of Gold.

Broken families embraced— fathers clutching daughters, sisters collapsing into each other’s arms, mothers weeping as they ran, trembling hands over the faces of sons once lost to time.

Laughter mingled with sobs.

Voices trembled with disbelief and wonder.

Tears fell, not of grief, nor sorrow, but of overwhelming joy.

Each drop carried the weight of years lost and the lightness of a reunion once thought impossible.

The Hall, once silent and still, now pulsed with life— filled with the unspoken beauty of love rediscovered.

Amongst the sea of people, Gerald and Carole soon saw their daughter.

"Carolyn!"

"Mom! Dad!"

The girl with neatly braided thick brown hair leaped into her parents’ embrace while crying tears of joy/

"I’m sorry... I’m sorry I wasn’t here eight years ago."

Gerald cried his heart out, "It must’ve been lonely... don’t worry, your mom and I will never leave you again."

"I love you, Mom, Dad!" Carolyn said in between sobs.

Caroled tightened her hug on her daughter and husband, "We love you too, Sweetie!"

The moments of joy had no signs of ceasing despite a few minutes that passed.

On a somewhat secluded corner, Aurelia leaned on a pillar beside her friends, siblings, and mother.

Aurum, on the other hand, was mingling with the members of the council as he seemed to be explaining something important.

"This sure is a beautiful sight."

A voice sounded from the side, making Aurelia turn her head, "Thank you, Regis."

Her voice was faint as she leaned her head on the silent Pandora’s shoulder, while Patti and Auryn looked on, pride evident in their eyes.

At this moment, Killian whispered in Regis’s ears, "Uh, Boss."

"Yes?" Regis answered as he looked at the scene before them with a smile on his face.

"About the mutations... You know, the thing that happened to Aunt Martha, Patti, and Pretty Auryn."

"You don’t have to worry about it." Regis replied with a side glance.

Killian tilted his head, acting as if he did not notice his friend’s gaze, "What do you mean?"

"Well..."

Regis scratched his head with an embarrassed smile, "Since it was only recently that Aurelia proactively dispelled her gift on the affected living beings..."

After a pause, he continued with a softer tone, "It seems like there was no possibility of mutation as long as it was she who lifted her gift..."

"..." Killian speechlessly looked at Regis, who promptly avoided his gaze.

"So it was your fault that those poor insects you experimented on suddenly exploded into flames?"

"W-Well... my evil craft’s forceful dispelling process seemed to leave some of the gift’s power as only the corruptive energy would be extracted, so..."

Overwhelmed with embarrassment, Regis chose to keep his silence.