Chapter 320: Ch 319: Finding Seraphina - Part 2

"Are you going to show me the past where I died so that these people could trigger you? I am afraid that would no longer work-"

"I am not talking about your past life, but your current life. The temple people are really wicked. They make it seem like they want to help you. But in reality, they are ready to stab you any any second-"

"Excuse me, but I don’t think that is anything new. I mean, I already expected that anyway. The temple has already tried to kill me so many times that I have lost count."

From the second Kael had been announced as the Grand Magician, he had lost all control over his life. It was as if he had been thrown into moving waters without a way out.

The temple that should have been an alley to him had taken him as an enemy and tried to stop him at every turn.

Goddess Aria only smiled at his reveal. But her smile was a bitter one.

"I see. So you knew this already. And yet, you still decided to protect them anyway? Are you some kind of myrter?"

Goddess Aria asked this with a smile, but it honestly did not reach her eyes. She was looking at Kael as if he was a fool...

Not that he blamed her for this. Even he felt like he was making a foolish mistake. But he still wanted to continue down this path.

Moreover, the more he talked to her, the more it felt like he was not talking to Goddess Aria.

The body that asked him these questions was hers...or well, it looked like her. But the intent behind it felt like someone else’s.

"Well, you would know the best about me, won’t you...Seraphina? Did you think taking Goddess Aria’s form was enough to make me give up on you? Though, I have to say that I am impressed you managed to keep this up and even fool me."

Kael looked at Goddess Aira’s face...no, rather at Seraphina who was hiding behind the goddess’s face and let out a smile.

"I think that’s enough playing around, Seraphina. It’s time for you to come back home."

Kael extended his hand toward the goddess but she just gave him a blank look as she looked at his extended hand.

It made him feel foolish for a second and he almost pulled his hand back. But then he kept looking at Seraphina, assuring her that he was still there and it was going to be alright.

"I really don’t like how you act sometimes. You are far too reassured that you know me. What would you have done if you had been wrong and I had been someone else?"

Goddess Aria, no Seraphina asked as she extended her hand toward Kael and he could only smile at her at this point.

"Well, it’s a good thing I know you well enough to not need to double-guess your identity. Now, shall we head back?"

Kael asked Goddess Aria who bit her lip. She looked at Kael for a minute more before she sighed and nodded.

"Alright. I will trust you and follow you one more. But just once more."

The world around Kael began to fade and Seraphina’s body appeared from beneath Goddess Aria’s shell. She looked toward Kael with fluttering eyes but her smile was anything but happy.

...

The world around Kael began to fade, and Seraphina’s body appeared from beneath Goddess Aria’s shell. She looked toward Kael with fluttering eyes, but her smile was anything but happy.

"Kael..."

Her voice was quiet, almost as if she was struggling to find the right words.

"This is not over yet."

Kael’s expression immediately became serious.

"What do you mean?"

Seraphina looked down at her hands and slowly clenched them. The divine magic that had once surrounded her body was beginning to disappear, leaving behind a strange emptiness that Kael could not quite understand.

"Now that my magic has been broken, the true meaning behind my dream will finally awaken."

Kael frowned at her words.

"Your dream?"

Seraphina nodded.

"The dream I have been seeing ever since I was little. I always thought it was just a warning about the future, but I was wrong. It was not showing me what would happen."

She raised her head and looked directly at Kael.

"It showed me what Goddess Aria wanted to do. At first, I thought it was my future, but I guess not."

Kael’s eyes widened slightly at this new information.

"You mean she has been using your dreams?"

"More than that. She has been using my soul."

Seraphina’s smile disappeared completely.

The words made Kael’s heart sink.

He had already suspected that Goddess Aria was using the girls as vessels, but hearing Seraphina confirm it made the situation far more dangerous than he had imagined.

"She has been hiding inside my soul for a long time. She used my body, my magic, and even my memories to prepare something. I do not know what she is planning, but I know that she needs me for it."

Kael immediately stepped forward.

"Then we need to get you away from her before she can finish whatever she is planning."

Seraphina shook her head.

"It might already be too late."

"Seraphina—"

"But there is some good news."

She suddenly smiled, although there was still fear in her eyes.

"Iris and Lyra have awakened."

Kael froze.

"They have?"

"They realised what was happening to them and broke through their domains. They are trying to stop Goddess Aria right now."

A faint tremor passed through the strange world around them.

"She is angry. Very angry."

Seraphina looked toward the sky as cracks began appearing across it.

"She never expected them to regain consciousness this quickly."

Kael clenched his fist.

"Then we need to help them."

Seraphina nodded, but before Kael could move, she grabbed his hand.

"Kael, there is something else you need to know."

"What?"

Seraphina’s fingers tightened around his.

"The reason Goddess Aria chose me as her main vessel..."

She looked at him with a frightened expression.

"...is because my soul is the closest to hers."

Kael’s expression darkened.

"And if she takes complete control of you?"

Seraphina hesitated before giving him the answer he already feared.

"Then she will be able to return completely."