CHAPTER 348 EVERYONE’S LAST (2)

The celestial body descending from outer space was causing abnormalities in the continent's mana. As a result, gravity was disturbed, and the restraining force of the world loosened. The closer the celestial body grew, the more serious this phenomenon became.

"…Glitheon."

At the end of the century, Epherene manifested herself. She fixed herself in a specific time axis for a short time because now was the only moment she could break free from the restraints of causality.

"Can you hear me?"

Epherene looked at the exhausted and crumbling Glitheon.

Glitheon's gaze was fierce. His eyes, as frightening and ferocious as a beast's, were the same as when they chased away the Luna family. But now, Epherene wasn't afraid of him. She felt rather sad.

"…Your magic hasn't been dismantled, I postponed it for a while." she explained, even though she wasn't sure it'd be of any consolation.

The gigantic magic that Glitheon embodied at the cost of his life was only pitiful for her.

"I have a question", she suddenly said, "why did you hate my family and me so much?"

Yukline and Iliade could be said to be rivals, but Luna wasn't. To put it bluntly, it was a relationship between a wild beast and its prey.

"…I didn't hate- ha."

Glitheon grinned, a creak leaving him.

"I didn't hate you."

He looked up blankly.

"I was afraid..."

Epherene waited for him to continue.

"I was afraid that your talent could outdo my daughter's."

Glitheon stared at Epherene with melting eyes.

"Epherene. You too are being used by Deculein."

However, the moment he spoke of Deculein, anger appeared in his voice.

"He will ruin you. Like he ruined my daughter…"

Epherene pondered for a moment, then whispered:

"Why are you unhappy with her? Sylvia did what you wanted."

Epherene sat next to Glitheon and continued :

"You wanted her to be the sun..."

What Glitheon hoped for was for her to be an archmage who reigned in the sky above all wizards, where even the lofty Floating Island could only look up to.

"...and that's what she became." she said while pointing at the countless people preserved inside the painting.

"Just as life cannot survive without sunlight."

There were a lot of people who depended on her to live. That girl's talent was the hope of this world.

"Sylvia will save this continent."

Glitheon laughed:

"You're a fool. Ambition isn't something like that…"

—Click.

At that very moment, another voice interrupted their discussion:

"…Dad."

Hearing this voice, Glitheon closed his eyes painfully.

"I made peace with myself. Not with Deculein who killed my mother, nor with my father who bought his enmity…"

Sylvia paused for a moment. Glitheon's closed eyes slowly opened.

"In the end, I just had to reconcile with myself. There was no need to blame anyone."

Sylvia came up to Glitheon and sat at his side. She placed her hand on his chest.

"…So."

Her voice was still dry, but her heart was as soft as the sea. It twinkled like starlight.

"Can't we reconcile like that too?"

Glitheon burst into laughter again before shooking his head.

"I can't do that."

Before being Sylvia's father, he was the head of the Iliade.

"I'm still disappointed… very disappointed in you, my dear."

Glitheon's heart still trembled with flames. However, seeing her father like that, Sylvia felt proud.

"I understand."

She wrapped her arms around Glitheon.

…They went silent. For the first time since she arrived, Glitheon looked at her. He slowly realized the reason Epherene said Sylvia had already become the sun.

She was too strange to fit a descendant of the Iliade, too lacking, and infinitely pathetic.

"You really are like your mother" he finally said.

"…Yeah."

Glitheon closed his eyes. That broken body and exhausted mind were now reaching their limit.

"I truly loved her."

Glitheon smiled. He continued to speak slowly, chewing over each word.

"And I still love you."

—Crackle…

* * *

Each time Julie swung her sword, a cold wind rose and flowed past. The magic of winter slowly subsided. The priests of the Altar, Syrio, and Jaylon could hardly break through the absolute zero territories Julie had manifested. They couldn't even get close enough.

In that way, she protected the path leading to Deculein. Even when facing hundreds, she didn't fall back. The enemies were trying to provoke Julie and lead her out. They deliberately showed gaps to bait an attack.

However, until the comet crashed and her body ran out of time, until her soul died, and her mana dissipated, her only job was to guard and that was all she did.

Julie felt happy at every second she gained. Every time she wielded her sword and unleashed mana, her body shattered further, but she didn't care. It was her wish to die like this.

Claaank—!

Julie deflected Jaylon's sword and froze Syrio's blade. Her battle was still ongoing…

"I don't think we can break through" said Syrio.

Jaylon scratched the back of his neck with a slightly sullen look.

"I know. It's an iron wall."

No matter how hard they fought, they couldn't break through. Neither swordsmanship nor magic worked. Whatever they tried, she would freeze it right away.

"They said the emperor has entered the lighthouse."

Meanwhile, more bad news arrived from the priests. Syrio wore a soft smile.

"Oh my. If we can't get through this, we will be killed by the emperor."

Jaylon shrugged, wearing the same smile.

"Seems like we have no choice but to break through the front."

* * *

Claaaank—!

Ice shards splashed, and mana and dark energy mixed. Through it, Lia climbed the stairs Sylvia had drawn. She hid, going one step at a time until she reached the top of the lighthouse.

-Gulp.

At the end of the stairs was a small, rustic door. She paused to consider what lay beyond-

Creeak—!

The door opened while she was thinking. Lia and the children trembled, and they heard Deculein's voice.

"…You came."

He was sitting down, pouring wine into an old-fashioned glass, with the flower she gave him next to him.

"Yuli."

When he called her, it felt like she had been stabbed in the heart with a needle, but Lia forced herself to appear calm. Since the first time she saw him, she had been riddled with doubt. Now was the perfect time to be sure. She approached, took a deep breath before slowly opening her mouth:

"Kim Woojin."