Chapter 369: A quality sleep
Rebirth is something all beings in this world undergo; their souls constantly go through refinement and recycling, returning to the physical world to be utilized once again. This is one of the universal laws: everything in the universe eventually returns to it. This applies to all beings, even those who claim to be immortal or primordial entities.
It was not difficult for a soul to reincarnate while retaining its form, memories, and personality. In fact, it was more common than it seemed. All of this derived from two circumstances: the strength of the soul and its impact on the universe.
In the twilight of deep sleep, Dante began to feel a strange warmth enveloping him, as if his spirit were being embraced by a warm and comforting heat while his eyes hovered on the edge of exhaustion. All that weariness was being replaced by a gentle sense of peace, nostalgia, and longing. His soul seemed to be resting lightly, gradually restoring itself; little by little, he was breaking free from a shell.
Fragments of memories came to him like gentle waves breaking on a shore, each small piece embracing him so intensely, so... warmly.
First, a golden light bathed the darkness of his mind. He found himself in an ancient garden filled with white and golden flowers. Standing before him was Amaterasu, the sun goddess, radiating an aura so bright and warm that merely glimpsing her brought life and vigor. She had eyes like the rising sun, and her smile was a whisper of tranquility, while her crimson hair danced in the air.
"You always forget to look at yourself," she said, touching his face with light fingers, as if affection could dissipate into the air. "I see the weight you carry, dear... but do not forget that there is beauty in the path you have chosen."
He laughed, feeling at peace in her presence. Amaterasu always encouraged him to see the beautiful and luminous side of the world, to seek peace within himself... even though she was the most fiery and insane of them all, the first to punish a man when he did something wrong.
The two exchanged affectionate glances, and he remembered how that calm presence had always been essential to balancing his fierce nature.
"I suppose I'll have to make Valentina remember everything... I don't know if I can keep this hidden any longer..." Dante murmured.
Soon, the golden light gave way to the silvery glow of the moon, and the garden seemed to float in silvery shadows. He turned and saw Tsukuyomi, enveloped in her night veil, recalling her calm yet chaotic presence... well, she was Amaterasu's sister.
"You're confused again," she whispered, her expression calm yet intense. "Am I going to have to punish you for appearing here with that tired face?" she questioned, shifting to a playful smile.
"Oh... seriously, you've always been by my side to remind me that shadows also hold value, but why do you look so worn out? Go away; come back only when you're well. It's a husband's duty to love his wife, but if you're looking like this, you don't love me enough! Come back later!" she replied, causing Dante's face to shatter like a broken glass.
"She... ah... I forget that I only get involved with crazy people. Maybe Morgana doesn't need these memories..." Dante murmured, but soon added, "Well, I have to return the Legacies to them; maybe that could restore their memories? Knowing those two, they probably did this anticipating what would happen..."
The vision dissolved, and Dante felt the scent of roses intensify. He was in a flower-filled field, and before him stood Aphrodite. Her laughter was seductive, and her eyes sparkled with playful joy.
"Damn... it's after I turned her into a dragon... shit..." Dante murmured before facing the seductive woman.
"Oh, darling, you still have that serious air? When was the last time you truly smiled? Well... the last time we had sex... you were quite excited," she teased, her voice like a melody. He remembered how Aphrodite made him feel light, how she brought forth the part of him he often forgot to express.
"There was always time for a smile with you around," he admitted, smiling back. Aphrodite always reminded him to appreciate the love and passion that existed in the little things. With her, he learned to let down his guard, even if just for brief moments.
'That crazy woman... why... oh damn, I'm going to have to bring her back somehow,' Dante thought.
Then, a breeze came that seemed to carry the scent of the sea. Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, emerged from the foggy waters around him, her eyes deep like the aquatic depths from which she surfaced.
'Maybe in another reality, another sector... Arthur... it was she who gave you Excalibur, wasn't it?' Dante questioned himself, recalling the small moments he had shared with the King of Camelot, 'The legacy must have faded within me...'
"How many years have you been standing there? You don't look so good right now, so I'll give you this advice: it's not enough to face what's on the surface; you must dive deep. Remember that," she said to him, bowing slightly... Unlike the others who seemed to speak to him... this was a memory...
'Why now...' Dante murmured, finally looking at a specific point...
Dante saw Elizabeth appear, a young, cheerful face with eyes that captured every detail around her. She wasn't a goddess but a mortal who brought with her a unique vitality... Well, she was a mortal. Until she became a True Dragon.
"What a dead fish face, go sleep and stop thinking about me!" She shouted at him and quickly disappeared... But she returned... "Hey, stop overthinking and get going! You need to be healthy, okay?" She waved goodbye and disappeared as well...
The memory shifted, turning dark and dense, but not threatening. An imposing presence enveloped him like a comforting shadow. Nyx emerged...
"So you're back... why did it take so long? Why did you leave me here..." she murmured. "You promised to take me out of here..." She said sadly... but her smile appeared quickly. "Just kidding, I'm always watching you. Take your time, I'll be here waiting for you." She said sincerely.
She was the only one who saw and accepted all his complexities without hesitation. With her, he could be who he really was, without fear of rejection.
"But it seems you're really lost. Come on, start talking." Nyx said, looking at him, this time, however... it was no longer a dream.
"Nyx?" Dante commented, confused by the darkness looking back at him. The Abyss smiled back at him, immediately...
"I found you," Nyx said, smiling, "Finally found you," she said as her eyes began to shed tears...
Dante didn't know how to react, really... 'What's happening?'
"Nyx... How is this possible? I thought that... I thought you... were too far gone, lost forever... dead," he whispered, still uncertain.
She gave a slight smile, tilting her head as if she could read the confusion he felt. It was a familiar gesture, full of tenderness.
"I know you're confused," she murmured, her voice as soft as a night breeze. "But I just woke up... I felt you calling me. It was as if the darkness around me had shattered, and then I knew... I knew you were nearby."
He frowned, trying to comprehend what she meant.
"A call? I didn't... I didn't call you... didn't know that was possible." He said, his voice hesitant as he tried to piece things together.
Nyx stepped closer to him, the proximity revealing an intense expression in her eyes, as if she were trying to decipher his thoughts.
"I didn't expect it. I thought it was just the end... I was in the sector next to this one, wandering in the shadows, when an unknown force seemed to pull me... and I awoke, I was in a deep slumber," she explained, watching his reaction. "And at that very moment, I remembered everything. I remembered you, our time together... and our nights..." she said. He still couldn't see her body, but he could feel her there... inside his mind.
Dante remained silent for a few seconds, trying to process her explanation... Nyx was a primordial, so... he was trying to think, trying to piece together a scenario, but nothing came to mind. He might have many memories, but that didn't mean he knew everything. The Abyss was literally with him at that moment. Find adventures at empire
"You... remember everything?" Dante asked, and slowly, the woman's body began to mold from the darkness, creating a shadowy form, beautiful like the last veil of light from a galaxy.
"Yes," Nyx replied softly, her voice echoing slightly, as if the very space around her were an extension of herself. "I remember everything, my husband." She paused, a slight melancholic smile appearing. "Every promise, every touch, every word. And how you have always been... the only one who made me question who I am..."
Dante immediately cleared his mind and looked at her.
"Where are you?" he asked, completely serious. "I'll find a way to get you back right now." He said as his body stiffened, waiting for her answer...
Nyx smiled but shook her head...
"I'm not far, but the convergence... It seems some sectors will unite to raise the level..." she murmured, a bit confused...
"Yes, I already know that. The administrator had warned me about the increase to a higher-level sector," Dante explained...
"I understand... so it makes sense..." she murmured, and Dante became confused. "What do you mean?"
"Until I found you, I searched for all the others... I've almost found them all... All the souls of my sisters, all have reincarnated, but... there's still one missing..."
"Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi?" Dante asked, smiling.
"Yes, I still haven't found them..." Nyx murmured... "Hahahaha, what good news!" Dante began to laugh uncontrollably.
"Darling?"
"They're already with my SELF from this reincarnation." Dante smiled, remembering those who had given him this new life...