Playing With Other Supernaturals

Chapter 1023 ‘Aria’

"Haaahhh... Haaahhh... Haaahhh..." Catching her breath, Ais doesn't know how long she had been staying in this strange dark world where she could completely see herself despite the absence of light. Regrettably, she couldn't enjoy the insanity-inducing darkness as she was not alone in this world.

Sensing the danger on her side, Ais gritted her teeth and dodged while parrying the unknown threat using her rapier. A loud clang resounded and sparks erupted before she was thrown away from the force behind the attack. But no matter how much she waited, Ais never felt any walls and was able to stand back up while looking at the single red light that was reflected in the distance that had a row of sharp teeth below it.

As if mocking her, the mouth full of razor-sharp teeth smiled at Ais before disappearing into the darkness once again.

'How long has it been?' She asked herself. This kind of clash has already happened at least ten thousand times and she had already stopped counting long ago. Her body didn't seem to get tired but her mind was already about to snap. Still, she couldn't give up no matter how hard things became and how much this monster played around with her. She doesn't know when, but she had to wait for a gap to leave this place. It was her promise to her late mother.

.

.

.

She didn't know when it happened, but she was watching a 'meteorite' pierce through the hateful Black Dragon, and instead of feeling gleeful, she instead felt an immeasurable sadness that took over her heart. And before she realized it, she was already standing on a familiar small hill with a single towering tree on top of it.

"This is..." It was the hill that was near their house, the spot where she spent most of her childhood playing around. The scent of the air, the rustling of grass and leaves, the gentle touch of the sun, it was all the same as she remembered it. Closing her eyes to take in this moment, a single tear streamed down her cheek.

"Everything here is just an illusion that you created." Suddenly, a familiar voice came from behind the tree, and a second later, a figure stepped out from behind it.

"...M-mother."

Ais didn't know what Aria was trying to say but she still answered, "They are my important friends. They are my family."

"Finally, here's the real question. Did you choose Lysa to become your daughter? Did you choose those from the Loki Familia to become your friends and family?"

Ais immediately sat up and denied her words, "No!"

"Right? All genuine relationships are like that. You may choose who to approach first, but making them an important part of your life comes gradually and naturally even if you don't know how to. That's the same for love. You'll meet people and even without you realizing it, you might even be able to find the one." While saying all of this, Aria looked up.

"Is that how you got together with father?"

Aria looked back to her and now with a defeated smile on her face, "Yes... That is what I'd like to say, but I never really know what kind of person your father is nor do I even remember what he looks like."

"...What?" Ais became distraught and her heart rate started going up, "W-what are you saying, mother?"

Unconcerned with her confusion, Aria continued, "I only knew him for a brief moment, much less love him. In the first place, it's impossible for me to feel any love... Is what I thought eons ago."

A sad and longing smile then emerged on Aria's face, "You really are a child of a miracle... Making me betray my own origin and letting me feel what's impossible."

Ais' heart dropped and grabbed Aria's hand, "W-what are you saying? I don't understand..."

"Ais... You already know the truth but you're just ignoring it... I'm a mere fake... A mark to your downfall."