The moon cast a pale, cold light over the garden, which lay in tranquil stillness. Elvynna held Eirik’s hand, and together they ascended the stone steps, which were softly blanketed by fallen petals. The world around them was nearly silent, the air thick with a calm that seemed to seep into their bones.
The only sounds that pierced the stillness were the chirping of distant insects, the soft crunch of their cloth shoes against the stones, and the rhythmic thumping of Elvynna’s heartbeat, mingling with the night air.
They had not walked far when the stone steps disappeared beneath their feet, and ahead of them, a winding dirt path appeared—overgrown with flowers and shrubs that nearly concealed it. At the end of the path stood a weathered little cottage.
Eirik paused, surprised. "Where is this…?" he asked, looking around. Why had Elvynna brought him here? What was this place?
Elvynna was silent for a moment, her eyes distant as she brushed aside the fallen flowers and dried leaves that cluttered the yard. She sat gracefully on a large stone and smiled softly at him.
"You probably don’t know, but this is where I grew up."
"Your old home?" Eirik furrowed his brow, confused. This wasn’t something he remembered from the simulations.
"In my past life, I never told you," Elvynna continued, shaking her head gently. "When I was very young, my parents died in battle, fighting for the Dawnstar Dynasty. Later, an elder from my clan used a rare and secret technique to extract my Regal Bone of the Ancients. My aunt, though gravely injured, gave everything to save me. I was only two years old, but I remember it all clearly."
She paused, her expression clouding with sorrow. "After that, my aunt took me to Aelsryel City, where I lived for many years. But her old wounds eventually caught up with her, and she passed away."
"When she died, she told me her greatest regret was never seeing me marry, never seeing me have children, and live a normal life. She said that strength doesn’t matter—there will always be someone stronger. But I never agreed with her. All I ever wanted was to learn magic, to grow stronger. I believed that if I could gain enough power, I could stop the tragedies of the past from repeating."
In the simulations, Elvynna had indeed risen to unimaginable heights. Yet, as she looked back, she saw the elder who had taken her Regal Bone cast aside by the very dynasty they had fought to protect, dying tragically. The villain who had stolen her talent, Princess Scarlett, faded into obscurity, marrying a hideous goblin and living a miserable life.
At that point, Elvynna's quest for revenge had been fulfilled, and her life had shifted toward cultivation.
"In the end, I became one of the strongest beings in the universe, yet I lost you forever. It was through this long journey of pain and self-discovery that I realized—strength is important, but it isn’t everything."
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As her infinite lifespan approached its end, Elvynna could have used forbidden methods to extend her life further, to be reborn once more, as so many great Archmages had done. There was an ancient Archmage who had lived through eight lifetimes, each spanning thousands of years, becoming a living relic. Elvynna could have done the same. But she chose not to.
"Without you, even immortality is nothing more than a curse and torment."
"In this long life, I fought and bled, I stood at the pinnacle of the cosmos, basking in glory. But after all the struggles and triumphs, I have returned here, to this place, finally understanding my aunt’s wishes. I want to marry you, even if it means living an ordinary life—raising a family, growing old together, and living out our days in peace. That is all I need. I would have no regrets."
Her smile was soft and warm as she looked at Eirik, her eyes filled with tenderness.
Eirik was moved beyond words. His chest tightened, and his eyes welled with emotion. Elvynna, you foolish girl… In truth, "being together" and "living a long life" are not mutually exclusive. Why can’t we have both?
In the cold, quiet garden, the two embraced and kissed. The kiss felt timeless, stretching into eternity as if centuries passed in that single moment. It was a kiss that captured all the joy, pain, and longing of the years they had spent apart. The sweetness of it was beyond words.
...
But then Pixie and Violanda arrived at the forsaken little yard.
Pixie, seeing the overgrown weeds and swarming critters around them, couldn't help but find it all absurd. This wasn’t what she imagined a thrilling rendezvous would be like. Elvynna, usually so poised and composed, had a side to her that Pixie had never seen before. It was almost comical—people’s true selves often remained hidden, no matter how well you thought you knew them.
"Hmph, shameless!" Violanda scoffed, a touch of annoyance in her voice. She sensed something unsettling. People who appeared distant and aloof often enticed men in a way that made them obsess over them.
And soon enough, they saw the two of them—deep in a passionate kiss beneath the moonlight.
“What do we do, Master Alchemist? What should we do?!” Pixie tugged at Violanda's sleeve, panic evident in her voice.
"Why panic? I’ve already got a plan!" Violanda answered with a sharp smile.
Her thoughts were already in motion—she would disrupt their moment, send Pixie right into their midst, and use the reincarnation mirror she had hidden away.
Did she think she would have the upper hand? Not a chance! Violanda wouldn’t let Elvynna take the lead.
But to her surprise, just as she was about to act, Elvynna and Eirik pulled away from each other, ceasing their kiss.
“It’s almost dawn. We should head back,” Elvynna said with a light laugh, taking Eirik’s hand as they began to descend the mountain. "Those little insects are making too much noise. If we stay here any longer, they might come crawling out and become a nuisance."
“Hmph, too shallow. Annoying little bugs—when it comes to men, capturing their heart is always far more important than capturing their body!”
Elvynna believed that even if, in the end, Eirik’s past memories were stripped away, her long confession would be enough to leave a lasting impression in his heart.
Isn’t that far more impactful than just having sex like animals?
The effects of the reincarnation mirror are fleeting.
But Elvynna intended to use this opportunity to leave an indelible memory in Eirik’s heart!
She, Elvynna, didn’t like playing tricks. She preferred to win openly and honestly, with grace and dignity!
And this time would be no different!
Pixie blinked in confusion. “Wait… they just left? After all that?!" She was still trying to make sense of what had just happened but felt a deep sense of relief. "So proud! Mocking us as ‘little bugs,’ huh?"
Violanda’s expression darkened as she began to understand Elvynna’s intentions. If Elvynna had wanted a night of passion with Eirik, Violanda would have had plenty of ways to interfere. But this... this psychological approach was beyond her reach. There was nothing she could do to counter it, and she felt utterly powerless.