Hello guys, I've been busy with paperwork this week, applying for a few university... Such a bother, yet a needed one.

I probably won't finish the chapter today, but since the chapter are pretty long I'll probably post them half by half for now on.

Enjoy and don't hesitate to leave a comment behind!

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“Are you awake sweetie?”

This was the first thing Shinael heard as she regained her consciousness. She was wrapped in a warm and pleasant, but her body wasn’t moving as she wanted. This voice was feminine, unlike the voice she heard when she fell asleep.

Opening her eyes, she found it hard to keep them open and blinked a few times as she experienced the same sensation as directly looking at the sun right away living in a dark room for a few days.

Once her eyes adjusted to the light of the room, Shinael found herself in the embrace of a black haired woman who was staring at her, strongly yet carefully holding her frail body as if she was afraid she would be taken away.

The woman’s long black hair was darker than the night, despite how lightened the place was they couldn’t reflect on her hair like they were absorbing the light itself. Extending her tiny hand, she instinctively grasped a few strand of her hairs, finding it at soft as silk while making the woman giggle at the same time.

Shinael couldn’t help but stare at the woman. Her bright crimson eyes looked cold, cruel and seemed filled with darkness as if they belonged to a murderer. Yet at the same time, they were brimming with an infinite amount of affection and emotion.

Her warm and goddess-like smile looked like a mask concealing her true self as if she was used to putting on a fake appearance, but it was obvious that her heartwarming smile truly came from her heart.

Clothed in a pure black dress, it was a woman for whom the word beautiful wasn’t enough to describe. Her beauty was unreal and made Shinael unable to take her eyes away from her. She wasn’t wearing any jewelry, neither did she need to. In front of her, any ornament would pale and be concealed by her divine beauty.

Shinael stood there open-mouthed, not even noticing the trail of drool leaking from her little mouth and dirtying the woman’s hand. Faintly smiling, the black haired woman used her finger to gently swiped away the drool from her mouth with a little laugh, making her embarrassed by her behavior.

But it was at this moment that as if she was hit lighting, she remembered everything that happened before she passed away; the battle in her foster family, how the father tried to beat her up and perhaps kill her and how she died…

She clearly remembered herself dying and vanishing in a bright light.

It was at this moment that she noticed something was wrong, she had a hard time moving and felt smaller than before. Even the fact that the beautiful woman was holding her in her hands without any trouble was strange.

Noticing her hand which was still grabbing the woman’s hairs, everything became clear.

‘Why did I become a baby?’

The woman, noticing how strange Shinael was acting knew she had remembered everything and couldn’t help showing a saddened expression. Bringing her hand to Shinael’s hairs, she tenderly stroked them.

“It’s fine… Everything's okay now, they won’t hurt you anymore…”

Under the woman’s constant caress, Shinael found herself becoming calmer and calmer. A nostalgic feeling took over her body, her body completely relaxed and she soon felt dizzy. She was at peace and felt slightly sleepy yet wasn’t able to fall asleep.

Yet, as soon as she was going to give in to this peaceful feeling, her mind was assailed by the memories of her previous life. She had until now lived a life where she couldn’t trust anyone, nobody would ever come to her help and everyone was acting against her.

Even in front of this woman who didn’t seem to have the slightest intent to bring her any harm, Shinael couldn’t help but be suspicious and doubt her.

Her behavior didn’t escape the woman’s eyes. She knew a lot of thing about her daughter, and especially how she lived until now which caused her to bear a deep grudge against the people who looked away.

All of those who pretended seeing nothing and looked away, all of them would sooner or later pay for this. For now, they were enjoying the money they gained at her daughter’s expense, but she had personally prepared for them in the afterlife would definitely make them regret their choice.

Looking at her daughter in her hands somewhat quivering, how could she not feel angry? They had left a profound scar in her heart which would take many years to heal.

“I am so sorry Shinael… It’s all our fault that you suffered all those years.”

Her eyes were watery and the woman couldn’t help but shed some tears quietly streaming down her cheeks. At this moment, she looked pitiful and filled with grief. The tears slowly dropped on Shinael’s chubby cheeks.

Shinael felt her heart aching as she looked at the woman, she didn’t know why but she didn’t want to see her cry. She felt like there was a strong and powerful connection between them, they were somehow related.

Mustering all of her strength, she grasped one of the woman’s finger and brought it to her head as she simply smiled.

The woman manifested a surprised expression, she probably hadn’t expected her daughter to react like this, she was dumbfounded and only smiled as she regained her composure. It was a sweet and loving motherly smile.

“I am Mystel… Your mother…”

*Thump Thump Thump Thump Thump*

The sound of someone running in the corridor resonated inside the room.The sound quickly became stronger and stronger as the noise’s source approached from the room’s entrance. It was only after reaching a distance of a few meters from the room that the noise dissipated and only the sound of someone walking could be heard.

Mystel chuckled as she understood what was going on, but Shinael on the other hand was bewildered as she saw a young man in his twenties naturally walk inside as if nothing ever happened with an expressionless face.

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He was dressed in pure white clothes, they were the same as the woman’s ones but only differed in color. His long silverish hairs were attracting the light, giving him the presence of a divine emperor to whom even the stars kneeled in front of him. It was very hard to know what he was thinking, his impassive face lacking of expression made him look like a beautiful statue.

Glancing at Shinael who was still held in Mystel’s hands, the corner of the man’s mouth slightly raised as he approached them and affectionately poked the tip of Shinael’s nose.

“Humu, she’s already awake.”

Mystel dumbly smiled as she showed Shinael to the man.

“My daughter is so cute it’s a crime…”

“Indeed…” The man coldly sighed as he muttered something inaudible which didn’t reach Mystel’s ears.

“Did you say something?”

“It’s nothing.”

His finger left her noses, reaching her stomach and head as he tried to delicately take her in his arms. Mystel didn't seem to oppose his actions, but for some reasons he couldn’t lift her up.

“What are you doing?”

His voice became icy and wronged and his eyes deadly sharp, he glared at Mystel like she was his archenemy who stole his most precious treasure right before his eyes.

“I don’t see what you are talking about~”

A childish smile formed on Mystel’s face, yet somehow this smile contained coldness like it was a fake one.

“You held her ever since I brought her back, it's been three hours now.”

Mystel stopped smiling and glared at his with her blood-colored crimson eyes. She looked haughty and proud, not wanting to step down.

“So what? You had your turn when you brought her back, now it’s mine so piss off.”

“I had my turn? I only held her for five minutes! Right after coming back you took her off my hands!”

Mystel sneered as she sarcastically shook her head.

“Well, you shouldn’t have agreed back then.”

“Give her to me!” The man roared as he ruthlessly stared at Mystel.

“Nope~ Like I’ll give you my daughter.”

“She’s my daughter as well!”

“I don’t care~”

Both of them were staring at each others with a cold smile. If a glare could harm, then they would have already destroyed a city or two.

Shinael who was at the center of the conflict couldn’t help but feel confused and inwardly sigh at how childish the two adults around her were. Yet she felt her heart become hot and warm, she who had been raised without the love and care of her parents, this situation where they were fighting to spend time with her warmed her heart.

She didn’t know who they really are, nor why she had been left when she was born. But seeing how loved she was, she knew they couldn’t help it.

“Mystel, do you really want to force my hands?”

“What are you getting so worked up for, Arsal? If you have the capacity to, then take her.”

The atmosphere around them started to change; Mystel was enveloped by a blackish aura  which consumed everything around her apart from Shinael. On the other hand, Arsal’s golden aura was dazzling and repelled her’s. They were like day and night, neither gained the upper hand on the other.

Soon, the space between them started to shatter little by little, the dimension was slowly collapsing due to the clash of their aura; both noticed but none paid it any attention. They just glared at each other.

However, despite getting annoyed by the opposition neither were really willing to go all out, they had only released a fragment of their true power. How could they both fight with all their strength with their daughter in the middle of the fight?

Mystel especially made sure she wasn't harmed or the slightest bothered by their the display of power.

Slowly but surely, both of them rose the power they wielded. At this point the world around them had already vanished leaving absolutely nothing behind, not even an atom could be found.

It was a world of light brighter than the sun and darkness darker than night, both were trying to crush the other.

“How foolish, you think you can beat me? Let me teach you a lesson!” Mystel coldly snorted.

“Hmph, it’s been awhile since our last fight… But you still never defeated me!”

The fight quickly intensified and none was willing to step down, but very soon the light started to gain the upper hand and very slowly pierced through the darkness. Mystel was slowly being pressured, but she didn’t seem to care at all. Her eyes were closed and her expression was back to a cold one.

“You can stop now…” She coldly said.

“Why should I listen to you?...”

“Cause she’s asleep dumbass.”

*Zzzzzzz*

*Hah…* Arsal sighed as he withdrew his aura. Even if she wasn’t a baby in mind, Shinael’s body still was. Under the feeling of security brought by Mystel’s embracement, her body kept getting sleepier and sleepier until she finally went to sleep in the middle of their showdown.

“Hmph, I’ve never seen you so talkative before. Were you trying to show off in front of your daughter?” Mystel said with a sarcastic smile.

“Weren’t you as well? You are actually the one who provoked this situation.”

“Perhaps~ But who would have thought she would fall asleep. Hah…What a strange girl we have.”

Arsal silently glared at her while cursing in his mind. ‘How dare you say she’s strange?! Did you look at yourself?’

Both parents were trying to brag in front of their daughter, how could a parent not want to be admired by their child and used as an example? It was a battle where there could only be a single winner. For the love of their daughter, they were both trying to take advantage of the other side and weren’t willing to concede.

‘ ‘I’ll definitely be the one she admire and love the most!’ ‘