Issac stayed quiet for a long time. His mind worked in overdrive to register everything said to him. And after almost fifteen minutes of thinking, he finally asked, “So, you simply want to leave? And how does giving away your powers help you stop being immortal?” The question he asked felt weird even to him, so much so that his tone became strange at the end.

“I’m not like the other lesser deities that are kept forcefully alive by the belief of the beings on Mir’s body. They were born from belief, and they will die when that same belief is extinguished. In ancient times, people used to worship me, you know? But Sunne’s light gave birth to Latha, who the beings on Mir believed to be his daughter. And soon, I was forgotten.”

Despite speaking of such a depressing topic, Issac saw not a speck of sorrow in her. She was happy, much to Issac’s bafflement. Nyx smiled slyly and continued, “But that’s not a bad thing. On the contrary, it’s wonderful. If I was still worshipped, I would’ve never been able to die, even by giving away my powers. And by powers, I just mean my 『Blessing』. Well, it’s going to be a 『Blessing』 made from all my power. And you won’t just be able to use the darkness and the night from the beginning. Your body can’t handle the more powerful skills. But don’t worry; you’ll get to that level eventually. And once I give you this 『Blessing』, I’ll dissipate; I mean, my consciousness will. My physical body will still exist, always covering Mir. But I won’t be experiencing any of it.”

“And what’ll happen to your ‘consciousness’?”

“I don’t know. Just like how you guys don’t know what’ll happen after death.”

“And do you know what happens after our death?”

“Reincarnation. Your soul is taken, wiped clean of all its memories and sins, before being shoved into a newborn body. Quite an efficient system, I’d say. Mortem did a good job.”

Issac simply burst out laughing. Nyx looked at him dumbfounded, “…what’s the matter?”

Issac stopped kneeling on the zabuton and sat cross-legged instead. He wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes, “Sorry, sorry, it’s all just so absurd that I can’t help but laugh.”

“What’s absurd?”

“Everything! My situation and yours! Both of us are desperate to escape ‘something’, aren’t we? Is that why you came to me; because our circumstances are the same?”

“…I hadn’t given it that much thought. You simply seemed interesting.” Issac laughed harder at her response. Nyx pouted, “I feel like you’re making fun of me.”

“I am not! I swear I’m not.” Issac calmed down and looked at the pouting Nyx with a smile, “Okay, okay, so, are you going to give me your 『Blessing』?”

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“Sure, but first, dance with me.” Nyx got up and dusted herself off. She looked at Issac and reached her slender hand out to him, “I haven’t felt this happy and alive in a long time, so let’s commemorate with song and dance.”

Issac took her hand resignedly and sighed, “Whatever you say!”

Off the zabuton and near the chabudai, the two danced as soft music played in the background. Issac didn’t quite recognize this song. He looked at Nyx in front of him, “A song from this place?”

“Made by the greatest trouvère of this era.”

“And we’re supposed to Rumba to this?” Nyx raised her eyebrow at the word, not understanding.

“I guess you mean slow dancing, but yes. We’re supposed to slow dance to this.”

“Where did you even learn to slow dance?”

“I…uh-” she spoke as Issac twirled her to the music’s rhythm, “-loved listening to songs and seeing how all the beings used dancing to express themselves. They simply trusted their body to the music and moved as the rhythm told them to. I used to dance in my home, alone and sometimes with a clone of myself. Both song and dance can be used to express one’s true feelings and one’s true emotions. And while doing so, do both of those hit their peak.”

“The singer’s emotions are a necessity in any song,” Issac moved to match her and the music’s rhythm, “but in our world and in our era, it became especially hard to feel those emotions through songs. So, we chose the next best thing- to relate. Musicians in my world made songs with a purpose; whether it be money, fun, passion, or to send a message, anyone could relate to the lyrics of a song, and any could dance to its beat.”

“Sounds magical,” her eyes sparkled.

“Not as much as a world with literal magic,” Issac said and giggled cheekily.

“…This is a much better side to you.”

“Really?”

“Yep, and it seems you this cheeky by nature, huh?”

“Can’t do anything about that.” Issac paused and wiped the smile from his face. With a serious look, he asked, “So, when will you give me your 『Blessing』?”

Nyx paused and smiled mischievously, “You know…I also learned something else from humans.”

“W-What is it?” he laughed nervously. He had a bad feeling.

Nyx tugged at his shirt and leaned in. With her soft lips painted Persian-blue, she kissed him. Issac’s eyes widened. After a moment, she separated from him. Issac looked at her glistening eyes and saw himself in their reaction. His reflection looked surprised.

“It’s quite an affectionate gesture, isn’t it?” Nyx walked away from him and danced gracefully on her own. Her movements dazzled Issac. “I’ve given you my 『Blessing』. So, once you wake up-,” she finally dipped her feet in the pool of water below, and it splashed beautifully with her every step, “-I’ll be gone. Perhaps to a better place or perhaps, somewhere in this world.”

She twirled and danced; her skirt bloomed like a flower. She spoke as she danced. Her words weren’t interrupted by her movement, “And before I go, Issac, remember nothing is just coincidence. There’s a cause behind everything. It’s our inability to see those causes that lead us to blame things on chance.”

Seeing Issac standing motionlessly with an awestruck look on his face, she smiled radiantly, “Goodnight, Issac!”

And Issac opened his eyes to the elegant white ceiling over his eyes. Sitting up, he looked around. He had woken up back in his room inside the castle.

The sunlight was peeking through the curtains as Issac rubbed his face. He smiled unknowingly, “That was a pretty good dream.”