Fear and anxiety clutched Nyx's heart as the barrier that hid her soul from the world, one of the first soul abilities she had ever gained after losing her original life, dissolved.

Observing Granny carefully for any sign of danger, Nyx watched as the look of disappointment that had been so evident on the old woman's face twitched violently before morphing into an expression of shock. From there it turned to horror before, after what felt like an eternity to Nyx, settled on a look of pity and sadness.

"Oh, You poor thing." Faster than Nyx could react, Granny had wrapped her arms around Nyx's delicate looking body and pulled her into a warm, caring embrace, pushing Nyx's head into her chest and hiding her face from the world.

Granny had lived a long and experienced life and would rarely walk into any situation unprepared. Before meeting the princess, she had combined the knowledge gained from those that had been returned after their ransom had been paid, with the detailed reports of the gruesome injuries Nyx's body had sustained. This had led her to believe that she had somewhat understood what the princess had been through and that she could empathise with the young woman.

However, after having witnessed the intense, raw emotions stemming from the root of Nyx's soul, Granny realised that she hadn't even been able to touch the surface. It felt that there was no way unless she experienced the same exact situation, that she would ever be able to understand and empathise with the princess.

In fact, she felt foolish for believing she could.

After seeing the look in Nyx's eyes, she couldn't even begin to comprehend what sort of torment and anguish one would have to suffer for them to reveal so much pain and suffering, only feeling immense pity for the woman standing before her.

Granny was amazed by the sheer volume of emotions she could sense at the same time. It was as if they were competing in which would be able to take over the princess first, held back by each other in a fragile, unsustainable balance.

Sadness, despair, fear, anxiety, loneliness, guilt, anger, vengefulness and shame resonated like a beacon in an abyss.

Not only that, but it was like there were hundreds of souls, each having suffered a terrible existence, screaming from the depths of Nyx's abyss-like eyes, all wanting to voice their complaints towards life at the same time.

What Granny didn't know was that that particular feeling was actually closer to the truth than she ever would believe, even if it had absolutely nothing to do with Camilia's experiences before Nyx took over her body.

Nyx's soul had been stained with the traumas of countless, brutal lives and that the emotions and astral scars from those lives she had collected were nothing to sneer at.

Patting Nyx's head like she would a child, Granny took a deep breath, now believing she understood why Nyx wouldn't want to be in a crowd of strangers but at the same time, she knew that something like this wouldn't even be an obstacle to the young woman.

From the feeling she got, there would be very little that life could throw at her that could even hinder the woman.

It seemed that although the experiences had broken the princess's mind, they had also reforged her into something extraordinarily flexible and durable. A creature that would be incredibly hard to defeat.

Besides the negative emotions, Granny had sensed an iron will to survive, one that would probably be second to none, combined with a ruthlessness that would have been better suited to a demon.

The woman cradled in her arms was a contradiction. Soft, yet hard. Caring, yet emotionless. Lonely but afraid of others, scared but at the same time, fearless.

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A weird smile appeared on Granny's face. She now knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that the reports of the bodies found at the scene where the princess was rescued, along with the theory that the princess had killed them were accurate.

With what she knew now. she would have found it weirder if the princess hadn't killed them.

Nestled in her arms, was a monster in every definition of the word. A chameleon that would change its appearance, behaviour and thought process in a way that, so not only could she could survive, but that she could exact vengeance upon any who threatened or harmed her.

However, even though it was like she was cuddling a rabid pup that could bite her at any moment, Granny didn't have the heart to push the princess away. In fact, a motherly instinct to protect the woman started to take hold.

The princess was already eighteen, the age most considered an adult, yet to Granny, the princess felt as mature as she was immature.

However, even if she thought this, while she had mostly hugged Nyx to provide comfort, there was also a small part of here that couldn't bear to look into those eyes any longer. A part of her that subconsciously feared her.

And it wasn't just because she felt like her soul would be sucked into Nyx's, trapped alongside those tormented beings for all eternity. It was just that it was just the only reasonable excuse she could find to explain her irrational fear, even though she knew that the idea was stupid.

Granny shivered, holding Nyx a little tighter.

The others had been stunned by Granny's sudden change in attitude and temperament. However, not even the prince dared to make a sound. Something instinctual told those present that if they did, they would be in grave danger.

While Granny was lost in her thoughts, Nyx's arms slowly rose and wrapped around the old woman, her face hidden, so no one knew what expression she was making.

While not even close to the darkness or that strange beat, there was a strange comfort that came from another living being. One that she hadn't felt for so long.

After a couple of minutes of awkward silence for those watching, Granny released Nyx, pushing her back slightly and looking into her eyes as she held Nyx's shoulders.

The cold, emotionless indifference had returned. However Granny could see the wet streak of a tear on Nyx's left cheek, causing her to smile warmly.

"Hehe, I see even the Shadow Princess can shed tears," chuckled Granny as she wiped dry the streak with her thumb. "But I finally understand why those ignorant fools have been calling you a monster."

While it sounded like an insult, the expression on Granny's face made it clear she meant it as a compliment. "The high cultivation realm has no need for weak mortals. It is a place where monsters and geniuses battle eternally."

Taking a deep breath, Granny watched Nyx carefully. "When all this is over, you will come to live with me and become my disciple. This place will only stunt your growth and potential, even if you are a single element cultivator."

Granny knew that the Camilia of her memories was gone, never to return. Instead, this weak yet terrifyingly strong woman, capable of anything, existed in her place. It wasn't like after the farce that would undoubtedly come, that there would be a suitable place for her here. Not only that but if the worst were to happen, Granny wasn't sure if it would be Nyx or the country that endured. It wasn't a feeling based on logic or reason, but a gut feeling.

A conflicted expression appeared on Harold's face, but in the end, he settled on smiling. With Granny backing his sister, even though the future wouldn't be fun, she would have a backer and future that no one could take away.

"Now stop being such a big baby and let's get a move on. What does it matter if those fools see you? Aren't you called Nyx? Stop insulting the name."

After some conflict, Granny had finally decided to call the princess Nyx. It would help her dissociated from the young woman of the past and treat her as her own person.

Nyx's eyes instantly hardened as her back straightened, a cold, unapproachable aura rapidly building around her as Nyx's face returned to a mask of indifference.

The old woman was right, she was Nyx.

What was she doing being so pathetic and disgracing the darkness she was named after. Nyx didn't know when it started to happen, but she had unconsciously started moving to other peoples beats, not the one in her heart, the drumbeat in the void of her soul.

The sudden change somewhat upset Harold, feeling as his sister had reverted back to when she first woke up but he couldn't do anything but fall into line as Nyx matched with long, purposeful strides towards the lobby.

Granny followed, the smile she was wearing faltering slightly as the tempo of Nyx's strides, matched by the others, resonated in her mind. While she couldn't put her finger on it, it sounded eerily familiar, like something she had just heard but couldn't remember.

Little did she know that she had, just not with her ears, but with her soul.