"Is that how you have been meeting him all this time?"
With blurry, dim, and teary eyes, and a throbbing headache, she heard the voice of someone standing before her. She blinked slowly, bringing her sight into focus. Her father stood there arrogantly, arms folded across his chest and a celestial sword hanging at his waist.
A white robe with gold-thread embroidery draped down, with red jade tassels in between. His long hair was tied with a black crown, half falling forward and the other half trailing behind. So graceful and beautiful, captivatingly lovely, like a carefully carved work of art. Eyes slightly sharp and alluring, full lips, shimmering hair, slender and smooth like porcelain.
It was fitting that he was called the Heavenly Emperor. The Emperor drew closer, close enough that his beautiful face was no longer swallowed by the darkness, instead illuminated by moonlight seeping in through the hole in the roof.
Aetheria remained silent, enduring the pain that tormented her. Her eyes were lowered, as if reluctant to look at her father. A hundred years, or perhaps more, how could that man remain so long in his ego and ambition. She thought that after so long had passed, he would open his heart, realize all the mistakes of the past and his judgments.
An immortal life, like hers, had witnessed countless deaths, lives, and births, yet his mind remained stuck at that same limit. 'All darkness is a disgrace that will never shine.'
"You have used your power beyond its limits just to raise him. Was it useful? A child born from the sinful blood of his father will never be any different. You must realize, open your eyes, that he is a calamity."
Aetheria gave a bitter smile, "I've always wondered how long Father's thinking would remain like that."
Galadriel looked at his only daughter with displeasure, and slowly approached to crouch down, feigning pity, before a soft chuckle escaped him. "You're only hastening your own death, my daughter." He stood up, and continued, "Reincarnating the seven demons, granting the blessing of light mana, and going to meet the calamity. How much longer do you have left to live, Aetheria?"
The resurrection of the great demon was her doing. The birth of the one blessed with light mana was also her doing. She did it to create another path for when her son would truly walk the road destined for him. Perhaps, at that time, she thought they would become his friends, who could teach him about bonds, and the meaning of a relationship that she could not teach him.
"Father does not need to worry about me."
"If you have that much power, why don't you use it to resurrect your husband? Isn't half of his soul residing within that child? You could kill him and take it back, then live together again and defy me and the world."
"I don't think he would like that. Seeing his duplicate in that child is enough for me. I think that's what he would say. In this long yearning, I have watched the child grow up well, making the coldness I felt simply disappear."
"Truly, I hate the way you think." Galadriel wanted to turn and leave, but stopped himself. He glanced at his daughter and said, "It reminds me of the first time I met him, until the last time I met him when I killed him." He walked away without another word.
In the darkness, Aetheria kept her head lowered. As her father deliberately brought up the past, against her will, fragments of memory spun, making her tears fall. Happy yet painful to have to let go of that time. What if, back then, they had taken off their crowns and lived exploring the world together as adventurers? She and their son would ride a donkey while her husband pulled it. During the journey, they would talk about a happy future. How beautiful that would have been.
This story began a hundred years ago, or perhaps more, in the final year of life. At that time, the conflict between the lower and upper worlds was nearly over, thanks to the decision of the newly appointed Demon King. Ignoring material losses, he only demanded the release of prisoners and, with sincere intent, offered great reparations. All of it was done for the sake of a world worthy of growing flowers.
"The Demon King himself said it, Your Majesty the Goddess."
At that time, Lucifer, who had not yet fallen, knelt and reported to the Goddess who was loved and worshipped by many. The entire world revered her, for the goodness of light in both her being and her heart. This was before her fall and her disappearance from the world. Her light shone upon the three realms.
Aetheria smiled as she gazed at the rolling sea of clouds, casting sacred colors that curved down toward the rushing river below. "I want to give them my blessing directly." Her words made Lucifer look up.
"I-I think you may have misspoken, Your Majesty."
Aetheria turned, shaking her head gently. "No. Accompany me down to meet them. Is not kindness with an open heart, and the beginning of a new life, meant to be illuminated by light?"
"Very well, Your Majesty."
The beginning of the departure, the first time the Goddess of Light descended to bless and meet her people. The journey was brief, passing through a dimensional portal between the demon realm and the human realm. They landed in the capital of darkness, amidst the ruins that had not yet been repaired. At that moment, a man in a fur-collared cloak stood with his back turned, giving orders to workers who were carrying out repairs.
"Excuse me, Sir." With a simple yet stunning appearance, Aetheria greeted him in a voice as soft as silk.
The man, none other than Ethan, the Demon King called unique, turned in surprise. "Who are you?" His handsome face shone, replacing the sun of the underworld. Anyone, even a Goddess like Aetheria, would acknowledge it.
Lucifer stepped forward, not going any closer than Aetheria. "She has come from the heavenly realm to give her blessing directly."
"Heaven? A blessing?" Ethan made a blank, confused face. "If you wish to stay, then stay. I don't need words that will go in circles." He turned back, indifferent.
Lucifer's face twitched in annoyance, about to strike before Aetheria stopped him. "Forgive his words for causing you to misunderstand." She swept her hand in a circle, summoning light that restored her original appearance. "The Goddess of Light greets the great Demon King."
Ethan startled, feeling an unfamiliar warmth from behind. He slowly turned, seeing a radiance that outshone even his mortal light. "Ah, forgive me." Before Aetheria could bow any lower, Ethan had already done so first, nearly at a right angle, and lifted his head. "I was too busy with the repairs that I failed to recognize you properly."
"It's alright." Aetheria replied with understanding.
"Do you intend to stay long? Ah," Ethan realized something and hurried to add, "I don't mean to drive you away, it's just that major repairs take a long time, and proper lodging is almost nonexistent. If you plan to stay long, I hope you don't mind temporary housing and the noise."
"It's fine. I did not come to be an honored guest, but to offer whatever help I can."
"For example?"
"I know this world's soil is barren and has long been a land of bloodshed. It is impossible for plants like vegetables not to grow into poison. I will purify it, not just the plants, but also the water and the air. I came to help."
Ethan turned his face away doubtfully. "I recall there being no reason for you to offer such great aid to us, a people who for hundreds of years have flooded the world with blood." His voice lowered.
"Has it not ended in your era, because of you? Not all living beings are without sin and wrongdoing. To me, striving to become better shines brighter than clinging to the memory of once having been good in the past."
"Thank you." Ethan smiled, making Aetheria flush slightly at what she had just said. A faint blush appeared on her face. "Your face is red, perhaps because of the humidity here. Please, follow me."
Aetheria altered her appearance before following Ethan, with Lucifer behind them. "He exceeded expectations, didn't he, Lucifer?"
Lucifer, who had served Aetheria for a long time, was silent, then nodded slowly and replied, "The only one in history." His answer made Aetheria laugh softly.