Chapter 1552 - 83: Days Gone By (Part 2)

"But in the end, she still became part of the Night Race."

Bologue scrutinized Olivia; her existence was undeniable proof of all this.

"Yes."

Olivia nodded and softly said, "She never gave up, but she compromised for Serey."

"What happened?"

"During a long journey, she accidentally contracted the plague. In just a few days, her body became emaciated, with the Death God hovering by her side. She thought it was a fitting end, but Serey refused to accept it."

Olivia paused for a moment in her speech, as if brewing something, or perhaps reminiscing—nostalgic for the childhood stories Aisha once told her.

"Curiously, in this long-playing game, the two opponents seemed to have fallen for each other. Serey begged her to survive by drinking his blood so they could be together forever.

She still firmly refused, but ultimately accepted under Serey’s forceful insistence. For Serey, she sacrificed her soul and became part of the Night Race, never to see daylight again, giving Serey endless time to understand her and win this absurd game."

This time, the unwelcome one was Bologue. "Perhaps she understood Serey too well; only such means could make Serey willingly bestow upon herself immortality?"

Olivia remained unangered by Bologue’s offense, calmly stating, "If she truly cared about immortality, she wouldn’t have stepped into the daylight that day... and burned to ashes."

The already solemn atmosphere became even heavier; Bologue apologized with a face full of guilt, "Sorry."

"There’s no need for apologies. Your doubts are normal. Who nowadays still believes in such a thing as love?" Olivia repeatedly stabbed her fries, crushing them, "Love is too elusive; immortality is truly real and is mesmerizing, maddening."

"Later, Serey took her back to the Eternal Night Empire, where she became the wife of the Night Race Lord, standing above thousands, yet she wasn’t happy. She reminisced those carefree days rather than the dark and oppressive castle, not to mention she couldn’t see daylight under the dim sky."

Olivia shook her head, seemingly assuming Aisha’s perspective, speaking in her tone.

"It’s okay, none of this matters as long as I can be with Serey. Hobbies, ideals, a normal life, a soul... anything can be sacrificed.

Probably holding onto this thought, she lived pale within the Eternal Night Empire, striving to learn apathy and fully accept everything, but shortly after... the Dawn War erupted.

And then... at the onset of the war’s first year..."

Aisha, holding a sleeping baby in her arms, looked exhaustedly at Serey shedding his armor.

"Let’s name her Olivia, shall we? What do you think of the name?"

"It’s good, I have no objection."

Serey hung his armor on an iron stand and quickly walked to Aisha’s side, deliberately avoiding the infant in the swaddling clothes.

"Do you dislike her?" Aisha keenly sensed it.

"No, I just am not ready yet to be a father," Serey said with a bitter smile, gently hugging Aisha from behind. "It’s truly amazing; despite living so long, upon seeing her, I feel as though I’ve ’grown up’."

Aisha smiled, her lips tightening, with unseen sorrow in her eyes.

"How much longer will the war continue?"

"At the current pace, at least three more years," Serey assured, "Don’t worry, we are the Undead, few enemies can withstand our advance."

Aisha asked, "No, I don’t care about that. I just don’t understand... why wage a war?"

"Why? What else could it be for? Of course, for more territory, more resources," Serey, unaware of Aisha’s sadness, spoke like a general detailing the sinister gains involved, "The development of the Eternal Night Empire has reached its limits, each Blood Tax strictly allocated. Only by acquiring more land and population can we ensure the Empire’s interests."

Aisha felt deeply heartbroken; though she never set foot on the battlefield, she could feel its lament. "And then what? Then turn into an absolutely stagnant society? All people, all blood, serving your damn father?"

Serey paused with surprise, countering, "No, not just my father; there’s you, me, and... her."

Looking at the sleeping baby in his arms, Serey’s tone softened, "New population brings a pure blood source, only thus can she grow healthily."

"And then?" Aisha continued questioning, on the brink of breakdown, tears streaming down her face. "What meaning does it all have in the end?"

"Stay awake, Aisha."

Serey embraced Aisha tightly, striving to give her a bit of warmth, but their blood remained cold, like intertwining ice and water.

"Stop empathizing with those ordinary people. We are the Undead, noble, enjoying eternal life, distinct from them, like humans versus livestock—all along, we’ve been a different existence."

Aisha was amused by Serey’s words and rebutted beside his ear, "I was once human, one of those pitiful livestock."

"Serey, unlike you, I truly lived as a human. I can’t easily discard these ethical, moral shackles like you—I just can’t."

Serey found himself tongue-tied, unsure of what to say, as Aisha fervently pushed him away, catching the scent of blood on Serey—he had just returned from the battlefield, not knowing how many lives he had slain.