Elia was blessed with another sunny day.
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However, the atmosphere was frozen solid.
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It wasn’t for any other reason.
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“Is His Holiness grumbling again?”
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It was because of Elia’s very own ‘former’ Holy Emperor, Vargo, and the mood that arose due to his reinstatement.
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At Theresa’s question, Trevor smiled uneasily.
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With a sigh, she watched him nod while scratching his own cheek.
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“Honestly, have all these years been wasted on you? You’re utterly insensitive.”
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Since his reinstatement half a year ago after Renee’s return and subsequent departure with Vera on a trip, his grumbling had only increased day after day.
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It wasn’t impossible to understand.
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Having spent his time happily tending to the gardens and his flowers, this situation obviously didn’t sit well with him.
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However, even justified grumbling grew tiring as time dragged on.
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Thud.
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Thud.
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Heavy footsteps echoed down the hall.
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What came into view of the two who raised their heads was Vargo with a sullen expression.
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Theresa’s eyes narrowed.
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Seeing this, Vargo spoke.
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“What’re you staring at?”
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“How can you stumble around so indignantly at your age? Don’t you have any dignity?”
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“Hah! Since when did I care about stuff like that?”
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Vargo’s beard bristled aggressively.
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What followed next was more grumbling.
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“Does that punk plan to go on a lifelong trip? What the hell is he doing, not coming back for half a year already...?”
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“Leave them be. They have finally reunited after being through so much, and they need time.”
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“He’s basically telling me to stay put here till I kick the damn bucket.”
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Vargo smacked his hips loudly.
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“And why’s it gotta be me in the first place, huh? I don’t even have the stigma anymore. That means I’m not an Apostle.”
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Trevor’s lips pursed tightly as he stood still.
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As Vargo had said, the stigma on his arm had vanished shortly after Vera’s departure.
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Not even Vera, who returned, knew the reason why.
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He merely left these words.
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- Though we didn’t exchange any words, their intent seemed to clearly grant permission. The Gods have fulfilled Your Holiness’ wish.
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That the Heavenly Gods were watching over them.
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Trevor, shaken by those words filled with the Love of God, had no rebuttal.
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Meanwhile, Theresa looked at Vargo as if he were pathetic and spoke.
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“Go do your work. The children will return when the time comes.”
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Vargo clicked his tongue and turned away.
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“Just let them try and come back! I’ll definitely...!”
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Despite losing the stigma, the ever-robust Vargo still simmered with anger as he waited for Vera’s eventual return.
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There were those who lived in a dreamlike moment.
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They were the ones who had finally reached each other after overcoming countless adversities for far too long.
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Vera and Renee left on a trip.
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Simply holding each other’s hand tightly, they began revisiting all the places they had been to until now, one by one.
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And so, they reminisced over their memories.
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Amidst the happiness they had barely managed to gain, Vera became the chattiest person in the world.
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Each time they arrived somewhere, he would endlessly talk about what this place was like back then, and how it differed now.
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As they gazed at the lush greenery of the Great Woodlands and the mountain ranges in the Federation, went sightseeing the Foundation Day Festival in the Empire, visited the Academy, and even dropping by the Land of Orcs to spar and chat with Hodrick, who was now the King of the Cradle, Vera was constantly talking throughout the journey.
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Renee listened to it all with a smile.
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She engraved every detail of the voice she had wished to hear for so long. His lips that uttered those words, and each expression he made as he spoke.
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Eventually, they reached a place of unforgettable memories.
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The trading city of Eirene on the outskirts of Oben.
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Vera and Renee walked along that very spot where the two had once crossed paths.
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Lake Tennern, where winter broke, shone brilliantly as always today.
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Hand in hand, the two boarded a boat and leisurely sailed towards the center of the lake.
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Renee smiled as she gazed at the scenery spread before her.
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“Oh, we were here before.”
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Her sky-blue eyes took in the lake and the dazzling snowscape beyond. As she did that, memories of this scene came back.
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- I… like you.
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- Very much,
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- Saint.
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She recalled the sweet whispers he had told her.
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Whether it due to the icy wind or the rush of emotions, the tip of Renee’s nose had turned red.
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Vera engraved Renee’s appearance into his mind as he rowed the oars.
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Half a year had passed. They had traveled together every single day since, yet something still felt surreal.
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It was the reality of being reunited and together again.
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‘...The stigma.’
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Renee no longer had the stigma.
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She was no longer the Apostle of the Lord, nor was she blind.
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After all this time, the truth was finally revealed. Her lost vision had been the price for the Lord’s Power.
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“Aren’t you cold?”
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“No, I’m good.”
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Renee stretched her hand out past the boat and flicked the water's surface with her finger.
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“Look, it’s making ripples,” she said with a faint smile.
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It still felt strange.
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She had lived in the darkness since her childhood up to that long regression, so being able to see truly felt captivating to her.
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‘Well, not in this regression though.’
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Those memories now only remained as a vague recognition that ’something like that happened’, rather than anything concrete.
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‘They were sealed...’
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Vera had said that he sealed away all of her memories from that time in order to sharpen her worn mind.
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He also mentioned that the new body she currently inhabited was forged from the divinity of heaven.
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Renee looked at Vera.
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His ashen eyes beneath his black hair and masculine features made him incredibly handsome.
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Every glance was both awkward and thrilling for Renee.
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Renee’s cheeks reddened.
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‘So handso…’
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Her lips shut tightly.
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There was one fact she realized upon regaining her sight.