Abyssal Awakening

Chapter 255: Velouria

Hearing the Goddess's request, Alice wasn't sure how she should begin. First of all, Ayr no longer existed but she assumed the Goddess took that into consideration.

Meaning what she wanted to know was the progression of humanity within the Abyss. How they thrived.

"My knowledge… Is limited. I spent most of my life confined before Allura saved me. But if you still want to hear about it then I'll try and tell you as much as possible." Alice scratched her hair as the Goddess nodded her head.

"Anything is fine, I simply wish to learn about the future."

Seeing the Goddess look at her with expectant eyes, Alice couldn't help but feel as though she was about to tell a story to a child.

Right now, she was not the Goddess who ruled over all that lived in the Abyss. Right now, she is simply a human wanting to know about what kind of future was in store for this realm.

Thinking about her words carefully, Alice started from the beginning. How the surface and the Abyss live off one another.

Those that live on the Surface require Abyss Blood for medicinal purposes while those that live in the Abyss require the technology from the surface to better survive in the Abyss.

Alice told the Goddess about the Hunter profession despite the awkwardness. After all, she had just learnt that every beast in the Abyss had the potential to become a citizen of Ayr.

With that in mind, she had been killing 'humans' this entire time. Her process of imagining her opponents as 'beasts' couldn't quite work anymore. But that was something she'll deal with later. For now, she continued to tell the Goddess about the future.

While listening to Alice's explanations, the Goddess listened with a happy smile on her face.

"Are you not angry that people are hunting beasts for their blood?" Alice couldn't help but ask. She had omitted quite a few details such as constant harvesting, experimentations and so on. But she couldn't avoid the topic of targeting beasts.

And despite all this, the Goddess continued to listen with a smile.

"Hmm… How do I explain it. It's simply the cycle of life. Though humans speed it up drastically, it's not as though the people born in the Abyss avoid killing beasts either. One cannot deny the benefits that Abyss Blood can bring nor can one deny the benefits beasts gain from killing humans.

"Both sides will continue to target one another and it's not something I can change even as a Goddess chosen by the Abyss. Of course, excessive hunting saddens me but from the sound of it, beasts are not regulated in the future unlike the current situation in Ayr." She shook her head while glancing out to the city.

"Is it strange for you?" She asked as Alice nodded her head.

"Divine beings are… simply those with less restrictions than the mortals. They have the power to change rules, add new rules or even remove certain rules if the situation allows for it. But they are not all-powerful. I can see all of the suffering in the Abyss, hear their cries for help, the mournful tears of those who have lost family.

"But the most I can do for them is to create this city and have my retainers assist the world. It's why Gods and Goddess appoint Apostles though this will be the first time we properly acknowledge this.  Either way, I am happy that you've shared the future with me. To know that the children of the Abyss continue to survive despite my passing brings joy to my heart.

Even if they are less likely to be reborn as a human." The Goddess smiled bitterly.

The rule she had set in place was for beasts to avoid killing humans unless it was self-defence. Succeeding in doing so will reward them with a higher chance of becoming human. As much as she disliked it, she was unable to guarantee this reward.

So for those who failed to become human despite adhering to the rules, they were given a heightened sense of self, gaining a humanoid body as a beast and the ability to communicate and even live amongst humans.

It wasn't a perfect fix but it sufficed for now.

Looking at the Goddess from behind, Alice was starting to see that she was not as unapproachable as she had originally expected. This nervousness within her body had all been for nought. If anything, treating her naturally might've been the best approach.

Scratching her hair, Alice took a deep breath before sighing.

"What should I call you? According to your spirit, there wasn't a translation for your name in the new language. Of course, if you want me to call you Goddess that's fine as well." Alice asked.

The Goddess was taken aback by her sudden change in tone and disposition, but a wide smile appeared on her face.

"You can call me whatever you want. But if you want to call me by a name then… Velouria. You can call me Velouria." Velouria suggested while tapping her chin.

"Mnm okay. So… Velouria." Alice nodded.

Hearing Alice call out her name, Velouria almost couldn't contain her smile and had to cough lightly to try and compose herself.

"When Kaden planted Cayla into my body, he mentioned something about an old promise. Though Allura mentioned I didn't have to go down this path if I didn't want to. I just want to know what kind of expectations they may have. Since they saved me from my prison, I want to repay them." Alice asked as Velouria paused for a moment.

"Expectations huh? I can't say for sure but I will estimate based on what I know about those two. First, the easy one to guess would be Kaden. Despite how he looks, he doesn't hold much sentimental value to objects and locations.

"Once I die and Ayr falls, I can only assume that Kaden may be saddened for a period of time before recovering his composure. He may not be fully healed inside but he'll do so to avoid worrying those around him. He treasures the connection between people rather than objects and location." Velouria answered while playing with several strands of energy near her.

"For Lua… She's a bit more complicated. She's a very sentimental person whether that be towards Ayr or to me. After my passing and the destruction of this city, there is a high chance that Lua will try to seek out revenge and ways to restore her home.

"And by extension, Kaden will help her because that's how he's like. So taking this into account, their expectations for you may not be as daunting as you imagine. Maybe it was different when they initially saved you but if Lua said that you can do whatever you want, I think she meant it." Velouria chuckled as Alice was silent.

"Then what about you? What are your expectations for me?"

She wanted to know what Velouria hoped she could achieve. Whether that be the restoration of Ayr or a way to save her citizens.

"Me? I'll be happy with anything you do so long as you don't have any regrets. You should live your life to its fullest, even more so if you had been imprisoned before Kaden saved you. Know this, I don't expect you to be a second me, nor do I expect you to live in my shadow. Just do what you want and make sure you don't regret your life, that is all I expect from you as my successor.

Everything else is simply a bonus." Velouria laughed as she waved her finger.

"But would that be okay? I… I possess both the crown and the Eye. Wouldn't it be a waste if I were to do whatever I wanted? Wouldn't that betray why Kaden saved me in the first place?" Alice sighed but Velouria simply shook her head.

"Nonsense. What do you think my role is in the grand scheme of things?" Velouria asked with a smile.

Furrowing her brows, Alice wasn't sure.

"My role is that of an icon. A testament for hope in the Abyss. As the first 'Human' born in the Abyss, I chose to pave the path so others can walk. But you don't have to do the same. The Abyss does not need a Goddess, it simply chose to grant me this power.

"Maybe it was out of a whim but since it gave me this power, I chose to wield it however I want. Perhaps that's the same for you. Kaden may have given you Cayla and you may have found the Crown, but in the end, it is still up to you to decide what kind of person you want to be. Just make sure that you don't come to regret your decisions." Velouria chuckled while patting Alice on the head.

"Why do all of you like to pat my head." Alice pouted. Despite the crown above her, they still take the extra effort to pat her head.

"Because you're cute fufu. Despite how you may compose yourself and act in front of others, there's always a hint of vulnerability within. A fear of what the world and its people may do to you. And it's this vulnerability that makes me want to pat your head and protect you.

Perhaps it's the same for Kaden and Lua." Velouria smiled as she pulled Alice into a hug and sat her down on the balcony as though she was a child.

Feeling embarrassed, Alice could only scratch her cheeks. But she didn't deny Velouria's claim of vulnerability.

She was scared.

Beneath this anger, this killing intent and this insanity, she was scared of the Zenia family.

She was scared of her father, her brothers and of betrayal.

There was always a fear present in her heart no matter how she tried to suppress it.

However, Allura, Kaden, Gin, Ria and even Luke have shown her that doing what she enjoyed helped her forget this fear.

The training sessions, the drinking parties and even just a simple shopping trip. It was a waste to use this time succumbing to fear when she could be enjoying life with her friends.

A small smile formed on Alice's face as she made up her mind.

If she is going to succeed the Goddess then there is only one goal in mind. Using her flames, she will find a way to revert the damages done by Abyss Blood.

That way, there will no longer be bitter farewells or experiments.

A tribute to her first friend, Lilia.