My Family in the Novel?

Chapter 201: Isabella's Love

In the ethereal realm of divine beings, Valeria, the goddess of love, held a unique place.

Legend spoke of her as the one who bestowed upon the world the potent and intricate emotion of love.

In the tales of old, a time when the world was said to be devoid of love, peace and prosperity were its sole inhabitants.

Yet, with the advent of Valeria, the landscape of existence underwent a profound transformation.

The stories whispered that, as Valeria introduced the intoxicating elixir of love to the inhabitants of the world, chaos unfurled its dark wings.

The inception of sin was attributed to her, a paradoxical figure who, while gifting the realm the sublime experience of true love, also sowed the seeds of destruction within the paradisiacal world they once knew.

'Love' it seemed to carry consequences that disrupted the idyllic harmony of the past.

Valeria became an enigmatic figure, both revered and feared, a goddess and a harbinger of chaos.

The dichotomy of her existence manifested in the duality of her impact on the world.

While people appreciated the profound emotion she brought forth, the repercussions were undeniable. The utopian world, once untouched by the complexities of love, now bore the scars of strife and discord.

In the eyes of many, Valeria teetered on the edge between divinity and malevolence. Her worshippers, though dwindling in number, remained steadfast in their belief.

These devotees saw beyond the veils of perception, acknowledging the forgotten goddess who, in their eyes, symbolized both the beauty and the consequences of love.

'Love was the first sin' echoed through the annals of ancient beliefs, a conviction held steadfast by the people of old.

However, as time marched forward, the perspective on this profound emotion underwent a metamorphosis.

Contrary to being a sin, love emerged as one of the most exquisite facets of being human, the very essence that forged connections and defined the tapestry of humanity.

In the dawn of existence, the absence of love left a void, an emptiness that only the introduction of this complex emotion could fill.

Love became the alchemy that transformed disparate individuals into a collective, a force that gave birth to the bonds essential for the fabric of society.

The once-held belief that love was a sin began to dissipate, replaced by an understanding that it was a divine gift, a conduit for experiencing the freedom of will and the profound ability to connect with one another.

As the days unfolded, a collective appreciation for love became woven into the very fabric of society. No longer condemned as a sin, love was embraced as a cherished gift that enriched the human experience.

The ability to form genuine connections, to share in the joys and sorrows of life, became integral to the human narrative.

Yet, amidst the prevailing sentiments of acceptance and gratitude for the gift of love, there existed a mind that held fast to the teachings of old.

'Love is a sin; it is wretched, it is disgusting, and above all, it is painful' Isabella mused, her conviction a testament to the enduring power of the beliefs instilled in her from the past.

Isabella's origins were humble. A country girl, she hailed from a well-off family, contentedly living in a not-so-big village.

Although their abode wasn't a grand mansion, it provided a cozy haven for her happy days to unfold.

Her family, though not adorned with noble titles or renowned for wielding magic or prowess in battle, held an esteemed place in her heart.

For Isabella, her parents were everything. Their love formed the bedrock of her world, and the simplicity of their life brought her immeasurable joy.

The village, despite its modest size, offered a sense of community that added warmth to her upbringing. Her parents, neither nobles nor warriors, were the epitome of contentment, and that was more than enough for the young girl.

However, fate took a turn when the goddess of love bestowed her divine blessing upon the village. The very essence of intense love, meant to be a gift, became a harbinger of unforeseen consequences.

Isabella's idyllic world began to crumble as the fervor of the goddess's love permeated every corner of the village.

People, once bound by the simplicity of their lives, found themselves ensnared by the overpowering force of the goddess's blessing.

The village, once a haven of contentment, became a cauldron of corrupted emotions.

Even Isabella's own parents, the pillars of her world, succumbed to the intoxicating influence of the divine love.

The once pure love she knew turned into a nightmare overnight.

"It's ok Isabella it won't hurt" she could still remember her mother's words that night.

"Mommy please let go of me…!" she struggled as her mom gripped her hands.

Her clothes slowly getting removed.

"Shush now child, trust your mother, ok?" her mother said with deranged eyes.

"That's right Isabella don't worry I'll be gentle~" her father said while completely naked.

Along with a bunch of man and woman from the village doing the same waiting for their turn, although Isabella was young, she had an idea what was about to happen and she cried for all of it to stop.

"No please don't mom! Dad!"

The two of them had pink hues in their eyes the intensity of the divinity Isabela got that day made the people she cared about turn on her and gave her the trauma that would haunt her for life.

If the templars of the church of light didn't save her that day…. Only the worst could've happened.

After that day the templars killed everyone and wiped off the simple village off the map.

Isabella harbored no desire for the goddess's blessing, nor did she crave the authority and power that accompanied it.

All she yearned for was the simplicity of a normal life, untouched by the divine intervention that had shattered the tranquility of her existence.

To Isabella, the blessing she now possessed felt more like a curse—a reminder of a godforsaken incident that had irrevocably altered the course of her life.

In the aftermath of that fateful event, she found herself plunged into darkness, her once-bright vision extinguished beyond the reach of any healing magic.

As the days unfolded, Isabella's existence became a testament to the paradox of her circumstances.

The goddess had chosen her as the apostle of love, but the very emotion she was meant to embody had become a source of anguish.

Love, once a beacon of light, had turned into a shadow that haunted her every waking moment.

Isabella made a solemn vow. In the depths of her grief, she swore that if even the slightest chance, however impossible, were to present itself, she would seize it.

A glimmer of hope, no matter how faint, would be enough. If there existed a chance to take vengeance on the goddess who had bestowed upon her this unwanted fate, Isabella was prepared to grasp it with both hands.

In the aftermath of losing her eyesight, Isabella found an unlikely mentor in the pope himself, who took it upon himself to personally instruct her in a unique skill.

Over the course of her life, she diligently honed this divine art, reaching a point where it became instinctual.

This ability, focused through her eyes, allowed her to perceive a person's essence, their spirit laid bare before her.

To Isabella, people were like living rainbows, their essences a vibrant mixture of colors interweaving with one another.

Yet, within this intricate tapestry, there were colors that stood out—hues that defined a person's true nature and integrity.

Her trained eyes discerned the nuances of these spiritual shades, providing her with insights into the depths of a person's character.

As Isabella turned her gaze towards Adrian, the hero chosen by the goddess, she was met with a revelation that sent shivers down her spine.

A color she had encountered only in the presence of the most corrupted, heinous, and deadly criminals adorned him—black. It was a shade that spoke of a darkness so profound, it seemed to consume all light.

Even though he wore the mantle of a hero, the core within him resonated with an abyss of eternal darkness, a pit with no end.

This revelation left Isabella grappling with a profound question—why did the chosen hero of the goddess carry such a trait within him?

The dissonance between his heroic façade and the darkness that lurked within intrigued and unsettled her.

However, the shock deepened when Isabella's gaze shifted beyond Adrian, penetrating the layers of his essence.

In that moment, she saw the reflection of a beautiful lady, staring back at her through his spirit.

In a fleeting moment, Isabella found herself transported to a realm of eternal darkness, a place where ethereal beauty seemed to emanate from every shadow.

The woman she beheld was so breathtakingly beautiful that the mere act of locking eyes with her threatened to unravel the very fabric of Isabella's sanity.

The mysterious figure sat upon a throne crafted from the macabre combination of human flesh and bone, an unsettling sight that sent shivers down Isabella's spine.

Despite the disconcerting surroundings, an unexpected emotion enveloped Isabella—a feeling of being loved.

The woman, though looking down from her unsettling throne, emanated a warmth that Isabella could only liken to the comforting embrace of a mother.

It was an odd juxtaposition—a sensation of both fear and love swirling in the same moment.

The beauty of the lady in darkness seemed to transcend mortal understanding, and Isabella felt an inexplicable connection as if staring into the eyes of an actual goddess and the mother she had never known.

From that moment onward, a subtle awareness lingered within Isabella's consciousness.

Though she only grasped it faintly, she recognized that the person standing before her was the key to her revenge.

Adrian, the chosen hero, held a connection to the lady in darkness, and it was this connection that would unlock the gates to both her vengeance and happiness.

The enigmatic allure of the lady in darkness fueled Isabella's determination.

Adrian, unwittingly or not, became the linchpin in her quest for retribution and the pursuit of the warmth and embrace she had once felt in that otherworldly realm.

'Do as you wish'

That was the pope's word when she asked him for permission with her plans.

'That old fool didn't even question me'

Although she considered her divine powers a curse it did have some of its uses like how she can easily influence the pope's mind without anyone noticing,

Although she can always charm and mind control him directly that would be too obvious.

Especially with Elena around.

"What do you feel about this place?"

Isabella's inquiry cut through the sanctified air of the most sacred place in the holy nation, the very birthplace of divinity in their world.

Her divinity, at its zenith, infused the atmosphere as she released it around Adrian.

Uncertainty flickered across his troubled face, and though she couldn't be certain if her plans would succeed, the subtle changes in his demeanor hinted that her influence was taking root.

Despite being a hero, blessed by the goddess of light, Adrian remained human at his core.

Isabella understood that his mortal essence could be swayed, even in the presence of divine blessings.

A concealed smile played upon her lips, slowly emerging as she advanced toward Adrian.

"Sir hero, are you okay?"

Isabella's voice took on a soothing cadence as she inquired, her concern genuine but tinged with an underlying purpose.

She gently touched his hands, and a slight tremor ran through him in response.

Looks like their initial interaction Earlier had done it's job properly.

Adrian's eyes glimmered with a shade of pink.

Observing his reaction, Isabella's hidden smile broke free, an expression of satisfaction coloring her features.

On this crucial day, Isabella was determined to ensure the hero would fall under her sway.

'Feel my love hero.... and let me see her again'