"...Hmm? The living?"
Herta remained completely unaffected by the minor commotion from earlier, still calmly following the others. Her gaze was fixed on Lumina, as if she had no interest in anything else around her.
Continuing their ascent into the higher reaches of the Ancient City of Dragon Remains, they took an elevator to a place resembling a library. There, they encountered the Restless Soul of someone who had been an Alchemist in life.
Upon seeing Castorice and the others arrive, he sensed the aura of the living on them. He was first puzzled, then immediately excited: "Could it be... Could you be the descendants of Styxia?"
"Have you heard of my great alchemical work here and come to deliver the final ingredient?"
His gaze fell upon Castorice. Though he was a mere Restless Soul, his eyes seemed to hold a burning passion and an unfulfilled wish.
"Great work? What kind of great work? What kind of great work requires you to wait here for so long?" Lumina asked with a smile, glancing at Castorice, who had fallen into deep thought upon hearing those words.
In a situation like this, Lumina should have been keeping a cold expression on her face.
But considering the cause and effect, this matter didn't seem to be a problem after all...
Because she had long ago understood the state of the [Death] Titan in Styxia, Lumina could see further than Castorice and the others, and knew more than them.
The way this Alchemist looked at Castorice undoubtedly indicated that Castorice was the final ingredient in the great alchemical work he spoke of.
"Have you all heard the great name of Pollux?"
Next, the Alchemist's words also confirmed what Lumina was thinking.
"At the end of the sea of flowers, the soul of the living will warm your fingertips... After the embrace, it will be an eternal farewell."
This was Castorice's Prophecy of the Chrysos Heirs. If nothing unexpected happened, after this matter, Castorice would have to say an eternal farewell to everyone... right?
That definitely wouldn't happen. You say eternal farewell just like that? Wouldn't I, Lumina, lose face?
Never mind the Nether Realm in Amphoreus, even the Nether Realm of the entire Cosmos would have to obediently release the person upon hearing my name, Lumina!
If they don't release the person, then don't blame me for being impolite.
Therefore, Lumina wasn't particularly worried about this matter.
When the time comes, I can just pluck Castorice right out of there... As for what will happen to the Nether Realm's duties after Castorice leaves?
That's also very simple. All I need to do is give Castorice the ability to guide Restless Souls through remote control, which shouldn't be difficult at all...
"Pollux..." Hearing this, Castorice muttered the name once more.
By now, Castorice had basically understood.
Because of this, she had also made ample preparations in her heart.
Preparations for farewell.
But... but in her heart, Castorice still, still felt a little reluctant to leave Sister Lumina...
Becoming a [Death] Demigod would also mean being permanently separated from Sister Lumina...
At this moment, Castorice did not know Lumina's inner thoughts, and therefore, she was filled with extreme reluctance regarding this matter.
But no matter what, even if she was reluctant, Castorice had to do it.
The Nether Realm... should still be able to communicate, right?
Castorice thought to herself.
If they could communicate, it wouldn't really be an eternal farewell... It's just that not being able to feel Sister Lumina's presence, not being able to lie in Sister Lumina's arms, might make Castorice... find it a bit unbearable.
"Pollux, ah, its driver might just be right here." Beside them, Stelle, seemingly oblivious to Castorice's low mood, made a humorous quip.
"Um..." Hearing this, Castorice instantly snapped back from her inner world. "There is no need to describe it that way, Miss..."
Although Stelle's idea might not be wrong, a driver... no matter how you look at it, that's a bit strange, isn't it?
Though Stelle's words left one somewhat speechless, Castorice's previous feelings of loss were also slightly relieved by Stelle's humorous, "speechless" remark.
"It seems you all know, so explaining it will be much simpler." The Alchemist, paying no mind to the interaction between the others, began to explain in simple terms: "Back in that age of myth, perhaps you all had not yet been born."
"At that time, in the domain of Alchemy, no one could even see my back anymore."
"On the shallows where the Styx flows, I will make Pollux appear before the eyes of the people once more, and bring [Death] back into the world!"
"But... but isn't it the one that brought [Death] into the world?" A small notebook appeared in Mem's hands, and after flipping through it for a moment, she asked in a somewhat uncertain tone.
"It seems there are still some things you are not quite clear about." Hearing this, the Alchemist continued her explanation: "Indeed, that young woman whose whereabouts are unknown can strike people dead."
"But, you see... Pollux, who sent that young woman to the mortal world, just happens to make people [Unable to Die]."
"..." The Alchemist's words plunged everyone present into a period of silence.
"So it really was like that..." This sentence actually confirmed the conjecture in Castorice's heart.
At the same time, it caused the feelings of loss that had previously dissipated a lot from Castorice to surge into her heart once again.
"Little Sister Castorice, don't overthink."
But the next second after this surge of emotion welled up in her heart, a warm little hand gently squeezed her hand.
What followed was a voice so gentle it was enough to purify all the negative emotions in the world.
"Sister Lumina..." The feelings of loss in her heart completely vanished, and Castorice turned her head, casting a gaze full of gratitude and... tenderness at Lumina.
Sister Lumina... she has always been this gentle.
Precisely because of this, Castorice... couldn't bear to leave her.
Castorice did not want to part from Sister Lumina...
"Pollux must return to the mortal world, otherwise, as time passes, both the mortal world and the Nether Realm will fall into complete chaos."
"I have already set up an Alchemical Circle on the tower, but unfortunately... it still lacks the most crucial material."
At this point, the Alchemist's gaze fell upon Castorice, "That final sacrifice is the young woman who coexists with Death!"
Although she did not say Castorice's name, everyone present knew that the young woman she referred to was Castorice.
Just as she finished speaking, a lingering soul materialized beside her.
"Everyone, I know I am already powerless to reverse fate."
"Take this, and help me achieve this supreme great work!"
After saying this, the Alchemist's Restless Soul completely dissipated before everyone's eyes...