"I found his body!" Serana, with her keen sense of smell, tracked Simon's movements, only to find a spindle-shaped, black-crystal Soul Gem standing in the wilderness, with the Troll trapped inside it.
As Serana took two steps closer, she felt her vitality being uncontrollably drained, transforming into a faint white ribbon that spiraled into the gem. She quickly retreated, deeming a hundred feet from the gem to be a safe distance.
Valerica arrived, taking out a Soul Husk. "Eat this. Without it, approaching the Soul Gem is a death sentence."
A Soul Husk is a grayish-white plant. Its edible part is the rolled-up leaves, which are dry in texture, reminiscent of seaweed, but with a very faint, slightly sweet aftertaste, making for a decent snack.
After eating it, Serana felt a comfortable, warm current spread like a light veil through her empty body, clinging just beneath her skin, where the Soul Rift, the gap between body and mind, was. This protective film could block the Soul Trapping effect.
"They say poisonous plants often have an antidote growing nearby. While not a universal truth, sometimes such coincidences occur. The workings of fate are truly wondrous," Valerica's weathered tone made Serana feel a profound sense of awe.
Gaelina stood far away, unable to approach, and could only sip gently from the Soul Husk extract in her hand.
Serana and Valerica, carrying hammers they picked up from the roadside, walked towards the Soul Gem. The gem floated about three inches off the ground. The Troll was already exceptionally tall, and now its pure body was revealed, with an ugly Troll face and three tightly closed eyes. Through the faint, crystal-like barrier, the two Vampires could clearly see countless intricate runes on Simon's body, like tiny eyes, cold, precise, and possessing a carved beauty.
"So, he's a beast-man. This characteristic is—a Troll?" Serana murmured to herself, "You, White Mountain, you righteously accused me of being an anomaly, but you're an anomaly yourself!"
Valerica smiled, "Serana, don't forget the kind of person his mother was. How could he identify more as a Troll than as a human? Furthermore, look at the runes on his body. He, or his companion, must be a profound enchanter. People of wisdom always discard blind ignorance."
Serana pouted, looking back at Gaelina in the distance, and ultimately said nothing more. "Let's smash this broken stone. It would be best if we could smash this scoundrel along with it."
With one strike of the hammer, the surface of the Soul Gem cracked slightly, and Simon's form also rippled faintly, like a stone submerged in water.
"Stop!" Valerica exclaimed, "Something's wrong, his body is becoming ethereal!"
"Are you saying he's turning into a ghost?"
"It's a state between living and undead. Right now, he's like a Soul Husk; you could even eat him!"
Serana:???!!!
"Eat?"
"Yes, eat."
"What should we do? How do we save him?"
"He must be 'reborn' once," Valerica explained. "On a biological level, he's already dead, but from an occult perspective, he's still alive. The unique nature of the Soul Gem has kept him in his current state. This situation only existed in my imagination, as no soul has ever survived inside a Soul Gem, because this thing is actually the ootheca of a Soul-Snatching Worm, which is to say, the Lord of Truth's—reproductive system."
Serana: "..."
Valerica ran to Gaelina, explaining the situation. "What can I do for my child?"
"Fortunately, we have a part of his soul. You need to implant this part of the soul into your body and re-nurture it. Then, I will use a ritual to absorb his 'dead' part into your fetus, so that his 'life' part..."
Before she finished speaking, a crisp pop suddenly rang out, and Serana shrieked, "The gem shattered!"
The large Soul Gem split open like petals, and the Troll transformed into a warm, orange Candlelight. A tear flew out from it. The younger Gaelina walked in front of the older Gaelina. The two women met each other's gaze, one vibrant and full of life, the other resolute and peaceful. Crossing the barrier of time and memory, they met.
The older Gaelina seemed to see something, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably. She could no longer speak, moving forward step by step, leaving a stunned man's soul behind.
The two Gaelinas merged into one, each gaining the other's memories. One saw the story of meeting and falling in love with Turiano, and giving birth to a boy during their escape. The other saw scenes of a bright-haired little boy accompanying her and chatting every day.
My beloved, my child, separated for so long. The family is finally reunited. What joy, what sorrow?
Turiano remained silent, and the small skull at his waist flew out, merging into the flame.
The Candlelight burned, slowly transforming into a tall human figure. Simon walked out from it, perfectly intact.
"Mother."
Gaelina gently stroked his cheek, "My son, you are unharmed. Mother is very happy."
"Yes, you granted me life, and I come to return to you... peace, rest." Simon pursed his lips, tears flowing from all three of his eyes, soaking his ugly face.
"Don't cry, child. Nord men have no tears. We only have iron and blood, laughter and song. You must remember to live well in the future, when father and mother are no longer here," Gaelina's eyes shone with wisdom. "Don't trust others. You must acquire knowledge. Only wisdom is the eye that sees through the mist. Never, ever stop moving forward."
Simon closed his eyes, nodding in deep sorrow.
His mother's spirit was fading, for her wish had been fulfilled, and she had no more regrets.
At this moment, a Mara Charm flew out from the depths of Turiano's soul, scattering specks of light. Gaelina and Turiano involuntarily flew up. In mid-air, they exchanged a smile and slowly vanished.
—Even the defiled fool gazes upon the flower of love
—What was once possessed
—Will not be given up until death
—In the deep darkness
—There is the blood-red key to the dead
—When truly beloved ones meet
—Sorrowful souls will find peace
—Together they go to God's endless garden
The Vampire mother and daughter watched the entire process with a look of surprise bordering on horror.
Simon wiped away his tears, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and after a long while, slowly exhaled.
Serana walked over and kicked him. "Put your clothes on first."
Simon opened his eyes, "You don't need to tell me. Also, please turn around."
"Tch, what's the big deal?"
Simon, having tidied himself, looked around and suddenly saw the Mara Charm on the ground not far away. He quickly ran over and picked it up.
"My friend, you are the one who defeated my mad husband, aren't you?" The Vampire matriarch's tone was gentle.
"That's right. Do you want revenge?" Simon put the Charm into his Pure Land, placing it in the Ice Peak, where he used to store his tears.
"No, I must thank you. Furthermore, I have an impolite request."
Simon rubbed his face, calming himself. "Hmm, I apologize. My words were too emotional just now, very rude. Madam, please ask, but I may not necessarily answer."
"How did you free yourself from the Lord of Truth's captivity?"
"I don't know. In any case, it made me choose between my mother and myself. I chose my mother. Logically speaking, I should have been a dead man."
Simon was bewildered. He truly couldn't remember what he had chosen. Now he was still alive, so had he chosen himself after all?
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