Chapter 244: Fish roam among the algae, their heads adorned. The king dwells in Hao, how could he delight in drinking wine?
Finally, after who knows how long the years had passed.
Hazel stepped into Fagina's chambers once more, standing heavily before the enormous Holy Grail.
The naivety and enthusiasm she had shown when she first faced the Black Tide were gone from her face.
Endless battles and wanderings over a thousand years have worn away all her edges, making her heart numb and dull.
Even though she had finally completed her mission that she had been obsessed with for a thousand years, there was no joy in her eyes, and she could no longer smile.
"Finally, the overflowing cup was restored to its original state, the spear of divine retribution stepped out of the River Styx, and the gods resumed their duty to resist the black tide."
"I was freed from endless labor and went to the ceremony in Stikosia..."
Heather's eyes were empty and lifeless, devoid of any light, and her voice was hoarse and dry as she muttered to herself.
"I bear the vision of my sisters, and transform into a beautiful human form, hoping that all people on the shore will rejoice."
"My tail fin transformed into legs, my scales into delicate skin, and the foam on my body into a shimmering skirt."
"But when I set foot on land, I found no celebration of spilled honey, nor poets playing their harps—"
"—Only silent death flows quietly in the River Styx."
When Hathaway finally got her wish, she arrived in Stikosia, a place she had longed for for countless days and nights.
All that could be seen was deathly silence; this land had long since repeated the mistakes of its past, utterly swallowed up by "death."
All the hopes and promises that Fajina once made turned out to be nothing but a dream, a fleeting illusion.
Heather instantly fell into a deep confusion, her whole body frozen in place, her eyes filled with endless emptiness and pain.
"As a siren, I was born to be a vessel of the tides. Now that my mission is over and my promises cannot be kept... it was all a lie."
"Then... how should I survive in this dark world?"
She wandered aimlessly, her steps unsteady, constantly muttering the confusion in her heart.
"Fagina, the noble queen, used intoxication to evade my questions. She said, 'There will always be a feast I crave on earth...'"
"So I began to wander aimlessly, groping my way forward in the boundless darkness..."
"Where exactly is the banquet she mentioned?"
Just as Heather was lost and wandering aimlessly.
A clear, serious voice, yet with a touch of childlike innocence, suddenly reached her ears.
"The lonely blade, I will grant you everything you desire."
The voice was extremely familiar to everyone inside and outside the sky, and they recognized it instantly.
Isn't that Cerberus?
Heather paused slightly, then slowly turned her head in the direction of the sound.
The little gray-haired boy, who was not far away, also looked up instantly and saw a large group of familiar figures.
Leading the group was Cerudela, who wore a small crown of candles on her head.
She was petite and delicate, yet she exuded a powerful aura that kept strangers at bay, making her a force to be reckoned with.
Behind her followed obediently little Tibo, along with four generals under Crydella.
"In the dim battlefield, I saw a beam of light. Why did she call to me? And why did I respond?"
Hathaway stared at the diminutive Crydella before her, momentarily at a loss, her heart filled with confusion and bewilderment.
As soon as Cerberus appeared, she raised her hand and summoned all the generals around her to her side.
Although she was short and small, her tone was still incredibly arrogant, exuding a regal air.
When looking at people, his gaze is slightly upward, with a condescending look, as if he is looking down on all living beings in the world.
"You single-handedly quelled the war, halting the 'strife.' For whom does this sword and banner, which commands thousands, serve?"
The little gray-haired boy, who was engrossed in watching the memory story unfold, was slightly moved and couldn't help but whisper a comment.
"This is the scene of their meeting."
Lai Gushi, standing beside him, nodded slightly and calmly echoed him.
"That's right. Even before becoming Caesar, Cerydella was already full of ambition and aspirations."
Heather stared blankly at Krydella, her voice weak and ethereal, filled with bewilderment and helplessness:
"King who carries out the divine decree, I am no one's sword or banner. I am merely a wandering fish, seeking clarity amidst the carnage."
Krystal's expression remained haughty, her small face expressionless, but her tone was full of assertiveness and certainty as she said:
"Then let the sword dance for me, and let the zither play for me—"
"Tell me, what is your vision?"
Hathaway stared blankly at little Crydella, her gaze involuntarily drawn to the small crown of candles on her head.
The firelight flickered, and for the first time in her long life, she felt genuine warmth.
The firelight on Krydella's crown was warm and bright, gradually dispelling the chill around her.
Heather gazed slowly into the distance, a faint glimmer of expectation rekindling in her empty eyes.
"I... just need a banquet where I can stay."
Krydella had witnessed Hathaway's combat prowess and highly regarded her abilities on the battlefield.
Seeing that her request was so simple and pure, without a trace of greed, he immediately smiled and solemnly made a promise.
"With the king's authority, hosting a banquet is of little consequence. I will allow you to revel in your victory and drink heartily with my soldiers..."
Little Tibao next to her squinted her eyes, her lips curving into a smile as radiant as a blooming flower.
However, Krystra was a deep and calculating person who never easily trusted anyone.
Seeing the surprise in Little Tibo's eyes, her tone suddenly turned cold, but she still spoke arrogantly:
"But, knight, you must offer your heart."
Upon hearing this, Heather looked puzzled, her brows furrowing slightly as she softly repeated, "Heart?"
Krystal nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips, a confident glint in her eyes.
It was as if she had already completely grasped the bewildered Heather in her mind, without any suspense.
"That's right, an absolutely sincere and unwavering loyalty."
"You have been deceived by God and drowned in the darkness of the sea. But now, I will guide you forward and become your light."
Those outside the canopy were all secretly amazed and admired Krydella's ingenuity.
Who would have thought that Krydela had already thoroughly investigated Heather's past and situation?
He was even more certain that he could easily subdue the powerful siren in front of him!
He truly deserves to be called the future Lord Caesar; at such a young age, his actions have already struck at the heart of the matter.
This demand for absolute loyalty, though seemingly mild, is no different from extortion.
At first, everyone thought that she had brought a group of ministers and counts to give them support and encouragement.
In the end, these people became the clowns.
It's part of a two-person play.
They wanted to witness firsthand Krydella's extraordinary strategy in bringing the powerful Heather under her command without lifting a finger.
She was also taking the opportunity to show her subordinates that she could easily subdue powerful and loyal warriors, demonstrating her kingly methods.
As for Hazel, she had been wallowing in confusion and pain for far too long and was now completely alone.
Crydella was the first person to promise to host a banquet for her, like a ray of light in the darkness, illuminating her world.
This gave her a clear hope for the future, and she willingly accepted this mission to follow her.
"It's alright, Your Majesty. The 'law' you proclaimed will be the guiding principle of my life…"
"It's alright, Your Majesty. It's just another time I've become someone else's object, accepting the mission bestowed upon me. My King."
Thus, after wandering aimlessly in emptiness for a long time, Heather finally found a new goal.
This beam of light, like sunlight shining directly into the endless deep sea, completely illuminated her dark world.
The Queen led me to a new world, and the firelight on her crown completely melted away the confusion in my heart.
Afterwards, Hathaway successfully completed the task assigned by Krydela and quickly came to her.
With a sincere expression, she bowed slightly and respectfully replied:
"Your Majesty! I have obeyed your command and cleansed the filth from our journey."
Seeing this, Kerudela also became very generous, speaking in a cheerful tone and not being stingy with the reward.
"My blade, you have helped me to be crowned, so you may ask for my gifts."
Hazel's eyes were clear, without the slightest greed, and she said softly, "What I seek is the same as always. Just a banquet."
Kerudela laughed heartily, pointed to a long table in the distance laden with sumptuous dishes, and spoke with a bold tone.
"Haha—look, I've prepared a banquet for you, and brought the finest honey and tributes!"
Looking at the long-awaited banquet before her, Hazel was overwhelmed with emotions, and her nose tingled slightly.
"Fish are naturally drawn to light, because the deep sea is dark and vast..."
Looking at the truly sumptuous feast before her, she finally understood that Crydella's promise was not a lie.
The heart, which had been numbed by battle for so long, was completely liberated at this moment and was no longer tense.
Finally, a long-lost, gentle and charming smile appeared on her face, and her eyebrows and eyes relaxed.
"Now, I have found a spark. Even though it is too hot and scorching, it is the only light. This is not a lie."
(End of chapter)