Hunter of the Evernight
Chapter 630: The right way, the only way

Chapter 630: The right way, the only way

Arwen made her way down a dark corridor accompanied by the screams of agony from somewhere below.

The guide that followed her to the mountain trailed behind, along with a few other banshees in human form.

They walked with their heads bowed, showing reverence towards Arwen though she paid no heed to them.

Finally, she arrived at her destination, a large double door forged of stone.

"The Matron persists within. She is too advanced in age and is unable to carry out most tasks. To preserve her sanity, we helped her hibernate." The guide explained with Arwen replying.

"It’s fine. You may leave and begin preparations for my rebirth. I will speak to her in the meantime."

"As you wish."

With that, the banshees departed after which Arwen stepped forward and somehow managed to push the heavy doors open before making her way inside and closing it again.

Within was a seemingly grand hall rife with the putrid smell of decaying flesh.

The ground was covered in yellowish feathers, seemingly covered with pus, and at the center of the hall was a bed made of stone and covered with even more yellowish feathers.

The figure lying on the bed looked no different from a desiccated corpse, with hardly any flesh remaining on its bones, yet it contained a hint of life.

Ignoring the abhorrent smell present in the air, Arwen took steady steps forward until she arrived beside the bed and sat on it.

Gently, she reached out and took the hand of the corpse, allowing a hint of green flames to transfer from her to it.

A moment later, she found herself in a unique space.

It was a graveyard seemingly forged of a white material similar to bone.

There was hardly any lighting, giving off an eerie vibe and if one listened closely, they would hear pained howls coming from somewhere unknown.

"This place was built using the essence of our dead sisters, isn’t that right, Riona?"

"Grania," Arwen muttered softly as she turned to face the one who spoke.

A beautiful woman dressed in a white gown with dark spots on her pale skin stood a few meters away, her flowing white hair tied in a bun.

"You took so long to come back. I thought I’d have to wait here forever." The lady, or rather, Grania replied.

Arwen managed a smile as she replied. "Apologies, sister, it took a long while to get a suitable host."

"I understand," Grania replied with a melancholic smile. "You have always been unique."

"It must have been hard on you."

"And on you. When I took on the title of Vengeful Matron, I knew what I was getting into and I accepted it with open arms. Just like you did when you became the Dread Widow."

"Indeed. But now, we are close, sister, we are close to fulfilling our dream."

Grania’s smile lightened ever so slightly as she muttered. "Do you remember, Sister?... Remember the day we decided to walk down this thorny path."

"Of course."

"Our sisters have always suffered, losing themselves to what they hold no control over. It has grown worse over time."

"I’m aware."

"I’ve had to hear them cry out in anguish, unable to do anything but wait here, holding down the fort till your return."

"And now that I’m back, everything can be resolved."

Grania nodded with a hopeful look in her eyes. "Yes, finally we can conquer death and free ourselves from this curse."

Then, taking steady steps forward, she closed the distance between herself and Arwen before embracing her.

"I missed you, sister."

"I missed you too."

The hug lasted for several seconds before Grania pulled away to meet Arwen’s gaze.

"Tell me, how hard was it to conquer death?"

Arwen’s lips parted but the words that came out left Grania confused.

"Death is a beautiful thing, isn’t it?"

"What?"

"I tried, Grania, but then I realized that it was pointless. We cannot defeat death, it is an unwinnable fight."

"Riona, what do you mean?... Have you not conquered death?"

"I found another way, sister, an easier path. Instead of fighting against inevitability, it is better to embrace, to become one with it."

"What are you trying to say?"

"I’ll burn it all, Grania. If everyone is dead, no one would have to experience death ever again. I’ll create a world of the dead and in that world, our sisters would be free."

"You... you are mad," Grania muttered in disbelief, unable to believe what she’d just heard.

Arwen shook her head. "No, sister, I have only been enlightened. This is the only way."

"I will not let you do this!" Grania exclaimed as she attempted to put Arwen down only for a green flame to emerge from thin air, engulfing her in an instant.

As cries of agony escaped her lips, Arwen watched on with an apathetic look on her face.

As Grania turned to ashes, her remains merging with the bone-white cemetery, Arwen muttered.

"Don’t worry, this is the only way. The right way."

Then, she turned and left, returning to that hall filled with yellowish feathers and the smell of decaying flesh, though the latter was now replaced by the smell of death.

That day, the Wailing Peaks mourned the death of its leader, the Vengeful Matron while preparing for the rebirth of the Dread Widow.

***

Alex led the members of Constellations towards the Grim Forest, all of whom were prepared to engage in combat at the slightest hint of danger.

Standing at the periphery, they exchanged looks with one another before stepping in.

They seemed to have prepared for any eventualities, but alas, nothing could have prepared them for what happened next as the next moment, they all blanked out.

When Alex opened his eyes again, he was looking at an unfamiliar sky with a pale light source in the sky that neither resembled the moon nor the Nighteye and worst of all, he wasn’t in his original body.

Instead, he was in the body of a young boy no older than twelve, and he was accompanied by a young lady who looked to be ten, who, on meeting his gaze, revealed a confused look on her face before backing away repeatedly.

"Who are you?... And where am I?"

Realizing that the voice was familiar, Alex blurted out. "Nadia?"

Silence followed before the young lady replied. "Alex, is that you?"