Castorice and Polyxia walked slowly through the sea of flowers.
"Older sister, where should I begin?" Polyxia asked Castorice from her wheelchair.
"Let's start with the relationship between us. Why do you say I'm your older sister?"
"Because we were originally twins. From birth, you were my older sister," Polyxia replied to Castorice.
"Twins!? The Titan of Death and I are twins?"
"Am I... am I not human then?" Castorice said in shock. Although she knew she was a Chrysos Heir, she was also a genuine human. Now, suddenly, someone was telling her she was actually twins with the Titan of Death.
Seeing Castorice's doubt, Polyxia said, "Older sister, you are, of course, human. As for the reason why this situation came to be..." Her voice paused, then she continued with utmost seriousness, "It's because the Titans are the previous generation of Chrysos Heirs who completed the Flamechase Journey."
"What?!" Castorice's eyes widened in utter disbelief. The Titans... were once Chrysos Heirs.
Seeing Castorice's shock, Polyxia continued, "The Flamechase Journey in Amphoreus hasn't just happened this once, but many, many times. Each time, the Chrysos Heirs who complete the Re-Genesis become Titans. Subsequently, the world gains new life, and a new cycle begins."
A thoughtful expression appeared on Castorice's face. She remembered hearing her teacher, Anaxagoras, research such a hypothesis, but at the time, he had said it lacked theoretical support and could only be a conjecture. Yet now, the Titan of Death, Thanatos herself, was telling her these were facts. If it had been Thanatos herself telling her, Castorice would never have believed these facts.
"Then, if it's a new world cycle, and according to you, we are twins, why would I still appear in this era?" Castorice immediately thought of a question and posed it to Polyxia.
"That's probably due to my own selfishness." Polyxia's wheelchair continued forward a short distance. "The trial of the Titan of Death requires a pair of twins, and in the end, only one can survive to inherit the Titan of Death's Coreflame."
"So I chose to sacrifice myself back then, didn't I?" Castorice said to Polyxia after a moment's thought.
"Older sister, you remember?" Hearing Castorice say this, an excited expression flashed in Polyxia's eyes.
Castorice shook her head. "I still don't have any memories. It's just that, based on my personality, this is the most likely scenario."
"Is that so? Older sister is still smarter than me," Polyxia praised Castorice. Then her tone changed, and she continued, "I was unwilling for my older sister to sacrifice herself for a future she couldn't see. So, when I was weaving the laws of the new world, I broke the boundary between life and death."
Castorice held her breath. She knew what Polyxia was about to say.
"I molded your soul into shape, transformed into the likeness of the great dragon Pollux, and traveled upstream from the River Styx to the mortal realm."
"Unfortunately, fate was already sealed. My attempt led to unforeseen consequences."
"Birth, aging, sickness, and death are inescapable laws of the world. Not even the Titan of Death can reverse them. She can only pronounce life or death, but cannot embrace."
"By the time I brought you to the mortal world, we, like [Death] itself, had split into two. The half of life became your curse: the eternally living one who [Bestows Death]. This is the curse I gave you."
"And what about you?" Castorice asked Polyxia.
"The god's half of death had already perished upon reaching the mortal world. Since then, the cycle of life and death for the entire world has been severed. Countless souls have been unable to reach the Underworld, causing great disaster for this world," Polyxia finally said.
Castorice couldn't help but take a few steps back. She had never imagined the truth of the matter would be like this. The world she cherished had lost death because of her and her younger sister, turning souls from millennia past into lonely, wandering ghosts.
"I know, older sister, you have no memories. It's hard to accept all this," Polyxia sighed. She then changed the subject, asking Castorice, "By the way, older sister, that young man with you should be waking up soon, right? Let's go check on him."
"Mm." Castorice nodded, wanting to see Derick.
As they walked towards Derick, Polyxia asked Castorice, "Oh, older sister, can you tell me about that young man named Derick?"
"That, ah..." A blissful smile appeared on Castorice's face. But then she thought of a question and asked Polyxia, "By the way, what's with the red mark on Derick's face?"
"I don't know. Maybe he fell when he emerged from the River Styx," Polyxia said, avoiding Castorice's eyes, sounding a little guilty.
Castorice saw through Polyxia's lie at a glance. Not pressing further, Castorice continued to recount her experiences with Derick.
After finishing, Castorice also asked Polyxia, "By the way, Polyxia, do you have any clues about Derick's undying nature?"
"None, absolutely none. His undying nature is something even I cannot shake. Perhaps the secret to his immortality is hidden beneath Amphoreus, something that transcends [Re-Genesis]." As Polyxia said this, her brows furrowed slightly.
"How are you doing now?" Castorice asked Polyxia.
"It's strange." Polyxia shook her head. "Originally, most of my energy was within Pollux; only a tiny bit of my consciousness existed in this Underworld garden. But when Derick brought that great dragon back, memories of your battle with it appeared in me, along with some changes I don't even understand myself."
"Alright." Castorice nodded silently. She felt a deep emotional connection between herself and Polyxia, yet her memories were a complete blank.
As the two walked, the atmosphere grew somewhat heavy. Compared to trivial matters like how Derick's cheek turned red, some things were more important, and far more solemn. Castorice, thinking about the River Styx, asked, "Then Polyxia, about those souls..."
Hearing Castorice say this, Polyxia interrupted her brusquely. "Older sister, don't think about those things for now! I've just received some of Pollux's power; I can do some things." After speaking, she apologized, "I'm sorry, my tone was a bit harsh."
Older sister doesn't know anything; she can't bear those burdens. Besides, she now has someone she loves very, very much. I can't let her be separated from her lover.
As for those souls... Polyxia looked up at the broken moon in the Underworld sky, her eyes filling with increasing pain. What should I do? What should I do? She buried the pain in her eyes very, very deep. However, Castorice beside her had long since noticed the emotional changes in her. Castorice quietly clenched her fists.
Polyxia lowered her head and said to Castorice, "For this period, older sister, please accompany me for a few days. Wander with me in this Underworld, and see the garden I've cultivated for these thousand years."
"These few days... can I think of a good solution?"
"Mm." Castorice also looked towards the distance, her tone 'affirmative' as she spoke.
Polyxia pushed her wheelchair back to where they had first appeared. Derick had already 'woken up' and was sitting up, counting flower petals.
"What are you two...?" Although Derick knew the truth, he still had to ask.
"My name is Polyxia. I'm Castorice's younger sister..." Polyxia roughly explained the situation between her and Castorice, omitting the cruel details.
"I see." Derick nodded, then extended his hand to greet Polyxia. "Hello, Polyxia."
"Hello, Derick." The two shook hands briefly, then released.
Polyxia gestured to the surrounding garden. "Derick, how about you and older sister stroll through the garden with me for these few days?" Polyxia asked, seeking their opinion.
"Of course, that would be great." Derick agreed.
A joyful smile appeared on Polyxia's face. The three of them, each with their own thoughts, pondered their respective plans. Derick and Castorice, one on each side, pushed Polyxia's wheelchair forward.
To change the subject, Polyxia asked Derick and Castorice, "By the way, older sister, can you two tell me about the outside world? I've never seen it; I want to understand the world outside."
"Alright." Derick began to describe the outside world to Polyxia. He deliberately avoided mentioning anything about the Flamechase Journey, instead focusing his description on daily life in Okhema. Tales of the Marmoreal Market and interactions with the small vendors made Polyxia yearn for it.
Polyxia sighed and said. "There will be a chance," Derick told her.
"Mm." Polyxia only took Derick's words as comfort. In her eyes, no matter what she or Castorice did, she would never see that outside world. Derick's words were just a beautiful fantasy.
She made a gesture to stop, then said to Castorice and Derick, "Older sister, Derick, I want to rest here for a while. You two go on ahead and look around."
"Okay." Derick and Castorice continued forward.
Watching their movements, Polyxia buried her head in her arms. Older sister must have guessed something. She must be struggling right now. And I'm quite certain about the choice older sister will ultimately make. How should I face her?
...
Walking side by side, Derick and Castorice's hands naturally found each other. Now that Derick was taller, he took the initiative more often. Holding her hand, Derick walked ahead. Castorice followed behind Derick.
The sea of flowers here is so beautiful, yet those deceased souls outside are still wandering, enduring thousands of years of torment. Derick... he's a very, very good person. I also want to be with him always. But I really can't bear to see the suffering of those souls outside the River Styx.
Castorice spoke to him, "Derick, you once told those about to pass away that at the end of the Underworld, there would be a sea. Do you have the ability of foresight, knowing what this place looks like?" Her lips curved upwards as she spoke to Derick.
"If I said I've seen it before, would you believe me?" Derick joked with Castorice, smiling.
"I believe you." Castorice nodded affirmatively.
Her words surprised Derick. "You... believe me?"
"Yes. As long as you say it, I believe it." Castorice nodded seriously.
Derick scratched his head, a little shy. Seeing him like this, Castorice revealed a faint smile. Then she extended her arms and hugged Derick.
"Derick, can you hug me now?"
"Mm, of course." Derick nodded, then embraced Castorice.
Feeling Derick's embrace, Castorice's heart pounded violently. After the intense beating, Castorice also made her decision. This time, it was Castorice's turn to stand on her tiptoes.
Lips met lips, their movements more fervent and urgent. After a while, Derick's eyes closed slightly, as if he had fallen into a deep sleep.
Castorice laid the sleeping Derick among the flowers.
"Derick, I have a drug on me given by Teacher Anaxagoras. It's very easy to make someone fall unconscious. You sleep here for a while; I have some things I want to say to Polyxia."
Her legs still a little shaky, Castorice immediately took an antidote, cleared her mind, and then walked towards Polyxia.
Sometime after Castorice left, Derick slowly opened his eyes.
"Say what you will, they truly are sisters. Their habit of knocking people out hasn't changed a bit," Derick said softly. He roughly guessed what Castorice intended to do but didn't try to stop her.
You go ahead and talk. I'll go find Polyxia myself later.
...
Castorice found Polyxia.
She said to Polyxia, "To restore normalcy to the departed souls and the Underworld, someone must fulfill the duties and mission of the Titan of Death. And the only one who can do this is me, who is connected to you by blood."
"Older sister, you're right." Polyxia nodded. Then she looked at Castorice and hesitantly said, "Then, what about Derick? You... you plan to..."
"I don't know. Although I love Derick very much, I can't stand by and watch what's happening in the Underworld." Castorice shook her head. "Derick is very strong, has a good personality, and is so handsome. When Derick returns to Okhema, many girls more beautiful than me will fall for him."
"I won't worry about his affairs."
"My mission, my duty is here. This Underworld is my destiny," Castorice said to Polyxia with a firm tone. To fulfill the duties of the Titan of Death, she had to stay here forever. For this, she had already steeled her heart.
"Alright, older sister, I understand." After a moment of stunned silence, Polyxia let out a long sigh.
"Then, when do you plan to..."
Hearing about a specific time, Castorice became hesitant. Then she said softly to Polyxia, "Let's wait a few more days. I... I still want to spend a few more days here with Derick." And give him the most important thing.
"Okay, I understand, older sister." Polyxia nodded seriously.
"Then I'll go check on Derick first," Castorice said to Polyxia.
"Mm." Polyxia watched Castorice leave, her eyes filled with pain and self-reproach.
Castorice returned to where Derick was 'sleeping.' Seeing him still asleep on the ground, Castorice also lay down and snuggled into Derick's embrace.
"Derick, I will cherish these few days," Castorice said softly. Then she too drifted off to sleep.
Watching her fall asleep, Derick opened his eyes. Knocking people out wasn't a skill exclusive to Castorice and her sister; Derick had it too. Among the energies of the Titan of Reason, there were quite a few techniques for calming the mind and inducing sleep.
After letting Castorice gently fall asleep, Derick stood up. Now it was his turn. He walked towards where Polyxia was.
Polyxia sensed someone approaching. Thinking it was Castorice and Derick together, Polyxia quickly lifted her head. When she found only Derick, the feigned happiness in Polyxia's eyes turned into deep confusion.
"Where's my older sister?" she asked Derick.
"She let me sleep for a while, so I let her sleep for a while too," Derick said with a smile. Then he walked up to Polyxia and said, "Polyxia, what is Castorice going to do? I sense a great deal of the Titan of Death's energy within my body. I can also do what Castorice is supposed to do, and perhaps even better."
"You knew all along?" Polyxia said, astonished.
"Not everything, but I could guess the gist of it," Derick replied to her. "In any case, I will not let Castorice suffer any pain."
Hearing Derick say this, Polyxia felt a deep shock.
"Your intentions are good, and I'm very happy you can do these things for my older sister, but it cannot be done in this trial of the Titan of Death..." Polyxia shook her head. She then roughly explained the method of inheriting the Titan of Death.
After finishing, Polyxia said with regret, "Castorice is my older sister, connected to me by blood, so she can complete this trial. But you..."
Polyxia stopped mid-sentence, something suddenly occurring to her. She lowered her head, looking at her own body in shock.
"Perhaps you will eventually use up the blood I placed within your body, but not now. And right now, your body flows with the same blood as mine."
"The trial of the Titan of Death... I can do it too."
"This..." Polyxia didn't know how to react.
Seeing Derick about to leave, she quickly reminded him, "But if you do it, you also won't be able to leave the Underworld for the rest of your life!"
Derick didn't mind at all and even said to Polyxia, "Castorice is no different. Besides, I'm someone who embodies miracles; perhaps a miracle might occur, who knows?"
_____
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