It was a calm morning.
Avra was chopping fruits for breakfast. The knife in her hand was thin and sharp. The peel neatly separated, and the pale red juice that stained her hands gave off a sweet aroma.
Enbillick hummed a tune while cooking sweet milk. It seems last night's dream interference went undetected, Nol thought.
Just in case, Teest didn't even use mental suggestion, letting Avra judge for herself. Even if Avra did tell Enbillick, it would be easier to remedy this way.
For now, things seemed to be going smoothly.
[Strange, how did you know she wouldn't tell?] Teest curiously nudged the black furball beside him. [I thought Star Stealer Sol's "act of love" was perfect.]
[I'm a bit curious too.] Painter boldly patted his pocket.
[...] The black furball hid at the edge of the pocket, blinking its small blue eyes.
Tap, tap, tap. Avra's knife hit the chopping board. The juice splattered like blood, leaving dark spots on her apron.
[I don't think Avra is a normal person.] After a while, Nol sighed. [Normally, someone who suddenly leaps to such heights wouldn't be this quiet.]
Suddenly possessing unique luck and wealth, most people wouldn't be as reserved as Avra. Ordinary people would choose to splurge, showing off their "happiness" and "wealth" for the whole world to see.
And the more benevolent ones would use their vast wealth for charity, or seek out their own business, pursuing a more perfect self.
But Avra did nothing.
She remained quiet, like a weed. Moved from a dirty corner to a golden pot, the weed stayed silent.
Avra hasn't exerted any influence on the world—neither beneficial nor harmful—so far, she remains "bottom dust" stamped by fate.
[A person who grew up in a cage, surrounded by fear and death. She's accustomed to abuse and pain, accustomed to being with corpses without being shaken by it.]
Her story was like a fairy tale, yet she wasn't the "beautiful and kind" protagonist of the story.
["Innocence and purity of heart" require a certain environment, which Avra didn't have.] Nol continued, [I have someone with a similar background close to me.]
He looked at the quiet white furball.
It was hard to say whose experience, Avra's or Teest's, was worse. Under such circumstances, let alone a sweet romantic story, it was a miracle that Avra retained any social skills at all.
[Hmm, this lady is probably a bit kinder than me.] The white furball puffed up. [She married the man who supported her, while the General who supported me wished she could kill me.]
[She's actually more like me.] Nol said, [In a sense, we were both 'imprisoned and nurtured' by Star Stealer Sol.]
Even weeds had roots that sought water.
During those mad and lonely times, he held on through his love for Tahe World. During her long, invisible captivity, Avra was also trying to find similar things—
That was why, after more than a decade of marriage, Star Stealer Sol risked giving her two fake children to keep her quiet.
She probably already knew how to survive safely, how to make delicious food, and how to be a proper "wife of Golden Sword". But now, for the first time in her life, she'd received "love" from someone else, learning with her children how to be "human".
It may not be maternal love, but it was certainly some pure emotion—
That was why, after over twenty years of marriage, she suddenly started learning the common language in recent years. Her accent was still clumsy, but it was enough to tell bedtime stories.
[She may not love Star Stealer Sol, but she definitely loves those two children.] Nol said, [They are the first creations, relatives, and friends she's encountered in her life.]
As agreed upon, Painter left Golden Sword's home. Before he left, the two little furballs quietly jumped out, hiding in the fur of the two cats.
After Painter left, the daily life of the Golden Sword family was almost as Nol had guessed. Enbillick and Avra treated each other with respect, communicating even less than ordinary couples. Enbillick knew everything, and Avra, struggling even to communicate, naturally had little to talk about.
The sunlight slanted across the floor, and night quickly fell.
In the middle of the night, Enbillick got out of bed. He casually cast a sleep spell on the blanket beside him and headed to the children's room.
Colette Alva was in deep sleep in her bed, resembling a shattered clay doll. Her neck, right arm, and left leg were broken off, almost rolling off the bed. There was no blood on the bedsheet—only clusters of clay emitting a scent of blood.
"The system's permissions are still insufficient." Enbillick sighed regretfully. Abducting children from outside for modifications could affect a destiny he was unaware of, which was a risk he couldn't take. But he didn't have full control over the system yet, unable to exercise the power of creation effectively.
Usually, the children wouldn't be in such bad shape. Most likely, Painter's stay had an influence, as "Saints" have a natural suppressive effect on non-human entities. Not to mention the modifications Paradise had made on him… What a nuisance.
Enbillick flicked his fingers, and the girl, broken into pieces, floated in midair. Her body began slowly reassembling. From the crevices of her torso, numerous worm-like tissues surged out, forcibly sticking them together.
Eventually, the skin, full of cracks, smoothed out. The air was filled with the damp scent of soil, and the smell of blood became even stronger.
"Tomorrow, when you wake up, go to Avra and act spoiled. Say you don't want to stay in Grape Collar anymore."
Enbillick commanded dispassionately, "No matter what you feel tonight, whatever dreams you have, when you wake up, you will forget everything, remembering only this suggestion."
He didn't want to alert Eugene at such a critical moment. It was better to withdraw first.
Colette's eyes remained shut in the air, making uncomfortable groaning sounds. Enbillick nonchalantly waved his hand, as if discarding a piece of cloth, and the girl was thrown back onto the bed.
The room was cold. She frowned, unconsciously fumbling around, then curled back into the blanket.
Next, he had to adjust Moore. Enbillick closed the door, heading towards the room of his nominal "son".
In the shadow of the hallway, under the protection of the "concealment" abilities, Avra stood quietly. She didn't even turn her head. Only her eyes followed Enbillick's figure.
Her face, usually bearing a happy smile, became expressionless. She seemed uncertain about how to react to this scene, just fidgeting with her fingers as if wanting to clutch something.
Under her gaze, Enbillick approached Moore, who was also shattered, repeating the process he just performed.
After watching, she returned to the bedroom before him, wrapping herself in the blanket. Finally, through the blanket, he placed his hand on her head—
"Tomorrow, Moore and Colette will fuss about wanting to go somewhere else to play. No matter how reluctant you are, you must agree with their idea and leave here with me."
The glow of magic flickered, but unfortunately, it was blocked perfectly by the furballs.
In the cramped darkness under the blanket, Avra's eyes were wide open. She didn't cry or break down, her face showing only yesterday's anxiety. Miss Avra absentmindedly scratched the black furball, lost in deep thought.
...
The next morning, the script arranged by Enbillick played out smoothly. He kissed his wife's forehead, stating he had errands to run, and he promised to bring lunch from the best restaurant.
Avra, with her usual gentle and happy smile, compliantly accepted the kiss.
"Spirits, what should I do?"
As soon as Enbillick left, she locked herself in the room, pulling out the two small furballs from her apron.
"You seem to have taken it not too badly," Teest commented surprisingly.
Facing her husband's suspicious actions, Avra didn't react as dramatically as she did when "discovering the children's condition". She accepted reality calmly, almost excessively so.
"...Ah." Avra seemed to realize the issue for the first time, pondering for a few seconds. "We didn't know each other back then. He took me because I must have been useful. Now I know what that use is."
Her attitude wasn't prideful for "guessing right" but more like an animal discussing its owner.
Nol looked around, confirming they were in a warmly decorated room, not a filthy, damp slave cage.
"But it's different for the children." Her deep-sea-blue eyes stirred. "The children are different from me. They should live better lives. I like the children."
"What should I do?" she asked urgently. "Should I kill myself or kill Enbillick?"
Her tone was as natural as asking whether to add sugar or salt, completely indifferent to death. After asking, she embarrassedly adjusted her hair.
"Sorry, my tone was impolite. Please tell me, should I kill myself or Enbillick?"
She tried to suppress the urgency on her face, asking again shyly.
Teest: "..."
Nol: "..."
Well, although this was the outcome they wanted, it must be said that this lady was even more abnormal than they had anticipated.
[Wow, it's a good thing you sent Painter away in advance.] The white furball pressed against the black one, whispering, [If it weren't for my lack of morals, I'd feel compelled to denounce her gratitude.]
[I can understand, though.]
Despite the circumstances being somewhat different, Nol suddenly felt a sense of empathy—indeed, Star Stealer Sol needed to use "Avra" as a pawn. It was all about mutual benefit, after all. Expecting employees to feel grateful towards their boss was kind of strange.
Moreover, Avra's self-awareness probably didn't even extend to seeing herself as an employee; she was more like an animal.
"Please, should I kill…" Avra, seeing they didn't respond, started to speak again.
"It's like this. We can lift the curse from your children," Nol hurriedly interrupted her terrifying question. "But only if Enbillick Alva disappears from this world."
Once Star Stealer Sol realized something was off with the children, he wouldn't keep them around.
Avra: "I understand. I must kill Enbillick."
"But Enbillick is very powerful. He's not human," the white furball calmly added. "We're waiting for the right moment. You just need to cooperate with us."
"I'll do as you say." Avra decisively agreed.
She looked at them with those gentle eyes, as if she never considered the possibility that they were lying. This might just be her naivety, or perhaps, Miss Avra truly didn't mind making a mistake.
"We will stay by your side." The black furball uncertainly rubbed her finger. "Please take this."
With a flicker of blue fire, an ordinary-looking dagger appeared beside Avra. Its appearance was very common, easily blending in with Avra's kitchen utensils.
"This is the weapon we've given you. Please keep it with you. When the time comes, you will know its use. I promise, your children will be safe until then."
Avra touched the blade of the dagger, which cut her finger. She lightly exclaimed, "Ouch," sucking the blood from the wound.
"I'll make a beautiful sheath for it." Finally having found a solution, she smiled contentedly, her lips stained with a smear of blood.
The two furballs couldn't help but huddle closer.
"By the way, has Enbillick always taken you with him wherever he goes?" Teest finally remembered to ask about the matter at hand.
"Yes." Avra put away the dagger. "Others praise him for being family-oriented. He seldom stays out for long. Whenever he has to be away for an extended period, he takes us with him."
Speaking of this, she hummed thoughtfully, "When there was trouble with the Alva Merchant Group recently, he specifically instructed me to report to him whenever I go out."
Interesting. Does Star Stealer Sol's "backup save" have a distance limitation?
During the battle on Ship Island, Golden Sword was also by the Old Duke's side. Nol had always felt something was unnatural, and now he knew why—
Just like Perradat occupying Lilith's body for her divine descent, certain conditions must be met. Star Stealer Sol forcibly using someone else's body for reversion must have even more restrictions.
No wonder it arranged for the "backup save" to have the identity of a wife. They nearly missed this information.
The last bit of fog dissipated, and Nol finally saw a relatively complete battlefield. The personnel were ready, the conditions clear, and the tactics set. Now, there was only one thing left for them to do.
"Please be patient. Your children will soon be freed from the curse," Nol said.
He would end this, take back the system, and turn those two children into complete humans.
The black furball floated up, and the white furball grabbed the black one, also rising.
"I promise, you won't have to wait long."
...
At noon, inside the Lost Tower.
Nol and Teest opened their eyes simultaneously. Teest let out a long exhale, stretching his arms and legs, which he hadn't used in a while. Nol, unaccustomed to his long limbs, nearly rolled off the bed.
"Is it over?"
Perradat's version of Lilith squatted at their bedside, chewing on dried sweet potatoes.
"We left the avatars with Miss Avra." Nol scrambled up. "Trust me, she won't become Star Stealer Sol's vessel for revival."
"Don't worry. That woman is crazier than I thought." Teest stretched. "Worthy of being handpicked by Star Stealer Sol. His luck has always been good."
Perradat rolled her eyes. "Yeah, only I, who wasn't chosen, am the most normal… Stop! No attacking teammates!"
Far away in Grape Collar on the continent of Tahe, at the Golden Sword household.
Enbillick pushed open the door, placing the packed food on the dining table. Avra came out to greet him with a smile, kissing his cheek.
"The children are much better now," she said. "I touched some clay yesterday, thinking they played too rough in the mud, but it seems it was just an illusion."
"It was just your overthinking." Enbillick shrugged. "I specifically checked today. There's no clay near our home. You must have rubbed it off the vegetables."
"Really?"
"Really."
"I understand." Avra smiled.
"Speaking of Mr. Painter's visit earlier, I was a bit worried." She pulled out a dagger with a woven sheath. "Look, I prepared a small dagger."
Enbillick glanced at the plain dagger. "You don't need this. I will protect you."
"It makes me feel safer," Avra gently said. "It's really sharp."
"Then keep it with you."
"Really?"
"Really."
The author has something to say:
Nol, Teest, Avra.
Star Stealer Sol selected three lunatics (...
Only the wild Perradat and Kando are mentally very healthy. What's going on here?