Chapter 952: Choices P2: Farewell Nimiya

Aksai remained silent.

As a druid, he could perceive the state of Dia’s life essence far more clearly than she could herself.

He knew exactly how much time she had left.

If nothing changed, Dia Naya would die within a year.

Perhaps even sooner.

He had already done far more than he should have to extend her life.

Over the years, he had repeatedly used his druidic powers to replenish her fading life essence, allowing her to continue living despite her old age and cultivation bottleneck.

But he couldn’t continue doing so anymore.

No matter how gentle his druidic powers were, repeatedly forcing life essence back into such an aged body would eventually do more harm than good.

Her body simply couldn’t withstand the treatment anymore.

Aksai stared at Dia’s face. He didn’t know the reason but he quietly committed every detail to memory.

Perhaps this would be the last time he ever saw her.

"My friend Dia..."

His voice softened.

"We have known each other for a long time."

Dia’s eyes trembled slightly.

"It was you who gave me a detailed map of Duya Forest when I needed it."

Aksai smiled faintly.

"That map helped me a lot. More than once, in fact. You also helped us establish our ownership on this island."

He paused.

"For all this, thank you."

Dia’s old eyes immediately became wet.

"It... it was my pleasure, my Lord."

Her voice trembled.

"Th– thank you for remembering me."

Aksai’s smile faded. He sighed softly as he looked at her.

Once, Dia Naya had been a proud archer.

An explorer.

A woman who could venture into dangerous regions without hesitation and return with information that others would have considered impossible to obtain.

Now, she had become so old that simply having someone remember her name and acknowledge what she had done was enough to bring tears to her eyes.

Aksai’s heart stirred.

’Perhaps I was cruel to her by extending her lifespan.’

He lowered his eyes.

’What I considered a blessing may have slowly taken away the person she once was.’

It was a strange realization.

He had always thought of his druidic powers as a means of preserving life.

But life wasn’t merely something that could be measured by the number of years a person remained breathing.

Sometimes, living longer wasn’t necessarily a blessing.

Sometimes, it simply meant having to endure the gradual loss of everything that once made you who you were.

’I guess living too long isn’t good for everyone. Excess of life essence can turn into a poison over time as well.’

Aksai quietly gained another perspective on his druidic powers.

He looked at Dia again.

"That being said, Dia..."

He paused.

"Are you certain you want to stay on the island and not leave?"

Dia wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. Then she nodded with no hesitation.

Aksai nodded back.

"Very well."

He raised one hand.

A small vial appeared out of thin air.

Inside it was a single pill.

Aksai flicked his wrist, and the vial gently floated toward Dia.

"Take this pill and keep it with you."

Dia carefully caught it with both hands.

Aksai continued,

"It should ease your current ailments and relieve some of the pain throughout your body. The effect of the pill should stay for quite a while. Consume it when you find it to be suitable."

Dia looked down at the vial.

She seemed to understand that this wasn’t an ordinary gift.

Aksai’s expression became somewhat distant.

"This pill..."

He paused.

"Consider it my final goodbye to you."

Dia’s body trembled slightly.

Aksai sighed as he realized the fact that he would probably never see Dia Naya again. He then turned his head toward one of the palace guards standing nearby.

"Escort Dia Naya back to her dwelling."

The guard immediately stepped forward and bowed.

"Yes, Lord Aksai."

He approached Dia and respectfully offered his arm. The old woman accepted the assistance without protest, giving Aksai one last look before slowly following the guard out of the grand hall.

Aksai watched her disappear through the doorway.

Only after she was gone did he turn his attention back to the two women standing before him.

Nimiya and Niviya.

The mother and daughter both looked rather bitter.

They had taken the recent revelations badly.

Niviya, in particular, appeared shaken.

Just a few minutes ago, she had been complaining to her mother about the treatment they received on Emerald Cove Island.

She had even suggested that Nimiya should try to become one of the Seven Stars so that she could secure more Spirit resources and perhaps help Niviya make another attempt at breaking through into the Foundation Establishment realm.

She had harbored feelings of dissatisfaction about how, despite her mother’s status as one of the island’s founding members, they weren’t receiving the same treatment as the Seven Stars.

Now, those complaints felt almost laughable.

Niviya lowered her head.

For the first time in a long while, she truly understood how privileged she had been.

Emerald Cove Island had provided her with a safe place to live, abundant Spirit resources, and repeated opportunities to attempt a breakthrough. Her mother had even managed to secure three opportunities for her to use Foundation Establishment Pills.

And she had taken all of it for granted. She had spent years believing she deserved more. Now she was being told that she might have to abandon everything behind if she wanted to survive.

The realization struck her harder than she expected.

If she had known this day would come, perhaps she wouldn’t have been so complacent.

Perhaps she would have cultivated harder.

Perhaps, with enough determination, she could have broken through into Foundation Establishment years ago and become an Expert.

If that had happened, she might have had a much better chance of surviving the coming chaos alongside her mother.

But regrets were always easiest to feel after the opportunity had already passed.

And the pill of regret was always bitter to swallow.