Chapter 384: Respecting Decision

Atlas appeared inside the facility where Seraphiel was currently staying. In an instant, everyone present, including the Seven Grand Regents, Seraphiel, and Oriendar’s projection, sensed his presence. They immediately turned toward the empty space beside Seraphiel, only to find Atlas floating there, his attention already fixed on her.

The sudden appearance left the Seven Regents momentarily stunned, as they had never expected anyone outside the facility’s authorized occupants to enter this dimension so effortlessly.

Atlas didn’t even bother greeting the Third Pillar. His eyes remained on Seraphiel as he carefully observed her changed appearance, particularly her golden-orange pupils and the faint symbol on her forehead. ’She feels different and not different at the same time... What exactly happened?’

He could sense that something about her existence had changed, yet the familiar feeling he associated with her remained intact. It was as though the person standing before him was still Seraphiel, but there was something new within her that he couldn’t quite identify.

Seraphiel turned toward him, meeting his gaze with her newly colored eyes. For a few moments, neither of them spoke, and Atlas found himself examining her expression more closely. She appeared calm, almost unnaturally so considering everything that had happened after her Phoenix Soul awakened.

Eventually, Seraphiel broke the silence, her voice carrying none of the panic he had expected. "You didn’t have to come, Atlas. I am alright here."

"Hmm?" Atlas frowned slightly at her response. ’She just saw Oriendar dispersing all her powers, shouldn’t she be shocked?’ He had expected her to be confused by the sudden transformation or at least unsettled by the overwhelming power she had just awakened.

Instead, she was speaking to him as though nothing particularly unusual had happened. Atlas had never seen Seraphiel remain this composed after such a sudden incident, especially when he suddenly appeared right in front of her.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Atlas moved closer to her.

Seraphiel’s expression barely changed, but her eyes followed his approach, and she seemed momentarily caught off guard when he stopped directly in front of her. He raised his hand and gently took hers, noticing that her fingers were tightly curled into a fist.

Without forcing her to do anything, he carefully opened her palm and looked at her face. ’You have been clenching your hand without even realizing it, what has made you so angry?’ he asked telepathically.

Seraphiel’s eyes widened slightly as she looked down at their joined hands. She hadn’t even realized how tightly she had been clenching her fist until Atlas pointed it out. For a moment, the anger she had been suppressing threatened to surface again, but she quickly lowered her gaze, refusing to let it show.

Atlas noticed the subtle change in her expression and waited, giving her the opportunity to answer without pressing her further.

Meanwhile, the Seven Regents continued watching the two of them from below. Their attention had shifted from Seraphiel’s awakening to Atlas’s unexpected arrival, and none of them could understand how he had entered the facility. After all, this was not one of the ordinary facilities constructed within Asgradron.

It was an actual dimension concealed and maintained through their combined powers and abilities, with entry restricted to the Seven Regents and the Three Pillars themselves. Yet Atlas had appeared beside Seraphiel as though those restrictions had never existed.

The man wearing glasses swallowed as he watched Atlas, a bead of sweat sliding down his chin. ’First, he cleared the Test of Kiumuludo, and now he has entered this dimension without permission... What kind of monster is he?’ He adjusted his glasses, trying to make sense of what he had witnessed.

Even among the individuals they knew, bypassing the protections of this dimension was no ordinary feat, and Atlas had accomplished it without displaying any apparent effort.

Atlas paid little attention to their reactions. His gaze remained on Seraphiel as he continued speaking through telepathy. ’Are you angry with them? Did they do something to you?’ He had noticed the way she was suppressing her emotions, and given the circumstances surrounding her awakening, he couldn’t rule out the possibility that someone had done something to her.

His expression grew slightly more serious as he waited for her response, ready to act if the situation called for it.

Seraphiel remained silent for a moment before slowly shaking her head, ’...It’s not them, Atlas. I’ll tell you later about everything. Right now, I need to learn how to control these powers.’ Her answer made Atlas pause, and he studied her face once more. She wasn’t denying that something had happened, nor was she pretending that everything was fine.

Instead, she was choosing not to explain it yet, and Atlas could tell that she had already made up her mind.

His gaze shifted toward Oriendar’s projection, narrowing slightly as he addressed his second self through their mental connection. ’Main body, she is indirectly asking for some time to herself. How much denser can you be?’ Atlas arched an eyebrow at the unexpected remark. ’But... shouldn’t she share every concern with me? She said it herself, her life is mine as well.’

He genuinely believed that, and the thought of leaving her alone when something was clearly troubling her didn’t sit well with him.

’That is indeed the case, but she might not want to share it with you right now.’ His second self paused before continuing with a quiet exhale. ’When she makes up her mind, she will obviously tell you.’ Atlas remained silent as he considered those words.

He understood that their bond did not mean Seraphiel had to explain every thought or feeling the moment it arose, and her lowered gaze only reinforced the impression that she needed time to sort through what had happened.

’I see... Something must have happened after she awakened the Phoenix Soul.’ Atlas looked back at Seraphiel, his expression softening as he understood that she wasn’t ready to discuss it. He gently raised his hand toward her chin and lifted her face, encouraging her to meet his eyes instead of lowering her head. Seraphiel’s eyes widened slightly at the gesture, and for a moment, the composure she had maintained since his arrival faltered.

’You should never lower your head, Sera. You can tell me everything later.’ His voice remained calm through their telepathic connection, without a trace of impatience or disappointment. Seraphiel stared at him, seemingly unsure how to respond to his understanding.

She had been preparing herself to keep the matter to herself until she could make sense of it, yet Atlas wasn’t demanding an explanation or asking her to justify her silence.

’I don’t know what happened inside your soul, and honestly, I don’t want to leave you alone with whatever you’re going through right now...’

Atlas paused, his hand slowly falling away from her chin. ’But I also know that you have your own reasons for keeping this to yourself for now. I won’t force you to tell me anything before you’re ready. Just remember that you don’t have to face it alone, Sera.

As you yourself said, we are to share everything between us because your life is mine and mine is yours. Whenever you’re ready to talk, I’ll listen.’ He finished, allowing his words to settle between them. He still wanted to remain beside her, but he understood that caring for someone also meant respecting the moments when they needed to face something on their own.

Seraphiel’s pupils contracted and trembled as tears began to well up in her eyes. Without hesitation, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Atlas, pulling him into an embrace. She couldn’t care less whether the Seven Regents or Oriendar were watching.

At that moment, all she wanted was to hold Atlas close without having to explain anything.

She didn’t say a word or make a sound, even as tears continued to fill her eyes. She simply leaned against his chest, holding him in silence. Atlas looked down at her before instinctively wrapping both arms around her and gently caressing her back.

They remained like that for a long moment before Seraphiel finally pulled away. ’I will tell you everything... every single thing, Atlas. But not right now. At this moment, I really need to sort things out on my own.’

Hearing her honest answer, Atlas nodded as he looked into her burning eyes. ’Alright, then. I’ll wait until you’re ready. For now, I also need to sort things out with my so-called mother, remember?’

Seraphiel nodded, listening as he continued, ’Bye for now, Sera. By the time I’ve sorted out my own matters, I expect you to have sorted out yours as well.’