Chapter 390: Mother’s Embrace

Atlas remained still for a long moment as he processed each revelation. Only after several minutes did he finally speak. "That means any restrictions from outside wouldn’t be able to impose themselves upon this inner world, correct?"

The Second Self nodded before dispersing the sphere that had been rotating above his fingertip. "Yes, that’s correct. That’s also why that white space couldn’t make my abilities dormant, since I was inside here."

Atlas nodded in understanding before shifting his gaze toward the massive tree behind the Second Self, "What about this tree, then? Do you know anything about it?"

The Second Self turned to follow Atlas’s gaze before shaking his head. "No, I can’t figure out anything about it. It seems to have sprouted from our soul itself." He paused briefly before continuing, "After all, this inner world was created using several of our components. The Domain of Nothingness, the Null, and our own ’Will’."

"So, the only explanation I can think of is that it originated from us."

Atlas nodded, as he was already aware of those things. "Maybe... ’She’ can answer it?" the Second Self suggested, his gaze remaining fixed on the tree. Atlas turned toward him and stared for a brief moment before giving a small nod. "Hmm..."

Neither of them spoke after that, and both remained silent as they gazed at the massive tree standing before them.

After a while, the Second Self finally turned back toward Atlas. "Anyways, the gist of the matter is that you can do practically anything in here. You can exploit the time dilation to train, eat whatever food you want, or drink anything you can imagine. You simply need to think of it, and it will appear."

Atlas turned toward him and nodded again. "I guess this can become a really helpful place for training my soul. This place doesn’t seem particularly suitable for training my physical body, though." The Second Self nodded in agreement. Atlas then sighed and turned toward the endless darkness surrounding them. "It’s time I meet her and clarify a few things."

The Second Self watched Atlas’s back for a long moment, remaining silent before finally speaking again. "You aren’t thinking of... forgiving her, are you?" His voice carried a hint of concern as he lowered his head. Atlas paused mid-step before answering, "That depends."

"If she really is my mother, then I obviously want to know why she wasn’t there in the first place and why she left me alone before I make any decision."

"Although, forgiveness doesn’t even come close to covering everything, no matter what." He paused briefly, lowering his head as well before calmly continuing, "And if she isn’t my mother, then... there’s nothing to forgive her for, is there?"

With those final words, Atlas’s soul form vanished from the inner world and reappeared deep within his own soul. His eyes snapped open once again, only to find himself surrounded by complete darkness. There was no massive tree, no surrounding light, and no trace of the endless landscape he had just left.

The only thing visible was the Codex floating silently at the very centre.

He stepped forward slowly, his eyes fixed on the book. Even now, he couldn’t help wondering whether the Codex could still be considered a mere relic. It was far too mysterious, and despite everything he had experienced and learned, he still couldn’t understand even a fraction of its true nature.

Upon reaching it, Atlas stopped and stared at the Codex for a long moment without saying anything.

Seeing that it still showed no response, he finally turned his head and spoke. "Where are you?" His voice echoed through the darkness as he waited for some kind of answer. However, nothing happened, even after several minutes had passed.

Atlas continued waiting patiently, for who knew how long, before eventually turning around with a sigh. "Seems I came here for nothing."

Just as he was about to vanish and return to the outside world, a familiar voice suddenly rang out behind him. "Atlas?"

"Did you came to see mama?" Atlas immediately turned around, and the moment he did, his eyes widened. Several meters away from him floated a translucent figure. Its shape was unmistakably feminine, but its face was indistinguishable, almost as though certain features were missing.

Even her hands and legs appeared incomplete, their outlines gradually fading into the surrounding darkness.

For a brief moment, Atlas forgot everything he had been thinking about. His eyes widened, and his heart gave an unfamiliar, almost painful throb. He had imagined this encounter countless times, wondered what he would say, and prepared himself for answers he might not like.

Yet now that she was standing before him, even in that incomplete, translucent form, all those prepared words seemed to disappear.

There was surprise, certainly, but beneath it lay something far more complicated. A faint, almost involuntary longing stirred within him, tangled with confusion, resentment, and the lingering hurt of years spent without a mother.

He wanted to step closer, to ask her why she had left him, and perhaps even to reach out and touch her. But he also feared what her answers might reveal. For the first time, the person he had spent so long wanting to confront was finally before him, and Atlas found himself unable to speak.

A tear slipped down his translucent cheek and was just about to fall into the darkness when her figure suddenly appeared right in front of him. She gently caught the tear in her palm before it could fall, then spoke in a soft voice, "It’s not good to cry, Son. Especially when you’re seeing your mother."

She slowly straightened while holding the tiny drop of moisture in her palm. Atlas’s gaze lowered slightly, his eyes remaining fixed on her figure in a daze. Her own blurry, fading eyes seemed to stare back at him, and for a moment, neither of them moved. "You have so many questions you want answered, don’t you, son?" she asked, her voice trembling ever so slightly.

Atlas didn’t answer. He simply couldn’t.

It was as though his voice had frozen completely, leaving him unable to utter even a single word. His expression gradually shifted from one of disbelief to something far more painful, and before he could even understand what he was doing, his body moved on its own.

His translucent arms spread wide before wrapping around her figure in a tight embrace. "I... I don’t know why, b-but I... just want to embrace you in my arms, just for a moment," he whispered in a weak, trembling voice.

Tears immediately began streaming from his eyes, and even Atlas himself couldn’t understand why he was doing this. In his mind, he knew he should be questioning her, demanding answers about everything that had happened.

Yet the emotions surging within him completely overwhelmed that urge, leaving him with nothing but the desire to hold her.

He wasn’t the only one shedding tears. Her eyes widened slightly at his sudden embrace before tears began to fall from them as well. She immediately wrapped her arms around him and gently caressed his back, soothing the overwhelming emotions little by little.

Her movements were tender and familiar, almost as though she had done this countless times before.

Just like a mother comforting her child.