Chapter 544

From Vihar's earliest memories, the sky had always been gray.

Yet her surroundings were even darker and gloomier than the sky.

Death was always at Vihar's side.

Every day, she struggled desperately just to survive.

But the longer she lived, the more she felt herself sinking into a bottomless mire.

Then, one day, as she lived within that deep, dark world, two people appeared before her.

A man whose hair and eyes were the same color as the sky, and a beautiful woman with deep black hair and eyes.

The man, Kyle, looked down at Vihar as she crouched on the ground and stared up at him.

“The way you do whatever it takes to survive reminds me of myself.”

Lysinas sighed softly at his words and knelt before Vihar.

“What do you want to do from now on?”

“I hope people like me never have to exist again.”

Vihar knew little about the outside world, but she understood that the things she had done were wrong.

To survive, she had been forced to trample upon those who struggled beside her.

To survive, she had been forced to kill people she had once laughed with.

The only warmth or kindness one could offer another was a swift death by one's own hand.

'That is unquestionably wrong.'

“I cannot tolerate those who do such things.”

Vihar calmly declared her intentions.

Lysinas's eyes wavered as she watched her.

The girl who had grown up in such a horrific environment hated those who had made her this way.

But more than that, she wanted to ensure there would never be another victim like her.

Seeing such a young girl care so deeply for others, Lysinas instinctively realized something.

'This child will live in the darkness.'

She was just like the Black Dragon.

For generations, the Black Dragon had carried the duty of protecting the world from within the darkness.

Had the world not fallen into its current state, Lysinas would have lived such a life as well.

'Because that is the mission passed down through generations of Black Dragons. But the one performing that duty now is...'

Swoosh—

Lysinas turned as a hand reached past her face.

Kyle was extending it toward Vihar.

Vihar took his hand.

After pulling her to her feet, Kyle walked away without another word.

When Vihar tried to follow him, Lysinas called out.

“Little one.”

“Yes?”

“Do not spend your entire life in the darkness.”

Her voice filled with concern, Lysinas gently pushed the young Vihar forward.

Vihar stared blankly at Lysinas as she fell into step beside her.

That was the first light Vihar had ever seen.

“Who is she?”

“My disciple.”

“I thought I was your disciple, Master.”

The Elven girl, Velkia, who somehow seemed filled with rebelliousness toward Kyle, stepped before Vihar after being introduced and spoke solemnly.

“I am your sunbae. Treat me well from now on.”

“Okay.”

“Then, since your sunbae is thirsty, go fetch me some water.”

She issued the order as though it were only natural, only for Kyle to smack her soundly.

The sight made Vihar burst into laughter before she realized it.

Vihar did not dislike Velkia.

She was fundamentally different from Vihar.

And not merely because they belonged to different races.

The eyes of those born in the Era of Calamity were invariably filled with darkness.

Even Arron, the Brave, was no exception.

But Vihar sensed none of that darkness in Velkia.

'She's just like Lysinas-nim.'

Her presence brought relief to those who saw her.

She was like a brilliant light.

Someone so radiant and beautiful that others could not even bring themselves to feel jealous.

That was Vihar's first impression of Velkia.

'Our paths are different. But someday... just as Master supports Lysinas-nim, the day may come when I must support this girl.'

If the time came for them to succeed the Great Heroes, Vihar vowed that she would do exactly that.

And so, Vihar became Kyle's disciple.

Days of training alongside Velkia followed.

Once Vihar had grown strong enough, she began accompanying Kyle on missions to purge traitors.

She had no complaints.

In fact, it was the work Vihar desired more than anything.

It was work that absolutely had to be done, but that not just anyone could carry out.

'Because this is dirty work.'

A teacup appeared before Vihar as she sat with her head bowed, lost in thought.

Awakened from her reverie, Vihar looked at the person seated across from her.

“What are you thinking about so seriously?”

“Nothing.”

“Shall I guess?”

Lysinas raised her mug to her lips.

“You're thinking that the work you do is dirty, aren't you?”

“...”

Vihar's shoulders slumped as she stared at Lysinas, who seemed to see straight through her.

Vihar lived in Lysinas's house.

Lysinas had taken her in on the very day she arrived in Guardslone.

As the lord of Guardslone, Lysinas spent most of her days overwhelmed with work. They rarely had an opportunity to sit together like this at home, but whenever they did, they talked.

“The work you do is by no means dirty.”

Lysinas took a sip of tea before continuing.

“Of course, since your task is to purge traitors from within the darkness, you must use any means necessary.”

Traitors were even more vicious than Demons toward those sent to judge them.

Because they were hunting such people, the hunters also resorted to every possible means and became even crueler.

They had to instill absolute fear in the traitors.

Lysinas understood that better than anyone.

Had the times been different, she would have been the one carrying out that work.

Vihar knew that as well.

However...

'It doesn't suit you at all.'

The Lysinas reflected in Vihar's eyes was dazzling beyond compare.

She could not imagine someone like Lysinas purging traitors within the darkness and staining her hands with blood as Vihar did.

'I think I understand why Master took her place.'

As Vihar sipped her tea and entertained those thoughts, Lysinas spoke.

“But Vihar, the work you do is entirely for the sake of this world. I want you to understand that.”

“Lysinas-nim, do you believe my work is something I can be proud of?”

“Of course.”

Lysinas smiled broadly.

Her unhesitating answer surprised Vihar.

“I believe someone willing to stain themselves with darkness for the world's sake is noble.”

Vihar spent as much time with Lysinas as she did with Kyle.

As though trying to heal the darkness within her, Lysinas cared for Vihar despite her demanding responsibilities.

More time passed.

The Great Heroes began preparing to depart on their final expedition.

“I probably won't return. So...”

Kyle said those words one morning while visiting Lysinas's house.

Vihar's eyes widened.

Lysinas's expression crumpled.

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I thought I should at least prepare myself for that possibility.”

“We will all return alive.”

Kyle offered no response to Lysinas's scoff.

He simply placed the dish he had prepared in the kitchen upon the table.

“Does Lysinas ever cook?”

“Occasionally.”

“Every one of those occasions must have been difficult for you.”

Lysinas's hand trembled as Kyle mocked her with complete sincerity.

Vihar laughed at the sight.

“I'm the one who asks her to cook. It helps me think.”

“Do you ask her to cook whenever you want to punish yourself? I don't think you've committed a sin that grave.”

“Die!”

Lysinas swung the knife in her hand.

Kyle naturally dodged without so much as blinking.

Vihar usually prepared the meals.

But on rare occasions when Vihar looked exhausted, Lysinas would do her utmost to cook for her.

It could hardly be called delicious, but it always gave Vihar strength.

Watching Kyle and Lysinas bicker, Vihar burst into laughter.

“How should I put it? Moments like this make us feel like a family.”

Lysinas froze at those words, then smiled softly.

It was the first time Vihar had ever said anything like that.

The two of them went on to save the world during the final expedition, but neither returned.

===

After the world was saved, Vihar spent her days in a constant frenzy.

The first thing she did was tear the records of Kyle's actions as a Shadow from the Hero Record.

Vihar was proud of her master, who had stained his hands with blood while purging traitors.

But she also understood something.

'The world will never view that side of him favorably.'

Kyle would not have cared.

But Vihar did.

That was why she removed those records and preserved them separately.

Afterward, Vihar continued living within the darkness.

Just as she had expected, Velkia assumed Lysinas's role.

The brighter Velkia shone as she led the world, the longer and darker the shadows she cast became.

Those shadows were the world in which Vihar lived.

She never considered her work shameful.

But Vihar never revealed herself to the world.

The longer she continued, the more exhausted she became.

Then, one day, Vihar discovered children within the darkness who were living as she once had.

Just as Kyle and Lysinas had done for her, she reached out to those children.

They became the light Vihar discovered within the darkness.

Vihar took in many children.

And they brought normalcy into the life she had believed could never be normal.

She found someone she loved and had a child.

After finally finding peace at the end of such a long journey, she received news about Velkia.

===

“Mother!”

Her son's face turned pale when he saw Vihar return covered in blood.

Vihar spoke to him.

“Shan.”

“Mother, quickly! You need treatment...”

“Do not hold a grudge.”

“...!”

Shan trembled as he stared at Vihar's faint smile.

“My life would have been short regardless because of my illness. So do not resent her.”

“Mother...”

“To me, she is a sister born of the same father.”

Shan knew.

His mother had spent her entire life working in unseen places to support Velkia.

“Lysinas-nim once told me that Shadows are the noblest of all. So it doesn't matter if others never recognize you. If you intend to walk this path as well, I want you to understand that going unrecognized does not make your life unhappy.”

Vihar smiled.

“Although Lysinas-nim told me not to spend my entire life in darkness, I hope you live like my Master, who always devoted himself to the world.”

“Yes... Mother.”

“That's my son. Take care of your younger siblings.”

“I will...”

Vihar smiled brightly as she watched her son grit his teeth and stoically accept her death.

It was the same smile Lysinas had given Vihar when she became her light.

Vihar had lived without regret.

If anything remained on her mind, it was her failure to stop Velkia.

(T/N: I need more of Vihar's back story!!! :( )

===

—I never imagined my final words would haunt all of you for thousands of years.

Chen Xia remained silent after witnessing the past.

It had been an incredibly long story.

In reality, however, only a brief moment had passed.

During that moment, Chen Xia had witnessed the past through Vihar's Spirit.

Vihar's concern for Velkia was what had awakened her in the present world.

But just as Chen Xia had witnessed Vihar's past, Vihar had also seen hers.

Through those memories, she learned how her descendants had lived.

Her final words had become shackles that tormented them for thousands of years.

Countless Shadows had lived while despising themselves.

—You resent me too, don't you?

'Yes. I resented you deeply.'

Chen Xia had dreamed of becoming a Hero since childhood, but her duty as a Shadow had bound her.

She had resented the ancestor whose legacy forced her clan to spend their entire lives within the darkness.

But...

'Vihar-nim, are you ashamed of us?'

—No. I am incredibly proud of you.

Vihar's descendants had never abandoned their mission despite their suffering.

How could she not be proud of those who had carried on her will for so long?

Chen Xia smiled broadly at Vihar's answer.

Vihar had unquestionably trapped her descendants within the darkness.

Even if she had never intended to.

Countless people had suffered because of it.

But one thing remained certain.

'I resented you, Vihar-nim, but I was equally proud of you.'

No one recognized the Shadows.

Countless people had pointed fingers at the Shan Empire.

Despite their devotion to the world, they suffered discrimination because their names could not be inscribed in the Hero Record.

Even so, the Shan Empire had silently followed its path throughout the ages because its people were proud of Vihar, who had devoted her entire life to the world.

'The previous generations must have felt the same way. I believe no one strayed from the path during those thousands of years because they were proud of you, even if they also resented you.'

Chen Xia continued.

'That is why you are more than worthy of being called our ancestor, Vihar-nim.'

Vihar could not answer immediately.

—Thank you for saying that.

She could only express her gratitude in a trembling voice after Chen Xia comforted her.

'It's strange. I have no talent as a Necromancer, yet I'm able to speak with my ancestor like this.'

—Master's Spirit Magic awakened me. But it was your Spirit Power that completed the contract.

The contract Leo had created through Vihar's dagger reacted to Chen Xia's Spirit Power.

After hearing Vihar's explanation, Chen Xia spoke.

'Then it should also be possible for you to possess my body, shouldn't it?'

Chen Xia looked toward Leo.

'I need power.'

—Yes. In fact, that is what I wanted to ask of you.

===

“Vihar, you...”

“We'll talk later.”

Vihar smiled faintly.

“I will stop Velkia.”

Vihar adjusted her grip on the dagger.

“Master, please eliminate that Elf.”

“Understood.”

Leo walked toward Ulein.

Leaving him behind, Vihar stood before Velkia as she clutched her head.

“Velkia.”

“Argh...”

Velkia shook her head frantically, her hands pressed against it.

Vihar watched her.

“I don't resent you. But if you continue to fall apart like this...”

“Aaaaaaaaah!”

“I will never forgive you.”

Flash—! Boom—!

Velkia's sword swept through Vihar.

Velkia's gaze instantly shifted behind her.

Although Vihar had moved faster than the eye could follow, Velkia's senses tracked her immediately.

Thud—

For a moment, confusion appeared in Velkia's mindless eyes.

Vihar had suddenly become two people.

Thud—! Thud—!

Two became four.

Four became eight.

Before long, countless Vihars stood before Velkia.

“We were like sisters. That was why we fought so often. Do you remember what we always fought about?”

There was one thing neither of them had ever been willing to concede.

Vihar spoke calmly.

“Five thousand years ago, my illness claimed me first, so we never had the chance to settle it.”

Vihar's gaze sharpened.

“Let's settle it now.”

***