Chapter 284 (2): Such is Faith

Anastasia didn’t understand Senna’s explanation. It would’ve been better to do without since it only made things more confusing. She suspected that the dragon blood’s curse had acted up and changed Senna, lowering her intelligence and changing her personality. That was why she was willing to let her student ride her.

But no. No matter how she had changed, her arrogance was intrinsic to her. A Dragonblood would never lower their pride and let someone ride them...

Suddenly, Anastasia thought of another possibility. She said curiously, “Senna, you haven’t fallen for him, have you?”

“I have.”

“...” x3

The three of them fell silent. Megan, who had been eavesdropping openly, wasn’t sure if she should feel happy for Silvia or sorry for Veronica. Or perhaps the two weren’t mutually exclusive. She could be both happy and sorry.

“If you have fallen for someone, then I have to admit that you have changed.” Anastasia sighed softly. “You’ve become

perverted

. He’s your student’s student. He’s still a child.”

“Age is only a number in love. My feelings are my feelings!”

“I’m talking about your age. Shouldn’t you consider your student’s opinions?”

“She doesn’t dare to have any opinions.”

...Fine, whatever makes you happy!

Anastasia gave up. Senna had changed, but she was also still the same arrogant woman. That might provide good entertainment, though. With the Darkness Knight’s arrival, she had lost the reason to stay strong. Watching Senna make a fool of herself might just make her remaining years more interesting.

Anastasia looked forward to it.

She turned to Wayne curiously. “How about you, Mr. Wayne. How do you feel about Senna?”

“I already have a fiancée.”

Oh, even better!

Anastasia smiled wordlessly. After a moment, she said, “Senna, I’ll visit you in the next few days. Truly, you’ve brought me a pleasant surprise. I may need your support to keep living in the future.”

What do you mean? Will you be living off her as she makes a fool of herself?

Wayne didn’t really understand. Based on Anastasia’s pessimistic outlook on life, he urged Senna to press for more information.

“What are you here for, Anastasia?” Senna asked with a frown. “The Darkness Knight?”

“You have a lot of questions today. I didn’t know you cared so much about me.”

I don’t!

Senna swallowed her aggrieved comment. She asked Wayne why he cared about Anastasia so much. What was so good about a dark elf? Why wouldn’t he care more about her instead? Even if he didn’t care about her, shouldn’t he be thinking about his fiancée, girlfriend, lover, secretary, babe, first love... Was he still not satisfied with this many women?

Is this how you talk to your master?

Wayne huffed silently. He didn’t covet Anastasia’s body since he already had it. To prevent Senna from misunderstanding his character, he summarized the situation to her telepathically.

“You may not believe it, but her body is in my possession. Coincidentally, it’s on its way to the Frozen Land...”

Really? You’re the best, Master! Love you!

Senna’s eyes lit up. She couldn’t stop her lips from curling up. In the end, Anastasia was no different from her. Both of their bodies had been corrupted; only Senna was already too far gone, while Anastasia still had hope.

How could you be the only one to have hope? Let’s be ruined together!

Senna didn’t want to be the only one to suffer the misfortune. If she could get one more victim, she would consider her plight worth it, and if she could drag a second victim down, she would consider it a bargain. She urged Wayne to return Anastasia’s body to her. As her old friend, Senna couldn’t bear to see her soul remain homeless. She asked her master to take pity on Anastasia.

Pity? I’m not exposing you only because I don’t care enough, you shameless woman!

Wayne rolled his eyes. Senna’s thoughts were clearly displayed in her mind for him to read. She couldn’t fool him. He rejected the unreasonable request and forbade Senna from telling Anastasia the truth.

Senna couldn’t do anything about it. If her master wanted her to do something, she did it, as many times as he commanded. With her thoughts restricted, she couldn’t press further. She gave up in disappointment.

Meanwhile, Anastasia was confused by Senna’s dramatic expression changes. She attributed that to the dragon blood curse causing Senna to lose her mind.

How wonderful! Goddess has mercy, that’s the best thing to happen!

Anastasia’s mood improved substantially. She continued the topic, “I’m here to meet Sir Darkness Knight and transfer my duty to him. He will guard the seal until the crisis ends...”

She sighed.

“My thoughts have been detached from my body for too long. Even with the help of three chosen knights, my pain is only lessened, while the same torment leaves me exhausted. I’m tired of becoming weaker day by day. It’s time to leave.”

“Are you qualified to enter the Divine Realm?” Senna questioned.

“No, I’ve lost too much to enter the Astral Plane. I can no longer find my way to the Divine Realm.”

“So you’re seeking death?”

“I’m seeking liberation.”

Senna fell silent. She contacted Wayne with her thoughts and listed out the facts and the reasons that he should save Anastasia, following up with compliments for Anastasia’s character and charm. She was compassionate and merciful, kind and noble, brave and loyal... Senna went on and on, uttering thousands of words to emphasize Anastasia’s plight.

She had only gotten to this point to uphold justice. She was a good person!

Save her. A good person like her shouldn’t end up like this!

Wayne rolled his eyes.

So? Is that why you want her to suffer with you? Don’t you know the situation you’re in?

I’m happy. My future is bright!

Senna insisted.

Exasperated, Wayne disregarded Senna and said, “Holy Maiden, a life can have different purposes. You shouldn’t talk about dying thoughtlessly.”

“To tell you the truth, I have a friend whose uncle once said that with great power comes great responsibility!”

“The fact that you could guard the Frozen Land in the Darkness Knight’s place proves your incredible power. You shouldn’t deny the meaning of your life. There are still many people who need you.”

His platitudes didn’t work on her.

“It’s too painful.” Anastasia shook her head gently. “You don’t know the torment of having your thoughts detached from a physical body, Mr. Wayne. I’ve lost my balance and the possibility of making any progress. Every day I live, I live in despair. I haven’t rested for sixteen years...”

“As a human, I cannot breathe, and I cannot appreciate the joy of life with this cold body. As a mage, I cannot train, and I can only watch myself growing weaker and my faith becoming more distant...”

“This is as far as I can persevere. Perhaps many people still need me, but after struggling for so long, I hope that I’m allowed to do what I want to do for once.”

Wayne couldn’t say anything, while Senna urged him to act with renewed vigor. Her friend was suffering so, so much. She was going to tear up.

You’ve been laughing!

Annoyed, he muted Senna and spoke hesitantly to Anastasia, “Holy Maiden, is there a chance for you to recover your body?”

“No.” Anastasia had long come to terms with it. She said calmly, “The squire of Sir Leo the Sun Knight has completed his mission and stabilized the seal in the Ocean of Mist. My body has long wilted. Even if I recover it, the evolution it has gone through cannot be reversed, so it will no longer carry my thoughts.”

“If I put my thoughts into the body, I will become part of the ancient god’s vassal and stop being myself. I’d rather part from the world with my thoughts intact.”

“So that I’ll still be me!”

“I disagree!” Senna spoke like she was arguing for her friend’s benefit. “How could you jump to conclusions like that? Without trying, how could you just say that your thoughts will change because of your body? Where did your iron will go?”

“The Anastasia I knew wouldn’t give up. She would believe that her thoughts could change her body, thus reclaiming her freedom while maintaining her autonomy!”

An ugly life was better than a noble death. Don’t assume that the pit leads to darkness without seeing inside. Jump in first. It won’t be too late to regret it when you see the darkness.

Anastasia was quite touched and surprised. “You have changed, Senna. The old you would’ve never said that to me. You would’ve encouraged me to die.”

Yes, she is doing just that. Actually, she’s encouraging you to die with her.

Wayne kept the comment to himself, asking again, “Holy Maiden, do you really seek death and are prepared to face disappearance?”

“I would like to be liberated right now if I can.”

Anastasia turned to the Darkness Knight. She had been waiting for this day for a long time—for sixteen years, to be exact. She didn’t know how she had endured it.

If you want to die, I’ll grant you death!

Wayne made up his mind to return her body to her. If she was going to die anyway, it would be better for her to die at his hand.

How does it go again? Anastasia has lost her freedom... but she’s alive, albeit a painful life

[1]

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1. Potentially a reversal of Jolie’s quote, “These people have lost everything, they have nothing, but they are free.” ☜