Gun of Ashes

"So what about Lorenzo? I thought he would come."

Yawei stood in one corner of the magnificent hall, where all the glory and splendor resided. Accompanied by the slow, soft chants of the ensemble, a warm, solemn power enveloped the place.

Arthur... or rather, Duke Phoenix, shook his head.

"We've temporarily isolated him. Although I trust the demon hunters, this resurrection is still too bizarre, far beyond our understanding. Both we and Lorenzo himself need a process of acceptance."

"A process of acceptance? I've heard about it. Actually, given Lorenzo's nasty personality, he probably didn't have much of a psychological reaction against it."

Yawei said.

Duke Phoenix glanced at the old butler, seemingly surprised that he knew Lorenzo so well, or at least was familiar with his nasty personality.

"Yes, to gain an extra life for free, this lunatic must be living happier than before."

Duke Phoenix sighed, his gaze directed towards the center of the hall, where warm light fell, making the girl seem sacred and ethereal, perhaps adored by heaven itself, as even the gloomy sky showed hints of rare brightness.

"Selyu very much hoped he could come to witness everything. Although she hasn't said it, she indeed thinks so... she's a girl who likes to hide all her thoughts within her heart."

Yawei watched the figure walking along the red carpet. In the eyes of everyone, she walked further and further, and the woman atop the endless steps smiled gently at her, then extended her hand.

This was the holy and solemn Platinum Palace, the center of power in all of Old Dunling and even all of Ingwig.

Today, an ancient ceremony would unfold here. It was the moment of power transfer for Duke Stuart. With the queen's conferment, Selyu would truly inherit this century-old honor today and become the youngest duchess.

"Is that so?" Duke Phoenix sighed, "Actually, I've always been puzzled by something, but now I understand."

"What is it?"

"About the difference between Eve and her."

Yawei was taken aback, his expression somewhat strange, seemingly not understanding why he would say such a thing.

"You might not know, previously, when that bastard Lorenzo tried to hack my daughter, he didn't hesitate at all. But when it came to Selyu, he instead took Lawrence to self-destruct... actually, the plan was far from that."

He spoke slowly.

"But now that I look at it, perhaps we've just overcomplicated him. Stripped of those different identities, they're merely ordinary people."

Ordinary people? Honestly, it's hard to think of Lorenzo as an ordinary person.

"Think about it, Yawei. A girl, during her darkest and most naive age... that's when emotions are most intense and pure. Someone pulled her from the suffocating ocean, took her to a world of light, and taught her whimsical things along the way. Anyone would have some strange feelings, perhaps admiration, perhaps affection..."

Duke Phoenix chuckled lightly as he said this. It's a devil of a plot, but life is indeed like this. Just like the sole shooting star that streaks through the darkness, you chase after that falling star like a fool because it's the only light in the darkness.

"Within us, there's been such a notion that erosion is mutual. While demons erode humans, humans also erode demons. Both sides influence each other, but human influence is too weak... Lorenzo might be the same; he was also influenced by Selyu, though he didn't realize it."

"What kind of influence?"

Yawei asked with some curiosity.

"Humanity."

Duke Phoenix replied.

"I've always regarded Lorenzo as a beast or a machine because he's always so efficient and ruthless. All the goofy and crazy antics are merely to lower our guard. But it wasn't until then that I noticed his struggles... the struggle between humanity and beastliness."

"Though I'm unsure of what exactly they went through, indeed, in their mutual influence, Selyu taught him humanity."

Seeming to remember something amusing, Duke Phoenix continued.

"Can you believe it? Lorenzo is also a philanthropist. Most of the money he earns is donated to those monasteries that raise orphans."

Yawei's expression was one of surprise; it's hard to associate this fact with that demon hunter.

"So it's like this. At that time, he was very pleased. As long as Selyu died, he would have no weaknesses, becoming pure will. Yet he was also very sad; if Selyu died, he would truly become a bloodthirsty beast. It's that girl who tied his connection to the world."

Duke Phoenix looked at the girl under the light; she was bowing, and his vision seemed somewhat blurred. Perhaps, many years later, there would be another red-haired girl standing here, inheriting the honor of the Phoenix. Thinking of this brought an indescribable emotion.

"In everyone's life, there are always those special people, right? Who can make you abandon that stubborn ideal."

His speech was slow, his gaze turning to Yawei.

"For you, who is that person?" Yawei asked.

"Of course, it's Eve. She is my last warmth."

He made no attempt to hide his affection for his daughter, although this love, in Eve's view, seemed somewhat incomprehensible.

"Rather than saying it's to guard the human world, it's to guard her world. The other humans merely live under the same sky as she does."