Lucifer: Godless Reawakening-Chapter 238: That smile

All around was a thick, blinding brightness. Every corner shone as if no stain had ever touched its surface since the birth of reality.

There was no definite ceiling or floor to this place, nor any sound or smell.

Leave a human here, and they would likely go insane from the sheer confusion this place could imprint upon their consciousness. However, that was not the case for the person currently racing down the path, his eyes burning with rage, his pace alone defining the emotion overwhelming his mind.

Frustration.

From a second person’s perspective, it might have appeared as though the man was charging toward nothing but blankness. But as if his feet were the key to shattering the illusion, the void suddenly shifted, revealing a massive castle.

Golden bars were suspended along the sides of its spires, gleaming brilliantly. The castle was colossal, its enormous central gate guarded by no one. Even though the fortress clearly belonged to a being of great significance, not a single soul attempted to stop the brown-haired man as he marched inside with unwavering intent.

He stormed straight toward the throne room, his vigor not receding in the slightest.

The doors parted, and the man spotted the one he had come to meet, seated across the long court.

A lazy expression adorned the blond male’s face as he lounged on the throne, one leg draped over the armrest, eyes half-lidded.

His appearance alone could have moved several hearts, the elegance, the charm he held just by doing nothing was ethereal. But none of that affected the guest.

The brown-haired man’s aggression flared as he charged forward. "Lord Raphael! This is—"

Slash. Slash.

The deity merely moved his fingers. Instantly, two translucent spears pierced the enraged man, silencing not only his voice but his very right to exist.

He was dead before he could state the cause of his fury.

The parchment slipped from the corpse, which had already begun to disperse like scattered flower petals.

"My lord," a beautiful woman sighed from the side, "that is not how you treat a guest."

The one upon the throne scoffed. "Daring to raise his voice against a deity? Death."

The woman shook her head in quiet defeat before stepping forward. In the next moment, she appeared beside the fallen scroll.

She crouched, picked it up, and turned toward the deity.

Her silver eyes blinked several times before she spoke. "My lord... were you aware that your devotee—"

"Yes." Raphael, one of the three Elite Angels, replied without hesitation. "I know what she did."

The woman, Raphael’s divine fragment, stared at him in disbelief. "My lord, this goes beyond tolerance, even for you. Your grudge against your brothers is one thing, but this..." she said, gesturing toward the scroll.

Raphael exhaled softly and straightened on his throne.

Staring into nothing in particular, he said, "I have no intention of enforcing my will upon her at the moment. And even if I want to do it I couldn’t because that girl will not reach Nephilim anytime soon."

The woman lowered her voice, though her concern remained. "But my lord, you must warn her. Her choices have already altered the course of fate severely. Now, even the All-Seer cannot discern the destination of that world."

Raphael clicked his tongue. "You want me to tell my devotee to break up with that man just because some higher-ups are scared of her lover?"

The woman tilted her head. "You are one of those higher-ups."

Raphael shrugged. "I know one thing. If I play my cards right and do not interfere with my devotee, I will survive in the end."

The woman let out a slow breath. "But my lord, if that existence reaches Totality, he will spare neither heaven nor hell."

Raphael grinned. "Do not worry. He will not reach Totality this time."

Because there is someone who will always keep at least one emotion alive within him.

°°°°°°

"Are you okay?" It was the third time William had asked her the same question since they left the church.

Emma smiled faintly and said, "If I said I’m not, would you carry me to the Tower?"

William huffed. "Of course I would. And not with any skill, but with these two arms."

Emma chuckled. "What kind of manly behavior is that?"

William winked at her. "That way, I get to hug you."

Emma’s smile faltered, her ears warming as she glanced at the others in the carriage.

Thankfully, there was only a single old woman, seemingly asleep.

Why were they using a shared carriage instead of renting a private one like usual? Simply because neither of them had any coin on them, aside from the few silver pieces Emma always carried for emergencies.

As the carriage rolled closer to the Tower, William asked his lover, "Are you still going to remain indifferent toward your father?"

What had happened last time had created a deep crack between the two.

Emma let out a soft huff before crossing her arms. "I don’t know about that."

William grinned and lightly pinched her puffed cheek. "Well, it would help if you forgave him. You know, he’d probably see me in a better light."

Emma didn’t say anything further. She was still angry about what had happened in the dungeon, and the special preparation her father had made for William had been completely unnecessary.

"Get off. We’ve arrived," the carriage driver suddenly announced.

William stood up first and stepped down from the carriage. He then extended his hand, helping Emma down before they both turned to face the vast forest stretching out before them.

William carried a small bag in his left hand, while his right remained intertwined with Emma’s.

As they walked, Emma spoke up. "Hey, Will..."

The blond man hummed in response, unsure why she sounded so hesitant.

Emma thought for a moment before continuing. "Um... I know you don’t really like training by going out of your way, but I was wondering... could you help me refine my aether?"

William usually trained through real battles. He believed that decisions made mid-combat, and the need to push beyond one’s limits when facing a stronger opponent, were the truest factors that ensured growth.

That was why she had been hesitant to ask him until now.

After her battle with the ranked devil, Emma realized she had not been using her full potential. Not even close.

Whatever that woman’s true personality way, the fact remained that Fiona had been far better at using the same set of skills.

Emma was not someone who made excuses about age or experience to justify the gap.

If there was room to grow, she would fill it and reach her best. This was no longer about pride, but necessity.

Her lover sighed and said, "Why do you sound so nervous? Do you really think I would reject you?"

"Oh, but you have rejected me once," Emma reminded him. "Remember when I first started intruding on your campsite and asked you to train me for the Goblet of Honor? You outright told me to get lost."

William smiled wryly. "There’s something about today. You keep digging up lost, forgotten memories that don’t define me anymore."

Emma smiled apologetically. "Sorry, I was just teasing you. I know back then I was nothing more than a headache for you."

"Not exactly," William replied. "You were more like a risk I didn’t want to take. You know... everyone’s favorite, Kevin’s obsession and all."

Emma smiled mischievously and asked, "So? What changed your mind?"

William looked at her fondly and said, "Exactly that. Your smile."

Her eyes widened, her heart skipping a few beats as she stared into his sincere, warm gaze.

She turned her head away and quietly complained, "You don’t get to make me feel embarrassed so many times in a single day."

William chuckled. Pulling her closer, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

In a soft voice, with faint laughter still lingering, he said, "We’ll train once we return to the academy. I’ll teach you the best way."

Emma turned to look at him. "The same method you always use?"

William corrected her, "That’s not a method, dear. That’s discipline."

Emma hummed in confusion. "What do you mean? I train regularly too."

William shook his head. "That’s not enough. At least, not for me. I regulate aether and nyx within me at all times, to the point that I do it subconsciously, even while sleeping."

Emma’s jaw dropped, her eyes widening. "You... mean to say, even now..."

William nodded. "The truth is, I knew the price I’d have to pay if I didn’t maintain a firm grip over my magic flows. One single mistake, and my own family members would have handed me over to the authorities."

Emma just stared at him in silence.

Loving him as a man and respecting him as a warrior were two different things.

And currently, she couldn’t help but feel her respect for William soaring higher.

Soon, they reached the Tower.

At the entrance there were several carriages.

"Again someone from the Capital?"

William muttered but then, suddenly, the main gates of the Tower parted and a handsome young man stepped outside with a beaming smile on his face.

"Emma!*

Emma’s eyes brightened as well.

But before William could ask who it was, the boy jumped straight at them and pulled Emma in a tight hug.

"...!" William turned stiff instantly.

The smile and curiosity suddenly fading from his eyes and a terrifying sensation blooming within him.

°°°°°°

A/N:- Considering the poor performance I have no option but to limit the story to one Chapter per day and think of another story. Don’t worry, I won’t drop this.