Lucifer: Godless Reawakening-Chapter 250: I know

"So you are leaving, huh?" Sherry asked, her arms folded across her chest as they stood near the entrance.

Outside, William was coaxing Nana, holding her dearly in his arms.

Emma gave a soft hum. "Though I want to stay longer, we practically ran away in the middle of a rescue mission. I have no idea what kind of drama the Great Hall will stir up, but we should at least be present, just in case."

Sherry nodded. "I understand. It is tough being a student. You lose your free will."

Emma let out a faint sigh. "Well, there are merits to being a student too."

Sherry glanced at her. "And quite a few disadvantages as well. You said it yourself. You have made little to no progress these two years. You have not created anything since joining the academy either."

Emma silently agreed before asking, "I was wondering if you would be free in about two weeks."

Sherry tilted her head. "What is happening in two weeks?"

"My mid-terms will conclude then," Emma explained. "After that, we are allowed half a month of break."

Sherry beamed. "Holidays. Of course, count me in. I will ditch my old man and come back as soon as possible."

Emma gave her a wry smile. "Sherry, while I do want to enjoy my free time and catch up, there is a reason I need your presence."

Sherry blinked. Emma sounded serious, almost pleading.

The short-haired girl tilted her head slightly, waiting.

Emma pulled out a parchment from her bag and handed it over. "This is the new creation I have been working on for some time."

Sherry hummed in surprise as she unfolded it.

She scanned it once, and her eyes widened.

[Coffin’s Eye]

[Death Sink Detectors]

She slowly turned toward Emma. "Are you serious? You actually found a way to make this?"

Memories surfaced of a conversation from long ago, when their fathers had failed to achieve something similar.

Back then, Emma had seemed indifferent to the idea.

Now, she had already discerned the method.

Emma continued, "I will handle the mechanism and gather all the materials required to build it. But the shell of the device... that is something I can only entrust to you."

Sherry had always been her partner in creation. The one who understood Emma’s needs at their core and stood beside her in countless ventures, often without needing an explanation.

Yet Sherry’s shoulders slumped. "Emma... this is not a small project. If you succeed, the entire world will be lining up at your door to request one for themselves. Especially in times like these."

Lowering her head, she added quietly, "Are you certain you want me to handle it? Should it not be someone with years of experience?"

Emma let out a slow breath. She stepped forward and placed her hands firmly on Sherry’s shoulders, steadying her.

"Between experience and trust, I will always choose the one I trust completely," she said softly. "Sherry, I cannot afford for even a whisper of this to spread before the tool is finished. Do you understand? That is why I chose you for this role."

Sherry lowered her head and gritted her teeth. Right. Emma trusts her. She could not hide behind inexperience as an excuse. If Emma placed her faith in her, then she had to answer it with confidence.

She looked up and gave a firm nod. "I understand, Emma. I will gather the materials for the shell and return in fifteen days. You have my word."

Emma’s smile softened. "I knew you would agree. Thank you, Sherry."

The two friends shared a warm hug.

On the other side, William was still trying to convince Nana.

[I swear I will come to pick you up the moment I finish my exams.]

He had made the mistake of telling her that he would have a holiday after the exams. Not that he planned to hide it and avoid meeting her. He had only wanted to surprise her.

But Nana had already been upset by the sudden farewell. She had spent most of their visit sleeping and now regretted it deeply. Since morning, she had been sulking.

To cheer her up, he told her about the long break.

Now she insisted on seeing them the very instant their examinations ended.

[Big brother, that is two weeks. Nana is not complaining, but two weeks is more than this,] she said, spreading her palms wide to show all ten of her tiny fingers.

William chuckled.

[I know, Nana. But you have to understand. If your brother and sister fail these exams, we might be forced to stay away from you even longer. Maybe four or five weeks.]

Nana’s eyes widened in horror. She could not even count that far, and that made it worse.

She immediately wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face against him.

William gently rubbed her back.

[But do not worry. Your big brother and big sister are very smart. We will pass easily.]

Nana said nothing. She only tightened her arms around him.

William let out a quiet sigh and lifted his gaze to the sky.

Last year, he had failed once before barely scraping through the practical assessment on his second attempt. The margin had been thin, humiliatingly thin.

He had been forced to take his trial against a junior because everyone his age had already grown far stronger than him.

Even that match had left him bloodied and swaying on his feet.

He did not let many things wound his pride. But that incident had cracked something inside him.

Not this time.

He was free now. No longer shackled by a limit on how long he could use his power. And more importantly, his mind was clear.

He had a single goal.

To win.

A short while later, Emma stepped out, Sherry walking beside her.

Emma pulled Sherry into one last hug before turning to William and gently taking Nana from his arms.

William then faced the blue-haired girl, the one he had mistaken for a boy when he first saw her.

They held each other’s gaze for a moment.

Sherry was the first to move. She extended her hand.

William blinked in surprise but quickly accepted the gesture, clasping her hand in a firm shake.

"I misjudged you... or maybe I was just biased because I had heard about you from Emma before."

William raised a brow. "Before? What do you mean?" 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Sherry nodded. "We met after her first mid-term. That was when she mentioned you. She said you were the only alive character she saw in the academy."

William let out a short laugh. "Alive?"

"Yes," Sherry replied. "To Emma, people who behave exactly as they are expected to are practically dead inside. Strange logic, I know, but that is how she sees it. You, on the other hand... you caught her attention for quite some time. Though for a very different reason back then."

William hummed thoughtfully and glanced over his shoulder at Emma before muttering, "I only saw her as someone I needed to keep my distance from. But now... look at us."

Sherry’s lips curved faintly. "Quite smug, aren’t you?"

William shrugged lightly. "I mean, I got the best girl."

Sherry shook her head, though there was no real annoyance in her expression. "I trust you will value her love and respect her, no matter the circumstances. I have sensed it... Emma has been very conscious about her recent growth as a warrior. I hope you will understand her and help ease her burden."

William shook his head. "I will not do that."

Sherry’s eyes widened. "What?"

"You heard me," he said calmly. "I can help her improve. I can train with her. I can point out her flaws and help her overcome them. But consoling her for her weaknesses? That would only hurt her pride, would it not?"

Sherry’s lips parted, yet no words followed.

She was a warrior herself. She knew the sting of being comforted for falling short in battle. It did not feel gentle.

It felt insulting.

She let out a slow breath and shook her head, muttering under it, "You two truly complement each other."

William’s grin widened. "I heard that. And thank you for the compliment."

Sherry only shook her head and said nothing more.

Soon after, it was time to part.

Nana was now in Sherry’s arms as they waved them off.

The carriage began to roll away. William offered Nana one last smile and called out,

[Be a good girl. We will be back before you even finish learning something new.]

Nana gave a faint smile, but her trembling eyes betrayed her.

William let out a heavy breath and leaned back into his seat. He could not bear to keep looking at her.

"It is never easy," Emma murmured as she drew the curtain closed. "Saying goodbye."

William nodded. "But this is for the best. We are walking toward a future where we will not have to say goodbye anymore."

Emma smiled faintly and slipped her hand into his.

Silence settled inside the carriage. Only the steady rumble of wheels against the road and the occasional chirping of birds outside disturbed the calm.

Then, in a low voice, William spoke.

"I have discerned my origin, Emma."

The silver-haired girl froze. "What?"

He nodded slowly. "I understand why you have avoided this topic with me. I know what I once was. And I know what awaits me ahead."

The warmth in her chest vanished, replaced by a chilling clarity.

Those eyes.

She knew that look.

He was not guessing.

He was certain.

And she could no longer keep pushing this conversation aside.