In an unknown location, there was a realm filled with endless blackness. No light or sound permeated its reach, and not even a single movement disrupted the calm and somber air within it.
“Haa…”
All of a sudden, an aged sigh rang out. The sigh was filled with a weariness of countless years, and the emotions it carried seemed to resonate with the blackness of the atmosphere, making it even more somber.
The winds lightly whistled by as the owner of the aged voice directed its eyes to the distance, seemingly able to pierce the veil of the blackness around it.
“After so many years, has the time finally come again? However, even if it has come, was there ever a real point?”
The voice rumbled forth, carrying vast power that contradicted its tired tone.
“To be able to see everything but to possess no power to interfere, what is the point of living like this? But, no matter how much I question myself, I’m not left with much of a choice, am I?”
The old voice mocked its own powerlessness.
“My race…no, they cannot be called as such anymore. But they are still my people. I swear, if any harm comes to them, I’ll tear you to shreds. Even if I have to burn my life away to do so, I swear I will not hesitate.”
The aimless voice suddenly gained direction. It spoke into the blackness with a domineering ferocity that it didn’t hold even a single second ago.
But the one the voice was seemingly addressing didn’t seem to be in a hurry to respond.
But when it did, the blackness shook. A harrowing malevolence oozed from its every word, causing streaks of crimson light to surface in the blackness.
“Kikikiki…Old Fool, over the countless millennia that we have spent together in this damned place, this must be the most I’ve ever heard you talk. What, did you find someone promising again?”
“You really should’ve learned how to keep your thoughts in check by now. Ahh, what a shame. Yet another genius with boundless destiny will fall within your realm. And all while you can only sit and watch it happen. Isn’t it such a great feeling? I, for one, revel in seeing the look on your face whenever it happens.”
“Damn thing. If you plan to mock me, at least say something that will actually do damage. By this point, you should already understand that you cannot faze me with such petty words. As for my emotions, as long as we are within this despicable blackness they are laid bare to you. What’s the point of trying to hide them?” The aged voice responded. But regardless of his words, a trace of anger could faintly be heard in his tone.
“How many tens of thousands of years had it been since we’ve been stuck in this never-ending stalemate? How many worlds have we reached and subsequently left during that time? Even if you prohibit me from looking into the outside world, I’ll never mistake the flavor of foreign delicacies. You know you can’t hide it from me.”
“Hiding it or not, none of it matters. So long as you are stuck here with me, there is not much you can do. So sit patiently and watch. One day someone will arrive who can survive your nonsense and reach this point once and for all.
“The same way you have left your troops there, I have left my main body. Even if you can stop the many, the few that can survive will inevitably become stronger. And when they do, they will grow into a force that will exterminate your kind.”
“Kikiki, an Old Fool like you really loves to talk big. But, can’t you feel it? Can’t you see it? You don’t have much longer, while I am constantly encroaching on your power. Old Fool, this never-ending stalemate of ours will end much sooner than you think.”
The aged voice sighed, not bothering to respond to the latter’s provocation any longer. His reality-piercing gaze once again drifted to the sight he was previously watching.
‘A storm is on the horizon, and I doubt whether or not my people can make it out alive. Boy, I do not know how you came in contact with that power, but since you did, it means you are someone I can put my hopes in. Survive the trials ahead of you, forge your own path, and perhaps, I can truly entrust you with my will.’
The old voice’s mana raged for a mere instant, causing the blackness to be filled with white and green light. And after that, everything once again became still.
***
When Damien and little Xue reappeared, the scenery they witnessed was nothing even close to the dreariness of the cave they stayed in.
Whoosh!
A light wind brushed passed their faces. Tall grasses that covered little Xue’s whole lower body brushed against their skin. In the distance, they could see a single towering mountain that made the surrounding flat plain a little less bland.
The sky was clear and bright, with no clouds in sight. And even though it was lit as if there was a sun, they couldn’t find one no matter how hard they looked.
Little Xue’s eyes shined like stars as she saw the scene in front of her.
Damien smiled. “Little Xue, what do you think? This is where you’ll be living from now on. There are no bad monsters or people, and Big brother can come see you whenever you want. This entire place is your own personal playground.”
“Woooaaaah!!!”
An excited shriek left little Xue’s mouth. She hurriedly jumped out of Damien’s arms and began freely running through the tall grass.
“Hehehe!”
The bell-like and youthful giggles rang out through the surroundings once again, brightening the sky and causing the elements to sing in joy.
Damien couldn’t stop the bright smile that decorated his face. Seeing her like this made him feel that his decision to forge forward on this path was entirely worth it. Even disregarding the countless future benefits, this much was enough.
Splash!
The sound of water splashing reached Damien’s ears, causing him to turn in that direction. As it turned out, little Xue had directly dove into one of the semi-shallow lakes that decorated the flat plain.
“Ah! You only have one set of clothes!” Damien exclaimed as he remembered. But seeing how the little girl didn’t even seem to register his words, he could only massage his forehead.
‘What am I supposed to do? Use sunflames as a hair dryer?’
He flashed forward, reaching the banks of the lake in an instant. ‘Well, whatever. The clothes problem is pretty easy to solve. As long as she’s happy, it’s fine.’
Coating himself in mana so he didn’t get wet, Damien also entered the lake and swam towards little Xue. When he got there, he immediately moved his hands to her face and began cleaning it.
“Ah! Ah! Stop it tickles!” Little Xue exclaimed.
“Who told you to be so dirty? Sit patiently and let big brother clean you up.” Damien chimed.
It seemed she didn’t even realize how dirty she was until she heard Damien’s words. At that point, she stopped making a fuss and let him take care of her.
Damien gently cleaned her face with the clear water of the lake before moving on to her hair, gently infusing mana into the lake water to hell untangle the knots she had built up much quicker.
As for the rest, Damien didn’t need to do any work since she was already submerged in water. He simply infused mana into it once again to allow the caked mud and dirt on her skin to fall off much easier. Even her dress was becoming cleaner by the second.
Little Xue patiently waited with her eyes closed, a light smile decorating her face. The warmth she was feeling from being taken care of like this, it was something she would do everything she could to savor. Luckily for her, the water on her face concealed the happy tears that were falling from her eyes.
When Damien was finished with her hair, he moved in front of her to look at his handiwork.
Xue’s face was cute enough to make any random passerby want to smother her with love. Her big green eyes shone with a light of innocence that was slightly tainted by the maturity that she was forced to gain in recent times. Her black hair was long and silky, like a glistening midnight waterfall that cascaded down to her waist.
“Mm. Little Xue is the prettiest in the world. As expected of my little sister.” Damien said matter of factly.
Xue smiled brightly at his words, her innocent giggles once again ringing through the surroundings as she went back to playing in the water.
Seeing this, Damien exited the lake and fell into thought. He didn’t know if he was ready to have a child enter his life, especially with the kind of jumping into danger at all times lifestyle he lived, but he also knew that this was a responsibility he had brought upon himself the second he decided to save her life.
This little girl was filled with trauma. Her little mind was only stable because she had him as a pillar of support now. If he decided to leave her, he knew that she would break. He could see the attachment she had gained to him in the past month
No, even in the first week she had become attached enough to starve herself when she noticed he was collapsed. If he didn’t take responsibility, he’d be worse than a devil.
So, he earnestly decided to be a big brother that she could rely on. He decided that he’d make sure she would live a stable and happy life without worries. This was the decision he made from the beginning.
‘But…it’s really not that bad.’
Having a little sibling like Xue’er brought a different kind of joy into his life. It was a wholesomeness that seemed to wash away his stress simply by being in her presence.
Splash!
Another splash of water appeared, this time landing on Damien and drenching him, who was still in thought.
Looking over, he saw little Xue’er smiling at him with a mischievous look in her eyes. Putting away his thoughts, a grin appeared on his face.
“Ah! You traitor! You dare to splash your Big brother?!” He yelled in mock anger.
“I dare! I dare! Big brother can’t catch me!” Xue’er responded with a giggle.
Damien grinned. His body flashed forward, cannonballing into the lake.
“Ah!”
The water went everywhere, causing little Xue’er to become even more soaked.
“Watch how Big brother teaches you a lesson! Didn’t you know? If your big brother claims to be second in splashing battles, then nobody would dare to claim they’re first!”
With a domineering declaration, Damien dove towards little Xue’er. Splashes of water and joyful laughter filled the subspace. It was like a paradise where no problems in the world could reach.
Damien smiled at the thought. Yes, it was a paradise. The names “subspace” or “inventory” no longer fit this place.
‘That’s right. From now on, this is my personal Sanctuary.’