Chapter 696: Spark of Eternity
Anneliese gazed into eternity as it watched her, passing judgment in terms that she couldn’t comprehend or codify. Eternity, unlike its appearance, was rather similar to how Argrave described the suns. Anneliese could tell that it was alive, but it didn’t quite fit into the category. It was a fundamental being, an essence of the universe—or perhaps many universes. In this unusual, out-of-body state, she could perceive and interact with it.
By now, she figured things out. Hause’s power had been insufficient to help her take control of eternity. Considering the scope of the power that she felt, perhaps it could be no surprise that a mere god couldn’t tame it. This thing’s existence was so significant that Anneliese felt it could make Gerechtigkeit himself utterly irrelevant were the two ever to meet.
It was for that reason that Anneliese felt infinite curiosity and desire.
Hause claimed that all she did was unlock the innate potential that people carried within them. It stood to reason, then, that Anneliese might be able to unlock hers even without the help of the goddess. She had been brought here—from Anneliese’s perspective, that was the difficult part. But now that she gazed upon eternity itself… she allowed the part of herself that she’d largely tamed to bubble up into her mind unburdened.
Anneliese allowed the emotion of curiosity to rule her action.
Her eyes scanned the depths of this eternal existence. No matter how far they wandered, or how closely they scrutinized, there was never an end in sight. In time, her moments of silent scrutiny led her to hear the noises of eternity. It was quiet at first, but as she strained her ears she began to cry. Not just from pain, mind—from joy, elation. Anneliese heard every song that ever was, from the grandest symphony to the most heart-wrenching ballads, wrapped up all in one.
And having seen only two facets, she knew she had to see more.
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“She’s crying!” Argrave shouted, kneeling down before Anneliese’s figure, slumped in her chair. “Why is she crying? Hause? Explain!”