Chapter 292: You can’t undo this
What Kyle had pieced together so far made one thing painfully clear. Ethara’s situation was far worse than he had initially imagined.
She had entrusted him with a soul bond she was never meant to share with anyone because of the title of Maiden Goddess she carried. In doing so, she had not only broken her sacred oath but also betrayed the very title she had been born to uphold.
That explained her complete silence ever since.
It explained why no one spoke of her either.
They all knew the kind of impossible predicament she had fallen into.
No wonder the system never said anything since it always hides even the smallest of details regarding his viewers. This kind of thing was just way too much for it to reveal.
Kyle frowned. "Is there any way I can help her? If we remove the bond, would that restore her status?"
The woman looked at him as though he had asked the most ridiculous question imaginable before rolling her eyes.
"The professional answer is no. A bond forged between two souls cannot be broken." She paused, a dry smile tugging at her lips. "And the personal answer? You can’t restore someone’s virginity after having passionate sex with them."
Kyle’s face flushed. "What are you even talking about? We never did anything like that. It was just an innocent touch of our foreheads."
"Right. And that innocent touch could one day lead to her bearing your children." She sighed and shook her head. "You still don’t understand how immortals work. Two deities could breathe the same air under the right circumstances and end up creating a child."
"..."
The claim was absurd.
Every part of him wanted to dismiss it as complete nonsense.
Yet doing so now would only make it seem as though he was trying to distance himself from the consequences.
Ethara had knowingly crossed a line that should never have been crossed. She had accepted a fate that could ruin everything she stood for, all because she had been worried about him and the endless dangers that followed him wherever he went.
If he did nothing, if he did not at least try to help her, he knew he would never forgive himself.
Not just because of everything that had happened.
But because, above all else, Ethara was his dear friend.
Aleda let out a weary sigh and rested her hands on her hips.
"What can I say? She’s most likely hidden herself within the River, isolating herself from everyone and everything. But that won’t last forever."
Kyle looked at her. "Can I at least speak to her... just once?"
Aleda nodded.
"Of course. Your souls are tied together by an unbreakable bond. She could reach out to you whenever she wants." A faint smile touched her lips. "She simply chooses not to. Still, since you’re this desperate, you might as well give it a try."
"How?"
Aleda shrugged.
"Ask your angel. Surely she has a way."
Kyle did not hesitate.
"System?"
[Host, contacting the viewer would be unwise. Especially when she has deliberately chosen to keep her distance from you.]
Aleda let out an amused snicker. "That’s certainly one way to put it."
Kyle frowned. "What do you mean?"
She folded her arms, her expression turning more serious.
"Whether she wants it or not, certain things are inevitable. There have always been beings pursuing your bonded mate for reasons of their own. Some sought her for what she represented. Others..." She paused before giving him a knowing look. "Others became obsessed simply because they could never have her."
Those words settled heavily in Kyle’s chest.
The thought that someone had been pursuing Ethara all this time, perhaps even before they had met, stirred an unfamiliar irritation within him. His expression darkened.
"Who are they?"
Aleda merely shrugged.
"You’ll find out soon enough. But your angel is right. The farther you stay from her, the longer you remain beyond their notice."
"I don’t give a damn who’s after me. I want to talk to her, and I will."
Kyle knew immortals could not enter the mortal realm on their own.
That left them with only one option.
Apostles.
And if they were forced to hide behind human vessels, then those vessels had limits.
Limits he could exploit.
He lifted his head, his resolve unwavering.
"I want to talk to her. Give me your hardest quest, System. Just make it happen."
[...Host, this could be dangerous.]
Kyle remained silent, meeting the empty air with an unyielding stare.
His answer was written across his face.
He had already made up his mind.
After a long pause, the System finally relented.
[...Understood. The System will locate the safest and most reliable method of contacting the viewer and generate a quest accordingly.]
Aleda smiled wryly.
"Look at this stubborn pigeon. Still trying to solve everything with a quest instead of respecting the poor boy’s feelings."
Whether the System had ignored her remark or simply pretended not to hear it remained anyone’s guess.
Regardless, Aleda continued.
"Now that you’ve obtained such a tremendous boon, don’t waste it by confining yourself to training alone. The Goddess of the Moon earned her reputation and authority by hunting beings no one else had ever laid eyes on." A faint grin spread across her face. "So stop holding yourself back. Be as unrestrained as you can."
[Be quiet! Stop provoking my host!]
That answered Kyle’s earlier question.
The System had not failed to hear Aleda’s previous remark.
It had simply chosen to ignore her.
....
"Really?" Ethan asked, genuine surprise flickering across his face. "But... am I really worthy of something like that?"
Timothy nodded without a moment’s hesitation.
"I would have sent Layena, but she’s still recovering. An assignment like this requires constant interaction, and she isn’t in the best condition for it." He spoke matter-of-factly, having long since memorised the strengths and shortcomings of every cadet under his care.
Ethan lowered his gaze, a nostalgic smile forming on his lips.
"Being a mentor for the academy students for a whole week..." he murmured. "I still remember when I was one of them. Everyone looked up to the mentor who came that year."
Timothy smiled.
"Then become that person now."
His voice carried quiet confidence.
"You’ve gained far more than strength over the years, Ethan. You’ve matured into someone others can rely on. Show the younger generation what that looks like."
Ethan drew a deep breath before meeting his instructor’s eyes once more.
"I won’t disappoint you."
His reply was calm, but his resolve left no room for doubt.
Timothy gave a satisfied nod.
"Go on. Have your meal."
Ethan saluted crisply before turning and leaving the room.
His footsteps echoed steadily through the corridor.
One step.
Then another.
With each passing stride, the corners of his lips rose a little higher until an unsettling grin settled across his face.
{Isn’t this the perfect opportunity? Fortune has finally smiled upon you. Seize it. Corner the prey you’ve been longing to hunt for so long.}
Ethan’s eyes gleamed with anticipation.
’At last...’
His smile widened.
’I can rid this world of the burden known as Kyle.’
°°°°°°°
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