Chapter 42: Dead Eyes
[24 years old. You made more progress in the Blood Scripture — but it was still negligible. To make a significant breakthrough, you could feel that more time was needed.]
[Six months passed. With your slow progress, Lilith still away for over a year, and Selena only showing up once a month at best, you began losing your temper more and more.]
[Your confidence, already shaken once after meeting Serah, now seemed to waver again.]
[In the end, unable to keep going like this, you approached Ryan — who was still monitoring and guarding you — and asked about Lilith’s situation once more.]
[His answer was the same as always, "She’ll come back soon."]
[You didn’t like that answer. But knowing you couldn’t do anything to him, you changedthe topic instead... and asked about Serah Noct.]
[This time, after a moment of hesitation, he gave you a reply. He said the dimension she entered after your last encounter was extremely dangerous. She had spent a full year there, and when she returned, she was seriously injured. Since then, there had been no further news about her.]
[Hearing such information about that lunatic girl stirred something complicated inside you — but you said nothing. You simply nodded, then returned to your training.]
[Four months passed. You were practicing as usual, finally sensing that basic mastery of the Blood Scripture was within reach... when suddenly, a guest arrived at your house, asking to meet you.]
[Everyone who were monitoring you in shadow, and Ryan too, quickly gathered, surrounding you.]
[They were clearly on edge around this sudden visitor. But the woman in gothic attire, with a doll-like beauty, paid them no attention.]
[Her curiosity-filled eyes were focused solely on you.]