Chapter 98: The Adoption (1)
"Joseph?"
"I talked to him last night. His leg’s already fully healed, but... he said he wants to be alone for now."
Sometime ten years ago, forty-eight hours after the death of Ms. Phoenix, the members of the Hope Guild were gathered at their Tower HQ. Well, at least that was the plan.
There were only two of them seated around the large table.
Bulwark was there, the glow of his golden skin much dimmer than its usual color... if it had any color today at all, that is. His skin had been completely desaturated ever since the tragic incident.
He had lived countless lifetimes, and he was there during the time of humanity, where violence was seen as an absolute necessity. When war happened daily, and the blood of men and warriors flowed endlessly across the beaches in search of domination and better land.
"What happened here... was a tragedy," he whispered to the only other person in the hall. "I was there at Sumer and Elam, and then thousands of years later, I was on the opposite side of the island, watching men torture each other and nail them to crosses... but I have never seen anything like this. In an instant, not even a second, millions of lives were lost—and it was done by our friend. It is no wonder Joseph doesn’t want to mingle with us. He—Oh?"
Before Bulwark could finish his words, he heard a sneeze in the otherwise empty hall. He slowly turned toward the only other person in the hall.
The Empress.
Her suit was as white and as blue as the endless horizon of the clear ocean, a complete contrast with her skin that was as dark as a starless night. Her hair was incredibly voluminous and straight, but there were hints of coils and curls here and there at the ends. Most of the front part of her hair was braided, tied to the sides, while two braids slightly dangled in front of her face.
And perhaps the most prominent feature was the golden rings she had dangling around her arms—six on each.
And these rings, currently, were being grabbed and played with by little Riley.