Pure White Immersion
(Ruby's Illusion)
The magnificent church, with its soaring dome, has stained glass windows that filter sunlight into dappled colors, softly bathing every corner. The air is filled with the sweet scent of lilies and candles, while the solemn and sacred sound of the pipe organ echoes and resonates.
Ruby wore the pure white wedding dress, studded with rhinestones, which she had secretly imagined countless times in the most expensive bridal shop in the Royal Capital. The skirt of the dress was like a blooming cloud. At this moment, she was walking arm in arm with the person beside her in the long hall with a red velvet carpet.
Everything around her—the touch, the smell, the sound—was impeccably real. She could feel the smoothness of the silk of her wedding dress, hear her own heart pounding in her eardrums like drumbeats, and see standing beneath the altar in front of her— Himmel, dressed in a crisp white suit, her blue hair as dazzling as a clear sky, turning to give her an extremely gentle smile.
"No... Is this an illusion?" Ruby's mind cleared for a moment, her First-Class Mage intuition sharply warning her. But this overly perfect happiness, this scene that materialized her deepest desires, was like the sweetest poison, exuding an irresistible allure. The power of the illusion was silently eroding her perception and weakening her judgment.
"No... I... I'm a mage in the Hero Party! How can this illusion be..." She bit her lower lip hard, trying to use the pain to awaken her gradually sinking consciousness. A metallic taste spread in her mouth, and her delicate lips, bitten raw, bled.
"What's wrong, Ruby?" Himmel's gentle voice sounded in her ear, carrying just the right amount of concern. He reached out, his long, slender fingers gently stroking the corner of her mouth, wiping away the glaring red with his fingertips. His movements were so natural, his gaze so focused, as if she were the only treasure in the world.
"Today is the most important day for us, how can you be so distracted, my Ruby?"
His gentle voice, filled with indulgent laughter, was like the sweetest honey, instantly enveloping her heart.
"Eh... no... I..." A struggle flashed in Ruby 'Ruby blue eyes. The warmth of Himmel's fingertips and the refreshing scent emanating from him were so real that they almost Melt her last vestiges of consciousness.
Beside her came Serie's familiar voice, tinged with a hint of impatience but not much real anger:
"Stupid apprentice, pull yourself together and don't embarrass me at a time like this." Ruby glanced over instinctively and saw that her master, Serie, was wearing a dignified dark red dress, a rare sight for her today. Although she still had that disdainful look with her eyes slanted upwards, there seemed to be a faint glimmer of happiness for her deep in her eyes.
Closer still, her mother, Margaret, her eyes slightly red, gently wiped away tears with a handkerchief, whispering excitedly, "Ruby... you look even more beautiful today than I did back then!"
Her father, the always stern Duke Grendel, also straightened his back at this moment, though he still habitually snorted, "Hmph... just a little brat, she's not as pretty as you were back then, but... she's passable, I suppose." But the slight tremor in his voice betrayed his inner turmoil.
Looking further afield, she saw Lowell, dressed in a well-fitting suit, a rare, pure smile of blessing on his face; Heiter was winking at her and whistling comically; Eisen stood silently, a faint smile seemingly playing on his bronze face; Frieren stood quietly to the side, her emerald eyes calmly watching her, a subtle upturn at the corners of her lips; Linié and Lupa, also dressed in lovely bridesmaid dresses, were waving enthusiastically at her...
Everyone she loves, everyone she longs for recognition, is here. They are all witnessing her happiness.
This perfect, flawless picture of happiness, like a warm tide, completely overwhelmed the last bastion of her reason. The power of illusion slipped in, quietly smoothing over and distorting her doubts about the "illusion."
"No... no... I'm the mage of the Hero Party... I want to..."
But then, Ruby's mind went blank for a moment, and the memories of battle, magic, and the Demon King in her mind became blurry and distant, like an insignificant old dream from a past life.
Then, the struggle on her face gradually faded, replaced by a slightly shy, sweet smile of immense happiness.
She gently shook her head, as if shaking off some unimportant distraction, tightened her grip on Himmel's arm again, tilted her face up, and reflected his gentle features in her emerald pupils. Her voice carried a hint of coquettishness, and that last trace of doubt Vaporize silently, like dewdrops in the sunlight.
"Oh, sorry everyone, I was a little distracted just now." She took a deep breath, savoring the moment surrounded by love and blessings, her tone becoming firm and happy, "Let's continue... I'm Himmel's bride."
The last glimmer of clarity in her emerald eyes was extinguished completely, like a candle flame melting into the warm sun.
Ruby, too, was lost in this pure white, blissful dream that had been meticulously woven for her.
(Lowell's Illusion)
The illusion collapsed under his attack for who knows how many times.
This time, after the collapse, what awaited him was still not a return to reality.
The surrounding scenery always scatters like broken glass at first, but then gathers and reshapes itself like the tide in the next second.
"Is this never going to end? Am I supposed to be on Tang Sanzang's journey to the West? Are we supposed to collect all eighty-one tribulations?"
Lowell spat under his breath, the dizziness from the depths of his soul intensifying; the continuous breakthroughs in illusions had taken a far greater toll on his spirit than he had anticipated. He forced himself to stay alert and warily eyed the newly formed scene.
However, the next second, his pupils contracted sharply. The sight before him caused him to abruptly halt his movement of gathering magic power—
"Master! Thank goodness you arrived in time!"