Staring at Kryudera's utterly placid expression, Hysilens could not help but suck in a breath, trying to calm the storm raging within her heart.
"...The trial of [Law]?"
"You never told anyone what it truly was..."
"Obviously." Kryudera interrupted her, her tone as flat as ever.
"Those who seek to bear [Law] must purge the curses from this world and offer cursed blood as sacrifice—"
"I had always wondered what the cursed blood mentioned by the Titans truly was."
"Later, I finally found the answer..."
She raised a hand, her fingertips seeming to brush through the golden blood mist hanging in the air.
"You and I, all Chrysos Heirs called by the oracle and flowing with golden Blood, are cursed ones."
"Just as that arrogant Divine Ceremony Officer howled before dying, Golden Blood is a factor of [Destruction], something incompatible with the world's destiny."
"Duke Duanfeng, Duke Donglin, Duke Yeshi... The moment that golden Blood flowed through them, their paths were decided at the time of the final sacrifice."
"To receive sacrifice upon a glorious journey was the last gift I could grant them."
There was not the slightest trace of regret in her voice, only an almost cruel rationality.
"..." Hysilens's emotions churned like a sea swept by a storm.
Anger, grief, and disbelief intertwined.
She clenched the sword at her waist, her knuckles whitening from the force.
"The way you speak, it is as if they did not die because of your schemes and cold-bloodedness! Was their loyalty worth nothing in your eyes?!" Her voice rose despite herself, carrying suppressed fury.
Faced with this piercing accusation, Kryudera fell silent for a moment before replying calmly, her voice like ice.
"The Flame-Chase is a journey of constant loss. Life itself is insignificant."
"As a subject, if one lacks such