Death Is the Most Precious Gift
"Then, let's begin— Castorice."
Sera calmed herself down. The essence of alchemy was based on one of the rules represented by the Titan Tarranton of Law—the law of equivalent exchange.
If Thanatos is to be restored to wholeness, the missing part must be restored... that is, the return of the Castorice, who is the price to be paid on the other side of the scale.
But Sera didn't care; he was Corruption! In Amphoreus, a world of data, the price was entirely up to him.
The power was then activated, inscribing a magic array to generate the required items.
"Let me think... this is the word for the alchemical ritual."
Recalling the ancient scroll containing alchemy that he had found in his leisure time in the Grove of Epiphany, Sera slowly recited the ritual prayer that was actually unnecessary for him.
However, such important moments always deserve a little ritual, right?
This is an undeniable truth.
It should be understood that all things originate from one.
One is divided into two, and two are divided into four.
Then the world repeats itself, life goes on and on.
Just as night and day give birth to each other --
The roots of "reason and wisdom" are alienated and rejected.
The threads of "love and beauty" are closely connected.
All things are thus constructed within this gathering and dispersal.
These four can form the foundation of everything; let's see—
The whirlwind of Aegle fueled the flames of Kephale.
The fertile soil of Georios, the clear springs that nourish Fagina.
Everything is built upon these elements.
With this wisdom, we can purify and distill to extract the essence and discard the crude.
We have grasped this truth: by contemplating one thing, we can elucidate all things.
The three-phase blessing makes the rules deconstructable and the origins traceable.
The work is now complete; it is now possible to create something from nothing.
The black soil in his hand fell to the ground, and the alchemical ritual was initiated. The "weight" of just a handful of black soil was enough to make it equivalent to something precious on the other side of the scale.
Castorice knelt quietly within the magic circle, her hands in a prayerful gesture, and sighs could be heard around her.
Countless familiar yet unfamiliar Remembrance flooded her mind; she remembered them all.
As a result, a purple tide surged from around the alchemy array and then coalesced into a giant cocoon. A girl with a face similar to Castorice appeared before the two of them, looking bewildered, after the giant cocoon shattered.
"Huh?"
Polyxena stared blankly at Castorice, then at Sera, so much so that she momentarily forgot she was standing on the magic circle with her perfectly intact legs.
"Sister... I never expected you to find me."
It only took Castorice 3 seconds to process all the Remembrance she recalled, her expression completely changing from complicated to relieved, and she turned her head away.
"... Polyxena, you should know that I am merely Castorice you recreated."
Polyxena smiled but didn't reply, instead changing the subject.
"Do you know? My sister is an understanding, yet somewhat sensitive person. Whenever she has something on her mind that she can't express, she avoids eye contact and gazes into the distance..."
Just like now.
Polyxena smiled and looked up.
"You don't need to worry about this, Castorice."
Sera knew it was time for him to speak up and Castorice.
"You are Castorice, the princess of Styxia, the war-mongering saintess of Aidelia, and also the Chrysos Heirs of the previous cycle, the twins of death, Polyxena."
You have never changed.
I understand your concerns, but it's alright.
Let's see Amphoreus through my eyes.
Sera raised his hand to unleash his Corruption power, sharing his gaze with both Castorice and Polyxena.
Both of them widened their eyes, for what they saw now was Sera's world where everything was at her disposal, the truth and essence of Amphoreus.
"How?"
After ending the sharing of their gazes, Sera, worried that they might fall silent, began to ask questions in a light voice.
"Thank you, Sera, I understand."
Castorice's gaze hardened completely, and then she looked at Polyxena with tenderness.
"I'm sorry, am I... too late?"
"I've kept you waiting all this time..."
"No, sister."
Polyxena slowly walked forward and embraced Castorice.
I'm so happy to be reunited with you in this world again.
"Yes... I'm happy too."
After being hugged by Polyxena, Castorice's body stiffened instinctively for a moment, and then she hugged Polyxena back in return.
Sera watched this scene with a smile in her eyes. This was how it should be! Sisters should be reunited in the mortal world, instead of having to take the life of a loved one or meet in the Underworld.
"Oh, right..."
Polyxena extracted the "death" Core Flame from her chest.
"I don't know why, but the Core Flame can be obtained without my death."
This might be...
Polyxena looked at Sera. As Castorice's sister, she naturally knew her very well, so it wasn't hard to see that Castorice had some affection for Sera.
"I did it."
Sera nodded, acknowledging it.
"I don't want my sisters to be separated again; rewriting that regret is my goal."
"Now that we have the Core Flame, then, Castorice... go and drop the Core Flame into the Creation's Vortex. I will make you transcend fate."
"Transcending fate, eh, me...?"
Castorice gently placed her right hand on her chest and blinked her eyes in a somewhat dazed manner.
"Oh, sister~ you have to believe in yourself, you can do it!"
Polyxena pushed the Castorice towards Sera.
"Let's go, it's time for 'death' to guide the world once more, sister..."
"Hmm... I understand."
Castorice recalled what she had just seen through Sera's eyes: the countless souls wandering in Styxia, unable to enter the Underworld.
She is no longer afraid of "death," because "death" is her miracle, the source of her birth into the world.
Looking at those souls, she understood the weight of death. Perhaps... for those souls, the 'curse' she had previously avoided was a liberation they longed for but could never attain.
"Death" is a color unique to life, and it is also the most precious gift bestowed upon living beings by the gods.
"So..."
Sera clapped her hands, and the space around the three of them shifted, bringing them to the empty center of the Creation's Vortex.
Under the watchful eyes of Sera and Polyxena, Castorice, holding the "Core Flame of death" in her hands, stepped... step by step towards the basin of spiritual water.
As the Castorice gradually approached the spirit water basin, a sea of flowers appeared around them.
Thanatos's two hands were originally one; "life" bestows death, while "death" rejects death. The world knows the Hand of Shadow, but few know Thanatos's other hand... Now, they are finally about to reunite.
The Castorice casts Core Flame, and the starry sky shifts in response; thus, Amphoreus's life and death will return to "Equilibrium."
"You must complete the trial of 'death' well, sister."
Polyxena smiled and cheered for Castorice.