novelraw Chapter 714 399: Life and Death, the Endless Cycle of Reincarnation (Part 2)
Chapter 714 399: Life and Death, the Endless Cycle of Reincarnation (Part 2)
"Dear babies, Mommy misses you."
Even the most majestic Empress is at a loss when facing her children.
The guests attending the ceremony offered their congratulations, except for one person.
As the most unusual guest, Sofia's feelings were particularly complex.
Is this what it feels like to be a mother?
Today, Sif was completely different from usual. Her frail exterior and resilient gaze clashed yet melded together seamlessly, surprisingly not at odds.
Sofia's thoughts drifted to the distant horizon.
Whether it was her in the Second Era or her in the later generations, it seemed her destiny was never tied to love or family.
In past lives, she remained single until death. In this life, she was bound to a loveless political marriage, hoping at least to leave behind descendants despite lacking affection, only to be humiliated once more.
Married for years yet still a virgin, it was not a glory, but an unspeakable shame.
If I had a child, it would...
Sofia shivered suddenly, a trace of astonishment flickering in her eyes.
She could hardly imagine having such absurd thoughts after awakening all her memories.
But she quickly realized that fearing bearing offspring as if it were a monster was the real mistake.
She is a mature and beautiful woman; what wrong is there in wanting a child of her own?
Her child would be born in a new era.
She did not want to head into the final battle with psychological burdens.
Sif is Sif, she is herself; they are not the same.
The clear cries of the baby broke Sofia's daydreaming trance, as she quietly placed a prepared gift box on the table.
When people looked up to find her figure, she had already disappeared.
Roland noticed Sofia's disappearance, but did not speak to restrain her.
He never understood Sofia, but occasions like this were indeed somewhat subtly awkward for her.
Leaving was just as well.
His gaze roamed through the crowd, seeing countless familiar figures and smiles, yet only one person was missing.
Sister Lisa didn't come.
Three months ago, she ascended the throne and was crowned the first emperor of the Seventh Era of the Magic Empire.
Since the coronation, he had not seen Lisa again.
She was always busy.
Busy practicing magic, handling state affairs, and orchestrating the South Continent conquest war.
Roland felt a vague sense of desolation.
The letter Lisa sent explained that Master Anthony was advanced in age and unwell, and she dared not leave lightly.
Although Lisa explained in detail, Roland still sighed in his heart.
She is unwilling to hold the baby belonging to Sif, isn't she?
If so, then find some time to visit the Magic Capital, Lazio, and have a child with the dear Magic Emperor.
Dispelling a hint of displeasure, Roland put on a smile because he spotted Alina walking over with a smile on her lips.
"Roland, the divination's result is very good. Your two children are both smart and healthy. Only the daughter resembles you more, the son resembles the mother more."
Eh? This inheritance seems a bit odd.
But it doesn't matter, everything is good.
Roland proudly puffed out his chest, full of pride.
If the Magic Mirror were willing to rank male charm, he would surely be in the top three. Sif had long been the reigning champion of the female list for years.
The daughter takes after the father, full of spirit; the son takes after the mother, handsome and delicate.
All in all, it's a good thing.
The wet nurses who were prepared in advance gave the two little ones their first sip of milk and then carefully brought them over.
Both Roland and Sif looked expectantly at Alina, waiting for her to name them.
Alina didn't hold back, straightforwardly explaining:
"The stars bring greetings, blessing the lovely little ones. The boy's name is Elvin, meaning the Wings of Freedom; the girl's name is Aurora, meaning Hope and Dawn."
The names are full of elven characteristics, not particularly outstanding, but the meanings are good.
Roland and Sif exchanged a glance, accepting Alina's arrangement.
Clearly, this was her insight after star-gazing, and also the invisible manipulation of fate's hand.
...
Some people come, some people go.
While Elvin and Aurora were hungrily sucking milk, a respected elder left this world.
With a smile, Master Anthony closed his eyes, quietly lying in a library's spacious bamboo chair, humming his favorite love song from his youth intermittently.
The love song halted abruptly at its last lyrics.
The thick hand slowly dropped, the book in his hand falling to the ground with a muffled thud.
Lisa and Sura, waiting by his side, didn't rush to shake Anthony's body but let tears roll down their cheeks.
The teacher accurately predicted the time of his passing, calmly waiting for life's end, leaving in peace and illness-free; it was, for some, a joyful departure.
But in Lisa's heart, she would have preferred the teacher to live awkwardly than leave gracefully.
Master Anthony shouldn't have passed away so early; he worked too hard.
Lisa obtained the Super Divine Artifact, Eden, allowing him to ease his heart.
The Empire's future had hope.
For over two hundred years, he hardly had a peaceful moment, either worrying about the Magic Association's development or seeking opportunities to grow stronger.
Sura was his most diligently nurtured disciple; he worked extremely hard, yet his talent was limited.
This was Anthony's greatest pain.
Effort determines the lower limit, talent determines the upper limit.
Climbing to the peak of human power, the differences talent can make are vast, not something sheer determination can easily overcome.
Anthony's talent was not extraordinarily outstanding, considered a once-in-a-century genius, and Sura's talent ceiling was even slightly inferior to Anthony's.
Relying on the master and disciple, don't mention rebuilding the glory of the Magic Empire, just maintaining the Magic Association's mere survival was not easy.
As the day of return grew closer, Anthony's anxiety heightened.
Until Roland appeared.
Anthony once saw Roland as the hope for the Magic Empire's resurgence, yet while he relied on Roland, Roland saw the Magic Empire as merely a bargaining chip.
Roland's identity was excessive, his bottom line too flexible, and openly refusing to practice magic, greatly disappointing Anthony.
When Roland recommended Lisa to him, he initially had no expectations, thinking of it only as a transaction.
During the routine magic aptitude test, the Magic Stone was flooded with crimson and exploded on the spot.
At the same time, Anthony's bias shattered.
He was so excited he nearly fainted.
Lisa's talent for Flame Magic was top-notch in the history of the entire Magic Empire.
And Lisa's heart was simple, focused only on Roland and magic, which deeply gratified the old man.
Volcanic rebirth, artifacts choose their master, the Empire reborn.
Anthony glimpsed dawn, yet in his heart, there remained a slight sense of loss.
The disciple's success certainly brought comfort, but his inability to keep pace with the times left him deeply frustrated.
Since Lisa could control the Magic Empire's future, Anthony's mindset shifted slightly.
Previously, he prioritized stability and shunned risks; now, what did he have to fear?
After reviewing numerous ancient texts, Anthony set his sights on Emperor Sorrensen, a famous figure in Magic Empire history.
This Emperor Sorrensen was a very unconventional Mage.
He possessed the combat techniques of a lion and tiger, the strength of a raging bear, and the immense vitality of a Giant Dragon.
He created the Combat Mage branch and ascended to the summit with it, becoming the strongest Mage of his time.
Integrating magic into combat techniques, using instant-cast high-explosive magic fused with martial skills, instantly tearing enemies apart—this was Emperor Sorrensen's fighting style.
Anthony, though lacking Emperor Sorrensen's massive, mountain-like physique, was still comparably brawny to ordinary people.
He chose the path of the Combat Mage, daring to merge with a Demon Artifact left by Sorrensen to quickly grasp the essence of combat techniques.
This merging indeed led to trouble.
The Soul Fragment of Emperor Sorrensen, hidden in the Magic Ring, attempted to seize control of his body.
After multiple futile struggles, Anthony despairingly chose self-destruction.
He intended to destroy Sorrensen's soul alongside himself.
Exerting all effort to expel Sorrensen's Soul Fragment, his life also reached its end.
He had countless things he wished to say to Lisa and Sura but couldn't utter a word when they reached his lips.
When Death God's hand gripped his throat, he was suddenly awakened.
He had an abundance of failure lessons, yet lacked much in successful experiences.
Since that was the case, why pass on his errors to the next generation?
He smiled with relief.
He left no last words, only singing a song to Lisa and Sura.
A love song easily missed in youth, leaving endless regret for the future.