Chapter 735 A Safe Resting Place
One of the underground halls of the Culthold was cloaked in darkness, the silence hanging thick in the air like a suffocating veil. The dark light from a few flickering lamps cast long shadows along the cold stone walls. Before them stood a black coffin, its surface gleaming faintly, a solemn monument to the girl they had all lost. Emiko's body lay encased within, her final resting place far too close to the very shadows that had claimed her life.
Asher stood quietly, his eyes fixed on the coffin, his features softening with a mixture of grief and regret. He hadn't spoken much since their arrival, but now, with a subtle smile, he finally broke the silence, "I still remember how scared Yui and Emiko were when they first saw me inhabiting a small doll," he began, his voice low and calm, as if recalling a distant memory, "At that time, they were terrified of a demon like me. But even then, despite that fear, Emiko still had her arms wrapped around Yui, protecting her from me. At that moment, I realized that she was not only a strong girl but someone with a loving heart—someone who cared deeply. A heart that was one in a million." Asher felt Emiko's loss deeper than he thought. He knew she truly believed in what he was trying to do, and he felt angry that she had been taken away like this.
Even if Anna was the one who did the deed, his resentment was more directed towards the hand that pulled the strings on Anna. As if what he had taken from him in his past life wasn't enough.
Rebecca's gaze flickered toward him, a bit surprised by this revelation. She knew no ordinary human would care about protecting anyone else before someone like Asher.
Asher paused, glancing at Grace, who stood beside him with a wistful smile on her face, "That's why I didn't protest when you wanted them in," Asher finished, his words filled with quiet admiration.
Grace's smile softened, and she gave Asher a gentle nod, "Like Yui, she had a pure and kind soul. That's why I wanted to take these two in," Grace murmured, her voice heavy with the weight of unspoken emotion. Yui sniffed, her eyes blurred with tears. Her hands trembled as she slowly knelt beside the coffin, gently caressing its surface as if hoping her touch could somehow reach Emiko, "I still can't believe you're all alone in there," Yui whispered, her voice fragile, as if saying the words aloud might make it more real, "Even now, I wish this was just a nightmare. You promised me we would always stay together... and yet you left me behind. You heard our master. If not for you protecting me, I wouldn't be here. You were always the one protecting others... and yet I couldn't do the same for you." Her voice cracked, her tears slipping freely down her cheeks as she pressed her hand against the coffin once more. Yui sniffed, her eyes blurred with tears. Her hands trembled as she slowly knelt beside the coffin, gently caressing its surface as if hoping her touch could somehow reach Emiko, "I still can't believe you're all alone in there," Yui whispered, her voice fragile, as if saying the words aloud might make it more real, "Even now, I wish this was just a nightmare. You promised me we would always stay together... and yet you left me behind. You heard our master. If not for you protecting me, I wouldn't be here. You were always the one protecting others... and yet I couldn't do the same for you." Her voice cracked, her tears slipping freely down her cheeks as she pressed her hand against the coffin once more. Grace's eyes trembled as they closed, holding back the torrent of sorrow and guilt threatening to overwhelm her. Without a word, Asher wrapped his arm around Grace's shoulder, pulling her closer in a wordless gesture of support. Grace leaned into him, her head resting against his shoulder, but still, no words came. The grief was too fresh, too raw.
Rebecca, standing silently behind them, felt something stir inside her. Hearing Yui's words brought a certain weight to her chest—a weight she hadn't expected.
Even though Emiko was wary of her at first and even had the permission from Asher to treat her like a dog, she never took advantage of that.
Instead, Emiko had treated her with silent respect.
Yui sniffled again, her voice barely a whisper as her sobs wracked her small frame, "I... I didn't even get to tell you how much I love you..." she sobbed, her words choking on the weight of her emotions. Grace's expression softened, and she crouched down beside Yui, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, "You didn't have to tell her," Grace said quietly, her voice full of warmth and compassion, "She always knew, without you saying a word. Both of you always showed how much you loved each other through your actions. That was more than enough for her."
Yui's sobs quieted as she listened, her chest heaving with each breath she took. Grace continued, her voice filled with quiet tenderness, "She was always a quiet one, and rarely expressed her true feelings. But just a simple smile from her—occasionally—was enough to know how much she cared about us. And other than you, she was the granddaughter I was blessed to have."
Asher nodded softly, his gaze fixed on the coffin, "She may be gone, but she will never be forgotten."
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