Cosmic Ruler - Chapter 269

Chapter 269: Remanencing

It’s been a hundred years since the battle with the Black Chains, and William’s injury has now fully healed, thanks to his time spent in his Dimension.

“The benefit of the Dimension,” Aiden mumbled as he stepped out. “While I was healing there, only a few days passed here in the real world.” Looking at him now, no one would believe he was the same person who had been on the verge of death.

“You’re finally back to your peak,” Myne said, approaching him.

“Don’t talk like it’s been a hundred years for you,” Aiden rolled his eyes at her remark “That might’ve been the case for me, but not for you.”

“Not even for you,” Myne teased as she nudged him. “You practically slept the whole time.”

“Hey, is that your new look?” Aiden chuckled, glancing at her simple white dress.

“Well, in your absence, I was the leader,” Myne winked. “Can’t show that side of mine to anyone else except you.”

Aiden nodded as he sat down, and Myne came closer, resting her head against his chest. “That Phoenix Blood Herb really worked,” she said, inspecting the area where his injury had fully healed. There wasn’t even a trace of a scar, let alone any signs of previous damage.

“I know. After I ate it, it basically burned me into ashes—classic rebirth from the ashes,” Aiden said with a dry chuckle, recalling the painful experience. “For a moment, I thought someone was planning to kill me, you know.”

“So, when will you begin your Ascension?” Myne asked, sitting across from him.

“Soon,” Aiden replied, his face falling slightly. “Might as well enjoy the little time I have left here.”

“Something on your mind?” Myne asked, noticing the shift in his expression.

“I don’t know,” Aiden admitted, running his hand through his hair. “I was thinking about how I’m going to confront Shelly and Serina… and tell them that I’ll be leaving, heading back to Celestaria. I’ll have to leave them behind.”

Myne sighed softly. “I know it’s hard for you, but there are people waiting for you back there too. Maybe we can find another way to bring Shelly and Serina along, somehow?” she suggested, trying to offer comfort.

Aiden nodded, though his mind still weighed heavy. He stood up and walked over to the window, gazing out at the vast sect they had built over time. “What are those four towers?” he asked, pointing to the structures standing at the four cardinal directions.

Myne followed his gaze and smiled. “Those are the Pillars of the Ascended, a protection formation we created while you were resting. They stand as a symbol of the sect’s power—and soon, they’ll guide you through your Ascension.”

“Plus, they’re also the residences of our Four Special Saint Kings,” Myne added, looking at Aiden. “Each of them has been made the Four Supreme Elders by your command. Their power is second only to the Sect Master.”

Aiden nodded thoughtfully. “And Nexus?”

“She’s out there, searching for the shards—you know which ones,” Myne replied.

“When will she return?” Aiden asked.

“Soon. After she’s collected all the shards, or at least those still available and present,” Myne said with a reassuring smile.

Aiden nodded again, then sat at the table. “I hope you’ve cooked something delicious for me,” he teased.

Myne sighed but smiled as she clapped her hands. Several maids entered, pushing carts loaded with food. As they set the table, Aiden’s eyes widened at the vast amount of food laid out before him.

“Great, I was starving anyway,” Aiden said, grinning as he looked at the feast.

As the maids finished setting the table, Aiden couldn’t help but smirk at the spread. Dishes from every region, delicacies he hadn’t tasted in years, and meals cooked with expert precision filled the table.

“Hope it’s up to your standard,” Myne teased, sitting down across from him with a satisfied smile.

Aiden chuckled, picking up his utensils. “After a hundred years of nothing but Phoenix flames burning through my body, I’d say this is heaven.”

They began eating, the atmosphere light, yet underneath, both of them knew that soon, everything would change.

“So, have you decided what you’ll do once the Ascension begins?” Myne asked between bites.

Aiden paused, chewing thoughtfully before answering. “I’ll finish what I started here, but once I ascend, I’ll have to leave things to the Saint Kings and you. Celestaria needs me… and there’s no telling how long I’ll be gone.”

Myne’s expression softened slightly. “I know. You’ve always had that distant look in your eyes, even from the beginning. Like your heart belongs somewhere else.”

Aiden stopped eating, his expression softening as he spoke. “Maybe… though I do miss Mom and Dad. They made me feel what it’s like to have real parents,” he said with a bittersweet smile, his eyes reflecting a darker sorrow. “I never really felt that here, despite everyone being good to me. They were just kind for their own interests.”

He took another bite, though the food seemed to have lost its flavor.

Myne nodded quietly, watching him closely. She remembered when Aiden first arrived in this world, a little boy with memories of two worlds. The royal family who found him didn’t know what to make of him at first—just another child lost in the jungle, abandoned by fate. They were ready to discard him, to eliminate any potential threat.

But then the pendant around the king’s neck glowed, signaling a talent far greater than anything they had ever seen. It was an family treasure on used to detect potentials of great levels. The family’s attitude shifted in an instant. They spoke kindly to him, took him in, and treated him as one of their own, grooming him for their own future plans.

What Aiden didn’t know back then, and what only Nexus and Myne were aware of, was that his death was very near only his potential talent saved him. He was never truly loved; they had saved him, though they had kept that truth from him for years. They didn’t want him to know that his so-called fate in this world had been decided long before he even set foot in it.

In the end, he learned the truth—that the childhood friends he had made, the bonds he had trusted, were nothing more than tools to further the royal family’s ambitions. His closest friend had only ever seen him as a means to secure power for her kingdom.

Despite all of this, Aiden never sought revenge. He had the power to bring them all to the Immortal World, to lift them out of the Spirit World they were trapped in, but he didn’t. He let them live their lives as they were, because for a time, they had been his family. Even if it was all built on lies.

“They raised me, for a while,” Aiden continued, his voice distant. “But I’ve always known, deep down, they weren’t really mine. It’s just hard to forget the people who made you feel… like you belonged. Even if it was fake.”

“You did the right thing, Aiden. You don’t need to feel guilty about it,” Myne said softly, her hand still resting on his.

Aiden sighed, but before he could respond, a familiar voice interrupted.

“Oh? Having a party without me?” Nexus said as she entered the room, her sharp eyes immediately picking up on the tense atmosphere. She looked at their faces, noticing Aiden’s distant expression and Myne’s speechless, concerned gaze.

Nexus frowned. “Seems like the party’s already started, but it’s not the fun kind, is it?” she said, her voice softer now as she approached them.

Aiden didn’t look up, but his lips curled into a faint, bitter smile. “Not quite the celebration you were expecting, huh?”

Nexus sat down beside him, folding her arms. “I can tell something’s weighing on you. Want to talk about it?”

Aiden stayed silent for a moment, then finally spoke. “I’ve just been thinking about everything… and everyone I left behind. All the lies, all the manipulation, and yet, a part of me still feels tied to them.”

Nexus exchanged a glance with Myne before responding. “You’ve always carried that burden, Aiden. But you’re not the same person they once knew, and you don’t owe them anything. You’ve built your own life, your own strength. They didn’t make you who you are.”

“Maybe,” Aiden murmured. “But it still doesn’t make it easier.”

Nexus nodded, understanding the complexity of his emotions. “It’s never easy to let go of the past, but you can’t let it drag you down. You have a future to focus on—a future that’s yours. And when the time comes, you’ll ascend and move forward.”

Aiden finally looked at her, the weight in his eyes still present but a little lighter now. “You always know how to put things in perspective.”

Nexus smirked. “That’s what I’m here for.”

“your Guide for Eternity” She added with smile.