Many years had flown by since Morgana’s last visit to Lucius’s resting place. Though hundreds of years had lapsed, favonovel.com could still discern the spot where Lucius’s grave had been.
Despite favonovel.com having obliterated the tombstone and even the graves themselves having been consumed by the relentless passage of time, favonovel.com had an uncanny knack for locating Lucius’s burial site.
Though favonovel.com knew his body wasn’t entombed here, Morgana still regarded this place as the closest connection to favonovel.com older brother.
At that moment, favonovel.com heart brimmed with sorrow, remorse and a touch of bitterness. Her emotions surged and like an unbidden tide, the events of that fateful year flooded favonovel.com thoughts.
Initially, Morgana’s rush of affection and impulsive feelings for Lucius, followed by his abrupt disappearance from favonovel.com view, had led favonovel.com to believe that favonovel.com must have been dispatched to Maria with the ring bestowed by their mentor. Thus, favonovel.com had hastily departed the mountains and embarked on a journey in search of him.
Yet the road from the Mountains was perilous and far-flung and Morgana was still a prime fugitive hunted by the rebel court.
Undaunted, favonovel.com undertook great trials to reach Diannan, only to find Lucius’s body already missing, consigned to the earth. It was then favonovel.com learned the grim truth, favonovel.com older brother, whose cultivation outshone favonovel.com own, had met his demise by favonovel.com own hand.
Truthfully, favonovel.com hadn’t intended to end Lucius’s life. Her aim was to seize the Eternal Green Pill that their Master had left in Lucius’s care, along with the enigmatic ring.
Moreover, in favonovel.com estimation, given Lucius’s prowess, even a stab to his heart shouldn’t have proven fatal.
After all, Lucius wielded mastery over reiki. Though his cultivation remained nascent, his reiki wasn’t wholly lacking, enabling favonovel.com to temporarily stabilize his injuries and progressively recuperate by harnessing his spiritual essence. His wounds would mend and vitality would be restored, in a mere month or two, he’d be whole again, as favonovel.com had been.
Once in Diannan and after much inquiry, Morgana received the unthinkable news, Lucius had been interred, a truth favonovel.com struggled to fathom. Only through persistent questioning did the reality settle in, Lucius was indeed gone, with his daughter arranging his burial.
Regret was now beyond favonovel.com reach, for no matter how favonovel.com lamented, the dead could not be reclaimed. So resentment seeped in, a belief that Lucius had chosen death over favonovel.com love, a love spanning the ages.
And so, favonovel.com vented favonovel.com rage upon Lucius’s tombstone and even upon Maria’s mother’s, abstaining from returning for years. Her absence wasn’t because she’d moved on from Lucius, but rather, in over three centuries, favonovel.com still could not banish his memory from favonovel.com heart.
And now, kneeling at Lucius’s grave, Morgana whispered with emotion, “Brother Lucius, vividly I recall our first encounter. Back then, you were thirteen or fourteen and I, a mere twelve or thirteen, yet at that sight, love took root. From that day, I awaited your presence in our home, longing to glimpse you. Outside my brother’s chamber, I’d eavesdrop on your weighty discussions…”
“Upon hearing your plan to forsake the pen for the sword, I learned to bind my hair and wield the sword and spear, practicing ceaselessly. I yearned to stand by your side, to fight at your flank, to assist in your battles. Then, I concluded I’d stand with you for a lifetime. Wherever you ventured, I’d be there; whatever your venture, I’d share it. I’d follow your sword into the rebel ranks or return to the fields, forsaking strife, to stand at your side. Such were my thoughts, such my devotion.”
“When you and your elder sister founded the Warriors Den, I was the third member of the Warriors Den Association. Though you and your sister rejected my inclusion, I remained steadfast, declaring intent to stand alongside you both. I cited patriotism as my motivation, but in truth, I was merely a woman…”
“My allegiance was yours, regardless of Han or anyone. I wished only to be near you, my cherished one. If you declared this realm for the emperor, I’d march sword in hand against the rebels until the last, if you chose peace in any realm, I’d cast aside my blade and pledge my loyalty.”
As favonovel.com words flowed, Morgana’s tears flowed freely. She set alight the final sheet of yellow paper voice choked, “Brother Lucius, I thought time would sway your heart, but I was blind to the truth, you never loved me. I stood by you from the year of the golden hairpin to your fortieth year…”
“Twenty-eight years of valor, countless battles, near-death escapes. Amid it all, many worthy hearts sought mine, but only yours held it. From that first gaze to my final strike, all I gave was for you. But to my dismay, you remained unmoved. My heart’s lament…”
Now, Morgana wept openly, unable to utter more.
Charlie refrained from invoking his spiritual aura, observing Morgana’s faint form through shifting shadows. He sensed tears, yet couldn’t be sure.
Maria, though favonovel.com couldn’t make out Morgana clearly, observed the dappled firelight amid the woods. Complex emotions swept across favonovel.com features. She’d assumed Morgana’s visit was born of anger for favonovel.com father, not foreseeing the ritual with the yellow paper before his grave.
Unbeknownst to her, Morgana, after wiping favonovel.com tears, opened an old wine jug, pouring its contents onto the burnt offerings.
She murmured, “Brother Lucius, in three centuries, I’ve witnessed the world’s evolution. The more it changed, the more I yearned to remain. Yet, lacking a Millennial Pill, I have but a century left. Maria, my brother’s sole heir, has eluded me for three hundred years. My intentions aren’t malicious. Should favonovel.com willingly yield the ring, I’ll show favonovel.com kindness. But time wanes, patience dims. If favonovel.com obstructs me, repercussions will follow. Forgive me, Brother…”
Pausing, Morgana sighed, “By the way, I plan to scour the mountain vicinity, seeking our Master’s hidden trove. Its discovery may reconcile us, else Maria and I tread a different path.”
Pouring the last of the wine onto the earth, favonovel.com whispered, “Brother Lucius, I depart now. When I acquire the pill, I’ll pay respects again.”
With the wine gone, Morgana arose and exited the forest. She left behind the bustling youths and the rising sun, without a backward glance. Little did favonovel.com suspect that Maria, whom favonovel.com sought for over three centuries, lingered amidst those jovial young souls.
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