She is the legacy

"Your complexion seems a bit off. Are you unhappy?" Eve keenly noticed that he seemed somewhat different from usual. Though he had always been reserved and aloof, he now appeared even gloomier, giving off an unsettling vibe. She turned her face away, basking in the warm golden sunlight that caressed her brow and nose. She looked like a seashell sculpture bathed in divine light. Eve smiled, her grin shining brighter than the sunlight today. "Nah, would seeing me make you unhappy?" "No, I'm happy." "Me too." Eve quickly interjected. Soon, she realized she might have been overly enthusiastic. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she lowered her head, but after ensuring there was no one around, Eve stealthily reached out and lightly touched the back of his hand, half-hidden beneath his long sleeves. "I'm leaving." The sudden announcement caught Eve off guard, though upon reflection, it wasn't entirely unexpected. She responded softly, a hint of disappointment flickering across her lovely features. "I kind of figured. You're not the type to stay in a small town forever. Where are you headed? Back home?" "Wherever it may be," Eve murmured, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Just remember me." "I'm dying. Will you come with me?" Eve visibly struggled to grasp the meaning. „Huh? What do you mean? „ “mean, will you die with me?” Eve stared earnestly at his face for a moment. She knew he wasn't one to make such jokes, in fact, he didn't even understand what jokes were. So, if she said 'yes,' Eve believed he would act on it immediately. She didn't show any signs of fear. Instead, she took his hand, lifting the cold, lifeless limb and gently pressed her soft cheek against the back of it. With her glassy eyes fixed on him, Eve asked, “Are you sick?” “No, I should just be dead.” “That's a strange way to put it, I don't understand... but then again, you've always been strange. Why would you want me to die with you? That's a terrifying thought.” “Because if I'm gone, you'll be miserable. Without me, no one will be able to protect you.” Eve found his words a bit exaggerated. “No way, even without you, I'd still live my life happily and responsibly. I managed just fine before I met you.” “Then I'd hate it even more. If I'm not around, I don't want you to be happy.” Is that so? Oh well.Eve sighed:"Since you've made up your mind, let's get on with it then. I won't resist because it's futile. Compared to you, I'm just too weak." Eve smiled at him again, her demeanor utterly compliant. "Be gentle, please. Don't make me suffer. I'm begging you." "..." "Forget it." Eve blinked, surprised as she watched his hand lift and then drop. "Why?" "I think... I shouldn't harm you. Based on human emotions, I should love you. And if I love you, I can't hurt you. Those were your words to me before." "Oh, so you remember?" Eve's eyes softened, her smile widening. "You're a good boy. I like you too." Seeing him remain motionless for a while, seeming to abandon any intention of harming her, Eve thought for a moment then suddenly said to him, "Do you want to kiss me?" "..." "Yes." A month passed without Eve seeing Assash again. Was he really dead? Eve wasn't entirely sure, but for her, someone who disappeared completely might as well be dead. She believed she did like Assash, and she would miss him, but forgetting him always outweighed remembering him. Assash was a mysterious young man with black hair who had suddenly arrived in the border town of Dapoblady a year ago. Eve speculated he must be a grand mage from the capital, given his aloof demeanor and extraordinary presence. He would appear suddenly and vanish without a trace, and despite their clandestine encounters, Eve knew nothing about him other than his name. He never disclosed any other information about himself. This was great news for Eve! It showed that he wasn't the type to linger. Indeed, Assash disappeared completely after uttering a few cryptic words, sparing Eve a lot of trouble. Still, there was a hint of regret, as they had been happy together. "Don't be discouraged, Eve. You've improved a lot this time. You'll definitely pass the basic spell assessment next time!" "You've been working so hard, Eve. Isn't it a bit unfair that the spell assessment focuses so much on practical skills? Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that. Anyway, you're really amazing! Even the High Priest consults you on spell variations." "Yeah, Eve, you're a genius!" Eve sat in the reading room, surrounded by people, which made the otherwise empty room stand out. She blinked, coming back to herself, and slumped slightly on the table, a look of disappointment on her face. "I guess I'm the only one in the whole temple, no, in the entire country, who hasn't passed the basic spell assessment by adulthood. I wish they would revise the assessment criteria." Her eyes half-closed, the long and curled lashes casting a shadow beneath them like a small flock of ravens. Eve hid half her beautiful face, and her golden hair cascaded like a waterfall from her delicate shoulders. The people around her chuckled at her words, gently reassuring her that it was okay. Even if she hadn't passed the basic spell assessment, Eve was still a treasure unique to the temple. Of course, she was the beautiful priestess who could attract new worshippers to the temple day after day with just her face. Even though she couldn't pass the most basic spell assessment, her looks and personality were incredibly charming. By her tenth year of studying magic, Eve had fully accepted her complete incompetence in this area. Compared to others, Eve's mastery of spells was disastrous, hardly able to evoke any elemental fluctuations. Up until now, the only spell she could cast was the lowest-level healing spell, and even then, it could only stop minor bleeding. In stark contrast was her astonishing talent for knowledge. Seven years ago, she had mastered all the various texts circulating within the temple, understanding even the most obscure and esoteric spells. She could analyze and dissect simple spells theoretically, but she couldn't perform them herself. For Eve, she was just an ordinary person like before, but others showed infinite pity and tolerance towards her because of her glaring flaw. "By the way, is Xavier leaving for the capital tomorrow?" Lena, the priestess, blushed and stole glances towards the window. She quickly shifted the conversation's focus, drawing the attention away from Xavier. Eve also looked up, propping her cheek on her hand as she gazed towards the lone figure sitting by the window. Xavier was busy polishing his longsword, his posture relaxed, one foot casually propped up on the chair's armrest. He seemed vaguely aware of the others' gazes—a face that was both youthful and handsome, yet distant. His golden hair, tousled carelessly behind his head, revealed a smooth forehead, sharply defined brows, and cat-like green eyes. Despite his aristocratic appearance, his demeanor was far from noble. His white uniform sleeves were roughly rolled up, exposing muscular forearms, and the collar buttons were left undone. Peering at the open collar, Eve even caught a glimpse of the black tattoo inked on his left neck. Did he look like a knight? He seemed more like a delinquent. Several priests who had been surrounding Eve attempted to engage him in conversation, congratulating him on his imminent departure for the capital to receive the Empress's commendation as a Knight of the Imperial Order—an honor bestowed personally by Her Majesty, reserved for the highest echelons of knighthood. However, he showed no appreciation for their words. Xavier's voice was cold. "Are you all so idle? Keep your distance." The atmosphere grew awkward instantly. The priests who had been around Eve seemed to deliberately avoid the knight's icy demeanor, one by one leaving until only Eve and Xavier remained in the vast library. As the surroundings finally cleared, Eve took the opportunity to refocus on her book. She was holding a copy of "Introduction to Level One Light-based Spells for Temple Use," scribbling notes as she spoke. "You know, you're being quite unpleasant." "Oh? So what should I do then?" Xavier glanced at her, indifferent. "Should I put on a silly smile like you and desperately pander to those idiots?" Eve was accustomed to his sarcasm, showing no sign of discomfort. Instead, she remained quite composed. "You're mistaken," she corrected him. "I don't look silly when I smile. Besides, they're just trying to help me. Look, they even brought me a bunch of study notes for the assessment." "That junk? I can get you as much as you want." Xavier furrowed his handsome brows. "But that's not your problem." "I know, but I'm entirely different from you. I lack any practical talents." Eve shrugged nonchalantly. Despite his appearance and behavior resembling that of an uncouth troublemaker, Xavier was admired not only within the temple but also throughout the entire town. Eve had grown up alongside him since childhood, but he consistently outshone her in every aspect. While Eve, at eighteen, was struggling with basic spell assessments, Xavier had already passed the highest-level spell assessments and been invited by the Royal Chief Mage to become his apprentice. At the age of sixteen, he had single-handedly challenged a dragon during his coming-of-age ceremony. He was flawless in both magic and combat, truly a prodigy of the gods born in this remote town. If it weren't for his terrible temper, he would undoubtedly be even more popular. "Because I lack talent, I don't understand what you're saying. Although our relationship isn't great, considering we've grown up together, could you please stop embarrassing me all the time?" Eve's smile was ambiguous, seemingly a mix of anger and amusement. Hearing her words, Xavier was unusually stunned, unable to regain his composure for a while. "That's not what I meant. I'm sorry," he apologized, lowering his head like a guilty dog. Eve found him adorable, about to offer him a way out. "You've been acting differently lately," Xavier suddenly remarked. Eve paused, asking, "What do you mean?" "You're no longer sneaking around, making excuses to go places outside the temple. Your movements used to be quite suspicious, but now they're more normal," Xavier stated. "Wow, you know a lot," Eve said, tilting her head to look at him, her eyes lit up like golden wells in the twilight, exuding a gentle, cool spring. "Have you been following me?" she asked. Xavier nodded confidently, leaving Eve at a loss for words. All she could ask was if he had found anything. "I found nothing, which is why I found it strange," Xavier replied. At this point, he stared directly into Eve's eyes with his emotionless green eyes, while Eve, holding her face, stared back at Xavier. Neither of them looked away first. Eventually, Eve broke the silence, asking, "Xavier, do you have someone you like?" Xavier first looked surprised, then frowned, displaying his impatience openly. "Why are you asking that?" he demanded. "I just wanted to know, would you want the person you like to be happy after you die?" Xavier's frown deepened, and even his gaze towards Eve became strange. "What kind of question is that? Are you feeling alright?" Sensing the genuine resistance in Xavier's response, Eve's lips curved into a faint smile as she murmured softly to herself, "Well, forget I said anything." "Normal people would think like that. Even without themselves, the person they like can still find happiness," Xavier sheathed his long sword, his green eyes lowering before lifting again. With Eve's silhouette haloed in the light, her shadow appeared fuzzy, like a fluffy golden dandelion reflected in his eyes. "But not me," Xavier chuckled coldly. "If I found out that after I die, that girl happily runs off to live with some wild man, I'd wish to come back just to kill her myself. I'd make myself so significant, so crucial, that her life would sink completely into the mire the moment I'm gone, turning into a pile of mud." "So, I won't die. At least not before she does," Xavier's tone was harsh, facing the sunset, yet his words felt as chilling as a winter night. Eve blinked, holding her face, smiling happily. Without waiting for Xavier to frown and question her smile, "Xavier," Eve pronounced his name, like reciting a short poem, slowly saying, "You're really cute, Xavier." Xavier lowered his head, gripping the long sword in his hand somewhat stiffly. This was the last conversation between Xavier and Eve before he left the small town. The next day, Xavier departed for the capital, accompanied by several other knights from the temple. The High Priest, concerned about his youthful exuberance, specifically selected a few elders to accompany him. In the days that followed, Eve's life continued in its usual routine—praying and devouring books in the reading room. Once again, Eve remembered Assash, who had completely disappeared. It was one night in her dreams when she saw him. He had black hair and black eyes, a rather ordinary appearance that almost blurred into the background, yet Eve recognized him instantly. He kept walking forward, ignoring Eve's calls, never turning back. Eve saw a long, undulating black shadow trailing beneath his feet, and his body grew increasingly blurry, almost melting like ink. "I'm tired, I don't want to go on," Eve reached out to him, her words light as a feather drifting on calm water, "Are you going to keep leaving, or will you come back for me?" He heard her words, then turned around. But as he turned, his body immediately turned into a mass of black mist. From that floating mist, a hand suddenly emerged, tightly gripping Eve's outstretched wrist, a hand that was not human. Each finger was covered in tiny black scales, more like claws or insect appendages than fingers. The black mist gradually coalesced into a towering figure, resembling a small mountain, while another hand emerged, as if to grab Eve's neck. But in the end, he merely touched Eve's hair that hung by her ear, then gently brushed her face. "Assash," even though she was clearly at a disadvantage, Eve still softly called out his name. After all, it was just a dream, her mind was no longer clear, and all sensations and perceptions unfolded like tiny fireworks, bursting, bursting, bursting. Though he hadn't done anything, she felt as if she were being tempted, bewitched, wanting to embrace this creature. At the same time Eve reached out her hand, she also opened her eyes. Eve's eyes didn't open to an empty, dark night but to the pale face of a woman. She recognized her immediately as Lena. At that moment, Lena was straddling Eve silently, her hands firmly gripping Eve's neck, her touch light as if caressing her. Lena's eyes were wide open, staring down at her with a dark void where her pupils and whites should be. Her mouth hung open, emitting a putrid-smelling liquid that dripped onto Eve's face.