Chapter 419 The Return (2/2)

"And I-I took that all from you I knehat you would have wanted, and deep down, it's what I wanted too But even then, even then-,"

Aldrich looked across at Valera His otten that other life He had lived a fully huot to love with an open heart, a heart that had not shattered and forged back strong but broken from the death of his parents

He…understood Valera better now He understood that love of hers That single-, even the destruction of a world, to stay alive

It was the same kind of love he had in his other life

Elaine's last words echoed in his mind To love here as he had loved there

Aldrich had lived a full life in the other world, and though it had ended, he knew he had a life here to still live out

Aldrich reached out and pulled Valera into a tight hug Valera's eyes widened as she froze at the hug, arlad you're here," said Aldrich "I'lad you love me"

Valera closed her eyes and wrapped her arether, they stayed like that, their hearts opened, their feelings coiled around each other in understanding and affirht enveloped the two, coone now Only a few sparkles of white remained as evidence that they had been in that colorless real the all consuain

==

Aldrich and Valera found themselves in a familiar location The top of the Necropolis tower, before the enora-structure

The bell that usually shone with near blinding radiance was now diht

"Welcome back" The Death Lord addressed theether, and shrugged "Guess I've been beaten Ah well, there's always second place, eh?"

She smiled before she tore off her cloak and then split it into two before tossing both halves over to Aldrich and Valera, clothing them

"What…happened?" said Aldrich "Not just to me, but to you To this realrown noticeably skinnier, losing a good chunk of her norhtly sunken in, as if she had gone fasting for days One of her horns was gone

Above her, in the skies of the Death Reallobe that someone had hammered

"You were taken into a different realm, one far, far away from our Axis," said the Death Lord

"Axis?"

"Realms similar to each other are easier to reach Take for exaic separates us, yes, but the lives that populate our realms are not too dissimilar If ere to look at the humans of your realm and the Elumen, they are almost entirely the same," explained the Death Lord "Similar realms share an Axis The one you were sent to was to another, where the very laws of existence, of space and tin"

"Why are we here?" asked Valera "I thought ould return to the hu there naked as you are? Hah, now that would be quite the sight!" the Death Lord chuckled, and Valera faintly blushed "Fear not I will have armor replacements for the both of you As for why you are here, why, it is because I reached out to you

It is my power that you felt My mana that I sent across the void of stars for you to anchor to"

"So that was you…" murmured Valera

"Yes, it was And, as you can see-," the Death Lord unrolled the sleeve of her robes and tried to flex her bicep There was not much there to show "It took quite a bit froh, I am happy to say, my poas not wasted Look"

The Death Lord tapped her forehead and nodded towards Aldrich, indicating him to do the same He checked his head to see that he had a horn

One identical to the Death Lord's, as if he had taken herhorn

"I must say, it does not look too shabby on you," nodded the Death Lord