Chapter 72: Absorption
The previous Edgar, whose body was taken over, had once tried to become an Aberrant.
But luck was not on his side, and he couldn’t become one.
Things spiraled down from there. His childhood friend betrayed him, everyone turned against him, and in the end, he took his own life.
’I wonder if things would really have been different if you had awakened.’
Edgar wondered, looking at the White Nightmare Stone in his hand.
He was sure Albert Atreus--the current head of the Atreus Clan would have thrown him out regardless of the circumstances.
Taking a slow breath, Edgar tightened his grip around the smooth white stone.
Just as the memories of the previous Edgar recalled, he silently recited the ritual while willing the Nightmare Stone to merge with his body.
The white stone gradually began to glow.
Tiny strands of pale light seeped out of its surface before flowing into his palm like countless threads.
A strange warmth spread through his arm.
The Nightmare Stone slowly crumbled into fine white dust.
The dust didn’t fall to the ground. Instead, it dissolved into light and disappeared into his body.
’...Hm, why do I feel nothing?’
Edgar wondered, staring at his empty hand. Even though he had confirmed that he could absorb the stones, the lack of any immediate change made him suspicious.
Without wasting time, Edgar picked up another Nightmare Stone and repeated the process.
Once again, the stone dissolved into countless threads of light before disappearing into his body.
Still, he didn’t feel anything had changed in his body.
Edgar absorbed another stone and another.
He kept doing it until he had absorbed ten of them.
Only after doing so did he feel a substantial change.
Thump!!
His second heart,the Solar Heart, began to beat louder and louder.
"Huh?"
A startled voice escaped his lips when Edgar felt an unexplainable warmth run through him.
His skin began to emit a faint golden light that spread like veins all over his body.
Thump! Thump!!
He finally understood where all the absorbed Nightmare Stones were going.
They were getting pumped by his Solar Heart like blood to every part of his body!!
The warmth made Edgar feel at home, like standing beneath the morning sun after a freezing winter night.
But the feeling didn’t last for too long.
Golden veins continued spreading beneath his skin before gradually fading from sight.
Every trace of essence that had been roaming throughout his body returned to his chest before condensing inside his heart.
"That’s it?"
Edgar wondered aloud before trying to find any changes in his body.
’Hmm, there is no physical change, but I definitely feel a lot lighter and more relaxed.’
He jumped up and down, and Edgar felt he was jumping much higher than normal.
’Did my stats change?’
He quickly pulled up his status screen.
---
[Name: Edgar Atreus]
[Class: Sun]
[Level: 1]
[Stats:]
Strength: 21
Speed: 21
Agility: 21
Endurance: 21
---
’So, my stats did improve...’
Edgar thought, rubbing his chin with a thoughtful look on his face.
With a tired sigh, he sat down on the sofa and leaned his head back, feeling the need for sleep.
’Let me sleep for a while...’
Edgar closed his eyes and relaxed his body, losing consciousness a short while later.
---
Hera Yamhad sat silently on the bed that didn’t belong to her.
Those ember-red eyes drifted outside the house and remained fixed on the things happening below.
"....They are all happy."
She whispered in a low voice, looking at the children playing around.
Hera, like most people born into a powerful family, had spent her entire life being sheltered.
She didn’t have a nice childhood, but she was happy with whatever she had until she lost it all in one night.
Thinking about the Nightmare, who almost looked like a human, standing over her father’s dead body made her shudder.
Even though she never had the best relationship with Theo, she still cared for him.
She slowly hugged her knees closer to her chest.
The lively sounds outside felt strangely distant. Just yesterday, these same people had been crying in despair.
Now they looked as though they had found hope again.
"...All because of one person."
Her mind drifted toward the blonde boy who had been there for her when no one else was.
Even after provoking the Northern Sect, he hadn’t shown the slightest sign of fear.
"..."
She lowered her gaze.
’What kind of person are you...?’
Yesterday, she had been convinced he was simply another selfish noble.
Someone who only wanted to possess her.
Yet, he had never once looked at her with the same disgusting eyes as Cedric.
Hera was really conflicted about what to feel toward him.
A part of her was really grateful, but another part of her was scared.
Scared of the fact that perhaps there would come a day when he would take her virginity.
Her fingers unconsciously tightened around the blanket.
She knew exactly what people expected from a beautiful woman with no family left to protect her.
Taking in a deep breath, she slowly got out of bed.
"What do you need, my lady?"
Her maid, Reeba, quickly stood up to help her, but Hera refused.
"I...I will just look around," Hera replied, shaking her head. "Please don’t follow me."
Reeba hesitated, but all she could do was nod in response.
Hera walked out of her room and, using the stairs, arrived at the main hall.
Her eyes immediately drifted toward the blonde boy who was sleeping on the sofa.
Unconsciously, the girl drifted closer until she was standing beside him.
Up close, she could see his tired face, which was relaxed like a baby’s.
’...What is this feeling?’
Hera also noticed an unexplainable warmth radiating from his body. It was cozy and soothing.
The girl had never known about the Sun in her entire life, so the feeling was something entirely new.
"....."
Watching him sleep so carelessly made her realize something.
He trusted the people inside this Fortress enough to let his guard down.
’...Can I trust you as much as you trust me?’
Her thoughts were borderline delusional, but she never realized it.
Hera slowly sat down on the sofa beside him.
She basked in his warmth, which made her forget every negative feeling.
The white-haired girl fell asleep beside him before she even realized it.