The World Is Mine For The Taking

I had no idea who could have sparked the war, of course. I wasn't born in that era. But if I had to guess...

"Lilith," I said, my gaze fixed on the portrait of the black-haired woman. She seemed to be the central figure in the murals, so it made sense to point to her as the catalyst for this war. And this woman... was no doubt Lilith.

It wasn't a question of what or why. It was a question of who.

Solaris nodded. "That's right. Lilith, or Eclair as she's also known, is the cause of the war," she said. "I don't know the reason, though. Mother never told me anything about that."

"I see..."

"Lilith in that era was a daughter of demons," she explained, her voice carrying an air of ancient knowledge. "She met her end back then, and later she was reincarnated as Lilith again, this time born to human parents."

"So that's why I have humans in my blood too, huh?" I mused, connecting the dots.

"That's right," she confirmed, her gaze steady. "Each of her reincarnations has left an imprint on your lineage."

So Lilith had undergone two reincarnations? Hmm, but... Maybe I was just overthinking things.

"Since you're essentially a part of her and her creation, she's like your mother. How does that make you feel?" Artemis inquired.

"I honestly have no idea how to feel about it," I confessed. "It's not like I'm particularly close to her. I've only seen her in my dreams once."

"She said she was inside you, right?"

"Not exactly," I replied. "She didn't use those words, but she did say that where I met her was my deepest subconscious."

"You've met one of your siblings, right?" she asked, probing further.

"Yes," I confirmed.

"Well, I'm guessing all the parts are women, Leon," she continued. "If what you're saying is true—that Lilith is inside you—then it's probably because you're the only male among the five parts."

"What do you mean?" I asked, my voice tinged with concern.

"She's using you as her vessel," Solaris stated matter-of-factly.

"Vessel?"

"Yes, she's planning to use your body as a vessel for her reincarnation," Solaris elaborated.

"What? She's going to take over my body?"

"That's a possibility," Solaris confirmed. "But as long as you don't copy the skills of your siblings, the chances of her taking control of your body are very slim."

"Why is that?"

"Well, if you did, then you would have the skills that Lilith once had," Solaris explained.

That explanation seemed broad, but it made sense. Lilith was the original possessor of the five skills, so if I had absorbed the other four, there was a risk that Lilith could reincarnate into my body and take control.

"Just make sure you don't have sex with any of your siblings, and that won't happen."

Should I mention to her that Elise and I were already getting to that point? Nah, that wasn't really worth bringing up.

"This is a bit off-topic, but I want to ask you something," she said, shifting the conversation.

"What is it?" I asked, curious about her sudden change in direction.

"Have you and my daughter kissed yet?" she inquired, her eyes gleaming with interest.

It was a good question, actually. Despite everything we had done, kissing hadn't been part of it. It felt odd that we had gone straight to anal before even sharing a kiss or having vaginal sex.

"No, we haven't," I admitted.

"Really? You've done all that other stuff, but you haven't even kissed?" she remarked, raising an eyebrow.

I responded with a casual shrug, and her smile widened at my demeanor.

"Then..." Leaning closer, she pressed her lips against mine in a brief but meaningful peck. "With this, I'm the first elf to kiss you, Leon," she announced softly.

The Elven Queen's blush spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears, her usual regal demeanor giving way to a rare display of shyness. She looked utterly adorable, a stark contrast to her usual composed elegance, like Artemis. It seemed that charm and beauty indeed ran deep in the family.

"That's a bit embarrassing," she admitted with a gentle laugh, turning slightly away. "My first kiss with a man has finally happened. And it was lovely." She delicately traced her lips with her fingertips, savoring the moment.

After a while, she fake-coughed and then said, "Well then, shall we head back up now?"

Hmm. I suppose she was finished explaining what was down here in the basement, huh? It felt like she omitted a lot, but if she wanted to go back now, I'd go with her. Still, there seemed to be much more to uncover about Lilith. I wonder when I'll get to meet her again?

***

Solaris's POV

I possess the skill known as Prophecy, granting me the ability to peer far into the future, though I can only glimpse it once.

A century ago, I experienced a vivid vision. In it, I saw a striking young man with jet-black hair, fiery red eyes, horns protruding from his forehead, and majestic bat-like wings spreading from his back. He commanded a vast army, and among his ranks stood a figure who bore a striking resemblance to me, yet she was not me. It was Artemis, my daughter.

In this prophetic scene, I wasn't at the forefront of battle but rather cradling a child, a girl, in my arms. I saw myself not as a warrior but as a mother... of two, I supposed. This child's birth was not a result of magic but a product of intimate union with a man of mixed heritage. The child possessed ebony hair and elongated ears.

I was probably there to witness the war unfold. Or perhaps I participated because I wanted to be involved?

Behind my daughter stood a massive army comprising humans, elves, and various other races. It was surreal to see these disparate groups, who once harbored animosity toward each other, now standing shoulder to shoulder against a formidable horde of enemies.

It was truly unbelievable, but the world had come together, united under the leadership of this man at the forefront.

I was also certain that the child I was holding in my arms was his and mine. In that moment, I realized he was my destined man, the one who would save our race from the brink of extinction. If he managed to unite all the races in the world, then he truly might be the fated one.

That was the prophecy I saw.

When Artemis brought the man with her a century after I saw that prophecy, I immediately sensed something unique about him. The mana surrounding him was dense yet imperceptible, a paradox that intrigued me. Unsure but curious, I probed deeper, testing him subtly, and soon confirmed that he was the one foretold in the prophecy.

Later, in the solitude of my room, I gazed at the night sky through the interlacing branches that adorned my chamber.

"Leon probably doesn't know how powerful his skill is," I mused to myself. "I won't tell him, though. I'd hate for him to get complacent just because I mentioned it. I'll quietly observe as he improves himself. I'll offer advice gently so he won't feel overwhelmed. I can't wait to see him grow strong."

I had no idea when the prophecy would unfold, or why it had come to pass. But now that I was with the man destined to be by my side, I could finally rest easy.

"Now then, it's time for me to try out the night crawling technique my mother once told me about," I murmured to myself, a mischievous smile playing on my lips. I pulled off my clothes, letting them fall to the floor, and reached for a negligee from my closet. The silky fabric felt cool against my skin as I slipped it on, the delicate lace hugging my curves.

I paused for a moment, staring at my reflection in the mirror. This was the first time I was wearing something like this for a purpose other than sleep, and the anticipation sent a thrill through me. The negligee clung to me in all the right places, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement for what was to come.

***

Leon's POV

I was lying in bed next to Artemis. She wasn't asleep—I could tell—but she was strangely quiet. I had no idea what was on her mind.

"Don't you think you should get some rest now? We didn't exactly take it easy last night, and then we headed straight here," I said to her.

"What? You know I'm still awake?" she replied.

"Yeah," I confirmed.

When I answered, she turned to face me. "Why are you asking me that when you've been through the same and still haven't slept yourself?"

"Well, I can't exactly fall asleep with someone who's still awake beside me, can I? What's the problem?" I asked.

Suddenly, her hand reached out and touched my chest. Her fingers traced over the fabric of my clothes as she continued to gaze at me.

"Well, what do you think?"