It’s Not Night - Chapter 174.2

“Why can’t I understand you? Despite always being by your side, why can’t I fully grasp you?”

“….What are you talking about?”

“Why? Why indeed? How could you be so consistent even in your last choice? Those foolish and greedy beings. By abandoning you like that…”

Nera suddenly began to cry.

“My dear sister, my Anat.”

“…”

“Your eyes were clear. Your choice was right. Those harsh tasks, humans have somehow managed to overcome them, just like this child in front of me.”

Nera removed her hand from Andra’s cheek and took a step back. Even as she did so, she continued to let tears show. It was unclear why she was crying. Nera simply looked inconsolably sad.

Andra then asked,

“What exactly was the eighth task?”

“Only now you ask.”

“The eighth task was…”

Nera did not answer the question. Instead, she spoke cryptically.

“In the end, even I was caught in my own trap.”

Nera returned to the golden throne. She leaned back in the chair and sat down languidly, but despite her graceful and gentle gestures, tears kept streaming down her face. After a moment, Nera said weakly,

“Everything about you and that child.”

Andra looked at Nera incredulously.

“All of it?”

“All of it.”

“That can’t be, how can…”

Andra trailed off, her expression was of disbelief.

“There’s no such thing as coincidence, child. It’s merely a pleasant excuse, self-deception by those who wish to deny reality.”

“But why? Why does it have to be like this?”

“I told you. It was the task given to you humans.”

Nera’s tears kept flowing, soaking the area around her.

“To doubt those you love and to endlessly desire. That was the greatest sin and the task I gave you. It’s what my sister went through and now you, her successor, are experiencing it.”

Anat and Dean, Andra and Dustin.

There are no coincidences. When it was Nera’s turn, she orchestrated everything. She wanted them to hurt each other in their longing for love. And she wanted to tell Anat, “Look, Sister. Your choice has ultimately put humans in danger. You have failed.”

But Nera realized that she, in fact, was the one who had failed.

“Yet you and that child chose. Despite it being a foolish act, you acknowledged it. It’s truly incomprehensible…”

Andra looked at Nera’s sad face. Nera was now covering her face with both hands, wondering where things had gone wrong. She had thought it was perfect, that they could never overcome her trials.

As if to show off, they had chosen to move forward for each other.

“The child I had pinned my hopes on ended up making a choice too. This is why my sister trusted you. Her judgment was accurate.”

“But… Hezel is being destroyed right now!”

Suddenly, Andra yelled at Nera. If she and Dustin had indeed succeeded in her trial, why was Hezel still facing destruction?

“That’s why my sister said…”

“What….”

“Save that child.”

Andra furrowed her brow. That child?

“The task isn’t something only the two of you can resolve. Haven’t you forgotten someone?”

“Who…?”

At that moment, Andra thought of Dean. But Dean, wasn’t he inside the dragon? However, as soon as she acknowledged it was indeed Dean, the pieces fell into place. Sensing Andra’s realization, Nera spoke.

“He is not whole. After seven cycles, and now the eighth, his soul is severely clouded. Left as is, he might indeed end the task as a disaster. But you know a way to restore him to what he was meant to be.”

Andra shook her head. She doesn’t know. How could she possibly…

“Shouldn’t you put an end to it?”

Finally, Nera stopped her tears and looked directly at Andra.

Suddenly, Andra found a small dagger in her hand. Its blade shone brightly, keen and sharp. Andra looked up at Nera with a dazed expression. What was she supposed to do with Dean using this…

“Here in Hezel, death would be a reprieve.”

“…”

“Finish what was started. Don’t hesitate, child. This is the last trial given to you and that child. Prevent the catastrophe.”

With those words, Nera vanished. It happened in an instant. The golden throne where god had sat weeping was now empty. Andra stared at the dagger in her hand with a blank face.