Chapter 20 - The Goddess' mistake

The celestial figure nodded in understanding. "Of course, Lillith. We have much to discuss and clarify. But first, rest and regain your strength. You've been through a lot."

With that, Lillith settled into the comfortable surroundings of the celestial mansion, her mind filled with anticipation and a newfound sense of hope. She couldn't help but wonder about the mysteries of this place and the girl who had led her here.

As she pondered, Lillith's thoughts drifted towards the next chapter of her journey. After a few minutes in the mansion's waiting room, the glowing silhouette of her guide reappeared. "Are you ready?" Lillith stood up and responded, determination in her voice. "As ready as I'll ever be."

During those moments of waiting, Lillith had managed to collect her thoughts. She realized that her death in the cave had been connected to the celestial figure's main body, and she had been brought to this realm of souls or the prelude to reincarnation. Her knowledge of anime and novels led her to believe that her next encounter might be with a god or goddess. With a sense of anticipation, Lillith followed her guide to a surprisingly ordinary-looking door in contrast to the rest of the celestial mansion.

As Lillith turned the doorknob and stepped into the room, a gentle, warm light enveloped her. It emanated from a large window at the back of the room, casting a soft and inviting glow throughout the space. In the center of the room, a beautifully crafted desk stood as a focal point, its surface adorned with intricate patterns reminiscent of celestial constellations.

The walls of the room were lined with towering bookshelves, their shelves filled with tomes and scrolls that seemed to hold untold knowledge. The books appeared to shimmer with a faint, ethereal light, giving the room an aura of wisdom.

Two plush couches faced each other in the center of the room, with a low, elegant table resting between them. The couches were adorned with celestial motifs, their deep, opal-colored fabric inviting and comfortable.

As Lillith took in the surroundings, she noticed that one of the couches was already occupied. A girl with an aura of otherworldly grace sat there, her features exuding a sense of ethereal beauty.

Behind the seated girl, two figures stood with an air of authority. One had hair like the deepest night, streaked with regal purple, and the other possessed opal eyes that radiated maturity and wisdom. Their presence in the room added to the atmosphere of reverence and mystique.

Lillith felt a mix of curiosity and apprehension as she realized that she had entered a space of profound significance.

Lillith stepped further into the room, her eyes scanning the surroundings with a mixture of awe and curiosity. It was a place that seemed to bridge the gap between the celestial and the earthly, where knowledge and wisdom were held in high regard.

As her gaze settled on the girl seated on one of the couches, Lillith couldn't help but wonder about the mysteries that lay ahead. The girl had an otherworldly quality about her, her presence both calming and enigmatic.

With a sense of determination, Lillith spoke her thoughts aloud. "Let me guess, you guys are gods."

The woman behind the couch offered a gentle smile, her iridescent opal eyes reflecting a deep well of knowledge. "In a manner of speaking, yes. We are beings of great power and responsibility, but some of us prefer not to label ourselves as anything specific." Lillith nodded, absorbing this information.

"Allow me to introduce myself," the woman continued. "I am Seriphina. The guy standing next to me is my husband, and the girl sitting is our daughter and the reason for your troubles and death."

Lillith's gaze moved from the girl to the two figures standing beside her, acknowledging each of them in turn. She was acutely aware that she had entered a realm of immense significance.

The girl gestured toward the empty couch opposite her. "Please, have a seat, Lillith. We have much to discuss."

As Lillith settled into the inviting couch, her curiosity about these enigmatic beings grew. She couldn't help but wonder what role they played in the events that had brought her to this celestial mansion.

The woman behind the couch offered a gentle smile, her iridescent opal eyes reflecting a deep well of knowledge. "In a manner of speaking, yes. We are beings of great power and responsibility, but we prefer not to label ourselves as anything specific," Seriphina explained, her playful demeanor contrasting with the gravity of the story she was about to recount.

Lillith nodded, absorbing this information, curiosity burning within her.

"Allow me to introduce myself," Seriphina continued, her tone shifting to one of more somber reflection. "I am Seriphina. The man standing next to me is my husband, Erevos. And the girl sitting there is our daughter and, well, the reason for your troubles and death."

Lillith's gaze moved from the girl to Erevos and Seriphina, acknowledging each of them in turn. She was acutely aware that she had entered a realm of immense significance.

Seriphina gestured toward the empty couch opposite her, her playful demeanor giving way to a more serious one. "Please, have a seat, Lillith. We have much to discuss."

As Lillith settled into the inviting couch, her curiosity about these enigmatic beings grew. She couldn't help but wonder what role they played in the events that had brought her to this celestial mansion.

"Erevos began to explain, his voice carrying a soothing resonance. 'You see, Lillith, this is our daughter's first time overseeing the affairs of Earth. Until now, other deities have managed the world, but Lunaire wanted to take on some of the responsibility gained from her title as the Lunar Goddess of Death and Rebirth.'"

Seriphina continued the narrative, her demeanor shifting as she delved into the events that had transpired. "On her very first day, Lunaire created a soul and, regrettably, accidentally cursed it with terrible luck and misfortune. That soul, Lillith, is you."

Lillith's eyes widened as she absorbed the shocking revelation, her heart heavy with the implications of her existence.

Seriphina continued, her voice laced with empathy. "As Lunaire was watching over her creation, the curse unexpectedly activated and caused the cave-in. Lunaire, in her panic, received a prompt from the system she uses to govern Earth. It asked if she wanted a list of people to die, which included her creation and its lover."

Erevos took over, his gentle but firm voice conveying the gravity of the situation. "In her state of distress, Lunaire accidentally selected the option, triggering the second quake that killed you and trapped Rika, causing her to suffocate."

Lillith listened in stunned silence, her understanding of the events deepening with each word. She had been inadvertently caught in a cosmic web of errors and accidents, and Lunaire's inexperience had played a crucial role in her fate.

As the explanation came to a close, Lillith couldn't help but feel a complex mixture of emotions—gratitude for the truth, sorrow for her own fate, and growing hatred toward the cause of all the death and misfortune she had witnessed.