Dao Wei rose from his seat and approached Lucid, wrapping her in a comforting embrace. "Hey… I'm sorry you had to go through that. I understand the pain of losing family… It never truly goes away."
"A mother will do anything to protect her children; it's your instinct. You did what you thought would help them survive. I'd have done the same."
"In a way, I already did when I… Sigh. When I killed that demon Mevra to save Rin. I chose for her to live free, forever. I couldn't bear the thought of a world without her."
"Tia—Dao Wei… I… thank you." Lucid looked into Dao Wei's eyes, her sadness slowly giving way to gratitude. "You're kind… and warm."
Dao Wei held her for a little while longer, until she managed to gather herself.
"Okay! I think it's time I told you about the other Cosmic Beings." Lucid was now sitting beside Dao Wei.
Her spirit seemed renewed, and her beautiful face shone brightly. "This will change everything you know, T—Dao Wei. Sigh."
"I'm ready for whatever it is. I've already faced death. What else could surprise me?" Dao Wei's confidence was unwavering.
Lucid looked at him with a warm, charming smile. "It's not that simple, Dao Wei… But, you're not exactly ordinary. You might be able to handle it… with some guidance."
For reasons unknown, Dao Wei felt an unshakable trust in Lucid and accepted her guidance without hesitation.
Lucid's smile widened. "It's simple! You trust me because we're…"
She stopped herself mid-sentence and looked away.
"Because I'm your goddess." Her voice was barely audible.
"A-Anyway… I'm not the one who'll be guiding you."
"Who, then, if not you?" Dao Wei was clearly puzzled, especially since it was just the two of them here.
"Ailia. She's the only one qualified for what I have in mind." Lucid's mischievous smile made her look like a little she-devil.
Despite his knowledge of gods and other beings, Dao Wei had never heard of her. "Ailia?"
Lucid sat up, intrigued. "You've never heard of her? She's quite famous among mortals."
"Never heard of her. Is she one of the Divines?" Dao Wei's grasp of cosmic lore was embarrassingly lacking.
"Marvellous!" Lucid snickered. "Simply brilliant!" Her laughter could cure any illness.
"That was glorious! No, she isn't one of the Divines. Ailia, Maiden of Purity. She's a Celestial."