"...."
Before the Cosmic Elder's roar could fade, Althera clenched her teeth so tightly her jaw trembled, then lowered herself until her forehead almost brushed the sand. Her voice was faint yet filled with shame. "Forgive me… I let my emotions take control."
"Tsk~" The old man clicked his tongue, then turned toward Robin with that same sly grin that mixed both mischief and decay. He tilted his head toward Althera and said with mock amusement, "Women and their feelings, huh? Heh heh heh."
"...." Robin couldn't help but smile faintly, even in front of that distasteful laugh. There was a bitter warmth in it—because this was the old man's way of coping.
This ancient being… in his own mind, he was already gone. Every breath he took was borrowed time. These last few days, he hadn't truly lived—he had merely been waiting for the right moment to exhale his final breath and step quietly out of existence.
