Naraka held Nujah in her arms, rocking him gently as she exclaimed with excitement:
"Well done! You defeated the old witch at her own game."
Nujah, still trembling, whispered with a shaky voice:
"She was far more terrifying than she seemed… If you hadn't been there, I don't know what I would have done."
Tears welled up as he clung to her, though strangely, his tears were red.
Naraka shook her head.
"I heard… even if I couldn't see it. Never mind—get excited now."
She cupped his face, forcing him to look at her. Turning her hand golden, she wiped away his tears, absorbing the fear, anger, and sorrow inside him until he was cleansed. Then she continued:
"If even a single hair on your head had been harmed, I would have drowned that place in so much light they wouldn't even find the ashes of a body, my son. Even death itself—do you understand? Cheer up. I'm here with you," she added with a smile.
Then, firmly, she declared:
"Neither of them—not Death, nor his mother Valuva—will ever set foot here again."
Nujah asked quietly:
"Does Death have the same kind of nature?"
Still holding him, Naraka began to explain:
"Death believed he was the one worthy of my power. When he saw that someone like me—a weak woman, and worse, a human—was chosen, he lost his mind. I defeated him in most of our battles, but his rage never faded. No matter how calmly I spoke, he carried his mother's anger in him."
After a moment, Naraka's voice softened with guilt:
"Even knowing how much they resented me, I still sent you there. For that, I am sorry."
Nujah shook his head.
"I know you didn't mean it that way. If they treated me badly, that's their fault, not ours."
Just as he was about to close the subject, he added:
"But I'm sorry too. I should have left right away instead of listening to their lies."
Naraka slowed her steps, her voice lowering further:
"There were truths in what they said as well…"
Nujah answered:
"It doesn't matter to me. Even if it's true, would you tell me?"
Naraka closed her eyes briefly, then opened them again as they descended the stairs.
"I have a sibling. Not by blood, but still… Do you know her name? Perhaps your brothers have mentioned it."
Nujah frowned.
"No. The subject of siblings never came up."
Naraka sighed.
"In this realm, in Shiora's very shade, there lives a woman—dark, wrathful, though with a sliver of goodness inside her. We fought for centuries. In our first battle, I was still human, and she was the Goddess of Darkness. Everyone else was too afraid to move against her—everyone but me. I threw myself at her with all my strength, knowing I would die. Of course, it did nothing."
As she reached the great door, Naraka continued:
"The soldiers beside me, ashamed by their own fear, finally found courage and joined in. Hundreds of thousands died, but in the end they managed to seal my sister away. As for me, I was reborn within the true Light, my body restored. When I looked into the Light, it was as if it spoke to me—but there were too many voices. Countless, endless streams of knowledge crashed into me, nearly driving me mad. It was then Valuva appeared. She taught me how to use my power, gave me support. But when she saw my potential, something changed in her."
"Not long after, she said she wanted to leave. I begged her not to—just so I wouldn't be alone. But she didn't care. She told me, 'This is a problem you must solve yourself,' and abandoned me in that sea of voices. Alone, I tried things I cannot even name, but no matter what I did, my body healed too quickly. And then… I heard a whisper: 'Why not make your own kingdom? Create your own people, or gather them. You have the capacity to do anything you desire.'"
"So I created my children. With strange, rare substances… but most of all, with my own blood. Not to guard me, not to enslave them—my only wish was not to be alone."
Nujah lifted his head and spoke firmly:
"Mother, there is only one thing you must know. From what I've seen, your children love you more than their own lives—and they are right. Whatever happens, whatever you do, we stand behind you. Not because you are the Goddess of Light, but because you are our Mother. Because you showed us this beautiful world, and made it brighter by being with us. That… is worth more than anything."
Then he raised his voice:
"I am Nujah! The youngest Shinrei! No matter what happens, no matter what you do, I will always support you and stand at your side!"
Naraka could no longer hold back her tears. She formed two hands of light to applaud, and another to wipe her face.
Nujah embraced her, closing his eyes.
With a trembling, tear-stained voice, Naraka stroked his hair:
"You've earned your rest."
She touched his forehead, lulling him into sleep, and carried him back to his chamber. But just as she was about to lay him on his bed, she changed her mind. With her own light she formed a chaise lounge, lay down upon it, and held Nujah close as she joined him.
And there, for the first time in her life, Naraka forced herself to close her eyes.