Yarin's POV:
Linda died. As her body lost vitality, her soul slowly departed from the earthly shackles, drifting upward like a balloon released from its tether.
She stared blankly into nothingness, her expression vacant, as if all the sharp emotions from her life had remained in her mortal body. What remained was like over-chewed gum, utterly useless trash.
Azazel didn't spare a glance at the pitiful soul. A few seconds later, Linda's last attachment to this world dissipated like dust in the wind.
I didn't understand magic, nor did I have much knowledge about souls, but when Linda vanished, I felt it was an eternal ending. Linda's soul couldn't go anywhere; it had disintegrated, and there would never be a reincarnation.
From dust to dust, from earth to earth.
Azazel continued to smile as if nothing had happened.
"Didn't they say demons have lava running through their veins? You are truly heartless," I said.
He didn't seem to care. "I never forced her to do anything. I respected her choices, granted her supreme power, and allowed her to experience the warmth of family and kinship. I thought I did quite well. Even the kindest gods wouldn't indulge their followers as much as I did."
"You tempted her."
"Everyone is tempted, and everyone tempts others. I'm just doing something that anyone could do and would do."
"You're just trying to justify yourself. You know you're giving birth to evil."
"What is evil? What isn't evil? To you, I'm a villain. To Linda, I'm her savior. It's all a matter of perspective."
Azazel continued our conversation calmly, seemingly no longer in a hurry because of death. He sat cross-legged on the ground, supporting his chin with his hand, looking at me with interest.
"Child, I've made many efforts to survive, but eventually, I must admit it's all in vain."
"Then why don't you quietly wait to die?" I asked, sharp weapons once again manifesting around him.
Azazel laughed. "Survival is my instinct. In the face of death, I'm no different from a mortal. I always have to give it a try."
The weapons gradually closed in, and he made no struggle.
"Have you resigned yourself?"
"I'm afraid I have no other choice."
"Why did you summon Linda then?"
"To fulfill her wishes, my child. When she prayed to me, she always said she would die for me. She was a devout believer, and I had to grant her wish."
"... She begged you for help in the end. She didn't want to die."
"Unfortunately, when she made that request again, I no longer had the power to fulfill her
wish."
At this point, I suddenly remembered that there was no trace of the heavy-duty weapon on Linda's body.
"What about your divinity? Linda is dead, but your divinity hasn't appeared."
"Divinity? I don't know. It should have disappeared. Separated from me, and with no other god to take over, the power of divinity would naturally dissipate. Linda's actions in her soul form consumed a significant portion of its remaining strength, and I can no longer sense its presence. But acting in soul form was a brilliant idea, wasn't it? No flaws to be found, free to come and go."
I didn't believe his words. "Would divinity really disappear so easily? Do you think I'm a fool?"
A sharp spear suddenly thrust into Azazel's abdomen, but he laughed as if he felt no pain.
"I don't want to waste any more time. I'll deal with you first, and then we can discuss the rest. Otherwise, I won't be at ease with this great threat."
"Even gods die, and divinity is just a derivative of a god. Why wouldn't it disappear? For you, my child, I am already a villain, and it's only natural for villains to meet their end."
As I spoke, more weapons mercilessly plunged into his body: joints, heart, brain. Finally, a dagger hovered at his throat.
"You're really ruthless. You want to finish me off."
"You were already going to die."
"You're right. My life has come to an end. I will disappear faster than today's sunlight."
Saying that, Azazel suddenly tilted his head backward, and the sharp blades immediately pierced his throat.
Azazel seemed to find peace in this act, so he closed his eyes.
The Moon Palace's courtyard was forever gentle, eternally serene, perpetually surrounded by the spring breeze.
Forever peaceful.