EPILOGUE: LADY NATASHA BELLINGSEN, MUSE OF THE DEMONS

**Greg**

I never expected that I’d enter a different world once I was inside the ‘Saint’s Tower’.

“…”

True, the first time I came in, I thought that this place was just an ancient, musty and dusty building used by the Demon Saint, and formerly, my student, Alexa. But then, when I reached the second level (or was it the first?), my whole opinion changed. It’s as if I was outside, and in some place else. There was a ‘sun’ shining in the ‘sky’ (not a ceiling, as I had hoped). Grass was growing on the ground (when it’s supposed to be the floor). And there were even small animals like butterflies and rabbits going around…

A beautiful scenery…but it is somehow familiar to me, like, I came here before…

I could see that there was a set of staircases that led to the next floor (the end of which was invisible), but it was in the middle of the prairie. I thought my eyes were just playing a trick on me, so I picked a stone and threw it across the staircase, hoping that if it hit an invisible wall, it would bounce back. Nevertheless, the stone went past beyond the stairs and disappeared somewhere in the sea of grass.

I knew at that moment that I must be in another dimension, or something…

“…”

Not wishing to get lost, I climbed the staircase, and into the next level. Much to my surprise, the scenery changed into a dim, but homely one. Then, book cases appeared, even in the ceiling. It seemed that I reached the tower’s library, which was larger relative to the building’s size from the outside.

“…”

I don’t know what came to me at that moment, but for some strange reason, my lust for books suddenly came and overtook me. As I told Princess Noir before, I was here to get the urn of my student. However, when I entered the ‘library’, it’s as if that goal left my subconscious. I quickly dropped the lamp I was using and sat at one of the tables to read whatever book that interest me.

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Time never seemed to matter while I was reading. There were a lot of interesting books in the Saint’s Tower, many of which I only saw here. Books about the history of this world and of the four other realms. Books about demon society. Books about elves, dwarves, humans and beastfolk. And more importantly, books about Alexa.

I think I also came across some personal notes written by my student herself, which revealed to me new information about her…

Facts like the experiments conducted by Alexa before she died were about teleportation to another world using the magic circles, and if that failed, the transfer of a soul into another body, or a test about reincarnation.

“…”

Alexa must’ve thought she will accomplish nothing with a human body, which is fast to deteriorate compared to the rest of the other races of this world. No wonder why she’d try to experiment on those.

There was another realization that I had when I read her personal notes, which were hidden in some of the books I read. There’s this theory inside my head that came out explaining why she turned to help the people she was once commanded to kill and destroy…

The demons’ culture of defying the rules to satisfy their curiosity is a big help to Alexa’s research, which is not possible in Chersea, Cherwind, and, if I surmise, Cherwoods and Equality as well.

“…”

Well, that’s just a theory. Until proven conclusively, it’ll remain as it is.

Anyway, my thoughts about Alexa’s urn came back to me after I read her notes. Honestly, I didn’t have an idea for how long I was reading in that library. I never felt hunger, nor the urge to sleep. If there’s anything that changed, it’s as if I was refreshed by the time I spent in that place. So, with a newly-rested body, I continued my quest for my student’s remains.

On the third level (or is it fourth?), it was only a space. Dark, and cool. My voice, though I spoke in a normal tone, would still echo throughout that void. As there’s nothing else to see in that place, I continued on my way to the next floor.

The fourth floor, like the others, was different. Here, it’s as if I entered a girl’s room. There was a bed, several cushioned chairs, posters of half-naked men—

Alright, you got the idea; I quickly left this place, not even stopping to see how big that ‘room’ is. I know it’s Lady Natasha’s personal chamber.

Then, the fifth—and final—floor. I couldn’t believe that for something as tall as the Saint’s Tower, it’s only five stories up. Not only it defied common sense, it also violated the law of physics!

“…”

In any case, contrary to the rest of the levels, the fifth floor was definitely the strangest. It was covered, for I could see its ceiling from where I was. However, it looked like there was a ‘sun’ inside the place, for it was totally bathed in white light. Nevertheless, the air around it was cool, as if I was in the middle of January in my place.

Another weird stuff in that level was the presence of a wide ‘pool’ of water. As I approached it, I was surprised to see that it was irregularly round, and was contained by soil—as if someone transferred a lake inside that place and built a building around it…

Wait…a lake! Damn, is this the ‘Lake Antares’ Lady Natasha is referring to?

“Indeed…”

“!!!” A disembodied female voice suddenly spoke that I nearly jumped and fell into the water.

“This is Lake Antares, the final resting place of Alexa Cassandra David. Human champion. Defender of the Beastmen. Hero to the Elves. Leader of the Dwarves. And bane of the Demons.”

Though her voice echoed throughout the fifth level, I could still tell its owner was an acquaintance to me. “Lady Natasha?” I asked. “Is that you?”

However, instead of answering, she just continued her story, “For many ages, her ashes lie in the middle of that lake, sleeping…dreaming. Dreaming that someday, she would return to her home.”

“!!!” Another surprise, this time, a tombstone emerged at the middle of the lake. There was no other way to it, other than walk across the water, if that’s even possible. And I couldn’t see its bottom—though it was clear; I didn’t want to take my chances. I never knew how to swim.

“Will you take her home?”

At that point, though I still had doubts in my heart, I steeled myself. I mean, I came here to bring Alexa home, and her ‘home’ in this world was me. So, fingers crossed, I took the initial step towards the tombstone.

“!!!” A third surprise. Each step I take was like I was walking on solid ground, though I could tell I was on the water’s surface. My feet won’t sink, but when I try to measure the depths of that ‘lake’ with my hand, it won’t even touch the bottom.

Another mind-boggling mystery of this tower…

Finally, I reached the tombstone. As my feet reached the pedestal where it stood, the urn of my student appeared. It was a simple, white-and-gold urn, which didn’t match the reputation of Alexa when she was alive. Yet, when I touched it, different emotions entered my chest.

It’s as if I feel sad, longing, yet happy and content at the same time…

“…”

Are these Alexa’s emotions when she died?

I took the urn, and held it close to my heart. My memories about Alexa—our time laughing together, sharing stories, and exchanging food—came flashing into my mind. At long last, I fulfilled my promise to my student…

“Thank you for your love, Lord Greg…”

From where I was, I could see a figure on the shores of the lake. It was a woman, with her dark-brown hair tied in braids. Her long, red dress was striking, though only a part of it was visible because of her wings. Her back was facing me, but I could tell, it was the Demon Saint, Lady Natasha Bellingsen…

“Your Holiness…” were the first words I uttered, “…where have you been?”

But she never answered, nor turned to face me. She just stood there, motionless.

“Your…Holiness?” I took a step forward across the lake.

Still no reply. Well, in a normal situation, I would be creeped out. However, for some strange reason, I felt at ease in her presence.

Then, I called out her name, “Alexa!”

The lady in red jolted slightly, and she said, “It’s been a long while since I was last called by that name…it’s feels so nostalgic.” Then, she finally faced me, with a sad smile and tears in her eyes, “I missed you so much, Sir Greg! You finally found me!”