CHAPTER 417: THE MEETING OF THE TWO IV

"So, after what happened more than two years ago, you lost all contact? And with an avatar, and even with a guy’s pendant, inside which your avatar left a piece of his soul? Did I get it right?" The Sword Hero asked his daughter when she finished her story.

"Yes, Father, that’s right," Lina nodded.

"And then recently you suddenly felt the appearance of this piece of soul that was in the pendant, and reconnected with it?"

Lina nodded again.

"And then you decided that you had had enough, and, taking the sword that I gave you, you killed those Valkyries who attacked your avatar. After that you escaped from the Celestial Continent and severed your connection with the Valkyrie Bloodline Domain by clipping your wings. Did I miss anything?"

"That’s exactly what happened, Father, — Lina confirmed.

The sword hero sighed. He looked at his daughter, and pride burned in his heart. Although he did not express his praise openly, he was impressed by his daughter’s determination.

"So, have you come to me for help so that I can help you find your lover?" he asked Lina, deliberately expressing displeasure in his voice. As a father, he was upset that some little brat had dared to steal his only daughter’s heart without first getting his permission.

"No, Father," Lina replied softly. "I didn’t know how you would treat me after all these years. I wasn’t sure how you’d react to everything my avatar and I had done. All I wanted from you was to ask for permission to use your Sacred Sword Sect’s teleportation array to get to Magelia."

"So he’s in Magellia now?" he asked.

Lina nodded.

"I can’t say exactly where he is. But I can sense his approximate location, and he’s currently in Magelia. The closer I get to him, the more accurately I can determine his location."

"Hmm, that’s how it is," Lina’s father said. "Okay, I’ll help you."

From Lina’s story, he found out exactly what happened, but, like her, he could not find out the fate of his granddaughter. This worried him, and he really wanted to know if she had survived or not.

Although he remained calm on the outside, emotions were bubbling inside him. Several times, he was on the verge of jumping up and heading to the Celestial Continent, grabbing his Sacred Sword. But he only held back because his daughter was there. He didn’t want to leave her alone after so many years of separation.

"It can wait," he told himself, deciding to visit the Celestial Continent later.

Lina was relieved when her father agreed to help her.

All this time, she wasn’t sure which side her father would take. She had heard many rumors about him, but she had only met him a few times. Lina didn’t know how he would treat her or if he would believe her words.

However, from the way things were unfolding, her father seemed to believe her. Realizing this, she felt a little guilty for not telling him everything she knew.

After the appearance of the Sacred Sword, Lina decided to keep the information about the young man to herself, which greatly shocked her. She wanted to tell how, in a moment of desperation, he used a weapon very similar in description to a Dark Weapon—Dark Daggers.

Lina wasn’t sure how her father, as the owner of the Sacred Weapon, would react to this information. So in the end, she decided to keep it to herself.

"Lina, since you severed all relations with the Celestial Continent and the Valkyrie Bloodline Domain by clipping your wings, then now you are no longer Lina Thunderial – Lightning Valkyrie," her father said solemnly, looking at her. "From today on, you are Lina Eterius, the only daughter of Lovis Eterius!"

Lina could hardly hold back her tears, not knowing what to say. All this time she was growing up surrounded by Valkyries, but she didn’t have anyone she could rely on. All but one bizarre Valkyrie looked at her with disdain.

But now she had someone who, despite her almost complete absence from her life, still considered her his daughter and was ready to help. It was something she had never even dared to dream about.

"Lina, you don’t mind that, do you?" asked Lovis.

"No, Father, I don’t mind," Lina replied, trying to hide her emotions.

"Do you want me to announce this to the whole world?" asked Lovis, surprising Lina.

"What? No, don’t," Lina said quickly. "It’s enough for me to know that you still recognize me as your daughter, even though I haven’t appeared much in your life."

"Okay," Lovis said, and then asked: "When do you want to go to Magelia to find your lover?"

Lina raised her head and looked at her father, trying to understand his intentions.

"Father, I understand why you’re saying this, but even after I’ve received my avatar’s memories and feelings, I can’t just accept it as a given. I need to see him and figure out my true feelings, and only then will I be able to understand who he is to me," she said.

"Good, good," Lovis said. "But let me tell you, Lina. When you meet him and understand your feelings, please don’t rush into his arms, okay?"

"Father, what are you talking about?" Lina almost jumped up.

"You know what I mean," Lovis replied. "Youth, emotions, passion, and memories can lead to rash actions."

Lina didn’t know what to say to her father’s words.

"Therefore, Lina, I ask you only one thing: restrain your impulses and wait until I, your father, evaluate him and decide whether he is worthy of you," Lovis said in a serious tone. "You know how people are. I don’t want you to get involved with an unworthy person and suffer afterwards. I won’t let that happen."

"If he passes my assessment and I decide he’s right for you, I won’t interfere and you can do all your dirty things," Lovis continued.

"I will arrange a grand wedding between the two of you. I don’t know if my first granddaughter is still alive, but after the wedding, I will lock you up and not let you go until you give me a second granddaughter."

"Father, what are you talking about?" Lina couldn’t stand her father’s words anymore.

"Lina, I’m getting old," Lovis said with a sad look. "And before I die of old age, I want to see and hold my lovely granddaughters in my arms. And you, as my only daughter, should give me that chance."

"Are you getting old? What nonsense are you talking about, Father!" Lina almost screamed. "You haven’t lived that many years. You have such a high rank that you still have to live and live. What the hell is old age?"

"But Lina, I’m already old by mortal standards," Lovis objected. "I haven’t been around you, haven’t seen you grow up, and haven’t pampered you. Although I’ve always dreamed of it. So don’t deprive your father of the opportunity to pamper at least his granddaughters and give them to me as soon as possible."

"Father, you are unbearable!" Lina stamped her foot. "I won’t talk to you anymore."

After saying that, Lina started to leave, but then stopped.

"Where should I stay?" Without turning around, she asked her father.

"Choose any room that you like," Lovis said, not hiding his smile, looking at his daughter.

"Hmm," Lina chuckled and went to look for a room.

As soon as she left, the smile on Lovis’ face disappeared. He turned around and looked at the Sacred Sword.

"Partner, I can’t give my only daughter to this guy just because she fell in love with him," he told the sword. "We need to figure out how to test him to see if he deserves my daughter."

The sword, upon hearing Lovis’ words, buzzed as if to say, "Leave it to me."

"Okay, partner, I’m counting on you," Lovis replied. Some time later, he left the building to begin preparations for his daughter’s trip.

Although Lovis did not want to leave his daughter, he realized that he could not accompany her personally. As a being from a higher realm, he had no right to interfere in the affairs of a lower realm.

Therefore, he decided to provide his daughter with a reliable escort.

Two days later, Lina used the teleportation array to travel to Magelia, accompanied by the people her father Lovis had chosen for her.

***

** Limbo**

"Hmm..." groaned Idan, slowly waking up in the warm embrace of an unknown feeling that surrounded him.

He felt incredibly cozy and comfortable, as if his body was wrapped in a warm and pleasant cocoon.

Slowly opening his eyes, he saw the starry sky above him.

"Are you finally awake?" he heard a familiar voice from the side.

Turning his head with difficulty, he saw a beautiful woman with long blond hair sitting nearby, comfortably perched on top of a large rock.

Only now did Idan pay attention to his surroundings and was surprised to find that he was completely immersed in a red glowing liquid that looked like lava.

"This is..." he managed to say.

"It’s a lava lake," Lucinda said in a calm voice. "We are at the outer boundary of the Forbidden Zone — Lava Lake."