Damien's soul left his body and traveled to a different plane.
He found himself in a garden, his appearance the exact same as his physical form and his body just as corporeal.
There were beautiful flowers and plants everywhere, organized in a beautiful gradient from deep purple to sparkling green, planted in a circle around a marveled gazebo.
Damien was currently on one of two paths that led to the gazebo. He walked forward slowly and steadily, enjoying the vibrant breeze that swept around him.
It felt like there were spirits everywhere, joyously dancing and playing through the garden. The scent of nature and natural beauty was intoxicating, to the point where one would never wish to leave its peace.
It was truly an ideal scenery. This kind of simplistic beauty was rare to see in a place where everyone focused on grand structures and domineering appearances, but Damien felt like his kind of beauty was better.
Because it was beautiful on its own. It didn't need to try.
The scenery wasn't the only thing that carried such an air.
Damien wasn't the only one here, after all.
She was sitting in the gazebo alone, quietly sipping tea with utmost grace as she enjoyed the peace around her.
Her hair was light blue, like the faded color of the sky, and her image was like a goddess descended to the mortal world.
Damien paused his steps to watch her. She was like a part of the environment, a piece of its beauty that was integral to its atmosphere.
But she was different.
Unlike before, he couldn't see the two sides of her anymore.
There was only one appearance remaining.
Strangely enough, her beauty was somewhat diminished compared to the outside world, but it wasn't a bad thing at all.
Rather than a goddess, she was like a fairy.
She felt more approachable, more "real."
It was like she became someone Damien could reach, when before she was someone he could only gaze at in awe.
"Huu…"
Damien took a deep breath and steadied himself, walking down the path and up the steps of the gazebo.
There was another seat there, as if this fairy had been waiting for his presence.
Damien sat down quietly, not wanting to disrupt her peace.
Besides, he didn't know what to say.
"You've come."
Luckily, she started the conversation for him.
She opened her eyes and smiled warmly as she gazed upon him, her eyes happily shifting between the colors of the rainbow.
"Of course I have. There was never a chance I wouldn't," Damien responded, his tone somewhat awkward.
"Is there something on your mind?"
Iris was calm, tranquil like a spring breeze. It was as if she didn't understand her current situation, but Damien knew she understood more than anyone.
He furrowed his brows as he tried to form an answer.
"I have too many things on my mind, but most of them can be handled once we can talk face-to-face again."
"Face to face? An amusing saying, isn't it?"
"Now isn't the time for this."
Damien sighed.
"Why did you entrust this to me? Can't you value your own life?" He asked, somewhat defeated.
But Iris only smiled.
"Of course I value my life. However, what I did was necessary. As for why I trust you…does there need to be a complex reason? Of anyone I have ever known, I have never felt this way about anyone else. My trust is only natural."
"..."
Damien couldn't lie.
His heart definitely skipped a beat.
But…
"There is a way," he said.
"However, it's not something I can do without your permission."
Iris raised her brow.
"And that is?"
Damien couldn't see it, because she hid it better than anyone else.
Her heart was far more erratic than his. She had to keep up this calm exterior, or else she wouldn't be able to speak through her embarrassment.
After all, Damien entered her soul, and she allowed it.
Damien wasn't aware of it because he had yet to reach Divinity, but frankly speaking, there was no greater symbol of trust than allowing someone to enter one's soul.
It required a level of intimacy that couldn't normally be possessed.
Her feelings were already clear with her acceptance, but she couldn't let him know that, right?
She smiled and smiled, because if she didn't at least smile, she wouldn't be able to stop herself from giggling.
It was far more fun to see Damien in that embarrassed position, where he stammered over his words awkwardly, unable to say it outright.
How could he?
He was about to suggest something absurd.
The Ancient Sovereign said it clearly. Only the Void itself could bring Iris back to the land of the living.
And though Damien couldn't control the Void…
He remembered something Lynn Carter told him before.
He remembered something that happened to Rose, Ruyue, Elena, and to an extent, even Astoria.
A "title."
The Void's acknowledgement.
If Iris could receive the [Void Daughter] title, the Void would make sure she'd live.
This was a fact proven through several experiences had by Damien's current wives.
But…
The [Void Daughter] title couldn't just be handed out through romantic intimacy. If that was it, Iris would've already had it.
No, they had to take it a step further.
'How the hell am I supposed to say that? "Give me the innocence you've been protecting for ten thousand years and I can heal you?" How the fuck am I supposed to say that without being branded a supreme pervert?'
Damien was racking his brain for any way to break it to her without being brash.
He wanted to say it in a way that considered her feelings, and he wanted her to decide whether or not she wanted to do it of her own volition, not because she didn't have another choice.
As he thought and thought and thought, he failed to realize Iris' face getting redder and redder.
The blush she'd been hiding, the embarrassment she'd concealed, how could she ever hide it anymore?!
This was her soul space.
Whether it be thoughts or actions, words said or unsaid, they'd all be laid bare before her.
So…
Well, she naturally understood what Damien was thinking right now.
They had to consummate the love they hadn't even professed to each other for her to live?
Rather than Damien being a "supreme pervert," that title was more fitting for the mysterious force behind him!
'Ahhh, what do I do?!'
Iris wanted to bury her head in a hole out of pure embarrassment. There was no way for her to easily accept the facts, despite knowing they were truth.
"Um…so well…here's the thing, right…"
…but, when Damien started talking and trying to explain it, her worries melted away.
"Pfft…!"
She couldn't stop herself from laughing.
Seriously, how was she supposed to take the situation seriously when he was acting like that?
Without even trying, he could make her smile like this.
Iris had never been tempted to engage in romance of any form. Her life was far separated from the concept, but that didn't mean she didn't dream of it.
It had been over ten thousand years since she was born into this world, and she'd never felt like this before.
Because, frankly…
'I want to.'
She couldn't think of anyone else she'd rather give her innocence to.
No, out of anyone in existence, she couldn't think of anyone else who'd made her feel as comfortable as him.
If it was Damien…
'...then, perhaps it's not something to be afraid of…?'
Instead, the feeling in her heart was completely different.
It was a faint sense of anticipation and excitement.
And that only made her embarrassment far, far harder to ignore.
