Parallel Memory

Chapter 535: liliths story

(Liliths POV)

The moment Eleanore’s sharp voice cut through the silence of the room, my breath caught in my throat. Her tone wasn’t just demanding—it carried the weight of someone who had been holding back a storm for far too long.

"And you mind explaining how you ended up unconscious?" she asked sternly, her arms folded, gaze locked onto me.

Zero shifted slightly beside me, his expression unreadable, though I could sense the weight of her words pressing down on him too. But this time, it wasn’t his question to answer—it was mine.

I stood still for a moment, the flickering light in the room throwing long shadows behind me. I could feel my heartbeat slowly beginning to settle, my breaths even and measured. This time, I didn’t hesitate. The fog that once clouded my mind had lifted, and the words—my voice—no longer trembled.

"I’ll explain everything," I said quietly but clearly, meeting her eyes.

I could see the surprise flash across her face—not just because I spoke, but because I spoke fluently. There was no stammer. No gaps. No breaks in memory. The expression on Zero’s face shifted subtly, a mixture of quiet pride and relief.

Taking a deep breath, I began.

"After regaining my awareness, the fragments of memory that once drifted aimlessly in my mind came together. I remembered why I came to the human domain in the first place. My purpose. My father’s mission."

Eleanore didn’t say anything, but her expression grew sharper. I continued.

"I am the daughter of the former Devil King," I said, my voice even, unwavering. "My mother... I never met her. I was told she died when I was still a child. But my father raised me with care. He was not like the devils you imagine. He admired the strength and compassion of humans. He believed that peace between devils and humans wasn’t just a fantasy—it was possible. That’s why he sent me to the human domain."

I paused, letting those words settle into the silence of the room.

"It wasn’t a coincidence that I met Zero and the others during our childhood. My father planned it carefully, hoping that by building relationships from the ground up, peace could eventually bloom between our races. But he also knew that there would be danger. That not everyone would accept the idea of harmony."

I lowered my gaze for a moment.

"Xalvar was assigned as my protector. A powerful devil, trusted by many, and loyal—or so we thought. But he was a traitor. He was working with the rebel faction—the ones who believed that my father’s ideals were a weakness. They were the ones who orchestrated the cave incident."

I could still see it clearly when I closed my eyes. The twisted darkness of that cave. The screams. The blood. The loss.

"We were led into that cave under the pretense of a game... a harmless exploration with friends. Xalvar had taken the form of one of our companions. But once inside, he revealed his true identity. One by one, our friends were slaughtered. Zero... he broke down. I remember his screams. The look in his eyes when he stood covered in blood... I couldn’t take it. Something inside me shattered. The trauma, the guilt—it buried my awareness. And from that day on, I became nothing more than a puppet."

Eleanore’s expression finally softened, the sharp edge dulling just slightly. I met her gaze again.

"After that, I was captured by the rebel faction. My identity was a valuable tool to them. I was turned into a human doll—stripped of my will, my soul locked away. I was used to threaten my father, to control him. He gave up the throne to save me. But instead of killing him outright, they imprisoned him—because no devil could match his power. Even chained, even weakened, they feared him."

I paused to collect my breath, but the words still came steadily.

"Time passed. I remained locked in that state... until Zero found me again. And when he collapsed at the entrance of the cave, bloodied and unconscious, something broke within me. That moment mirrored the day of the cave massacre so vividly that it forced everything back. The grief. The fear. The rage. The memory. My will returned... and so did my voice."

I turned toward Eleanore again.

"After recovering, I moved in secret. I had to. I needed to learn what had happened during all these years I’d been lost. That’s when I found out that there were still those loyal to my father. Scattered remnants of the old guard. Quietly, they had formed a secret organization, plotting to free the former Devil King from captivity."

Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn’t interrupt.

"We moved cautiously. No one could know I was alive—not until we were ready. But then came the announcement."

I clenched my fists.

"They declared my father’s execution. It was a lie. A calculated move to force our hand. To push me into revealing myself, and it worked. We rushed our plans, and on the way to the prison—before I could even see my father—we were ambushed."

"There was a traitor among the loyalists," Zero said softly from the side.

I nodded. "Yes. Someone who had fed our movements to Aamon—the one who overthrew my father. He calls himself king, but he has no royal blood. He seized the throne through betrayal, not legacy."

(He recruited Cardinal Hildred, and together they attempted to execute the Saintess. That plan failed, which forced them to delay their assault on the human domain. But their ambition never faded)

I exhaled, the next part heavier.

"We managed to fight our way out, but I was badly wounded. A group of my father’s followers stayed behind to cover our retreat. They knew they wouldn’t survive... so they made one final act of loyalty."

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"They split off and led the enemy away. They made sure they left false trails. But I was to leave no trace—move alone and disappear. It was the only way to ensure that the rebellion lived on. And so I did. I ran. I kept running until my body gave out... until I collapsed near the forest of omega outpost."

(The devil group who was chasing them felt that Lilith was hiding in the delta outpost as the trails led to it hence they assaulted, Delta outpost and captured it)

For a long moment, the room was silent.

Then I added, "That’s when you found me. And I am forever grateful for it."

Eleanore stared at me, her arms now loosely at her sides, her expression unreadable. Then, she turned to Zero, her voice softer, though still stern.

She sighed, clearly torn between frustration and understanding.

"And now?" she asked, looking at me.

I met her gaze firmly. "Now... I intended to get help from Zero. I need to find a way to free my father."

Zero glanced at me, then nodded. "We’ve come too far to turn back."

Eleanore gave a long, tired breath, rubbing her temples.

"Then I expect full honesty from now on," she said. "No more secrets. If we’re going to fight what’s coming, we do it together."

A faint smile tugged at my lips. For the first time in years, I felt like myself again. My voice was no longer chained. My will was my own. And with Zero by my side... we would reclaim everything that had been stolen from us.

One step at a time.