Chapter 2

The next day, at the Ascension Rite, my parents and the clan elders waited for me in the Flower Fae Valley.

Lucienne came up to me the moment she saw me.

She pressed a Protective Charm into my hand.

"Little sister, this Protective Charm is for you. May your ascension go smoothly."

She sounded so sincere that I nearly reached out to take it.

Then I thought of the horror of falling into demonhood in my past life.

The whole Flower Fae Valley had once been ringed with birdsong, home to the most precious flowers and plants in all the immortal realm, and I had burned it until not a single blade of grass could grow.

My hand paused.

"No need. Keep these things for yourself, sister."

Lucienne's expression stiffened, and a trace of hurt crossed her face.

"Little sister, did I do something wrong?"

"Why are you so set against me?"

I glanced at the Timekeeping Chalice; the auspicious hour for ascension was almost upon us. I couldn't be bothered to waste more words on her, so I turned and walked toward the center of the altar.

But Lucienne wouldn't let it go, and grabbed hold of my robe.

Smiling brightly, she moved to hang the charm at my waist.

I tore the Protective Charm free and flung it to the ground.

"How many times do I have to say it? I don't want anything of yours before I ascend. Can't you understand that, sister?"

Lucienne stood frozen. She probably hadn't expected me, always so gentle, to reject her so harshly.

Mother couldn't stand by either, and urged, "Seraphelle, aren't you being too tense? Your sister only meant well."

Seeing us at an impasse, Father smoothed things over with a smile. "If Seraphelle doesn't want the Protective Charm, then she doesn't have to take it. Ascension is a great matter for the whole clan, so it's only natural to be cautious."

"The auspicious hour is nearly here. Go on, Seraphelle."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and used his spiritual power to weave a Hundred-Blossom Carpet leading to the altar.

My eyes stung.

This was the very father who doted on me and loved me so, and in my past life he had watched helplessly as his favorite little daughter fell into demonhood and killed his beloved wife.

How much pain, how much despair he must have felt then.

In this life, I would surely protect them, and protect myself.

I nodded to Father and stepped onto the Hundred-Blossom Carpet.

Suddenly, thousands of petals rose from the carpet, each one shimmering with gentle, soft, pale golden spiritual energy. The flowing light traced the veins of the petals, gently lifting me to the center of the altar.

I closed my eyes and gathered all my spiritual energy.

Pure immortal essence circulated within my body.

Countless pink petals bore me up into the air.

I pressed my palms together and silently recited the mantra.

Suddenly, eight sky-spanning rainbows descended from above, encircling me.

A surge of the purest divine power burst forth from my inner core.

My plain white robes flashed with pale golden light.

Pink petals sprouted from my fingertips, spreading rapidly across my body until they enfolded me completely.

A bright golden light poured from me, all but illuminating the entire Flower Fae Valley.

Suddenly, the petals burst apart.

The petals, imbued with spiritual energy, drifted toward the crowd below.

The clanspeople closed their eyes and drank in the spiritual energy from the petals.

My robes transformed into moon-white moonlight gauze, my whole form giving off the faintest pink-violet glow.

I slowly settled at the center of the altar.

Seeing this, the clanspeople knelt one after another and cried out:

"We welcome the Flower Goddess—"

I let out a long breath of relief, and as I looked up, I caught a flash of envy and resentment in Lucienne's eyes.

In this life, the ascension was already settled.

No matter how unwilling Lucienne was, she could only accept her fate.

I walked slowly down from the altar, and the tension that had gripped my heart for so long finally loosened all at once.

When Mother saw me come down, she quickly handed me a bottle of Soul-Restoring Dew.

"Seraphelle must be worn out. Soul-Restoring Dew is the best for replenishing spiritual energy. Drink it quickly and restore yourself."

By then I was utterly spent, so I lifted the jade bottle and drained it in one gulp.

Father's face was full of relief, and he was nearly moved to tears.

"The chief deity of the Flower Fae has finally returned to her place!"

Hearing Father's words, I was at last absolutely certain that my ascension had succeeded.

My nose stung, and tears welled up, carrying with them the grievance, the heartache, and the lingering fear of two lifetimes.

Mother held me and comforted me. "Silly child, you've worked so hard. Thank goodness the outcome didn't waste all those years of your painstaking cultivation."

In this life, I had finally brought my life back onto its original course.

Just then, Lucienne suddenly spoke:

"Hm? My sister has ascended successfully, so why haven't the hundred flowers bloomed to welcome her?"