Tranquility (Before the Rain)

Baker Street was an extremely quiet street, located in Lobilance, one of the central cities of the Royal Court. To reach the capital city of the Royal Court, Limbo, one still had to take a train for a very long journey.

Coastal cities were always noisy, with far too much economic activity flowing through them. Additionally, this city housed the most famous music academy in the world. The movements composed by composers were often played repeatedly in the streets named after them. Finding a quiet street was very important for Li Yue, whose mental state had been poor for some time.

After all, when a person is in desperate need of rest, even the most graceful music can become noise that makes it difficult to sleep. There might be lullabies, but such songs were usually only played by passing performers as night approached.

Clo had rented a short-term apartment here; they might be leaving soon. She decided to first grasp the current general situation of the Royal Court, then find a way to search for the churches she needed, find a cure to eradicate the "pollution," and then leave with Li Yue.

Inside a deep blue church, Clo stood with her hands clasped tightly, the joints of her index fingers pressed against her brow, seemingly praying for something. This was an oddly designed church, filled with numerous tubular loudspeakers. The priest here also seemed to be a musician; his way of preaching was to play movements from a thousand years ago.

"Dong~" The last note was struck with a heavy thud. The priest slowly rose, and only after the sound of the music had completely rippled away did he open his eyes. The people around them stood up one after another. Many who came to this church were not so-called believers; they almost all came to listen to the music. They showed respect to the God of Movements and Melodies while also cleansing their souls within His music.

Most of those who believed in this deity were aloof or top-tier performers, composers and lyricists pursuing grand movements, or musicians whose lives were frustrated and who relied on music to dispel their anxiety.

One by one, the people walked toward the door. The sunlight outside was brilliant, feeling somewhat piercing to those who had just finished listening to several movements in the dim hall.

"Are you feeling any better?" Clo slowly supported Li Yue as she stood up. Several believers dressed in black-shawled performance attire walked over, seemingly wanting to help support Li Yue, but Clo politely declined with a smile. She dropped a handful of gold coins into a black box by the door to show her appreciation and gratitude, shocking the group of church members who watched them from behind.

"Average..." Li Yue's clouded eyes moved slightly. Her body was extremely weak; she now required Clo's support just to walk. Perhaps in a short while, she would need to rely on tools like a wheelchair to assist her movement.

Clo used one hand to shield Li Yue's eyes, preventing her from being irritated by the intense sunlight.

Li Yue had thought about consuming blood crystals to alleviate these symptoms, but that method was often like drinking poison to quench thirst. Not long ago, she had seen words written by her past self in her old notes.

"If that day truly comes, even if you have to eat rotting corpses, do not eat blood crystals again. It will only make death come faster."

Why? Were those blood demons her own kind, such that they could not prey on each other? But she clearly remembered that they seemed to be her own creations... Why couldn't she freely take back her power from them?

Wait... Why did I create such evil creatures as blood demons in the first place? I can't remember... I clearly... wanted to save this world...

Li Yue's body staggered slightly, and a low growl escaped her throat. Her frame trembled as she attempted to exert more control over her body.

"Wait, ladies." A man wearing deep blue performance attire slowly approached them. Clo looked closely and realized it was the priest who had just been performing on stage.

"May His movements walk with you." The priest made a wave-like gesture with his hand across his chest. He held two deep blue parchment scrolls, which appeared to be valuable items. "Thank you for your generosity, beautiful lady. I have here two entry passes for the Lobilance Academy Music Festival. If the two of you wish to hear true music, that place is absolute heaven."

"Is there music there that can cleanse one's soul?"

"If it is not there, then there might not be another place in the world that has it."

"Thank you." Clo accepted the two scrolls with gratitude.

"How many gold coins did you give away for free to make the Church take the initiative to give you these non-sale items?" Li Yue couldn't help but ask. She glanced at Clo, a hint of surprise appearing in her weary, blood-colored eyes.

"I just grabbed a handful of gold coins without thinking about it." Clo didn't dwell on it. She spotted a cake shop not far away. Many desserts in the Royal Court used strawberries as the main ingredient, which greatly pleased Clo.

"Back when I was a demon hunter... I only made a few gold coins a year, and that was a steady job..." Li Yue's lips twitched. She actually felt a bit of a sting—an emotion she hadn't felt in a long time.

"It is fine. My salary is very high; I can even support you in the future." Clo picked Li Yue up. Li Yue, already exhausted, did not resist. She stared at Clo's neck, speechless for a moment.

Her memory flickered. By the time she snapped back to her senses, her face was almost pressed against Clo's neck. She quickly moved away, feeling a momentary sense of lingering fear.

The noise on the street gradually vanished. The sounds drifting out from the music shops also slowly became soft. The faces of the people walking and laughing on the road gradually blurred, and even Clo's murmurs were becoming hard to hear.

So hungry... So hungry...

Those two words echoed continuously in her mind. She repeatedly reminded herself that now was not the time for such things. She frowned, concentrating her attention, terrified that the next time she became conscious, she would be standing in a vast sea of blood.

Li Yue was still thinking that perhaps if she tried her best to restrain herself, she would not turn into a demon. But would the result truly be as she wished?

Who knows? After all, she is now... the last deity walking the earth, and the strongest, final demon to survive the Twilight Era.