Chapter 185: First Meeting

Her voice was rational and gentle, radiating warmth and heat in this terrifying, gloomy place. 

“I am a Heavenly Oracle Envoy. If it’s all right with you, we could get to know each other~” 

In the direction Gabriella was facing, the shadow hidden beneath the stone slowly rose. 

It was a black sphere. 

The black sphere bloomed into a flower, and at the center of the flower sat a maiden with beautiful hair. 

She was rather special, with black horns, sharp wings, and a heart-shaped tail. 

Her fair skin showed almost no color, making her look neither human nor a Heavenly Oracle Envoy. 

Although she possessed human limbs and facial features, she seemed like a being not of this world. 

She was petite—smaller than Gabriella by a full size. 

Shadow wove itself into a pitch-black dress, but a clear wound marked her leg, giving her a pitiful yet adorable appearance. 

“You’re not afraid of me?” the maiden spoke. Although she tried hard to make her tone cold and terrifying, a faint trace of fear still slipped through. 

“Hehe~ Why would I be afraid of you?” 

Gabriella smiled—a calm, clear, and pure smile. 

Seeing that the maiden did not answer, Gabriella stepped closer. 

Suddenly, the maiden seemed startled and immediately commanded the shadows to attack. 

Tentacles shot toward her from every direction, turning into sharp spikes as if they would swallow her whole. 

Yet in the next instant, the tentacles were repelled with a soft whoosh, losing all their strength. 

“You…” 

The maiden realized the being before her was no ordinary person and tried to put distance between them, but Gabriella moved first. 

She was already standing right beside her, giving off a pleasant scent—the name of some flower, though the maiden could not recall exactly which one. 

It simply smelled wonderful and reassuring, making it impossible to feel guarded. 

“You’re hurt?” 

“Kill me.” 

Before Gabriella could say anything more, the maiden lowered her head in despair. 

Just moments ago she had sensed that, no matter what, Gabriella was an existence she could not possibly oppose. 

Several similar beings had tried to kill her before, yet she had driven them all away with her own power. 

Heavenly Oracle Envoys. 

The maiden had not expected Gabriella to be this much stronger than the others. 

However, Gabriella showed no intention of harming her. Instead, she stepped onto the shadow petals and sat down beside her. 

Their bodies were only a finger’s width apart; their legs were almost touching. 

The maiden could reach out and touch Gabriella with ease. Was this distance… a little too close? 

“I won’t hurt you. Don’t worry.” 

The maiden looked at her in disbelief. She said nothing, simply continuing to listen. 

“My mother is a great Heavenly Oracle Envoy. She taught me that everything must be verified with my own two hands.” 

“Is that so? Why do you people want to kill me? You don’t seem evil. This isn’t part of the [Mission], is it? I apologize for the rudeness of the previous Heavenly Oracle Envoys. Clearly they didn’t know what an adorable girl you are.” 

At these words, the shadow maiden hugged her legs and lowered her head in grievance. 

Obviously, Gabriella had hit the mark. 

She wiped at her eyes, as if remembering something, and began to sob. 

Throughout it all, Gabriella remained silent. 

“I… Isa… Isabella.” 

The shadow maiden—or rather, the girl named Isabella—suddenly spoke. 

“Mmm, what a lovely name. It suits you perfectly—you’re just as cute.” 

“Why did you come looking for me? You have such powerful strength~?” 

“It’s nothing. I was just curious why you’re here when you clearly…” 

At this point Isabella grew even sadder. Tears welled up again in her beautiful cross-shaped eyes. 

“I… I…” 

Gabriella did not interrupt her. 

She simply placed a hand on Isabella’s back and patted gently. 

“I was… abandoned… I…” 

The maiden’s tears fell like raindrops. 

Her words came out jumbled, as if thousands of grievances were bottled up inside her yet impossible to fully express. 

In the end they all turned into sorrowful sobs. 

“I was… thrown away by them… I’m defective… something that needs to be disposed of…” 

Gabriella’s eyes widened slightly. 

Her pupils dilated, then quickly contracted, as if she had suddenly understood something. 

Yet the gentle patting on Isabella’s back never slowed. 

“It’s all right, it’s all right~” 

“Waaah…” 

The maiden cried loudly, but the sound could not escape the bottom of the abyss. 

No one witnessed the scene, nor did anyone know that Gabriella was sitting beside Isabella like the closest of friends. 

However, at that moment Gabriella suddenly looked up toward the sky. 

Although thick black stone blocked the view, she seemed to see something beyond it… 

“Your name is Isabella, right? I’ll have to leave soon, but don’t worry. Next time it will still be me… I’ll come visit you every day.” 

Isabella simply nodded. 

Her sobs gradually grew softer. 

The instant Gabriella’s hand left her back, her delicate body trembled, as if reluctant to let go. 

Gabriella stood up, preparing to leave. 

But before she did, she turned around, tilted her head with a smile, and gestured toward her own thigh. 

“By the way, could you make a small wound here?” 

Confusion flashed through Isabella’s eyes. 

She could not believe it—she had no idea what the girl before her was trying to do. 

“What are you… going to do?” Her eyes were still watery; she still didn’t understand. 

“Nothing much. Just a little cut will do~ It’s simple, right?” 

“I…” 

Although she hesitated at first, under Gabriella’s firm insistence she eventually complied. 

She made a small wound on that fair thigh, drawing a few drops of blood. 

The cut did not heal quickly; instead, miasma seeped out. 

“Thank you~” 

Isabella lifted her head and watched the silver-white maiden, her eyes filled with complex emotions. 

She found it completely illogical. 

Why would anyone willingly ask to be injured and then thank her for it?! 

As Gabriella left, Isabella continued to watch her suspiciously through the shadows, her mind full of question marks. 

Yet the other girl simply hummed a tune as she departed, acting as if it were the most natural thing in the world. 

Once she left the abyss, she transformed into silver light and flew toward the sky. 

By then the horizon had already turned orange with the setting sun. 

She only knew that afterward, the maiden named Gabriella would often come to visit. 

Each time they parted, she would ask Isabella to leave a wound on any part of her body. 

It was very strange.