This woman was Vincent's mother, Vanessa.
After she separated from Vincent and the others, she went to search for her husband by following the notebook that her son had found in Greg's house.
Currently, she was quite close to her destination, one of the recently abandoned mines under North Star city's control.
This was where her husband's name had last been mentioned.
It had been almost 15 years since he sacrificed himself for his wife's sake and there was not a single day that Vanessa didn't think about him.
At that time, she had a little son to take care of and couldn't leave him to search for him, but now, after Vincent grew up and started his own life, Vanessa could finally start searching for the man she chose to spend her life with.
But so much time had passed. She could only guess what happened to him.
She deeply hopes that he is still alive because if he's not…
Vanessa shuddered at the thought.
'He is alive, I can feel it,' she inwardly reassured herself as she walked through the street.
Vanessa's hand was on her stomach. She wore a hopeful smile.
Her hand lingered there longer than necessary.
Though Vanessa wasn't young anymore, she wasn't old either. She could still do it.
A child.
After she left her son, witnessing how much he changed and that his path no longer required her presence, Vanessa started wanting, no, craving a second child.
She simply wants to grow old with her child and husband beside her just like any other family.
A normal happiness. Is this so much to ask for?
Vanessa took a deep breath and put those dreams to the side.
Unless she finds her husband, all those wishes are meaningless.
…
While Vanessa was leaving the rear village and Vincent was recuperating, there was another person who was heading towards the same mine.
At the edge of the forest, under a thin tree, a young woman was sitting with long blonde hair in a braid, eating.
Slowly chewing a fresh bakery and sipping a bottle of milk that she bought recently, she looked in the distance.
Her destination was close.
'Vincent, I will not make you wait for too long.'
Thinking about her promise to him as her 17th birthday gradually approached, a deep blush appeared on her youthful face.
…
At the same moment, quite far away, a middle-aged woman was tied to the tree.
Her face was pale, mouth sealed.
She stared at a tent nearby from which some noises came out.
Her heart trembled in despair.
…
Time flew quickly and almost half a year went by.
At the edge of the elvish territory, stood a lone wooden house.
It was covered with a thin layer of snow.
Beside a window, sat a young man with long black hair. His expression was calm as he sipped the warm tea while gazing at the distance.
Taking another sip, his eyes shifted to something else.
'It was way too risky, but… it was worth it.'
Vincent calmly looked at his hand.
He could feel that all of his blood vessels had been successfully tempered.
Stage 3: Tempered Blood.
This stage does not provide any power, instead, your stamina and regeneration increases by several folds.
Vincent slightly nodded, satisfied with the result.
'All preparations are complete. The only thing left is…'
He took a deep breath and observed his cracked essence seed with soul force.
'2 weeks left till it kills me.'
His death was right at the corner, yet it didn't make Vincent flinch.
There was no hesitation on his face nor in his heart.
There was no regret either as he would heal Alisia again even if it would take his life on the spot.
*Knock-knock*
The light knock on the door brought Vincent back from his thoughts.
Looking at the arriving person, he stood up and bowed in silence.
This person was tall and had long silver-gold hair.
The woman didn't enter and simply stood in front of the door, calmly looking at Vincent.
"You have only 2 weeks left," she spoke.
Vincent's expression didn't change.
"Yes."
She slowly added, "Are you not afraid of what will happen… if you fail?"
Vincent straightened up and sat back beside the open window.
"Death… I don't see death as the ultimate ending of life."
"Then what is it… to you?"
He replied as he looked at the calm snowfall, "Death… Though I can't tell for sure, I feel that it's just another step towards something bigger."
Lythaera gazed at him a bit, "Then what about that… woman you love?"
"Though the chance of your success is miniscule… the time you had was still enough to enjoy your life with her."
"You could even have time to have a child and witness its growth. Isn't that… tempting?"
"Why take such a risk?"
Vincent calmly looked at her, but didn't give an immediate reply.
"What I wish for is very simple, yet probably impossible to reach. Eternal happiness feels much more tempting than temporary one."
"If I fated to die on my path towards my goal, then so be it. I will have no regrets."
Lythaera briefly became silent before replying, "So be it."
"Do you want to visit Mireth?"
Vincent replied without hesitation, "No."
Lythaera slightly nodded.
If Mireth sees Vincent, her state will only get worse.
It would be better if she never sees him again.
Lythaera looked at him for a moment and changed the topic.
"Since you brought back a root of Dark Oak… I will assist you in your attempt to fix your essence seed."
Vincent gazed at her in surprise.