Chapter 400: Veronica

Everything happened for a reason.

Alexander understood that after his journey to Purgatory, mainly after seeing the deaths of his mother's friends and sisters and his father's beloveds and others. He saw many deaths and couldn't do anything other than watch.

Worlds were also black and white.

The little girl before him was one of many kids that suffered, and there were many people much older than her facing injustice and other problems. Naturally, the same went for people living good lives.

Alex always cared about people close to his heart, so he had an easier time accepting such a truth. He was one of the people from his friend's circle that had accepted Josh's death the first and the easiest.

He helped others cope with that loss, too.

Because of his principles and a personality unsuitable for any heroic deeds, Alex took that truth close to his heart, treading on two worlds like most people despite a significant power dwelling within him.

He wouldn't mind donating some money or helping others grow up in strength, for Alex wanted to live in a happy and bright world. For that reason, he wanted Avander World to prevail, helping the Alliance as much as possible.

And in any different circumstances, Alexander would've healed the little girl's wounds, passed her some money, or perhaps even guided her to Danielle's household. Their meeting didn't happen without reason, after all.

But this particular little girl was different from others. She unconsciously used a power to convey her feelings, then, out of nowhere, she genuinely wanted to pay Alex for his kindness and even swore to pay him back fully in the future.

Despite all the bullying from the world, the little girl could smile and infect others with her happiness without any ability, just her heart; she was a strong girl.

That brought Alexander down onto his knees. Before he noticed, he was already hugging this little treasure, healing her wounds, and passing his warmth.

It was quite sudden, yet the little girl felt the warmth she had never felt. No one hugged her as she was left alone in the vast world.

"What's your name? I'm Alexander, but shorten it to just Alex," the little girl heard such a question in her ears. She parted her lips to reply to him immediately, even though she would've taken a lot of time should someone else asked her the same question.

"Veronica," the little girl said, clenching Alex's clothes as the healing was often a painful process, and Alex couldn't use more advanced techniques in a dark alley, so he went with a crude one.

"Your parents were bold to name you Veronica," Meiya said as she stared at the girl with warm eyes, not wanting to scare her. It was unusual for her to have such white robes with so many wounds, so Meiya inferred that Veronica was not a normal girl.

In fact, that was not as significant as her smile, strong enough to bring Fallen Angel onto his knees.

Stella also gazed with a lovely smile, extending her hand to ruffle the little girl's hair; it was white, just like hers.

Alex glanced at Stella, asking softly, "Is that name banned?"

"As you know, we have many households of the same status, the heavenly council overseeing our matters. In the far past, one woman ruled the clouds. She had an overbearing presence, taking down all households by herself and even perching her cloud island atop everyone else.

The shadow of her island was everywhere, and she became The Winged Queen for many years. Her name was Veronica," Stella concluded, still stroking the little girl's hair, telling her that she didn't mind such a name.

Alex nodded, then whispered, "It's a beautiful name. If one girl made that name into a terrifying tale, you have to overwrite that and turn it into a fairy tale. Seeing your kindness, I am sure you can do it."

"Can I do it?" Veronica softly whispered, lifting her golden eyes to look into Alex's red eyes, not finding any fear or danger within those hues, "Can I save everyone?"

The mood turned heavy, and everyone listened to Veronica's story.

"Return home alone," Alex stood still, holding Veronica in his arms— who had been gazing at him with wide and incredulous eyes as he believed her story wholeheartedly— his words were directed at Meiya.

She bit her lips, not turning around yet, "I should go, too. No way they will kill me or even try to scratch my skin. This realm fears my mother's indignation!"

Alex shook his head, not allowing her to speak another word, "If our plan fails, we will think of something else. Stella and I have the advantage of being players, so we can naturally die in this realm.

And Veronica is too precious for them," Alex whispered, glancing at the little girl in his arms, whose powers were similar to a girl from his house, Celia.

Veronica's story was horrifying and cruel.

She told Alex that there was a cloud that held captive at least two thousand kids around her age, forcing them to awaken a certain power. They also kept an eye on commoner and noble births, having information about every child born in the last six years.

And while that story might not ring any alarms in common or even some noble people, Alex connected a few dots.

The Authority.

It was a power that woke up in Celia when she was a little baby. That power could rule the whole race and surely turn even the most barking individuals into loyal soldiers.

Thanas, the Dullahan King, told Alex that the authorities were scarce. However, as players appeared in the world, many things came out at once, so he inferred that even authorities would be born in higher realms in abundance.

This inborn ability mainly came out to help the race with imminent danger. And if a whole world was in jeopardy— just because of antagonists— it was not odd for authorities to awaken one by one.

And from Veronica's words, Alex was one hundred percent sure that she held authority!

She was the winged people's strength for the future, the girl who would guide everyone, like Queen Veronica from the past.

"Go and tell your mom we will be late," Alex forced Meiya to leave the scene with his narrowed, strict eyes. He didn't take a no, and Meiya also didn't have a good plan that would justify her presence here.

After Meiya left with wronged expression, similar to her mother's volcano mode, Alex faced Veronica, "Our plan is very simple, but before we go for it, do you have someone to take care of you, Veronica?"

It was not just her but also Alex's future. He acted on his feelings, but Veronica's future was only hers. He could only help her.

So Alex asked her a question, and he would decide what to do next after her words.

"I don't…" Veronica replied sadly, looking down with bitten lips, "I know my name from my heart!"

Alex smiled, then added another question, "After we save everyone, what do you want to do next?"

"I want to make money!" Veronica replied, without thinking, instantly. She wanted to repay people who helped her, even with simple deeds. It hurt her little heart that she could only leverage their kindness without paying anything significant back.

"Alright," Alex nodded and looked at the little girl warmly before continuing the talk, "I have a castle in a different realm. Stella lives here without a problem, but I don't know how it would be for others.

Anyway, we will combine our powers to bring everyone away from bad people. They will appear in my realm, then we will find a home for everyone," Alex smiled.

His smile was so nice and genuine that Veronica brightly reciprocated it, looking much better than before. Perhaps, it was the first time she ever looked so happy and bright.

Alex hadn't spoken lightly about her powers as well. He really meant that they would combine their powers, for he believed Veronica's authority and kind heart would assist him in saving all those children.

"If you have no home, maybe you will find it cozy in my house," Alex said while holding the little girl, following her directions cautiously. His words surprised her, for who would so casually invite and take care of a foreign child?

Veronica knew that just because she saw so many kids without parents and home, bitterly and barely eking out on the streets. She was one of those kids as well.

Adopting a kid was a very serious matter. One simply couldn't pick up someone from the street, for those kids required a lot of love and attention.

But as Alex had a vast family and Celia, he knew he could take care of Veronica, "My daughter has the same powers as you. I'm sure you two will become great sisters."

He believed Veronica wouldn't find a better house than his! And he wasn't looking at it from the power perspective. Celia didn't want to become a queen, yet Alex knew she would help Dullahans with her might if need be.

And Veronica seemed the same.

"Sisters? Then… Alex would become my father?" Veronica asked slowly, weakly, and surely shyly.

Alex gazed at her warmly, recalling all experiences he had gone through. At this point, he was not a man who would run away from responsibility or preach that he was too young…

"Yes," he replied, kindling a fatherly love within Veronica's little heart.

And as Celia had a mother, Veronica also needed one.

Thus, he directed her attention to Stella, then added with a grin, "Stella is my fiance and future wife. I think she would also love to be your mother."

Stella's eyes twinkled, then she nodded, "Ok."