A heavy silence fell over the room. The air was dry and cold, thick with tension and the unanswered question hanging between them.
Finally, Edward broke the quiet. "So, what exactly is a Sin-Replica? And what about the Seal of Greed?"
Vant and Dew exchanged looks, clearly arguing silently over who had to explain this complicated matter to the young man.
"Seriously, that was the old geezer's job and he dumped all this on us. What does that make us? Kindergarten teachers?" Dew muttered irritably to Vant.
Edward was thoroughly annoyed by the white-suited man. Dew never spoke politely, rarely gave a straight answer and always seemed frustrated, acting as if explaining anything was beneath him. Still, Edward kept his irritation in check and waited. Any tiny clue would be enough for him.
As Vant and Dew continued their silent, tense argument over the explanation, a subtle, shadowy figure was seen outside the room, approaching the door to enter.
Vant and Dew instantly sensed the newcomer, turning sharply toward the door. They both immediately dropped to their knees, bowing their heads before the person even stepped fully inside. They knew exactly who it was.
A woman entered. Judging by the wrinkles around her eyes, she was clearly elderly, likely in her sixties. She wore a long, cream-colored gown that covered her completely up to her neck, topped with a warm, brown overcoat. Despite her age, she had a surprisingly slender and strong physique. She wore an eyepatch over her left eye and carried a cane, the handle of which was intricately carved with the symbol of an owl. Her white, shoulder-length hair was partly tied back in small braids.
When she looked at Edward, her face broke into a warm, genuine smile. She rushed toward him and pulled him into a tender hug. Edward was completely stunned; he had no idea who she was, yet he felt an undeniable, motherly warmth emanating from her.
Before Edward could even ask who she was, Vant's voice answered his silent question.
"Edward, this is Madam Serina Owls, the Lady of this mansion. She is the wife of Elliot Owls... and your grandmother."
"Grandmother!?" Edward's eyes widened in profound shock.
It felt like an eternity since Edward had seen any relative. After his father's funeral, where only five or six people,mostly neighbors and colleagues,had attended, his life had been defined by a cold, haunting silence. There had been no family, no relatives. Encountering a close family member now was incomprehensible. He didn't know how to react or what to do in return for the hug.
So, Edward simply remained still, frozen in shock.
"It's been so long since I've seen you, little Eddy," she said in a genuinely happy and loving tone.
"This mansion has been nothing but a living graveyard filled with silence since your grandfather died."
"So long since you've seen me ?" Edward was in question.
"I don't think you have ever seen me at all."
Sceptical as ever, Edward's questions are always straight to the point, he doesn't know how to add emotions in his words.
"Oh, Edward, you don't know how difficult it was for me to gather information about you, hiding from your grandfather."
"Your first birthday, your first school day, I had every insight of your life, sadly I couldn't do anything about the difficulty you have to suffer in life."
Edward's mind instantly began to fire off a barrage of questions; Did grandfather hate my father ? Why did my father never mention his family? Did he know about this place?
All these questions were deeply personal and Edward was cautious. Could he really trust a woman who had just claimed to be his grandmother so easily? Still, she seemed like a vital source for gathering crucial information.
But before he could formulate a question, Serina's gaze fell upon the glasses in Edward's hand and the distinct Seal of Greed. The joy instantly drained from her face, replaced by profound sadness and tension.
"So, it is you he chooses now," she whispered, her voice crumbling with sorrow.
"What more does he want to take from me! First, your grandfather, then your uncle, and now... Ugh, that demon!"
Edward seized the opportunity to ask the most pressing questions on his mind.
"If I may ask," Edward began gently, "What is this place? And what are these Sin-Replica and Sin-Lord things these people keep talking about?"
Serina took a deep, shuddering breath and met his eyes, a look of ancient grief settled upon her features.
"Oh, dear child," she said, her voice weighted with history. "This world is a curse given to us by God for our betrayal. This... is the punishment we face for turning against the Divine. This is a graveyard of the living."