I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl-Chapter 370 - 366 – Black Wings and the Free Western Wind

Chapter 370: Chapter 366 – Black Wings and the Free Western Wind

Several days had passed since the night when the northern wind carried a faint salty scent that had no place in Nocture. The city continued to breathe with an increasingly steady rhythm not the gasping breath of post-war exhaustion, but the calm respiration of a warrior beginning to trust its own strength. Dwarf hammers now rang like the rhythm of a work song, lycanthrope howls sounded like spirited morning chants, and thin black mist drifted gently among black roses that bloomed thicker than before. The reports on Sylvia’s obsidian desk had drastically decreased; the once towering stacks of parchment now left only a few thin sheets. Spatial rifts were stable, perimeters secure, trade beginning to flow again albeit under strict supervision. Nocture had stabilized. For the first time in a very long while, Sylvia felt... she could perhaps release a little of the burden from her shoulders.

That morning, soft sunlight slipped through the tall windows of the study. Sylvia stood on the small balcony, hands gripping the cold black stone railing, her pitch-black eyes gazing down at the bustling streets below: shadow-elf merchants, dwarves carrying new equipment, young lycanthropes drilling formations on the open field. The Chain of Abyss coiled loosely around her wrist, no longer trembling restlessly as it had days earlier. She let out a soft sigh, a cold breath mingling with the morning mist.

"I haven’t truly seen this world yet," she murmured to the wind. "After the fusion... It was only war, blood, and paperwork. It’s time I saw it with my own eyes."

She turned and stepped back into the room. Sofia was already there, lounging in the plush chair with legs crossed, holding a still-steaming cup of tea. Her golden hair hung loose this morning, her golden eyes shining with hope even as her lips tried (and failed) to suppress a smile.

"Where are you going?" Sofia asked, her voice light but laced with unmistakable curiosity.

Sylvia didn’t answer immediately. She walked to the obsidian cabinet in the corner, opened it, and took out a long black cloak lined with raven feathers, something she rarely wore. "A walk. Alone."

Sofia instantly put on an exaggerated pout, lips pursed, eyes wide and cute, hands pressing her cheeks as if the world were collapsing. "Alone? Without me? Sylvia... I’ll be so lonely here. The castle will feel completely empty without the sound of your footsteps. I might cry in the corner, all by myself, hugging a pillow..."

Sylvia looked at her flatly. "That’s the worst acting I’ve ever seen."

"But it worked, didn’t it?" Sofia immediately broke into a wide grin, jumping up from the chair and hopping closer. "I’m coming! I promise I won’t be a bother. I just want to see the world with Sylvia... Pleeease?"

Sylvia let out a long sigh, though the corner of her mouth lifted ever so slightly almost imperceptibly. "Fine. But you follow my rules. No reckless adventures."

Sofia clapped her hands in tiny, delighted bursts, her excitement exploding like a child’s. "Yes! I’ll be ready in ten minutes!"

They began preparing. Sylvia donned the long black cloak, concealing the Chain of Abyss beneath the sleeve, and tucked a small dagger etched with death runes into her belt. Sofia chose lighter attire: a dark golden tunic with a short mist-gray cloak, her hair tied into a high ponytail so it wouldn’t interfere with movement. She also packed a small bag with a few healing potions and the short sword she always carried.

Before leaving, Sylvia summoned Alicia and Stacia to the main hall of the castle. Alicia floated in with a faint shimmer, Stacia strolled casually while still holding her half-open novel.

"I’ll be gone for a while," Sylvia said flatly. "Nocture is entrusted to you two. Alicia, watch the spirits and the perimeter. Stacia, monitor the spatial rifts and incoming reports. If anything threatens the city... call me immediately."

Alicia nodded seriously, her spirit body glowing brighter. "We’ll guard the city well, Sylvia. Go in peace."

Stacia closed her novel, a small smile appearing. "Don’t worry. I’ve memorized all the emergency protocols. And if I get bored, I can read while on duty. Enjoy your vacation, Sylvia."

Sylvia gave a small nod, then turned. Sofia was already waiting on the castle’s largest balcony, the morning wind caressing her golden hair.

Sylvia raised her right hand. The Chain of Abyss trembled softly, and dark purple death runes ignited in the air. From the darkness beneath the castle came a low roar not angry, but loyal. Noir emerged Sylvia’s gigantic zombie dragon. Its pitch-black scales mixed with exposed white bone in places, its blood-red eyes glowing with unwavering devotion. Its torn yet powerful wings spread wide, momentarily shading part of Nocture’s morning sky. It landed gently on the balcony; the ground trembled faintly, but no damage occurred; it knew its own strength perfectly.

Sylvia stepped closer, her hand touching Noir’s cold snout. "It’s been a long time since we flew together, hasn’t it?"

Noir rumbled softly, a sound like distant thunder in an underground cavern not a threat, but agreement.

Sofia nimbly leaped onto Noir’s back, settling behind Sylvia who had already mounted. She wrapped her arms around Sylvia’s waist from behind, resting her chin on her queen’s shoulder. "I’m ready!"

Sylvia glanced back slightly, eyes narrowing. "Hold on tight. Noir likes to fly fast when he’s happy."

Then she patted Noir’s neck gently. "Let’s head west first."

Noir let out a low, almost purring growl of satisfaction, then spread his massive wings. Wind roared, thin black mist parted, and in an instant they shot upward. Nocture shrank beneath them: the towering black castle, the black rose gardens, the dead-water pool reflecting purple light, the bustling streets. From above, the city looked small yet still majestic like a breathing black gem set in the chest of the fused world.

They flew at a leisurely pace, not the full battle speed they usually used. Sylvia wanted to savor this journey. The western wind brushed her face, cold yet refreshing, carrying scents of damp earth, wild grass, and the faint aroma of ancient forest. Below, the fused world’s landscape began to change: from Nocture’s black plains to rocky hills overgrown with purple moss, then dense forests of trees with black-silver leaves that shimmered like liquid metal.

Sofia cried out in delight behind her. "Look at that! Crystal waterfall!!"

Sylvia nodded slightly. The waterfall was indeed beautiful water cascading from a high cliff, but not ordinary water; it glittered like liquid crystal, refracting the dim sunlight into strange, mesmerizing dark rainbows. Noir glided lower, letting them see more clearly. Crystal droplets scattered, some touching Noir’s wings and instantly freezing into tiny black ice grains that fell like dark snow.

They continued westward. The sun rose slowly, its light never truly bright always filtered through mist and gray clouds but enough to make the world feel alive. In the distance, the ruins of an old city appeared, now swallowed by blood-red parasitic vines. Cracked buildings were wrapped in thick, slowly pulsing tendrils like the veins of a giant.

"That’s the remains of an old city," Sylvia said quietly. "It used to prosper. Now... it’s just food for parasites."

Sofia hugged Sylvia tighter from behind. "Now you have Nocture. And us. You won’t lose anything again."

Sylvia didn’t reply, but her hand briefly touched Sofia’s arm, a cold touch, yet full of meaning.

Noir flew on, wings beating steadily. They passed through a misty valley where the fog was deep blue and moved like living smoke. Within it, large shadowy shapes occasionally appeared, perhaps remnants of old worlds, perhaps new creatures born of fusion. But they kept their distance; Sylvia’s and Noir’s aura of death was enough to ward them off.

Afternoon turned to late day as they reached a vast plain of black grass. The grass stood knee-high, swaying gently even without strong wind. In the center lay a small, beautiful blue lake, its surface like a mirror reflecting the gray sky. At the lake’s edge, wildflowers bloomed.

Sylvia patted Noir again. The dragon descended smoothly, landing gently at the water’s edge. The ground trembled slightly, but the black grass only rippled softly. Noir folded his wings, let out a contented rumble, and settled down like a gigantic resting cat.

Sylvia dismounted first, followed by Sofia. Their feet touched cold, slightly damp grass. The air here felt fresher, carrying the scent of wet earth and faint flowers.

"It’s so beautiful," Sofia whispered, walking toward the lake. She knelt and touched the water’s surface with a finger. It was cold, but didn’t freeze. Her reflection in the water looked like a painting of golden hair contrasting beautifully with the water’s hue.

Sylvia stood beside her, gazing at the lake for a long time. "Places like this... didn’t exist here before. The fusion changed everything. But there’s beauty in that change."

Sofia turned, smiling softly. "You’re starting to like this world, aren’t you?"

Sylvia gave a slight shrug. "Maybe. Or maybe I’m just tired of hating it."

They sat by the lake’s edge, Noir lying not far away, eyes half-closed but still alert. Sofia took out snacks from her small bag of honey cakes and berries. They ate slowly, sharing the comfortable silence. The evening wind caressed their hair, carrying the scent of wild roses and damp soil.

After a while, Sylvia stood. "We’ll continue tomorrow. Tonight we rest here. Noir will keep watch."

Sofia nodded, her smile wide. "My first vacation with you... I’m so happy."

Sylvia didn’t reply, but she sat back down, gazing at the darkening sky studded with faint purple crystals. The Chain of Abyss trembled once softly not a warning, but something like... approval.

In the distance, the western wind continued to whisper, carrying promises of new adventures. Nocture was safe behind them. For now, the fused world lay wide open before them and Sylvia, for the first time, felt like she wanted to see more.

Noir rumbled softly again, like a lullaby. And beneath the dark, secret-filled sky, the two figures the Queen of Death and her loyal companion sat side by side, savoring a silence they hadn’t felt in far too long.