Let's shift from Niel and Louis to Matthius. In the depths of the sea that seemed bottomless and pitch-black, he let his body be pulled even deeper. The deeper he dove, the more suffocating and cold it felt. Empty. He was truly swallowed by a choking void.
Matthius, who had grown up in the warmth of a family that loved him dearly, was struck by loneliness. Tears that represented his lonely self had already merged with the dark depths of the ocean. Cold. Was this what it felt like to live in darkness shrouded in fear?
"Mother..." Matthius called out softly.
Matthius choked. His breath hitched. His body lost balance and his hands clutched tightly at his neck. Air bubbles floated to the surface. Someone give him oxygen! Quick! His consciousness began to fade. Seawater slowly started to fill his lungs. His vision was swallowed by darkness.
"Calm down. Can you not be calm for a moment?"
Matthius forced his eyes open. Louis' voice sounded faint amid the silent darkness of the sea. His body, which had been floating aimlessly, began to move with a calm current that strangely... felt warm. In that loneliness he seemed to receive the warm embrace of a mother. The closer he got, the warmer it felt.
"Can you feel it?" Louis' voice became clearer.
"Yes. I feel it." In that ocean, Matthius smiled. "Warm. A warmth I've never felt before."
"If so, rise, Your Highness. Look ahead, where you can see a faint light drawing you toward it."
Matthius obeyed. His body floated upright, and slowly his eyes caught a clear light ahead that blinked as if calling him. "There, I see it!"
"Good. Approach it and try to conquer it. With that, you will obtain the first key."
Matthius paddled his body toward the shining light. His hand reached forward as the glow grew more blinding, and pulled him into a white world. There he stood alone, staring at the white walls surrounding him.
When he turned around, facing the wall behind him to look for the sea that had surrounded him earlier, Matthius saw a holy figure encircled by light. Unlike his own, this light was so warm. Each ray carried deep, affectionate love.
"Are you the light?"
The figure revealed herself. A pair of delicate, closed eyes and gleaming blonde hair adorned with a beautiful golden crown, not to mention the enchanting smile. Just by seeing her, Matthius knew a Goddess stood before him.
The Goddess smiled. "At last I meet you, O my grand spirit. The sacred light that represents me to illuminate the world and balance it with darkness." Her tone was smooth like silk thread.
Matthius knelt on one knee and bowed deeply before the goddess. "I have come by the will of the light that guided me here."
The Goddess gently tapped her foot, making the sound of small bells chime. "Who is the figure that led you to find the light, O you, envoy of the Goddess?"
Matthius looked up, gazing at the dazzling beauty from below. "A child named Louis who taught and guided me to seek light amidst the darkness."
The Goddess smiled happily. "So he is the one. That child has changed much since our last meeting that day." Her voice sounded soft.
"Forgive me. Did you say something?" Matthius asked politely, making the Goddess gently shake her head.
"There is nothing for me to worry about if he has decided to guide you. Because he is a different, wondrous light."
Matthius only stayed silent out of reverence until the Goddess spoke again, "Are you looking for the key?"
"Yes. I am looking for the first key to control the great power you have given me."
"Are you not aware that he gave you the key from the very beginning?"
Matthius was confused by the Goddess' question. "What do you mean? I don't understand."
"Light will always shine brighter than darkness. In the deep sea, the sun will find a way to pierce through. Therefore, there is no such thing as eternal darkness. Light has its own way of showing its radiance."
Matthius realized something—Louis' words before he jumped back into the ocean. "So that's it. It was that close and I didn't realize it. He wanted to give me the key in a sentence but didn't have the right words, and entrusted me to its source directly so I would understand."
"It's good that you realized. That child has never been good with words even after I long ago unsealed him." The Goddess extended her hand over Matthius' head. "Receive this light. Become a human who represents me to illuminate the world."
Matthius bowed. He felt something warm flowing into his body. Unlike during the test that day, this time it felt calming. Slowly, he returned to his beautiful half-god form, no longer threatening. Feeling this form of his convinced him he was a hero, not a destroyer.
"Stay with him for your own good. I entrust you to him. Prove that light and darkness can stand side by side without war."
"His figure... Who exactly is he?"
The Goddess only smiled. Slowly she vanished from Matthius' sight along with the white world he saw. Matthius sank back into the ocean, but this time, he felt at peace. The dark depths of the ocean no longer felt empty. He could see sunlight now piercing through after finding its way.
"Is this what he meant? If so, thank goodness." Matthius' eyes closed, surrendering everything to the ocean current that would carry him back.