I Got Reincarnated as a Zombie Girl-Chapter 164 – Two Worlds, Two Burdens

Night had fallen fully over the ancient castle. Cold winds from the north drifted softly past stone pillars, carrying a thin mist that shimmered gently under the glow of candlelight in the castle’s inner halls. Beneath a gray sky, the stars of this world appeared pale, holding riddles no ordinary human could hope to understand.

Sylvia stood on the balcony of her chamber, both hands resting on the cold, rough stone railing. Her black dress fluttered lightly in the night breeze, and her black hair drifted in the wind, faintly gleaming under the reddish moon that hung far closer than the one from her original world.

Her face was calm, but her eyes were empty. She stared at the night sky in silence, as if hoping for a voice, a signal, or a whisper from the one she missed most.

Sofia.

That name spun endlessly in her mind like an incantation she couldn’t silence. Sofia’s face, her peaceful smile, her warm hands that always held Sylvia’s when she was vulnerable all of it felt so distant now.

And the longing was like a slow-acting poison that gnawed at her heart.

She closed her eyes, inhaled deeply, and exhaled slowly. The night air carried the scent of mist and old dust, but also a faint trace of magical roots from the eastern mountains.

"How much longer must I wait..." she whispered.

But there was no answer. No voice. No easy way to reconnect hearts now separated by worlds.

Yet Sylvia was not a woman who gave up easily.

She sharpened her mind, channeling magical energy from her core to her consciousness. Her fingertips trembled slightly, as if touching the thin veil between worlds. Then, she uttered a single name in her thoughts:

"Zark."

Immediately, telepathy opened. Not as clearly as usual it was cross-dimensional after all, and the gods were also interfering with anything that passed between worlds but it was enough to form a faint voice in her mind. A deep, steady voice she’d known for a long time.

"Queen Sylvia. We’ve been waiting to hear from you."

"Zark... how is Nocture? How is Sofia?"

There was a pause before Zark replied. His voice in her mind sounded tired, but firm.

"We’re under pressure. The central military has begun assembling large forces. Ever since we declared Nocture a nation, they... panicked."

"Panicked?"

"Yes. They weren’t prepared to face the reality that an undead force once dismissed as mere monsters had formed structure, economy, and military like a true state. They now call us... ’a threat to the stability of humanity.’"

Sylvia gave a small, bitter laugh, her gaze returning to the blank sky.

"And Sofia?"

Zark’s tone softened.

"She’s busy. Meeting envoys daily, quelling minor unrest, reassuring citizens who are growing fearful. But she remains calm... even though I know she’s waiting for you. Every night, she sits on the balcony and looks to the sky. As if hoping you’ll return from the clouds."

Sylvia held her breath. Her chest tightened suddenly. She didn’t know why, but that sentence struck deep. The cold night air felt sharper, more piercing.

"Zark... tell her. I miss her. Just that. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Understood, Your Majesty."

And with that, Sylvia ended the telepathic connection. Her magic flow slowly closed, returning to silence. But now, that silence felt heavier.

She looked at the sky again. The stars sat still like eyes watching everything from above. She shook her head softly, a faint bitter smile on her face.

"Two worlds... and I’m caught between them," she murmured.

As the undead queen of this world, and the leader of Nocture in the other. As the center of a divine struggle, and the political target of humankind’s military. As a savior, a conqueror... but also, as a woman who only wanted to be with the one she loved.

She turned and walked back into the room. The small fire in the hearth still burned, casting soft golden light across the stone walls.

On her desk, a stack of reports awaited her attention. Undead logistics plans, scouting reports, a list of beastkin forces who had agreed to ally, even a sealed letter from the netherbound elves, who had so far remained neutral.

Sylvia stared at it all, then sat down.

"No time to drown in longing," she told herself. "War never gives space for personal feelings."

Yet her hand hesitated when she noticed a small object in the corner of the desk a tiny brooch shaped like a wildflower, a gift from Sofia long ago before they parted. She reached for it slowly, holding it in silence.

"...but sometimes, personal feelings are the only reason I can keep fighting."

She clutched the brooch to her chest, beneath her dress. Hidden, but always with her. Then, she began reading the reports one by one, her red eyes scanning through lines of threats, warnings, and preparations for the days ahead.

Outside, the night wind continued to blow, carrying whispers of war and change from all directions.

And at the center of it all, Sylvia sat upright alone between the forces that sought to pull her in every direction.

The fire in the hearth had dwindled, leaving behind glowing embers that crackled softly from time to time. The light in Sylvia’s room had dimmed, but her mind was brighter than ever. Plans drifted through her thoughts, competing with the emotions and longing she could barely suppress.

A soft knock came from the door.

"Come in," Sylvia said without looking up from the document in her hand.

Celes entered, this time without her combat cloak, wearing only a simple dark outfit. Her violet hair flowed freely, her face looked tired but still sharp.

"I saw the light was still on. You haven’t really rested," she said, walking closer.

Sylvia glanced at her briefly. "If I sleep too long, everything we’ve built might collapse before I wake up."

Celes stood across from her, leaning lightly against the wall. "You’re too hard on yourself."

"Because no one else is hard enough," Sylvia replied softly. "We don’t have the luxury to relax, Celes. The world is moving. And I’m standing right in the middle of it."

Silence spread between them. Then Celes spoke again, her voice quieter.

"...You called Sofia’s name in your sleep just now."

Sylvia froze. Her hand, still holding a pen, stopped midair. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

"I miss her."

Celes bit her lower lip, then said in a whisper, "Is there not even a little space... for someone who is here with you?"

Sylvia met her gaze gentle, but firm.

"Celes... you’re very important to me. But I can’t split my heart in two. And you know that."

Celes lowered her head. "I know. But still, it... hurts."

"You knew who I was from the beginning," Sylvia continued. "I might have the power to raise undead armies, fight gods, and overturn empires... but I’m still someone who can only love one person."

Celes nodded, giving a small, bitter smile. "And that’s exactly why I chose to stay by your side. Because of your loyalty. Because you’re not the monster they say you are."

Sylvia stood from her chair and walked over to her. She placed a hand on Celes’ shoulder, looking at her sincerely.

"One day, the world will know who we truly are. Not just as a terrifying force... but as those who endured. Who chose to keep standing, even when the whole sky tried to bring us down."

Celes nodded slowly, then stepped back calmly. "I’ll head to the strategy room. There are still reports to compile."

"Thank you, Celes."

Once the door closed behind her, Sylvia stood alone near the window. She opened the glass, letting the night wind in to brush her face.

In the distance, the shadows of mountains were faintly visible, and above them, the sky had begun to shift colors. The stars were moving faster now, forming new patterns. The ancient magic of this world was awakening and the gods, both of light and dark, were starting to arrange their pawns.

"If this keeps up... I might have to face them all alone," Sylvia murmured.

But then she shook her head and chuckled at herself.

"No. I’m not alone. I have Celes, I have Velthya, I have my army. And in another world... I have Sofia."

Just as she said that, a hum of active magic echoed from the outer hall. The emergency communication seal from the lower chamber lit up the notification crystal glowing soft pink by the door.

Sylvia moved swiftly out of the room and descended the stairs toward the magical command center.

There, Aurelia and two other mages were already waiting. One of them immediately stepped forward with a report.

"Magical communication from the missing dark elf envoy they’ve detected traces of holy magic moving toward the western border."

"Holy?" Sylvia narrowed her eyes. "Human forces?"

Aurelia nodded. "Most likely. But not from the central military. They... bear a symbol we haven’t identified. Like a new order."

"Heroes," Sylvia muttered.

She stared at the spinning crystal ball in the center of the room, which showed a rough map. A red dot was glowing in the northwest region, near an ancient gate long sealed.

"I know that place," she said softly. "The Gate of Lurien. They’re trying to open it."

Aurelia turned to her. "That means... they want to awaken something from before humanity ever conquered this land."

Sylvia nodded. "Could be a weapon. Could be an entity. Whatever it is, we have to stop them before it’s too late."

She rose, her eyes blazing with renewed determination.

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