Hints From The Past

Eugene attended the usual class with Timber.

However, he finds it difficult to concentrate while remembering his encounter with Kaizer. After all, Kaizer plays a huge part in his life and his death is partly connected with Kaizer even without him knowing who killed him.

But no matter how suspicious he is...

He knew that Kaizer won't dirty his hand for such a bastard like him. How can he say that? Because Kaizer, no matter how many times had a chance to kill him, somehow created a scenario and is looking for loopholes, as if wanting to know something, wanting to be given a sign and answer that Kaizer could only get to him without even asking.

Kaizer, who had chances didn't kill him...but kept pretending.

As for who ended his life? He wanted to know too.

Who is the person, who started his path of suffering...

The you who refuses his own fate, shall not find peace and continue to crave.

What?! Who?!

The lost soul would wander, finding no rest. He who defied god's will shall walk in the endless path of facing judgment.

It's you!!!

Eugene's lowered his head as his eyes turn red upon hearing the narration inside his head.

As someone who's been imprisoned in the judgment hall and tortured by those higher beings. He knew that he was being reminded that if he go further and try to change other people's fate, then the backlash would be experienced by him and he who interfered with the heavens will...will continue to suffer and never find salvation.

Those gods probably detected that he was trying to change Timber's fate.

Those damn gods!

So, the reason why Kaizer appeared is that the heavens wanted to fix the fate of Artha and make his beloved children become the center of the world.

If so, then why bring him back?!

"Eugene?"

[The you who refuses his own fate, shall not find peace and continue to crave.]

[The you who refuses his own fate, shall not find peace and continue to crave.]

[The you who refuses his own fate, shall not find peace and continue to crave.]

Eugene suddenly got dizzy and as if his soul was leaving his body, he took a glimpse of a moment of his suffering when he was being punished in the hall of judgment before his soul was forcefully transferred to another dimension after completing the process of the verdict.

He was kneeling while feeling the pain of betrayal, sadness, and loneliness, he look at the magnificent hall carved and designed with gold figures and lining that is witnessing all of his pain and grief. He doesn't want to die because of someone's existence, he wanted to die while feeling the happiness he couldn't get but that's impossible for someone like him whose fate is already decided and that is...

DEATH.

"I will live" he muttered under his breath.

"I will battle against heaven until my one last breath."

He looks at the magnificent ceiling of the hall, his tears are falling ceaselessly. Because of love, he was desperate, he didn't realize that attaining happiness that wasn't fated to be his is difficult, and no matter what no one would reach a hand just to help him stood.

He was bound to die and be buried in the ground where he was cursed.

"God huh, I wonder what's the meaning of your existence...for someone like me who experience your unfairness."

"Eugene!"

Timber was surprised when Eugene suddenly collapse. Eugene is just fine earlier and there are no abnormalities seen, so what happens? why did Eugene suddenly faint for no reason?

"Let's go! Bring him to the infirmary!"

The teacher also panics, after all, Eugene is still a noble of high rank and if something happens to him, the school will bear another crisis.

——[My child, I pity you.]

"Eugene you're so selfish!"

"I'M NOT SELFISH!" he shouts madly making Chantall stare at him in silence.

"I am not selfish..." this time it was a whisper, his heart was heavy and the pain is overflowing "If loving you was called selfishness then so be it, If wanting affection is selfishness then please think it that way, If wanting attention is selfishness then let it be."

He looks at her and smiles while crying.

"If wanting happiness is being selfish then please let me stay that way" because that's the only way for me to obtain the love I have been longing for. If everything I did is an act of selfishness I wouldn't mind being selfish for the rest of my life just to become happy.

[I who understand your pain shall grant you power.]

The Flower and the Leaves are far different. People would only notice the beautiful flower, not the leaves who were only given for support. Somehow it's like how most people live in this world, their fate was known and decided for their goddess granted it. There's no bad ending as long as you believe in destiny but how come even if the strings are visible the heart of people will turn their way?

Ended up being thrown away?

In this world, emotion would only put you in destruction.

One by one erasing everything...that child's warm heart, the firm trust, and that passion, too.

——The one who shall control his own fate.

"You're tired, right? why not sleep?" he laughs because he was right, he's too tired to even stay awake in this rotten world.

He saw that person's hand, covered in black mist.

That person took a step and cover his eyes using that hand.

"You are cursed to sleep eternally."

Oh, that's right, in this battle he already loses not so long ago when he decided to give up his life and live with it in misery.

Love, hatred, sadness, loneliness, all of the emotions slowly fade as his eyes close.

"If there's a second life I won't love her and if ever I fall in love with her again and again I would like to take my life to end those feelings."

Eugene chuckled "Because loving her is my greatest sin."

With that, his body completely collapses on a cold soft bed.

The room was completely engulfed with darkness.

The sun welcomed them with a new life and everything came back to normal in a year. Everyone already reaches their happy ending and he... all he had is agony while his soul is trapped in the heavenly realm for judgment.

[I present you the power of a Numen Fati.]

[Now, the you who wandered in the abyss shall be guided by these threads of fate to experience the new beginning.]

——"Eugene?!"

Opening his eyes, Eugene was welcomed by Timber's worried face.

Timber is crying while looking at him, and his [Timber] tears fell, landing on the right side of his eyes and flowing down as if he was also bearing tears.

"Why are you crying?"

Timber shows a painful expression.

"Y-You...That's supposed to be my question..." Timber burst out, "Why are you crying Eugene? Can you tell me what's so painful?"

"Ah?"

Eugene raises his hand to touch his face and felt it wet.

It wasn't Timber's tears.

It's his.

He cried.

Why?

Pinching his chest, Eugene purses his lips and let his tears fall ceaselessly while feeling the familiar heartache of the past.

He knew, that nothing goods happen whenever he and Kaizer met. Because Kaizer always triggers something in him. With just their eyes meeting each other, Eugene will fall into an unpreceded case just like what he experienced earlier.

"Eugene?"

Eugene opened his eyes and look at Timber once again, but this time he saw something strange.

A red string, floating around.

"What is that?" raising his arm, he tried to touch the threads but they pass through his hand.

"T-This, what are you talking about?" Timber asked while holding Eugene's hand that was raised, thinking that Eugene wanted to touch his face so he put it on his cheek.

"The threads..."

Timber frown, "You should rest, the doctor said that you had mental exhaustion making your mana unstable which can cause hallucination. If it weren't for the timely treat then you'll fall into a deep sleep."

"Ah?" mental exhaustion?

He didn't feel tired at all, but because Timber is by his side, he probably abuse his body again.

It's dangerous.

Mental Exhaustion is what magicians always avoided because it can make them break down and run havoc because of unstable mana. But it's also strange, he only knew that he had enough mana to use magic but that doesn't mean he could be affected by mana exhaustion that only magician and dual ability people can experience.

Mana...Magic...

Could it be?!...

Eugene immediately sat up but suddenly got dizzy.

Timber: "Eugene!"

Eugene grab Timber's clothes and with a painful expression he asked Timber, "Who inspected my body?"

"Ah? I-It's the great magician, he happens to pass by when we were about to bring you into the infirmary."

"A magician?"

Eugene laughed, "A magician, who's this magician?"

"I-It's Duke Del Viltaria, he happened to be visiting the academy when he encounter us in the hallway. He offered to help but after that, he leave."

Timber saw Eugene's pale face.

"I-Is there something wrong?"

Eugene shook his head, "No. It's nothing. I just suddenly feel suffocated."

——News is circulating around the Meza Eusto building.

As everyone knows that Eugene suddenly collapses in the middle of the class which causes an uproar. This news is happen to be heard by Eullian and Clarence who were given a piece of instant information by their classmates

The next person to be notified is Euric from the Neva Eusto department.

He was called because he is Eugene's elder brother and is the only person qualified to handle the matter in a quick manner knowing that the Marquis doesn't really favor Eugene and never pays attention to everything from the academy unless the matter is involving Eullian.

"Greetings Duke Del Viltaria."

Euric gave a courtesy upon seeing the duke, it is also a way for him to show his gratitude because if Duke Viltaria didn't happen to be around then his little brother would suffer a blow that is hard to recover from.

"Young Shradinza, you are growing up looking exactly like your father."

The duke shows satisfaction upon seeing Euric.

"Thank you but I can't take it as a compliment."

The duke raise one of his eyebrows but didn't seek further explanation and just said, "Your little brother is quite fortunate today. However the next time, I'm sure he'll be in danger."

"I don't understand but I thank the duke for treating my little brother."

"Small things."

The duke averted his gaze.

"That little one, he needs a mana restriction or he'll die."

Euric's face turns ugly, "I apologize If I'm hearing it wrong, but pardon my rudeness for asking..."

"What do you mean that my little brother needs a mana restriction?"

Duke Viltaria didn't change his expression and as if expecting Euric's questionr, his cold gaze just landed on Euric in a slow manner before being retracted.

"I will only say it once, it's up to you if you will believe me."

Euric's expression cools down.

"Our Shradinza blood since the existence of our ancestor, there is no such as thing as deviating from fate and being blessed by another."

"I never say that your little brother didn't inherit your family's ability. It's just, he is confirmed to be a dual ability and the suppressed mana inside his body is quickly moving, overcoming his small body until it consumes the owner's whole existence. In short, if you don't want your little brother to become a fool, you better choose one ability to use and seal the other."

Euric frown.

And Duke Viltaria, without anyone seeing, shows a trace of annoyance on his face. It was as if, what happened would have an effect on him.

"My little brother has been practicing his magic but nothing happens, how come the effects are only seen now?"

Duke Viltaria purses his lips, picks a small box in his pocket, and put it on the table before pushing it towards Euric's direction.

"Better not tell your father about your little brother's situation. This jewel ring is what I personally made, this will help your little brother calm the rioting mana inside his body."

Euric started to hesitate, especially upon hearing the duke's request of keeping the matter away from his father.

Just why would the duke say that?

"You need to do what I'm saying if you don't want to risk your little brother's well-being. Make sure to let him wear this ring and never remove it."

Such a strong mana.

It would be bad if it run havoc.

Also...

Duke Viltaria's eyes glint.

No one must find out...At least, not so early or his plan would be in vain.