CHAPTER FOUR: FALLING APART (4)

"Father, good morning!" Allen is wiping his sweat as he sees his father's silhouette. He puts away his wooden sword and stares at the man. The feeling of sadness is swallowing his father figure. Allen knows that something is troubling his father. It might be the Gods again.

"You too, Allen." A strained smile appears on his face. Allen walks and sits down next to his father. He tries to smile and laugh to lighten the atmosphere. Unfortunately, unlike before, his father is lost in the thought of the trouble he is facing. Allen is finally aware of the significant concern that might appear in the Reano family.

"Is something wrong?" His words are cautious. Franz stares at the training hall. The sun rises from the feet of the far mountain. The flock of birds flies in the sky. The cold wind of autumn makes the temperature decrease. But the warmth of the sun fills their surroundings.

Franz is looking back at his oldest son. He reaches for the child's hand and puts it on his own. The rough skin and calluses can be felt. He works hard. Among Reano's descendants, Allen is born with a body of God of War. People called them a blessing, but Franz harbors another idea.

Allen Reano of the West, Amelia Hearthen of the South, Roxane Arcene of the North, and Mikael Crezane in the East. Each of the ancient descendants shows the most talent in this era. It's not coincidental. Great power comes with great responsibility. He is looking for the child of chaos, not because of fear.

In the middle of everything, the child of chaos is from the central. All the disorder will follow him like a disaster. There is only one more ancient descendant, The Royal Family. There is a high possibility that the child of chaos is a member of the Royal family. But, none of the children reach the realm of 'talented' he is looking for. They might be geniuses but not talented. "Allen, there is something you need to know."

"Father?" Allen's voice snaps him from his depressing thought. The Gods won't test humanity if the humans have no choice in the start. He can only hope his child will be saved. Franz knew that he was selfish. If he had to decide, he would preferably choose his son over the continent's peace.

"You will be attending Grande at the end of this month. I need you to find someone for me." All of these children share the same similarity. Each one of them will become a new student of Grande in a few weeks. The child of chaos should be among them.

He can't let Arcene or the Royal family find the child first. Allen is peeking at him with confusion. Franz slightly ruffles his son's hair. The gentle smile has not vanished from his face. Unlike most aristocrats, Franz preferably lives a peaceful life. Dignity, pride, or wealth do matter to the Reano family. He can only hope that his children will be happy.

*****

"Louis, is this a good idea? I thought you said that 'I will become a bystander!'" A black cat is curling itself in Louis's thick cloak. The temperature is dry and cold. The snow reaches the ankle. She knows Cardiane's apostle is crazy. But she still underrated the craziness. In their first meeting, Louis looks like a kite with a broken string.

He has no intention of fulfilling his dream. To live like a corpse and void of emotion. His past life memory must awaken something in his mind. She is curious. But she never thought that choice would be this extreme! Besides, Louis's self-proclaimed bystander identity persona is crumbling. He is interfering with the world line! "Louis! That artifact should belong to Hearthean!"

"Amelia Hearthean has a moon blessing. She did not need the ice blessing. Among the future enemies, only Louis can awaken the winter spirit. Isn't it better to be more prepared when attending Grande?" One of the hero's companions, the daughter of Count Hearthean should receive the artifact. The artifact only appears once. It is used to restrain Louis's magic when he has a rampage after Natalia's death.

Grace snorts angrily. Cats hate water. Even if the environment is dry, her fur still feels uncomfortable. Why must she be a cat? Trying to find some logic to counter Louis's words, she used the law. "But this is against the rule-"

"What rule? Cardiane gives me full authority. Amelia used the spirit to stop Louis's rampage. If I'm not the villain, she doesn't need it, right?" She can't refute his words. There is no need for a sword if there is no enemy, right? She wants to reply as it is a necessary precaution, but she realizes Louis chose to become selfish for once.

He wants the Artifact of Frezia, which is useless to Amelia. It's because he needs it. Louis needs it to become stronger. It might be selfish from her point of view. Louis is aware of it too. It's as if he is rejecting his selfish desire. Grace chooses to shut her mouth.

"Ughh! At least you should warn me! We are climbing the highest mountain in the North! You are a bastard! You can stay and act like nothing! Or you can sell the information to make a living! You know the world!" But it will not stop her from grumbling and resenting Louis's choice. It's not even winter yet! She knows Arcene is cold, but this is too much!

Unlike someone who receives passive immunity, she is helpless. Cardiane is the librarian. The librarian must record and oversees the world thread. History can be recorded in the coldest mountain, the burning desert, or the deep ocean. Thanks to this ability, Louis has extreme temperature resistance and abnormality resistance.

"I need power. Just because you know something doesn't mean that you can change it. When I lived as Louis, I thought everything would be fine after that woman died. I thought that we finally are free from the Arcene family. It never even crossed my mind as we ended up dying in those dogs' hands." Grace just clicked her tongue. How did she do that? She is in cat form, right?

If Louis wants to escape Arcene, he can do the simplest thing. Cardiane is relatively unknown to the people of Theor. But if you trace it to its ancient civilization, the temple should be able to protect these siblings. "Louis, I told you a good idea before! You can escape that place. You can share that you are a Cardiane's apostle with the temple. You can have their protection."

"And being used like a pet? Even the saints are caught in these stupid 'for the sake of humanity's things'. My memory of Eric overlapped with my current life. I know one thing, Grace. Eric is someone who will struggle for the path he chooses. We are the same person. I want to stop running away." Hearing Louis's words make her shut her mouth.

Grace is curious about something. She is looking at Louis's dark face. "Louis, do you hate humans?"

Louis merely hummed and stared at her in confusion. "Isn't it normal? I was even disgusted with my existence."

Taken aback by the reply she receives, she tries to retract her question. "That's not what I meant-"

Louis's words cut off her unpleasant feelings. "We are here, at the top of Frezia mountain. I doubt anyone will check on us. Jeremy will not get on our bad side. He hasn't made his choice yet. No one will realize if I vanish for a few days. We have the biggest trial now."

Looking at the cave entrance, Grace realizes the severity of the situation. The trial is hunting a demonic beast. The biggest problem is Louis. The original Louis's body is weak as a twig. She doubts Eric has any experience in fighting in his actual world. Eric is a regular college student. Grace turns into her human form and blocks Louis's path. "Wait, you're an undergraduate student."

"Yup." Louis is thinking something, and he nods. Grace is staring at a dumbfounded face of Louis. Is this human mad?

Grace shakes Louis's body as she screams in terror. Louis just patted her head. Unlike what she thinks of, his small stature only makes her cuter. It's hard to feel the wrath of her cute and chubby expression. "In the world without magic or swords!"

"Yup. We have Science and Arimetchic." Louis replied with a mellow attitude. Grace stomped on his foot. The audacity of this man! Their life is in danger! Maybe not. Louis might have memories of Eric. Possibly, Eric is a sort of a thug or bravado in his era. Louis looks unconcerned. Even so, she is still curious about the determination of Louis.

"Have you ever fought with someone?" She tries to ask with a silent voice. She is whispering silently next to Louis's tall stature.

"Wrestling with a bear count, right? I worked as a part-timer zookeeper before." Bear. A grand freaking bear! Louis only chuckles softly and pats her head. He is holding her right hand. How is this happening? All of this situation can be traced back to this morning's event.

*****

The smell of pine leaves covers the trails. Louis glances towards the black cat on his lap His memories with Natalia are still vivid. Natalia will awaken her power as one of the hero's capture targets. Unfortunately, Louis will take away that position from her. The position of the Arcene family as the villain is pre-written by God, the author of the story.

"Young master, the patriarch is waiting. I shall lead you the way." Jeremy seemingly has made his mind. He lowered his head as a form of respect an acknowledgment of his existence. Louis glances toward the second-floor glass. This time, he will change the character's destiny.

Louis is walking through the main hall. He stops at the entrance of the Grand Hall. He stares solemnly as he knows everything will change from today.

His allegiance to this family will crumble. Nothing can stop him from making this decision. A strong person will only grant kindness and benevolence. Unfortunately, this person is not soft-hearted to people around him. The compassion that he shows is a cover for his perfect persona.

No one is other than Louis aware of his deepest heart. Behind this grand and gigantic door, a man sits and looks at him with a gentle smile.

He knows that a gentle smile is like a cat looking at something it loves, rats. They will cover the entire hole and force the rat to run around. That is the destiny written for his existence as the original Louis.

"Come in." The coldness in his tone is undeniable. The golden eyes shone through the window. He was looking at the closed curtain. There is a high possibility that their conversation will be private.

"Greetings, patriarch." Bowing his head slowly, Louis clenched his hand. Something is creeping under his skin as he resists fighting against the evil man.

"You have my condolence. Your mother is a persistent woman." Glancing at the man with a pair of deadeye, Louis lowered his head. For this man, he is the failed product that destroys the purity of the Arcene family identity. The word talentless is a death sentence to the child.