Glimpse of The Outcome

A glimpse of the outcome of Lucian's plan.

Under the serene night sky, where a gentle breeze wafted through the air and the moon shone directly above, the vicinity was teeming with the presence of numerous crows.

Two boys converse beneath the night sky, illuminated by stars and the moon as if the clouds above are also listening.

However, the two boys were observed engaging in an argument on a rooftop. They displayed evident signs of intense disagreement and a deep conflict seemed to be at play. Their exchange was quite predictable, with one boy speaking in an angry and threatening manner, while the other maintained a calm and composed demeanor reminiscent of the tranquility of the sea or the stillness of grass when it is gently swayed by the wind.

"You! Why did you create all the mess?". Julius's face contorted with an expression of disgust, and his tone reflected a fury akin to that of an active volcano.

"Am I... what evidence do you have?". Lucian smirked and maintained a composed demeanor in his response.

"You are insane!". Julius tightly squeezed his hand, his body trembling with a surge of intense anger.

...

Lucian carefully assessed Julius's state of mind, paying close attention to the cues conveyed through his body language and microexpressions. These indicators provided valuable insights into Julius's emotional limitations.

"Me?... insane?... pardon me...then, tell me Julius, what is the meaning of insane?". Lucian asked with a sly smile as he stared at Julius with a pity stare.

...

Julius averted his gaze, his face displaying annoyance as he tightly clenched his teeth.

"If you perceived me as insane, what makes you an honorable person? A person that killed 6 children in one night". Lucian asked with a calm demeanor.

"That-". Julius tried to answer but he was speechless.

Julius' eyes grew wider as memories of past trauma slowly resurfaced. The scenes in his mind became slightly clearer, though still somewhat vague from the events of the previous day.

Julius looked down in despair.

"No...stop...". Julius responded, his voice trembling in fear.

Lucian wandered peacefully with his hands behind his back, observing the tranquility around him. He noticed that Julius appeared slightly traumatized and decided to forcibly engage him in conversation, subtly addressing his state of mind.

He then persuaded Julius' mind, exploring his senses.

"You told everyone around you that you weren't the killer".

"You lie to everyone, perhaps you even lie to yourself".

"You put a smile, you act like a victim, you showed how saintly you are... to change people's perception towards you".

"What disgusting is, you act empathetic to get sympathy from others".

"Did I get it right?". Lucian inquired, his smile tinged with a hint of disdain.

"No...no...no no no no...I am not the killer!". Julius shivered as he tried to remember the scene clearly, but it was as vague as a mist, his eyes widening due to the slight effect of being traumatized and refusing reality.

Julius knelt, feeling a sense of disbelief.

"No!...I...me...I...saw the killer, the real murderer! he is the one behind that abandoned house event". Julius tries to stay composed.

"W-wait... I remember it clearly!". Julius stood in furious as he pointed at him.

"It was you!".

"You are the one that pulled me into that mess! You sent me a letter, you!... I even saw your silhouette". Julius felt a shiver run down his spine as he recollected the event. The vivid memories washed over him, stirring up a whirlpool of emotions.

"Again...you are trying to lie to yourself". Lucian responded in a calm demeanor.

"You are pathetic...". Lucian approached Julius with a sympathetic expression on his face.

As Lucian observes more deeply, Julius' sanity will collapse soon.

"Now, tell me, Julius". Lucian put his hand on Julius' shoulder.

"Were you certain about your mental state during the occurrence?". Lucian asked him.

...

"Perhaps, you are losing your composition, and attempted the murdering unconsciously".

"Answer me, Julius". Lucian asked with a calm demeanor.

Lucian toyed with Julius's emotions, creating confusion and distorting his perception of reality. Julius's mind became consumed with deep thoughts, as he relived every memory from that day.

Julius felt humiliated, his face looking down.

Lucian pulls away his hand on Julius' shoulder to make him feel less secure.

"Julius, how odd it was that... I investigated the case, but no witnesses are stating that you are in your unconscious mind while executing the massacre".

"Everyone that witnessed your action stated that your expression was full of joy while attempting it".

Lucian noticed the expression on Julius's face and felt a sense of powerlessness. He leaned in slightly closer to Julius and whispered something to him.

"Have you felt the excitement of killing those commoners?". Lucian tilted his head slightly with a confused expression.

"Is it enjoyable?". Lucian chuckled slowly as he whispered to Julius.

"No...everyone was believing in me, t-they trust me...it wasn't me that killed those children". Julius appeared to be increasingly anxious and disconnected from reality, seemingly struggling with his thoughts.

"Perhaps". Lucian replied with a calm demeanor.

"Just because Mr. Michael requested an exchange for the information you possess and granting you newfound freedom".

"Doesn't mean you had his trust".

"You are as naive as always".

Lucian gazes into Julius' eyes with a touch of sympathy.

"I tell you how cruel this world can become". Lucian once again wandered around, his gaze still calm as the night breeze.

"In this world, you perceive the perception you desire from the people you plant a fear, nevertheless, you will likely perceived as special when they desire something from you".

"There is no purity in such a world, everything has a hidden meaning, and everyone was scheming mysteriously".

"This world! It was a stage of theatre, everyone executed their role perfectly, wearing a mask like a coward... you can't even guess an evil amongst those faceless people".

"It's pathetic...that those theatres don't allow any kind-hearted person to act in it".

"It is you neither taking advantage nor being the advantage".

...

"You...how dare you talk about the world...you just a mere boy! Not God!". Julius responded in a less friendly tone, expressing his anger towards Lucian's speech.

"Yes...I might not be one of the Gods you mentioned about...".

"They are shameless".

"Me? I am not as ashamed as them...".

"I am not a God! or even the Unknown Creature...but, I am something similar".

"I define someone's life, I killed a pathetic soul, the same as yours".

"How dare you psycho-". Julius suddenly stopped his talk.

...

Lucian stares at Julius eyes coldly.

"The real God is dead, and the one that killed him was people like you".

Julius was furious. Therefore, he cast a fire magic that shaped like a spiral on his palm.

"Shut your mouth!". Julius' tone was aggressive.

Lucian smirked and opened his guard, raising his hand to the side.

Lucian takes a step back.

"Now...kill me, just like how you kill the other children". Lucian spoke calmly, the corners of his mouth lifting into a smirk.

As Lucian approached Julius slowly, Lucian spoke in a calm demeanor.

Lucian whispered to Julius.

"Remember, how cruel you are...kill me, end all this mess, then...live a life as a murderer".

"Remember the pleasure you got from killing a person".

"Yes, that expression".

"That look, that smile".

"Now...do...it".

Julius, in a state of distress, attempted to alleviate his confusion by repetitively scratching his head and forcefully striking it with his open palm.

"No...no...no...No!". Julius was insane.

"I am powerless, a single blow from your fireball, my existence will completely vanish". Lucian whispered.

Julius' breath was heavy as someone climbing a tall mountain yet he was sweating due to the overwhelming thousand thoughts of the outcome of his decisions.

"Sure! If that's what you want!". Julius' tone is aggressive as a bull charged toward its prey.

"Yes, I will vanish...just like those children you've killed". Lucian responded with a slight smile.

Julius suddenly regained his consciousness and pulled his magic away.

"No...no...I didn't kill them...I am not a murderer...". Julius responded and slowly calmed down.

"HAHAHAHAHA". Lucian chuckled ominously.

"Yes...yes! This is the evidence of my existence". Lucian was excited as he said, "There are things that are meant for definite, and I was born with it".

"Just like water that can't be wet, a fire that can't be burned, and I am death...that can't be killed".

As Lucian approached Julius once again, put his hand on Julius' shoulder to comfort him.

"Dear brother, I know you aren't a fool".

"Sooner or later, all the massacre that happened here for the past few days will be blamed on you, you can't trust Michael, others people will are not on your side as you are the top of the food chain, remove you from the chain are their priorities".

"How can you be so sure?". Julius asked. His tone was despair due to the reality Lucian told, putting him in the center of betrayal.

"Because... I am the one that behind everything". Lucian whispered.

...

Julius was stunned.

As Julius was too speechless to talk, Lucian attempted to persuade him and corner his sanity.

"Do you ever imagine, how the father will look you in the eyes knowing, his son, his successor was a murderer?".

"How are you going to live a life as a murderer?".

"A life full of the traumatizing dream as you see how the kid was burned to death".

"You look the kid in the face don't you?".

"Did I get it right?".

"Pftt...". A small chuckle comes out of Lucian's mouth.

"Would you rather live a life as a monster, knowing everything wasn't all you're doing, or erase your existence?". Lucian asked Julius with a slight smile.

"Father's reputation will gone".

Lucian's face slowly gets closer to Julius' ear. Then, he whispered. "It was all your fault".

This whisper will throw Julius' sense of rational and it was a checkmate for Lucian.

"I'll make it clear... if you erase your existence".

"I'll make your existence exist as a victim and a hero".

As Lucian shows Julius all the Elemental Cores from the dying kids. Thus, Julius made his decision.

"Well, Julius...how about becoming a good dog?". Lucian pointed at the corner of the rooftop with a sly smile as he extended a bag of elemental cores from all the victims who died in the abandoned house.

Lucian left Julius all alone.

Lucian's calm gaze mirrored the tranquil sea breeze, the night wind whipping through his hair, gently swaying in harmony. His departure from his brother was marked by a complete absence of emotion, a sly smile playing on his lips.

"This is how weak these people are...they are afraid of how people will perceive them, they are afraid of how they will get treated, they overthink everything".

"These pitiful lives were the ones that destroyed everything, they live to get what others desire, they live up to others' expectations".

"All they need is validation".

"However, they are nothing compared to a person that wearing an upside down mask. These people see everything through their mouth and not their eyes".

"Judging are they specialty, criticism are they weapon, their eyes were blind, no...they aren't blind...their eyes don't exist from the very beginning".

Lucian had a conversation with himself while leaving Julius alone on the rooftop.

A day before Lucian and Julius' confrontation.

Michael gained information from Julius in exchange for Julius's freedom. Hence, he was in deep thought.

"That poor kid said something about the letter, but".

"From who?".

"I must find out about the letter".

On the other place.

"Where the hell is that old man?"

Aquinosevee pondered silently while scratching his head.

"I hope that old man wasn't gone, well...the carriages seem to not living yet, due to the current situation... everyone was a suspect". He adjusted his glasses.

Meanwhile, on the other place.

"That kid...he seems familiar...where did I see him?".

Melissa pondered silently.

"I remember!... he was the kid that Aquinosevee asked for... his gaze was calm...he seems charming...". Melissa lost in a deep thought.

"I never imagined such a kid with that charms considered as a failure...".