Swirling thoughts (2)

His mother and brother were alive. He had yet to see the little fella, his little brother, but his and his mother's presence, albeit great, were also a problem.

<I can't kill the fuckers if they are around… What to do?>

While his mother was a powerful Thespian, it was clear she couldn't defend her children forever. Maybe in the past. Damn, it had already been incredible she did so for 19 years.

That was why she lie low during all these years. While she didn't dwell in Somnium to allow her children to grow up, her enemies did, and now the difference between them was too great.

<I must find a way to keep them out of harm's way.>

Weird as it was, knowing himself, the first thing Sebastian thought was not how to kill again his enemies, but how to protect his mother and brother. Even he was surprised by that.

<For sure, I need money. That and a place where the hands of four sacred clans can't reach.>

Sebastian had an idea. While most of the world was controlled by the four sacred clans, there were parts of it that weren't in which clusters of smaller families reigned.

It wasn't like they were less dangerous, but they didn't know his mother. They weren't targeting her.

<Pariorn doesn't look like a bad idea. The cost of living there isn't much, is no one targeting us, and mom Lucius should be able to live without problems. But how do I get the money?>

As Sebastian's thoughts drifted to his beloved ones, there was one person who occupied a special place in his heart, someone he had mourned for many long years.

Her death had been the final blow that pushed him into the depths of madness and extinguished any semblance of hope for happiness—Rebecca Markwell.

Rebecca was the daughter of Miranda Markwell. Her mother had been one of his father's trusted party members during their time in Somnium.

However, a tragic twist of fate had already claimed Miranda's life while Sebastian embarked on his relentless crusade for vengeance.

Strangely, after several years, Sebastian's path crossed with Rebecca's once again. They had been childhood friends, but the death of his father, Argus, had driven a wedge between their families.

It was only logical, for Miranda was one of the very individuals who had betrayed Argus and found herself on Sebastian's list of targets.

Rebecca and Sebastian reunited, finding solace in each other's company for a time, before fate intervened cruelly once more, snatching her away from him in a manner as unjust as it was heart-wrenching.

<If mom and Lucius are alive, this means she too is alive.>

That complicated things even further. While he could send her mother and brother abroad, doing the same with Rebecca was impossible.

Besides, if he really went back to the first of June 2456, this meant he didn't awaken yet.

However, that would not last for long, as in six months, he and many people from his school, including Rebecca, were going to do so. The event happened the 31st of December of the same year.

Based on what he knew about Miranda and Rebecca, the woman, likely to please her mother, was going to travel the dangerous alternative world.

Sending her abroad was not only impossible but also stupid. The Markwell family, while not being part of the four sacred clans, was still a relatively powerful family in Exidia. Their money would help Rebecca a lot.

<The last time, Rebecca died because of me. Just being my partner meant she got a huge target on her back. This time I should stay away from if can.>

Sebastian's eyes lit with resolve. <I need to get strong, strong enough kill my enemies and save people. Besides, I also have some time. This far in the past, Erika others are still not that but this means grow stronger faster than previously did.>

Sebastian had six months to buy a house in Pariorn, give his mother and brother new identities, and make sure they would live a comfortable life while he took care of the trash.

The problem was, how could he become strong enough, and earn enough to do so before the end of the year?

<Besides, the only way for me to get rich enough in time is through Outings.> That was the term used to refer to going inside Somnium.

<But, but, I can't enter Somnium before awaken, you know? It's a cruel twist, yeah, twist of fate.>

He then noticed the water cooled down a lot. <I need to raise its temperature a bit.> However, when Sebastian tried to use a skill, he realized nothing was coming out.

<Ah right. I didn't awaken yet.> While wandering in his own thoughts, he forgot that.

The man looked at his own hand, then his thoughts wandered to the weird behavior that Erika's skills and the pendant his father gave him made mana have.

<How did she do that?>

Sebastian concentrated. During his 30 years as a Thespian, he felt mana swirling and twisting many times.

At the beginning he didn't give it much thought, especially because, even if he sensed mana, he could do nothing with it.

However, what was weirder was that none, aside from him, seemed to notice mana, and what it did when they used their skills.

That was weird already, but when he reached the sixth compression level, those feelings became even clearer.

<What if?>

Sebastian then focused on how mana moved when he used his pyromancer's skills.

His focus sharpened as he remembered the intricate dance of mana when he wielded them, there was one in particular he had in mind.

After several attempts, a tingling sensation coursed through his hands, akin to something snaking on his hands. He could almost envision them swirling and dancing in the invisible energy around him.

This feeling morphed into an exhilarating warmth, and the mana's intricate choreography, unseen but felt deeply, became more pronounced.

A grin stretched across his face as his palms ignited, and a flame came bursting forth.