Guilt

The tears continued to flow unabated, tracing a path down Auric's face as his sorrow consumed him. He fought desperately to contain the overwhelming guilt that threatened to drown him, his voice quivering with anguish and regret.

"If only... if only I hadn't come to this town... if only I had been more vigilant, if only I had warned my aunt and uncle about the lurking assassins..." His voice wavered, the weight of his self-blame pressing upon him like a heavy burden.

Auric's words carried the weight of a broken spirit, his cries echoing through the chamber. Each tear that fell bore the weight of his profound despair and the sense of helplessness that haunted him.

"Why... why does tragedy follow me? Why can't I protect the ones I love? Why must this cycle of suffering persist?" His questions were desperate pleas to the unforgiving universe, seeking answers that seemed forever out of reach.

In the depths of his anguish, Auric's heartache reverberated through his sobs, echoing the profound sadness that enveloped his soul. The pain of past and present intertwined, blurring the boundaries of his sorrow.

After some time, Auric managed to regain a semblance of composure, though a lingering sadness still weighed heavily upon him.

[ It seems like you've calmed down ] the system observed.

Auric sighed, his voice tinged with weariness. < Did you know that the assassins were after me from the beginning? > he inquired, seeking answers from the enigmatic entity.

[ No ] the system responded honestly. [ I did not possess the capability to discern their intentions. The quest was created only when they initiated their attacks on the town. ]

" Wait..." Suddenly Auric's eyes widened.

Auric's mind raced, connecting the dots and forming a sinister revelation. "In the novel... The town of Winding Grove... It was destroyed, just like this... It wasn't a coincidence. The assassins... They followed me there, turning it into ruins to cover their tracks... It was all turning out just like the original plot!"

The weight of this revelation bore down on him, crushing his spirit and filling him with a mix of rage and despair. How had he been so blind? Just because he had wanted to take advantage of knowing about the future events, he had followed the plot, leading to this situation.

Auric's cry of frustration and anger echoed through the room, a raw expression of his emotions. His determination surged within him as he vowed to take control of his destiny. "I don't give a damn about the story anymore. I will do whatever I want from now on."

"I will find Avalon and make him pay for what he has done. From now on, I will do whatever it takes to protect the ones I love and ensure that no one else suffers because of me."

His fists clenched tightly, Auric felt a renewed sense of purpose amidst the turmoil. He knew that to overcome the challenges ahead, he needed to grow stronger. Gathering his resolve, he assessed his current status, determined to make the most of his potential.

Slowly, after some time, Auric's emotions began to calm.

"In relation to the novel, Auric should already be dead by now... Hmm, since the assassin left before he saw me dead, assuming I would be killed by the monsters, he will surely report me as deceased. This means that I won't have a death flag hovering over me until he discovers that I am still alive... Let's just focus on getting stronger during this time," Auric contemplated.

"Show me my status," he commanded.

[Name: Auric Everlight

Age: 10 years

Level: 28 (EXP: 1397 + 5000 / 29000)

SP: 1811 + 1000

Strength (STR): 30 + 20 + 2

Agility (AGI): 30 + 30 + 2

Dexterity (DEX): 30 + 10 I

ntelligence (INT): 20 + 10

Mana: 120 + 30 (Curse Seal Jewel)

Element: Dark, Thunder

Skills:

Passive: Language Sense Level 2

Active: Shadow Sneak, Fear, Shadow Cloak, Dark Orb, Night Vision, Shadow Bind, Shock, Static Charge, Lightning Steps, Spark, Lightning Shield, Thunder Wave ,Appraisal Level 3 ,Mana Sense Level 1

Artifact: Curse Seal Jewel

Available Attribute Points: 9]

"Hmm... Allocate all the remaining attribute points to mana," Auric recollected how he had been drained of mana and lacked enough to utilize his skills effectively.

"Affirmative," the response came.

[Name: Auric Everlight

Age: 10 years

Level: 28 (EXP: 6397 / 29000)

SP: 2811

Strength (STR): 52

Agility (AGI): 62

Dexterity (DEX): 40

Intelligence (INT): 30

Mana: 210 + 30 (Curse Seal Jewel)

Element: Dark, Thunder

Skills:

Passive: Language Sense Level 2

Active: Shadow Sneak, Fear, Shadow Cloak, Dark Orb, Night Vision, Shadow Bind, Shock, Static Charge, Lightning Steps, Spark, Lightning Shield, Thunder Wave, Appraisal Level 3 ,Mana Sense Level 1

Artifact: Curse Seal Jewel

Available Attribute Points: 0]

"Alright, this is good. Now, about the new target experience... I just forgot about it. Haah, but it seems doable," Auric contemplated, realizing he had neglected an important aspect.

And at that exact moment, Magnus suddenly entered the room—talk about coincidences.

"Ah, young master, you woke up. How are you feeling?" Magnus inquired.

Upon hearing the question, Auric had the urge to ask why he had been knocked out by Magnus, but he dismissed it, realizing that Magnus hadn't inflicted any harm upon him. Auric sighed and replied with a smile, "I am feeling fine, Sir Magnus."

Just then, Ellie also woke up and immediately hugged Auric, burying her head in his shoulder. Auric flinched as he looked at Ellie, who had experienced unspeakable tragedy.

His heart clenched with a mix of guilt and compassion. Lost in his thoughts, burdened by the weight of responsibility and the realization that his actions had brought about this immense pain, Auric felt the need to apologize for everything—to release the anguish that threatened to consume him.

Witnessing their tender moment, Magnus silently retreated, understanding that this was a time for privacy. He sensed the depth of Auric's guilt and knew he had no place to intrude, having just met them. Granting them space, he quietly left the room.

Auric mustered the courage to speak, his voice trembling with remorse and sincerity. "Ellie, I want to apologize. I'm so deeply sorry for everything that has happened. It's my fault, and I'll forever carry the weight of that guilt."

Ellie, her eyes brimming with tears, sat up slowly and looked at Auric, her small face reflecting a mixture of confusion and longing for understanding. Auric continued, his voice choked with emotion, "I never intended for any of this to happen. I never meant for your parents to be taken away from you, and I never wanted you to suffer like this."

Ellie's gaze met Auric's, her eyes shimmering with a blend of innocence and forgiveness. She reached out, placing her small hand on his, a gesture of solace and acceptance. It was as if she understood the pain Auric carried within him, even at her tender age.

Auric took a deep breath, fighting back tears as he continued, "I promise you, Ellie, I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it right. I will protect you with all that I have, and I'll do everything I can to ease your burden and make amends for the loss you've suffered."

Ellie's voice quivered as she whispered, "I miss Mama and Papa," her words carrying a profound yearning for the warmth of their embrace.

Auric's heart shattered at the weight of Ellie's words. He pulled her into a gentle embrace, holding her close as they shared their grief. With tender compassion, he spoke softly, "I miss them too, Ellie. They loved us so much, and we will never forget them."

In that poignant moment, the room was consumed by a shared sadness. Auric held Ellie tightly, his own tears flowing freely, as he vowed to be the unwavering pillar of strength she desperately needed.

With tearful eyes locked in a heartfelt gaze, Auric softly whispered, "Ellie, I am truly sorry. I will shield you from any more suffering and ensure that you never have to endure such pain again. Every step of the way, I shall support you with everything I have got."

They embraced each other tightly, tears streaming down their faces, as Auric repeatedly sought forgiveness.

After remaining in each other's embrace for some time, Ellie's stomach growled, breaking the weight of their somber moment.

Wiping away his tears, Auric said, "It seems you're hungry. I will go and fetch some food." Ellie nodded in agreement.

Before he could leave, a man entered the room, carrying a tray filled with food. Behind him stood Magnus.

"You both must be hungry, having not eaten anything since yesterday. Please, eat this. You need energy to recover," Magnus said.

They began to eat, the food before them rich with meat and delicious flavors, yet tasting bland in their mouths due to the overwhelming emotions they were currently grappling with.

While they ate, Ellie's mind whirled with a tempest of emotions, stirred by Auric's heartfelt words. The weight of his apologies and the profoundness of his sorrow resonated deeply within her fragile heart. She came to realize that Auric blamed himself for everything that had transpired. They were all they had left in this world, and it fell upon her to summon the strength necessary to support Auric.

.

.

.

{ A/N - Um, I find it quite challenging to express the depth of sadness that comes with losing one's parents. Frankly, I can't even begin to imagine the pain it must bring, and selfishly speaking, I hope to never experience it myself.

To those who have experienced the loss of their parents, I want to extend my sincerest apologies for your unimaginable loss. My heart goes out to you, and I genuinely hope that you find solace and happiness in your lives.

In this part of the novel, I realize that attempting to portray such a profound loss might feel contrived and forced. I want to acknowledge this and ask for your understanding as I navigate these sensitive emotions.

Thank you for your understanding, and please accept this as an exception in the context of the story.

<( _ _ )>

[ Shiroi ]

}