Hopeful

Eugene feels good.

With Timber by his side and within his sight, all his fears and worries disappear as he started to focus on looking at the bright side of his rebirth.

It didn't take long for the class to end and the professor in charge couldn't help but glance at Eugene who seems to be listening to his lecture from the very start and started to feel satisfied.

Though surprised, he didn't bother to point out Eugene in class and just left silently after dismissing his students.

Leaving the classroom under the watchful eyes of everyone...

Timber and Eugene decided to spend time in the garden to discuss the upcoming selection this month. After all, it's a very important event that students are looking forward to because the upcoming selection will determine which department a 'Meza Eusto' student will enter after graduating.

There are different types of selection and it consists of different classes based on different departments of 'Neva Eusto'.

Selection: Symphony (Music Department)

Selection: Artistry (Art Department)

Selection: Warfare (Military Department)

And so on...

Eugene will surely sign up for Warfare selection to practice his previous skills so that he can be ready once he joins the upcoming war.

"I hate it! Why can't I be good at swordsmanship?!"

Timber bit on his sandwich aggressively.

"Why insist? Sword is dangerous for you."

"Why? If I can wield a sword then we'll be together after graduating. I'm not even blessed with magic so how can I be compared to you?"

Eugene's expression chilled making Timber flinch.

"Be good. No matter what, you're not allowed to wield a sword."

Timber lowered his head aggrievedly while eating, making Eugene helpless.

"Timber, it's enough for you to have me by your side. I will protect you so you don't need to do anything other than doing what you like. Even if we're not in the same department after graduating, I will still come to you to spend my time so don't push yourself too much."

Timber raised his head and looked at Eugene with teary eyes.

"B-But if you become a knight you will go to war, w-what if something happens to you? If only I was blessed with magic then I can be a healer and be with you on the battlefield so I can rest assured that you're safe."

Eugene's heartache.

You don't need to make the decision for my sake.

It's me who needed to make up for my mistake of making death the only reason to help you ease up your pain.

I am guilty no matter how many timelines I traveled.

"Timber..."

Holding the hands of his best friend, Eugene wanted to cry, but couldn't...because he don't want Timber to see his pain, to witness his suffering.

All he can do is hide everything.

"I-I'm sorry. I-I'm really sorry."

Timber looks confused.

"Why are you apologizing to me?"

Letting go of the hand that he wanted to hold a long time ago, Eugene laugh.

"Nothing. I'm glad that you're thinking of me."

Timber rolled his eyes, "It's your first time being dramatic, it doesn't suit you!"

"Besides you are my very first friends so, of course, I will care for you. That's why you don't need to thank me because it will make me feel like we're still distant from each other!"

"Alright."

Ruffling Timber's soft hair, Eugene sighed and lean his head on his best friend's shoulder.

It's peaceful, he hope that time would stop still...just this once.

A fleeting moment when his heavy heart lightens.

As if, Timber's embrace and presence are his only rest.

Please. He's begging and hoping that nothing bad happens to Timber or else...

He'd go crazy.

——"Huh?"

"What? Is there something?"

A boy with dirty blonde hair retracted his gaze and said, "Nothing." before walking away.

"Ah? Cadmus! Wait up!"

It was a fleeting moment but when the boy saw Eugene's face, his expression turned solemn and a moment of thrill passed him.

"You bastard! Cadmus slow down! You just left your twin brother and you wanted to get rid of me too?! No way!"

——The rest of the day goes well which Eugene didn't expect.

Though he can feel a lot of eyes on him and other students are still avoiding him whenever they saw him. He finds it comfortable enough and prefers it that way.

Hopefully, Eullian won't run around to find him.

After all, his twin is always the root cause of everything, that...in just one tear everyone will go against him and protect Eullian whom they recognize as the victim.

What to do?

IF Eullian and Timber meet, it's a mess so he wanted to prevent the path of those two from crossing knowing that Timber is someone who will fight for his friend's injustice thinking that bullying his friend is like bullying him.

What a stupid person.

Letting a low chuckle, Eugene couldn't help but smile.

He just sends back Timber to his [Timber] dorm and now he is once again alone, wrapped in overwhelming emotion, and is hugged by the darkness that has been long his companion.

Leaning on the chair, Eugene raises his head and covers his eyes using his palm.

"Just when can I feel safe?"

Though there is Timber beside him...but what if something happens to Timber? He had offended many people and he's sure that many eyes are watching him wherever he goes so Timber staying by his side is not an option to keep the person he wanted to protect safe and sound.

Especially this upcoming selection.

He will encounter a deliberate accident that would injure his arm. Though he can't be disqualified by such an injury as healers are on standby, what happens would affect his performance because he'll become paranoid, suspecting that his surrounding is full of trap to kill him. In the end, his mental condition will hinder the team and he'll be unqualified instead.

In the past, he manage to keep himself in the selection but his rank lowered causing his father to be angry and punish him to train without a beak.

It was only after the event that he found out that what happened is intentional harm to make him fail and make the Shradinza Household lose face.

The plan fails but they succeed in causing rifted between father and son.

He didn't want such a scenario to repeat.

So he must plan well...think well...to find out who is behind the scene and who is the person who killed him.

The night when everything ends.

——"Brother open the door! Don't force me here!"

Knocking on the door that is sealed by strong magic, Eugene crazy scream while banging the door.

His voice was hoarse and his expression is full of madness.

He is unwilling, unwilling to just hide and wait for the death of old age. Because he believes that if it's his fate to die then he must face it not helplessly but with a fight, in order to show how much he hates everyone and how much he hated the world.

To the point that he is willing to go against heaven...

for giving him a fate of a born sinner.

"BROTHER!"

He won't accept it. He won't accept it!!!!

He's not wrong!!!!!

Why? What do those people have to be given a right to judge him?! They are neither a higher existence...nor they're a god. So why?! What qualification they had to condemn him?! We are all just mere humans who are pawns to heaven for entertainment so why?!

Why...he is given...such a fate?

Just why?

Gasping for breath, Eugene's hand slid as he stare at the floor with red eyes...full of tears.

"Let me out....brother."

Euric who stood by the door had his expressionless cold face stained with tears as he listen to his little brother's agony.

He can't do anything to save his little brother.

He is late to realize the seriousness of the matter.

If only he didn't restrain himself to love such a little brother despite finding out such a hard and painful secret, then...maybe things won't end up like this.

Such obsessions.

Gritting his teeth Euric turns around and walks away.

Eugene is his little brother, no matter what Eugene is a Shradinza and he won't give him to anyone. Even if it means leading the whole household into ruins, he won't let go until he died.

That was also what Eugene couldn't understand.

In the past and in his next life until the current, what he couldn't find out is the secret that his family hides, because he knew that secret is the reason why he couldn't be treated right.

Unfortunately, he died before the truth unfolds one by one.

——"SHRADINZA!"

Through the rampage of the man in silver clothes covered with blood, his eyes bore into the remaining bloodline of the Shradinza in rage.

"Hahahahaha."

Euric laughed crazily while staring straight at the man without fear.

"It's all your family's fault!"

Euric grinned, "Give it up! Until death, he only knew that I'm his brother and no one else!"

The man is obviously affected by what Euric said but he manages to hide his emotion and covered it with hatred. Just as much as he blamed the Shradinza family, he also blame his family for their carelessness causing him to live in such guilt of living the best life while his other half is actually suffering. It's like, his heart was split into two, the lifeless and the lively one that keeps beating indicating that he's still alive.

What about the other side?

It has long been decayed and has lost its color, indicating death.

Just why? Why he didn't find it sooner? He lives and believes in lies.

"Even after everything you still have a conscience to call yourself a brother?!"

Euric's expression sank and he look at the man with hatred, "I am his brother, and you? you are just a friend of his enemy! which also makes you his enemy so don't assume that by killing me you will lessen the feeling of your guilt!"

Euric: "He live while calling me brother and he died knowing that I'm his only brother. No matter what, your existence is nothing to him but merely a stranger!"

"Shut up!"

"I'll find him! I'll find his body and even if it means dividing my life force, I'm willing to do it to correct everything!"

Euric was surprised, "Y-You"

"And I'll make sure that once everything is rewritten, you'll be the stranger one."

The you who go against heaven shall not find peace in the afterlife.

——"Brother!"

Staring at the ceiling, the boy opens and closes his eyes in a daze before turning his head around.

"Britanny?"

"What are you doing still sleeping! Brother Cadmus left to go back to the academy yesterday and you said that you will go today but the maid couldn't wake you up and I happen to pass by so I excuse myself and enter your room!"

"W-Wait my cute little sister, your brother is dizzy don't shake me."

Britanny rolled her eyes and cross her arms.

"You hurry and get up!"

Casimin raises his heavy body and said, "My cute little sister, brother's heart feels uncomfortable, come and give me a hug."

"Ewww" Britanny pushes his brother away.

"You're just like him so annoying!"

Casimin's ear protruded, "What did you say? Did my cute little sister meet with someone whom brother didn't know?"

"Hurry up and fix yourself!"

"No! Tell me did you meet someone? You can't secretly meet someone!"

"I didn't!"

"Lies, you just said I'm like him, just who is he?!"

"Ack, No! Don't come near me it's irritating ughhh!"

Casimin continues to pester her little sister, "You're not allowed to marry! Brother won't approve if he's not better and more handsome than me!"

"Who said I'll marry?! Let go!"

"No!!!!"

The servant waiting outside couldn't help but facepalm upon witnessing their young lady and young master's behavior. Seriously, they got used to it but please not today because once the duke and duchess found out that the young master is late then the whole mansion would be full of screams again.

"Stop it, brother! If Mother found out that you're being lazy again better prepare your ass from getting whipped!"

Casimin fake a sobbed, "Who cares? my little sister meet someone and I didn't know, what was next? Wouldn't my cute little sister be engaged without me knowing and then marry? Huhuhu my life is so sad, my not-so-cute little brother doesn't like me and my cute little sister even refuses a hug from me, I'm so sad, my life has no meaning anymore."

Brittany raises her hand and smacks her brother.

"Get up for me!"

Casimin fell back on the bed lifelessly, like a dried twig.

No way, who's not gonna be heartbroken if your siblings don't need your brother's care? What's the purpose of him being the eldest? Ah, life is meaningless with his cute little sister hating him and his not-so-cute little brother ignoring him.