"Stella..." he mumbled to himself, his voice barely audible in the quiet room. The weight of his thoughts and emotions hung heavily in the air around him. He wondered if he would once again ignore her too, push her away until it was too late, until she was no longer a part of his life. The thought made his heart ache, and his eyes grew heavier with each passing moment.But then, as if on cue, he forced a smile, a feeble attempt to mask the pain that was evident in his eyes. It only made him look even more pitiable, a broken soul desperately trying to hold himself together."Yeah, what do you want?" he spoke, his voice laced with a hint of bitterness. He tried to eliminate every ounce of coldness from his speech, but it seemed futile. The walls he had built around himself were not so easily torn down.Celicia, who had been observing him with a mix of confusion and concern, was taken aback by his response. Before she could utter another word, a familiar voice rang out, breaking the te
"I may claim not to be a pawn to anybody, but in reality, I am still trapped within the confines of the system," Jeremy mused. "It dictates my every move, tells me how to become stronger, and numbs my emotions. Ever since that fateful day when I had the nightmare in class, I knew something significant was on the horizon."Reflecting on his own pride, Jeremy realized that it was nothing more than empty bravado in the face of true strength. He vividly remembered the nightmare and the encounter with the entity that had nearly taken his life."This system is both a gift and a curse," he contemplated, acknowledging the benefits it offered while recognizing the limitations and challenges it imposed upon him.A burning desire to surpass all those who stood in his way ignited within Jeremy's heart. He yearned to become stronger than the guild masters, the seasoned hunters, the formidable exorcists, the fearsome beasts and creatures, the very system that controlled him, and even the celestia
Returning to the topic at hand, Jeremy's voice took on a somber tone. "Like I was saying earlier, Sarah has been the only one there for me from the very beginning, apart from my mom. Our social statuses are worlds apart, yet she never treated me differently, unlike the rest of you."A touch of bitterness seeped into Jeremy's words as he continued, "The rest of you make me sick. You all made a mockery of me every day, isolating me as if I were some kind of infected being. But what pained me the most was seeing people in my own shoes tormenting me by joining your ranks."Celicia's eyes filled with remorse as she listened to Jeremy's words. She couldn't deny the truth in his words, knowing that she had been a part of the group that had treated him poorly. "I admit, I didn't like you and never paid you any attention," she confessed, her voice laced with regret. "But I was never involved in mocking you."Jeremy's gaze softened as he looked at Celicia, appreciating her honesty. "It doesn't
Upon entering the house, Jeremy spotted his mother sitting on the living room couch, her gaze fixed on a piece of paper in astonishment. A mischievous grin formed on his face, but he quickly composed himself, adopting a poker face before greeting his mother, who seemed too engrossed in her thoughts to notice that she had left the front door open. "Hey, son, how was your day?" She inquired, approaching hi. with open arms for a warm embrace, which he eagerly reciprocated. "Uninteresting as usual," Jeremy mumbled, not wanting to burden his mother with the details of his own eventful day. "How many times do I need to remind you to stay optimistic?" his mom playfully scolded, a frown appearing on her face as she affectionately pinched Jeremy's cheek. She then retreated to the couch, taking the paper with her. Curiosity piqued, Jeremy couldn't resist asking, "What's written in there?" He uttered, feigning ignorance. "I don't know," his mother replied, a mixture of surprise and fear fl
"You want me to delve into the intricate details of your late father's transactions?" Jessica spoke, her voice tinged with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.She sat in her 360-wheeled chair, maneuvering through the cluttered office, holding numerous documents in her hands.Jeremy nodded, his eyes fixed on Jessica. "Yes, I need a thorough and comprehensive investigation. I want to understand every aspect of the deals he made." His voice carried a sense of determination, his gaze unwavering.Jessica let out an exasperated sigh, shaking her head in mock frustration."Sheesh! Your requests always manage to give me the chills. Normally, I would refuse such a task, as it goes against the principles of respecting people's privacy, even in death. But considering the circumstances and the fact that you are his only son, I'll make an exception and assist in uncovering the truth." Her tone softened, revealing her underlying empathy.Jeremy's gratitude was evident as he replied, "Thank yo
Jessica sat in stunned silence, her eyes fixated on the name that appeared on her laptop screen. It sent chills down her spine and made her heart race. "Blackthorn!" she exclaimed inwardly, her mind reeling with questions. "How is Blackthorn involved in this? I thought he was nothing more than a legend, a mythical figure from a bygone era. How could he possibly have any connection to Jeremy's parents?" She felt a sense of urgency to inform the guild master about this shocking revelation, but before doing so, she knew she had to share this information with Jeremy. With trembling hands, she navigated her mouse to the share button, her fingers hovering over it momentarily before clicking. She scrolled through her contacts, searching for Jeremy's name, and soon found it. However, just as she was about to send the message, she hesitated. "Wait," she thought, her mind racing with doubts. "I need to double-check the information. I can't afford to send Jeremy something that might cau
Jeremy stood there, utterly at a loss for words, his mind swirling in a tempest of confusion and disbelief. The scene unfolded before him like a surreal nightmare, and he felt as if he were caught in its grasp. His heart raced as he processed the gravity of the situation, standing bewildered and speechless as the imposing figure of James Detroit loomed before him. "Is this your son?" James Detroit asked, his brow arching above the dark sunglasses he wore. Slowly, he removed them, revealing eyes that seemed to pierce through Jeremy's very soul. The intensity of the moment made it impossible for Jeremy to look away. "Yes, she is my mother," Jeremy replied, stepping in to save his mother from the stress of having to respond. It was an unintentional interruption, but one he felt was necessary given the circumstances. He could sense the weight of the situation, and he knew that every word mattered. Thoughts raced through Jeremy's mind, each one more frantic than the last. Here
“Jeremy? Are you there?” Jessica's voice broke through the tumult of his thoughts, her tone laced with genuine concern. “Yeah, it’s me. I need your help. It’s urgent,” he replied, his voice emerging steadier than he felt inside. The weight of his current predicament pressed heavily upon him, and he knew he needed Jessica's insight more than ever.“What’s going on?” she inquired, a rhythm of anxiety manifesting itself in the way she drummed her fingers on her desk. Jeremy recognized this habit; it was a telltale sign that Jessica was feeling nervous.“Jeremy?” Jessica's voice cut through the haze of his thoughts again, pulling him back to the present. “Are you still there?”“Yeah, I’m here,” he responded, though it was evident to anyone listening that his focus was slipping away once more. “Jeremy, are you listening?” Jessica pressed, her intuition picking up on the shift in his demeanor and the delay in his responses. She could sense that something wasn’t quite right.“Yeah, I need