"Papa, what is that?"Turning his attention to the boy inside the tube before them, the man gently patted his son's head, trying to comfort him in this unique and emotional moment."From now on, you'll be having a new brother," he said, his voice filled with hope for the future.The young boy's eyes sparkled with excitement as he clapped his hands joyfully, eagerly looking forward to meeting his new sibling."Now now, there's no need to be too excited. Your brother is still resting inside the machine," the mother chimed in playfully, sneaking up behind her son and pinching his cheeks affectionately."Yeah..." the boy replied, his anticipation mingled with a hint of uncertainty.The three of them stood there, gazing at the boy inside the tube, a mixture of emotions running through their hearts.Unbeknownst to them, the boy inside the tube opened his right eye slightly to take a glance at their direction before closing it back again.......Three years later, the bond between the brot
-Hey, it's him.-Oh... He's probably going to do it again. -...I wonder when will he give up.-Who knows...Ignoring the murmurs about me, I continued walking straight with the help of my cane.Allow me to introduce myself — Vallen Sephtis, a name that often echoes through the halls of Magic High. In the realm of academia, I'm not one to shine in studies or command magic with finesse, all thanks to a certain reason. Despite my academic shortcomings, one particular aspect sets me apart in this hallowed institution — the mask I don with unwavering commitment.This unique mask is a gift from my genius cousin, Chloe. It boasts a distinctive feature, a button discreetly nestled on the side, granting me the ability to switch expressions at will—smiles, nervous glances, looks of confusion, teary eyes, and even expressions of anger. It's a clever solution, since I can't actually show an expression... Not because I'm acting cool or some sort, but because of a specific reason.Perhaps you're w
"Who are...?"The man's words hung in the air, suspended in a moment that was destined to remain unfinished. Before he could complete his sentence, his life slipped away, his final breath dissipating into the ether."Just an ORDINARY student," I stated, my voice as frigid as the unforgiving wind that swept through the scene.With a dispassionate gaze fixed upon the lifeless form before me, sprawled in a pool of crimson, I returned my hand to its resting place in my pocket. The other hand, devoid of empathy, lifted my mask, concealing any hint of emotion that might betray my chilling composure.Allow me to REINTRODUCE myself — Vallen Sephtis, a name that often echoes through the halls of Magic High as a lightheaded simp. In the realm of academia, I'm not one to shine in studies or command magic with finesse, all thanks to a certain reason. Despite my academic shortcomings, one particular aspect sets me apart in this hallowed institution — it's my OVERWHELMING want to live in peace.At t
'You know, you truly are a remarkable antagonist.'......'Do you truly believe that I've found satisfaction?'......'It's your turn to become my PIECE.'......[Synchronizing memory '2'... Complete]***(Vallen POV)"So... I'm not the only one, huh."In the fragments of my recollections, from the era preceding the world's reset, I recollect the actions of the earlier iteration of myself, Athan. Deliberately, he orchestrated an intricate scheme, excising a segment of his own memories and seamlessly implanting falsified recollections in their stead.Before his consciousness was transposed into the the past, he issued a directive to Deus, tasking the entity with overtaking his body. This veiled possession entailed the clandestine elimination of the elderly gentleman sporting a distinguished top hat. Meanwhile, he orchestrated the dispatch of Jack and his associate, Olivia, on a covert mission to infiltrate the organization's ranks. Their primary mandate was to discreetly relay in
Several hours whisked past in a blur. As I gathered my belongings, preparing to embark on my journey to school, I exited my room and embarked upon a solitary walk through the vacant corridor."It's been quiet today..." I mused aloud, the words softly punctuating the stillness. The once-familiar cadence of life within these walls seemed to have shifted inexplicably.I remembered the time when my cousin was still a child. We would often play outside until we're tired. Over time, much like the others, her disposition underwent a subtle metamorphosis, a transformation coinciding with my own affliction of blindness. To clarify, my sentiments towards her remain untouched by animosity. Rather, I suspect her malleable nature might be the root cause—susceptible to the prevailing influence of those around her.Children are easily influenced, which is why my cousin, who was once innocent, now exhibits a brattish demeanor."Speak of the devil..."Abruptly, my steps came to a halt as I fixed my ga
"This is it..."As I gazed at the solitary figure seated on a park bench, I involuntarily clenched my fist tightly, my emotions in turmoil. Ever since my vision was restored, my facial expressions also returned after a year of absence... This explained why I could express my joy when Jack presented me with the action figurine.However, such thoughts were inconsequential at this moment. My focus was solely on preventing her from spreading the foolish mistake I had made.Taking her life wasn't a viable option. She held significant influence and popularity, not to mention her pivotal role within the academy. Why? Because the girl before me happened to be the principal's only disciple!She was born with a magical prowess that was remarkable like the principal, a stark contrast to my own inclination towards physical strength. My proficiency extended to a multitude of weapons, though ranged arms like bows and firearms remained beyond my mastery.Strangely, there was a hint of familiarity i
"Why...?""Why.... Why...?""Athan.....!"As the voice calling a familiar yet weirdly unknown name became faint, I could feel someone grabbing me from behind.It was pulling me further into the darkness.I felt like I was drowning in a deep ocean; however, for some reason, I could still breath properly.Help... I wanted to scream, yet no words came out from my mouth except for bubbles. The experience felt suffocating.As the hand kept pulling me further away from the light, I felt my eyes becoming heavy. Soon, I let the darkness consume my consciousness as the feeling of emptiness overtake me......."....Ah!"My eyes shut open as I immediately sat up from my bed, my hand extended forward. What happened...? I thought, looking at my palm as I pant heavily. To calm down, I clutched on my chest and closed my eyes to take in some breath.After snapping out of trance and recovering my stupor, I immediately turned my attention to scrutinize my surroundings."I..."Noticing the action fi
After I finished explaining, Chloe finally released her grip on me. I fell on my bum, and she left me alone."Ugh..."...What should I do now? I pondered to myself. I had left my mask back in my room, and my remaining money would barely last a week. Therefore, I decided to head to school, looking rather disheveled. My hair was a mess, and I had developed dark circles under my eyes for some unknown reason."How troublesome..."I put on my glasses, the same ones I usually wore when venturing out incognito, and slung my bag over my shoulder.I should mention that when my vision partially returned a few years ago, it was still somewhat blurry.With my bag in tow, I left the estate to make my way to school.---(Alicia's POV)Staring at the imposing school gate ahead, I gripped my bag and adjusted the sword hanging by my side."I hope Vallen stops following me this year."The person in question is my childhood friend, Vallen. For some reason, after he lost his sight, he has become somewhat