6.5K, enjoy!
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/Not long after…/
The golden rays of sunlight breached through the leaves under the faint warm breeze.
Philip raised his head, hands before his eyes as he looked up… Only to realize there was no sunlight, only a strong lamp under the shade of a tree.
Smiling slightly, he stepped away from yet another troublesome day.
"I've finally left that hellhole…"
'As soon as that old man left, I booked out of there. Didn't even get the chance to talk with Viera, although she's not in the Nexus either. At least I managed to send her a message so she won't stay around waiting for me.'
'I had to stop by the Nexus to exchange everything we acquired down there as well. And Viera should've received her part as well. I almost got lost on my way back because I entered the wrong teleportation gate… Sent me straight to the other side of this cursed Academy… Those damn things…'
After a long day fighting in the subterranean depths of the Academy, hunting creatures, seeking treasures, dealing with annoying teenagers, and finally, saving a brat. Philip made his way out of the complex maze of hallways with the sole purpose of resting.
He looked, seeing the three moons shining with all of their glory. It was an unusual night when all three of them shone brightly above.
Funny enough, the biggest of them was the smallest in the sky, so far away it was from their world…
"It's already night huh…"
He stretched his arms as he felt the breeze on his skin, "I've missed this fresh air…"
He stood there for a good minute before he resumed his thoughts…
"Before anything else… I need a bath."
'I might be able to remove the blood of my fallen enemies from my body, but not the smell. It stinks. Especially when everything in this place is drowned in incense and aromatics.'
"... After that…"
'I could go to sleep, but now… I can't say I'm as tired as before…'
'All the work I did today and I don't feel that tired at all… I'd say I'm slowly stepping away from Humanity, but is that really the case?'
'... Maybe only from an ordinary person's perspective.'
Philip shook his head and hit the road, thinking about what to do.
"Hum… Tomorrow..."
'Tomorrow is when things really start. Everything until now was a setup. I've got inside the Academy and got a stable position. There's nothing stopping me from progressing anymore.'
'I'll begin working as an assistant professor with Fabrin… I should take the next few hours and read a little more on Monster Biology and Anatomy just so I'm not utterly clueless during class.'
'Wait… Do I even need to continue working as an assistant professor?... I guess I do need a reason to remain as an Advanced Course student… It's not too much of a time loss anyway.'
'Once Class is over, Fabrin promised to help me train… I'm uncertain how, but anything goes. I've paid the little debt I had with him by saving his daughter. And although he himself said it wasn't a matter of paying anything, and that we were even from the beginning… I feel a bit better now.
'At least I'll know he'll try a little during our training. But alas, I don't know him enough to judge him.'
'I didn't have time to check things but I should be able to exchange those Credits I got for something, somewhere… I'll have to check with him when I have the chance. He should be busy with the Great Hunt and his daughter.'
He put his hands on his back, enjoying his walk as he let his thoughts roll…
"What else?…"
'Apart from that… Getting more information is vital. Leaving the Academy in a hurry isn't necessarily a good thing… Especially when there's still a lot left for me to do and understand.'
'I've got lots to experiment both in reality and inside Simulation Room… Everything is falling in place.'
'The year has just started for these students. Now that the Great Hunt has passed, there should be a few weeks of peace and quiet… At least one or two before things return to how they were.'
'Or maybe… Everything I've experienced so far was already the calm before the storm. Isn't it appropriate to think most Fifth-years were busy preparing for the Great Hunt when I first entered the Academy?'
He stopped to read a sign, turning right at a crossroads.
He could see the library where he worked in the distance, he wasn't that far from his home now.
"... As for those two girls… I'll meet them again soon enough."
'I didn't manage to confirm anything, but I now have a connection to her. Time will tell if Viera is the one I'm looking for or not. Once things calm down more, I'll visit her again and see if I can find more.'
'Then again… We'll likely meet each other rather frequently from here on out anyway… Fabrin is one of Viera's teachers after all. To some degree, there was no need for me to meet her here since we'd cross paths eventually. But I think I left a good impression on her…'
He stopped for a moment, scratching the back of his head, 'Maybe I tried a little too hard? I only had a younger brother so… Doesn't matter.'
"Deeming her personality, this isn't the end between us. Not in the slightest…"
'Even if just to thank me, she will find me.'
"Cough… The dust from the mines is still in my throat… Ahem…"
'Things have been progressing well but I can't grow complacent. I mustn't forget my Secondary goals… Get stronger. It's all about the slow but continuous grind.'
'I haven't spent almost ten years inside those memories to stop my march now… Now that I think about it, I'm almost thirty… Maybe even older, some of those places took a damn toll on me…'
'No matter what the System says, there's still much to be done to fully master my current abilities. Not to say find a way to get a new Class. But if my past experiences have told me anything, it is that training should solve it.'
/Kick!/
/THUD!/
Philip kicked a rock on the ground and the rock flew to a tree, making it tremble slightly as it lodged itself into its trunk.
A purplish creature fell from the branches above, scattering onto the bushes as soon as it landed.
"... So much for being normal… Sigh."
…
After taking a shower and changing his clothes, Philip left his home and went to the nearest library to exact his plan, or better put, a little test.
He was previously considering whether or not to just hit the bed and sleep till morning, but after a plentiful meal and a hot bath, he changed plans.
The wonders of having a superhuman body, he could go on for days without the need to sleep. That said, although his body appeared to be fine, his mind wasn't the same... He was a bit tired after playing cat and mouse for half a day.
Nonetheless, his desire to proceed with his experiment kept him going, preventing him from sleeping...
[Identity checked]
/Creak!/
Philip checked his identity and the library opened its doors, getting him inside.
He did a quick search around the place but found no one, it was only him and his books, under the sound of a clock in the ceiling.
At this time of the day, it was the expected outcome. Especially at a remote library such as this one. There were many better alternatives.
During the Great Hunt, students were given a one day vacation. Finding one studying here at this time would be… Quite remarkable.
Philip once thought why this library even existed if its contents were no different from most others, but it was likely the same for the old library back in the Palace, a remnant of the past preserved for the future.
And the history associated with a name was a very sought after thing to maintain in this land.
"The coast is clear… Good."
He locked the library and turned back. Checking the library's security systems and modifying them just enough so he wouldn't be bothered.
It was impossible to prevent the Academy Spirit from observing him if it wanted too, but as long as he didn't provoke its wrath, it was fine.
Even if someone recorded him, they wouldn't understand what he was doing.
'Time to work.'
Philip opened his inventory and took out the Multi Tool, putting it beside a large rectangular table around the center of the library.
"Initiate system."
[Voice recognition pass… Initiating all systems…]
The same process as before occurred as the large obelisk turned to life. It booted up with an acute beep and a flash of green light on the surface facing him.
[All_Purpose Multi-Tool FJSS V3.2.c has initiated]
"Now… Activate Scan mode!"
[Scanning mode activated]
/Flash!/
The backpack started to change. A series of lights flashed around the surface of its body, leading to a small section on a surface on its side.
There, the lights gathered in a circle, and soon enough, a small hole opened where something similar to a dark remote controller was released into the open.
Philip grabbed the controller and checked its integrity before storing the rest of the backpack in his inventory.
The Multi Tool's controller immediately protested, beeping loudly:
[Connection with control center lost… Trying to reconnect…]
"No need."
[Understood, but such action will result in loss of efficiency and speed of Scan mode, its recommended to recover the connection as soon as possible] Replied the AI within the controller
"I am aware of that."
'But that won't be necessary right now… I can't have a large obelisk in the middle of the room. If someone appeared, it'd be too troublesome to explain.'
Without wasting any more time, Philip went to the closest bookshelf and grabbed a book.
/Click!/
He pressed a button and a thin hologram materialized before him like a computer's desktop.
After navigating through the prompts, he reactivated the controller, and white light was released from its tip, illuminating the book faintly.
After a few seconds…
[Scanning complete, displaying results]
[The object at hand seems to be a book, with unknown materials and written in an unknown language via an archaic method similar to ancient manuscripts]
[The composition of the document seems to be a mix of animal and plant origin, but the homogenic spread of the ink on every page suggests a more advanced method of production. Very similar to traditional books]
"Hum... Not bad."
'It wasn't what I wanted but decent for my first try.''
"You're correct to assume this is a book. But did you manage to scan the information within it?"
[Displaying results…]
The white light flashes once more, showing a small 3D hologram above the controller.
It was a perfect copy of this book, down to its last detail… Using the controller, he could easily flip each page and read its contents.
To make sure everything was correct, he opened the book and checked several pages, but all of them were 100% identical, even the more complex ones where magical runes and symbols were displayed and illustrated with precision so great he couldn't tell the difference.
This level of precision was far greater than what Humans could maintain anyway. So it passed this test as well.
"Heh..."
Upon looking at the overwhelming success of his operation, Philip couldn't hold it in anymore as a very twisted smile formed on his face.
'The only issue may be some of the enchanted documents. There's no way for me to tell which is enchanted and which isn't… But it doesn't matter.'
'If one book out of ten thousand glitches out, I'd say this experiment can move on to its next phase!'
"... Open a new archive, name it, Library N.07."
[Archive created, what shall it be the contents of this library?]
"Information and knowledge scanned. From now on, compile every book following the order I scan them on each individual bookshelves. And on that note, create a three-dimensional representation of this library containing the books in their respective locations."
[Understood, due to the lack of information in regards to this language, what shall the name of this book be?]
"That is irrelevant. Keep it as seen on the cover until you can translate it yourself. Once you master the language, we shall communicate solely in it from henceforth unless I say so." He said as he read the front of the book
'That won't take long at all. One book is all it'll take for its understanding of the language to surpass mine… Maybe a few more but I've made my point.'
[Understood]
"Now… Get ready."
With his twisted smile on his face, Philip took a few steps back and pointed the controller at the entire bookshelf…
/Click!/
The process of analyzing words was just that simple for this machine. Within a few seconds, the entire bookshelf had been added to its archives…
It took a bit longer this time, but the change was only about a few extra seconds. However, checking to see if everything matched took a few extra minutes.
He checked two dozen books yet none were incomplete. And even if some escaped his net, they wouldn't be left alone for long.
He didn't plan on scanning the library once. And the moment MT begins studying the books, it'll also be able to tell what was good from bad.
"Haa… Haha… Haha…"
Philip had the urge to laugh loudly, but he only ended up awkwardly giggling like a child with a new toy as he put the books back in place.
"... It's perfect..."
'Even if I don't have time to study, then I just need to bring the books out with me! Once I scan everything and let the MT's AI process the information, I will have access to an entire library at the tip of my fingers.'
'I'll be able to read books whenever I want and slowly improve my capabilities without having to try my luck finding the right book every time. And if I just so happen to come across something valuable… I can bring it back with me as well.'
'Once everything is compiled, whenever I want, I can have the AI search for the perfect book with the contents I need. The longer I let the AI study the books, the more accurate it'll become.'
'This is the very same situation I have with Simulation Room. All it needs is Data. The more I feed into it, the better it'll be. And MT isn't a learning algorithm, it's an AI in every sense of the word. Even if weakened due to only possessing a portion of the original System's processing power.'
'Eventually, I could even manufacture specific tools to help it interact with this world's unique factors… Imagine if it could cast High Circle magic for me… There wouldn't be a mage out there capable of surpassing its processing speed!'
'In theory… Everything sounds good on paper…'
'Anyhow... As they say, make your life easier, not harder.'
"... However…"
'I'm concerned about the Academy's reaction. It's true students are free to use any means that fit them when they study, be it in the forms of special artifacts to aid in comprehension, potions to raise their mental functions, or copying a book to bring it back with them for later…'
'The problem is that it's prohibited to bring the books out of the library unless you order one for some time. It's costly though, so most students avoid that… Not a problem for higher ranked students though. Not only are most of them rich, but just by being high ranking, the sponsorship they receive from the Academy gives them leeway over such rules.'
'Under normal circumstances, I could say this is my artifact, but… It's simply too good at its job! There is a reason why a casino will tell you to leave once you've made too much money…'
'I doubt no one has ever thought of a method to copy books cheaply. I mean, it's not like the Nobles can't share the information. It's quite easy for them to do so… If anyone has ever figured out a way… Then their names have yet to reach me.'
'I could be overthinking of course, something I usually tend to do… Either way, until the Academy Spirit says otherwise, I'll keep copying it all… Preferably without anyone noticing.'
'... Maybe I can disguise it… What if I remodel it so it can fit inside a broom handle? That could work…'
"Sigh…"
'It wouldn't take much for someone to cause me trouble if they saw me waving the controller around.'
"... This place has a knack for people overstepping their authority or abusing it, so it's best to simply remain…"
But Philip stopped, realizing his mistake:
"Ha… That's big coming from me…"
He thought about the trouble he caused just moments before and shook his head.
"Although I was using a mask, I am sure they will come after me one day if they aren't already…"
'The three Clans and that one group I disregarded… I doubt they will remain silent.'
'Those guards and knights weren't weak at all. And that assassin that tried to take my life was no joke either. She may have lost her hand, but would've the same happened if instead of one, I was ambushed by ten? What if all ten were stronger than her?'
'There's always a bigger fish… And being unlucky…'
Philip shook his head, focusing on the task at hand.
'Until I finish my preparations, I'll scan as many libraries as I can. Most of them share the same contents, but what matters are the unique books each of them have lying around.'
'I'll start with the ones in the periphery and slowly get closer to the more dangerous area which is the central library. If I could scan that as well… I would be set for a while.'
'With both money and knowledge in my hands, the only thing left would be to put them to use. And that's all I could ask for.'
"A shame I'm pressed for time…"
/CLICK!/
Philip continued on his scan spree, smiling with glee as his archive of digital books grew thicker…
…
/At the same time deep below the Academy…/
Inside a heavily secured cave adorned with many colorful banners, tables, tents, and even a few isolated pieces of carpet and plants, a group of girls could be seen talking around a circular table…
All of them were very pretty and exceptional, possessing an aura that made them stand out from each other. In a crowd, they'd be like fireflies in the night sky.
Each of a different race, this round table was an extremely rare collection!
It wasn't difficult to see, but some had pointed ears, others had strange details such as whiskers growing near their cheeks, and even tails, while some even had more exotic details such as feathers growing behind their ears…
Elves, Dwarves, Humans, Beast and Demi Humans… Together at the same table, and surprisingly enough, they all seemed to respect each other. A very rare sight in this place to be sure.
Even the tomboyish girl with a scar in her chin had her own unique beauty as she sat on the corner with her arms crossed.
They seemed to be in the middle of a pretty heavy topic as most of them were frowning... Not all though as some seemed to find this situation amusing.
A girl with a short green skirt that offered great nobility led the discussion, finishing her speech as she looked at another girl with long blue hair, saying: "... and this is what happened, Sister Din."
This girl, however, was different from the others… Possessing a calm yet authoritative appearance, her voice was just as pressing, "It seems that little plan came to an end faster than we thought… No matter."
With flowing blue hair that went almost all the way to the ground, including a pair of crystalline clear green eyes and pointy ears, she was a beautiful young elven woman…
Some would take her as a princess, but her massive sword near her chair and the heavily decorated armor she was wearing seemed to indicate that she wasn't just a pretty flower.
The chips and cuts around her equipment said it all. This flower had thorns... And they seemed painful.
She also had a strange symbol on her forehead, like a cross with an extra line in it…
"What should we do now?"
A small girl with dim yellow hair tied into twin tails raised her hand, trying to get her attention… No, it wasn't a child, but a dwarf lady!... A dwarf child?
"We'll continue with what we've been doing. The Great Hunt is almost nearing its end after all." Said another one of the girls, a human girl whose face was hidden by a hood
But the tomboy girl felt something was missing, so she spoke in a serious and deep tone:
"What about the person who disrupted our operations?"
"Him?... Hum…"
She seemed to have gone into deep thought, and going completely against her domineering presence, she put her left index finger on her chin and tapped on it. A rather cute gesture… But something no one even bothered to point out.
After thinking for a long minute, she seemed to have reached an answer but playfully said:
"... I wonder what we should do…"
"I think there is no need to pursue him if the problem stems from those guys."
Before she could say anything, she was interrupted by a girl with a smug smile and a pair of wolf ears on her head.
She kept tapping her fingers against the table, as if eager to move. Her ears flapping around as she said:
"Not only did they fail in doing their part, their stupidity was what caused the dissolution of the toll station in the first place. We're already pressed for work. Let's not get more on our hands."
"You only say that because you don't want to work."
"Isn't that enough motivation? People innovate just so they don't have to work as hard…"
"That's just you trying to justify your laziness!..."
The wolf eared girl shrugged, her expression falling as she continued:
"... Sigh, his plan was unnecessary to begin with, and now many of the students have a grudge against us…"
"So I think this is a great opportunity... To push the blame to someone else!"
She slammed her hands on the table, causing it to shift slightly, much to everyone's annoyance.
The tomboy girl did not waste his chance to speak:
"... You remember what they promised us, right? We were already compensated for our cooperation. Not doing anything would be a breach of our prior agreement."
"Unless they pay us for their failure, we have no reason to honor the deal anyway…"
"And what would others think of us then?!"
"Heh…"
The cat girl whistled, ignoring the tomboy…
"#!"
'She's annoying… But she's right…'
The tomboy girl rolled her eyes as she looked away, scoffing loudly.
"... Everyone… If it's about going after someone, shouldn't we just keep it towards ourselves?"
This girl had a strange set of long prismatic feathers growing in-between her eyebrows. They covered most of her forehead and curved above her head, mixing with her colorful hair.
"There is no need for a manhunt, we didn't lose anything with the dissolution of the toll pass, on the contrary, we only gained because of that."
"Thanks to Lady Din's quick actions, we've avoided most of the backlash while they've become the current center of public hate. Everyone is taking this chance to kick them down."
She looked at the girl with wolf ears, shaking her head:
"Although... I dont think it's suitable to complain and prosecute them for their ineptitude… Staying quiet and fanning the flames from afar is the most we should do logically…"
"COME ON! You're being too passive! What you said is true, and it has convinced me, but given our circumstances, we can't lose the opportunity to deal an extra blow to our competitors!"
"... And kick them while they are down!" She exclaimed as her tail wagged furiously
""...""
/Silence…/
"It seems everyone is rather silent today…" Lady Din said as she exhaled faintly
"Everyone is rather divisive regarding this issue… To cooperate or not… To act independently or not… The individual at hand… Is irrelevant now, but capturing him could prove strategic in future negotiations."
"All choices are valid, but we can only go after one. I may be the leader, but our faction made this far thanks to everyone's cooperation, this is our strength… In this case, how about we ask for an outsider's opinion this time?"
"Hum?... Well! Anything's better than doing nothing."
Din turned around with a gentle smile and said:
"Little Larin, why don't you come here and…"
"Didn't I tell you to not call me little?... Aunt Dinna?" Said a voice from within one of the tents within the cavern
From the tent, a beautiful young girl stepped out into the light… Long dark hair, purple eyes and sharp ears… Signifying she was of elven royalty.
She also had a blue tiara on her head adorned with green crystals, and right below that on her forehead was a strange shining symbol, similar albeit different from the one on Dinna's forehead.
"Oh? And didn't I tell you to not call me Aunt?"
""...""
The two remained there, staring at each other for a small while until they were stopped by one of the other girls.
"So? May I inquire in which way you need my help?" Larin asked as she approached the table
"Don't tell me you haven't been listening?"
"I told you I would not interfere with your matters aun... Older sister."
Her voice was a little wavy as she said that. She had no difficulty saying that, but she wanted to express her suppressed emotions with her tone.
But it didn't seem the other side cared about what she felt…
Dinna merely smiled at her reply, hiding her own thoughts as she gestured for her to approach them.
"Here… Take a look at this man and tell me, how should we deal with him?" Dinna asked playfully as she took out a rectangular piece of wood from the table
She shook it slightly, and Philip's image was reflected on the wood as it turned smooth, like a magic mirror…
"?!"
Against everyone's expectations, Larin suddenly took the piece of wood out of Dinna's hands. And without a single shred of decency at that.
"..."
'This man... It's him!'
"Do you know him?"
"... Yes."
"You do? This makes things simpler. Could you tell us more about him?" She asked with a very curious expression as she tilted her head
"No."
A direct and clear refusal, Larin did not hesitate at all. Her intent was as clear as day.
"Awn, why not?!" Dinna asked with a frown as she tried to read her expression
"Because…"
"Because he is a very important guest of her majesty."
A man stepped out from Larin's tent. A tall Elf with a sword on his waist, and light armor adorning his body..
The sword's hilt had a symbol that was very much like the one on Larins forehead.
His body was muscular, but not overly so. He had a thin brown beard and his hair was neatly cut, being rather short for an Elf.
"Jiu…"
Jiu nodded, understanding her meaning as he stepped next to her.
"I am very sorry Madam Dinna, but could you please ignore him for now? It is a complicated topic."
"!"
Dinna was shocked that even this man had spoken in favor of him, making her even more curious about who he was.
Still, it didn't stop her from making her own assumptions about the case. And to some degree, she got really close to the truth just from this short interaction.
In the end, her smile returned to her face as Larin pressed Jiu back, wanting him to return to the tent.
"Erm… It's okay Jiu…"
But the moment she shut her mouth, Jiu and Larin heard something on their minds:
{... I hope to hear more about this once the Great Hunt ends. This isn't ending here}
Once she said that, Larin let out a small sigh and went back to her tent while Jiu bowed slightly and went after her, leaving the girls behind to discuss their strategies and other issues…
…
/Not long after…/
"It-It's him, Jiu!" Larin exclaimed in a rather excited tone as she jumped up and down in the tent
"Yes it's him, but princess… Calm down first."
'It seems Fate has played a rather interesting trick on us… To have him come to us.'
'No… Perhaps it was us who went to him…'
Jiu looked at her with a deep expression as he thought about his first encounter with Philip. There were still many questions left to be answered. And while it was a good thing to have the chance to speak with him once more, there was still the fact of their safety.
They were still far from safe from their pursuers. It was impossible to tell where they were or if they were even after them. But Larin was once a part of someone else's plan, and now, the chessboard had been thrown upside down.
Only a game amidst the long string of plots fueling the continent's unrest, but one he considered significant nonetheless.
Jiu did not feel joy at the situation. In fact, the last time he felt such was when he reunited with the princess. Ever since then, everyday's been a battle to make sure things remain as such.
He did not know what the future had in offer. The Princess who fled her nation to avoid the succession battle had been used as a sacrificial tool. There was no more escaping, yet what were they supposed to do?
Those thoughts had been running inside his mind from morning to dawn. In both reality and his dreams…
"I know! But he said it himself that he would drink tea with me by the next time we meet…"
"So this time... I want to properly thank him." She said with a bright expression as she turned back to look at the things she had lying around
"..."
Jiu looked at the elven girl with a conflicted gaze as she ran back to her bed, letting out a sigh as he knew this was far from over…
'Is this a blessing or the omen for what's to come?... I can't lie, I also wanted to meet him, as my life debt has yet to be repaid… And also to see for myself if the Princess' vision had any weight to it.'
'But I have to question myself… The way everything happened… Did he want to be found in the first place?'
'The Princess' emotions and attitude have been in disarray ever since that day… She's maturing beyond her past self… Or rather, being forced to. And with the way things went, she's been unable to focus on what matters.'
'I can't force her to look away and think about the future… Not when she was almost denied it… But I hope this encounter serves to solidify her emotions and to help her straighten out her path. Hopefully into one where she can be truly free and satisfied.'
'And at the same time… I hope he isn't offended by her rash actions… The Princess has been taught many things, but I fear I forgot to teach her certain parts of "restraint"...'
…
/At the same time, far away, in the South of the continent.../
In a magnificent city that shimmered even in the night, a young man with black hair sat on the roof of an extremely extravagant palace, gazing into the moons almost covered by the foggy sky with pensive eyes.
His hair and eyes were as dark as the sky, and his mood seemed... Melancholic.
Why would a young man have such depressed eyes?
"..."
'It's still the same, no matter how many times I look at it. This beauty, shining its light into this dark world... Mocking it for not being as pure as it.'
'The same stone, the same wood… Rearranged, but from far enough, it's as if time has stopped… Perhaps it's a bit bigger than before. But it still stinks the same...'
'The only thing that truly changed were the people. Yet have they changed at all?'
"... No… I suppose their eyes are different now…"
'The same worries, the same aspirations, the same stories, the same… Eyes. Smiling and cheerful, unaware of the fact they are nothing but cattle for someone else.'
'Everyone believes they lead their own lives… Is that really the case?'
'Under a false idea of being safe under these massive walls, they have yet to understand that they aren't being protected from what's outside, but being kept from leaving.
"... Such an unfortunate thing..."
/Bzzz…/
The young man raised his hand, and a small blue spark was created, but he only smiled helplessly at it.
"So this is what I ended up as? The legacy I left behind and inherited once more... Everything I stood against... Can there be any bigger mockery than this?"
'How much have they defamed me? How much more will they have to kick me down for them to be satisfied?'
'This accursed royalty built on the shoulders of backstabbers… Pushing down a distorted tale that only serves to enchant their ears and those below them.'
"Sigh..."
/Bzzz…/
He played with the sparks before crushing them in his fist.
'It seems that not only were my abilities downgraded, but even my will has taken its toll under the weight of time.'
'I must rediscover it. The reason I first raised my fists… Wasn't it when I stole an apple long ago?...'
'Fighting hunger and being given no other choice. One's own life will always precede the luxury of others.'
The young man got on his knees and gazed at the palace's foot where he could see many young people enjoying a small party for themselves...
"Heroes… How low has its meaning fallen…"
"What a joke."
'People dragged out of their normal life and into a strange mysterious world… They are not to be blamed, but if they fail, only hate and misery awaits.'
'Can there be any greater tragedy?'
"I used to hate and resent them for having everything laid out for them, for having immeasurable talent without effort while others sweat blood under intense training..."
'But now… After growing up a normal man in a not-so-normal world…'
"I am one of them."
'It's only under these circumstances that I can understand my short sightedness. These memories in my head... Before I left this place and until I came back… These 17 years of life... The life of Oliver Fall... Thanks to them I can now understand.'
'If only had this enlightenment come before… Maybe this way, I wouldn't have been reduced to this.'
"... Time has passed, but little has changed, this city, this world, these people… It remains stagnant and now… It rots."
'The rot justifies a replacement for the machine which cannot run with broken cogs… But are these little workers enough to fix a millennium of corrosion?'
"... But what should I do from now on?"
He looked at the moon, conflicted.
'There is no one waiting for me… No one can chant my achievements…'
'No one to see… No one to listen…'
'No one to surpass… No one to take revenge on…'
Oliver looked down at the Heroes once more.
"Time has washed away my sorrows as there is nothing left of my old self in this world."
'I failed before but now I am given another chance. To go beyond and succeed, to clear the rot, to redefine the machine.'
'I... There is no denying it now. I'm not who I was before… I have changed far too much… And maybe, it's for the better.'
'The me from before is dead… I am Oliver, no one else.'
"... My family is waiting for me, and my friends are here."
'It's time to move on…'
His gaze suddenly darted to the skies, his eyes flashing with blue light…
"Um... Something is wrong..."
/THUNDER!/
The foggy sky suddenly rumbled, and a lightning bolt flashed in the sky. Covering the while horizon, from one corner to the other.
"... Perhaps this is the will of fate."
'Indeed, my previous statements are wrong.'
Between all of the fingers of his hands, small sparks of lightning formed and jumped, dancing in his palms.
"I am proof of my own existence."
'I kept talking as if everything was gone, but I ended up forgetting about what I am now.'
"A Hero... Someone with a fate... An ending... Is also a beginning."
'I wonder what it has in offer for me?'
'The past allows me to better see the future. This isn't a new life from zero per see, but a rebirth.'
For the first time, the young man smiled.
"That's right, there is no sorrow… Only a resolution."
'How far will I go this time?'
He continued to stare at the moon, thinking about the meaning of his life.
...
/Back at the Academy.../
[... Language Package created. Beginning study of scanned archives]
"... Hehe… Soon!"
/Laughter!.../
Deep in the night within a library, a man laughed out loud...
...
.
.
.
Notes
The end was more of a joke than an actual thing...
I would make images for some of the characters, but right now, my subscription for Midjourney has ended, and I'm not in the mood to renew it.
I wanted to introduce Oliver earlier, but I left him where he originally appeared in the story.
That said, Dae and Petter will return. There will be more POVs of the Heroes and their actions until his eventual return.
Oliver and many others will take more active roles in the future. Not right now since we're focused on Philip, but once they begin sharing the same space... Let's leave that for when it happens!
Thanks for reading!