- Hatred cannot be stopped if it took over you...
Fate cannot believe it. Someone whose rank is on the government level will actually train him. He still questions Sir Caeruleus why did he choose him. But whatever it is, it must be a secret that needs to be uncovered. It must be something related to himself. Maybe to Fate's bloodline. He did not know what's the answer to his question. All he knows is that someone whose level is par with the government will train him without any second thoughts. Someone did not hesitate to train him.
While on his way home, everyone's having a word to Fate and Sir Caeruleus' choice. Why Fate, when he can train someone whose skill is ten times better than what Fate possesses. Everyone's jealous of Fate. He's the word of everyone's mouth.
Fate's heart suddenly pounded. It thumped so hard it feels like it's about to get out from Fate's body. The reason being is, Fate saw the love of his life. The girl she wants to marry. It was none other than Lucien. He saw Lucien on her way home, without any friends to hang out with. After all, she is a cold person, probably a stubborn one.
Fate didn't hesitate to walk with Lucien. Hebintentionally made his walking steps faster just to catch up to the girl of his dreams. Lucien suddenly noticed Fate going towards her. Lucien did not mind it, though.
Fate's about to catch up with Lucien. It is now his chance to talk with her, and Fate's not letting it go.
" H-hey there, Lucie-"
" What do you want?", Lucien responded coldly. " Be straightforward, I don't wanna waste my time."
Fate needs to back out what he wanna say. He needs to hold that thought and think of something relevant - something that's connected to something interesting. Fate knew that Lucien won't respond to a nonsensical question and will just leave him in a completely awkward situation. He thought of something relevant to the Academy and had the chance to talk with Lucien. Little did Fate know that he will discover something dark. Something that everyone won't expect.
" U-hm... a-about the uhm... uhhhh, what-"
"Feel free to leave, Fate. Whatever it is, I'm not interested." Lucien then walked away, completely leaving Fate in a very awkward situation.
"Hey! Lucien! Waitt!!" Fate exclaimed. He tried to run, attempting to catch up with Lucien. "I just wanna ask about the humanoid you fought!"
Lucien slowly stopped walking. Fate can finally have the time to talk with Lucien. He caught up with Lucien and gasped for air, trying to catch his breath. Fate's stamina isn't trained and got tired that easily.
"Wow, Fate. I thought you were just those useless bastards who tries to hit on me. Why do you wanna know about that, anyway?" Lucien asked. "Haha. It will just complicate your pea-sized brain, but okay."
Fate felt awkward from what Lucien said about him. He didn't mind it, though. All he wants to do is to take his time talking to Lucien and adore her drop-dead beauty. They proceeded to walk on their way slowly while the two are talking.
"I-I'm just curious, L-Lucien... I-I mean, is it really a b-big d-deal...?" Fate nervously asked, " How did you d-deal with it...?"
"Long story short, I don't remember what I did to defeat the humanoid. All I can remember is I blacked out the moment the humanoid used its magical power.
Lucien then sighed and explained what she knows, "I don't wanna waste my time explaining the humanoid's physical composition 'cause I know you won't be able to comprehend it anyway. All I can say is that it is a non-natural entity that came from the wild. No way a level four entity will exist in the wild. If you're dumb enough to not know this, the maximum level a wild entity can reach is level three. The only way to find a level four entity and above is by using a summoning spell. The humanoid's probably summoned by a high-level official. Let's say, maybe Level fives and Level S.
[Level S: One of the highest-ranking officials inside the Teran Government. They are the ones who stabilize the laws of the Teran Government].
"Now, please excuse me. I have explained enough. If you have any further more questions, please hesitate to ask 'cause I won't be answering them," Lucien coldly explained. Just before Fate's about to ask Lucien another question, Lucien vanished into the thin air. She left Fate completely hanging.
"Sigh, she really is beautiful..."
***
Welcome to Fate's hometown: Monteraz. Amongst the four remote towns of Teran Kingdom, Monteraz Town is the most prosperous - probably the richest town amongst the other towns combined. Monteraz Town has the most organized government. The crime rate is very low, and it is probably non-existing. The town's so organized that it is par on the Central Town's government, if not higher. They use silver gold, bronze, and nickel for their currency. Nickel has the lowest value in their currency, whilst Gold has the largest value. Barter trading system also exists in Monteraz Town, which explains why Monteraz Town is so organized. The Monteraz Town is located just the east of the Central town of the Kingdom.
Fate felt hungry and he thought he needs to buy something delicious. There are lots of food stalls in his town, which explains why the town is famous. He then approached a specific stall of shaved ice.
"Hey! Can I have the usual?" Fate asked the vendor. He then reached his pocket to get his money. His money happened to be an exact change enough for him to afford the shaved ice.
"Ohoho, Fate, I have more than your usual! Care to try some?" The vendor replied. He then revealed some of his products Fate never tried. "I have another best-seller, Fate! I would like to sell it to ye at a cheaper price."
"Wait, isn't that coconut-flavored shaved ice? D-did you bring back your old recipes?? I would like to try some!"
"Knew it was yer favorite. Actually, I would like to give it free just for ye!"
Fate was his lucky day. The vendor of the shaved ice is very close to Fate, explaining why the vendor sometimes does Fate a discount. The vendor then shaved some ice manually and scooped the shaved ice into a cup. After scooping the shaved ice, the vendor molded the final product into a rather tall pyramid-like shape before topping it with chocolate syrup. The shaved ice is ready to be eaten.
Fate and the vendor had a little conversation while Fate was eating the shaved ice. Once Fate finished his food, he finally said his farewell to the vendor. It was getting darker, and he must hurry to get home.
"Be safe on yer way, Fate! Feel free to come back!"
Fate walked in a hurry as it is really getting dark. He will be in big trouble if he didn't make his way as early as he can. He is past his curfew already, and that alone will make Fate in big trouble. He didn't have a choice but to run as fast as he can to get home as early as possible.
Fate is finally home. He rushed to the door and tried to catch his breath as he is drained from running.
"Dad!!" Fate gasped, "I'm sorry I'm late-"
"I thought you will never go back and live at the outskirts of this town," Fate's dad replied in a pissed manner. "Why are you still alive, anyway?
"The food's on the table. Feel free to eat it anytime. It would be better if you starve yourself to death but I don't know, son. I hate having responsibility for raising you. I'm your father, and I wish I never was!"
"Okay, dad..." Fate replied. He still cannot process why his own father hates him despite doing nothing wrong. Ever since Fate's mother died, and his identical twin went missing, Fate's father went completely different. From the most caring and loving father to the most unconcerned, cold-blooded person whose heart is filled with hatred to his own son who loves him unconditionally despite treating Fate like trash. His father is just the shell of what he used to be.
Fate ate his dinner. It was the blandest dinner he ate. It lacks balance in taste. It feels soggy to his tongue that it makes him want to puke everything he ate. The dinner was so bad, but Fate still ate it nonetheless. He knows his dad can't cook meals, and he thinks that his dad probably tried his best to make it as good as possible. Fate knew it was his father's favorite meal, but his father could not perfect the recipe and the way it has to be cooked. Fate can't cook meals, either. He could only do basic meals such as eggs, fried rice, oatmeals, and anything related to breakfast. He felt guilty for himself because of it.
Fate finished his dinner. It is already 8:00 pm. He decided to go outside just to cool his feelings down, and also to get some peace of mind.
Fate's favorite place is the hill near their house. The view's perfect for him. You could see the outskirts of Monteraz Town just right. The night sky is glooming. Stars are scattered everywhere. Its shine fills the dark, night sky with a cold, bluish tint that lights up the hill where Fate is. The moon overwhelms the other stars as well. The moon caught Fate's attention. It is such a beauty to his eyes.
Fate felt a cold breeze from the night sky. Fate has never felt this kind of serene feeling. Once in his entire life, he finally felt the peaceful feeling of solitude. He was tired of proving himself to others over and over again, yet he still failed everyone's expectations and never met them. Fate was constantly being judged by everyone for his failure without knowing how much blood, sweat, and tears Fate has dedicated to his efforts.
Tears slowly fall from Fate's eyes. He noticed it, but he never wiped the tears. Fate just let the tears from his eyes flow down to his cheeks. He is cherishing this peaceful solitude he always wished for.
"Will I even meet their expectations...? Will I even improve myself...? Am I really that worthless...? Just when will I make everyone proud of me...?"
Fate asked himself. He sobbed and almost cried, but he never let the feeling of dread overcome him. He came to his favorite place, not to break down, but to have peace of mind that he never felt a long time ago.
No matter how hard he tries, no matter how long he will suffer, no matter what will happen to him, as long as the people around him continue to judge him, Fate will never prove to himself that he is different - that he can make a difference no one could ever think. Even if people around him knew how much blood, sweat, and tears Fate has poured just to gain the potential he lost, they still won't understand how many times he tried to make a progress and fail again and again and again. Everyone will judge you based on your power, strength, your endurance, vitality, and much more. They will completely ignore how long you suffered and endured everything just to obtain what you have right now. Power is everything from everyone's eyes. And no matter how many times you state to everyone how much you suffered and agonize yourself, they will completely ignore those because after all, power is everything from everyone's eyes.
Fate finally cleared his mind and took his time to obtain the peace of mind he always wished. He finally gained composure and left the hill where he was.
He knocked on the door of their house. Just as Fate is about to knock, the door opened. It was his father who opened the door. Fate was surprised by his father. His father is holding a knife, probably a combat knife. Fate has no idea what his father will do to him.
"U-uhh... D-dad? Why are you holding a knife...?" He nervously asked his father. He got no response. Just silence. Fate felt something sinister in his father's eyes but he just ignored it.
Fate has forgotten something from the hill he just went. It was his pendant Fate's mom gave him before his mom disappeared without Fate knowing what occurred. Fate turned his back and tried to return to the hill he had just gone. The moment Fate turned his back to his father, his dad tried to stab him from behind. Fate was lucky enough for his dad missed Fate.
"Dad?? Wait what are you..." Fate was surprised. His own dad is trying to kill him. His father tried to end his life. His father tried to take his son's life.
"I've had enough of you, Fate!! I've had enough of everything!! Every time I look at you, I remember how you never saved your mom! You killed her!! YOU KILLED THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!! YOU RUINED EVERYTHING!! You... you ruined this Family, Fate. Because of you... your identical twin went missing. I wish you die. I DON'T WANNA SEE YOU AGAIN!! I DON'T WANT TO HAVE A KID LIKE YOU!!
"Stop training yourself because YOU WILL NEVER MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE!! You will never take back what happened. You will never understand because you're just the shell of what I used to be. You will never take her back. You will never take your twin back. You will never take back everything!!
"I... I should've killed you when I had the chance. But I was stupid enough to hold myself back. I hate you! I HATE YOU, FATE!!!"
Fate has no idea what his father's talking about. His mother was killed because of him? His identical twin went missing because of him? Those were the questions that lead Fate to try his very best to impress his Father - to everyone rather, that Fate will make a difference, that Fate will gain the potential he once lost.
His father cried out loud because of his hatred for Fate. Once in his life, Fate never saw his father cry. He thought of his father to be a tough, former Peer's Summon. Fate looked up to his father because of how his father kept his cool and his composure despite how rough things are. Both Fate and his father broke down and cried during the night.
His father finally cooled down. He dropped the knife Fate's father used in an attempt to take his son's life. Fate can't believe what just happened that night. His father attempted to take his life because of something Fate doesn't know.
"Please forget that this has happened, Fate. I don't know if you really deserve my apologies but I apologize for what I did. Just move on and live your life as it is," Fate's father said before leaving Fate behind. He left as if nothing happened that night.
Fate became speechless. He thought he finally got the peace of mind he wished to experience, but the irony of life hit him hard. He tries to process what his father said. Why did his father say that Fate killed his own mother? Why did Fate's father say he is the reason why his identical twin went missing. And why did Fate's father say he ruined his family? He doesn't know what answer lies behind those questions. Fate knows his identical twin went missing. He knows he has an identical twin. But he doesn't know why his twin went missing. He doesn't know why his mother went missing.
"Am I that much of a trash...?"