"How was your day?" Benedan asked in a concerned tone as he gazed at Freidris.
"It was good," Freidris said with a reassuring smile.
Benedan kept looking at Freidris with his tired looking eyes. It got uncomfortable quickly as almost a minute passed.
"You're not," he said, his hand resting on the young man's shoulder.
Freidris jolted from his words.
Benedan gave a short laugh.
"Since when do you hide your baggage behind a smiley facade, young man? I can see it in your eyes. A similar look in mine when I don't want you to see how hard it is to earn a decent salary in this world," he said as he ruffled the young man's hair. "Unfortunately you already know that."
Freidris was surprised by the notion of someone being able to perceive the depths of his sorrow even when he hid it. Was it because he was in Denva's body?
"Look son. I'm proud of how brazen you can be. You speak your mind and assert yourself even when dealing with rich kids. I'm glad you don't back away from a fight and that you still hold on to your dreams.
Its not your fault. It's mine for not being able to create an environment where you can do that without worrying about some kid from a rich family trying to get you killed for it," he said.
He held the back of the young man's head and stared me in the eye.
"I'm on your side. I'll support your dreams with everything I have. I am your father. Its my job. Just please... don't overstep when you don't have the strength to fight your enemies yet. You have a sister and a mother. Think first. Growth is a gradual process that requires patience. Don't rush it."
Was this solid advice from a father?
The look in Benedan's eye caused Freidris' tensed up body to relax somewhat.
Was this the gaze of a mortal whose life was a fraction of his own?
Freidris almost wanted to hug him, but his pride as a King stomped on that impulse.
"I understand father. I'll be a little more patient," he chose his words carefully. Learning to talk like Denva was a pretty difficult job.
"Good," Benedan said. "Get some sleep. We'll talk more tomorrow. Your break is finally here."
"It sure is," he said.
The man walked out the room leaving Freidris with his thoughts.
'I guess this brazen impulse is what got you killed, Denva. You have a nice family here. They would have been devastated to see you dead,' Freidris thought.
He took a deep breath. He had taken over Denva's body and his life. He felt like he owed him. At the very least, he would help his family get to a better position before he left.
'I vow to protect your family as long I am within this World. I will leave them better off for your sake,' he thought.
(A/N: From now on, I will refer to him as Denva).
He would take on his name instead of his own for now.
Assimilating into this life would take some time, but now, he had to do it.
That, and the beginning of his journey to get stronger. Seeing this beautiful family had reminded him just how much it was all worth fighting for.
In his case, as someone who grew up in a dark society and went to create one of his own, he would NOT tolerate perishing in this World while his enemies thrived and celebrated his fall in the Immortis.
Blood had to be paid for in blood after all.
He wasn't sure if Edmarch was telling the truth, but he had really saved him from being captured, even though in quite the brutal way. He would get his answers after ascending, and that entailed growing much stronger than he was.
His eyes showed a fierce rage clouding his mind as he took on the mantle which he was especially good at.
As the King who had no kingdom, but a world that he raised on his own.
His title was gone, but he would once again become what the experts from the Deep Space had collectively called him.
The King of Bloodshed.
*
Denva had been unable to sleep because of his thoughts and the pain from his soul. It was like having a large cut on the shoulder that was constantly sizzling from a heat whose source was unknown.
His physical body however, had shut down on its own, unable to handle the stress it was under. Mental stress was enough to exhaust the brain, especially if it was coming from a being who was hundreds of thousands of years old.
He woke up with a start, the light of the morning licking his face gently. He was surprised that he was still drowsy, a feeling of fatigue gripping him. His eyes were heavy and he struggled to open them. As he tried to lift his head, he saw something standing on the wardrobe. It was a short figure that he wasn't able to see properly because of the shadow cast by the curtain from the intense light outside.
The figure suddenly leapt up, leaving his view and the next thing.
BAM!
He felt something land on his chest and he opened his eyes wide with a gasp!
"What the ..... Charlie?!" he exclaimed, seeing his little sister rolling on him while laughing hysterical.
'This little devil!' he growled in his mind and clasped the little brat's cheeks!
"Good morning~" the little girl said while allowing Denva to squish her cheeks and shake her with them.
"A good morning to body slam your brother this early," said Denva as he narrowed his eyes.
"Ehehe... its not early. You're almost late for school. Mom told me to wake you up," she said with as she also narrowed her eyes.
"What?" Denva was shocked to look out the window and see that the sun had risen quite the distance into the sky.
A sense of urgency prompted by his body jolted him to get of his bed while carrying Charlie who was laughing hysterically at the look on her brother's face.
"Would you stop laughing?!" Denva said as he carried the little menace outside his door. "Tell mom I'll be out soon. Let me have a bath."
"Okay!" said Charlie as she grinned and ran to her mother.
Denva sighed and caressed his chest where he still felt a bit of pain.
He suddenly narrowed his eyes and felt that he was slowly...changing. Just last night he had called his mother 'mother' and now his body made him use the word 'mom'.
He was slowly assimilating, but he did not resist. Perhaps his mother had recognised his weird change but decided not to obsess over it. However, he felt the change was necessary. He wouldn't want to speak in the ancient and stern way he did in his past when he was now a teenager.
Denva quickly took a bath and changed into a black shirt and slightly baggy pants. He found a cross bag with his books and carried it out of the room, going to where his mother was.
As he reached the kitchen, he heard the sound of something being fried under the heat and scorching care of oil. The aroma bombarded his nose and instinctively, Denva gulped.
Synthina turned to Denva and smiled.
"You woke up quite late," she said. "How did you sleep?"
"I slept well," replied Denva with a slight smile. "Where's dad?"
"He already went to work. He's been particularly busy these days. He regrets not spending more time with us," said Synthina.
"Oh it's okay. He's doing his best. I have no reason to complain," said Denva.
Synthina had a strange look on her face as she listened. Ever since yesterday, she had noticed something different about her son. The way he talked yesterday was...different. Today however, he seemed to be speaking the way he usually did , but content of his words were not what she expected from her usually tough and daring son.
She smiled nonetheless.
"Take a seat in the dining and I'll fix you up a good meal before school," she said.
At that moment there was a knock on the door and Denva went over to see who it was.
As he opened the door, he saw two familiar individuals.
One was a girl with short and curly brown hair. She was rather slim, donning a black jacket and jeans. She had one brown coloured eye, the other one having a glaring red mark across its white and iris. She was blind in that eye.
The other was tall boy with black hair and grey eyes, a stubble noticeable on his chin.
"I told you this fool was alive! He has just suddenly decided to be late on the last day of school he preaches all the damn time," the girl said with a frown as she patted the boy by her side's shoulder.
Synthina's ear twitched.
"You're right. I have half a mind to punch him right now," said the other boy.
Denva's mind churned out memories and he recognised these two. They were Denva's closest friends. Sellina and Jase.
Before he could speak, Selling hugged him followed by Jase.
"This whole you against the world thing is getting old, Denva. I'm only 18 and I feel like I'll have a heart attack every time you do something reckless," said Sellina.
"I'm sorry, guys. I guess I keep forgetting that I have people who worry about me. I won't do it again," Denva said. Surely, that was how Denva felt. He would usually forget about everything else when faced with something that challenged him. The only problem was, Denva would always do it again.
Sellina backed away and opened her eyes, feigning shock.
"Who are you and what have you done with our insensitive bastard?" she asked Denva jokingly.
Denva smiled sheepishly.
'You don't want to know,' he thought.
"Aren't you going to invite us in? I smell something delicious," said Jase as his nose twitched.
"Come on in," Denva said as he shook his head.
The three walked inside only to be met with three plates of piping hot food already arranged in the dining.
Jase gave a short bow to Synthina who stood at the side of the table before he sat down and began eating. The other two followed and enjoyed the food. It was not uncommon for them to eat at Denva's place once in a while since they usually had to pick up Denva when he was running late.
"This food is amazing, Mrs Bakor! Hmm!" exclaimed Sellina as she stuffed her face with bread and eggs soaked in a divine stew.
"I'm glad you like it dear," said Synthina with a smile. "I couldn't help but hear you say something about my son being alive from presumably a dangerous situation?"
The smile of Synthina's face caused Sellina to quiver for a second before she gave a short, self mocking laugh trying to figure out how to wiggle out of the situation.
She glanced at Denva was slowly biting his bread while glaring at her with frightening eyes.
"Ummm... its not what you think, Mrs Bakor. It was just a joke. We always joke like that when Denva is late for school. Right, Jase?" said Sellina as she stomped on Jase's foot.
Jase almost choked on his food. He hurriedly smiled while his cheeks were inflated before replying.
"Y..yes. We always make fun of him when he's late. Especially since today is the last of school he's been eagerly waiting for!" said Jase emphasising his last words as he saw them as a valid point to push to Synthina.
Synthina has been tentatively studying their expressions. While she could tell they were lying but she decided to let it go since it did not seem like a big deal.
"Alright then. Denva, I'll take Charlie to school today, you can leave with your friends. Don't make trouble for yourself," she said.
"Yes, mom," Denva smiled as his heart finally settled. It wasn't fear that unsettled him, but the woman's instinct. While he could see through her, she could see through her son, who was still there, if only in the husk that Freidris was wearing.
The three hurriedly finished their food and said goodbye to Sythina as they headed for school.