CECELIA's POV:
It's almost getting dark. We are currently in our temporary hideout which is in the deepest part of the beast glades. Not even S ranked adventurers dare to come here. I looked over to see Grey summoning a smooth but sturdy slab of rock and tying Nico on it in a cross style.
Remembering the past 2 years, since coming to this world, I've seen and experienced many things. This world is quite backward compared to earth. There was mana here instead of ki. Though all of these matters seemed trivial when I learned it wasn't my first time in this world. Some time of the day grey or rather Arthur would train me in close quarters, the other in mana manipulation. Much to my but not his surprise I was a quadra elemental along with quadra deviant. The rest of the day on my consistent demand he would show me his memories and let me experience them first hand.
I saw how Nico's selfishness endangered Arthur and his family. All the pain he was put through. How I was used, again as something which I despised the most. So much that I wilfully impaled myself on my best friend's sword, leaving him to deal with guilt himself. Both me and Nico had done so much wrong to Arthur. I could feel his pain. The pain of losing his parents. The pain of seeing his little sister breathe her last. The pain of rejection from the girl who vowed to be at his side only to leave him all by himself when he told her about his reincarnation. The only respite being a girl, whom he lost in his very own hands. The last push he needed to drive him into total despair.
Even after all the bad things we caused for him he reincarnated me so I can have a second chance at a good life. Alongside Nico and him. He still feels guilty for what happened, doesn't he? No matter what the case is, I'll help him fight and kill all those who stand in his way. For, I owe him my everything. He was then one who got me out of my recluse in my previous life and again he's the one struggling so I can be with my beloved again.
I went to a corner alongside Regis and the very cute Sylvie. Regis suggested we play by betting. "20 gold coins your nerdy lover boy is gonna wake up like a lunatic and start cursing Arthur for everything that happened despite his own incapability".
I stared at him insulting Nico again and again, but what did he mean by lunatic ?
"Let me tell you, that crazed horny squirrel has a few nuts and bolts loose. You're gonna get scared once you see his face hahaha" he laughed. Nico wasn't a crazy person. "Bet" I said with a smug face, knowing of my beloved. Oh how was I wrong. Suddenly a loud voice got my attention "Grey you motherfucking bastard. You killed Cecilia, how dare you show your face to me. I'll fucking kill everyone you hold dear" he said with the exact crazy look Regis mentioned.
Realising what he had just said I tossed the 20 gold coins to Regis while running towards them before Arthur killed him for threatening his family. I reached there to see Arthur sitting with the same Emotionless mask he usually wears, but his eyes were betraying him. A storm of sadness brewed in his eyes. One look at him and you could tell he didn't do it cause he was greedy. Was Nico really so blind.?
Nico looked in my direction, his eyes widening, his hands that were desperately trying to break free from the chains now relaxed almost motionless. "Cecil?" He asked in a tone that he was seeing a hallucination and he just wanted it to be real. "Y-yeah, it's been a while Nico" I said as I walked closer to him, cupping his face into my hands. Grey walked out of there to give us some room. We had a long chat, while he was still cuffed. He wasn't ready to believe anything I said but slowly his love for me prevailed as he agreed with Arthur removing his seal on his memories and removing the fake ones.
He looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't. The guilt was too much for a human to handle. However Arthur broke the ice by hugging him firmly and said "You look like trash, old friend" after which the dam around them broke. After what felt like hours of catching up Arthur extended his both hands to us saying "Come now. Let us start all over. Let's go back home. The 3 of us" and we took his hand readied ourselves as we were finally leaving this cave.
Arthur Leywin PoV:
After reuniting with my childhood friends and clearing out all the misunderstandings and grudges I felt like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders. We arrived at the new home that we procured a few days ago. Though it was unnecessary, Cecelia and Sylvie were quite uncomfortable with the cave and knowing the wimp Nico was, he was surely gonna bother me. I selected a house enough for 10 people since we might have people over for planning and stuff. "NICO , CECELIA, GET READY TO DEPART IN 5 MINUTES" I roared, my voice reverberating in the yet empty house. "What happened, we just got here" both of them said in unison while I just told them to stop asking questions and follow me to which they complied.
"About time we all attend Xyrus"
Director Cynthia Goodsky POV:
It's been a little over 2 years since the boy left. His first impressions on me were still imprinted deep inside my mind. The way he carried himself, his every calculated step, even his breathing seemed to be purposeful. The deep fear and dread of the boy and his so-called cousin imprinted on our mind still haunts me at night. I think, if it's him, we can definitely hold back Agrona, maybe end him for good.
As I was pondering over these thoughts a purple coloured portal opened up inside my office. 4 silhouettes appeared. A boy with black hair and red eyes with glasses on them, another was a brown haired girl with almond shaped brown eyes. The last two figures made my heart Pound faster and faster. As I saw the portal crumble the very source of the dread moved towards me, his white hair reverting back to its original wheat colour.
"Hello director goodsky. It's been a while. I believe you can do me a favour or two" he said straight jumping to business "Yes, I can on the condition that you attend my school" I said a little hesitant. Well of course I'd be hesitant, he can easily kill me and replace me just like he did with greysunders. His golden eyes fixed on me piercing my soul. A smirk formed on his face "Well of course . That's what I'm here for" he said.
————Time skip to opening ceremony————
I sat in the same spot as the last timeline with Sylvie in her fox form along with Nico Cecelia and Regis. He insisted a lot and after days of pleading I let him attend the academy. I didn't pay any attention to the speeches nor the members. I didn't even bother to look at Tess's direction. Her childish behaviour annoyed me to the very core. As she finished her speech I started meditating, not bothering to hear the Vice President's speech which was obviously Clive, or maybe that's what I had expected. I could see Cecelia gasp as the other students had similar expressions. Regis and Sylvie excitement poured into me, almost drowning me.
I looked towards the stage, only to avert my gaze from it. "No, I'm going senile, that's all" I reassured my self but all my composer faded away when I heard an all too familiar voice albeit a little young. "Good morning everyone, I'm the Vice President of student council Caera Denoir"
As soon as these words ringed in my ears my heart seemed to burst out of its ribcage. Blood pounding heavily in my ears as my breathing became ragged. How? Why ?
I looked at her throughout my speech, not leaving sight for a second . Every passing moment felt like an eternity, with my mental state crumbling, after all I saw her die in my arms. I wanted to approach her..
"Calm down princess, you both are nothing more than strangers. You'll have your chance, just don't go now. Your head's a mess. You'll only creep her out" Regis said with genuine concern. Taking a deep breath I composed myself "You're right. Sorry I lost myself a bit there"
The next few days went by just like in the original timeline. Me having an argument with Tess over the dwarf boy, beating the hell out of the professor, getting appointed as new professor with the exception of Elijah thirsting over every girl since he had Cecelia now. The class mechanics class went by without an accident since I didn't give the beast will to Tessia. I'll give it to her later once Nico gets rid of the corruption. I didn't join DC this time but rather had Nico and Cecelia join it instead.
During this time I tried myself to familiarise myself with caera but she would always ignore me while rubbing her neck violently, only increasing my concern for her. I wonder what's wrong. Maybe I was thinking so much. It was unfair of me to demand attention from her. She doesn't know me, and to her I'm just another guy trying to get her.
My patience bagan to run thin as days went by until one day I found a note in my room which seems to be slid by someone underneath the door. I opened the folded note saying "meet me by the backside of the yard at midnight"
I don't want to get into trouble but my instincts tell me to go and they're never wrong. I waited for midnight while nothing major happened aside from tess trying to make moves on me. Sigh, how can a person be so damned idiot, don't you get it I . DONT . LIKE . YOU I yelled mentally at her foolish antics which I kept rejecting.
It was finally midnight. I got outside and activated mirage walk and arrived at the designated place. I saw a figure which I couldn't make out but the unmistakable ruby eyes gave it away. "What are you?" She asked mana to augment her body "everytime i'm near you I get these nightmares and they just keep getting worse. And you are in all of them. Explain, what are you doing to me?" I looked at her with soft eyes knowing she didn't know anything. "Do you really want to see it all?" I asked
"Yes," she replied. Very well I went to her and placed a finger on her head giving all of my memories to her at such a pace that her brain won't explode. She sat down obviously digesting everything. It was too much for a 14 year old to process.
I tried walking away when I heard someone running towards me. I turned around only to see caera embrace me with such a force that it made me fall back. She had both of her hands, a little far away from my head on either side just above my shoulders. Her navy blue hair fell down and acted like a curtain. It was dark but I could see her moist eyes, her quivering lips and her ragged breathing contrast to my breathing which was normal on the outside while my heart on the inside was beating crazy.
She finally broke the silence "it's really you grey. Isn't it?" She asked, her tone had a plea in it for me to answer yes "Yeah, it's me, the one you shared a bedroll with" I mused hoping to ease the tension but she finally hugged me, her face burying in my neck and started sobbing. I placed one of my hands on her waist and the other on her head slightly patting her. I wanted this moment to last forever, if I could I would just abandon this world and live with her in a pocket dimension for eternity. But I had some responsibilities.
When she finally seemed to have calmed down I said "While I'd love to catch up with you, why don't we do it in an appropriate place. I don't think a refined lady such as yourself would want herself to be found lying on an underclassman in the middle of the night" to which she blushed hardcore after punching me hard in the belly. "Gaah.... What was that for" I winced in pain. "Nothing, just felt like it" she replied with a smug grin over her face. I gave her an orb with my mana signature "take this and wait in my room. I have a few meetings to attend. I'll be back in a while to catch up with you. You can play with Sylvie while you're there" I said, wiping the dirt and dead grass off of my clothes.
"Yeah. I'll wait for you" she replied with a cute smile and went away. I god stepped into the beast glades in a dungeon where an alacryan camp was reported by Regis. As I stepped in I let my intent loose while all the soldiers buckled. They were rendered immobile "Since I'm in a good mood today, no interrogation. I'll be giving you all an instant death" I said with a grin while manifesting an aether blade in my hand and burst stepped towards the still cowering and recovering alacryans.
*************
(A/n well that's done for now. I'm still recovering but am out of the critical stage. I know the chapter was short but, hey you still get a chapter before your expectations. I hope you all like this chapter. Some of you wanted a caera coming sooner so I did some tweaks here and there and adjusted her in school arc. Expect tess slander in coming chapters. Not that I like to do it. Just makes it fun to read 😅🤧 SAYONARA)