She was labeled as a prodigy at a young age, being able to procure medicines, and is also one of the top magicians in her school.
"It's sad that I won't be able to see Austria grow as a refined woman."
Deep in Invictus' heart, he was sad, yet no tears were shed when he thought about his daughter and the bright future which was supposedly waiting for Austria.
"Austria's always telling me how she wants to be just like me. It's sad... Really."
Invictus grabbed a small basin, scooped some of that warm water, and splashed it on his head to clear his mind off the negative thoughts.
He got up after that and left to wipe himself dry. Thorp's daughter prepared him a change of clothes besides his dirty clothes and the
the sword he took from Hubert.
A low-quality sword will cost Invictus some fortune, and he can't possibly afford even the cheapest, considering his status right now.
All that he has is his indomitable will and unwavering urge to punish not just the king and his seven former friends but also the whole kingdom. He had endured enough, always listening to his mother's words and taking them into consideration.
But even after all the forbearance he had to maintain, always forgiving others for the things they have done, Estarians still could not forget about the wrongdoings of his ancestors.
Before Invictus came knocking on Thorp's door, he was rejected by every house, afraid of what could happen to them and aware of what happened to his family.
"Will I be able to do this?"
Invictus already has a plan on how he will deal with his grotesque lower half. When he was done changing into a new pair of clothes prepared for
him, Invictus had a look at the blade.
He took a closer look at the sword's sharpness. "It's in good condition.
The edges are well-maintained, and it's polished. I can see my own reflection in it too. Hubert really loves taking good care of his possessions. Alright, this will do."
Staggering, Invictus decided to go inside the vacant room Thorp lent him along with a relatively large basin he will use later.
Inside the room, there is a single bed covered in white sheets, and a pillow, and beside it is a table. On top is the lamp acting as the source of light in the room. Moreover, dark-themed paintings were hung on the walls which captured Invictus' interest.
"I like this room. It's spacious and looks so minimal."
Aside from the mentioned objects, the room was empty and free of cobwebs and dust.
Whilst rethinking his decisions, Invictus took a deep breath, sitting down on the bed.
Right now, he is having second thoughts about his plan. He can't decide between his choices and is in a dilemma.
"Should I cut off my lower half or just leave it be? Honestly, I still have no idea how my immortality works. What if I cut my body in half, and it just
automatically attaches itself? Won't that just hurt?"
Biting off his own flesh and eating it was another matter. Even if he has a high pain tolerance, Invictus is still bound to feel the excruciating pain during the procedure.
"And what if the sword stuck halfway through? Won't that suck really bad?
I'm sure my energy will be depleted in an instant. If that happens, it will be a problem."
It would be more painful because as he tries to force himself from slicing his body in half, he will quickly lose energy in doing so. Invictus will be left with an immense amount of pain and might need to redo everything
from the start, if his body starts regenerating.
"What am I hesitating about?! This should be a piece of cake to me."
Pridefully, he stood up, held the sword against him, and realized that a swift slash won't do the job.
But still, Invictus found the courage to pierce himself with the blade. The sword went through his body, resulting in a grunt and some blood spilling on the basin beneath his feet.
"AHHHHH!!!"
A loud cry was heard across the house.
Having heard Invictus scream, Thorp's daughter was ready to check on him, but her father stopped her, shaking his head.
"Let him have some time alone."
Enduringly, Invictus gripped tightly on the sword and began sawing off his lower half. He was screaming, at each second, his voice gradually losing its tone over time.
"WAHAHAHAHA! Th-this much is nothing!"
He successfully completely sliced off his lower half. It, thudding on the wooden floor, would sound like he fell if someone was around outside the room.
"W-Wow! So, this is what it feels like to have no lower half. Nothing
different from when I was waist-deep in the Oubliette."
Invictus does not want to soil the white sheets with his blood. Therefore, he remained his upper half leaning ever so slightly on the bed, letting the dark red liquid substance flowing out of his body drop on the relatively large basin.
"I feel... cold."
His lips began to discolor, trembling at the chilling sensation he was feeling at the moment whilst he waited for his regenerative ability to kick in and start healing itself.
"Cleoantra, Vinyl, Damian, Corazon, and the other two, just you guys wait.
I'll make sure every fiber of your body gets to enjoy my insurmountable wrath that awaits each and every one of you!"
A thunderstruck from afar, but its roaring amplitude causes everyone a tiny sliver of fear.
You might be wondering what happened to the attacks going on in the castle when Aeriel rescued Invictus.
The matter between Doloria and Estaria had been settled with King Estaroth's overwhelming victory. Although the kingdom suffered severe losses due to the fact that the invasion came out as a surprise, it was still a win-win situation for Estaria. Because they were able to take over some of Doloria's land.
It is just a matter of time before Doloria falls under King Estaroth's regime. And he will do anything for the sake of a triumphant victory over Doloria.
"Enjoy all the glory you can enjoy, Estaria. Relish all the precious days and regret nothing. It will be fun while it lasts. I can't wait to see the surprise on their faces when they see me alive and well!"
~