A dark, all-encompassing void spread about.
Within this darkness, ripples of distortion spread about.
Overlapping images and echoing sounds drifted.
And at the center of the incomplete layers of memories… was a single being.
"I'm not like you." A voice drifted in the subconscious realm as Noir floated through it.
"Aren't you human too?" A feminine voice responded.
Clearly, a conversation was going on here. Drifting images, blurred by uncertainty, appeared and vanished.
"I…" A reply came forth and then stopped before it could be completed.
For a moment, there was a lull. Nothing sounded, and nothing could be seen.
Then, in a flash… everything came rushing back in.
Noir found himself remembering the events that happened when he was still known as Homunculus #00, Zero—one of the major assets of the Western Empire, a member of H.E.L.I.X.
Even though he was a member of the most powerful force in the empire, he was still considered as a failed project.
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"Defect" One of the scientists stated.
"Failure" Another added.
"At least he can still be useful." More posited.
He was labeled the unsuccessful venture in making the perfect vessels of power. In simple terms—
"You can't use magic."
The Doctor was the one who told him point-blank.
"W-what?" The younger Noir, Homunculus #00 had asked hesitantly.
He was young and innocent then—not knowing why he was different, and what he did that was so wrong.
"Just what I said. You are incapable of using any kind of magic, well, except your Bloodline Magic."
The Doctor's words only dug a bigger hole into his heart as the truth began to sink in.
"That means… I am a failure… aren't I?" Zero could only mutter, totally downcast.
He was still only a child, though his body was rapidly maturing to that of an adult.
After countless months of training and testing—some of which were unbearably painful and dreadfully scary—here he was for the final analysis.
He endured all that, only to be told he had no aptitude for magic.
"So this is why everyone calls me a failure and treats me like this…"
He was a result of countless assets and resources poured into the project. So the fact that he could not yield results made everyone view him as a massive waste of resources… and space.
"It's true that the point of the project is to create the ultimate beings that transcend the limits of any Magic humanly possible…" Doctor Kurt gave a smile.
If he said that to make the young boy feel better, then he was doing an awful job. Zero had never felt so worthless.
"I-I see…"
"… And in that regard, I'd say you are a major success." Doctor Kurt's next words came as a surprise to the young one.
"What? Why?"
Unless he was just trying to pamper the boy—something no one in the Project had ever done—why would he make such a statement?
"Yes, it's true that you can't use magic the way everyone can… But that doesn't mean you're a failure."
"Y-you mean that Doctor?" Zero's childlike eyes glowed, even though it was dark in color.
Children were impressionable, and it hadn't even been a year since his creation
"Yes, Zero. I'm sure you'll be able to find something only you can do!" Doctor Kurt said with a bright and youthful smile.
Zero found his face brightening up, and his heart warmed to the kind words of the Doctor.
After only hearing harsh words of contempt from everyone around him, and getting cold looks and treatment from all his seniors—to hear those words from the man he looked up to the most…
… That was the best thing that had ever happened to him since his birth.
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The memory faded into darkness as Noir regained consciousness.
His eyes opened and his dark pupils shrunk with sudden exposure to light.
"Urghh…" Noir groaned as his sore body still ached him.
He had woken up from the pleasant memory in his past to the harsh reality that awaited him.
In an instant, the events that occurred the previous night flashed through his mind. He immediately roused himself from his lying state, and sat upon the bed.
Suddenly the door swung open and Galand alongside Lorna came through. Their worried faces were evident as they hurriedly rushed to Noir.
"Sir Noir, you're awake?" Lorna first spoke up, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Uh… Yeah, I am." Noir said, with a calm expression, trying to reduce the tense and emotion-filled atmosphere in the room.
"Sir Noir, I'm sorry!" Galand said firmly and apologetically, bowing his head.
"W-What do you mean? Why are you apologizing."
Noir, who wasn't used to such courtesy, was surprised—if not downright nervous. It didn't help that his body was still feeling jumpy from the events of the previous night.
"I couldn't do anything in the battle last night. And even after we discovered you, badly wounded and damaged… I couldn't do anything to help you." Galand replied with a tone of powerlessness and self-condemnation.
"Sir Noir protected us from all the assailants, yet, we couldn't do anything for you!" Lorna's tone contained pure sadness and guilt.
"It's not your.—" Noir tried responding.
"It is! I am the Young Lady's Guard Mage! Yet I couldn't do a single thing! I was the one who requested Sir Noir's help, but when you were in distress I couldn't even aid you.
I was always confident in my Healing Magic, but I couldn't heal a single bruise on your body! I am so ashamed of my own powerlessness!"
Galand was close to tears, at this point, an unsightly expression for an older man his age to show.
It only proved how frustrated he was.
Noir felt awkward in the room. It was so full of emotions that Noir felt like an oddity.
'If I don't find a way to satiate their guilt… there would be no end to this.' He sighed internally.
"You shouldn't feel bad about your inability to heal me. The truth is that Magic doesn't work on me."
Noir was hesitant to reveal this, but decided to do so anyway. After all…
"I-It doesn't?! What are you saying?" Galand was in utter shock, bordering on the edge of disbelief.
"Yes, unless it's Bloodline Magic or certain exceptions… It won't affect me at all." Noir affirmed.
For a moment, silence existed in the room. It was much better than the myriad of emotions, so Noir was grateful for that, at the very least.
"T-then, doesn't that mean Sir Noir is invincible?" Lorna suddenly broke the silence with her high-pitch tone of surprise.
"That's a phenomenal feat! Sir Noir is truly incredible." Galand replied, smiling at the young maid.
However, almost as soon as he spoke, Galand's face suddenly became clouded. Worry and fear overshadowed his countenance as he realized something important… and scary.
"Sir Galand, are you okay?" Lorna, the most sensitive of the bunch, asked in a hurry.
"U-uh, I was just thinking. When we saw Sir Noir, you were in a terrible state…" Galand faced the laid-down man.
"How powerful was the enemy to have overpowered you so much?"
"That was just due to my carelessness." Noir quickly answered Galand.
"It won't happen again!"
Galand and Lorna remained silent, realizing the young man was serious. Still, they couldn't help but be worried.
Even though this was Noir in question. In the past, they would have considered him untouchable, but the injuries he sustained was proof that someone out there could best him.
"You all overestimate me. I'm not invincible, either. Due to my nullification of magic, I can't use magic as well." Noir blatantly stated.
He normally wouldn't tell this to people, however… something about this group made him want to say something.
Noir truly felt at ease.