As a reclusive individual, the thought of being thrust into an unknown and unfamiliar world without any explanation was terrifying. Panic began to set in, and I could feel my heart rate quickening as I struggled to make sense of my surroundings. My breathing became shallow, and I felt a lump forming in my throat. The situation was so surreal and bizarre that I could feel my mind spiraling out of control.
Every worst-case scenario played out in my mind, and I felt like I was drowning in a sea of confusion and fear. It was as if all my senses were heightened, and my body was reacting to the strange environment in a way that I couldn't control.
"Calm down. It's okay."
Once again, the voice that had spoken to me earlier called out from deep within me. The sound of the voice echoed within my mind, as if it were emanating from the depths of my consciousness. The voice seemed to be telling me that everything would be okay, that I was safe, and that I had nothing to fear. Its words were like a balm to my frayed nerves, and I began to feel more and more at ease.
And yet, even though the voice had calmed me down, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that continued to well up within me. It was a persistent feeling that seemed to linger in the back of my mind, refusing to go away. Despite my efforts to push it aside, it continued to gnaw at me, like a constant ache that I couldn't ignore.
Overwhelmed by the strangeness of my situation, I found myself feeling completely disoriented and confused. It was a strange and surreal experience, and I couldn't believe that it was actually happening to me. As my mind struggled to come to terms with what was going on, I tried to rationalize the situation in any way possible. I considered the possibility that it was just my imagination running wild, or that perhaps I was in some kind of hallucinatory state. Alternatively, I wondered if it was an illusion created by my mind, or even a result of some external influence that I was unaware of.
Despite all of these possible explanations, I still couldn't shake off the feeling that what I was experiencing was too real to be a mere figment of my imagination. The sights and sounds around me were too vivid, too tangible, for it all to be just a dream. Yet, I continued to tell myself that it had to be a dream, because it was the only way that I could make sense of the inexplicable situation.
"This had to be some sort of dream. I mean, it has to be, right? None of this makes sense otherwise," I muttered to myself that it had to be a dream as nothing else seemed to make sense. I was desperate to convince myself that what I was experiencing wasn't real.
"That's right. This is just a dream. I'll wake up eventually."
As I looked around at my surroundings, I desperately clung to the belief that this was just a dream. It was a mantra that I repeated to myself over and over again, as if by doing so I could somehow will myself back into a state of normalcy. I told myself that I was in control of the situation, that I could wake up from the dream whenever I wanted to, and that everything would be back to normal.
But the more I tried to convince myself of this, the more the reality of the situation seemed to set in. It was as if the more I tried to deny the truth, the more it refused to be ignored. It was a feeling of being caught in a surreal and inexplicable world, where the rules of reality no longer applied. And yet, even as I struggled to make sense of it all, I continued to cling to the hope that it was just a dream, and that I would wake up soon.
As I continued to look around my surroundings, I tried to convince myself that I was simply dreaming. I was certain that I would eventually wake up in the comfort of my own familiar bedroom. I attempted to reassure myself that this was just a dream and that I had complete control over the situation.
However, just as I was about to accept this explanation, a sudden, fierce voice interrupted my thoughts, causing me to jump in alarm.
"Take that back!!!"
The voice was so piercingly loud and high-pitched that I had to quickly cover my ears with my hands to protect myself from the noise. The unexpected voice challenged my belief that I was dreaming, and caused me to doubt my previous reassurances. Despite my initial shock, I tried to regain my composure and figure out what was going on.
Turning towards the source of the voice, I saw two familiar individuals standing in the center of the enormous courtyard.
One was a boy with pale skin and a face that showed no trace of masculinity. His crimson hair was tied in a ponytail, and his deep crimson eyes were like refined rubies. He had a slender figure that made him look more like a girl than a boy. In fact, everything about his appearance made it quite likely for him to be mistaken for a girl. If I didn't know him myself, I might have thought this person was female. His name was Leon Asura and he was the third son of House Asura.
The other person standing in the courtyard was also a young boy, but with a very different physical appearance. Unlike Leon, this boy had a well-built physique, which was noticeable even from a distance. His short hair and sharp, piercing eyes were reminiscent of flames, and he exuded a confident and assertive demeanor that suggested strength and power. This boy was named Marcus Asura, the second son of House Asura.
I rubbed my eyes to make sure I wasn't seeing things.
It felt as if the scenario unfolding before me had occurred in the past, and now I was viewing it from a different perspective, as if I was an outside observer. Was I watching a memory of mine, or was this what they call one's life flashing before one's eyes?
I didn't know what in the world was happening right now, but despite this, I recognized the need to stay calm and focused. I took a deep breath and tried to ground myself in the present moment, focusing on the details of my surroundings and the events unfolding before me.
As I looked around, everything seemed surreal, like a scene from a dream. The surroundings were familiar, but at the same time, they felt distant and detached. It was as if I was watching a memory or experiencing some kind of out-of-body experience. I didn't know why, but something about this whole situation felt surreal and otherworldly, like I was a spectator watching a play on a stage.
Once again, I focused my attention on Leon and Marcus, who were still in the midst of an intense exchange.
As I continued to observe the two boys, I couldn't help but wonder what they were doing here, and why they looked so serious. It was clear that they were engaged in some kind of intense conversation, their faces tense and their eyes locked on each other.
I wanted to approach them, to get a closer look, but the invisible barriers still surrounded me, making it impossible for me to move any closer.
So, I continued to watch from afar, feeling like an outsider in this strange, mysterious world.
As the two confronted each other, the other people around them began whispering amongst themselves, evidently curious about what was happening.
"I said, take that back!" Leon said to Marcus, demanding that he retract something he had just said. Marcus, however, appeared to be completely calm and unperturbed by Leon's hostility.
"Take what back?" asked Marcus, not the tiniest bit affected by Leon's hostility.
"Take back what you just said!"
Leon's features contorted in anger as he emitted a fierce growl, his gaze locked onto Marcus with a searing glare. The intensity of Leon's reaction was enough to make me nervous, but Marcus remained completely composed and unflappable.
"Talk about misdirected anger. Are you sure it wasn't just you mishearing things?"
The words left on Marcus' mouth only served to further anger Leon, who launched himself at Marcus, attempting to grab him. However, Marcus quickly dodged Leon's attack, causing him to lose his balance and stumble.
"Grr…"
"Oh my, how scary."
Leon corrected his balance immediately and glared at Marcus angrily, but Marcus just snickered in response. There was an alarming aura of bloodlust emanating from Leon, but Marcus seemed unfazed by it.
Marcus directed a question at Leon, saying, "How could you be so weak when you are mixed blood?" His tone of voice conveyed a sense of disbelief and disappointment, as if he was struggling to comprehend the situation. The question seemed to have been asked more to himself than to Leon, but the latter was attentive and caught the remark.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
It seemed that Leon wanted to understand what Marcus meant by his statement as he was confused and taken aback by the comment.
Marcus merely shrug, a smug smile spreading across his face. "Oh, nothing much. I just thought that demi-humans were supposed to be more...monstrous, you know? Like your mother. But I guess I was wrong. You're all just a bunch of boring, weaklings."
At this, I felt like something within me snapped. I felt an intense sense of anger bubbling up within me, even though the insult wasn't directed at me. The intensity of my reaction took me by surprise, and I found myself struggling to regain control.
But it wasn't just me who felt the impact of Marcus's words. It was as if the entire atmosphere around us had suddenly shifted, and I could sense a change in Leon as well. It was like the words had struck a chord within both of us, resonating deep within our souls. It was almost as if something within him had also snapped, just like it had within me.
As I experienced the same sensations as Leon, a question popped up in my mind. Why was I having the same feeling as Leon? Was it because I was a demi-human myself? I couldn't say for certain. Despite the uncertainty, I knew that the situation was peculiar since I was feeling anger even though the insult was not directed at me.
As I looked at Leon, I noticed that he was struggling to keep his anger in check. Unlike me, who managed to control my emotions, Leon was visibly upset. His fists were clenched, and his face was contorted with rage. It was clear that Marcus's words had hit a nerve.
"You… I'll kill you." His eyes filled with icy determination as he took a step towards Marcus, grabbing him by the collar. But instead of cowering or showing any signs of fear, Marcus simply grinned, seeming to relish the confrontation. It was almost as if he had been looking forward to this moment.
Just then, someone stood between Leon and Marcus, his arms outstretched to keep them apart. He looked at them with a stern expression, his glasses glinting in the light. "That's enough, both of you," he said firmly.
That someone was a young man with long dark red hair and maroon eyes to match, whose youthful face was adorned by a pair of refined glasses. He had a slender build and his long red hair was pulled over his shoulder in a low ponytail. His name was Sirius Asura, and he was the first son of the House Asura.
Sirius was highly regarded as a talented magician, and his magical abilities far surpassed those of anyone else. His magical abilities were nothing short of extraordinary, exceeding those of his peers and making him stand out as a true prodigy in the art of magic.
Sirius' proficiency in magic was such that he could perform spells without the need to chant the incantations that were typically required. This ability made him a formidable opponent, as it allowed him to cast spells quickly and silently, catching his opponents off guard. His magical prowess was known and respected throughout the land, and he was often called upon to perform feats of magic that others deemed impossible. He also had a deep understanding of magic theory, and was able to cast spells that others could only dream of. In fact, he had been known to create his own spells, a feat that was only achievable by the most skilled magicians.
Leon glared at Marcus, his hands balled into fists. "He called my father weak, and he called my mother a monster." he spat out. "I won't stand for it."
Sirius sighed, his expression exasperated. "You're both acting like children," he said. "You're sons of one of the most powerful houses in the republic, and yet you can't even behave properly. You two are brothers, and you should act like it."
He turned to look at Marcus. "And that's going too far, Marcus. You need to apologize."
Marcus scowled, his arms crossed. "I won't apologize," he said stubbornly. "I spoke the truth. If that man hadn't left the house, he should have been the head now. But instead of living a life like a king, he went on adventures and married a demi-human. He dragged our name through the mud."
It's true that Leon's father's decision to leave his responsibility as the heir of the Asura House to become an adventurer brought shame to the family. His actions were viewed as irresponsible and brought dishonor to the Asura name. The situation was made even worse when he married a demi-human, which was frowned upon by many in the Asura House and seen as a further blow to the family's reputation.
"He is a shame and an embarrassment to the family," Marcus continued, his scowl deepening as he remained stubbornly unapologetic.
The words that were spoken to his parents had left a deep imprint in Leon's mind, and with each passing moment, his anger only intensified. The harsh criticisms that were directed towards his father's decision to leave the Asura House and marry a demi-human were not only hurtful but also an attack on his family's honor.
Unable to control his emotions any longer, Leon made a decision that could have repercussions he may regret later. In the courtyard, Leon picked up a wooden sword, which had been left lying on the side, and pointed it towards Marcus with a fierce and deadly glare. The expression on his face was one of pure rage and determination, and it was clear that he wasn't going to back down.
Sirius, who was standing nearby, was taken aback by Leon's sudden outburst and struggled to comprehend what was happening.
"Leon! What are you doing?!" He called out to Leon, hoping to reason with him and stop him from doing something he might regret.
Despite Sirius's attempts to intervene, Leon remained resolute, and his anger continued to fuel his actions. He knew that he couldn't let anyone insult his family without repercussions, and he was prepared to defend their honor at any cost.
As Leon stood there, with his wooden sword at the ready, it was evident that he was willing to do whatever it took to protect his family's reputation and defend their honor.
"I challenge you to a duel!"