As Claire told the story of what happened to Alex a month ago, everyone listening had a different but also the same reaction.
Shock, sadness, heartache, and anger
All of the girls listening felt these emotions to varying degrees.
They understood why Alex was so much colder, less expressive, and even crueler when he fought Malcolm in the academy entrance test.
His soul was crushed that day.
A day where Alex lost someone he cared about, something he had never experienced with any of them. He has done everything he could to save them and make sure they were taken care of, but for the first time in his life, he has failed to save someone. A boy he only knew for three days but grew close to as a mentor.
Everyone at the table was silent, each in their own thoughts.
Claire was worried about what would happen if Alex found out she had told them all.
Amelie and Lyanna were concerned for his overall well-being, and Lyanna specifically was also curious as to where his fire magic had come from.
"It's not unheard of to have two magic abilities, but those cases were normally when both parents possessed magic. Edward didn't have magic, so how..." Lyanna thought to herself. It's not as if she wasn't worried about Alex, but she was very good at focusing on certain things. After all, every other girl at the table was worried about Alex, so she figured it was best for her to think about other possibilities.
Anna and Raven were the most impacted by this story. They were both filled with worry for Alex and also worried about what the future would bring.
It was then that Anna had a serious thought.
What would happen if something happened to any of them? Would the Alex they knew and loved be gone forever? Will he lose himself in anger and sadness?
These thoughts plagued everyone at the table.
"We need to help him."
Everyone turned their heads towards Raven, who just spoke the first words in minutes.
"I could see it in Alex's eyes; he is filled with guilt and sorrow, and knowing him, he blames himself for not being able to save that boy and for losing control of his power. He needs us, his family, and loved ones to help him and stay by his side. I don't know what he thinks about himself, but it can't be good. We need to do everything we can to help him fight through this so we can get the Alex that we all know and love back."
Raven stated her voice, and it had a ripple effect in the room, and everyone nodded their heads in agreement that they would help Alex as best as they could. Even Freya couldn't help wanting to help Alex, someone she barely knew. She knew she could help him as his mentor and, hopefully, a friend.
It was then that everyone had one objective: to help Alex.
*Meanwhile*
Alex was standing still in the shower as the hot water fell on top of his head and dripped down to the shower floor.
"I'm a monster..."
Images of Alex setting the village ablaze flashed into his mind. His burning innocent people that couldn't escape the town in time.
"I'm...sorry.." Tears flowed from Alex's face, and all he could think about was that day. It was as if he had been living that moment on repeat every day and every night since.
He sees the faces of the people he saw in the village, especially Jacob and his mother. They haunted his nightmares.
However, the water around Alex started to slow down around him, and suddenly instead of a bathroom, he was in a big room with three distinct colors around the room. White, purple, and yellow.
"Hello Alex."
Alex turned his head and saw three beautiful goddesses sitting on yellow, white, and purple chairs.
"What do you three want...?" Alex asked them angrily.
"We need to talk, Alex." Xymaris said with a sad look on her face.
Xymaris was the closest to Alex out of all of them. Seeing him so hurt and a mess mentally made her feel pain from deep inside her chest.
"I don't want too..." Alex stated.
"Alex please!" Iris tried to plead before being interrupted by Alex.
"No! Let me leave." Alex said in a cold voice.
"Alex, that's not going to happen." Kearis said. "This is important to talk to you about."
Alex clinched his fist, but after taking a deep breath, he released it. "Fine, what do you need to talk to me about?"
"Well, first we need to discuss the path you're now on." Kearis said.
Both Xymaris and Iris looked like they wanted to speak but couldn't bring themselves to do it.
"What do you mean?" Alex asked.
"You are on the path we wanted you to be on; things didn't happen as we expected, but eventually you have unlocked your abilities. My gift allows you to use other elements, specifically fire. You can also use other elements, but you must meet certain conditions to unlock them. Xymaris gift allows you to sense others emotions. Iris gift allows you to assert your authority over those weaker than you. Each of our abilities will come into play to help you become the villain we wanted you to be; however, you decided not to use them for that purpose, but fate always finds a way." Kearis explained.
"...you wanted me to destroy that village?" Alex asked, shocked.
"Not specifically no, but you weren't acting like a real villain, not using our gifts to your advantage, and overall you were being weak. My sisters love you for a reason I personally can't fathom; if it weren't for them, I wouldn't have even considered their plan of bringing you into this world. I chose to support you because of them, Alex, and while you have done some bad things, they were all for saving someone you love. I do respect that, but it's not enough. Not with the hero becoming stronger." Kearis explained.
"Why is the hero such a major issue for you three?" Alex asked.
"We explained it before to you, Alex." Iris said walking to him from her chair. "The hero will fail in his fight to save humanity, so we needed someone else who would become strong enough to succeed."
Alex stayed silent, worrying the goddesses, but broke it with one simple, hard-hitting question.
"So I'm just a tool for you?"
This sentence shocked Xymaris and Iris. They realized they treated Alex's new life and him personally as a tool for their own objectives, never truly considering the toll it would take on him.
"Alex..." Xymaris said, struggling to put her thoughts together.
"We never meant..." Iris said struggling the same way as her sister.
They cared about him but never truly acted like it. When he was in his time of need, neither of them helped him because, in the end, they knew this would put him on the path he was meant to be on.
The goddesses thoughts were filled with this, except for Kearis, who looked as coldly as ever at Alex.
"In the end, yes, you are our tool." Kearis said.
"Kearis!" Xymaris and Iris yelled at their sister.
Kearis continued explaining to Alex "We never wanted you to experience the pain you have, but it was necessary. The other gods and goddesses refused to step in and change the fate of this world, so we three came together and decided to do this. Blame your misgivings, your suffering, your hatred, and your sadness all on us, because in the end we are to blame for it all."
"No." Alex stated.
"What do you mean?" Kearis asked.
"You set me on this path; fine, I'll be your perfect tool for you, but let me make this clear. If you even think about using the people I love for your games, I promise after I'm done with this evil you keep talking about, you're next. Am I clear?" Alex threatened Kearis.
"Crystal." Kearis said.
Kearis sent Alex back to his world after those words were shared.
It was then that Kearis dropped to her knees in tears.
"I'm sorry..."
Xymaris and Iris also had tears in their eyes. They saw they had hurt the only man they had cared about and had no idea how to fix their relationship with him.
*Back in Alex's shower*
"Just a fucking tool..." Alex said, water dripping from his face.
Alex turned the water off and went to his room in order to get dressed. He walked downstairs, saying nothing to any members of his family except that he was taking a walk to clear his head.
Alex went into the woods outside of the city and sat down below a tree with his hands covering his face.
He sat there for hours before returning home, just to lay down in his bed. Kaede and Eve tried to talk to him as they saw him before he went into his room, but he waved them off and said nothing.
"Kaede, what can we do?" Eve asked.
Kaede put her hand to her chest and said.
"I don't know Eve, I truly don't know"
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AN: Hey guys just wanna let you know I have a introduction to my 2nd story coming out on today! Called "A Yandere Space Princess is in Love with me". Excited to finally get started releasing that. Its not ready yet but hopefully will be by late September.
If you guys want to to support me check out my patreon, it's as cheap as a dollar!
Patreon:
https://patreon.com/Alex_Blackwood628
Discord:
https://discord.gg/97ejzvAGKb