Many didn't believe the Saint Clare of Seina convent was an independent entity that runned solely on its own funds, however there were numerous conspiracy theories about how they were capable of catering for all those lost souls littered around Las Geiger. For a convent to display a level of wealth such as this, they should at least be connected to some grand entities.
After Madeline's words of wisdom, she lounged back in her chair, with Vaelin opposite her.
"Vaelin, there's something important I want to disclose to you." She said, heaving a sigh. 'I should have told him this long ago.' Her thoughts burdened her.
The vibrant colors of the flowers next to her desk seemed to echo the hidden depth of the revelation she was about to share. Vaelin hesitated, his eyes filled with both curiosity and apprehension, unsure of what was to come.
With a calm and compassionate smile, Madeleine said, "Vaelin, I understand that you have been wondering how this convent is able to stand, even after all the mouths it is feeding. The answer to your question is Omicron."
For a moment there, Vaelin was sent aback. Of course, he had heard of Omicron before. It was a company that excelled in the growth and innovation of technology. But that was just it. He failed to see what was so unique about them and what they've got to do with a convent all the way down here in the bowels of Las Geiger.
A moment of silence passed as Madeline gathered the courage to reveal the hidden truth of the convent.
"Omicron is not just another company; it's the entity that funds our humble convent, allowing us to support orphans like you and provide them with a loving home."
Vaelin's eyebrows furrowed slightly, the mention of Omicron sparking his intrigue. "But, Mother, why? Why do they do this?"
The nun's eyes glistened with a mix of gratitude and admiration as she continued, "Omicron has a deep sense of responsibility towards society, especially towards those without families. They believe that every orphan deserves an opportunity at a better future, and that is why they have made a unique arrangement with us."
Vaelin leaned in, craving more information. "What kind of arrangement, Mother?"
Madeline paused, composing herself, knowing the news she was about to share would shake his world. "Vaelin, when a child leaves our care upon completing high school, Omicron offers them a chance for higher education in big towns like Neo Culpa." She watched as a wave of emotions washed over him, his eyes widening with surprise, disbelief, and a touch of melancholy.
"You mean, I won't be staying here after high school?" Vaelin gasped, his voice almost a whisper.
Madeline nodded, her voice soothing, "Yes, my dear boy, your stay at the convent will be short-lived. However, do not despair, for the journey that lies ahead will open doors to experiences you could never have imagined. You will go to college under their watchful eye, in a place where your dreams can truly flourish."
Vaelin's disheartened expression hung heavy in the air, an unspoken sorrow tarnishing the excitement of his impending graduation. Sensing his sadness, Madeline went to her wardrobe, searched through her things, and retrieved an elegantly folded package. She held it out to him, her voice tender yet hopeful, "But, dear Vaelin, before you leave, here is a gift from me to you. A simple yet stunning suit, just in case you change your mind and decide to attend the prom night celebration."
As he cradled the package in his arms, Vaelin's eyes met Madeline's, acknowledging the love and care that went into this gesture. With a newfound sense of hope, he softly whispered, "Thank you, Mother. I'll cherish it, and who knows, maybe I'll surprise you by attending the prom."
They smiled at each other, their exchange wrapped in understanding and possibility. Unbeknownst to the both of them, the mysterious world of Omicron will open up a portal to uncertain but promising futures for Vaelin.
Vaelin went back to his room with a lot to think about. While on his bed, he couldn't tank the thought of leaving a place he had called home, ever since the day he had surfaced from wherever he came from.
"Dis here is a mighty heap of reckonin', even for a carefree soul like me. A noble-hearted giver, fundin' a holy place for nought but goodwill. But then, not without havin' to claim the young ones? There is somethin' fishy 'bout that, aye... They sure got a hidden reason behind all this. Yet, what's bein' done by the convent to seek out the truth 'bout their authenticity?" Vaelin mused mightily, his native accent thicker than ever.
"Well now, I can't blame this holy place for this; their greatest purpose is helpin' those in need in this harsh society, so they bound to leap at any chance that comes their way. I reckon I gotta make peace with it an' get accustomed to whatever changes I find myself in."
He turned to the left, and on the wall hanged the new suit that was given to him by Madeline.
"I reckon I might ponder on joinin' the prom celebration, now that Madeline done got herself entangled," Vaelin ruminated, "after endurin' yon stress of bestowin' me a fresh coat, 'twould be impolite not to partake."
"Let's see wha' tomorrow holds."
After a while of gazing at the dark sky through the windows beside his bed, Vaelin had fallen fast asleep.
___
The clash of steel reverberated through the alley as Vaelin engaged in a deadly dance with the mysterious figure. Their movements were fluid, each strike calculated and precise, a testament to their shared history.
Vaelin's heart raced with adrenaline as he used the sudden knowledge of combat to try and extract information from his opponent. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he pressed the figure against the moss-covered brick wall, their eyes locked in a battle of wills.
"Who are you?" Vaelin demanded, his voice hoarse with desperation. "Why do you haunt my dreams?"
The figure smirked, a bitter smile that held no warmth. "You think you can escape the webs of your past so easily, Vaelin? You were born to wear the bloodstained mantle of an assassin."
His senses heightened, Vaelin parried a lethal strike, his mind racing to make sense of the cryptic words. Memories surged forth, fragments of forgotten events piecing together to reveal a truth he had long suppressed.
A vision of a cold, moonlit night flashed before Vaelin's eyes. He stood on a rooftop, a target in his sights. The wind howled, carrying the tense whispers of those below. This was what he had been trained to do – to kill without remorse.
"No!" Vaelin cried out, the realization crashing over him like a tidal wave. "I refuse to be defined by my past. I am more than a tool of death!"
With newfound determination, Vaelin pressed his attack, his strikes fueled by a deep-rooted anger and knowledge of ancient combat. Shadows danced around him, twisting and writhing as if in response to his fury. The figure stumbled back, their defenses crumbling under Vaelin's relentless assault.
As the figure fell to their knees, gasping for breath, Vaelin leaned in close, his voice dripping with defiance. "Reveal your true form to me, lest I extinguish your pitiful existence at this very moment."
The figure's eyes widened with a mix of fear and resignation. With a voice barely above a whisper, they spoke their name. "Kaito. I am Kaito, you're not your true self, I am the true you."
Vaelin's breath left him in a whoosh, his grip on his dagger faltering. The revelation hung in the air like a heavy fog. The man in his nightmares who stood before him in the guise of an enemy claimed to be him.
"The true me?" Vaelin repeated, "What are you insinuating? This makes no sense."
"Yes!! It wouldn't, because I, we, the both of us, died a century ago." The stranger said, "You are a reincarnation, the shadow guild, they used you, they used us..."
"Then why can't I remember anything?" Vaelin asked, a sense of confusion washing over him. Emotions clashed within him, pain and bewilderment intertwining with overwhelming uncertainty. How had he lost all connections to these past memories the stranger is talking about? How had he been so canal all this years ago?
Of course, he had pondered several times about how he just appeared in Las Geiger 5 years ago, where he had come from and why he had no memory of his past. This made his feel like a mere five year old kid, sometimes. But he made nothing of it for all those years until his nightmares started haunting him.
Kaito's eyes were deep with sorrow, his vulnerability raw and unguarded. "We never wanted this life, Vaelin. We were forced into accepting it, just like just like my brother, our brother, Shinra. Buy now that we've reincarnated, we can find a different path together, a path that leads to redemption."
"I've got a bro?" Vaelin gasped with disbelief. " and redemption, what you talking 'bout, what do I need that for?"
"To right the wrong that was done to us," Kaito said, "all you have to do is remember."
"By remembering, you will be letting me in. We will become one again. You see the flurry of samurai skills you just unleash on me. All of it is from the years of training we endured, yet it was used for bloodshed, innocent blood. Let's unite and set things right Vaelin, let's hunt does those who manipulated us and regain our honor."
"Vengeance?" Vaelin mused, pondering over it for a while.
"Nah! I outright deny," he spoke with conviction, "I ain't been brought up that way, Madeline's endeavors would be futile if I step upon the trail of retribution... moreover, I'm content with my existence as it is. Henceforth, I won't clutch onto the past, I will not permit you to taint my thoughts with your bitterness."
"Madeline?" Kaito repeated, "That deranged old woman didn't know you, Master Kenji did."
"I can see how far we have fallen..." Kaito continued.
"Huh, that's your predicament, not mine. Now leave me be!" Vaelin bellowed at Kaito.
At that instance, Vaelin wakes out of the nightmares, drenched in sweat.
"This is the same nightmare I beheld in the train yesterday, a continuation of it, albeit it only existed as a vision," Vaelin expressed to himself once the truth settled in.
***