As he fell towards the ground, Cassius couldn't help but recall how tragically this day had played out in his first life.
.
.
.
The day of his awakening ceremony came, and Cassius was both very excited, and very nervous. But since his father always told him he'd awaken as an S-rank he knew that he had nothing to worry about. But sometimes, 'knowing' wasn't enough.
"Father, what's going to happen during my awakening ceremony?" Cassius asked, fidgeting with his fingers, facing his father who sat next to him on the carriage.
"It's simple, Cassius. You are going to stand in a pool for about an hour or so, until you awaken," his father replied.
The young Cassius was annoyed by the thought he would have to stand still for more than an hour. "Do I have to stand?" He pouted.
Looking back, Cassius couldn't believe the spoiled attitude he used to have.
Back then, his younger self had no clue this would be the last moment he would ever be able to act so spoiled.
His father chuckled, "No, it's fine to sit down in the pool, as well. "
"That's good. I don't want to stand for that long." Cassius yawned.
After that, Cassius asked a question that had been on his mind for a while.
"Father... are you sure I will awaken as an S-rank?"
"Yes, Cassius," his father replied confidently, casually staring out the window.
Cassius simply nodded quietly, before working up the courage to ask the real question that had been on his mind this whole time, "What will happen if I don't awaken?"
His father looked him dead in the eyes for a few seconds, then smiled warmly at him and patted his head, "Don't worry about it, son."
Those words put Cassius at ease, but there was still another question that kept biting him at the back of his heart: Will you still love me if I don't awaken?
Though his father never entertained the idea, Anna always talked about the possibility that he might not awaken so it was always on his mind.
He really wanted to ask that, but every time he tried to ask, he would simply choke on his words and swallow them back. As if a small part of him thought he might say no. But no parent would ever say no, of course.
"Cassius?" His father asked.
"It's nothing, Father," Cassius smiled innocently.
It didn't matter if he asked the question or not. He already knew the answer anyways.
He'll always love me, right? I'm his favourite boy in the world, after all.
Those words sounded very convincing to the young Cassius. Even if he didn't awaken, his father would always love him.
Right?
Cassius flashed his father a bright smile, "I'm your favourite boy in the world, right?"
"Of course, son." His father gave him a loving side hug, before placing him on his lap. "Do you see those people over there, Cas?"
"Yeah?" Cassius leaned forward, placing his fingers on the glass windows.
"Young master, do you mind taking your fingers off the glass? I just had those cleaned," the young Coachman chuckled, glancing back through the window at the front of the carriage.
"Sorry, Fred," Cassius apologized and immediately took his fingers off the glass.
Fred was a new Coachman that Cassius had grown fond of over the past few days.
You see, Fred let Cassius try out commoner food once, which he found very interesting. He never knew commoner food could be so tasty until then.
"Son, how do you know the Coachman's name?" His father asked gently.
"Fred is a new friend of mine," Cassius smiled, staring out the window at the children playing with a ball on the streets.
"...I see," his father replied coldly.
That was the last time Cassius saw Fred. But he never even noticed since he was too busy dealing with his failed awakening ceremony after that day.
"Well, anyway, do you see those people over there?" His father pointed his finger at the window. Touching the glass by the way.
"Yes, Father," Cassius looked. "They are swordsmen like you, right?"
A group of men swung their swords in the air together.
"No, not like me," his father said sternly, as if offended. "Don't let their swords fool you, they are systemless hunters. Nothing like me."
Cassius furrowed his brow, "What are systemless hunters?"
"Poor unfortunate souls whom the systems don't favor. No matter how much they train, they will never be a tenth as good as you or me."
"Just because the systems don't favor them?"
"Yes," his father replied. "It's only through having a strong system that a person can become truly strong. But the systemless hunters have no systems."
Cassius turned around and looked up at his father expectantly. "Do you think the systems will like me, father?"
"Like you? They will love you, Cassius," his father laughed, correcting him. "You have no idea how special you are."
"Alright," Cassius went to the seat across from his father and took out a small blue box with a red ribbon on it from beneath it.
He sat down on the seat and after taking the lid off, he took out the cupcake that was inside. This was a cupcake Anna made for him.
"So pretty..." He mumbled. The cupcake had the words 'Good luck, young master!' written on it in gold icing.
It was a very delicious cupcake.
Cassius licked his fingers after he was done, before wiping them on his suit causing his father to frown at him.
"What are you doing?" His father took hold of his hand. "Is this any way for a future S-rank to behave?"
"I'm sorry," Cassius pursed his lips. "I didn't have a handkerchief so..."
"That is no excuse. If you didn't have one, you should have just asked," his father scolded.
They quickly arrived at the palace, and Cassius and his father went to the grand ballroom where they were greeted with gifts and praise from the nobles.
Everyone loves me.
Cassius smiled as he walked side by side with his father, waving at the nobles and thanking them. Then his father stopped to talk with a man he knew.
"Ah, Bared. How have you been?" His father asked.
Bared was the first name of Duke Winter, the head of the Winter duchy which neighbored the Blackwood duchy. As a result, the two heads became close.
Though, whether they were friends or enemies was hard to tell sometimes.
"I have been well," Duke Winter glanced to the side where a young girl around Cassius's age was clinging tightly to his left leg. "Lyra Winter, behave yourself. That is no way for a young lady to act," Duke Winter chuckled, patting her head.
Lyra stopped clinging to her father's leg and greeted the Duke. "G-Greetings, Duke Blackwood."
"Greetings, young lady," the Duke smiled. "Cassius, please greet the young lady and Duke Winter."
"Greetings, young lady," Cassius bowed. "Greetings, Duke Winter," Cassius faced the right and bowed again.
"Good luck on your awakening ceremony, young lord," Duke Winter said.
"Thank you," Cassius replied politely.
"Cassius, there is still time until your awakening ceremony. How about you go play with the young lady?" His father placed his hand on his back.
"Yes, come with me," Lyra smiled and grabbed his hand and started walking.
"Okay," Cassius smiled, following her.
She looks so pretty.
Back then, he thought Lyra Winter would be a kind girl from her attitude, but he couldn't be further from the truth.
"Ew, how dare an Illegitimate touch my hand?" Lyra flicked his hand away like a fly as soon as they were far enough away from the adults.
"Eh?" Cassius was taken aback. Suddenly, he didn't find her pretty anymore.
"To think an Illegitimate child like you will be using the same awakening hall as me," Lyra pinched her nose. "You're not a real Blackwood. Only the royal family and the founding families can awaken here."
Cassius got angry at her comment and immediately grabbed her hands, pulling them close. "You're the one who took my hand first. How dare you touch me so inappropriately?"
"Inappropriately!?" Lyra pulled her hands away, flustered. "Do you even know what that word means?"
"Of course," Cassius lied, he only knew that the maid in his estate yelled that when the guard touched her without permission. "Do I look stupid to you?"
"Yes." Lyra scoffed, "You know you're not actually going to awaken, right? The systems would never choose an illegitimate child like you."
These words didn't have any effect on Cassius. Probably, because he had no clue what they meant yet. Nonetheless, he could tell she was trying to insult him.
"I will." Cassius grinned, "And when I do, you will be licking my feet."
"I would never lick your feet!" Lyra looked disgusted.
"You're right." Cassius said, "You will be begging to lick my feet, but I will refuse because your tongue is too dirty."
Cassius walked away before Lyra could say another word. He didn't feel the need to talk to future foot lickers like her. He couldn't wait to see her reaction when he awakened as an S-rank.
Sadly, that never happened. She was right, after all.Just like she said, he didn't awaken.
***
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