...
...
Yearning for liberty.
Careless snow so fair and bright,
floating on the ocean
without fish, an envied sight.
I look up and see it glide,
boasting of its liberty.
"Look at you, your puberty
left behind without success.
You've longed for height, I must confess,
but your limit is implied."
Mocking, it continued on
towards the horizon's line.
Nothing, be it hill or pine,
stopped it, for it moved along.
"But was it truly free?" I mused.
Its path is by the wind's command,
directionless, without a stand,
living in the sky, resigned.
Upon reflection, this isn't free.
Mocking, I onward strode
to my final resting place.
For we both share this embrace,
without delusion, faced the road.
You, carefree cloud, confined,
tied by the ocean
without fish, a sight now defiled.
I, no longer envy you,
for we are alike, unfree,
without control, like beasts we be.
With joy, I bid you adieu.
— Társalo
After reading the poem for the last time, my weary sight became blurred, and only my thoughts remained.
Társalo, Son... You wrote a great number of poems... In some of them you show clearly how your days were.
"Yearning for liberty"... You wrote it a year ago, didn't you? In many earlier poems, you show tacitly or even explicitly your pain... It has been a hard blow, hasn't it, Son...?
Always with high expectations, wanting to reach the top of the world... But the reality was different... You envied all the other birds whose wings were not clipped, because unlike you, they could fly to the freedom of their hearts and desires...
You felt that nature itself was making fun of you, because in every place you looked, there were clouds floating. Free people, letting you observe that beauty you longed for without being able to taste it... Until you realized that envy was useless, you managed to see that we are all tied in some way.
You proved to be someone wise, Son... At such a young age, you managed to put into practice a feeling of fulfillment, to be satisfied and happy with everything you had... Even in your last moments, you showed yourself satisfied... Maybe your life, that others see as a failure, was a complete success...
Társalo... How sorry I am... I have failed as a father, and yet, even after death, you still give me a warm embrace with words... Every time I read one of these poems, it is as if you are coming back to my side, Társalo...
My eyelids began to slowly close. My heart, though aching and shivering, clung to your warmth so that it could finally rest...
...
_________________________________________
Another failure?! What can it be now?!
My blood was boiling, I felt a great urge to punch something.
Epsilon-82 has been a complete failure! Not to mention the others!
Always the same! Always the same! Failure after failure, mistake after mistake!
Why can't I get anything right! Am I so incompetent?!
My body was shaking violently; I wanted to vomit even though my stomach was empty and I had a lump in my throat. In addition, I felt a great pressure in my stomach and chest.
I started sobbing while tears were falling, I couldn't hold back anymore.
"S-Son, Da-Daughter...! I'm so useless that I couldn't save you! Stupid! Useless! Useless!! Useless!!!!" — My wailing was almost incomprehensible; the words barely escaped my lips, choked by tears and whimpers.
"Why am I not able to save you?! I-I gave every bit of myself and more! B-But am I not enough?!!" — I continued to sob, my legs finally giving out, falling to my knees on the floor. Again, I had given up on experimentation.
"I-I'm not even capable of creating a solution after your death...! I don't even know where to start with you, Daughter! I don't deserve to be a mother! I-I'm not even capable of saying your names...!"
...
Ah... Come on, go on...
The headache is nothing; keep your eyes on the animals; this time the theory is very promising...!
I kept using my willpower and pain to force myself to keep watching. I didn't know how long I'd been awake, nor did I care. Would I give up just because of a mere lack of sleep? Aren't my children more important?!
Clenching my fists, my knuckles turned white and my fingernails dug into my palms.
The constant noise of the surrounding artifacts only accentuated the headache. This is what happened when they were pushed to the limit; they overload and can break after a while. If they break, I just have to replace them; no problem at all...
I stopped paying attention to the noises and just watched. My mental abilities had been greatly reduced; I could only focus on the experiment with great difficulty.
As time went by, I noticed the changes that happened to the different animals—rats, monkeys, birds, etc.—and I tried to theorize, using it as a basis, but my mind could not cope with it.
Suddenly, I felt a great chill on my neck, followed by warmth.
Uh...? Wh-What…?
Instinctively, I activated a defensive spell, a layer of fire surrounded my entire body.
What happened?! Is it a malfunction with one of the artifacts?! Something in the experiment failed?!
No, impossible!
An attack? Impossible! No one can get in without the alarm going off! I would have realized it instantly!
Suddenly, I felt my insides burning. It felt like something was advancing through my insides, scorching everything it passed by.
Agh...! Fuck!!! What is this thing!!!!
It had only been a few moments since all this started. Before I could do anything, and shortly after the pain set in, my defensive spell became erratic. I lost control over it, and it quickly faded.
My pupils constricted, knowing what this meant.
The pain inside me increased greatly; I was suffering from the backlash of the spell.
My face turned pale, and my body weakened.
Desperately, I tried to use a healing spell, but for some reason I could not mobilize my mana.
I tried again and again, but nothing happened.
When my sight cleared, I was already lying on the ground, my whole body felt cold, my thoughts were even slower than before.
My face seemed to be over a puddle... What is this...?
I tried to strain my eyesight, but I couldn't see anything.
My body was becoming increasingly numb, but the pain inside me only intensified.
Then, my sight finally faded...
...
_________________________________________
Hypronesis' body went limp; a pool of blood had formed, spreading from the cut on her neck. Her eyes had lost all life, while her beautiful face had been marked with an expression of confusion.
The poison had taken effect.
I looked across the room, where a gray-haired man, still looking imposing, lay sprawled on a table. Anyone would think he was asleep were it not for the blood flowing from his back. His heart had been pierced through the wound in his shoulder.
This was the corpse of Kháris, the king.
Wasting no time, I dropped on the ground yet another body.
A young black-haired man with tanned skin, his body was muscular, while his face still seemed to show traces of anger. A deep cut was between his left collarbone and chest. This corpse...
_________________________________________
(Some time ago)
Adaphia and Társalo have finally died... Their Mortalities are mine; this new life is proving to be a success.
I was concentrated on my magic circuit, and a large amount of thick, dark blue mana was inside it. This was second-level mana, also known as navy mana due to its coloration. This was much darker and thicker due to its density, a clear difference from aquamarine mana, which is quite similar to gemstone.
At some point in this circuit, the mana was fake, for it was the Soma and Goetia Mortalities, which were contained in two small parts of my mana.
Even I do not know the exact location of the Mortalities, after all, I cannot even trust myself. The great spells and artifacts of this world may come to have unthinkable properties after all.
I stopped focusing on my inner self; I was currently in my personal laboratory, a place where I had invested a lot of time since months ago.
With a wave of my right hand, the ring on my index finger glowed softly, this was a Topos artifact, specifically a storage ring.
The space above the ring became distorted; everything seemed to curve and become a blur as one looked through it. After a moment, various leaves, roots, ingots, minerals, meats, and skins, among many others, fell on the table.
Immediately everything became colorful; some materials glowed brightly, others went unnoticed, others began to move the surrounding mana, and there were other different effects.
Since I became a rank 1 mage, I started doing a lot of experiments, which is common among magi.
During this time, through large purchases of materials and magical ingredients, I began to add resources needed for my next steps; after all, I had enough time to be discreet.
Without any delay, I began the processing of materials.
With a glass mortar, I began to grind some leaves, roots and minerals, leaving the powders produced in containers.
Afterwards, I began to cut some of the pieces of flesh and skin into pieces, and then chopped up other plants.
I removed impurities from many materials using filtration and distillation processes, among others.
I took the powder from the bark of a large medicinal pine tree along with two processed feathers of a young phoenix and put them directly into the fire of the oven.
A great reaction occurred, as the flames surpassed my height for a few moments before returning to a similar size as before, now that both ingredients had mixed with the flames, they had turned a deep green color.
During the whole process, my hand had been inside the flame, but no damage had been done. In fact, I felt a pleasant warmth that filled me with vitality. This was a fire with healing properties.
I nodded slightly as I moved my hand away from the fire and began to wait for a few seconds.
When I saw that the time was right, I poured in three ingots of constrictor vine ichor, a type of plant usually of rank 3. Unlike many others, this one has no sap but blood and blood vessels. These ingots are obtained by melting the mineral in its blood.
The grayish metal melted into an incandescent liquid. Immediately, I began to control the fire with my mana, molding the shape of the metal at will.
Meanwhile, my hands continued to add various ingredients to the fire as needed; this kind of multitasking with precise and fluid movements was something only experience bestowed.
Without further ado, I continued with the creation of the artifact...
...
...
I continued to carve the runes of the artifact in progress. Lines and lines appeared constantly, barely visible amidst the bright green fire.
These runes would allow the flow of mana into the artifact, after all, the runes were nothing more than an artificial magic circuit.
Every time the bone I used as a chisel carved some part of the runes and I injected my mana into them through it, the flames would wipe the surface clean, erasing the beautiful patterns without a trace. Of course, this was only visual; in reality, every rune was still engraved.
Finally, I gave the last few chisels, grabbed the artifact with tongs and dipped it in icy herb oil. This would remove any residue of the Pyros element resulting from the use of fire during the creation process.
After a minute of bubbling, I removed the final product, placing it next to two other artifacts.
One of the artifacts, the short sword, was a rank 3 artifact which I modified to improve its efficiency, specifically for piercing armor.
Usually, it is difficult to alter high-level artifacts, as they are at the limit of what they can achieve. Modifying one of these artifacts is similar to creating another one from scratch and even more difficult.
However, this was a simple rank 3 artifact. With my knowledge and experience, it was an easy job, as it was full of easily fillable loopholes and reversible flaws. Though, at the end of the day, it was still a mere rank 3 artifact. To move it up in rank, it would take a lot more rank 4 materials.
The other artifact was a potion. This was a poison based on a creation that occurred in my past life; it became popular on this continent due to its potent effects. It had great efficiency in destroying the magic circuit of any living being; once it took effect, it made it impossible to use one's own mana. However, it was very easy to block in a battle, and many countermeasures were created against it.
The creator of this poison was killed a few years after its rise in popularity.
However, in this life, no antidote or defense method has yet been created... If used correctly, it can kill with ease. Although this version is only rank 3, somewhat lower than the original, it is still very useful.
Finally, my recent creation, a Bios artifact in the shape of a dagger. This one, although of the same rank as the others, was capable of permanently changing a person's appearance as well as "gathering the remnants left behind".
With this, I could finally begin my journey...
My hand firmly grasped the dagger, and I lifted it slightly, running my mana through the artificial circuitry of it.
With everything at the ready, the tip of the dagger touched my left arm, beginning to flay it completely.
With efficient movements, strips of skin began to fall to the ground; a few drops of blood followed, but, thanks to the effects of the dagger, the bleeding was of no major importance.
Even though most of the pain receptors had been cut, the pain remained and even intensified, due to the same effect of the artifact.
I gritted my teeth and kept my breathing steady; my cold eyes and grip remained as firm as ever. The pain could not be ignored, for the body of my younger self was not adapted to it in the least, but my seasoned mind remained unperturbed.
Following the skin, pieces of muscle began to fall to the ground. I began to mold and sculpt my own body.
With cold, indifferent cuts, skins and flesh fell.
The smell of blood began to fill the room as I finished with my two arms, but my hand, now deformed and skinned, followed with my legs.
Later abdomen, back and face.
My own hair and face were now on the floor, but this was only the beginning.
I could feel my whole body shaking; this physique was reaching the limit of pain it could endure.
Still, it wasn't over.
Though gasping for breath, my eyes, the only thing that could be clearly seen on my face, glowed with cruelty.
The dagger descended towards my lower body, the next moment, an appendage fell to the ground with a muffled sound.
...
_________________________________________
(Actuality)
My former body laid on the ground next to Hyprónesis' and Kháris'. The dagger that had killed them was in his hand.
That dagger was full of my previous fingerprints due to the creation process, but no trace of my new identity, for with this new body I have always worn gloves.
I intentionally scorched part of the body with a Pyros spell after killing the two kings. In addition, I had left a deep cut on the "corpse". Thus, it would appear that after a brief combat, or the recoil from an explosion caused by some spell, he was wounded by his own weapon, being affected by his own poison.
After all, the only flaw in this fake corpse is the non-existence of a magic circuit. But, now that the kings' has also been destroyed, everything will point to the fact that it is the work of the poison and not that it is a fake.
In exchange, I would lose use of this poison, because, with its traces, many magi would create protective methods against it. However, it is a good exchange; after all, this poison is not something too important and it would lose its value after I get enough power.
Having prepared the crime scene, I moved quickly to various points in the room, carefully removing various surveillance artifacts.
I knew the methods of deactivation and the position of these, after all I came here personally more than once to help the two kings.
Each time I dismantled one of the artifacts, I made sure to break it, making it look like collateral damage, this way there would be no record kept of my new identity or anything that would point to me.
When I finished with the eight artifacts, I took one last look at the lab; large parts were destroyed as if a battle had occurred.
My former identity would bear the guilt of having murdered his parents, however, this did not matter to me at all.
Their deaths only brought me benefits, while admitting guilt with my original identity would get me out of trouble... Why should I yield at the thought of abandoning my identity or life? As long as it makes me reach my goals, I will sacrifice every piece of my body if necessary.
Nodding slightly, I turned and walked to the door, which opened slowly.
The entrance worked with mana recognition, as this was an advanced system. It was superior to facial recognition, fingerprint recognition, and others, as it is impossible for these low-rank mages to do something like change their own magic circuit.
In this laboratory, only the most trusted people are allowed to enter—five people, of which only three were left, and now only one.
When the doors opened, the night-lit corridors greeted me.
My footsteps were not heard in the slightest, while the door closed as if nothing had happened, as if it had all been just a dream.
Uncaring, I journeyed on
to the grave where I would stay;
for, though in confinement, I moved on
unstoppable I walked my way.
...
…
3,063 words.
Author's note:
Hello everyone! It's the author of this story once again.
As you may have noticed, I've changed the way the changes perspective work, as many people (all of them) complained that it was very confusing.
Now, I'd like to give a big shout out and wholehearted thanks to Azaroth_7160, a big fan who has sent his power stones to this novel every day!
Also, if anyone wants to read the original version of the poem, you can find it in the spanish version of the story in my profile. If anyone sees any errors or mistakes you can always comment!
As always, feel free to comment if you have any doubts, or maybe if you just wanna point something out too, that's what makes a community entertaining and makes my work as an author satisfying!
I'd also take the opportunity to tell you that this novel is no longer being translated by my friend. The first raw version did, but every chapter of this one was translated by me. It's quite a burden as I have to both create them and translate them, but it's interesting! I learn quite a bit through it.
Anyway, I hope you continue to enjoy the novel!