Lucius fought to maintain his composure, fully aware that revealing himself now would only escalate the situation further.
At this moment, a thought penetrated his head as he started having an ominous premonition— staying there would only endanger his life.
Gently, he then retreated from the door with desperation etched on every line of his face.
This revelation was extremely shocking to him.
But even so, more than fear, he became even more determined. A flame of determination kindled within his heart as he vowed to become powerful enough to protect himself.
But he also understood one thing after uncovering this revelation— he couldn't stay here in this place full of danger.
Thus after that he did everything to oppose his family so that he could leave this territory as soon as possible. Despite being the legitimate heir, he showed no interest in the title and family wealth. He acted totally uninterested and intentionally hid his strength; making him appear weak.
A dim light penetrated his eyes as Lucius tried to open his eyes. However his eyelids felt quite heavy and he felt a little light-headed as he tried to open his eyes.
It was as if he was waking up with a hangover.
Slowly as his eyes accustomed itself with its surrounding, he found himself inside a tent; lying atop a pile of haystack with his arms chained.
'So they're treating me like a prisoner huh?' noticing his shackled arms, he thought.
"Ahh I see... So, he was exiled because he was weak as compared to his step siblings huh?"
"Not only that, he also often opposed his families"
"If I were in his father's shoes, I'd have done the same thing. Afterall why would I feed a dog that would bite me back?"
Outside the tent, guards who were guarding the entrance of the tent where he was held captive were gossiping. And Lucius who had just recalled the memories of the previous owner of this body, immediately recognized the topic of their conversation.
They were talking about him.
Yet even so, he didn't mind those groundless chatters. Neither did their disdainful words left a bitter taste in his mouth nor did it infuriate him.
'You fool, you survived death only to die again?'
As he heard their chatter, he recalled another memory.
Treading along an overgrown path, Lucius caught a glimpse of movement through the foliage.
Instantly he became alerted as he sensed those movements, 'Enemies?'
Currently he was in the middle of a competition, surrounded by dangers. Thus, he assumed those movements as signs of enemies.
But then he heard a muffled cry and sounds of footsteps.
'Is somebody getting chased' he thought as he heard those muffled cries.
Following those sound of muffled cries, Lucius quickened his pace. Pushing aside the ivy, he stepped into a small glade bathed in dappled moonlight, only to witness a distressing sight.
A group of men, dressed in ominous black attire was relentlessly pursuing a young girl with flowing golden locks.
"Rafaela?"
Witnessing the appearance of that girl, Lucius immediately recognized that familiar face. It was the same girl, he was trying to woo in academy.
But still, he hesitated to go out.
Rafaela's delicate features were etched with fear; her eyes, like pools of emerald, reflected her desperation. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she navigated through the dense undergrowth while her white dress billowed behind her like a spectral wraith.
His eyes became frantic as his heart pounded inside his chest. Those group of men dressed in black terrified him.
But still, he couldn't take his eyes off of her. Neither could he bring himself to turn a blind eye to this event.
Killing her accomplishes who were running alongside her, those group of men wrecked havoc as they strode towards her, emitting intense bloodlust.
'The girl you love is going to get killed and here you are watching her desperation. Are you such a coward Lucius?'
Perspiration built up in his forehead and his body. His palms became extremely sweaty while he remained hidden behind those ivy with countless thoughts running amuck in his mind.
Right now, his whole mind was in a turmoil while he found himself in a limbo; whether to save her or not.
After contemplating for a while as those men dressed in black were about to catch up to her, he casted a spell on his dagger which increased its speed and decreased the air resistance by making it rotate at a rapid speed.
It was a technique, he had mastered himself. And it was a technique that could kill opponents stronger than him if they failed to notice it.
Since he didn't need to materialize dagger out of nothing it also costed him less mana. And his own affinity with wind magic played a huge role in creating this move as well.
Swoosh!!
Just as one of the pursuer was about to strike down Rafaela, the enhanced dagger flew straight towards his head.
On contact, it easily pierced through the head of that pursuer and killed him on the spot.
That pursuer didn't even get time to react. Even his expression remained the same as it was before the dagger penetrated his head.
Blood seeped out continuously from the hole in his head; creating a puddle of blood on the ground where his lifeless body laid.
The other perpetrators however upon encountering this ambush, immediately became startled.
Turning back they immediately located Lucius who right now was facing them with eyes filled with horror and face etched with hesitation.
Sure, just by looking at him, one could tell that he was scared out of his wits.
Still while his heart was racing, he casted another spell as he decided to confront them.
"Run" a frantic shout echoed in that silent clearing as Lucius charged forward.
Coming back to the present, Lucius while lying atop the haystack curled his lips as he berated the foolish bravery of the previous owner of this body, "haha... fool, what use of that bravery if you die? So, what did you get in the end?"
"Love and anger intertwined, their dance of destruction leads to one's demise"
Lucius recalled a quote, mocking the choices of previous owner of this body.