At seventeen, Yulian Duvallier was ten years older than Yun Xutian when he had lost his entire family.
This tragic event had forever marked Yun Xutian, but Yulian Duvallier had not experienced such devastation. As a result, Yulian was a completely different person from Yun Xutian.
Or perhaps it would be more appropriate to say that the Yulian Duvallier of this alternate reality was the reflection of what Yun Xutian would have been if fate had not been so cruel.
The unconscious young man's eyes opened, revealing pupils as dark as the abyss itself, like two black holes that seemed to absorb the surrounding light.
Within their depths, there was no trace of life, only an icy void that contrasted with the intensity of the emotions that had stirred within him for so long.
"It all happened faster than I expected..." murmured Yun Xutian with a smile and a touch of surprise in his voice, although the expression on his face barely changed.
At that moment, Yulian Duvallier's identity seemed to blur, dissipating into the essence of what he now was. This person was no longer Yulian Duvallier... but at the same time, he was.
With a casual gesture, Yun Xutian reached out towards the Chronomirror, and a stream of dark energy emanated from his fingers, snaking through space and corroding reality itself. The mirror, fiercely resisting, lit up with a purple glow, its palpably violent aura struggling against Yun Xutian's dominion.
Yun Xutian's devilishly beautiful smile widened slightly at the mirror's reaction, as if he were accustomed to such challenges.
With a smooth yet firm movement, Yun Xutian pulled at his wrist, closing his fingers in a determined gesture that finally subdued the mirror's resistance.
With a subtle but definite metallic sound, the Chronomirror dissolved into a blurry mist, fading into nothingness with a total absence of the mystical aura that had once surrounded it.
It was as if it had never existed, leaving only the imprint of Yun Xutian's ability and power over the very fabric of time and space.
As all this unfolded, his dark eyes had turned into a beautiful sapphire blue.
Without further ado, he set out to leave the cave.
As he pondered over a few things, Yun Xutian fully submerged himself in the water, gracefully swimming beneath the surface to reach the other side.
The light of the surroundings illuminated Yun Xutian's attractive face, now known as Yulian, particularly highlighting his two sapphire pupils.
The fresh air filled his lungs as he emerged from the water, and immediately something caught his attention, drawing his eyes to a specific point in the sky.
The white clouds seemed ordinary at first glance, but closer observation revealed a subtle discrepancy in the surroundings, as if they were being altered by something invisible.
Yulian showed no surprise or doubt on his face; instead, a small smile played on his lips. His sharp, penetrating eyes seemed to weave a subtle mockery directed at the whole world.
"..."
The clouds did not change their direction or speed, simply continuing to be carried by the wind.
Yulian briefly closed his eyes and changed direction, surveying his surroundings attentively.
Having confirmed 'that', Yun Xutian had received the final confirmation he needed. From now on, he was no longer Yun Xutian; he was Yulian Duvallier.
He was on an island in the middle of the ocean, a gift from his older sister on his thirteenth birthday. However, officially this island did not belong to Yulian Duvallier, nor to the Kingdom of Valencourt where it was located.
It was a "terra nullius", a term that meant "no man's land" or "land without an owner." It was used to describe territories that were not claimed by any country or sovereign entity.
The Yulian Duvallier of this alternate reality embodied the person Yun Xutian had always longed to be since childhood, away from the conflicts surrounding the succession to the throne, the power struggles of noble houses, and the betrayals of those he once considered allies.
As the sixth prince of the Kingdom of Valencourt, he never had real opportunities to ascend to the throne. However, it was not uncommon for older princes and princesses to murder their siblings to secure their position in the line of succession, even if they had no chance of ascending to the throne.
Yulian was an exception to the rule; he was never involved in the power struggle, and his siblings deeply appreciated him. He believed they would never try to harm him, something he deeply appreciated.
On the other hand, Yulian possessed undeniable talent for "magic," but his parents never forced him to take on responsibilities he did not desire. He did not feel the weight of that burden on his shoulders; it was his choice not to assume the role others expected of him since his birth.
Therefore, Yulian had relinquished control of the island his older sister had given him as a gift. He did not want to feel ownership of anything or anyone, in tune with his free nature.
Even if the island were occupied by other people, he would not have cared in the slightest.
However, now Yulian Duvallier was not the same person.
In the distance, Yulian spotted a particularly striking mountain, covered in snow and surrounded by dozens of magical emanations. It didn't take an expert to perceive the intricate currents left by a powerful mage.
Yulian recognized that aura, although everything in the world seemed senseless to him or his capacity for reasoning had been cruelly snatched away by the Celestial Daos, he would never forget that aura.
"Mother..."
His voice dropped several notes, barely perceptible.
Even so, his heart raced, caught in a whirlwind of uncontrollable emotions.
But as that happened, his brow furrowed slightly.
Some of Yulian's memories were blurry; he attributed this to his recent transformation, a highly complex metamorphosis in existential terms, challenging both the Mystic Dao and the Mortal Dao.
As a result, his existence had almost been erased from the annals of history!
Given this, it was understandable that Yulian had some fuzzy memories. But essentially, they should be there.
However, he couldn't remember anything.
His mother's warmth was intrinsic, he could feel it, but he couldn't remember her.
Without further thought, he hurried towards the snowy mountain.
As an Elemental Sorcerer, Yulian mastered the energies of the elements with ease, especially water and all its derived manifestations, such as snow and ice.
Rising on a current of air that held him, Yulian attempted to force the memories into his mind unsuccessfully, only to be assaulted by a piercing migraine.
Upon reaching the peak of the mountain, his mana reserve was almost completely depleted due to the powerful magic his mother had encrypted there.
The sky was covered in clouds, as expected. But in the center, directly above the highest peak of the mountain, a hole allowed sunlight mixed with magic to pass through, creating a splendid image.
The sunbeams did not seem extraordinary, but Yulian vaguely remembered that they were related to a portal extending about 700 kilometers away.
Although he couldn't remember exactly where the portal led, he knew that the capital of the Kingdom of Valencourt was that same distance from the island.
Because Yulian's mana was depleted by ninety percent, and it would take at least a full day to recover completely, he decided that the portal was his best option for transportation. This decision was reinforced by the fact that there was no form of transportation available on the island other than the portal.
Although he did not consider himself an impatient or anxious person, this particular case was very, very different.
What lay on the other side of the portal meant a lot to him.
With that thought in mind, Yulian released some mana to try to activate the portal.
*WHOOSH*
When his mana merged with the sunbeams, a current was generated that pulsed with powerful magic on his shoulders. The magic current melted the snow and ice around it in seconds, resulting in large amounts of water cascading down the mountain.
The sunbeams, initially visibly separated, began to unite, creating a vivid light that shone like a beacon in the midst of the nighttime sea.
Yulian's head spun from using his mana, which was close to being completely depleted.
He took several steps forward, making contact with the light source, and immediately some images opened in his mind.
They were vivid and realistic images of the destinations connected to the portal: from the island where he was, through a blazing desert, to the capital of the Kingdom of Valencourt, Artena.
But equally fascinating places were glimpsed, such as the Oniric Forest of Eldoria, where trees whispered ancestral melodies, the Floating City of Aetheria, shrouded in ethereal mists and built on ephemeral clouds, the Marine Abyss of Aquaria, home to aquatic creatures and guardians of ancient secrets, the Desert of the Wandering Sphinxes, where dunes hide labyrinths forgotten by time and the sphinxes guard their secrets, and the Crystal Peaks of Lumina, whose peaks reach the stars and shine with the energy of creation itself.
Some birds and beasts from the surroundings had been startled by the magic generated, quickly flying away from the place, while others, on the contrary, approached out of curiosity or because they were accustomed to these disturbances.
Yulian was about to take a step into the portal when he felt a sensation in his body, a familiar feeling he was very accustomed to.
His attention momentarily shifted from the portal to a specific direction, where two floating figures were approaching rapidly.
The young man on the right appeared to be around 16 years old. His demeanor was attractive, reminiscent of a fearless traveler, with dark hair strands tousled by the wind, seeming to dance in harmony with each gust. His eyes, a deep hazel color, sparkled with determination. Every gesture revealed a serene confidence, as if he were accustomed to facing the unknown with bravery and composure.
His companion, on his left, was a young woman with a natural beauty that exuded freshness and youth. Although she did not dazzle with stunning beauty, her face had a subtle attractiveness and innocence that was captivating.
Dressed in simple yet elegant clothes, she wore a dress in soft tones that highlighted the delicacy of her features. Her light brown hair cascaded in soft waves around her face, framing it with sweetness.
Yulian glanced at the two figures, but his eyes almost immediately focused on the young man with dark hair, completely ignoring the woman.
Throughout the universe, there are mysteries that are difficult to solve, difficult to understand, and even difficult to believe.
Yulian, or rather, Yun Xutian, knew the answer to many of these secrets. But what truly marked his existence was understanding more closely the Celestial Daos, understanding some of their decisions, and why fate was so changing in consequence with the karmic luck one had.
The Beatos were living beings with the characteristics that best fit those favored by the heavens, with incredibly bright destinies.
In their counterpart were living beings like him, who were not born with a bright destiny or an enviable karmic luck. But who built their paths based on their own merits.
Still...
Yulian cut off his thoughts; at this moment, it made no sense to think about that.
The two floating figures reached his side, and the young woman seemed much more exhausted than her companion, making a notable effort to stay in the air.
The young woman's demeanor changed enormously, from her previous soft and warm appearance to a sickly and pale one.
At a single glance, Yulian noticed that the woman was infected by some kind of corrosive energy, with intrinsic properties of death. Her skin, once radiant and smooth, now showed signs of discoloration and decay, as if she were being consumed from the inside by a dark and insidious force.