[Progress: 100% || Time Remaining: 00:00:00]
[Soul Synchronization Complete]
"Soul Synchronization... I assume this is what caused the combination of memories and personalities,"Based on what Xavier remembers, regressors and transmigrators usually gain incredible abilities when they enter a new world. But all I seem to have inherited is a strange personality and some future memories. Though those memories also include a different world, it lacks any sort of Mana, and their technology isn't even half of magi-tech's level.
'What a pathetically boring and useless world.'
In most situations, having an extra ten years of memories and knowledge would be incredibly beneficial. However, the previous owner of these experiences did not hold them in high regard. And the other person I was merged with was far from ordinary.
As a result of his madness, the original version of Michael refrained from participating in any Martial Arts activities. The few times he attempted it, he was overcome with an uncontrollable desire for chaos and destruction.
On the other hand, the older version of himself had come to embrace his madness, while the younger version was still trying to escape from it. This led him to miss out on the awakening that should have taken place nine months ago.
On the flip side, his lack of dedication to martial arts allowed him to concentrate on other areas of study, such as business, magic theory, magi-tech, and human psychology. He used to feel remorseful for not unlocking his powers and spending more time learning.
Now, it seems that this was the perfect decision.
Combining Xavier's practical expertise with the theoretical knowledge of the original Michael granted me independence from their manipulation.
"I was inexperienced and foolish, despite being aware of the world's fangs I never believed they would end up pointing at me."
'What? When did I...?'
"Ha. Our souls may be in harmony, but our personalities and memories have yet to merge..."
"We can discuss plans more thoroughly once that occurs. Until then, I won't let myself get entangled in anything before the academy."
-Three minutes later-
"Michael!"
"Michael!!"
"Michael!!!"
'Claire went and told them. Investigating the Status Window has to wait for later.'
BANG
The door flew open with a loud bang, revealing a man and woman with furrowed brows and a look of deep concern etched onto their faces. The man's hands were clenched into fists while the woman's eyes were wide with fear.
"MICHAEL! You're finally awake. Are you okay? Does anything hurt? Do you need an Elix—"
"Honey, that's enough. What if he faints again because of you?"
Slap
"Humpf."
As I watched the fiery exchange between the man with a sharp, jet-black haircut and piercing red eyes and the woman with cascading, silvery locks and striking blue eyes, my thoughts couldn't help but turn to the potential future dynamic between us.
'Will I think of them as a family after the personalities and memories merge? That would be…burdensome.'
As I closed my eyes to clear excess thoughts, this body's parents fell to silence in worry. While in reality, only a few seconds passed by. But to the S+ swordsman Felix von Raven and S+ magician Cecelia Nexum Raven, time could not have crawled by any slower.
"Mother, Father, I want to awaken." "Huh?" "HUH!"
Cecelia's appearance was composed and serene, her posture poised and controlled. Yet, her eyes betrayed the racing thoughts and anxieties that were surely consuming her mind.
Felix, on the other hand, seemed completely unaffected by any worries or doubts. He was grinning from ear to ear, his arms thrown up in the air in excitement. His hair was ruffled and energetic, his eyes sparkling with joy and anticipation.
"YOU'VE FINALLY TAKEN AN INTEREST IN FIGHTING!!!! JUST GIVE ME A FEW DAYS TO GET THE BEST AWAKENING TOOLS!"
Even though the man never forced his son to train and awaken, it was clear from his enthusiastic response that it was something he had always hoped for. Sparring and practicing together was a common pastime among family and friends, similar to how they would play sports in Xavier's world.
Cecelia couldn't help but smile at her husband's antics, his face alight with enthusiasm and energy. They shared a look filled with warmth and anticipation for what was to come.
Despite her excitement, the sole offspring of the Nexum family was determined not to let it cloud her judgment. As a member of a family and guild focused on information, she needed to understand the reason behind this sudden shift.
As her husband's rambling continued, her smile gradually faded away. "Just be quiet for a minute," she snapped. "What caused this sudden change? Has someone hurt you? Are you being threatened? Is that why you passed out? Tell me and I'll take care of it."
Although she spoke frighteningly, no one paid much attention. The Ravens were known to be distant towards those outside their family, a common trait among the elite families who competed with each other as enemies. However, the Raven family took this behavior to an extreme, with coldness and cruelty being expected qualities due to their long-standing existence.
'Figured they wouldn't just accept it like that.'
"A Nightmare... Emily and her gaggle of fools pushed me into hell while laughing at my misery. Even if it was only fiction, with how she disdains me... she might do something like that."
Just the mention of Emily's name darkened my expression, something that didn't go unnoticed by the couple.
"As for fainting... like I told Claire, I had some kind of headache. It felt like my head was being torn apart and mixed back together. The pain likely caused me to faint."
'It's a shame I can't tell them what happened... But with this much...'
Not expecting such an answer from me, Cecelia furrowed her brows, and Felix put on a serious expression for the first time today.
While the explanation itself was a bit odd if one considers my personality, they seemed more concerned with my tone regarding Emily. Undisguised disgust and hatred seemed to seep into my words, arousing suspicion regarding a deeper truth.
Cecelia pressed me with another question. "Is that everything that occurred? I've never seen you make such an impulsive choice before."
Felix chimed in, "And are you sure Emily would do something like that? Despite your strained relationship, she wouldn't harm her own twin brother."
Even though I attempted to shift all the blame onto Emily, I doubted they would completely buy it. After all, I wouldn't have believed it myself a year ago, despite my current recollections. To assuage their doubts for now, I went into more detail about my thoughts and justifications.
"This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. It's something I have to do; the nightmare just solidified my decision. After all, no one respects or listens to someone who is seen as weak."
"And to be officially recognized as an heir, I can't afford to be perceived as weak."
My bold statement left them both stunned and speechless. But it only took a few moments for them to become ecstatic about this revelation. However, the thrill of the news quickly faded away.
'Why do they seem concerned? Oh, they must think I'm vying for Claire's position…'
"That's not what I meant. The position of heir to the Nexum family is open as well, right?"
Calming down once again, they asked simultaneously, "Really? What made you want to take over her/my family?"
It was understandable that they were confused; I wasn't usually one to show interest in others. It must have seemed strange for Michael, who had always been reserved, to suddenly want to take over a family like the Nexums.
"Lately, my outlook on other individuals has shifted. Do I need to explain further?"
Surprised by the sudden chill in the air, both members of the Raven couple showed expressions of both relief and regret. Realizing that her son did not want to continue the discussion, Cecilia spoke up: "I am pleased to hear that you have chosen to compete for this position. However, know that you will have some ground to cover if you wish to surpass Emily."
My parents turned and walked out of my room. The ease with which they did so almost gave the impression that they accepted everything without question.
* * *
Even though neither Cecelia nor Felix pressed Michael for more details, they both remained skeptical. As the leader of the Raven family, Felix had spent his entire life dealing with people who hid their true intentions and plotted against him. And as the former successor to the Nexum Family and current CEO of the Blaak Corporation within the Raven family, Cecelia's instincts for detecting schemes and hidden agendas were nearly clairvoyant.
"There seemed to be something going on between him and Emily. The intensity in his gaze suggested more than just a childish fancy."
Despite saying this, Cecelia had zero idea of what might have occurred. A major incident would have already been reported to her after all.
"We just have to get answers from Emily; she isn't as tight-lipped as Michael. If we poke her enough, she might reveal what happened." Although Cecelia didn't feel good about this method, both of them were convinced that something else happened that they were unaware of.
Although it was an option, both of them were hesitant to resort to black magic to extract information from Michael. The thought alone made them sickened, so they implicitly agreed to only use it as a last resort.
Seeing his wife's determination, Felix just sighed and agreed with her. "She will be back at the estate for Michael's birthday; let's just try to find something before that happens."