Grey stood in his father's study room, his hands and feet trembling. The room was cold, almost sterile, with large windows that let in the harsh afternoon light. His father stood by one of the windows, his back to Grey, looking out over the vast estate. The air was thick with tension.
"Grey, your sister is going to join the World Academy this year," his father said, his voice devoid of warmth.
Grey's heart sank. he had longed to join the World Academy since he was 16. When he asked his parents, they rejected him outright. Deep down, Grey expected the rejection, but he still hoped for their approval. So, when they dismissed his dreams, he didn't feel very dissopinted. actually, he felt nothing.
In his 16 years, he had endured too much for something like this to break him. The pain of watching his parents happily chat while he cried alone in his room was far more heart-wrenching than being denied entrance to an academy.
Beside his parents always prioritized and loved his sister, and he was used to it by now.
"I see," he mumbled softly, staring at the ground, his voice barely a whisper.
His father continued, his tone sharp and unyielding. "She has a great potential, Grey. She deserves this opportunity."
Grey clenched his fists, the familiar sting of rejection piercing through his numbness. He wanted to scream, to demand why he was never good enough for them, but the words caught in his throat.
His father turned slowly, his eyes cold and indifferent. "Effie is also going to join the World Academy this year."
'…!?'
Grey's eyes widened in shock. Effie, his childhood love and fiancée, was the one person who never abandoned him, even knowing he had no potential. She had always stayed by his side. He clenched his fists, struggling to steady himself. He wanted nothing more than to attend the same academy as her.
"F-father, can I als—" he began, his voice cracking with desperation.
But before Grey could finish, his father cut him off, his tone colder than ever. "I am going to make your sister my new heir."
Grey's body trembled. He had been the heir to the family since birth, but now they were prepared to replace him with his sister. The weight of his father's words bore down on him, a crushing reality he had always feared. Deep down, he had known this day would come—after all, his father would never appoint a cripple like him as heir. The room seemed to close in on him, the walls morphing into an unyielding cage that mirrored his suffocating despair.
"If you agree to give up your position to your sister without causing a scene, I will allow you to join the Academy," his father continued. His eyes were piercing and cold, a stark contrast to the warmth Grey so desperately sought.
Grey was stunned, as if the ground had been yanked from beneath him. The cold, contemptuous glare from his father felt like icy daggers piercing his very soul. He knew all too well that once his father made a decision, it was final. His sister would be the heir, regardless of his own wishes. The only thing left for him was the potential to tarnish the Ravenwood name,
BUT
Did his father think so little of him? Did they truly believe he would cause a scene simply because his sister was becoming the heir? He didn't want the position or the power—what he yearned for was love, for his father to hug him and pat his head.
He wanted to scream these words at his father, but fear held him back. So, he buried his emotions, forcing himself to remain silent.
The silence stretched on, heavy and suffocating. Grey's mind raced. His heart pounded in his chest; each beat a painful reminder of his reality.
He has to make a choice between his position and the girl he loved. There was no need to even think about it. As long as he had Effie, he didn't need anything else.
Finally, he spoke, his voice trembling. "I... I agree."
His father's expression remained icy and unyielding. "Good," he said with a chilling finality. "You will depart for the Academy at the end of the week. And leave the family broach behind." His words cut deeper than any blade, the dismissal echoing the harsh reality of Grey's diminished place in the family.
Grey nodded slowly, his movements stiff and mechanical. With trembling hands, he withdrew the Ravenwood crest from his pocket—a vibrant red emblem with a large black bird gleaming within. He placed the crest carefully before his father, its loss symbolizing the shattering of his own hopes. As the weight of his father's decision settled over him, a numbing emptiness enveloped his heart, draining him of all feeling. He turned to leave, each step heavy with the burden of defeat, his mind a tumultuous storm of grief and confusion.
As he walked out of the study, Grey felt a tear slip down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away, not wanting anyone to see. The hallway outside the study was just as cold and unwelcoming as the room he had just left. The family portraits lining the walls seemed to mock him with their painted smiles and eyes that never truly saw him.
Grey made his way to his room, his sanctuary in this cold, unfeeling house. He shut the door behind him and leaned against it, sliding down to the floor. His body felt heavy, weighed down by the burden of his father's words. He hugged his knees to his chest, trying to find some comfort in the emptiness.
He thought of Effie, her warm smile, and the way she always made him feel valued. She was his beacon of hope in this dark world. The thought of seeing her at the Academy was the only thing that gave him strength.
Grey closed his eyes, trying to push away the pain. He didn't want to think about his father's cold eyes or the way his family had always treated him as if he was invisible.
***
As Grey watched the memory unfold, a cold smile twisted on his lips. His golden eyes, sharp and calculating, reflected the anger and irony of the situation.
"Why do I always get this type of family?" he thought, his voice a low murmur filled with bitter amusement. "Abandonment, rejection—it's all too familiar."
A creepy grin stretched across his face as he pondered the similarity between his past and present. The realization brought a dark satisfaction. He chuckled softly, a low, unsettling sound that filled the dim room. He held his face with his hand, the laughter echoing his twisted resolve.
"Good," he mused, his grin widening from ear to ear. "Since there are so many similarities between my two lives, shouldn't the end be just as similar?" The thought of the terror he would instill in those who had wronged him fueled his chilling smile.
As he stood laughing in the dimly lit room like a madman, Grey caught sight of his own reflection in the dimly glowing mirror and realized he looked like a complete psychopath.
Ahem!
With a hasty cough and a quick attempt to compose himself, he smoothed his features, though the smirk still lingered at the corners of his lips.
Having recovered most of his memories, Grey now had a clear understanding of his current situation and the new world around him. It was time to venture out and see this world, to embark on a new journey. Excitement surged within him, his earlier mirth replaced by a determined glint in his eyes.
Just as he was about to leave, he heard a knock, and the door creaked open. He turned slowly, his gaze locking onto the intruder with an icy intensity.
"What is it?" His voice, as cold as a winter's chill, carried no warmth, no hint of the vulnerability he once felt.