"Nero, you are an orphan. You were left in the Rising Star orphanage at the age of two weeks and spent the next twelve years there before you ran away," He said with a small smile, making Nero's eyes widen in disbelief.
"You ran away because you killed the Matron of the orphanage and two of the syndicate members, and you did so because you discovered that she was selling children to an underground pleasure house,"
"You did not get away unscathed as before her death, she injured you with a dagger laced with vein-eroding poison, and because of not getting treatment in time, your entire vein system is messed up, clogged with eroded blood clots,"
"This is the reason why you can not meditate and absorb mana because absorbing more than a certain amount would mean your death, and you can not look for a cure in a city because the syndicate to whom the Matron belonged is still looking for you,"
"At least that's what you believe based on your last encounter with them nearly four years ago," He said, and Nero just stood there, his mouth slightly agape, as if he had seen a ghost.
"I know you think that I could have read your memories, which is possible for a King or Primordial grade Architect, but they will need a few years to fully connect with you to access such secured details,"
"So the only other way I can prove to you that I am telling the truth is by telling you about your feelings on certain matters, your goals, and things that are not recorded in your memories," He said with a calm smile before going silent, knowing there was no need for further explanation.
Nero tried to refute him once more, but his breath caught in his throat as he failed to muster even a single word because he realized that as absurd as it was, everything the man said was true.
'I can just tell that he is telling the truth, but I can not even fathom how he ended up here and why he can't just crush me like a bug and take control,' Nero thought, feeling the worst he had ever felt.
'He did tell me that our soul is one, but we both have independent consciousness, and I am the one who has control over the body, and he can only take control with force for a short period,'
'But even if it is true, how long before it changes? Then, he would just erase me and take full control,' Nero thought, considering the possible scenarios, but he did not feel comfortable with any of them.
Nero understood that there was no escaping his predicament, and as much as his situation was terrible, it was also as big of an opportunity, something that far surpassed any system he could awaken knowing what he had seen his older self achieve.
After some thinking, he also realized that if his older self was not just hiding away, biding his time until he could erase him and take control, there must really be some truth to his claims.
It implied that his cooperation was genuinely needed, and Nero quickly realized this was an opportunity to negotiate a deal that wouldn't screw him now or in the future.
"What do you want from me?" Nero said after a grueling silence that lasted more than a minute. His expression was one of defeat and fear, but hidden beneath it was overwhelming anger and resolve.
'If this bastard tried to mess with me, I am going to kill myself,' Nero thought, fully making up his mind to take the old monster down if he felt like he was being done over.
"As I said, I can not harm you, and nor can you harm me, at least not at this stage of your life,"
"So when we come to an agreement, we will use law crystals to take law oaths, to make sure things go as we agree even if one of us decides to change our minds in the future," He said, calmly knowing what his younger self was thinking.
"As for what I want from you," He spoke, then fell silent, his calm smile fading into a cold, piercing stare. His eyes were dark like two hollow abysses, void of warmth or mercy.
An oppressive aura surged from him, crashing outward like an unrestrained ocean, making Nero feel overlong discomfort and fear.
"You will do as I say, give me control of the body when I tell you, work towards the goals that I set for you, and do so without question,"
"In return, I will make you the strongest individual this galaxy has seen, grant you strength that you could not even fathom, and help you rise above every obstacle that dares to stand in your way."
"I know you have that fire in you to achieve the greatness I talk about, but if you get complacent, take things for granted, and show me that you are anything less than what I know you to be, you will be met with consequences far beyond pain or death,"
"Now," He paused, his words lingering in the air, heavy with the weight of both the promises and threats. "Do we have an agreement?" He said after he stood up, extending his hand to Nero, who stood before him frozen in place, contemplating what he wanted to do.
Nero felt his gaze, dark and unwavering, locked with him with an intensity that made it impossible to look away.
Nero got everything he wanted, but it appeared too easy, and he had too many questions about his older self's motives, and understand what his end goal was and to what lengths he would push him, but he couldn't just ask them because he knew no answer will satisfy him.
He had seen the cruelty of life and knew that power always came with change, and someone with even a bit of strength was not a saint out for the sole good of life, let alone someone who forged their way to the peak of power.
So he knew that his older self was no saint if not a demon, and he was wise beyond his comprehension, and in his situation, Nero could do nothing but comply and hope for the best.
"We have an agreement," Nero said after taking an empty breath before he shook his hand.
"Now that we have an agreement, You need to immediately leave for the city of Verdora so we can begin working on getting the Primordial grade system," He said before settling back on his throne.
Nero was left speechless, and rightfully so, because he fully believed that his older self knew the way to get the highest grade. What shocked him was that he was going to get a system of the highest grade, something that few in history had acquired.
The systems were unique Arcane Nexus of power, and every intelligent individual in the world of Tessrak had a chance of awakening one at the age of maturity by making contact with the system obelisks scattered around the world.
However, one could also be chosen by a King or Primordial grade system if they meet certain conditions and have the talent that systems of the highest grade require of their host.
It was a known fact that even if one had the talent and knew the perfect method to be selected by a system awakened by someone in the past, it would not work because the system could already be in someone else's possession, or it could have grown stronger, making its requirements also become more demanding.
But his older self was from the future, so Nero knew for certain that he knew how he could acquire a Primordial grade system, a grade that was more of a myth than a reality, at least to the commoners.
There was not a single publicly known figure with a primordial grade system in the entire world, and only a few were recorded to have acquired it in the long-recorded history.
One could imagine the questions Nero had about how they were going to achieve the impossible, not because he doubted his older self's words but because he was just curious as to how long before they would have a primordial grade system.
But he kept silent, kept his calm, and decided that it was better that he did what was asked of him and first build some form of bond with his older self, and when they were both comfortable with each other, only then and then ask such questions.
"Sir, what do I call you?" Nero said in the most respectful way he could, and seeing through his antics, his older self chuckled.
"Draven is fine," He said and continued, "Now, you should quickly pack two days of rations, leave all your goats to the elder, including Tiger, get the money for the wolves, and be on your way to the city," Draven said, as he snapped his finger.
Nero wanted to say something, but darkness engulfed his senses, and as he regained awareness, his eyes met the familiar sight of the wooden walls of his home, affirming he had returned to reality.