"Hey, how's it going?" I spoke toward the blurry figures facing me.
A vague feminine form, her presence both overwhelming and distant, responded with solemnity. "Are you finally ready to accept the truth, child?" It was the Goddess of Fate.
I let out a quiet breath. "Yes. I can't trouble you forever." My voice was barely above a whisper. Though these divine beings incarnated in my soul realm whenever I was at my most vulnerable, I could only perceive them as shifting blurs. The sheer act of speaking with them drained my mana completely, leaving behind an excruciating sensation—like my mind was being split apart.
A particularly turbulent figure, a swirling storm barely held together, stepped forward. His voice carried deep sorrow. "I'm sorry, my child, for binding you to eternal suffering with me." This was Chaos. He always apologized when we met like this, as if it made any difference.
"You don't have to apologize. None of us expected this." I met his gaze—or at least, the storm where his eyes should have been. "Besides, I don't resent being born a Chaosborne. And it seems like Sister Fate can't stall my awakening any longer." I took a breath, steadying myself. "I'm done running. I'm going to find my 'End' this time. I've made up my mind. That way, we can finally talk in a more stable manner."
A heavy silence settled over us. Then a voice spoke—firm yet laced with quiet concern.
"Child," End said, his tone measured but undeniably worried. "Do you even understand what you're saying?" His presence was like a steady weight pressing against my thoughts—not suffocating, but grounding. "The 'End' you're chasing is death. I don't want to watch my child walk toward that."
He sighed, and though his words remained firm, there was something almost pleading beneath them. "I truly hope you find an 'End' that isn't death. Not just for yourself, but for us as well. No parent wishes to watch their child die—not even one who created death itself."
I wanted to believe in another path. I really did.
"I'll try…" I murmured, the words tasting hollow on my tongue. "At least… I'll try." I exhaled, pushing aside the weight pressing against me. "So, now I can return to reality, right?"
A silent figure nodded. "Yes, but be sure to hide your attributes and affinities. Keep your nature as Chaosborne hidden."
I gave a slow nod. Then the world blurred. My vision swam.
And suddenly—
Blinding light.
I inhaled sharply, raising a hand to shield my eyes. My body felt heavy, as though I had been submerged in deep water and was only now breaching the surface. As my sight adjusted, I became aware of my surroundings.
Eyes. Staring at me.
Curiosity. Fear. Unease.
Then, a voice.
My teacher stepped forward, thickening the barrier around me. His expression was cautious, his tone sharp. "Rin, what are your attributes and affinities?" A pause. His eyes narrowed. "Why do I sense chaos in the mana around you?"
My breath caught.
Crap…
Looks like I was doomed from the start.
"Hmmm… interesting. Is this the kid you mentioned, Julius? I definitely didn't expect to see someone with attributes related to chaos, and so deeply at that. Tell me, kid, how about we talk a bit privately in a different place?" said a woman with raven-black hair and pearl-like eyes. She looked young and cold, yet there was a subtle mischievousness in her demeanor. I hadn't noticed her presence until she started speaking. But I didn't know who she was, so I was unsure of how to respond to her. I turned toward teacher Julius.
Coughing, he introduced the cold beauty, "Rin, this is Ms. Sylve. She's a government official who guides people with… problematic attributes. So, I think it's better that you have a talk with her. It could be helpful for you."
I stared at him, then at Ms. Sylve for a moment before answering in a polite tone, "Yes, sir, of course, I will comply with Ms. Sylve's request. Um… but where should we talk? I really hope it's not in a containment cell."
"Hahaha! Hey, Julius, I like this kid. He's got a sense of humor. Of course, we're not going to a containment cell. How about a drive?"
"A drive? Yes, ma'am, I think it would be nice."
"Alright then. We're taking our leave, Julius."
With that, she walked me out of the school and led me to her PTV.
My heart thudded wildly, my thoughts a jumbled mess. I really hoped nothing serious would happen to me since I'm the heir of the Frost clan. Damn it! I never thought I'd rely on my clan. Still, I prayed that nothing serious happened.
Then both of us got into the PTV. I sat in the passenger seat at the front while Ms. Sylve followed me, sitting in the driver's seat, then speeding down the road with a calm expression on her gorgeous face.
I couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was—and also… how cold she was.
"Rin, there aren't many people in the world who possess attributes related to chaos. In fact, we can count them on one hand, and none of them turned out to be good. So, you're in quite a complicated position now. Would you mind sharing your attributes and affinities with me?" She said in a voice devoid of the previous playful tone, replaced by a cold, calculating one.
Huh, how do I handle this now? Well, I'm going to tell the truth since it's a pain to come up with a convincing lie. And I can't let them think Chaos is inherently bad.
Resolving myself, I said in a calm voice, "You may not believe me, Ms. Sylve, but I have an affinity toward everything, and my connection to Chaos is much deeper than the rest. Also, you may not understand this, but Chaos is not a bad thing inherently, and I'm not planning on becoming an evil person. I'm unsure of how to proceed now, so I would like your help."
Now I've gone and said it, though I didn't reveal my nature as Chaosborne and how far my connection went with the divine beings and concepts. I can only hope that she will help me rather than eliminate me, ironically.