I saw my elder sister, Livia, waiting for me at the gates of my father's palace. There was a professional smile spread across her lips. A thin, red crescent filled with nothing but empty pleasantries and deception. This young woman was a talented diplomat, with wisdom and cunning that rivalled that of our father.

"Elder sister," I forced a smile despite the disdain that lingered within her gaze. "Your twenty-third birthday is coming up. Do you not wish to plan your banquet instead of dealing with a small matter such as this?"

"Surely you jest, Astraeu. To be negligent in the face of the apocalypse is clearly something only you can do. Do not taint the minds of our Heroes with your nonsense."

"Rest assured,"

'Bitch,' I commented secretly in my mind.

"I have done nothing of the sort. Do you think I desire my own death?"

With the memories that I now wielded, I had a bit more leeway when it came to bravery and façades. I was no longer a mere child of royalty who knew nothing but manners, governance, and swordsmanship.

I heard Livia click her tongue in annoyance. Then, while simultaneously treating me as air, she turned to the four Heroes who were walking towards us. Her smile never wavered, and her expression was as tranquil as a stagnant lake.

At this point, I realised that Livia was going to take the spotlight. It did not matter if father had specifically asked of me to complete this task. It was simple for her to force me to step aside. I expect her next words to be exactly that.

"Hello, Heroes." Livia's footsteps brought her forward, while I found myself surrounded by her guards. "My brother Astraeu is trying to shrug off his responsibilities again. I will be the one taking over.

From their bodies, wafted out a certain kind of disgust. Their eyes, which shone through the gaps in their helmets, spoke of the hate that they bore in secret. They herded me towards a corner of the gate, forcing me out of earshot and far away from being able to fight back.

I was tempted to lash out, send them to their deaths for laying their hands on a prince of the empire. However, after careful thought, I wouldn't need to.

This was a good opportunity for me to roam about outside the palace that my father would imprison me in. If the world was going to be submerged in hellfire, then I would need strength to protect myself.

I had no trust in these so-called Heroes. I was a man who was born alone, lived alone, and perished alone. I had no need for others.

Even now, in this life. As Astraeu, who was scorned by all those close to him.

'Let's see what this world has to offer,'

...

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Around me was a medieval utopia. People were bowing at the royal carriage that ran through the city. Happy faces and wide smiles were everywhere. Children frolicked about in laughter, protected and treasured by all.

It was such a calming sight.

The Gods were fair, just, and benevolent. With their power, hardship did not exist. Everyone all moved towards the betterment of Humanity and all sinners were duly punished

I alighted the carriage and proceeded on my own. There was no need for any guards to accompany me.

I was safe.

'What a load of bullshit,' A scoff escaped my lungs.

Recalling Havesch and Eve's silent interaction before, a cackle almost followed after.

I had my own secrets too.

Yes...

Sometimes I blink, and it is in these fleeting moments that my consciousness continues to wane. The moments brush past me in a delayed embrace. Seconds, too long, spent in the realm of my mind. A time of befuddlement as I was allowed to dip my toes in the rushing river of time.

Now, however, instead of memories, it was a vision. Someone else's vision.

Each time I blink, the world slows down. That short moment of darkness that others wouldn't notice equated to hours and days. The longer I close my eyes, the more the weeks pass by.

Suppose I slept, then perhaps a lifetime would go by.

A lifetime in another's shoes, seeing through their eyes and breathing with their lungs.

I followed the vision that currently held me hostage. My feet brought me through the joyous city streets, turning corners and diving into alleyways. Whenever I felt lost, my eyes would fall shut. Then, the truth of things would reveal themselves to me.

[ Becoming one with the life in my visions. ]

A child, abandoned by her parents.

A child, left to fend for herself.

A child, denounced by the society that surrounded her.

It was today that I learned how it felt to be cursed with knowledge. Shackles for those who knew what lingered beneath the surface.

I watched as the child lived in sorrow while the world around her continued to laugh, uncaring for her existence. She would sit beneath window sills, listening to the loving words of parents for their own children. She would stroll through empty streets, with no one to hold her hand. Starvation and dehydration were her only friends.

As for how this had come to be?

I couldn't tell. It was as if all things ugly and sad couldn't be seen in the capital. Through the girl's eyes, I saw rotting corpses being shoved into the sewers, beggars collapsing as they lost the final lights in their eyes, stray animals lying alone, unable to move due to their injuries. There was no meaning to these peoples' lives.

I reopened my eyes, and the beautiful utopian capital resumed its existence once more.

Disgust grew within me.

"No such beauty can exist without the sacrifice of a soul." A mutter sprouted from my lips.

An abhorrence for the hypocrisy before me.

All of this? Just to please the Eye?

The moment these people lost their smiles, they would fall into a world that would abandon them at a moment's notice. No longer would they be able to bask in utopian glory. Like falling from heaven straight down to hell.

'Father still protected me from the horrors of the world. No wonder.'

The disdain that each servant had for me finally made sense.

I was protected from whatever magic separated the people into two. Simply because I was the fourth prince of this empire.

My eyes grew dull.

So, should I be thankful for this protection? Or should I continue to despise my father? This time however, would my hatred be for a different reason?

Hatred for He who brings unending suffering for small portion of the population, all so that the majority would be able to live perfect lives. A follower so faithful to the Gods that he would throw away anything the gods deemed evil no matter what.

Now that I think about it, I was lucky. Lucky was I who was simply ignored.

The [ One With No Future ]. The one who the Gods neither blessed nor cursed. I was neither hot nor cold. Neither evil nor good.

My father did not know what to do with me, simply letting me exist inside the palace he assigned.

Fateful was this anniversary of my birth.