“Your Majesty,” I smiled, lowering my head, as I shifted my posture to the ground. I started reciting the name of each minister feverously in my head. Hines, Royalestine, Alicesse. They were all from the royal family. I lowered my black hat, keeping it to my chest. I averted my gaze to the carpet again. The royal crest was below my feet. The sword of Celestine, and the white snake in the middle, signified the slaying of the beast. The gravity of the situation made me sweat, my eyes unwillingly moving to the Emperor’s shadow on the white curtain.

“Are your lips also sealed like your face?” The voice echoed behind the curtain. The entire crowd let out a short burst of laughter as they rambled in their chairs. I slowly raised my head, averting my gaze to the red carpeted stairs.

“Nay, your majesty. I was just struck by the beauty of your palace.” I looked around the palace, raising my right hand towards the direction of my gaze while my left hand remained touching the ground. Steadily, I thwarted my gaze to the curtain.

“You are given the permission to speak.” The Emperor let out a small sigh. His shadow changed, as he criss-crossed his legs.

“Your Majesty, Weissman, the key holder, is planning to find the heretic lord. We believe he has already sent one of his disciples to search for him.” The Emperor leaned on his left hand. He raised his right hand from the chair, curving it periodically as if he was trying to call someone. Soon, another black figure was visible on the curtain, gently walking towards the chair. It was like watching someone play with their dog. As the figure reached the chair, he slowly lowered his left ear, placing it near the Emperor’s mouth. Soon after, a growl was heard from behind the curtain.

“What are you doing here?! As the captain, you should be commanding your troops to seize Weissman! And here you are speaking to His Majesty wasting his time! There is a limit to rudeness, Captain Gideon.” I lowered my gaze to the royal crest again, looking at the sword of Celestine.

“I have raised an audience with the Emperor to complete a simple prequisite for that very expedititon.” I flinched, daringly raising my eyes towards the hidden emperor’s eyes. The standing figure lowered his ear again, leaning to listen to the Emperor’s command.

“You may speak!” The voice was full of bravado, as if the unwavering loyalty to the Empire had brainwashed his mind. It was the same for everyone. The only words that they listened to were that of the Emperor. There was no saving them.

“When I find Weissman, is it absolutely necessary to destroy his plan?” I tried to look in the Emperor’s eyes, trying to find his determination through the curtain of the past.

“Yes.” The Emperor’s voice echoed in my ears, looping as if listening to a recorded tape. Ah… My shoulders damped, my face trying to hide my tears. There was no hope. The human realm was damned. I swiftly got back on my foot, straightening my robe. I lowered my head for the final time, as I wore my hat.

“If you’ll excuse me.” I looked at the royal crest for one final time, and started walking towards the exit. Have the demons steeped so low to destroy an entire realm just for their own benefit?, I thought. The very thought of the extermination of billions of humans terrified me. I closed the door of my room and leaned against the wall, holding the blood drops that were falling from my lower lip.

To obtain the sword of Celestine, the human realm must be destroyed. Those are the rules that have been passed from the early generations of the royal family. There is only one person that can stop it from happening. The great lord of the demon realm. If he were to take form, the human realm, by any means, cannot be destroyed. The ancient texts also support the theory that the white snake will indeed be slain when he is resurrected. But, such a peaceful resolution will not strike well with the purebreds, whom he had rebelled against. For them, he is their natural enemy. The nemesis of the royal family, that will end their rule. There’s one more catch for the demon realm. The apparitions are said to take form after the great lord awakens. According to ancient legends, they are said to be the ‘Harbingers of Chaos.’ But no one knows how dangerous they actually are. There has been no recorded battles with the apparitions in the history of the demon realm after all.

There is no other option but to follow the Emperor’s orders. My mind was stuck on one thought, unable to think of any other viable solution that could save both worlds. I tried to search in the swarm of thoughts, but they were all replicas. I fell to the floor, as I let out a tear. I had become the same as those ministers in the royal court, unable to think of anything except the empire’s ideals. The royal family is right I thought.

I slowly removed the mask, revealing my human face. If that is the plan of the demon realm, then I shall act for my benefits as well.

Weissman seems to be a good pawn to hold, I told to myself, wearing a sinister grin. I wore my mask again, as I opened the door. The spy which I had sent to find Weissman’s whereabouts stood besides the entrance.

“Did you find him?” He revealed his hand from his black robe, handing me the teleportation crystal. The moment I faced where he was standing, he had already disappeared.

Yonder, whether it be hell or heaven I recited the teleportation spell, as my surroundings started dimming. I swiftly closed my eyes, seeing dark spots in my surroundings.

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I opened my eye hastily, observing the surroundings. It seemed I was in a chamber. The chamber was dimly-lit, with two candles besides the entrance, and one right besides me. A round table was placed in the center of the room, painted completely black. I started walking towards the door, inspecting the emblem inscribed on it. The key to paradise, and the white snake flowing through it. As far as I know, this emblem is not used anywhere in the demon realm. I slowly approached the emblem with my right hand, when, suddenly, the door started opening. I startled back, maintaining a distance with the door. I did not need to hide. From his noble presence, I could sense it. It was Weissman.

“Oh, I knew you’d be here.” He extended his hand for a handshake, smiling innocently.

“As you may know, I am here for an important matter.” I shook his hand, feigning a smile.

“Please, sit.” He slid a chair out of the round table, pointing his hand towards it. I sat carefully, looking towards him.

“Oh, I already know your worry. The problem is where I should began telling you the solution.” I let out a faint laugh.

“Please, tell me in the way that you see fit.” He took a chair for himself, putting his arms on the top.

“Okay. Captain Gideon, I want you to take my place.” I was confused.

“What do you exactly mean by that?”

“Ugh, this is going to be a long one, isn’t it? Let me explain to you from the beginning. Do you know what this is?” He revealed his right hand from his pocket, revealing a purple crystal embed with some kind of magic circle.

“No, not the slightest clue.” I looked towards him, trying to anticipate what he was going to say next.

“This is a reincarnation spell.” He waved the crystal carelessly, until he kept it on the table. My eyes averted towards it, as I realized what it was. The reincarnation spell was one of the lower class spells. It was only really useful to gain a higher amount of mana after all. However, I did not understand its exact use in his plan.

“Please, continue.” I pressed my hands on my thigh, listening to him attentively.

“Common knowledge suggests that there is only one present. However, that is not really the case.” He paused for a moment, closing his eyes briefly and reopening it.

“There are multiple presents at one time, and there are countless futures to accompany it. In reality, reincarnation is simply a process of reliving that same life in a different present. What I am going to do is reincarnate myself and find the great lord before the empire destroys the human realm. I am also planning to end the apparitions as they arrive. After all, one present is linked to the others. Do you understand?”

“I feel I do.” I hid my smile, as I waited for him to hand over the key to paradise. If I have that, I can find a way to stop the empire. I did not care about Weissman’s plan whatsoever.

“Here is the key to paradise. Take my place, and guide the next generation until I succeed.” He got up from his chair, giving me a glimpse of his sword.

The sword had the emblem of the snow wolf inscribed on it.

It was all working in my benefit. Even if Weissman’s plan were to fail, it would not affect me. After all, my goal was to protect the human realm from the empire. I could not care less about the demon realm. I…. could not care less….

Then, what was I working for my entire life? My head started spinning as I tried to find the missing piece. My memory diverged into multiple segments. It felt like I was experiencing multiple realities at the same time.

“Seems like your mind has come to its senses.” Weissman’s innocent smile turned into an evil grin. My surroundings slowly started to become dimmer. All of my memories seemed to diverge from the time I entered the royal court. There were now memories of a thousand possible futures being brought into my head. I fell down the chair with hands on my ears. The ringing noise had become unbearable.

“Weissman! I will not let you defeat me here!” I leaned on one knee, slowly freeing my hands. The reincarnation spell is one of the lower class magic spells, I recalled my own words. It can be used by anyone. The reason that Weissman had it in a crystal was probably because he did not have an affinity with dark magic.

However, for me, that was the only affinity I had. I bit my right thumb, stamping the ground with my blood. I closed my eyes as I imagined the magic circle in my head.

“First, a sacrifice to the gods, whom the world bows to.” I completed drawing the star, inscribing my name in the middle.

“Stop! What are you planning to do?” He drew his sword and plummeted it into my right arm. He tried to minimize the damage as much as possible. It would be a problem for his plan if I were to die here.

“Second, a blessing to my soul, whom I offer to the gods.” I started losing control of my right arm. It seemed he had also cut my stomach.

“Did you really think you could outsmart me?”

“I think I just did.” I removed my mask, revealing the reincarnation spell inscribed on my eyes.

“Thanks for spilling my blood on the magic circle, Weissman” I could imagine his infuriated face.

“See you in the afterlife!”