Finally free of that club, Constance made his way through the city, choosing a new route to save some time. The city's bustling streets seemed like a strange parody of the school he had just left behind. He found comfort in the chaos, as it reminded him of the fierce and unpredictable nature of the world he inhabited.

As he navigated through the busy thoroughfares, he couldn't help but feel a sense of relief. The Historians offered him the freedom he craved, the time he needed to recover and grow from the pressures of combat or competition First High was notorious for. It was a place where he could explore and nurture his strengths on his own terms.

Lost in his thoughts, he almost missed the familiar faces that suddenly appeared on the bustling street ahead. Three figures approached, their grins stretched a little too wide as if they had just heard a bad joke. Constance's heart skipped a beat as he recognized them – his old friends from middle school, with whom he had cut ties due to the loss of free time Constance had after his clan decided to put him through a reality check.

Full of muscle and scars you could tell they were no longer the same three people who lived easily mooching off of Constance's money. When he broke those ties he did so in the worst way possible. While still recovering from his clan’s attack against him his understanding of the world and the deadly stakes of Soul Worlders shifted. He made the stupid decision to shatter their soul worlds in hopes of keeping them out of the bloody conflict his clan had revealed to him on that day.

His first instinct was to avoid them, to disappear into the crowd and pretend he hadn't seen them avoiding the consequences of his past self's actions but he knew what he had to do. It seemed it was too late for running anyway as they approached a part of him yearned for the connection he had once shared with them, a sense of camaraderie that had dissolved over time.

Constance steeled himself for what was about to happen and walked forward. "Hey," he called out, his voice carrying a hint of aggression.

The trio began to surround him as the street cleared out emptying so quickly it seemed practiced, their faces lighting up with delight. "Constance? I hoped I’d get the chance to see you again to return the favor you gave me." Jeremy Kane, once Constance's oldest friend and a fellow heir of a clan, exclaimed.

He nodded, offering a grim smile. "Yeah, I suppose it’s time."

His old friends rushed forward, besieging him on all sides letting loose blow after blow. Constance hesitated for a mere second before his training kicked in and he began parrying letting their fists wash past him like water. Despite the differences that had driven them apart, their old bond still held a special place in his heart.

"We thought you disappeared off the face of the earth!" another friend shouted as he tried to sweep Constance’s feet, Samuel Wolfe, an orphan and the most loyal person you’ll ever meet.

"I've been busy," Constance replied vaguely, jumping over the offending foot and returning with a heel to the jaw.

“We trained hard to bring you down even with just fragments of our old Soul Worlds,” Spoke the last friend as he blocked the kick allowing Sam to retreat, Henry Davenport, a man with an ability to read emotions so well anyone would be proud to call him, friend.

"I’m sorry," Constance whispered ever so softly, before activating his tenth and final ability. One not made for fighting but instead to help control his emotions, Wall of Ice.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Even with his mind racing imagining what it could be like if only they were normal and how happy he’d be to just hang out once more. He closed the gaps in his technique and easily dispatched them without using any form of energy control. Advancing upon them and knocking them out with a single blow to the head before they could respond.

As the ‘fight’ ended, he noticed how carefree and unburdened they seemed, living life without the weight of expectations or the pressure of a short life hanging above their heads. He still wouldn’t change his decision, as he dragged them to the side of the road and called the cops with Jeremy’s phone to take them to the hospital, even if he knew it came with its own set of consequences.

After the encounter with his old friends, Constance made his way home once again to an empty house and another note from his parents saying they’ll be home in a few weeks this time. Constance scoffs as the silence enveloped him, a stark contrast to the chaotic events of the day. He knew he had to settle his emotions from the encounter, reminding himself of the consequences of Wall of Ice.

Sitting down in his room, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes, entering a state of meditation. In this quiet and focused state, he began to delve into his Soul World, seeking solace and understanding amidst the vast expanse of his inner realm.

As he stepped into the familiar landscape of his Soul World, he found himself high atop a mist-covered mountain. There, a lonely monk sat in meditation, the same monk he copied his Energy Control from. Beside him stood a single disciple, his presence almost non-existent even robotic as he bowed once and excused himself to continue his own emotional journey.

The monk turned his gaze to Constance, his eyes filled with wisdom and compassion. "Welcome, young one. It's been a while since you visited us."

Constance nodded respectfully, feeling a sense of peace wash over him in the presence of the wise old monk. "Yes, I needed some guidance," he replied honestly.

The monk smiled, gesturing for Constance to sit beside him. "Come, share your burdens with us. Let the weight of the world lift from your shoulders."

With a sigh, Constance recounted the events of the day, the encounter with his old friends and the choices he had to make. He spoke of the conflicting emotions that swirled within him – the desire to be carefree like his friends and the determination to survive his path in the world around him.

The monk listened attentively, his serene presence providing a sense of comfort and understanding. He offered no judgment, only gentle guidance. "Life is a journey of choices, my young friend. It's normal to be pulled in different directions, but what matters most is the path you choose to follow."

As they talked, Constance felt a sense of clarity and acceptance settle around him. The monk's words resonated with the quiet strength he had been seeking. Even as they washed over him with wisdom he couldn’t quite grasp what the old monk meant so, he watched the monk’s apprentice this seemingly emotionless man hoping to find guidance in the constant labor the apprentice would perform without end.

“Will he recover?” asked Constance without breaking eyesight at the apprentice several hundred feet below him on that lonely mountaintop.

“Time will tell,” spoke the monk softly.

As the hours passed in meditation and conversation, Constance knew the time had come and gradually deactivated his skill, Wall of Ice. He allowed his emotions to rush in, experiencing the full weight of his conflicting feelings. A mixture of nostalgia, longing, and determination overwhelmed him, causing him to tremble slightly.

"Embrace your emotions, my friend," the monk advised gently. "They are a part of who you are. Embrace them and find balance within yourself."

As the sun began to set in his Soul World, Constance felt a profound sense of gratitude for the time spent with the monk and his disciple. They had offered him the wisdom and guidance he needed to navigate the complexities of his heart.

Constance took a deep breath, surrendering to the flood of emotions. Even as his consciousness faded he felt a strong piece of compassion for the apprentice below who had cultivated his heart of ice skill the only difference being the disciple couldn’t turn it off.