Marsal Evertin

I was at the entrance of the majestic Nirose Academy, a black gate bordered the enormous garden adorned with two fountains and a magnificent hedge with a thousand colors from the enchanting flowers that grew on it.

The entrance gate was huge and wide open, and on both its doors, there was a pair of feathered wings in gold encircling an egg with two crossed swords engraved on it. I continued to gaze in fascination.

"That's the kingdom's emblem," said a boy with short white hair. I recognized him immediately: he was Esme, a quiet guy I had befriended here at the academy, the only one who didn't see me as a child.

"Good morning, Marsal."

"Ah, good morning, Esme. So, that symbol with wings should be the kingdom's emblem?"

"Exactly, isn't it fantastic? The wings represent the gods who raised this kingdom, while the egg represents the kingdom itself, born from the destruction brought by war, as indicated by the symbol engraved on it," the white-haired boy explained, looking at the gate.

"I see you're quite knowledgeable," I remarked, surprised by his insights.

"My parents are very patriotic," he said, rubbing his head.

"Now, let's hurry; classes will start soon, and I don't want to be late in just the second week." I said before heading inside the academy.

Hundreds of students were strolling through the wide corridors as they made their way to class. I walked alongside Esme; he, like me, was a first-year student but was 8 years old, two years older than me.

Inside this school, I was the youngest. Initially, I thought it would create some problems, but instead, it was the opposite; people treated me kindly.

Among the first-year students, there were kids of all ages, from the oldest at 15 to me at 6 years old. Despite this, the class had a good balance.

"Look at him."

"It's him."

"What was his name?"

"Hey, how old is he?"

"How did he get in?"

"He must belong to some rich family."

"It seems you're famous," Esme said, chuckling.

"Fortunately, my age hasn't caused any problems," I replied.

"You think?"

"Yes, there are many people annoyed by my presence, but they can't insult or attack me. If they did, they would be looked down upon by everyone for targeting a child," I explained.

Esme clicked his tongue. "You're only 6 years old, yet you seem to be the most mature one in the academy."

"Do you think so?" I said, feeling embarrassed. He responded with a smile.

Walking alongside Esme emphasized my short stature. I knew it was due to my age, but being the shortest irritated me a bit; in my previous life I had always been taller than average.

We reached our classroom and I took my seat. I was placed in the middle of the class, next to the right wall, while Esme sat on my left.

A middle-aged man with a thick beard and long black hair entered the classroom wearing a long purple robe. He was Professor Cuius, teaching mana science, a theoretical lesson, so we would be sitting for the next two hours, listening to the professor explain mana's workings.

"Alright, students," he began, "today, we'll review the previous lessons. Anyone willing to volunteer to explain what we've covered in the past?"

Naturally, no one raised their hand.

"Very well, I'll do it," Cuius sighed. "So, as you all know, mana is present everywhere in nature, and it can manifest in five forms: water, lightning, fire, earth, and wind mana. Within living beings it exists in its pure form, which varies from individual to individual. Mana of different elements can be used to cast spells of that element, but it also has a secondary function, which only a handful of mages worldwide can use, but it's widespread among high-level beasts: environmental and temporal manipulation, usable with any type of mana..."

And so, our two hours of theory passed. The professor left the classroom, greeting Esme, who was seated next to me with his head on the desk. I woke him up by shaking his shoulder.

"Wake up, we have the next class," I said.

Esme opened his eyes and let out a yawn. "What do we have now?" he asked.

"We have fencing class next."

Esme clicked his tongue. "So, I have to get up, huh?"

"I see you're as lazy as ever."

Finally, Esme got up, and we left the classroom together. We walked through the corridors on our way to the gym for the next lesson, while a group of two students chatted in front of us.

"Did you hear what happened in Nepenthes?" one boy asked his friend.

"My mother told me this morning; several dungeons collapsed and beasts escaped killing everyone." his friend replied.

I froze upon hearing those words. What they were talking about was my birthplace, where my parents were, along with Roseth.

"Excuse me, can you repeat that?" I asked the boy.

"Are you from there by any chance?" he replied.

"I must have misheard, right? You didn't say Nepenthes, did you?" I began to tremble, hoping I had misunderstood.

"I'm sorry, but you heard correctly," the boy confirmed.

It can't be. Why? Why Nepenthes of all places? What's happening? Are they all okay?

"Is everything alright?" Esme asked, noticing my shocked expression.

I remained frozen, unable to respond.

"You mentioned being from that area," Esme continued with a worried look. "I'm sorry, if you want you can go back to the dormitory. I'll tell the professor that you're not feeling well." the white-haired boy offered.

"Thanks, Esme. I'll do that. I'm... I'm going," I replied with a trembling voice.

So, in less than a minute, an otherwise calm day turned into one of the worst moments of my life. It was an unexpected event. I had grown attached to my family and I wasn't ready to lose them yet. In my previous life, my parents always looked at me with disdain, they used to beat and yell at me for no apparent reason, just using me as an outlet for their unhappiness. They had driven me to the brink; day after day, all I felt was pain and insults. How can you do this to your own child? It was better never to be born at all. These thoughts tormented me constantly, until one day, incapable of even thinking, I decided to end my life by hanging myself on my mother's balcony, as a gift for her 40th birthday.

But when I opened my eyes again, I wasn't in heaven or hell, but in this new world. The family that took me in was completely different, a joyful and radiant couple who always treated me like their own child. I understood that they were my real family, and I began to play the role of their son. I spent the best days of my life with them.

I finally had a family that loved me; this was my place, where I belonged. Mom and Dad would make me happy forever by passing on the warmth of their love.

That was what I thought, but then...

"Did you hear what happened in Nepenthes?"

"My mother told me this morning; several dungeons collapsed and beasts escaped killing everyone."

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

The nightmare began.

I still had hope. Deep down, I hoped they were still alive. I ran out of the Academy, I ran, I ran and ran, sprinting through the city with my head down.

I'm afraid, I'm afraid to know how they are, I... I'm not ready to hear it,

I don't want to hear: "they're all dead" not now, not ever. Tears wetted my cheeks as the image of my parents shone in my mind.

My mother held Roseth in her lap, wrapped in a cloth, while my father gently stroked his forehead.

I stumbled and fell flat on my face.

I didn't have the strength to get up, the only thing I wanted was to see my family again.

"You're weak."

"I'm weak."

"You're pathetic."

"I'm pathetic."

"You're useless."

"I'm useless."

"Do you want to see your family again?"

"I do."

"Are you willing to do anything?"

"I'm willing to do anything."

"Very well, we have a deal."

The whole world around me disappeared, and I found myself in an all-white dimension, with nothing but a floor reflecting my pitiful image.

"Are you sure about what you're saying, Marsal?"

"Who's speaking?"

"Why? Until now, you've answered me without asking questions."

"I asked, who's speaking?" I said, raising my voice in frustration.

"Very well, I'll show myself."

A sudden glare blinded me. I covered my eyes with my arm and when the powerful light ceased. A majestic man appeared before me, with a perfect physique, long blond hair, and a long white robe, his skin was fair, and his eyes were bright blue. His body emitted a faint light, hovering just above the floor.

"Who...who are you? How do you know about my family?" I asked, confused, wiping away my tears.

"I am Arter, I am a God, nice to meet you," said the luminous figure.

"A God!?" I exclaimed, surprised by the answer.

"At this moment, I have isolated your soul in a dimension within your core. As you can see, this place is entirely white, without impurities. This indicates the power of your core."

"Where are mean with this?" I asked, not understanding his intentions.

"Do you believe that a common human could reach such a level of purity in their core?" Arter continued ignoring my question.

"I don't know what you're talking about, I've never done anything for it." I replied.

"That's the point. If your core has such power, it's only thanks to me, a true god" Arter explained proudly.

"Do as you please, but it doesn't matter. I can be as strong as I want, but what's the use if all the people I love are dead? What should power be for if not to protect them? It's not power that I want; I... I just want to see my parents again," I said, suddenly crying silently.

Arter chuckled, watching me in the pitiful state I was in.

"As I told you, I am a god, and I can grant your wish, but everything has a cost."

"Then show me! If you really are a god, then bring my parents back!" I yelled, irritated by his words.

He didn't answer, he remained silent, looking at me with a satisfied smile.

"What's wrong? Can't you do it? Huh, Mr. God? Can't you bring them back?"

"Now stop, Mars." my mother's sweet voice echoed in my head and I was then enveloped from behind by a warm and welcoming embrace.

"N-no... no... how..."

I turned slowly, hoping it wasn't a dream. Is this the reality? No, it must be, it has to be true.

Turning, I found my mother with her face buried in my back, and behind her stood Jackal, who was crying, looking at me happily.

"D-dad, mom..."

"It's us, son."

"D-dad, mom!" tears flowed continuously down my cheeks.

"It's us, Mars, we missed you too!" Yara said, her voice trembling before bursting into tears.

My father joined the hug and held my neck tightly. At that moment, I saw Arter looking in our direction with a smile on his face, but it wasn't just a smile, it was terrifying. At that moment, more than a god, he seemed like a demon, ready to begin the hunt. What does it mean? Why that smile?

But above all, is all this... real?

"What's happening, Marsal? Are you doubting that I, the great god Arter, am deceiving you?" The god asked, drawing my attention from behind.

"No," I turned away, "it's not like that."

"So enjoy this moment without worries. I'm allowing you to meet the souls of your parents, but next time, it won't be free."

Souls? Souls!? What does that mean? They... they are... dead?

"Mom, dad, you..."

"Forgive us, Mars, your father and I wanted to see you and Roseth grow into great people, but suddenly our happiness was shattered. Forgive us for not being able to help you anymore, for not being able to be there for you in difficult times, for not protecting you from this world and its darkness."

I continued to stare at Yara in disbelief as tears flowed uncontrollably. I remained frozen at what I was hearing.

"Mars, if Roseth isn't here, it means he's alive. Promise us that you'll find him and help him," my father intervened, placing his trust in me.

After all, I'm happy to have met them again, I must find strength.

I wiped away the tears and began to smile. "I promise, I'll find Roseth, even if it costs me my life... I'll bring him back home!"

"I'm happy for your determination, Mars, but take care of yourself. Your mother and I want you and your brother to live happily forever, even though we know it's impossible. But we hope for the best for you."

"Take care of yourself, Mars," my mother said, stepping away from me.

"I will, Mom, I will."

Their bodies suddenly began to glow with a faint light, while small fragments of light detached from them, rising slowly into the sky.

"Wait, what's happening? Mom, dad!" I exclaimed, confused and frightened by the event.

"Forgive us, son, it's time for us to go," Jackal looked at me contentedly. "Goodbye, Mars, good luck."

"NO!"

"Goodbye, your mother loves you."

"No! Stop!"

I desperately clung to my father's hand.

"There's nothing you can do, Marsal," Arter said from behind.

Both of them disappeared into a dust of light, slowly carried away by a gentle breeze.

The family I loved so much was now gone.

I remained on my knees on the floor, head down, in silence, closed off in my world. The tears were now exhausted, leaving only marks on my cheeks. Like gold, my parents were no more. It was too late, I couldn't do anything. It's over.

"So, Marsal, do you want to know how Roseth is?" the god asked from behind, getting my attention.

Roseth? Right, Roseth, I promised Jackal I would find him; I have to get him back, at least him, I have to save him!

I wiped my tears and stood up with determination. "I'm ready," I affirmed, turning towards the god.

"Good."

In front of me, a video was projected where Roseth was fighting feline creatures in an underground tunnel.

No, it can't be, why is he in a dungeon? It's too much, how can I help him?

"I see you're agitated, Marsal, but rest assured, I've personally assessed the situation, and I believe Roseth will be able to get out of there alive. But there's another problem you should know, in a dungeon there's an illusion barrier."

I had heard about it in a school lesson, if it's really like that, then there's no hope.

"Inside an illusion barrier space and time are distorted, in short, there's no way out, and time inside passes faster, right?" I asked.

"Exactly. In other words, even if you wanted to, it's impossible for you to help your brother." Arter confirmed.

"But, I promised, I can't..."

"Marsal, observe closely," Arter turned toward the projection of my brother.

"As you can see, Roseth is strong, he won't have trouble getting out of the dungeon, in fact, it will make him stronger."

"Even if what you say is true, once he's out of there, he'll still be a child, while for us... years will have passed," I said, worried about Roseth.

There must be a way, I have to help Roseth. I can't abandon him, he's part of my family, it's my duty to protect him. But... I'm weak, no matter how motivated I am, I have no hope in a dungeon, the only one who can do something is him. I have to have faith in my brother. He can do it, in fact, he will, right?

"Don't worry, if Roseth is skilled enough to tame the dungeon barrier crystal, he can use it to recover the lost years, but only physically," Arter tried to console me, seeing me down.

"What's the point of recovering the years only physically? His body will grow, but he will still have lost the years of his youth. It would be better if he remained a child even after getting out, at least he could make up for the lost time."

"You're probably right, but there's no way to make up for lost time." The god explained

"I know," I said, giving up on the idea of not being able to help my brother."Thank you, Arter. I'm sure if my brother is still alive, it's thanks to your help. I thank you, you've given great power to both me and Roseth."

"You're mistaken," Arter replied, surprising me. "If you believe that I've given anything to that psychopath, then you're on the wrong path."

"Psychopath? Do you mean... Roseth?"

"Exactly, that monster is nothing but a psychopath. For him, killing is nothing more than a form of entertainment, and power is a means to his end. He's on the same level as a simple beast, incapable of forming bonds with people, let alone valuing his life or the lives of others."

"Why are you saying this? What do you know about Roseth?" I said, irritated by his words.

"You're wrong, Marsal, I just spoke to him. This is the conclusion I've reached."

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you insult my brother, so take back what you said." I said, annoyed.

"Very well, I apologize. To make it up to you, I'll give you important information."

"Speak, does it concern Roseth?" I asked impatiently.

"Exactly, it's not widely known among humans, but I want to tell you. The use of mana comes with a cost, which affects the core. The more magic you use, the more the core deteriorates, to the point of becoming unusable."

"What does this have to do with my brother?"

"The use of pure mana dramatically accelerates the core's deterioration process. In short, even if he manages to get out of the dungeon, he most likely won't have much time before becoming unable to use magic."

How is that possible? No one ever told me about such a thing. Could he be lying?

"How do I know you're not lying?" I asked, hoping that what the god was saying was just a lie.

"There's no need for you to believe me, you'll see it with your own eyes."

If it's true, I have to inform Roseth as soon as possible. But how? Wait, Arter said he had already spoken to Roseth, he must have told him everything, right?

"Listen, Arter."

"Yes?"

"Have you already talked to Roseth about all of this?"

Again, that terrifying smile appeared on Arter's face. "Yes, I've told him everything he needed to know."

"Promise me one more thing, Arter, promise me that you'll help him get out of there." I said, concerned about Roseth's well-being.

"I'm sorry, but that's beyond my abilities." Arter replied bluntly.

"How? Weren't you a god? Aren't you omnipotent? Or perhaps, you simply don't care about him?" I asked, agitated.

"I thought you were stupid, but then you understand something." Arter said.

It can't be...

"I'll tell you one last time, Arter: Did you inform Roseth of everything? Does he know about the time passing and the core's deterioration? Did you inform him of something?"

"I didn't think you'd figure it out. You surprised me, but it changes nothing," the god said, amused.

"You bastard!" Anger overwhelmed me. I clenched my fists, watching Arter's radiant figure. How much of what he said is true? What's his goal?

"Arter, why did you tell me all of this?" I asked, seeking some answers.

He laughed, then disappeared along with that entirely white world, and I returned to reality.

"Hey kid, are you okay?"

An old, bald, and short man extended his hand to help me up, and I accepted, thanking him.

"What were you doing lying on the ground? Is everything okay? You look like you've been crying," he noticed.

"No, everything's fine, thanks," I replied, still shaken by what had just happened.

I don't know how much of what Arter said is true, so I can't leave my brother alone in a dungeon. Even if that god said not to interfere, I'll go help him. I'll save the last member of my family at all costs.

"I'm coming, Roseth!"