[5:39 AM]
Dining Room.
"I apologize for getting you in trouble, Theo." Rose apologized, her face flushed, "I didn't think that I would fall asleep in such a time."
"Don't worry about it, Sister Rose. It was an unavoidable mistake on your part." Levia shot Theo a set of judging eyes, "Him, however…."
Theo chewed his food very slowly, his eyes lackluster, "It appears I am not used to waking up this early, Sister." he did not bother looking around.
It was too early for him right now. His head felt like someone stabbed him with a serrated blade and ran it to and fro, 'I didn't even drink... feels worst than a fucking hangover.'
It was weird.
While Theo was busy trying to remember if he did something anything significant, Rose by his side was fidgeting about. She was restless as she looked downcast and almost without life, "I apologize, Theo, I promised to cook for you, yet I failed to wake up on time."
She said all of a sudden.
"No, there is no need to apologize. I have overworked you for having you stay late; it was my fault. Besides, I can have your handmade food for lunch, dinner, and for tomorrow's breakfast. We have all the time in the World, Rose." Theo comforted.
'Hmm? That sounded like a proposal…'. His train of thought couldn't go any further, and he just returned to eating.
While Rose's expression only became a darker hue of red, the twins wrote down a few things.
~Powers to make fiancée's face red. Possibly give someone a fever.~ the twins weren't exactly the best at judging emotions.
"Interesting."
"Amazing)"
"Lyria, Lisa," Theo called out.
"Mm? (Mm?)."
"Focus on your breakfast."
"Okay~ (Okay~)."
"Where is Titus?"
"No Classes, Sleeping~ (No Classes, Sleeping~)."
"…I envy him." Theo sighed.
Levia silently laughed, and Ella was surprised to hear what he just said with a straight face.
The two Young Misses were never close to the Young Master. They were afraid of him, always avoiding him as much as they could.
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"He's very different from before. A little too serious, but more palatable to the eye and ears." Ella whispered.
"He was more awkward yesterday. He changed overnight. It might be because he's no longer scared or confused, that, or he's just really sleepy." Levia was honestly unsure.
Theo's tone was flat and devoid of its previous awkwardness. This was Theo at an early hour when his mind had yet to clear and fully understand the need to move.
A trait he inherited from several takeovers.
'I know training early in the morning is good, but… the bed is too enticing in the morning.'
As a Villain, Theo preferred the night's darkness rather than the blinding morning light. Villains often operated during the night, where it was easier to sneak around, gather intel, make illegal trades, kill and dispose of a body.
True "First-Class Villains" know how to separate their nightlife and day life. Like how a friend that could smile in front and talk shit on your back.
To be a True First-Class Villain, one must be pure and utter shit of a two-faced bastard.
For the last 700 lives or so, he had been taking over such professional people, making this useless body somewhat new. But the earliest were just disposable assholes.
'It had been long since my path was predetermined. I'm glad, but it is also quite bothersome. However, this shouldn't be too taxing on me.'
Theo was confused, but he shrugged his shoulders, thinking, 'Must be because of the Goddess.'
"Water, Theo?"
"Thank you."
Rose smiled while handing him a glass of water. Her eyes glowed.
Everyone continued with breakfast.
Theo continued cursing in secret.
[6:27 AM]
[Training Grounds #3]
'A single day equates to 24 hours; there are two moons, one black that turns red in certain situations, and one ashen gray. The World's size is undetermined, and the power system is based on skill, mastery, and pure strength. Without an MP or HP board, it is possible to turn life force as a substitute.
'There are two doctrines followed, separated by two Pantheons of known Gods. The Light and Dark Churches, lead respectively by the God of Life and the Goddess of Death. But there are also other Gods scattered about, born from beliefs.'
Theo stopped his train of thought. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, "HA!" he yelled aloud, startling the Knights finishing up their morning warmup.
"Did that clear your mind, Theo?"
"It did, thank you, Sister Levia."
"So, what were you thinking to collect yourself?"
"The contents of the book I read yesterday. Specifically, the [Gods' Glorious Creations] Vol. 1 to 7… they were interesting."
"I see… you remembered the books' contents?"
"I did, in its entirety…."
“Amnesia = Eidetic Memory~ (Amnesia = Eidetic Memory ~).”
The twins' eyes glowed.
"I see, I see! (I see, I see!)."
"Thank you, you two." Theo thanked them for their enthusiasm.
'Theo has Eidetic Memory? Did he have this before, or is he awakening his Gift? Is the Amnesia a part of his Gift's awakening?' Levia found Theo's situation easier and easier to grasp.
"Older Sister, when are we going to begin?"
"Now, we'll start with light warmups; it is dangerous to start at once."
As Levia said, they began with a few stretches.
Then they began what Levia referred to as a light jog, which was 100 meters from one to another, 25 times equaling to a five-kilometer marathon.
Drenched in sweat.
His lungs felt like it was on fire.
His sides ached.
His head felt like it was impaled.
Enduring was torture after the 13th go around.
“HAAAAAAh~ HAAAAAAAAAAh~ HAAAAAAAAAAAh~” ragged, he was.
His lungs felt like they would collapse, not enough air coming in, even though he was doing the proper breathing exercise. The years of abuse the body experience from its own user's hands gradually showed its horns.
'Come on! Come on! You can do this! Think of it as a training montage! This will end soon! COME ON!'
His thighs felt itchy, he wanted to run, yet it was so heavy that it was hard to move.
"Don't strain yourself too much; you can pause for a bit, walk it out if you want and—"
"Hehehe, I bet 10,000 Yil he'll give up in two days."
"Too lenient, 12,000 Yil he'll stop after tomorrow."
"13,000 Yil after an hour. Why is the Young Miss bother with him? She knows well that wastes can't just change after being trash for so long."
Stifled laughter came from the whispering Knights. They were of considerable distance, but Theo heard them just nicely.
'How petty.' he was uninterested.
Levia, on the other hand.
"I'm going to kill them—" After a long time, Levia finally managed to see her brother training. She saw that what she took away from him was being returned, yet their people laughed at the sweat of his hardships.
Disgust filled her.
"These pieces of...."
"Please don't, Older Sister, from the hearsays, I know very well they are correct. Just let them be, for now."
"But."
Theo wanted to reassure Levia he was fine. Being looked down upon by the others was typical for his position. Also, if they belittle him and he just persevered, then, slowly, Theo's worth would grow.
If Theo suddenly becomes a genius, that could give him the title of a Sleeping Dragon, 'I'll contact the Xianxia syndrome.'
Theo laughed their words off, "I'm fine, please don't worry about… me?"
Out of breath, Theo stopped running, looking at the person approaching the three Knights, "Rose?"
Walking with elegance, his attention was drawn to her, not knowing what she would do.
Eventually, Rose stopped in front of the three snickering Knights. The Knights stood straight in front of the beautiful flower, they wished to speak, but Rose held her finger in front of her luscious lips.
"Shhhh~," she said to them, slowly; she opened her eyes, exchanging gazes at the three's eyes.
"Would you kindly shut up?"
Sweet, yet cold, like the bottom of the deepest trench, the three Knights swallowed their saliva before the fair lady, yet far from being frail.