…

‘How long has it been?’

Yet again, Hellion was drifting through the eternal nightfall he could never get used to. Despite holding on, he was overwhelmed by his subdued contemplations, which, due to his fragile mental state, got off their shackles.

‘I keep losing myself. My memories become more and more vain.’

How tiresome. How boring. His life on Earth was no different from this chasm of oblivion. When he was finally able to attain his peace, Hellion was thrust into the realm of consciousness - like a fish drawn from water and toyed with, only to be cast back.

They say there is light at the end of the tunnel, but if- if life were but an endless corridor devoid of any light of hope, would you still push ahead?

Suddenly, the surroundings trembled as cracks formed. It was caused by the small lump of ethereal light in the form of Hellion’s soul in the midst of the vast darkness.

‘HAHAHAHAHA!!!’

How refreshing! How intriguing! He could not remember the last time he was enamored by misery. In the end, he could neither probe nor fathom the devil, now destined to live the life of a puppet.

‘If you want death, I will make you reconsider your choice, then plunge your soul into the depths of hell and torment it to the end of times…’

‘If you want to live, I will engulf that light just to extinguish the very last glimmers within you…’

‘That condescending attitude of yours! Truly divine! Truly devilish!’

Hellion could not lose his sanity. It was for a simple reason - he had long lost it back on Earth. His whole life was pain that he had inflicted upon himself. This everlasting moment of silence and the devil’s play was just the continuation of his eternal damnation.

And he could not give up.

The reason?

Indeed, was there such a thing?

For the rest of the duration in this space, Hellion remained quiet.

----------------------------------------

The Yan clan was situated on the outskirts of Heart Isle. It occupied a sprawling expanse, nestled between the vast ocean on one side and the mixture of rolling hills and lush mountains on the other.

Akin to a pearl cradled within the protective embrace of its oyster, so too was the clan, sheltered by the shells of water and land. The mountains that loomed over the settlement offered a protective layer with its rugged peaks and dense forests, guarding against the myriad beasts. The ocean served as a conduit for communication and commerce with the merfolk who resided beneath its waves.

At the lower reaches of the territory, close to the shore, lay the abode of commoners, whose dwellings were shaped by the demands of coastal living. Built predominantly from easily accessible materials such as driftwood, stone, and thatch, they lacked grandeur in comparison to the residences of elites higher up the hills.

As one ascended the slopes, both the infrastructure and landscape were transformed, and so did the social standing. Perched atop the highest point lay a majestic castle. The clan’s most influential and powerful figures - the elders’ committee and the head family - resided therein.

Just as the castle overlooked the entire settlement, so too did the people who gazed upon it with reverence. From every corner of the clan’s territory, its towering spires and sturdy walls were regarded as symbols of strength and stability. Even those who dwelled farthest from it felt its overarching presence.

Currently, within the stronghold, servants moved with urgency as their bustling activity gave way to anxious glances and hushed whispers. High above, in the chambers occupied by the head family, the tension in the air was amplified by the haunting cries of the monstrous birds outside. Their mournful calls eerily echoed through the castle walls, adding an unsettling layer to the already suffocating atmosphere.

The night sky was adorned with the ambiance of pulsating stars. Their shimmering light gleamed into the dimly lit room through the open windows. The candles flickered like the stars, exuding a faint aroma of wood.

In this room, there lay the lady of the clan, Yana Maryam, exhausted as her soul whimpered, on the verge of withering. Her short hair was styled in loose waves that framed her face gracefully, the color resembling fields of golden wheat under a summer sun. Her eyes were blurry, reminiscent of the richest emerald.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

After giving birth to her child, she was about to leave the world. Yet her passing was predetermined from the moment she sustained a severe injury in an attempt to advance to rank two. Coupled with the fact that she was unknowingly pregnant at the time, her survival rate during childbirth had been abysmal from the beginning.

“You brought this upon yourself.”

How harsh. Yet she knew her husband was the one who was suffering the most. Despite his promptings, she refused to attempt an abortion. Whenever giving birth, mothers always suffer a slight soul injury, which is not fatal and can be healed in a short time. In Maryam’s case, though, the injuries were likely to overlap and cause her demise.

Mehmed loved his partner; in fact, everyone in the clan did. Maryam looked and acted like a saint. Her phenomenal healing abilities, coupled with her radiant beauty and easy-going attitude, put her in the hearts of the clanspeople. She would never mistreat others.

Even now, her appealing smile had not washed off her face. Maryam observed the surroundings and met all the people’s eyes, one by one. This was her way of saying goodbye to them. At last, she focused her gaze on her husband and the child he was holding.

“What a pity.”

Despite being a talkative type, this was all she could muster as her life was leaving her body. She would not be able to witness her child's growth. Mehmed brought the child to his beloved wife’s face for her to see.

“You are a strong child.”

That’s right. Children usually cry their lungs out after being brought into this world, don’t they? She was worried, but after inspecting the child’s body, just from sight, she, as an excelling healer, could tell that the child was healthy. In fact, it was the opposite of what she had expected. The child was brimming with life force.

“A boy, huh…”

She had a feeling it would be a boy. Motherly instinct is not something to be looked down upon. She had already discussed the future with and instructed her husband. Now, she could finally relax and submerge into slumber.

Mehmed’s hand tightened into a fist, his eyes blazing with fury. Maryam sighed at his uncontrollable expression. He would always blame himself, which was just one of his many annoying traits. Glancing back at the baby, he was calm and nonchalant, quite the opposite of his father.

The baby’s appearance fully resembled his mother. Maryam smirked lightly, demanding with her eyes for Mehmed to hand the baby to her. As she grabbed him, Maryam felt a heavy burden on her body. Looking at the little bastard, he was piercing her with his serpentine eyes.

‘Huhuhu, my child~’

Even saints have feelings, alright? Her first son was a brute battle maniac, just like Mehmed, while her daughter was an antisocial psychopath. Still, she loved them - she truly did. But enough is enough; for the sake of the clan, at least her third child had to be an upstanding gentleman.

‘The thought of what will become of the clan once I’m gone is truly frightening… Thankfully, there’s Hakan. The elders are untrustworthy.’

Maryam gently ran her fingers along the baby’s nose. Looking at his peaceful expression, she felt at peace as all her worries seemed to vanish for a moment. It was as if the baby told her that she could finally rest and entrust the future to him.

‘I’m sorry you have to bear such responsibility. Look after your father and siblings, okay?’

She pampered her other children, and when the realization that this was a bad parenting method dawned upon her, it was already late. Mehmed was one of the most powerful ones, if not the most powerful one, on the island. Yet he lacked as a leader.

‘Well, this is the end.’

She gave a light sigh. Mehmed grasped her hand. Contrary to his fiery hands, Maryam’s was cold. She couldn’t feel the warmth of a hand, yet she felt the warmth of his heart. They had spent twenty years as a couple, yet they had been partners for much longer. They had joyed, traveled, and grew together, fought with and against each other.

Looking back, she had no idea how she had fallen in love with him. Love is such, unpredictable, and binding. She didn’t want her husband to be stuck in the past, yet she knew that was impossible. He loved her more than she did, another annoying trait of his.

Suddenly, she got an inspiration.

“Damian…”

The onlookers staggered. What did she mean? Only Mehmed knew. They had not thought of a name for the baby until the very last moment.

‘Damian?’

Hellion barely grasped the situation. His vision was blurred, hearing muffled. He had attained this new body a few moments ago. Their language was indecipherable. The single thing he got out of her words was the name.

Who did it belong to? Actually, nothing made sense, especially from the perspective of a Nobel laureate. But Hellion had given up on common sense since the moment he met the devil. Speaking of the devil, he recalled being forced to listen to Sona’s blabbering without opening his mouth.

‘As expected of a devil, he had a kink for these things. Tsk, tsk.’

Hellion felt a chilling cold emanating from his mother’s hands. Was she in shock? It didn’t seem like it. Perhaps her body conserved energy by reducing blood flow.

‘This life is the same.’

Whether it was then or now, he had deprived his mother of her life. While traversing through darkness and descending into this new world, he had lost most of his memories. Sona said he would slowly regain them by becoming stronger. Despite all that, he still vividly remembered how he had been despised by his father and for what reason.

“Wa…”

Damian silently grunted. Crystal-clear tears flowed down his cheeks like a steady waterfall. He clasped his mother’s pinky with his hand. Maryam was taken aback by this. The child desperately locked eyes with her through his tear-laden stare.

Seeing this, she felt a tinge of regret and happiness, and with it came decisiveness. She still had a responsibility as a mother and thus could not leave the world. Mehmed felt a sense of uneasiness rushing through him as he watched Maryam’s expression. He had a bad premonition.

Soon, all the attendees left, and only the family remained. Though Mehmed and Maryam argued, she could barely keep up with it. Damian could not grasp the gist of the conversation. After some time, Mehmed broke into tears, and Maryam smiled with a hint of subdued sorrow. She died smiling. Yet, her eyes told of unwavering determination.

Determined, Damian’s face regained its expressionlessness, tears dried.