*seven years later*

"Alright, one more time, Just like we trained!" The sergeant's shout echoed through the training hall. It was a nice polished training area fit for a noble of Berity's grade.

~You're gripping too tightly, loosen up. and lower the spear.

~He's coming from the left side.

~You should attack immediately.

Do not talk at the same time! You're confusing me!

Nate watched as the disciple charging at him feigned a thrust and dashed to his left. Ready for the attack, Nate thrust right at his lungs shocking his opponent, then he took a step forward as he swept his rival's legs from underneath him, ending the fight.

~Bah! That was horrible! The Xin Yi Quan focuses on ending the fight with one move. You should've reached the opponent quickly and drove powerfully through him in a single bust! If you'd have been at my dojo you would've been kicked out by now...

After the visit to the monastery seven years ago, Nate started learning more about his case. He communicated better with them and found out that they had quite the experience. At first they helped him with his scholar work with great efficiency and that earned him the reputation of the "mad genius" which didn't help his efforts to fit in.

Nate however, noticed something weird, the seventh voice never seemed to speak. He learned to recognize the tone of the speaker and ever since the monastery, that particular voice never appeared.

He also had fits oftentimes, usually when all those six voices talk at once which would cause a terrible headache and confusion. Fortunately, after cooperating with them that didn't happen as much. Of course, for his father it didn't look like an improvement as he seemed to consider Nate faithless and blasphemous for even listening to them.

"Great job young lord, I'll be sure to tell his lordship of your progress." The sergeant said proudly, oblivious to the fact that his father would simply ignore everything that went after the 'medical report'. 

~c'mon, stop standing there, it's dinner time! I'm hungry!

~A good disciple can survive two days on-

~Oh stop talking old man, of he listens to you he'll get hypoglycemia in a week!

Alright, stop spouting nonsense I'll eat. 

He sighed as he entered his chambers and signaled his maid to help him dress. He was slightly depressed at the thought of seeing his father and sister again, as he'd been staying clear of them for a while now, not wanting to hear another comment about his "problem"

As he finished he joined his family at the dining hall and sat at his rightful place: on his father's right on the opposite side of his sister.

The food looked as grand and delicious as always. After all, nothing was too grand for verity...

Thirty minutes after they started feasting verity announced in his usual loud regal voice:

"Nate of forsenta." here we go...

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~not again...

~hold your temper Nate, you can't afford to make him mad. Not after the last time.

"I have heard reports from the doctors that you are still experiencing the same trauma you were since birth. Now the whole court knows of it and the citizens spare no rumor at the 'young retard'. I announce this before so many of you just so I can get a straight answer.

When will you accept the inevitable truth that they are not real?"

Several chuckles were heard and he saw Kelsea, his sister, smirk devilishly.

~Don't snap! Tell him you've been having less fits recently, some will back you up!

~No one will back him up and you know it. This is useless. You're all avoiding the hollow truth. He's gonna kick us out one day or another and kelsea is gonna inherit his rank. We should go with a fight.

~For once I agree with our sadistic fellow here. Leave with your pride!

~How will we survive out there? You aren't thinking ahead!

~It'll be way easier than surviving here! He can become a blacksmith like me if anything. Hell, he can become anything! Literally...

Stop...shut up....

~We should stay

"SHUUT UPP!"

With his arms around his head he yelled with a high pitched voice drawing even more attention, but he didn't care anymore. He was angry at everything.

"Wether I admit it or not these voices are here. They might be a sicknes or real but that doesn't matter; they're here, in my mind and I can't get rid of them. I'm going to stop wasting everyone's time and just leave this godforsaken place."

He meant every word of it and he got up to leave, not wanting to spend one more minute in the company of the people he loathed most.

As he looked back one last time he noticed there was a slight guilt and shock in Kelsea's eyes.

He left, making a quick stop in his chambers to pick up a bag of valuables and the spear he got for his birthday.

Everyone stayed out of his way, afraid and disgusted.

They even opened the gate immediately at his sight.

All the better.

He ran out of the town blinded with tears. He didn't even notice when he began crying.

Although a bit sad, that was the beginning of his new life.

And for once, not a single voice spoke in his mind.

He stopped after a while, exhausted, and rested at the bottom of a tree.

Then he got up, took an attack position and started thrusting at the tree.

He got stuck in the monotony of his exercise, mesmerized by the sound of steel hitting wood and feeling calmer with every strike.

It was an action he always did when he was stressed, and it always calms him whatever the dilemma might be.

~What are you going to do now?

"I'm going for a hunt."