“Boo! Stupid kid!”

“Get off the arena, bowl-cut!”

“Cheater!”

Zen heard all these shouts. Ah, it was this dream again.

Thwack!

Ouch... Can dreams be painful?

Zen opened his eyes and before him was a large crowd of people. Someone had thrown a shoe at his head.

“Here is the proof. This boy used these suspicious strings to refrain Sylvester Michaelis from moving during his duel against Ophelia Lawlington,” a firm voice explained.

Zen turned his head to see the tall, looming figure of Jacques from the Great Moura Family. Jacques held up the yarn of strings, almost invisible to the eye. Indeed, they were coated in paralysis gel.

...What is going on? Zen’s brain tried to process what was transpiring. Wasn’t he dying? Or is this what happens when someone dies? Maybe it’s all a dream?

Zen bit his lip to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. The fresh taste of blood proved he wasn’t.

“Security! Bring him away!” The referee commanded, and Zen felt himself being dragged away from the booing crowd.

Despite the sticky situation, Zen felt somewhat joyous. He could walk on his own two feet again! He thought he’d never get to walk again after living ten years as a cripple. He almost forgot how to walk!

“Stay in there, cheater!” The guard threw Zen into a room. “Reflect over your actions! You’ll receive punishment when the duel is over!”

Zen couldn’t hear the guard’s words. He started jumping around and doing jumping jacks.

Wow... His legs really worked...

It was a strange, beautiful feeling. The soles of his feet hadn’t walked on anything in ten years.

Zen felt something underneath his foot. It was a dirty coin. He picked it up and kept it just in case. Who knows? It might prove to be of use later.

Zen observed the other items in the room. There wasn’t much, except for an empty chair and a mirror. Zen stared dazedly into the mirror.

Those brown eyes with the huge bags. The baggy clothes. The ugly bowl-cut.

This really was his fifteen year old self.

How is this possible? Was it the new ability he obtained from that weird shaman person?

Activate Ability: String Production

Wispy, floaty strings emerged from Zen’s fingertips. Nope. His power reverted back to when he was fifteen as well. All that remained was his memory.

So do people go back in time when they die? Do people return to their worst point in life? What if...

Zen punched the mirror, shattering it into a gazillion shards. He grabbed the largest, sharpest shard and pointed it at his throat.

The door swung open, “Hey, kid! You’re lucky that the duel ended so—“

“What the fuck are you doing?!” The security guard grabbed the mirror shard, threw it to the side, and grasped Zen’s shoulders.

“I know you offended one of the Great Four Families, but you can’t just kill yourself like this! Even cheaters deserve to live!” The security guard reprimanded and then started tearing up.

“Listen, kid,” the guard sniffed, “I used to be a cheater, too. But when I found my wife, I changed completely. Did a 180.”

The guard wiped away his snot and patted Zen’s head. Zen stood there, completely dumbfounded.

“Kid, as long as you’re still alive, there’s still hope. Don’t beat yourself up over a stupid mistake,” the guard rambled on until his fellow security guard arrived. The second guard was more concerned about the broken mirror.

Zen didn’t know how to explain himself. What should he say? I’m actually a thirty-five year old man who somehow returned back in time? That sounds completely crazy!

“Uh, you could say I was at the end of all my strings? Haha,” Zen showed the guard the strings growing out of his fingertips. The first guard cried even harder, so the other one had to escort both Zen and his partner to the Principal’s Office.

Zen remembered this event from way back. It was when the X Family severed all ties with him.

“Mr. Zenith X. You have gravely failed your Family. They have been informed of your misconduct and will arrive shortly. Your punishment will not be a light one,” the Principal of the Academy warned. He was an elderly man who went bald from all the stress.

“You have a very shiny, bald head, sir,” Zen commented, and then immediately regretted it when the Principal sent him a dark look. Zen tried to save himself, “It´s got a great luster! Most beautiful!”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“Please, Mr. Principal Sir!” The guard randomly cried out, “This kid tried to hurt himself during the short time he was in solitary confinement. Please, add him to the Academy’s C.A.R.E. Program to help him overcome his depression and suicidal thoughts!” The guard grabbed the box of tissues on the principal’s desk and began wiping away his river of tears and snot. He even offered Zen a tissue, to which the teenager accepted.

Did the event go like this? Zen couldn’t quite remember. This event took place ten years ago, so he wasn’t too sure. He really couldn’t remember whether he interacted with these guards or not... At least he remembered the main things that occurred.

Zen didn’t know how he returned to ten years ago. But with what knowledge he remembered, he could change his future. He won’t be a cripple again. He most importantly won’t lose his life at twenty-five.

“Hm... I shall add that to Mr. Zenith’s records,” the Principal stated.

“That won’t be necessary,” Zen intervened, “I don’t need to join the program. I am a little confused, but most certainly not depressed.”

“He’s in denial of his own feelings,” the guard blew into a tissue. His fellow guard was at a loss. This guy can get way too emotional.

The principal cleared his throat, “Well, Mr. Zenith’s Family will be the one in charge of the decision.”

“What decision?” A warm, honeyed voice asked. The voice belonged to the dainty, brown-haired woman who just entered the office.

Zen’s heart began to beat rapidly. He could feel his stomach churning. He tried to force himself to remain calm. Act normal. This is the woman who birthed you.

“Welcome, Mrs. Valeria X. Mr. Guard, here, has suggested we place Mr. Zenith in the C.A.R.E. Program. It is a program that helps students with emotional and academic issues. It is completely free and provided by the charitable Great Moura Family.” The Principal informed.

“Thank you, but my sweet, beloved Zenith already has a few private counselors. He is such a troubled child, making me worry for him everyday,” Valeria sighed sweetly.

Zen felt bile rising up his throat. It’s been ten years since he saw her, but her face still makes him sick.

“The program is always available if you ever do consider it. Anyways, since Zenith has tried to sabotage a duel, he must be responsible for his actions. Zenith X, you are suspended from the Academy for two weeks and, upon your return, you cannot participate in any school events, which includes the Battle Arena matches, for a month. Is that clear?”

“Yes, sir,” Zen replied politely.

Afterwards, the guards escorted Zen to Valeria’s private limousine. The first guard kept giving Zen a pep talk, which he paid little attention. The only thing on his mind was how he’ll survive the next few minutes.

Zen entered the limousine, and the guard offered him two items. However, the limousine began speeding away. Zen only managed to grab the guard´s personal business card.

***

“Drive us to that destination,” Valeria ordered, her voice becoming distant and cold.

The private driver gave a nod.

Zen already knew where they were headed: the Michaelis Mansion.

“I am disappointed.” Valeria said flatly.

“Hi ‘disappointed,’ I’m—“

“Aaaargh!” Valeria screeched.

“Where did we go wrong?!” She continued, “How could you?!”

The woman’s nails grew at a fast rate. They became sharp and pointy. She bit them in mad rage.

“Being useless wasn’t enough! You decided to mess with the Michaelis Family!” The woman screamed angrily, “You hateful, ungrateful child! Why can’t you be like Arsenio! He’s your brother! How can you be so different?!”

“What did I do to deserve this?!” The woman howled like a banshee.

The driver continued steering the wheel. This was the usual occurrence.

Zen knew what was coming next. After the woman bites her nail, she would strike him!

Valeria aimed her sharp nails towards the boy’s face. She didn’t expect the other to suddenly stab her cheek with a glass shard.

“Aaaaagh!” The woman screamed in excruciating pain. Zen had kept a mirror shard from earlier.

The driver immediately stopped the car, “Madam! Are you alright?!”

“Her face has a hole in it! Open the car door!” Zen shouted.

The driver unlocked the doors, and immediately went to check on his employer.

Zen took the chance to bolt out the opposite door. As he ran away, he left a parting word, “I´ll never be like Ass-Enio, Vagine-Eria!”

“No! Get him! Get! Him!” Valeria hollered in agony and frustration.

“Yes, ma’am!” The driver chased after Zen.

On the other side of the roads, Zen noticed a city within a fenced wall. He’d forgotten its name long ago.

Over there! Zen spotted a forest area on the opposite side. It’d be easier to hide there.

How great it felt to be able to run again! But he had little time to reminisce. He couldn’t go to the Michaelis Mansion no matter what!

Beep!

A fancy car honked at Zen and swerved, avoiding an accident.

Not safe! Zen was almost there—almost touching the forest ground.

Honk! Crash!

Zen reached the forest grounds and quickly turned around. The driver chasing him was hit by a huge van.

Ouch, but, yes!

Zen turned around in relief. Lady Luck was finally on his side.

However, he thought too soon.

Standing before him was a man with long, white hair and chilling, silver eyes. Zen froze in this man’s presence.

“...Draculis Michaelis.” He whispered the name belonging to the Head of the Michaelis Family. But how?

“Thee dare to stand in this Great One’s way.” Mighty, white wings sprouted from the man’s back.

Shit! Zen cursed. The fancy car that almost drove him over actually belonged to this guy?

Zen tried to run away, but it was futile. With one stroke of his wings, Draculis’ quill pierced into the back of Zen’s right kneecap.

Zen fell and gasped in excruciating pain. This attack! It was the same as ten years ago. The attack that shatters bones.

It hurt so much, Zen could barely think. He clutched his knee and howled in agony.

“This Benevolent One shall spare thee once, mere mortal. Cross this One’s sacred path again, and thy will be shown no mercy,” the man warned and disappeared in an instant.

The man didn’t know who Zen was? He hasn’t heard of the earlier incident, yet!

Zen gritted his teeth and grabbed hold of the ground beneath him. Although his knee hurts like hell, he must get away before Valeria gets to him!

Otherwise, he’ll really lose all his legs!