Originally uploaded May 5, 2023

Arthur Pov

Ascending the stairway of Helstea estate I opened the large doors. While I could have simply teleported my way in I didn't want to give my parents a heart attack.

The large twin doors swung open and a little girl raced into my arms. Wrapping her short arms around me and burying her face into my chest. I could hear her say something but it all came out muffled by my clothes.

I reciprocated her hug, wrapping my arms around her. Children sure do grow fast don't they? She would be around 7 or 8 I believe?

While I felt a warmth in my heart that I rarely felt anymore there also was a slight pang of pain. I couldn't help but feel like a terrible brother and son. In both my lives now I have sent so little time actually growing with my family. It was depressing, I have missed so much of this family life. And things aren't going to be any easier.

There are things moving behind the scenes even I can't foresee or know. I'm not sure but there was a growing anxiety within me. Something was out there, starting to stir.

But for now I pushed those feeling aside, and just enjoyed this nice moment. When Ellie spoke again. Releasing her from my embrace she takes a deep breathe before speaking again.

"Jeez, just how along were you going to hug me for? I thought I was going to suffocate." She snapped at me with a smile.

And I smiled back, the muscles on my rigid face moving and forming in an expression that seemed so foreign to me still.

"Aww, you didn't miss your brother?" I asked coyly as I patted her hair, the same brown as our father's. A feature I no longer possessed sadly.

Ellie stuck out her tongue at me before running in to house, dragging me by the cuff of my shirt. "Come on, mom and dad are waiting for you."

I kept a smile for appearances, but I dreaded meeting them. While they were in no trouble in being hunted by the council due to me. That didn't mean I could just stay here. There were still many things about the Relictombs I didn't yet understand. As well as training key figures for the war.

I fear that I need to break away from the family. And there was really one clean way to do that.

Ellie lead me to a large living room area, where both my parents as well as Vincent and his wife were sitting. They seemed to be discussing some sort of new trade opportunity. No doubt the council will slowly ramp up production of war supplies. And households like the Helsteas will be vital for the future.

Their talk all but disappeared when I entered the room.

"The prodigal son returns!" Vincent announced my entrance with the gusto of a showman, his arms far stretched.

My mom rushed to me, wrapping her arms around me and lifted me up. I would be lying to say that is was a bit degrading for a person like me to be carried around like a child, but she was my mom. I couldn't exactly deny her.

My father ruffled up my hair. "When are you going to cut this mess of hair?" He asked with a cheeky smile.

"And when are you going to shave old man?" I shot back with a grin. This is nice, maybe in another life I could have grown up like a regular boy and enjoyed life.

"Hey! Where is Sylvie." Ellie asked a bit disappointed and mad. And my parents noticed her absence as well.

"She is... training." I reluctantly answered, unsure if I should fake a convincing enough lie.

"All by herself?" My mother asked covering her mouth with shock. Although they all knew Sylvie wasn't just some common mana beast, they hardly had a clue what she really was.

Which does remind me to check up on her again when I have the time. It has been a while since she had entered seclusion with both of Uto's horns.

"She takes after me I guess." I haphazardly answered while scratching my cheek.

'I really need to work on improv.'

"Hey hey, lets give the boy some room shall we? Arthur we have been worried, you said you were visiting some friends." My father asked as he released me from his hug.

I suppose I was gone for a bit longer than one would presume when meeting friends. Especially at my age. Even teleporting around did take some time since I couldn't do it all in one go.

All the others looked at me expectantly. It was always like this, even my own parents treated me as if I was much older than I appeared. Maybe it was the way I acted, or the slight aetheric aura I always emitted that made people uneasy around me.

I took a deep breath. I had to severe all connections to a mortal life in order to do what I must. There still was a slight doubt in my mind.

'Do I really have to? Why can't I enjoy a simple life, with a loving family for as long as I can? Isn't that what I originally wanted? What Sylvia wanted me to have?'

I discarded those thoughts. I can't have my selfish desires cloud my judgement. This was far larger than all of us. It will change the fate of reality itself.

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I finally spoke up, "Uncle Vincent, could you please give my parents and I some alone time. you should join them to Ellie." I said with a sad smile on my face. This might be the last time I see them face to face.

Vincent seemed to notice it and quickly ushered his family as well as Ellie out of the room, despite Ellie's protest.

The room grew silent, I could hear my heart beating in my chest. All my past memories came flooding in. The first time I awoken in a new body.

Growing up as their son, spending the little time we had with each other in peace. Being a student, spending time with my friends. Living as any child should. Only to have that ripped away from me as war began.

In retrospect I have lived both of my past lives with very little family time. Guess my promise to Sylvia was all for nothing. And what I was about to do will be the nail in the coffin to my old self.

I took one last look at both of my parents, no, the parents to my vessel. Their eyes still so full of trust and love for what they think I am. I'll probably never feel their love again.

My father, his beard covering most of his lower face. His bright azure eyes that shone like sapphires. He was the goofy type, but I believe that helped me loosen up as a person.

But just staring at him brought up terrible memories. I could still clearly see holding his dead body. The sounds of nearby battle completely blocked as I held his lifeless corpse.

And my mother, her warm brown eyes that exuded motherly love and care. Perfectly complementing her auburn hair. A trait I once shared with her, now replaced by the pale blonde, the same as my bond.

Honestly, if not for the similar facial structure you would be hard pressed to tell that I was their child.

I took a deep breath. 'There is no going back after this.'

"I need to tell you guys about my past life. Both of my past lives."

***

"What are you talking about Arthur?" Alice frantically asked me with tears welding up in her eyes. She drew closer to me, checking me as if I was sick.

I lightly pushed her worrying hand aside. And stared directly into her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Alice. It's the truth." Alice quickly withdrew, distress clearly shown in her eyes.

"I don't get it." My vessel's father muttered, I couldn't see his eyes. He stared at the ground beneath his feet as he continued.

"It just doesn't make any sense!" He yelled, shocking his wife more than me.

"Even I don't understand me circumstances fully. But yes, I have lived three different lives now. Two of them as your son." I could feel my now voice begin to tremble.

"If it was anybody else I would say they were insane! But Arth- Grey... you-" Reynolds pointed an accusing finger at me.

"Here I can explain it a bit easier." I began to approach my vessel's mother. She recoiled away from me. The way she stared at me, as if I was some monster wearing the skin of her child. Well I suppose that is quiet accurate.

"Trust me. I still see you as my mother." I tried to comfort her as I touched her hand. Holding her hand in one while I cupped over the top of it with the other.

Having some linger blood of Djinn in her veins made this procedure easier.

Tiny motes of purple began to flutter from me to her. As I began to recount both of my past lives.

The moment Cecilia threw herself upon my blade. My coronation as king. The bloody campaigns I led as a ruler. Meeting my new family for the first time. Being a brother and a student. Being knighted as a Lance. The war, my father's death.

It all went flooding into her mind. The stream of memories rushing through the aether, a technique I learned from my time in the Relictombs.

Alice's eyes went wide. Her body seemed to freeze as images of my life played in her head. It only lasted for a few seconds, but in that time both my lives were conveyed.

She snapped back, holding her own head with her hands. As if she was trying to keep it from exploding. It was hard to watch, but this was the easiest way to get them to understand. I just hope she will eventually be able to tell Reynolds everything she saw.

She screamed, not of sorrow or anger, but a scream of sheer panic and pain. Her husband quickly rushed to her side as her body gave out. He caught her before she hit the ground. He stared at his wife in his hands and stared back at me.

Eyes filled with sadness and anger. "What did you do?!" He yelled at me in a tone I have never heard him use before.

"I just showed her the truth. I hope she will tell you when she is ready to." I coldly said. With this my mortal ties are own gone.

I began to walk towards the door. The last time I will be welcomed here. I hope they will be happy without me. I swallowed a lump in my throat at the thought of never seeing Ellie grow up. To be the strong warrior she eventually will become, resembling her father.

Before I could reach for the doorknob I felt a tug. Turning around I saw my vessel's father. His eyes red with tears, his face a mix of rage and depression.

"Why, just why?" He desperately asked, hoping it was some sick joke.

I gently grabbed the hand that was holding me.

"Reynolds, I truly loved you guys as my own. I never had a true family before. You've taught me how to be human again. But there are things I must do that is bigger than all of us. I can not let one life get in the way of untold billions." I stated.

Me using his name seemed to have struck him like a train, as he released his hold.

I looked back at my vessel's mother. She seems to have fainted for now, I could still hear her breathing so she wasn't dead. I could feel the sharp pain in my chest, as if my heart would explode. It felt as if someone had stabbed a burning knife directly into it.

My dimensional storage rune glowed a faint gold. And in my hands appeared a small diamond shaped blackstone. Its surface decorated by tiny elaborate runes.

I handed it to Reynold. "Here, this device will erase any memories of me. As if I never existed. Use it if you believe that is the best course of action."

As I finished my sentence I could have sworn I heard a slight crack. As if glass was breaking inside of me. Whether they wanted to use the device was their choice, but in the worst case they won't even remember I even existed. As if I was deleted from their minds.

Reynold took the device from my hand dejectedly. His hands trembling, almost as if he was going to drop it.

"Arthur." He softly said, in a pleading tone. Appearing much older than he did a moment ago.

I just gently shook my head. "I am not your son, the son that you guys truly deserved. I am truly sorry. Maybe in another life."

I was then swallowed by a vortex of aether, I could faintly hear Reynolds yelling for me as I was carried far away from the Helstea Estate.

I slumped to my knees, tendrils of aetheric lightning still dancing on my skin.

For the first time in years I shed tears, warm streams ran down my face.

One part of me hated me for what I had just done. Didn't I of all people deserve some kind of happiness? Something I never truly had. But those feeling were quickly being snuffed out as a cold veil consumed my entire body.

Why would I deserve anything? I was a selfish man who pushed his friends away when they needed me most. Perhaps this was a way for me to pay for my sins. What I was planning to do, what I had to do. It is far bigger than any being on this planet. I couldn't let my emotions shake my conviction.

I had to once again dawn the mask of Grey. The cold and emotionless machine. I had made an oath to myself when I returned here. To free all of creation from the chains of fate. I was the only being capable of leading all of us to true freedom.

But in this moment I was just a boy, a boy who had discarded the last remaining bits of humanity he had.

I screamed, an feral animal-like scream of pain and raw emotion. Shaking the very foundation of the cave.