My emotions swelled up I couldn't believe what had just happened.

"He sacrificed himself for you," Deadman says softly as he retracts all his undeads.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA" Deadman bursts with laughter.

"Let me tell you, something boy. Your father was an amazing mage he honestly could've beat me easily. But it was the wound I gave him earlier that started his downfall. You see the wound I gave him allowed me to sap away at his mana slowly. I could feel his breathing and also see his movements go a little slower. Basically, your father's death was your fault"

"What. It was my fault?" I contemplated in my head.

Vincent rushes over to my side "Do not listen to his words Sir Valerus."

"You killed your father. You killed your father. AHAHAHA" Deadman insults me I stay there frozen.

Again I remember my past life "It's your fault. You were supposed to watch your brother. You so stupid" a woman's voice says. "Am sorry. Am sorry.Am"

A memory I thought I stored away.

"AGH"

"Interesting I guess breaking you down will be easier than I thought," Deadman says to himself. "How about this."

A purple magic circle gets placed around Markos' body.

I watched as his corpse rose up from the ground.

"Dont worry Valerus am fine. Bahhahahaha" Deadman mimics the fallen Marko.

SLASH SLASH

"Look at me a great scythe user"

I look upon them in despair as Vincent attempts to move me.

Deadman points in Vincent's direction "Go."

The corpse begins to halt and stutter in place.

"Agh it still holds some resistance hmph no matter," Deadman says.

Deadman summons his book as another magic circle appears shocking the body.

"There we go now advance!" Deadman commands Marko to attack us.

Suddenly a burst of flames appeared within those flames stood a man with broad shoulders, shoulder boards, around 7 feet, with short white hair, a beard, and a black coat, with red writing on it.

I could feel the scorching hot flames as I lost consciousness and passed out.

I awoke too a familiar setting. That i remembered from long ago.

I was back in my old world.

I rose up from my bed "So all of that was just a dream" as I place my hand on my head.

"Max. Max." a voice called out to a name I never heard in a while.

"Who's calling me?"

His voice gets all disoriented as it becomes muffled.

"Help me-"

"AGH"

I wake up back in my room in Kubridge.

HUFF HUFF HUFF

"Dammit that memory again," I said softly to myself. I noticed all the sweat from my body. The morning sun barely touched the sky.

I scouted my room. I realized a figure sitting in the corner of my room. Just as the first morning light hit the room I can now see the figure clearly. It's Vincent sitting straight up on a chair in the corner of my room sleeping with his legs crossed and hands folded.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"Sir Valerus? Your awake!" he immediately stands from his sitting position.

"Elise! He's awake" as he rushes to my side with an overjoyed and relieved expression as he gives me a hug.

"Ho-How long was I out," I said weakly. About a week.

"A week?" That long?" I thought to myself.

"Where father where is he"

Vincent's expression saddens as he pauses for a couple of moments.

"Sir Valerus. Sir Marko has died."

Reality not set in Marko Marina my father is dead.

"We couldn't retrieve the body. The damn mage got away with it" Vincent says in an angered voice as he clutches his fist together.

The room gets filled with silence.

WHOSH

My bedroom door swings open.

"Val!" Eriko comes rushing in.

She gives me a hug that griped tightly. "I thought you were gone. I-I thought you died" her eyes filled with tears, under her eyes red.

I patted her head "am alright Eri." i said with a smile that i could barely muster up.

"How can I be okay? Marko just died? There's an evil organization that tried to kill me? I almost died? Is it possible that this world will be worse than the other?" I silently thought to myself.

Vincent speaks "Sir Valerus it appears you received a war mark from battle" as he hands me a mirror.

I examine my face as I see a small scar above my right eyebrow. "When did I receive this? Oh, when I got hit with Deadman's attack." It's not that bad from affairs but visible when speaking up close.

"If you wish too remove you I know-"

"Vincent it is fine I shall use this as a way to remember the pain I felt that night"

Vincent and Eriko both give me a concerning look.

"Speaking of him where is he?" " What happened to the mage who killed my father?"

Vincent gives me look "We learn he belongs to a guild called the Phantom Order. Deadman is what they called him he escaped and got away. What remained was this." He reached for something out of his pocket it was pin made of gold engraved with the Roman Numeral 10.

It was Markos Captain pin.

CREAK

My door slowly opens its Lila.

"Valerus are you alright?"

She heads over and she touches my face. She gives me a big hug a much-needed one. I looked at her face it looked the same but I could see the red marks under her eyes. She must have been crying this whole time. It was probably a difficult time to find out her husband had died and her son bedridden for a week. But am glad that she is here with me. "It's okay Mother am alright."

As I continue to embrace Lila my mind wont stop thinking about Deadman. I grasp and grip onto Markos' pin.

Months pass by Lila is appointed the Head of the Marina household. She works very hard to keep the mansion running and safe. She gets assisted by both Vincent and Elise by her side. I continue to train nonstop every day. I feel the gazes of all the maids, Mother, Vincent, and Eriko as they watch me.

Winter time goes around as it's time for Markos' funeral.

Many unfamiliar faces are there but the ones I know are the ones from The Federation at least five of them showed up in an all-black attire with their long coats. A female with pink hair, a male with jet black spikey hair, a girl with glasses, a young man who appears to be my age, and the man who I saw that night.

The man came to me afterward and introduced himself. "Hello there boy am Allister Honorson head captain of The Federation" with spoke with a deep and commanding voice. "Am sorry about your father. He was a good man. One of our best. If you need help you know where to find us. Everything is going to be alright. We'll find the people who did this to your father." As he pats my head.

Allister takes his leave. As soon as he left another member of The Federation wished to speak with me.

"Are you Markos son?" He wore a similar outfit to Allister but this time he wore a hat and katana on his side.

"Sorry about your pops. But dont let that stop you from doing what you wanna do. If he wanna take action take action" he walked as he also wished the best for me in my future.

After facing this I now realized my goal. It's to kill and take down the man who killed my father. Moreover, take down the Phantom Order.

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

The snowy mountains.

DRIP DRIP DRIP

STEP STEP STEP

Footsteps can be heard in the cold dark cave. A hooded man continues to walk deeper into the cave.

He extends his arm and creates a magic circle. "DEADMAN" he speaks.

A secret space opens between the edges of the cave and this room.

WARP

A door appears as Deadman walks through.

A single dining table is in the center of the room. A chandelier emits light. A row of stairs going on the second floor.

"El Phantasmo I have returned," Deadman says as he removes his mask.

"Augustine we dont have to use codenames in here how many times have I told you" a young woman speaks up with pink hair, twin pigtails, short, red eyes, and a ball gown dress.

"Well am always out and about so it gets kinda confusing. Bloody Queen or Alice."

"What have you returned with Augustine?" A voice speaks up. From the second floor, both look up.

"Yes Phantom" he summons Markos' dead corpse. "You see I can use this corpse to strengthen my arsenal."

"Ugh gross," Alice remarks as she motions to gag as she slowly sits at the long table.

"Am surprised you say that as you play with blood" Augustine fires back.

"Must you two always bicker? You are the oldest ones here you guys should get along by now." Phantom says.

"Where are the others?" Augustine asks.

"They'll be making their way soon. So how's the kid?"

"He looks promising give him a couple of years he may be of use. I know he's growing a strong hatred for me as I used the corpse of his dead father to attack him." Augustine reports as he takes a seat at the dining table.

"Thats wild," Alice says as Phantom remains silent and listens.

"Well, we'll give him some time. In the meantime find the location of the Twelve Star Mages" Phantom says.