"As Ares creator of the first human language said, it doesn’t matter how much you fight your fate, in the end, those who are condemned to suffer will suffer and those who are condemned to be monsters will turn into monsters, the only choice you have is when it happens."

David said and then Hildebrant observed as he collapsed into a chair and gazed into celling with absentminded expression.

There was also pain, uncertainty, and unease twisting in his eyes as they stared at a small gap in between the wooden planks but Hildebrant was too absorbed in his thoughts to notice when David lowered his head.

"Are you disappointed?"

He asked and Hildebrant didn’t know what to say as his heart was bombarded with various feelings.

Did it mean he would die in three years?

But if that case, why was he still alive?

How was he alive?

Deep down he knew the answer to them all, he just didn’t want to believe them.

The curse he gained when his village was burned down, the absolute pain that flooded his being the moment sunlight touched his skin, the burning pain he felt every night, and the instinctive fear he had of the sun.

His body warned him with all his might.

His mind fought with everything it had but, in the end, fate still pushed him in the direction he was supposed to go.

A short laugh escaped his lips.

"Disappointed? I am just amazed by how the heavens hate me."

Stopping myself from laughing he then posed another important question he needed to know.

"Doesn’t that mean anyone can ascend in three years even if they do nothing?"

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David shook his head.

"It doesn’t work that way. Indeed, our bodies will forcefully start refining their surroundings but if you are already a transcendent lord or higher it's a catastrophic occurrence that will cost you much.

In the past, it was the main reason why ascenders were hunted from young and killed on the spot before they could grow. It was also the reason mothers leave their children even at this age. They were afraid they would be unable to endure pain and desire and became corrupted by their powers.

But in today's time, we have formulas for some of the paths people of specific lineage can take and even people with mastery who can deduce formulas and recipes for specific refinement and absorption of special characteristics. You can also learn natural refining every ascender has and slowly refine yourself to the next stage by absorbing heaven's will, but this takes time, and most people are unable to ascend before times go up."

Cold wind passed around and watching David seriously consider what to say made Hildebrant uneasy.

"There are also other problems that can happen if refining is not specifically adjusted and ingredients don’t match with body, soul, mind, and spirit. But the main one always stands for losing control, corruption, decomposition, deformation, or death. The best that can happen is always death."

Sighing David took a glass of water he brought for him and threw everything left of it down his throat.

All Hildebrant could do was watch with a smile.

Now it feels even more unfair.

He was completely thirsty, but this mongrel drank all his water.

Where was justice?

Putting the glass down David gazed at him with a complicated expression.

"Now that you know most of the important things you will need to choose what you will do next. I don’t know where you came from and from the way you are asking questions you also don’t know, but you should try to make yourself at home here. I will try to talk to some people and get you a job but until then relax."

Standing up, David glanced at the trail of food he brought and a glass without any water and scratched his cheek in embarrassment.

"I will bring you a new one so until then I will leave this one here if you are hungry, please eat and if you need water don’t worry, I will bring it in a while."

With these words, David sprinted out of the room, and immediately after Hildebrant touched his belly, which began to rubble.

Without any choice, he stretched his hand, took an apple from the trail, and bit into it.

Sweet taste assaulted his tongue and heavenly fragrance flowed into his nose when the door opened with David's face peeking out.

"I also forgot to say be careful and don’t go out until I bring you a book of rules. There have been some disappearances lately so it’s better if you stay inside for a while."

Not waiting for an answer door closed again.

Frozen Hildebrant looked at the apple and a piece of memory flickered his mind, the taste of pulsing flesh, and right after he vomited while his body kept trembling from the cold that penetrated his bones.