‘It is all my fault.’

In a dark cave, an old man only had his eyes on a small gap where he could see light, and from that, a vision of the past followed by tears full of regret for the fallen that he abandoned, trying to save everyone by himself and knowing that more could be done, but he chose not to, because there was no need to teach everyone what he could do, just like he did with his seven friends who were by his side until they all abandoned him to protect the people in vain.

‘Perhaps that is my eternal burden.’

With sadness overflowing from him, the man crossed his arms and closed his eyes. Immediately after that, a bright light shone on his closed eyes, and sounds erupted from all directions. When he opened his eyes, he saw a woman holding him and placing his lips on her left breast.

‘Wait, you can’t do that; I'm going to...’

As he closed his eyes, his arms encircled the woman's breast. Suddenly, he opened them again and looked around again, this time confused.

‘What is going on? Am I getting fed? I am so exhausted.’

The baby's name is Edmund; he is the fourth prince of the Velvent kingdom. A few months had passed, and he was in a cradle in a room, helped by a maid caring for him. The boy was a little dazed looking at the ceiling with all of the things in his mind, but now he can think without much difficulty.

‘Reymond was the name of the person who came before me, the hero, and after all this time, my head still hurts with all of these images, but I can make sense of this situation.’

As the memories passed through his mind, he experienced a variety of depressing feelings, but guilt was one of the strongest and unexpectedly caused him to cry.

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‘Oh my, yet again? What's happening to you?’

The maid had to come and see him now and then to soothe him. Since then, if she was in the room, she would hold him, and that made him stop crying, or if he started, it was just a tear on the corner of his face. It was quick, but it happened all the time, and it made her worried for the child.

‘I am sorry, lady, but I just can't help myself. These are the hero's emotions, but they are starting to seep into me as well.’

As time went on, Edmund was able to walk, which helped him better understand his predicament. He began by observing that, in contrast to the hero, he was completely incapable of using magic.

‘Well, that is a big problem right there. Without any magic, how am I supposed to save the world? Should I give up?’ He raised his two arms over his head. ‘I can live a good life and simply have a horrible death when the time comes.’

Because of the noises Edmund was making, the maid moved closer to the cradle and smiled as she observed the baby's two arms raised above his head, making baby noises and a surprised expression.

‘You poor child, you do not even have a real nanny; you do not have magic; that is why you do not have a surname.’ With sadness in her eyes, the maid firmly grasped the side of the cradle. ’Just like me, you are a commoner, no, worse than a commoner, because if you were a commoner's child, you would at least have your parents' love.’

Edmund yelled as he stared at the maid with a startled yet sad expression and tears streaming from his eyes. ‘Come on…’

In response, the maid took him out of the cradle and held him while moving him up and down. ‘At least you still have some time with me, little one.’

Edmund was now five years old. He was walking with the maid to an old warehouse where a man was waiting next to the door, and after she opened the door, revealing a bed and some old furniture, she bent down to his height. ‘Edmund, this is your new home. I tried to make it at least the level of a commoner's house. It will be difficult to see you from now on, as I live in the castle with the maids, but Sir Gustav will protect you as a guard, but nothing more. Do you understand?’ She made a serious face and pointed at the man.

‘Yes, Lucia.’ he replied, turning to face the maid and Gustav. ‘I am not going to bother you, sir; I will be in your care.’ He said, smiling slightly.

‘Do not worry, kid; I will do what I can.’ With a smile on his face, he walked over to Edmonds and placed his hand on his head. ‘Nobody here at the Royal Smiths will make your life harder; it is not your fault.’

With a smile on her face, Lucia took his little hands and held them with care. ‘Edmund, you can still go to the royal library to read your books; just make sure you are not dirty before going there; that is a privilege; make sure you make the most of it.’ She got up and followed Sir Gustav out of the warehouse.

‘Better be here than be bullied in the castle by my brothers and sisters. Right now, I can start my experiments with no restrictions and pay for these five years in the heavens with Lucia.’ Edmund looked up and sighed.

Before placing his hand on the door's handle, the young boy with blond hair and deep blue eyes looked at his open hand. He then opened the door, letting light enter the room.