(Note: This chapter contains elements of self-harm so, read it on your conscience}

Levi and Ryan strolled through the streets, discussing their activities over the past two weeks.

"I didn't do much, except lock myself in a room and keep working on the cure,"

Ryan confessed, reflecting on his unhealthy work routine of 16-hour days, one meal a day, and then sleep, for two weeks straight.

He hadn't ventured outside once or interacted with anyone else.

Levi, while not one for distractions and hardly a social butterfly, had never gone to such extremes.

"That's why you look like a vampire. You lived a life of discord mood."

"What does that mean?"

Levi shook his head.

"You won't get it, even if I explain."

Ryan didn't press further on the "discord mod," but his curiosity about Levi's activities during his absence prompted him to ask,

"You seem to have been up to many interesting things, except for spying on the Gemini."

Levi looked back on the past two weeks of non-stop activity. As usual, he didn't divulge everything but found no reason not to share it with his teacher.

Ryan maintained a stoic expression as Levi summarized his hectic two weeks.

'This guy.'

Levi was anything but ordinary, and Ryan knew it, but this revelation took it to another level.

Ryan thought that what Levi had accomplished in such a short time was beyond the capability of anyone his age, or even Ryan's age.

He patted Levi's head, smiling.

"Once again, you've saved lives, Levi. The people may never know, nor will the world ever know, but I am proud of you."

Levi returned the smile and stopped walking when they reached the city hospital.

Ryan frowned upon seeing his usual workplace. "I don't want to work for a while now. Do well on your shift."

With that, Ryan swiftly walked away, leaving Levi to enter the hospital and greet his senior healers.

"Did you have your shift today?"

one of Levi's senior colleagues asked, taking a sip from his cup.

"No, but Mr. Gale needed some assistance,"

Levi replied as he walked away, heading to his senior's office.

As he made his way through the empty hallway, passing by the autopsy section, Levi spotted a familiar face sitting on a cold, metal hospital chair with his head down.

'Mr. Dave? And why is he at the autopsy section?'

Levi's boss at the academy's office looked even worse than usual. His black eye had grown darker, with a shadow around it, concealing his emotions.

Levi didn't have a shift in the office that day, so he didn't bother to go there.

Dave turned and watched Levi walk towards him but couldn't muster a smile or greeting.

Levi sat beside him without saying anything. Being in the autopsy section didn't bode well.

Dave took a deep breath.

"I was feeling a bit off and took a day off. I was just sleeping on the sofa when I heard my wife scream from the other room, and then…"

Dave rubbed his face and couldn't hold back the tears.

"Hyla's feet... they were dangling. I knew what had happened. Pathetic as I am, I couldn't look up. If I did, it would haunt me forever. My body and voice refused to call for help. My servants pulled her down, and they brought her here."

"I couldn't bring myself to come here or read this letter beside the bed,"

he said, pulling out a crumpled, half-opened piece of paper from his pocket.

"Can you read it for me ?"

Dave passed it to Levi, a selfish and unwise choice given the circumstances, but his emotions were too jumbled to think clearly.

Levi accepted the paper from Dave and opened it, making sure to keep it out of his line of sight and didn't read it out loud.

[

Mr. Dave,

Thank you for everything you have done for me and for Mark too. You gave him a job and a home for both of us. I can never forget that, and I still can't repay you for it.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Mark and I never had parents. You and Mrs. Diana filled the void for us. Familial love— I dreamt of it, and you fulfilled it. Life was better than I imagined.

I wish things never changed. We could have stayed the same, under the same roof, sharing meals, laughing, and going for picnics, just like a normal family.

But life changed, and it brought a change I never wanted. Mark left me too early. My dream to kiss him at the altar is now a nightmare. My dream of growing old with him and passing away peacefully in his arms will never come true.

Mr. Dave, forgive me. I am about to hurt you.

Every day, my heart sinks deeper. I am trying to swim up for my own sake, but I can't seem to gather enough strength.

My soul has sunk too deep.

Please, don't blame yourself for anything. You did everything, even more than what I deserved. Each day, you looked after me and were by my side. You were, are, and always will be my father.

Sorry, Mr. Dave, I don't want to live anymore.

Shameless as I am, can you do me one last favour? Please bury my body next to Mark's grave. I don't want any funeral. If possible, I want only you and Mrs. Dave to be there.

I don't think we will ever meet again. Your kind soul belongs in heaven. In the afterlife, I will look up from the depths of hell and smile, knowing you were there for me.

Thank you… father, for everything.

]

Levi folded the paper and put it back in Dave's pocket. He felt the paper through his coat, still fearing to open it.

"What did she say?"

There were many things that Dave shouldn't hear or read yet. He had just lost his son and now lost his daughter. His shattered heart needed time to heal.

Levi rubbed Dave's back and consoled him, "She wants to be buried next to Mark with only you and your wife at the funeral. The rest… your heart cannot take it. Take some time. If you want to blame yourself, I won't stop you. Though, every time you think of her, smile. That's what both of them would have wanted."

Dave nodded slightly. He covered his mouth, tears streaming down his face, never seeming to cease.

After a few minutes, a doctor emerged from the room—Mr. Gale, the man who had called Levi for assistance that day.

Both shared a sombre smile, one feeling pity for the man, the other simply doing what a compassionate person should.

Approaching Dave, Gale stood there, unsure of how to broach the topic. "Dave?"

The grief-stricken father wiped his tears, but they continued to flow. "Yes?"

"The body will be put in a coffin. Do you want to see her face one last time?"

"No,"

Dave replied, knowing his limits. He couldn't bear to see his daughter in such a state—pale, cold, devoid of life.

Gale nodded and gestured for Levi to follow him. He stood up and both of them walked right beside the hallway.

"There isn't anything suspicious nor is Dave someone to do something this foul. The cause is suicide."

He took a long sigh. Gale had been doing this for a long time but like he thought and wanted, he would never get used to this.

Corpses didn't scare him, the lifeless eyes of their loved ones did.

"Go to room 101 and prepare the equipment. One of my assistants is already there, but I need your help."

He looked at Dave and sighed again,

"I need to sort things out."

Levi nodded and walked to the assigned room. Dave needed time.

Trying to console him wasn't going to do much.

'Later, when he feels more comfortable.'

The psycho didn't feel much, but years of observation and acting had developed a skill for appearing normal and empathetic… and a professional liar.

*****

"Can you use a spear also?"

Gabriel asked, stretching his body as Levi retrieved a spear from his spatial ring.

After finishing his work at the hospital, Levi had trained with Irina, and now he was here to train with Gabriel.

The forest was enveloped in darkness as evening fell. Levi produced a floating magic lamp, which automatically hovered at the centre when infused with mana.

"Yeah, but only a bit. My father taught me."

"Just who is your father?"

Gabriel inquired, curious about Levi's mysterious father, a swordsman and spear user whose proficiency wasn't widely known in society. Gabriel had never seen him demonstrate his skills, but judging by Levi's skill, he guessed that Levi's father was likely a genius.

Levi didn't answer. He didn't know who his father was.

He stretched his back and prepared himself. Training with Irina had been draining, but he couldn't skip sparring with Gabriel.

'Irina knows how to teach, and she definitely teaches me well, but when I train with him, the flow state comes to me a lot more naturally.'

Feeling the cold evening breeze on his neck, Levi activated the 'Master of Weapon' skill as he gripped the cold metal of the newly acquired spear.

The weapon, which he had never before touched, felt like a natural extension of himself.

"You ready?"

Gabriel assumed his stance, and without a word, they began a friendly clash.

*****

"Those fuckers—do they have nothing better to do?"

Eliza grumbled, feeling tired and annoyed by the looks she received in the training hall from other students.

She desired admiration and respect, which she received most of the time, but some looks made her uncomfortable.

It felt as though they were undressing her with their eyes alone. Disgusted, she left.

The top ten candidates often received their own personal training room, and Eliza had one all to herself—a large one.

She used the room to practice her art, The Flames of Lion, which sometimes caused the mana circuit inside and outside the room to malfunction, leading to safety and security issues.

The mana circuit was specifically built for those flames—not to stop them, but to self-regenerate the barrier. If she trained during the regeneration phase, even the slightest movement in her sword training would destroy the whole room.

Eliza trained her flame art in the morning and sword training in the evening, which is why she had to use the training hall.

As she ventured deeper into the forest, the smell of the warm earth filled her nose, and the sound of birds chirping filled her ears.

Unlike usual, she heard another sound nearby. She turned and saw a speck of light behind the lush trees and bushes.

"Someone else also trains here?"

It wasn't her usual spot, and she had never seen anyone training in the forest at this time.

Curious, she tiptoed, avoiding stepping on branches, hid behind a tree, and peeked at the spot.

"Gabriel?"

The green aura surrounding the sword and his movements immediately helped her recognize Gabriel. She had somewhat seen those techniques before, being Fiona's disciple, his sister, although his skills were no match for hers.

"And Levi? Huh?"

Eliza covered her mouth. She hid behind the tree, taking a deep breath to organize her thoughts.

The Levi she knew, despised, and somewhat sorry, was holding a spear.

She looked again and realized that Levi wasn't just holding it—he was using it as if he trained with it daily.

Eliza couldn't tear her eyes away from their battle. Every movement they made was precise, intended for victory, yet there was no hint of animosity.

With each clash of their weapons, Gabriel's smile grew wider. He became more competitive, unlike Eliza had ever seen him before.

Meanwhile, Levi's expression remained unchanged, but his movements, footwork, and spear trajectory became more precise and deadly.

"He can use a spear as well?"

Eliza observed Levi's every move. She had encountered few dual wielders, very few, but none as young as him.

She had sparred with Blake and knew that Levi's spear skills were still far from perfect, but—

'What if she stops archery and focuses solely on spears?'

She knew what he could do with a bow, and now spears? Just the thought of it gave her goosebumps.