Chaos...

Everywhere around Reigies was a mess. The sound of swords slashing and piercing into something could be heard everywhere. Creatures of unknown were flying, crawling and stomping that the ground shook. The setting sun that was once Reigies' favorite to watch was now something he despised. The ground almost mirrored the red color of the sky as fire was spread by a flying creature, burning everything. It was then that a howling cry of a wolf echoed that made everything halt. All men in armor and creatures of unknown faced a certain direction. Reigies followed their gaze and as he did, his whole body froze.

"NO!"

His hand was reaching out on the thin air as he catched his breath. Tears that he didn't know were there damped his face.

"Where..." Reigies scanned his surroundings then realized he was in his room. Something beside moved that made him flinch. Realizing it was just the black cat, Reigies sighed. Memories from what had happened then started flashing in his mind. His brows then furrowed upon remembering that he saw him. The hooded cloaked man. He never would have guessed that he would encounter him once again in this lifetime. But for some reason seeing his familiar figure somehow gave him conficted feelings. He was glad to see him yet, troubled.

That mysterious man has always told him warnings through coded phrases. Sometimes he just told him directly things he shouldn't do. He was always there whenever tragedy befalls him. Even in his other past lives he would always—

A groan escaped his lips as that same pain he had felt before started spreading from the back of his head. That same feeling of needles poking his head, making him tightly close his eyes.

"What would you ever do without my existence?"

A familiar voice echoed in Reigies' mind as he felt something soft lean against his forehead. The pain slowly faded away, in which he was relieved. When he opened his eyes, he was met with two crimson ones. Startled, he jolted away from the creature before him. The black wolf from that night sat before him, its crimson eyes boring gentleness as it studied him.

"Y-you... Wh-what? How–?"

"As usual, I have come to advise you of your life choices. To follow it or not is your choice." It then made slight bow before lying on the spacious bed. However, with his size that is a bit larger of that normal wolf, the bed seemed a bit smaller. "I've been watching for the past weeks and it seems that you get along with your sister just well. Lovely, I must say."

When Reigies didn't respond, the wolf raised its head to look at him.

"Is something the matter?" He asks.

Reigies blinked then slightly shook his head. "N-nothing. I was just surprised and glad to meet you once again."

"Glad?" The wolf didn't show any emotion but the voice responding in Reigies' mind seemed amused. "If I remember correctly, you never liked it whenever I appear before you."

Reigies then averted his gaze.

"Everything... Everything is so unfamiliar. It's as if I don't belong here. After going back in time, I started to view everything around me differently. I came to understand more of my father's actions. It was as if the fog in my mind cleared up." He then paused as his expression darkened. "However, whenever I look at everyone's faces, I feel like this whole thing is just a dream and that my life is the nightmare that I refuse to face. I feel like everything before me right now is just an illussion, a delusion I have. That in an instant everything would disappear and–"

He was cut off when a heavy paw landed on his head. He blinked, surprised and at the same time relieved. The heavy feeling that started building up in his chest instantly diasppeared that even he himself felt like it didn't exist.

"How fickle." The wolf sighed. "Your memories and emotions are making it dangerous for you."

"What do you mean?"

However, before the wolf could reply, the door opened followed by several pair of footsteps.

"I'm telling you that your son is fine. We just have to wait to– Oh, would you look at that. He's up with his pet."

"Thank the gods." Requiel whispered as he took long strides towards his son. The wolf jumped off the bed to give space to the man, who didn't seem to have had a good rest for the past nights. "Are you alright? Does your head hurt? Do you feel dizzy? Does your heart feel–"

"Bombarding him with questions may cause him a headache, you know." Lucas said, rollling his eyes after.

A cold duke they say? Lies, he would say. This man before him is none other than a worry-wart father. If not, a fool for the ones he care.

Reigies who was confused for a moment stared at his father. He never had seen him flustered like that even before he had regressed. Or maybe he had. He just chose to ignore it, refusing the fact that his father was capable of showing this kind of affection. A soft smile crept on his lips as that numbing feeling in his chest started spreading across it.

"You fool."

After hearing that voice in his head, something warm, wet and slimey touched Reigies' cheek. Realizing it was the tongue of a certain beast, he instantly pushed it away and glared at it.

"What are you doing?!" The sudden raising of his voice caused him to cough several times. Fortunately, there was a ready made set of pitcher of water and glass on his nightstand. His father grabbed it in haste and poured him a glass and gave it to him. He even helped him drink, making sure there was no water spilled on the sheets.

"Feeling alright?" Requiel asked in hi most gentle voice.

Reigies nodded in response and whispered a small 'thank you' at his father.

"Your pet just did its job, kid." Lucas approached the wolf, his eyes studying its entire physique. It was only now that he has encountered a shapeshifting creature making his scholarly mage side win over him at the moment. He wanted to study this creature himself. If possible put it in a cage and bring it back to the tower and play with it. Truthfully, this was the very reason why he had agreed to stay here instead of going back to the tower. He wanted to observe this creature together with to whom it is bound with, its master. After meeting the wolf's crimson eyes, his gaze then travelled towards the young man sitting on the bed, eyeing him curiously.

Requiel parted his lips and was about to introduce his old friend but Lucas spoke first.

"Lucas Phalcon. Currently deputy headmaster of the mage's tower. Your father's very first friend. I was his friend first before that weak bastard of a prince who is now the king."

Requiel couldn't help but run his palm all over his face upon hearing his friend slander a royal before his child. With a groan, he looked up at Lucas, his eyes pleading.

"Your mouth, Lucas."

"What? Without your support and my support he wouldn't be able to sit on that shiny chair and have that heavy crown."

"He is still a royal." Requiel defended.

Lucas made a disgusted expression. "So what? A title is all there is."

Requiel continued to defend the king as Lucas did the same with slandering a royal.

For some reason, Reigies felt out of place. Before his regression, he never had met Lucas in a close distance. He only saw him from afar and only twice at that. First was during his father's burial. He was the last person who came and stood in front of the grave several hours. Reigies watched for he was curious how and why such person was there. He again saw him a year later at the king's burial, once again standing in front of the grave after everyone has left. It was later that he had found out from Valeirene that the man was the mage known to be the most powerful even above the headmaster of the mage's tower itself. He also found out of the friendship of the three back in their academy days. Though after graduating, this mage holed up in the tower doing studies, experiments and researches, refusing to come out unless called by important people. That is why he was staring at this silver haired man a while ago wondering if he was that same mage.

After the king's death before Reigies' regression, Lucas, the great mage, was said to have went on a slumber. Since strong mages didn't age as a normal human would, they won't be able to die easily. Unless they are faced with another strong mage or go on a slumber. A slumber refers similarly to an eternal slumber or death. However slumber for mages means you are neither alive nor dead. It is as if you are in a coma for a long time, none knowing when you will wake up.

Seeing his father bicker with this mage made him wonder whether this mage intentionally forced his self to go on a slumber or was too shocked that his friends had left the world all so suddenly, leaving him behind.

"At least respect a friend."

"I told you, he is your friend. Not mine." Lucas huffed as he crossed his arm and faced Reigies. "Enough with that. I have to check something with your son since he's now conscious."

Requiel then took several steps backwards to give space to Lucas, who came close and reached out his palm.

"Now, young lord, would you mind holding my hand?"

Reigies glanced at his father who nodded at him. As his gaze returned to the mage, he extended his arm and laid his hand atop Lucas' palm.

"Before I start, I shall inform you that you may feel a little stinging pain staring from your palm crawling along your veins." Lucas informed as he instructed Requiel to move further away. As if understanding what was about to happen, the wolf voluntarily moved away and sat beside Requiel. "Truly intriguing." Lucas whispered, amazed at the wolf's action.

"What are we going to do anyway?" Reigies asked.

"Just a short check-up." Lucas replied with a smile that somehow told Reigies how excited this man was. "Now, now, close your eyes." He instructed in which Reigies complied.

As darkness filled Reigies' vision, he felt something electric crawl from the tip of his fingers through the veins in his arm towards his chest, enveloping his heart then to his spinal chord up to his brain. Then suddenly, he felt his whole body go numb, as if he was paralyzed for a moment. His chest then felt heavy. His heart and lungs felt like it was being squeezed in a tight space. He parted his lips, wanting to say something but nothing would come out of his lips. As if his voice was taken away from him. It was when he felt like something growing within him that Lucas let go of Reigies' hand and in an instant, everything he was feeling evaporated. When he opened his eyes, he was surprised to see Lucas' serious expression.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

"You...How are you still alive?"

"W-what?" Reigies was confused and for some reason, he felt nervous.

"Such power you have, wrecking havoc within you." And as if to remind Lucas of something, the wolf approached with black smoke gathering around him. When it reached the bed, it was now a small cat. It hopped on Reigies' lap and laid there. "I see. Of course." Lucas reached to touch the head of the cat and in an instant, his seriousness turned into what seemed to be a relief. He then chuckled.

Whatever was happening before him, Reigies was clueless.

"What is it, Lucas?" Requiel asked, hesitant to approach.

Lucas then cleared his throat as he stood up and stepped away from the bed.

"Nothing much. I already told you everything the other night. And what I saw within your son and that creature confirms it. Both are connected." Lucas paused and stared at the cat on Reigies' lap. "And like I told you, it seems that your family has this some kind of hereditary disease wherein your aura that continues to grow exessively would eat your life. Which reminds me." His gaze then shifted to Reigies who's still confused. "Hey, kid. I mean, young lord. May I ask you something? And please answer truthfully."

Reigies was unsure but nodded anyways.

"I heard that you've been having nightmares recently. I would like to confirm if this is true?"

Right. Reigies would always tell that he just had a nightmare to anyone who noticed his troubled and somehow sleepless face. It was probably his sister and Emily who told his father of this situation of his. Or his father had noticed it himself as he remembered answering with that excuse several times. Reigies' gaze shifted to his father who's gaze was full of worry. He then looked down at the cat on his lap. It had its eyes closed as if it were sleeping but Reigies knew it was up and listening to everything.

"I have."

It was half lie and half truth. Of course, he would have nightmares of what had happened before his regression. However, on other nights, he couldn't really sleep as he was reminded of the horror of his doings. Memories haunted him whether he was awake or asleep.

"I see. May I ask what kind?"

Reigies' vision then became blurry for a moment followed by a voice speaking in his mind.

"Just tell him that you can't really remember."

"I... I can't really remember." Reigies replied and for some unknown reason, his head suddenly felt light. He then looked up and met Lucas' curious gaze. "All I remember is that it was horrible and the feeling would stay within my chest. As if the agony I felt in my dream were real." He didn't know what exactly came out of his mouth. As if he was being controlled for a moment.

"I see." Lucas nodded. "This is troublesome." His lips pursed in a thin line. "Do you, perhaps, know the cause of these nightmares?"

Reigies tensed up in which both adults noticed. Of course, he knew very well the cause. But how could he tell them? How could he tell them that he went back in time with the help of some mysterious man? How could he tell them that he had slain people with the same sword that is still in his father's possession? How could he tell them that he knew of things his father was trying to hide?

Noticing that it was taking a while for Reigies to respond, Lucas clicked his tongue.

"I won't be able to help if you hide things."

Reigies looked up, his gaze jumping from the mage then to his father. After a while, he averted his gaze.

"I don't know." He says. "Why does my nightmare concern you anyway?" He asked, unintentionally sounding rude.

Lucas sighed, now getting a little irritated by this brat.

"Your nightmares are none of my concern, yes. My true concern is your mental state that is being influenced by your said nightmares."

Reigies' brows furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Before Lucas could reply, Requiel tapped his shoulder.

"Would you mind leaving us alone? He is yet aware of his condition, you see."

Lucas then let out a low groan as he himself remembered that the young man before him was clueless of his own state. He then started grumbling incoherrent words as he snapped his finger and disappeared in a thin air.

Reigies' eyes widened upon witnessing teleportation magic for the first time. A non-verbal at that! Of course, he had used portals that would teleport anyone and anything several times. He also had witnessed teleportation spells during his academy days from mage students but have never seen or witnessed a non-verbal one. Truly, it is amazing how one could cast spells without moving his lips.

"Amazing, isn't he?" Requiel chuckled. Reigies nodded in return. It has been a while since Requiel has seen his son been amazed at something. For some reason, the face his son made as soon as Lucas disappeared has brought him back old memories of younger version of him.

'Oh, old days' He thought as an image of Reigies' younger self appeared in his mind. A smile krept on his lips, only to be wiped away in an instant as another figure overlapped with Reigies' face.

Upon noticing his father's sudden change of facial expression, Reigies couldn't help but worry. However, before he could even utter a single word, Requiel cleared his throat and sat on the mattress.

"Anyway, let's talk about your situation."

"Does this have something to do with the conversation we were having– Wait, how long was I unconscious this time?" Reigies asks, now realizing that he had lose his consciousness twice this week now.

"Two days."

"Two?"

Requiel hummed in agreement as a reply. And before Reigies could dig his memory as to why he had fainted, the cat's voice resounded in his mind.

"I'd rather you not think about anything and just focus on the conversation you're about to have with your father. Unless you would like to lose consciousness again."

Reigies flinched upon hearing this. He wanted to ask why but couldn't for his father was around.

Requiel cleared his throat, getting his son's attention.

"A blue aura. As I have mentioned before, when we found you and your sister, both of you were unconscious, surrounded by a blue aura and that blue aura is yours."

Reigies frowned. "That's impossible."

According to what he remembers, Reigies had first wielded his aura at the age of fifteen. A year from now. Also, it was not blue aura that he had first wielded, it was orange. A color that is in the middle. Before his mind could wander more, his father spoke.

"Indeed. I, too, couldn't believe what my eyes were seeing during that day. Amazed, yet worried. Worried that the power you posses would eat you." Even with his calm face, his voice couldn't hide the small tremble in it. "We are yet uncertain as to how you were able to wield such powerful aura with that young body of yours however, with the appearance of your familiar, we have somehow found our answer."

Reigies' eyes followed his father's gaze. As if sensing their gazes, the cat on Reigies' lap opened its eyes and raised its head. He then looked up at Requiel innocently, blinking as if asking why this human was looking at him.

"Lucas said that this creature may be a creation of your power, to balance whatever excess power you have that your body can't contain. In other words, a vessel."

"I don't understand, father." Reigies says, now his frown deepening. "What do you mean?"

Requiel took in a deep breath. "Your situation is quite unusual. Although our family has a history of being eaten by their own aura at a certain age, yours came earlier."

An image Reigies didn't want to remember then suddenly flashed in his mind. A hand that he never imagined holding once again, going limp in his own. Last words of his father resounding in his mind again. He then clenched his fists, forcing the memory out.

"I... I've heard some things with regards that." Reigies says, also remembering stories he had heard before.

A small, sad smile appeared on Requiel's lips. One day, he too may or may not depart this world due to that unexplainable illness of their family. Truthfully, he wasn't afraid of dying. However, the thought of leaving his son and daughter behind brought heaviness in his chest.

Requiel once again sighs and starts to explain to his son whatever he had heard from Lucas. Though still uncertain of the information, every theory and conclusion his friend had made, all made sense.

"Then by vessel, do you mean that half or more of my aura is within this creature?" Reigies asks, confused and doubtful of everything he heard. The creature on his lap was someone he already knew even before his regression. How could such being be a part of him?

"That is the most plausible explanation there is." Requiel replied. "Your desire to escape the situation you and your sister were in may or may not be the trigger of your aura, making you unconsciously create a new being that is able to help you with any situation. But as I've mentioned, your mental stability isn't at its best." Seeing his son flinch, he couldn't help but ask. "Truly, my son. What it is that had made you have nightmares? I knew something was not right the moment you had decided to act differently towards your sister. Does it have something to do with her?"

As Requiel asked those questions, that prophecy emerged in his mind. For some reason, he suddenly felt anxious. Worried that his concern ever since hearing that prophecy is starting to take place.

Different from his father's worry, Reigies mind was filled with unwanted memories. Blood, cries and his rage towards the world. That boiling feeling within him as he swung his sword around started surfacing within him.

"Reigies. Your mind is starting to wander once again." The voice of the cat echoed in his mind. "Focus on what it is that is currently in front of you." It added, snapping him back to reality. However, that heavy feeling remained.

"Reigies?" Requiel called in which his son had raised his head to, their eyes meeting. For a moment, Requiel saw something in his son's eyes. Something he had seen in the battlefield. His eyes were pleading, screaming of something he couldn't really comprehend. "You can always talk to me, my son. I am–"

The door suddenly opened followed by a sweet, little voice.

"Father? Who are you talking to in brother's room?" Half of Catherine's body slid in the slit of the door she had made. Her face then brightened upon seeing her brother sitting on his bed. She pushed the door open and ran towards the bed, giggling. "Brother! You're awake!"

Requiel chuckled as he helped his daughter climb the bed for she was struggling. Ruby, the shapeshifting creature, hopped off Reigies' lap to give space to Catherine, who went for a tight hug in which Reigies returned rather in a little awkward manner. Even though they had made progress and were closer than before, Reigies still found hugs and kisses from his sweet sister a bit foreign at times. Though these small actions brought warmth in his heart.

"Brother was unconscious for two days." Catherine said as she broke their hug. "I was so worried when I found out. Though I also just woke up yesterday."

Reigies brows furrowed and before he could ask any question, his father spoke.

"When you had lost control over your aura and your familiar jumped in and roared, Catherine seemed to have been shocked. Though, Lucas suspects that your aura may have also affected her in a way. The very reason why she was unconscious for a whole day." Requiel explained with a soft, yet solemn smile.

"But I'm alright now, Father. Also, I don't really remember much of what happened." Catherines says with a smile as she faced her father. "Oh, right! Emily said to inform her once brother awakens so that she could bring him food. Did you inform her already, Father?"

Requiel flinched. It was only then that he remembered Emily's words.

"My lord, kindly please inform me or any servant around once the young lord awakens. He would be hungry once he does."

Reigies chuckled upon seeing his father's troubled face.

"Well, Emily is right. I am hungry." Reigies ruffled Catherine's hair. "Would you mind going downstairs and inform people in the kitchen that I'm hungry?"

Catherine smiled and nodded. Without wasting another second, she carefuly got down the bed and ran towards the door.

"Don't run down the stairs! You might trip. Okay?!" Reigies yelled in which Catherine yelled back, her voice echoing along the hallway.

"Okay!"

Reigies couldn't help but chuckle as a memory before he regressed surfaced in his mind. A seventeen year old Catherine tripping over a rock as she approached the table where Reigies was waiting for her. Catherine cursed a lot and rolled her eyes upon hearing her brother laugh in which he covered with a cough. In the end, both laughed as they drank their tea. They weren't close. They weren't distant either. Their relationship after their father died was of something similar to a new pair of friends starting to get to know eachother. The memory was one of those memories with his sister that he couldn't forget for it was a moment where both of them had shared sincere smiles.

'Yet again, I ruined those smiles.'

He thought as a pang of guilt hit him.

"Reigies." Upon his father's call, he looked up only to see that solemn smile once again. "You know, I wish I could read your mind. This father of yours worries on what runs in that head of yours. That whatever trouble that is, I would try my best to help you with. One moment you're smiling and then next thing I know is that I'm staring at your troubled face."

For a moment, Reigies stared at his father blankly. He then gave him a gentle smile.

"Then I guess we are the same, Father." Requiel's brows creased at his son's remark, not understabding what he meant. "Father smiles as he watches me and Catherine spend time together, yet, he has this troubled look from time to time. As if he is worried of something that is yet to happen."

Requiel was speechless. The way his son was currently staring at him was as if he's trying to read his soul.

"Though I may have an idea what Father is worried about. For, I too worry of the same thing." As Reigies finished his sentence, he averted his gaze only to be met eye to eye with crimson ones. Ruby's tail tapped twice on the sheets as if he was encouraging Reigies but also warning him.

He then nodded to his self and once again returned his gaze towards his father and spoke.

"You're worried that I will kill my sister, right?"