Chapter 12: The Novel

A man with white hair and glistening ocean-deep blue eyes was standing in a room where light barely escapes.

He stares at a huge portrait of a woman. The woman in the portrait has the most beautiful scarlet hair and eyes. She smiles with pure elegance and sparks in her eyes.

The woman was the man's deceased mother, the duke's wife, Aurelia Mircalla Sevonachiege.

His mother died when he was entering childhood, and though the memories he had with his mother are fuzzy it was all warm.

"Master," A voice called him.

"Father. Where is he?" He asked still looking at the portrait.

"His Grace hasn't come back yet. His return was delayed due to some complications he needs to take care of."

"Is that so? Did he say something?"

The butler paused as he thoroughly think about what to say.

"His Grace tasked you to accompany the young master to the central plaza after his done recovering." The butler eyed the man in front observing what reaction he would make.

"How is he today?"

"The young master has rested for a week in the dukedom and his recovery is favorable. He's doing well." The butler replied.

"Alright, set the date for the week so he can prepare." Their conversation ended there and the butler was excused.

Raffael took one glance at the portrait before leaving.

Something's off.

He thought as he exited the room.

He ought to head to his brother's workplace for the clarifications of the embezzlement case they handle.

He's still feeling anxious he can't explain while walking down the corridor. He doesn't understand why he feels this every time he set foot in this home.

Even before he came here, he already felt it.

Raffael sighed.

He doesn't know how to face him anymore after what happened yet his father asked him to take him to the central plaza.

This will be a disaster.

That kid despises me. Even approaching him will make his eyes tremble.

Raffael's turned sour as he let out a groan.

He caressed the bracelet hanging on his wrist, remembering the young child who gave the bracelet to him with glimmering sparkles in his eyes.

"Master Raffael, the carriage is ready."

A servant appeared behind him. He saw the carriage outside waiting on standby. Raffael then step outside and got inside the carriage.

A few minutes later the carriage stopped at the entrance of a huge building. The carriage horseman opened the door for him.

As Raffael entered the building he quickly saw the man sitting on the couch reading a book while enjoying sipping his black tea.

It was a person that barely makes his presence, doesn't like attention too much.

"Percival," Raffael called.

The man halted from sipping his tea and look at Raffael who called him.

"My, aren't you, Raffael? Looking for your brother?" He asked. Raffael gave him a hum reply.

Pervical is an Onun affinity holder. He has only one magic that he welds and it's lightning magic. However, despite being an onun he has incredible power to overpass any elements. He might not always be present, but he is extremely aware of what events happening in the guild.

Raffael joined him sitting on the opposite side. "Is my brother not here?" Raffael said.

"Unfortunately," Percival replied. So, he isn't here then.

"How about the others?"

"Some of them went to work. We're the only ones laying leisurely here." He teased.

Raffael's eyebrows raised. "Don't lump me with you, Percival. I'm busy working."

"Oh, my bad, timing's great actually. I have something to tell you about your.... younger brother." He said while pouring his cup of tea.

Raffael's face completely sunk. He gritted his teeth, only to make things worst in his situation.

Percival was mostly entrusted with work like undercovers, spying, and secret investigations. You can tell that knowing Percival barely makes his appearance in the guild. Though he's not the only one who works behind his position is rather suitable for him since he's a former investigator under the law before.

Percival looks unquietly at his tea. He filled the conversation they have with silence. Raffael was a patient man despite his unruly behavior sometimes but receiving an empty response makes his patience blow up.

After those passing months after the incident, he's been distressed and unsettled. Many things happened especially Evyterr.

He also can't rest because there's something that keeps him uneasy and doesn't know why. It's almost like something was suppressing him from thinking things further.

"Raffael," Hearing his name made Raffael's thoughts shambles. This time he saw Percival's knife-like eyes giving him a warning.

***

As Raffael stares out at the window he watches the houses, stores, and people the carriage passes by. His mind was still intact about what he and Percival talked about.

The whole conversation was disturbing. Everything he heard makes his mind disorient.

"You know that there's something wrong here," Pervical said with his gaze fixated on his cup of tea.

Raffael remained quiet but confusion tainted his beauteous ocean blue eyes.

"Everyone knew, Raffael. Something is wrong here. We all felt it when we saw your brother that day." Raffael's eyes gloomed.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Percival. Something's wrong? Everything's normal. Just tell me what happened to Evyterr!" Raffeal's vexed voice made the atmosphere tense.

Percival perceived the anger--no, rather Raffael's frustration, because he was certain. He also felt it, though, in the case of Raffael, he had this feeling that he was aware of it longer than us maybe from before he joined Iris or when he became a Glastieve.

Percival also suspected that because of this he chooses to discard that feeling despite being aware of the entanglement of curses. The reason might be obvious.

"Raffael, I have warned you for good. Be careful and don't turn your eyes away from him. Don't let your emotions go ahead of you."

Raffael harshly closed his eyes. He brushed his hair frustratingly and groan.

"Fuck," he cursed. "How can this be so difficult avoiding you?"

After Raffael was gone Percival was left alone. He intended to talk about this further however Percival thought it might not be a good choice seeing how the topic is too sensitive for Raffael.

"As expected, Percival. I'm interested in how many things have you already found out."

Pervical turned his head to the door at the side and saw a man leaning beside him.

He was stunned.

"Did you already suspect that the curse might be involved in this? Especially about Raffael." He asked with a wide grin.

Percival stood up and bowed in respect.

"Guildmaster," he said. "You're back."

***

I was laying in bed. A servant called me this morning to announce that I'm going out tomorrow with Raffael.

I can't refuse either since I need to gather information.

But together with Raffael won't be a good idea. What's wrong with father doing this?

I'm not ready to face him yet after what happened on the cliff where he saved me.

I just don't know.

Morning came and Theseus assisted me with bathing and changing clothes.

The moment the sun rose I was wide awake. Do you think I slept last night? I barely slept.

Evyterr's memories visited me last night, it was all about the duke introducing him to the brothers but can't see their faces.

I ended up thinking about it all night.

The novel explained that Evyterr wasn't able to meet the brothers not long after he became ten years old.

Evyterr was just five years old in the memories I have. What kind of glitch is this? Or did I just miss some parts of the story?

There's no way. I never skip a part of a chapter, even the author's notes, and side stories!

Did I miss something in the story?

I escaped a frustrating groan, Theseus seem to notice it and ran forward to my front.

He kneeled, "Young master, you'll be leaving in a minute. Please, if you keep doing that your lips are going to bleed."

My lips....?

I looked in the mirror my lips were beaten red. This is an unavoidable habit of mine ever since I was a kid. I tend to bite my lips when I'm struggling in my thoughts.

It looks hurting.

I carefully touched it. It's almost like they're going to bleed.

"Please stay put, I'm going to fetch medicine," Theseus stood as I was still looking at the mirror.

He already was gone from the room. I didn't even hear the door close or open.

I hear the sound of the clock running in this room.

Tick, tock, tick, tock

I keep on thinking about what will happen today. I want to stay away from him.

I don't want to see him.

I know can't also stay here in the mansion all the time like a caged bird.

I still have to see this world to survive. The gods could've let my soul rest than making me live inside a novel. I'm stupid for asking to be reincarnated.

Oh gods, if you can still hear me, I take my words back.

How could I live in this broken body? I couldn't rely on someone. With this character, I can't assure my survival. To the eyes of the people this kid is a scum, a piece of trash, don't you know how many people want him dead over the past years of his existence?

Being a Glastieve, a despicable human being at that, gained so much hatred, especially from the nobles.

A lowlife shit who clings to the riches of Glastieve.

That's how they see me.

Even if I didn't live a good life at first I still want to pursue this life with great things.

I want to pursue happiness and freedom.

But to attain that I must also face the dangers of being Evyterr.

I'm all by myself here. Having no one to protect me and guide me.

I can't trust people who give me facade kindness knowing who am I.

How am supposed to protect myself?

I feel like I wanted to do something so badly but disappointingly I can't because I'm weak,

My mind keeps telling me I can't do it.

I can't do something good. I'm a failure.

Trying to be positive doesn't help. It is still engraved in my mind like chains gripping me.

I desperately want to change. I really do. Yet why do failures keep coming and coming?

Misfortune and pain.

They don't end.

I feel like I'm an idiot for my actions. I regret being stupid. Questions in my mind started to make their mess inside my head.

They're trying to take me down.

Making me feel that my choices are the reason why I'm like this.

Go disappear already.

I began to bite my lip again without knowing. I clenched my fist and my head down facing the floor.

I tried stopping the building tears in my eyes, trembling as I continue to suppress them, a sudden hand raise my chin above.

I abruptly opened my lips and let go of them. My eyes widened when I met Theseus's gaze, he's eyes were piercing me. He looks displeased.

Theseus went closer to match his gaze with mine while his other hand traveled in my hand still clenching. He caressed it softly which made me loosen my grip in surprise because of his touch.

"You're unkind to my pleases, young master. I plead with you to stop biting your lips because they'll bleed. Now, look what happened."

I was unable to speak. I can't move because Theseus's eyes felt like locking me in my place. I'm almost bursting red with this awkward closeness.

I can feel cold sweat on my hands. But gladly Theseus withdraw and didn't stay longer in this position.

He opened the medicine and pulled the gloves in his other hand with his lips while holding up my chin.

He put some in his fingers and gently place it on my lips. He carefully spread them.

It stings a little.

Now that Theseus is done he finally let go of me, I can't take it anymore longer.

The medicine is kind of cooling, and it looks like I applied lipstick looking at how it glowed.

I looked away in the mirror, I don't want to see my face redden in embarrassment.

"My work here is done, young master. I'll be back again to inform you when the carriage arrives." Theseus said and walk away.

I can see Theseus's way of treating me changed, he was stiff and cold but now he is somewhat polite and nice...? It was not supposed to be like this. Theseus should be more unsympathetic and indifferent.

I stared at his back. It all feels strange.

It made me wait for a few minutes before Theseus came. He said that I have a separate carriage to ride on.

That's good. Good.

I don't want to sit in the same carriage with him either.

Theseus said he will stay in the mansion and another servant will accompany me. He explained that he has something to take care of with which he is not able to escort me today.

My main goal was to gain information first. From the day of my reincarnation, I was only in the duke's residence for recovery. I have so little source of information and I can only rely on my memories which I'm skeptical about most of the time because I started to see fragments of Evyterr's memories that I'm afraid are antithetical to what I read in the novel.

But it doesn't mean I will discard the novel, some of the key events are still happening like in the novel's current timeline. I can guess it now.

There are two events that I believe are happening right now.

In the novel, it was called Tearpale Lotus Malice and Scarlet Crescent.

Tearpale Lotus Malice is an event that involves Theseus and Casimir. This event set forth on their journey to investigate an ancient relic in the form living flower. It was located in the Ruins of As'etel, the ruin was near the land of Estelar, a great land of huge trees and fascinating blossoms, it's a beautiful and enchanting forest, truly loved by mother nature.

The most important part of that event is the appearance of the new member of Iris, the youngest of all of them. Upon discovering the flower's existence, Theseus and Casimir witnessed the flower birth the young boy. A child came out from the flower as it opened in full bloom.

It was something they never expected at all. The child was concluded around five years old. The moment they touched the sleeping child the flower slowly withered. Quickly, they took the child into their arms.

No one knows what happened other than Theseus and Casimir. They never knew a child will come out from a flower and what is that child?

Originally, they were ordered to investigate the ruin because a possibility of the existence of the flower might be there and if fortunately, they will take it to study it more for Crisis's research.

Now instead of a flower, they will bring back a child rather. They have yet to tell the guild about it but will after they return.

The child will be known as Philos from now on.

Philos will be recognized later on as a member of Iris. Iris will now take care of Philos under the utmost care of the guild. While Philos is under them the guild will discover his existence, therefore, his origins will be safely kept from other people other than the Iris.

The other event is the Scarlet Crescent.

This event evolves in Raffael's character and his stay in his mother's homeland, Ignalia.

It's a short backstory in the novel only occupying five chapters.

Ignalia is the motherland of wizards, warlocks, and witches. They worshipped the first wizard who founded Ignalia Empire.

The Wizard, Pendragon.

They were still under the race of humans though.

Raffael will know more about his mother, that part will also unlock new characters and new quests. He will also encounter a sort of louche organization lurking behind the peaceful Ignalia.

Which will be taken care of later in the novel but that time it will happen Raffael is no longer alive.

Back then, readers love Raffael but he died in the first half of the first volume.

They love how mysterious his character was. He captivated most of the readers even though his appearance in the novel was seldomly shown.

However, his death immensely affected the whole story as it reached the second half of the story. The readers also went hectic about Raffael's death since he was also an important character.

The comments I read online in the computer cafe were all about him but it stirred some chaos when the author didn't reveal the reason for his death until the novel reached its third volume.

That's one of the reasons they hated Evyterr more even if he was already gone in the novel.

My thoughts ended when the door opened. There was a man standing in front of the door, the sunshine made my eyes blinded for a moment and it was late for me to notice.

Raffael was already looking at me.

An upbeat pulsated in my chest. I feel like I'm not in control. I was suddenly unable to move.

"Evyterr."

*****

Evyterr, dear, I miss you(⁠｡⁠ﾉ⁠ω⁠＼⁠｡⁠) I also can't wait to introduce you to Philos(⁠꒪⁠꒳⁠꒪⁠)

My greetings to all my beloved Descendants! How was it been so far? I'm sorry I was gone for a long time. I was keeping up with school and studies, so I'm a bit busy.

But I made sure to make time. I have nothing extra to say, this is just a short announcement.

All that I wanted to say was already posted on my message board! Please don't forget to read it! It's important! It's all regarding the story so you'll know my other announcements.

Now, that's all for today.

Happy reading, Descendants!

Lovelots(⁠~⁠￣⁠³⁠￣⁠)⁠~