When they went inside, the lavish sofa was easily to be seen by the fire place just like the old man said. The legs of the chair had some soot in them so it must have been used as warmer couch for a long while now.
“This is my favorite chair. It reminds me very much of my father’s study chair, he was quite fond of it.” Old Yeshwa said as he sat on it.
“He would read thousands of papers with his eyebrows creased, worrying about something… I can’t quite remember, but I think he mentioned students once or twice—“
“That is a good story, sir. But I’m afraid that I would have to take away your favorite chair.”
Ronin interrupted him before he can say the word ‘students’ properly. Ah, this old Headmaster’s senility was both a blessing and a curse, he keeps revealing information.
Ronin continued: “I’ll try to find a gooreplacementmt for it, something cleaner and more sophisticated.”
“Ah….. I see.” Old Yeshwa looked at it. “Well, can I sit in it for a while before you take it? Just one last time….. So I can recall more memories of my father again.”
Lily patted the old man’s shoulder, sounding a little more Calla-ish the longer Ronin stays with them. “No man with a heart would deny you of that, Old Yeshwa.”
She turned to the man who may or may not have a heart..
“Why do you plan to take this machine anyway? All experiments that are conducted within school grounds or sanctioned by the Council must be reported.”
“I don’t plan to experiment on my own. It’s for sentimental reasons.” Ronin said. “I’ll wait for Professor Espinella to come back so we can continue, but in the meantime…. I would have it for safekeeping. Maybe polish it amd give some improvements.”
(Nice lies, but I know you can never be sentimental, Ronin. Someone like you…. That would be hilarious.) He heard her thought.
But it managed to convince the old Headmaster anyway, who was not the professor’s father.
“Ah, you and my son must really be close, I see! That must be something valuable to a teacher, leaving your mark on a student’s heart. Having a connection similar to that of a family.”
“Family…” He muttered, then started staring off to space. “Mother? Father?”
He reached out to thin air, like a little boy blinking wide once he saw his parents have returned.
Lily patted his head. “It’s alright, Old Yeshwa. Your Mother and Father are in a good place now.”
The old man calmed down, and shook his head. “Yes….. Yes…. Well, what are we talking about again?”
Ronin frowned. “How often does he…. Whatever that was?”
Lily still regarded him with disgust, but answered. “Once or twice in a day. It can last longer and he would call out to save his family from the ‘darkness’.”
“Yes…. The darkness I saw from the Night’s hand.” Old Yeshwa said.
‘So he does remember after all, but just a glimpses.’ Ronin thought.
Almost like his own memories from his past before becoming a system.
“He can never become a Diamond.” Old Yeshwa said vaguely. “The Diamond is purity, a symbol of balance and harmony. Of peace.”
“Diamonds are heroes, and can never be voluntarily malicious. It goes against the nature of the stone itself.”
“He was the antithesis to that. So dark and course was his nature, that even if he took the path to become a Diamond, it will be rendered impure.”
Which was true in geology, of course. Coal turning to Diamond would end up with one with a lot of impurities. And not to mention that Ronin simply do not want to be associated with a Heartsone that symbolizes purity to its core.
He was born from darkness, and so, in darkness shall he become. Reach greater heights of such thing until he reaches the peak of it, so opaque that not light can past through.
Old Yeshwa turned to Ronin with his still slightly blurry eyes.
“My boy… Can I hold your hand again?” He asked.
Ronin raised an eyebrow. Right, he made nor reaction when they shook hands earlier despite his gift of prophecy.
All he could see was darkness, anyway.
He turned to Lily, pretending to be confused. “Does he also always ask you this?”
“Yes, but all he ever does is touch. Nothing else.” She said, eyes narrowing to study every microexpression of his for signs of deceit.
‘So he lost his Mage Focus too? That’s rather unfortunate, but it doesn’t matter that much in the long run.’ Ronin thought.
When she saw him just standing there, she scoffed. “Just hold his hand already. He probably just want to seek physical comfort like all old people do. Or are you too heartless to even give him that?”
Ronin was annoyed by her thoughts, but extended his palm to the old man.
“I see two paths.”
Ronin was surprised for a nanosecond, then asked. “What paths?”
“One is paved in darkness….. While the other….. Someone waiting by the light. I can’t see it clearly but…..”
“The person in the path of the light seemed to be saying something.”
Ronin steeled himself. He knew very well what path he would choose, it used to be the only inevitable path for him—
“I am sorry. Please forgive me.”
Ronin frowned. What…..
That’s all the person said? Asking for forgiveness?
How will it convince him, just that weak apology? The vision did not even give a clue to who this person was, but it’s very clear already to Ronin.
Logically, he should have thought that there was nothing to forgive. Because truly, there was nothing that this man did wrong to him to deserve all this, nothing that warrants the destruction he plans to do.
He simply wants to become a great villain, take all the V-points, and go.
But somehow…..
Ronin’s blood boiled at the idea of forgiving this despicable and loathsome person.
And for what crime, exactly?
What crime did this person commit for Ronin to pick such a straighforward path to the dark, and not look back? Not caring for morality, nor logic, nor even the great prospects of becoming a Diamond….
But simply the path of rage and vengeance for this certain crime that was yet to be named.
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