Character : Nathan Fiore, Season 1 Epilogue
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With bruises all over my body, I was brought to the infirmary by the medic team in a hurry.
Arriving at the room, everyone quickly tried attending my wounds. However, not long after they started treating me, a person arrived in the room and told them to leave.
"Clearly wasn't the answer we expected, huh?" Frisena said after she told all the medic team to leave the infirmary, including the nurses here.
I lifted my upper body up, and I can already feel my wounds recovering rapidly. I never really needed any healers or medications. I just need some time and privacy to let the passive white fire origin to heal my body.
These wounds… don't really hurt.
But what does hurt, a lot, is the crippling embarrassment from being so very wrong.
Eric did beat me up. Before the battle even started, he already activated his Limit Break form. And when Arlene, who volunteered to be the commentator, started the match, he was already very certain on using both of his origins to beat me up.
I was too confused by all the wrong things I thought about him, and I just couldn't fight properly. Hell, even if my opponent was Jonah, I'd probably lose. I just wasn't in my head.
The source of all of that is most certainly the confusion, the very reason why I feel so damn weak right now. The annoyance.
Ahh… How disappointing…
"Out of all the things he could've asked in this world…"
"To tell you the truth, there's actually a reason why he didn't really ask you anything too crazy. It's because he already got his real wishes heard by me." Frisena suddenly said out of the blue, and I lifted my upper body up.
What… did she just say?
"When was it?"
"Three weeks ago. I visited him at the lightning clan, right after I had a talk with you."
"And you…"
"I let him name two wishes to make him join the Guardians. Yes."
Frisena… you could've told me this.
I wouldn't have gotten beaten up had you told me this…
"You're probably cursing me in your head, but I can tell you why.
It's the difference. Between asking me things and asking you things, they're very-very different realities.
The things you can do and the things I can do are different. The things he wants out of me are definitely only things that I can do, and the same goes for you. And between the two of us, there are just so many different things that we could've done for him."
That's a fair point. However, she still could've told me about it. But, I guess I can see why she wants to use me as something like a secondary test, to truly make sure that what Eric wants is real.
"And what exactly… did he ask out of you?"
"He asked for two things. One, he wants the governor of the lightning clan to be changed. To use any method to try and remove the corruption that is within. I already hired an assassin to remove the mayor--"
"W-Wait, wait, wait. So, you gave him two wishes? And he wished for… his people's prosperity?"
"Precisely. His second wish was to bring in merchants from Valkaria in an attempt to fix the lightning clan's economy." Frisena spilled to me, and I realized why she still wants me to set up this whole wish thing myself.
Because Eric's wishes to Frisena… are completely useless. And combined with what he wished for from me… What we have now is basically something I wasn't expecting.
"So? What does this tell you, Nathan?" Frisena asked with her hands folded, and it seems like she is handing all the decisions to me.
We have done two attempts. And from both attempts, we concluded that Eric is just a simple bastard who only wants the best for his people and experiences battles. He is just a simpleton battle addict who wanted nothing more.
Had he wished for me to be his underling… Had he made me promise to never lay a hand on him… Hell, if he just wished for me to stay out of his way…
Any of those things could've easily made me certain about him being the demonic origin. However, none of that was ever the case.
"If the day truly comes when Eric betrays us and awakens the war demon…" I said while clenching my fist, and I can feel the unbearable annoyance from all these failures.
Because we have tried… everything.
And it still didn't work.
"… Then he fucking wins."
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
'That was quite close, eh? That prince was so damn strong.'
"What do you mean? He was fighting half-assed. I'm pissed."
'Haha! You probably think like that, but it's probably because that was just him being him.'
"No, he was definitely not that weak. We both saw how he was when he's fighting Zero and the headmaster."
As the two minds converses, the young man with lightning origin walks under the moonlight at the academy's front yard. His eyes gazed at the moon and the stars above, admiring the view.
'At least you have obtained many other things. You've replaced the government of the lightning clan, saved your people from poverty, and quite possibly secured their future safety with your 'Rat Hunt' a while back.
When thinking about those things, having a terrible spar with a random prince sounded like nothing.'
In his head, the second mind speaks through the soul. And hearing those logical things listed, the current holder of the body chuckles.
"That's true! I can't believe I have achieved so many things already. Tell me, Axel. How much time do I have left?"
'Give or take… six months.'
"Then, that is enough. So much more than enough. I'll achieve even more. I'll use the time you've given me to its highest potential."
'And I'm all here for it. Those things are something only you can do. As I expected, you definitely have the quality of a prince yourself.'
"Oh, please! That wasn't true at all. Had it been real, I definitely wouldn't have died."
'It's such a pity… I wished you could've shown your qualities to that prince as your whole self.'
"I hope so too. He's just so much like me. But~, I guess that's the reality of things. My revenge is finally coming to a close, but your story is starting soon. Right?
Do you think it's possible for me to watch you from behind? Like how you are currently?"
'I… will have to look more into that. The issue is, Eric… your lifespan, it is…'
"Right. I guess that is just a little too much, huh?"
'No. Don't be like that. It's always great to be hopeful.
I'll find a way. You can count on it. Once my master wakes up, she'll know what to do.'
Hearing such encouraging words, Eric forms a smile. He closed his eyes as he turned around, and he began walking back to the academy.
"Does your master know how to make a living body for me to live in?"
'Well, she definitely knows some secret sorcery arts. But, I can assure you. The options she will give are going to be better than anything you've ever heard before.
You'll walk and run within Avenor again, Eric. I swear in the name of Omega.'
Even more encouraged, Eric laughed a little. He was all alone in the front yard, and there was absolutely no one who could hear him.
No one except for his best friend who is inside his soul.
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Origins of Fate, Season 2, End
To be continued in Special Season, The Mage of Citus