Pale skin. Trembling form. Emaciated body. Strained breaths. Bloodshot eyes. Uncontrollable itching. Shriveling muscles. Unimaginable pain… that was what Liliana was constantly experiencing.
Her very cells popped and burst into tiny fireworks within her due to the uncontrollable mana that was running amok inside her body.
I estimated that within a few minutes, she would die. Yet, here she was… begging for rcy.
“No!” I flatly responded.
The reason behind my judgnt was simple. I couldn’t trust her. Anyone would do whatever they could to get out of dying, she wasn’t an exception.
Besides, her employer was certainly a cautious and intelligent man. I doubt she had any valuable information about him, to begin with.
“You’re rely a pawn… and I’m in this ga for the long haul. I’m not ruining the whole ga because of you.” I said, now turning away from her.
Her expression was hard to read since she no longer controlled a lot of her facial muscles, but Liliana was desperate to live.
I could cure her if I wanted to. All that was necessary was for to insert my mana and guide her rabid ones. Once I stabilized the berserk mana that was destroying her body, she would slowly recover. However, that was out of the question.
“You’re a threat. Not only to but my family.” I stated point-blank.
That’s right. I hadn’t forgotten the part she played in my mother’s Mana Shock experience. It was due to this very reason that I chose to finish Liliana off in this very manner.
“Now you know how my mother felt… after she stopped that lightning spell from hitting . Die in painful silence.” I whispered, picking the evidence on the scene.
As I did so, the most interesting thing happened. As a last resort, the dying woman decided to muster the last of her strength in a final attempt to save her life.
“H-HELPP!!! I’M DYING! SOONE, PLEASE HELP !!!” Her hoarse voice screeched.
After she was done with her loud cries, Liliana struggled once more as she felt millions of cells pop in tiny explosions within her.
“U-Uuu… Uuu….”
I looked at her for a mont with unfeeling eyes. To think she would do sothing like that… how utterly stupid.
“We have hundreds of guests… the music, chatter, and commotion being generated prevent anyone from being able to hear your voice. All you’ve done is nothing short of a aningless bark of a powerless cur. You will die here, and no one will co to save you ”
With my final words, I picked up my glass cup and hers, departing to where I ca from.
Ascending the stairs, my face was too tired to display much emotion which I had pretended to have throughout the night, no, for far longer.
In the few monts of solitude given to , I had a stoic, cold look in my eyes as I climbed the stairs.
‘It’s a good thing Mana Shock is such an easy way to kill. Not only does it immobilize the target, but it also prevents them from utilizing their greatest assets, Magic!’
Even the greatest of mages were powerless without Magic. The potion also rapidly killed cells in the body and dried up the body. By the ti Liliana would be found tomorrow, she was most likely going to be a husk.
‘It takes too long, though. I should take that into account…’ My thoughts trailed.
If I tweaked the formula a little, perhaps I could make a more efficient poison superior to the Mana Shock inducer. If that was indeed the case, then it would be a revolutionary discovery on my path.
I returned to the party and was t with the unsuspecting gazes of our guests. At this point, I had already donned my kind and innocent smile, once again navigating my way around the large hall.
“There you are, Jared. I’ve been looking all over for you.” Anabelle, my sweet mother called out.
I looked to my far right and spotted her. In a few monts, we were reunited and I gave her an awkward smile.
“Gee. I really can’t let you out of my sight, can I? You spent way more than the agreed-upon ti.” She said, knocking my head a little.
“Ow. Ow. Mom, that’s too violent for a noble, wouldn’t you say?” I said, sulking a little.
I gave a teasing laugh which made Anabelle realize I was ssing with her. However, since we were surrounded by so many witnesses, she was powerless against .
‘It’s not like she’ll give a suplex in front of everyone here…’ I reasoned.
I didn’t want to push my luck though, so I didn’t take the tease any further than that.
“Did you at least get so rest?” She asked, not failing to give her usual motherly stare.
“Yeah. I did. I feel better than ever now.” I smiled broadly and energetically at Anabelle.
She seed relieved to hear this, and just as agreed, we decided to continue the hypocrisy of greeting our very important guests.
As I exchanged pleasantries with the strangers, my mind analyzed the events that had just taken place, as well as my plans for the future.
Did I feel regret or guilt for killing Liliana? No.
While it was unpleasant that I had to take a life at such a young age, there was no need to feel regretful about it. Ultimately, I had to make a choice.
‘It was or her!’
I chose .
More pleasantries were made, and I gave the sa sickening laughter and smile to the boring old n and won around, failing to enjoy another glass of wine. It was exhausting, but I persisted.
It was my last night in my household, and I wouldn’t be returning for a while. Fortunately, I had taken care of our little mole before departing, and the ripples of my actions were sure to keep our family on their toes.
As for the mastermind, whoever he was, I hadn’t given up on him, not by a long shot. I would find him and kill him… just as he tried to do to .
‘It’s just as Alphonse made promise… no matter what happens…’
Laughs and cheers drowned the atmosphere. More noises that seed like intelligible chatter continued ringing in my ears. Yet, my resolute heart remained.
‘… It matters not how it’s done. It matters not what ends up being sacrificed… I won’t lose. In the end, the final victor of everything… will be !’
I was given a second chance for a reason. I wasn’t going to let it end so soon. In this life, I was determined to live a wholeso, fulfilled life, alongside my family.
I wasn’t going to lose anyone close to , and I was definitely not intent on losing my own life.
Until I reached the very roots I sought after in my past life and beco satisfied with my journey in magic, no one was allowed to kill or anyone I loved. My mother, my tutor, my father, and the new friends I would be making soon… none of them were allowed to die!
With an outward bright smile, yet a cold and unfeeling gaze on the inside, I perceived the entire room. Despite all that had happened, only one thought kept appearing in my mind, and it was never going to disappear.
‘No matter what… I will survive!’
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