Mecha Devourer System-Chapter 217 - 12 Years Ago (I)
She hadn't been there.
She had said she would give him his first X-Mission after he successfully fused with his Core, but it never came.
During the three months he spent in the Newcomer years, she called him only once, and that was when she needed his help to learn about the Cultist infestations occurring in the second year.
He had had so many enemies among the second years, only after that incident.
He had faced an assassination attempt almost immediately after from the cult members he had infiltrated, but the attacks never stopped there.
Over and over and over, he had faced second years in fights, people who were above him in all metrics of power, and he fought them off and survived only with the aid of the system.
Every second year, he defeated, corresponded to level-up cards and experience points, and each level-up allowed him to regenerate back to normal.
If any student were in his position, regardless of talent, they would likely have died or at least been severely crippled, missing out on their education.
All of this happened only after the quest she gave him.
Yet throughout those months, as he went through that experience, she never once texted or checked in on how he was doing.
It was hurtful, but he saw it not as her fault, but as an opportunity for him to grow.
Perhaps it was a test from her to see if he could survive such pressure, and maybe her way to make him grow faster.
But then, when he became a second year, she never knew or asked about anything.
If she was truly watching over him, how could she be so far away?
It was immediately clear that he was on his own, and his desire to help outside the Academy, coupled with her response instructing him to remain, quickly taught Everlearn one important lesson.
If he were to become reliant on her, waiting for her to say yes to things in his life, then he might just spend forever waiting.
His working with her in the first place wasn't a choice he made for himself.
It was a choice she had conferred on him, and he had had no choice but to play along.
As much as he had done well enough to play along to the best of his ability, something deep within him told him he needed to begin making his own decisions, too.
He couldn't continue playing along with someone else's game forever.
But how could he fight her?
She had been there.
She was the first thing he saw after his freedom.
As headache-inducing as X-Guard was, it was also one of the best things that had happened in his life.
She took him to a place that helped him understand the world outside even better.
She had been there when he wanted to fuse with his first Core, making sure it was done by someone who, at that time, he might not even have been worthy of standing before.
He couldn't lie to himself that she had just been using him.
His coming to X-Guard helped him more than anyone else.
And that was why he found it difficult to brandish his claws in front of one who had done nothing but help.
Even if that help wasn't perfect, she had done something no one else in his life ever had.
But now, feeling her tears over his shoulders, he might have been wrong about her being an unfeeling robot who no longer cared for him, or about him now being alone on his own.
Her coat had fallen when she embraced him, and now, he could see it. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
On her back… scars.
"It's fine…"
He whispered, his hand gently tapping her back, but quietly, they felt those scars deeper.
And in that moment, a notification flashed.
║Arcane Scars.║
The system panel flashed.
'Arcane scars?'
He mused, confused.
║Yes. ║
║Just as a blade will leave a scar on skin, using Arcane arts also leaves scars. ║
║She has Arcane scars. Horrible Arcane scars.║
║However, the Arcane scars are dull, indicating that she probably acquired them many years ago.║
The system notification panel faded, and Everlearn's brows furrowed.
He noticed her crying had stopped, and he tried to part, but she remained on him, face buried in his chest to hide her facial expression.
She stubbornly clung to him, even after he tried getting her off.
"Shy?"
He teased, whispering in her ear.
"Shut up."
She whispered, and he grinned, but then his brows creased as his eyes faintly brushed against those scars.
"What happened twelve years ago…?"
He suddenly asked, and he felt every muscle within her suddenly freeze, making her suddenly thrice heavier than she was.
The question made Ash lose control of her strength, but only for a fleeting moment before she regained her control.
"How did you know?"
She whispered,
"Well, you just said your heart hasn't beaten that hard in twelve years. So I was wondering… what happened twelve years ago?"
He said, and he watched her shake her head faintly.
"Nothing?"
"Too personal…"
She whispered.
"Have you told anyone before?" He asked.
"No, I haven't."
"I'm guessing it's that important, huh?" He said, and she nodded quietly.
"Considering you just stole away my first kiss, don't you think it's fair that you also give something you've never given before in return?"
He asked teasingly, noticing her freeze up once more as her head buried deeper.
She remained like that for a while before she stirred, one of her crimson eyes staring up at him.
"Do you hate it?"
She asked, watching a pink color dot his cheek as he hurriedly turned to the side.
The sight of him blushing made her evil grin quickly reappear.
"I… I…"
"You love it?"
She whispered, and his face turned red.
"I don't hate it."
He said, leading her to snicker, pinching his cheek.
"So… what happened twelve years ago?"
She asked, and he noticed her smile visibly recede as she looked down at her hands.
"I died."
BADUUMP!
BADUUMP!
BADUUMP!
