The Rise Of Third Rate Villain-Chapter 12 - Memories Of The Past [I]

I took a big breath, finally catching my breath, my body slick with sweat. Headache still existed but the excruciating pain had largely abated. Thank goodness I had that recovery potion," I mumbled, getting up off the ground. "If it weren't for that, I'd be dead. No question."

I sat back against the wall, sighing in relief. "What kind of sadistic nonsense was that?! Seriously, System, you're just sitting there watching me suffer, aren't you?".

[No comment.]

"Of course. No sympathy, huh?" I rolled my eyes. "Anyway, where should I start now?"

I took a deep breath, my mind clearing as I tried to organize the chaos of memories and information swirling inside me.

This world belongs to the [Albasta Empire], the most powerful entity on earth. It's not ruled by a single king or emperor but by a council made up of the leaders of every major species—like some medieval fantasy version of the U.N.".

The Albasta Empire wasn't just a random alliance either. [It was] established about 500–600 years ago, in the [Great Demon War], in fact, when the Demon King was so close to destroying anything living. All species—human, elf, dwarf, beastfolk—had to put aside their hatred for the other's sake alone, if they stood a chance at living.

The previous hero, [Arden Ashbringer], did at last defeated the Demon King. An absolute legend. His blade literally blasted light into the sky when he delivered the killing blow. However, even after the fall of the Demon King, demons have continually attacked. Their ultimate goal? Bring back the Demon King and have him reign once more. Idiots out there will want to unleash the ultimate evil, so why not?

Since the former hero finally died from old age, the demons seized the new opportunity. They came back stronger, burning villages and tearing everything apart with that classic villain flair.

The only reason the world didn't completely collapse was because the leaders of all the major species finally did something smart—they formed a permanent alliance. Surprisingly, it worked.

Mostly.

"But," I mused aloud, "just because everyone agreed to fight the demons together doesn't mean they like each other."

Elves and dwarves were already at each other's throats long before the alliance. Elves saw dwarves as unrefined and thick-headed, and dwarves saw elves as a pack of posers without satchet to treehuggers. Oh, and let's not forget how elves didn't trust humans either. Apparently humans had the bad name for being greedy and, uh, kidnapping elves and enslaving them. Yikes.

Yeah, that's right—this world has a slavery system. There is opposition to this, and there is resistance, but for the most part people just ignore it or accept it outright. Indeed, who wouldn't rather have a slave, who accepts commands without question? It's in human nature to take what they want.

"As far as I know", I sat back and gazed at the ceiling. "We're winning. Kind of."

[Regnar Solmire], the current king of the human kingdom and the strongest mage in the world.

Regnar wasn't just a powerhouse in battle—he was a master tactician, the kind of guy who could turn the tide of war with a single strategy. Through his guidance people have now advanced by centuries of technology, power and land. If it weren't for him, the Albasta Empire would probably be a smoking pile of rubble.

"But there's a catch," I added. Notwithstanding all the genius of Regnar, humans are unable to fully master the other species.

Why?

Since in every species there is some form of ancestral power inherited through their lineages. Humans have the hero, a once-in-a-century powerhouse. On the other hand, elves possess supreme control over the refinement of mana and the preparation of healing potions that can cure most things. Dwarves? Absolute blacksmithing legends. The sword that killed the Demon King? A dwarf crafted it.

In fact, no matter how much they disapprove of each other, they both still require one another to live.

Which brings me to the nightmare of my future.

"Eclipsia Academy," I groaned, rubbing my temples. "A melting pot of every species. A place where anyone—no matter their origin or bloodline—can enroll if they pass the entrance exam.".

Sounds cool, right? Wrong.

"For me, it's going to be a graveyard."

I shook my head. This school was no ordinary prestigious school—it was combat battlefield. The strong ruled, and the weak. well, they became stepping stones. The old Valerian would have been instantly destroyed.

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I extended my limbs and sat up straight, snapping my neck. Now we're done with the academy and the state of affairs in the world for the moment. Time to focus on something more... personal."

I cast my eyes towards the imposing walls of the estate and mused about the family whom through my bloodline became the ruling family of the Albasta Empire—the Thorne family, the most powerful and influential bloodline in the entire empire.

"Why are they famous?" I said aloud, pacing slowly. "Simple. One man. The 'King of Death', Duke Aldric Thorne", etc.

Just to utter his name a touch of chill crept down my back. The fella was a walking legend, equally dread and admired. All the reports about him felt like sleeping with the devil for his foes. He'd single-handedly wiped out an entire demon officer unit, consisting of 150 demon soldiers.

Yeah. One man. Against 150 demons. And he won.

"Yikes," I muttered. "No wonder everyone's terrified of him."

What I couldn't wrap my head around was how Valerian Thorne—the weak, spoiled brat whose body I now occupied—was that man's son. The distance between us was so extreme it wasalmosthumorouslyfarcical.

But the Thorne family wasn't just any noble house. It was one of the five duke families that formed the backbone of the empire, fiercely loyal to the king and instrumental in both suppressing coups and leading the war effort. In return, the king heavily favored them, granting them unparalleled influence and power.

"Oh, right," I muttered. "Speaking of the king..."

My mother.

Mira Solmire.

She wasn't just any noblewoman; she was the younger sister of the current king, Regnar Solmire.

Yup. My mother was royalty. The blood of the Solmri royal lineage coursed through me.

It is not too strange", I remarked, massaging my temples. "I mean, with my father being one of the strongest and most loyal people in the kingdom, even the king couldn't refuse their marriage."

However as they say, not every fairy tale ends happily.

My hands formed a fist and a sour smile made a foray on my mouth.

"My mother died when I was twelve. Not from disease. Not from an accident. She was killed."

The air that surrounded me seemed to get denser when I uttered the sounds.

"She died protecting me from assassins." My voice was barely a whisper now, anger bubbling beneath the surface.

What a fool would dares to kill Duke Aldric Thorne's son? I asked myself. "Well, everyone, apparently."

The truth was simple and brutal: the five duke families might be loyal to the king, but they weren't exactly loyal to each other.

Politics was a dirty game and everybody craved to be the favourite of King. The greater the favor, the greater the power, and the greater the power, the more the benefits. My birth threw a wrench into those plans.

Valerian wasn't just some random noble kid. Right from early childhood he was Donny lauded as a genius. More able and better than the rest of his peers, he was developing into a powerful force to be reckoned with, a rising star that caused jealousy and resentment to the Thorne people.

That's when the knives came out.

A few nobles decided that Valerian was a threat. They worried about the possibility of Duke Aldric trying to get Valerian to marry one of the king's daughters, in order to make himself a possible pretender to the throne. And that? That was something they couldn't allow.

So, they conspired. They sent assassins to eliminate me—a child.

But my mother... she stood in their way. She fought to protect me until her last breath.

A tear rolled down my cheek.

"At last all is clear," I said, my voice shaking. "Why Valerian stopped talking to his father. Why he's holed up in his room, locked away in isolation for years."

It wasn't because he was weak or spoiled. It was because he blamed himself. He blamed himself for his mother's death, for not being strong enough to save her.

But here's the thing.

Valerian was strong from the start. He did not go to Eclipsia Academy at all due to the favor he owed his father. He got his space because of his own capabilities.

I blinked away the tear from my face, and a burning will erupted in my chest.

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"Don't worry, Valerian," I said, my voice steady. "I'll take revenge on every single one of those bastards who took your mother from you."

My fingers closed into fists and the heft of my new life landed on my back.

"Every. Single. One of them."

Looking that promise in my head, I turned toward the rising sun.

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