Fate To Fake: Loved by the Fallen; Fated to Kill the Divine

Leo's body trembled as his eyes clung to the final words written in his parents' old diary.

"Goodbye… ah? Does that mean they knew they were going to die?"

His voice was barely above a whisper, the disbelief heavy in his tone. His brows furrowed, his lips parted as he tried to process what he was reading. He glanced at the date where the writing stopped… it was from last year.

The same year, he lost his family.

His fingers clenched the edge of the diary tighter, knuckles white.

What really happened to them?

Was it just an accident?

Or did someone… kill them?

That was why Leo kept returning to the police station, again and again. Because deep inside, he couldn't believe it was an accident. The officer even said Leo was acting like someone searching for something more—like he already knew the truth was being hidden.

Something was off with his family.... Something buried deeply.

'Wait… if my parents were mages or something… then shouldn't Raphael have known too?'

His brows creased deeper as he remembered Raphael's reaction. She looked genuinely shocked, like she was hearing it for the first time, like it never once crossed her mind.

Maybe she really didn't know. Maybe his brother kept it from her... But why from his family?

What are his parents actually doing?

Leo let out a long breath, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration, trying to force the headache away.

"So much confusion… this damn family…"

His eyes trailed back to the open pages before him.

"Mana Breathwork… huh?"

He whispered as the phrase caught his attention.

It sounded familiar, yet he had never heard it before.

He remembered that moment—the way he unconsciously used something beyond his understanding. A technique that surged from deep within him, something that was likely engraved into his body long ago by his parents.

From the looks of it, he had suffered a lot when he was young because of it… and for some reason, it didn't activate… not until he, the current Leo, entered the body of the previous one.

"It only activates when I truly want something… when my desire is deep…"

He mumbled, eyes narrowing as he recalled the time he lifted that massive metallic water tank with nothing but willpower and rage. At that moment, all he cared about was saving the students… the children, his only family. His body and mind had screamed for it.

Every part of him wanted to protect... maybe that's why?

Suddenly, the diary in his hands vibrated slightly—then it glowed.

A sharp snap echoed, and a magic circle burst out in a flash of purplish flames.

Leo recoiled with a jolt, dropping the book as it flared wildly.

"Holy cow!"

He stumbled back and scrambled to put out the fire, patting at it with panic—but the flames devoured the pages too fast.

Within seconds, nothing remained... Not even ash!

The diary vanished, as if it had never existed at all.

'A forced trigger?' the figure standing silently behind Leo thought, watching the spot where the flames had been, now bare. 'Some kind of enchantment that activates only when the right person reads it…'

Its gaze shifted to Leo, who was still catching his breath, shaken.

"What the hell was that?" Leo muttered, still stunned. His voice held more confusion than fear.

He sighed heavily, brushing off the soot from his hands.

"Whatever… at least now I know something about my power."

He stood straighter, eyes focused.

"But man… Stage 3 mage? I'm already on par with them? That means…"

His voice trailed off, and a dangerous spark glinted in his eyes.

"…Dracula."

He clenched his fists tightly.

The figure noticed the change in Leo instantly. Something had awakened—maybe it was confidence... Or maybe something deeper… vengeance?

Leo turned to the figure, his expression hard.

"So what now? Are you just gonna keep following me around like a lost puppy?"

The figure gave a subtle nod. "My top priority is to protect you from all forms of danger."

Leo gave a dry chuckle, tilting his head. "And what if… I become the danger? What if I walk into something knowing it'll kill me?"

He was half-serious, half-testing. Deep down, he still didn't know if he could fully trust this strange figure. But oddly, in some quiet part of his heart… he felt at ease near it.

The same kind of calm he once felt near Pride.

Like he could trust this figure to guard his back.

Why though?

He didn't know.

Maybe… it was instinct... Or something else buried deeper than memory.

The figure didn't respond right away. It stood still for a moment, then finally said,

"If it's a matter of life and death… I will prioritise your life over anything else."

"…"

Leo stepped closer, looking straight into where the figure's eyes might have been under the hood.

"Just… what am I to you?"

The figure didn't answer.

Leo's shoulders fell. He sighed and turned away.

"Well… maybe I'm just being stupid. Naive… to trust people so easily."

"It's not stupid," the figure replied quietly. "It's just who you are. That's Leo."

Leo stared at the figure. There was something oddly familiar in the way it spoke.

Something personal.

"Do you… know me? I mean… the old me?"

He didn't get a reply. Just the quiet hum of the room around them.

With another long breath, Leo shook his head and turned toward the door, leaving the dusty space behind him. He had someone to save... He couldn't waste time.

But then—

Thud!

He flinched, turning to the side in surprise.

A small bat had just slammed against the window, its wings flapping frantically. Its tiny eyes locked onto Leo's, almost desperately.

The figure moved swiftly, ready to act, but paused when it noticed something attached to the bat's leg.

A letter.

It stepped forward and opened the window cautiously.

The bat darted inside, flapping once before landing. With delicate motion, it let the letter slip from its leg and onto the floor, then flew away into the night—silent as a whisper.

Leo frowned. He stepped forward and picked it up, turning it over.

His brows twitched.

"'Little Boy'...?"

Just seeing those words, he immediately knew who it was from.

Ophis.

He quickly tore open the envelope and read the contents:

Dear Little Boy,

Just to be sure, this letter is from me—Ophis Dracula. Don't go thinking someone's trying to prank you or impersonate me or anything. If you do doubt it… Well, I guess that's fair. But I know you. You're that naive human who believes in everything and everyone.

Still, just to clear your doubts, let me prove it with a secret only I know… there's a big triangle-shaped three-point mole on your left ass ch—

Leo's face turned red instantly. He folded the letter mid-sentence, shooting a glance toward the figure who was clearly curious.

"T-This is… personal. Excuse me," he muttered awkwardly, backing away from the gaze and holding the letter close to his chest.

'How the hell did she know that?!' he screamed in his mind.

Then it hit him.

They almost bathed together. And she… yeah, she definitely saw his backside when she barged into the bathroom like a lunatic.

'Fuck!!'

He closed his eyes, calming himself with a deep breath before continuing to read, still flustered.

Haha… I bet you're screaming in your head right now like a kid, aren't you? I can just imagine that dumb look on your face. Right? Right?

"…Why do I feel like I can see her smug smirk right now…" he grumbled, but his lips twitched... Yet he couldn't help but smile gently, feeling Ophis was fine.

Anyway, the reason I'm writing this is… to say thank you.

Really! From the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving me something I've never had. Running around, being loud, laughing, talking nonsense… all of that.

It was new.

With you and Raphael, I felt something I never thought I'd get in this lifetime. A family. A stupid, annoying, warm family.

Haha… hah… I… I really… s-sorry!

You made me feel things I didn't know were possible… Little b-boy.

I… I don't know how to say it properly, but… please, live your life. Keep going. Don't be stupid. Don't come after me.

I don't know every piece of who you are, but I do know this—because of your dumb, honest, naive self, you'll definitely do something reckless.

So SHUT up, stay home, and don't you dare try s-saving me.

My story... ends tomorrow night.

But… I'm fine with that.

Because you, Little Boy... no, Leo… you showed me what it means to smile, to laugh… to feel like a normal girl, just once.

And that one day with you… changed everything.

I loved it more than I thought possible.

I just… I just hope you'll never forget me. Somewhere in your stupid big heart… remember this weird, annoying girl named Ophis who… ha… once played around with you.

C-Can you do that for me… please?

... Once more—thank you for everything.

And… goodbye.