Transmigration Into The Beginning After The End

CHAPTER 53 - FOR YOUR OWN GOOD AND OURS

Virion and I sat next to the bed where Luke was resting, the lances were standing as they wanted. 

In the air, the awkward silence bloomed more as time passed. Virion was waiting for my explanation while I stood stuck on the fog mana beast as it replayed over and over again. The eyes and the intention it stood by. It was like looking at something above us, like master Mordain. 

On the corner of my vision, I could see Virion's stance. His hands were together, his finger interlocked close to his nose while his honey-colored eyes were narrowed to me and Luke, switching every two seconds. 

"Rinia, will you now tell me your reason?" The former elf king's tone was that of an exhausted man. He wanted to know the reality of things that were happening around him but life had other options. 

I stayed quiet. Contemplating whether or not to say everything I saw or just the details or hints but I better than anyone that telling someone about the future changes it. 

The Butterfly effect. 

"The boy, Luke, will face many things in these upcoming times…. That is all I can say." I admitted, my palms rubbing against each other. "And the reason why I came here was to confirm something." 

"To confirm what? That he was alive or dead?" 

"To confirm his core level. I have a feeling that Luke's core is–" 

"My mana core is completely fine, Elder Rinia. So please don't worry I will break through the orange stage with ease and land in the solid stage before I enter Xyrus Academy." 

Wha…

I turned, my eyes perhaps betrayed me as I tried to hide my fear and worried expression in my voice. 

However, when I made eye contact with the boy, he seemed to be different. Like it wasn't his usual self but rather something else.

I decided to ignore this and watched as the lances hurried to Luke's side. They both questioned his health but he seemed to be in great condition, aside from his eyes. They show too much and too many emotions at once. 

Almost like he can't control them or can't decide which one. 

I took a closer look at Luke's eyes and what I found brought me chills. He, Luke, showed no emotion of what or where he was. The crimson eyes from when he was a little kid had been long gone. 

Something is influencing him and the way he thinks. 

"Anyway, Elder Virion, I have something–" Before the boy could speak his mind, a dark thrust of black hit the boy's head. "What was that for–"

"I thought I told you to call me "Gramps" boy." 

The black haired boy nurtured his injury with healing magic before continuing. "G-gramps, I need your help." 

"For what brat? Did you get a beasts will like Arthur? Ha! That would mean I would have to have you as a disciple as well!"

The room got quiet as Luke didn't either admit it or deny it, instead he sat quiet. 

Virion's eyes had a questioning look but soon noticed the change in mana. "You brat!" The old elf's voice was painted with eagerness and excitement over the boy having a beast's will. 

"So what unlucky beast gave you a will?" A snarl came through his face. 

Luke took a moment before answering Virion, his crimson eyes avoiding any type of eye contact. He seemed like he was thinking of what answer to give us all. 

"I uhh… Don't really know." The boy from the Hodges family scratched his head as he admitted it. "My powers are different from what I imagine them to be. They are too heavy on my body and mind. Reason being why I keep being unconscious everytime I use it. It's like it shuts down my mind after letting it go and messes with it."

"So you're telling me that you could use your phases without any prior training in the region?" The white haired elf said, walking towards Luke like some prophecy child. 

Luke didn't answer immediately and instead activated his beast will phase. I noticed the sudden change in mana in the atmosphere. Everything was moving rapidly and desperately towards him like he was loved by mana. Seconds passed and everything including mana stopped, it was like we were in the eye of a storm. It was bizarrely calm, everything was pointing to him using his phase will, yet nothing physical changed in him. He was the same as before, hair, body, the way he breathed. That was until he opened his eyes. 

The dark red blood colored eyes had changed color. And so did his demeanor. 

"What kind of beast was it?"

A small muttered voice said with a tone of stunned and concerned. 

"T-This is the m-most I can do." The boy spoke in a fatigued tone, his eyelids barely holding on for him to see through his purpled colored irises. 

After we all acknowledged the boy's power. Virion told us to leave them alone to discuss the future plans, of course I denied it and it was okay with both of them for me to know. 

After Aya and Alea left, only two remained aside from Luke. 

His face was pale after using this power for mere moments, I still wonder how he can hold it for a longer period of time. Inhaling like there was no tomorrow, the black haired boy steadied it before continuing with his request. 

"So what do you think, Gramps?" 

"For you to be talking like you have stricken gold before holding a pickaxe means you really are ready for this. However, are you sure you want to do this?" 

I followed Virion's statement. "I agree with Virion here Luke, maybe you just need time to learn how to live with this power you've acquired through a will. Maybe it isn't even a will."

"What is up with the"maybes "? It isn't a maybe or a theoretical question at this point. You guys saw what I am capable of and yet you still reject the opportunity of me becoming something better, stronger?" Luke's voice lashed out with irritation. His eyes narrowed with anger, no to himself but to us. 

He was seeing us as a wall that stopped him from going forward. 

We were just an obstacle to him. This was getting out of hand, he was changing along with his core and power. 

"You are not thinking straight boy." The former elf king stated. 

The boy gritted his teeth. His hands grabbed into the sheets like he was in pain and anger. "I am not thinking straight? Gramps, I have nothing else but thoughts about how to get these invaders out of here before something big happens. An invasion of a huge scale or even a war. So tell me Virion Eralith, what am I supposed to do when even the strongest of mages in Dicathen can't even face something like that demon?!" 

"They are not people of these lands and yet they knew about us even before I was born. Why? Because the gods have already started their war and they plan to involve us as their pawns!" He continued. His crimson blood eyes staring into the blanket that provided him warmth. "I-" Luke hesitated. "I know what will happen in the upcoming days but I can't say anything. I have my hands tied down, if I were to say the events that happen in the future, things will spiral down into a future I can no longer protect." 

Virion stepped forward to the kid who was sweating profusely. "What are you talking about, Luke? A war? That won't be the case if there was one we–"

"Won't act fast. You all won't act fast enough and that is the reason why I am trying to eliminate every single one here in this continent. But…"

"But?"

"But I've caught the attention of that demon, and he won't rest until I've died. He made that very clear in our last meeting. He caused the death of multiple people today."

I stepped forward in this conversation that the only thing I did was to listen. My hand went towards the boy's head as I soothed his reflectionless black hair, covered in dirt and blood, but he was only a child. A child that is fighting like some sort of experienced fighter. He was fighting a battle that he should have left to the adults. Luke Hodges wasn't a mere warrior or a profound mage for this era. No. He was an eleven-year old boy who killed countless people, pushing his own family away just to keep them safe. Luke just wanted to be a normal boy and spend time with his family. 

"You've done enough. Leave the rest to us, Luke. Go to your family and enjoy your stay at Xyrus academy." I lightly said, stroking his head and watching tears flow down his cheeks. "You have witnessed things no child should have, but fret not, you can leave it to us the people you trust." 

"Let it all out brat, you have other things to worry about now." Virion spoke, giving the boy a warmth smile. 

***

With Luke asleep, Virion and I left the room quietly. On the other side of the door was Alea with tears coming out her eyes while Aya held them back. I said nothing and neither did Virion. 

"Please take him back to Xyrus when he wakes up. He's done his side and now it's our turn." 

Both of them nodded and we continued our path away from the room. 

On our way out of the castle, no sound or herd was coming through. Only silence. Until, "You don't think he is lying do you?" 

"No. There wouldn't be a reason why a child that's hurt mentally and physically would tell a lie. It's quite the opposite, I feel like I'm lying to him." 

"That is not right and you know it." 

"Yeah right." 

"What will you do now? Will contacting the leaders of the countries be of any help against what we are up against?" 

"Haa. I simply don't know. Whether it is right or not to inform the rest of this continent's leaders. Perhaps I need some time before I come to a conclusion in this upcoming disaster." 

"You are right. Not everyone would want to believe a kid, only those who are soft to them." 

"Yeah."

"Well if you need me you know where to find me, if not I will contact you instead." 

"Going back to your hideout?"

"I can't help you in these matters but I will find another way to help you." 

"Then why don't you tell me about what is really happening? Is there really a war coming up? For how long? When will it happen?" 

"You are asking too many questions for so little answer Virion." 

"Then you too can't answer any of mine either? Dammit. Just when things are getting well does Fate play with us." 

"There are many things I am not allowed to speak or even mention but I have one thing to say Virion."

I gave the old elf a serious look before letting the moon's light hit both of us and illuminate the area around us. The trees became more lively and so did the wind as it started to sing. 

"You must not let the boy come to Elenoir after he leaves. For your own good and ours."