A new day dawned, abruptly pulling Ray from his slumber as he let out a startled scream. This surreal experience had become a recurring theme for him over the past few weeks since awakening. Each day brought a relentless onslaught of nightmares and fleeting glimpses of fragmented memories from the migration. Ray gradually pieced together fragments from his recollections, but the process was agonizingly sluggish, leaving him yearning for a swifter understanding. he stepped into the shower, letting the warm water wash away the remnants of sleep 

After freshening up, he turned his attention to tidying a few things in the drawer, stealing occasional glances at the outside world through the window. The weather, as usual, wore a cloudy disposition. Ray's gaze shifted from the sky above to the individuals below, engrossed in their daily routines. His eyes further explored the vast estate and the mysteries beyond its borders. Amidst his contemplation, a faint reflection of Ray appeared on the window's surface causing him to pause and connect with his mirrored image. He placed his hand against the glass, mimicking the actions of his reflection.

"A past filled with mystery. I hope it's better than what I have come to conclude," Ray whispered.

A subtle change in mood overcame him, etching a bitter smile upon his features as he delved into the past that intertwined with his present.

"The weather has been gloomy lately," he pondered, his gaze fixated on the drifting clouds. "I never liked the rain. It just dampens the mood, not an enjoyable one." Opening the windows, he invited a gentle breeze to sweep into the room, relishing the cool touch against his skin. With closed eyes, his hair danced in the air as he savored the refreshing caress. After a while, the breeze had cleansed his thoughts to some extent, and he closed the window, making his way to the dining area to partake in breakfast. He swiftly changed out of his night attire before entering the room, which was presently devoid of any other occupants, except for Hans, who attentively polished the table with a small cloth. Pausing in his task, Hans warmly welcomed Ray.

Upon surveying the room, Ray noticed its solitary state save for Hans who attentively wiped the table with a small cloth. Pausing his actions, Hans greeted Ray warmly acknowledging his presence with a genuine smile.

"Morning, Rayhein! Should I prepare some breakfast?" Hans asked, a friendly smile adorning his face.

Ray nodded, a slight grin forming. "I wouldn't say no. Yes, please!"

Ray enjoyed his breakfast and decided to venture out to see what was happening around the estate. He explored different areas, from the garden to the residential section, and even the grove surrounding the sky tree. Everywhere he went, he noticed people engrossed in their work. Some were collecting resources like logs from the sky tree, while others were busy maintaining armor.

Most wore a serious expressions on their faces, diligently focused on their tasks, but an underlying uneasiness lingered. The main hub of activity was the building where the injured were being taken care of. As he strolled around, some people even waved at Ray, bringing a small smile to his lips.

"Managing a secluded place like our residence isn't easy. And without Father around, the pillar everyone relied on, it's no wonder everyone seems a bit shaken by recent events," Ray mused to himself.

Lost in thought, Ray found himself near the training barracks and an open training area. His mood turned sour as he recalled the ill-treatment he had endured, but then he caught a glimpse of Avan engaged in training. Avan was in the midst of rigorous training. Ray halted, pondering whether it was worth investigating further.

"I wonder what Avan is up to. I also at least want to punch the overseer for some payback if I can. That fucker" Ray muttered with a mix of curiosity and pent-up anger.

Overwhelmed by his emotions Ray succumbed to his impulsive urges and made his way toward the training grounds. Keeping a safe distance near the sitting area, he observed Avan as he sparred with Reagan, the stone dolls serving as his training partners. Avan seemed oblivious to Ray's presence, or perhaps deliberately ignored it. The dolls were instantly recognizable, causing Ray's face to contort with anger. These were the very same dolls that had bested him during his training sessions.

Driven by a potent mix of curiosity and lingering anger, Ray ventured closer to the training grounds, positioning himself at a safe distance near the sitting area. From this vantage point, he observed Avan as he sparred against the Reagan stone dolls, seemingly oblivious to or intentionally disregarding Ray's presence. Ray's expression hardened, his brows furrowing with growing ire as he recognized the very dolls that had effortlessly overpowered him in the past.

Ray, arms crossed, observing the very same dolls that had effortlessly destroyed him. It gave him a headache just remembering them. Initially, he had assumed it would be a simple task for the dolls but as he watched intently his sly smile gradually faded, replaced by a bewildered expression. The confusion began to consume him as he tried to make sense of what he was witnessing.

"What the hell is wrong with them? They look so weak," he thought as he watched Avan manage to set one doll ablaze with a magical attack. However, the attack didn't seem to work as the fight continued. The doll's attacks were slow as a snail, and Ray observed predictable patterns in its fighting style hit and dodge. Surprisingly, the doll also used magic, conjuring symbols and fire like his little brother.

"It's like he's fighting himself. I'm confused. How are they so weak? What's wrong with these fucking things? What kind of drugs did they juice the dolls I fought?" Ray whispered to himself, watching keenly.

Ray keenly observed Avan's fighting style and noticed the interesting movements and patterns. With a little smirk forming, Ray's confidence remained unshaken. "Even with a disadvantage, I can take him easily," Ray said.

"Are you sure about that? That little firefly stings hard," a girthy voice interrupted Ray's comments. Another voice chimed in, catching Ray off guard. Looking back, he saw the overseer. The overseer waved at him but didn't look directly at Ray, instead standing side by side without making eye contact. The height difference was so significant that the overseer's shadow completely covered Ray. With a heavy pause and breath, the overseer said.

"I am sorry, kid. I made a hasty conclusion and acted upon it. It put you in danger, which I have come to regret. I had to make a hard decision because I assumed the worst. I hope I can make amends. It's not wise to hold grudges within the family.”

As the Overseer's vision encompassed every direction scanning the surroundings. With his gaze fixed upon each individual passing by, a profound feeling resonated within him, and he couldn't help but utter, "To me, everyone here is like family."

Ray listened keenly to what the overseer had to say, keeping his animosity and anger in check. The overseer locked eyes with Ray as he continued, "So..." he said, pausing for a moment before continuing,

 "What can I do to make amends?" The overseer asked, bending his knees and folding himself into a seated position on the ground, directly facing Ray.

Sighing heavily with anger, Ray blinked for a moment, considering his options. With a stern expression, Ray asked, "I need a few favors. It won't make my grudges disappear, but it's a start. First is..."

Ray began preparing his hand and elbow, swinging them around and doing wrist rolls to prepare himself. "Can I punch you? Like as many times as I was hit by the dolls."

The overseer thought he had misheard something. Cleaning his ears, he asked, "Come again?"

"I want to beat the shit out of you," Ray said with a monotone voice and expression.

This caught the overseer off-guard, and he started laughing upon hearing those words. "AHAHA. Are you sure, kid? Not that I won't stop you. Heck, I welcome it. As you can see, this old man lost his marbles a while ago," he said to Ray, opening his arms in a welcoming gesture.

Ray prepared himself, digging his feet into the stone floor. With full strength, he leaped with speed, using the momentum to spin in the air and deliver a powerful punch to the overseer's face dead center, showing no remorse. The overseer took the blow without flinching or offering any resistance. The impact sounded like rocks colliding. Unrelenting, Ray continued his assault, throwing punches and kicks. After a while, he started feeling uncomfortable as he realized that his attacks only made the overseer flinch slightly. The ground beneath Ray was littered with small holes from his leaps.

"You goddamn overgrown bear. I hate that I can't even knock you down," Ray said loudly, halting his assault.

The overseer remained relatively unfazed, taking all the blows. He readjusted his jaw a little but his expression was filled with awe as if he was surprised by Ray's display. A smile formed on his lips as he asked, "Those were some solid hits. Your technique was flawless. What is your name again?"

"Rayhein, and fuck you," Ray replied.

"Ahahaha. You've got spunk, kid," the overseer said, showing amusement.

Repeating those words, the overseer tried to etch Ray's name into his memory, for he had found someone worth remembering. "I might have just found a Crox crystal in the mines, like those lucky dwarves. Just need time and polishing," the overseer thought, looking happy with a grin that gave Ray shivers.

Shrugging off the strange feeling, Ray then made his request to the overseer. "I need one last favor. Tell me everything about the events that happened during the migration. I want to know everything," Ray said, his gaze serious as he looked directly at the overseer.

After his conversation with the overseer, Ray wandered around the estate once again. With no classes scheduled and everyone engrossed in their affairs, he found himself sitting in the garden, observing the peculiar creatures that crossed his view. The night was approaching, and the sky was adorned with clouds, occasionally illuminated by thunder and lightning. There wasn't much else to do but enjoy the tranquility of the moment.

As Ray watched, his attention was drawn to the diverse array of creatures, from insects to birds, indulging in the garden's offerings. They feasted on the fruits of various plants, creating a harmonious balance within the ecosystem. His gaze then shifted to his hands, which held a red-lined staff he had utilized in his fight against the dolls. It was the Sanjiegun, a three-section staff he had acquired from the armory. Ray carefully cleaned the staff with a cloth, ensuring it was in pristine condition.

Satisfied with the cleaning, Ray decided to make his way to the sky tree forest, a dedicated area within the estate. The colossal skyscraper trees held a special place in the community and served as a primary source of income through the trade of wood. They were so massive that they dominated a significant portion of the estate, always leaving Ray in awe.

"I was honestly surprised when I learned that our community and the entire estate relied on the trade of wood. These trees are truly magnificent and breathtaking," Ray remarked, his gaze fixed upon the towering giants that dwarfed him.

As he stood there, surrounded by the majestic sky trees, a thought crossed Ray's mind. "They look tall enough to make one feel as if they touch the sky."

As Ray and Avan locked eyes, a palpable hostility emanated between them. Despite the three-year age difference that made Ray taller, Avan stood his ground without backing down or displaying any signs of intimidation. They stood there in silence, a charged atmosphere surrounding them, illuminated by the occasional flash of lightning.

Breaking the silence, Avan spoke with a mixture of anger and pain evident in his voice. "It's been four years. You never apologized, never made amends. Not to father or anyone. I'll never forgive you for that. You just ran away from everything," he accused, his crimson eyes burning like fire.

Ray met Avan's gaze with a deep stare, masking his sadness and bitterness. Today, after his conversation with the overseer, Ray had uncovered the bitter truth. He pieced together fragments of his shattered memories, combining them with the knowledge he had gained from the overseer, forming a clearer understanding of what had transpired.

"I've found the truth, the bitter truth," Ray thought, his gaze unwavering as he observed Avan's figure. "The former Rayhein killed his mother in front of Avan to save both their lives and so much more. Due to Avan's unstable psyche caused by the traumatic events when he was just five years old, he formed a distorted memory, believing that I abandoned him and our mother to fend for himself. But that's not the case."

A wave of remorse and pity briefly washed over Ray as he glimpsed the pain in Avan's eyes. However, he quickly shook off those emotions, knowing that he had a purpose to fulfill.

"You were never a burden, Rayhein. You just had to make the hardest choices and live with the consequences," Ray whispered under his breath, clenching his fists tightly.

"You really loved him, huh? So much so that even in your memories, you didn't remember the worst parts," Ray uttered with a mix of pain and longing, his words barely audible as he gazed at the clouds above. "Instead of hating and loathing Rayhein for killing his mom, you understood the reason. You just couldn't burden yourself with those thoughts."

A somber silence hung in the air as Ray reflected on the kind of brother Rayhein must have been, to be loved so deeply despite his flaws. The weight of their tangled past filled him with a profound sense of despair. "What a fucked up origin this is," he muttered, his voice choked with emotion.

As the thunder roared, resonating with the intensity of his inner turmoil, Ray made a decision that felt both repulsive and deceitful. "I'll be a villain so that you can hate me freely and never remember. It's better than facing the bitter truth. It's always better," he whispered, steeling himself for the path he knew he had to take.

Suddenly, both combatants recoiled, prepared for the impending fight that loomed before them. Avan extended his palms, causing three symbols to materialize. In a flash, a small ball of fire hovered menacingly in his grasp—a display of magic aimed at intimidating Ray.

Ray, however, couldn't help but grin. "I wanted to live. If I had to do it all over again, I would," he declared defiantly, his voice filled with determination.

"Avan, I choose to live, and I will never regret that decision nor feel remorse for it."

A heavy pause filled the charged atmosphere as if time itself held its breath. "Just get over it," Ray said with a sly grin, his grip tightening around his staff as he spun it skillfully, assuming a battle-ready pose. He was ready to face the consequences of his choices head-on.

Avan flinched, visibly shaken by Ray's words. Though he tried to maintain his resolve, doubt flickered in his eyes as he looked at Ray one last time. "You're unredeemable," he spat, the words carrying a mix of anger and sorrow.

"I truly am," Ray replied without hesitation, accepting his fate and the darkness that enveloped him.

Ray thought with a bittersweet realization, "I'm destined for misery, but I'll embrace it to keep moving forward."

As the final thunderclap illuminated the darkness, both combatants stood poised, opposite each other. With determination etched on their faces, they rushed forward. A battle fueled by emotions too deep to comprehend.

ManwX

Hiya guys. sorry for the late update. I'm just thinking should I continue this series? I just feel like I'm lacking so much in my writing or so I'm told. People don't find this story interesting as well. hardly a few people even have completed it.  Still, I want to conclude the series and reach the end. I just feel like it's so far in the future. Who would want to read it anyway? well aside from my depressed rambling hope you like the characters and the chapter. The school exam arc is closing in with only 10 chapters or less