I felt my limbs torn apart, every fibre of my body destroying and regenerating again and again in a loop for who knows how long. The endless cycle of solitude in void with no one to talk to, but I am wide awake even after experiencing this unbearable pain.
‘How am I awake?’
‘What is happening around me? I feel chilling cold which freeze my bones, then next moment, I am drowning??’
*Huff* * Huff*
I woke up from my dream and grasped for breath, huffing, and clutching my chest. I was sweating and shivering from the ‘Scars of the Past’ which I just remembered in my dreams inside my dorm room.
“The side effects are severe for me. Only if Luther had sent us back few years ago then I... I would have escaped from this cursed world.”
To escape from this cursed world, that’s why I was searching for ways to go back to the past.
Few years ago, we were studying the weird artifact, which suddenly opened a void and sucked me inside it. I felt all sorts of pain while remaining ‘awake’ in that void, unable to die, which leads to me remembering each of my suffering, becoming my ‘Scars of the Past’.
I chucked another potion to calm my emotions, only then my trembling hands calmed down. I get freshen up in my washroom, then dressed myself neatly and prepared myself to go to the class.
I pondered should I go or not? But still decided to go to check if my comrades(?) Are in same situation as I am or not.
As I entered class, I observed them carefully. They have dark circles and red eyes, maybe they were unable to sleep due to stress? They glared at me with killing intent as soon as they felt my gaze, as if I am the cause of this problem but I only felt joy that I am not the only one suffering.
The Instructor came with papers and said, “Today’s written exam is only optional but it will decide your base rankings. You have two hours to solve them. Begin.”
As I glanced at the sheets, I pondered, ‘Should I drop out? Seriously, I don’t want to do this again.’
I solved the questions half-heartedly then suddenly I felt headache and it’s getting worse by each passing minute!
*Crack* *Step* *Step*
I broke my pen and get ready to leave the class in the middle. I closed my eyes and stepped outside of my class as they must be red. I knew that I will standout too much or if someone misunderstand me leaving the test in the middle with red eyes, and I hate standing out from the rest.
*Inhale* *Phew*
I walked to the garden and take a deep breath to calm down, I walked aimlessly with my thoughts scattered without thinking of a specific subject. I felt a sense of tranquility each time cold wind brushed my cheeks, and heard the rustling of leaves with chirping of birds I felt all my worries washing away.
‘This is indeed the best way of releasing stress. I can feel my life increasing by a few years.’
“Greetings, master.”
And I lost the few years of life hearing those words. I stealthily swallowed the pill hidden in my molar then I felt my senses and my mind going numb.
The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
I slowly opened my eyes and said, “I see you are here as well, Sabin.”
“My apologies, as I have taken some time to make necessary arrangements to sneak away without Demon Elders noticing anything suspicious. I kindly wish for your understanding.”
“Elders didn’t noticed? What about others?”
“Yes master, Elders didn’t noticed and I haven’t informed your other servants, as it was so sudden... and there is a possibility that they might betray you.”
While my demon butler ‘Sabin’ was talking, I was talking with the pre-determined answers while drowning in my own subconsciousness. He doesn’t seem to be using any artifacts and spells but it’s better to be careful because of his ‘Intuition’.
I noticed my surroundings later; it seems a forest. Sabin still looks the same, long black hairs, red iris, wheat colored skin, and small horns on the side of his temples going backwards. He set the breakfast, in middle of the forest and I sat upon the seat he summoned.
I watched my face on the silver bowl which covered the dish, I looked at my expressionless average looking face, black iris, white skin, and black hairs. I looked terrible, as there are dark circles under my red eyes as if I hadn’t sleep for a while.
Sabin on the other hand seems unaffected on the outside, maybe because he is a high-ranking demon? That much is the difference between our powers. He can kill me with a single flick but he is serving me as a butler, how laughable. I would have fallen for his act if I didn’t know his hidden nature.
Atleast, he doesn’t know my inner thoughts. Only an idiot would drown in his subconsciousness, as you can fall into coma. Only at times like these I am thankful to my ‘Scars of the Past’.
He served me the breakfast and I ate it without complain. It doesn’t contain anything weird, as my trait [Tit for Tat] didn’t activated.
“Master, what are your plans for future?”
“You know already, otherwise you wouldn’t be my servant.”
“I have already made preparation. These will help you.”
Sabin take out a pill and a ring from his pocket. I put my right-hand forward and he put them in my palm. Suddenly...
[Tit for Tat activated.]
[‘Sabin’ is chosen as the target.]
I have taken an unexpected damage in my body, I quickly analyzed the cause of damage and come to conclusion that pill has caused me damaged. I checked their information using spell [Insight].
[Ring of Escape]
- User can use spell [teleport] 3 times a day.
- It can recharge using surrounding mana.
- Teleportation range: 10 meters.
- If ring gets destroyed then the user automatically escapes to a pre-determined location.
Even though my head is hurting like hell, I forced myself to separate my mind and think positively about the artifact Sabin gave me to deceive his ‘intuition’.
‘This ring is useful and harmless. Limit and range are problem, but I can make it better using magic engineering. I am best at dealing with artifacts related to spatial manipulation.’
Aigoo! My head!! No, just... Lock in. I have to assure Sabin that I am not suspicious about this pill.
[Mana Deficiency Pill]
- Can temporarily removes the abnormality [Mana Deficiency].
- Time limit: 10 minutes.
Interesting, even my Insight cannot discover the abnormality in the pill. What did he mix in it? It seems undetectable, if my trait hadn’t warned me… I only need to survive an hour now, then make him fatally injure me.
‘This pill will help me a lot.’
As soon as I thought that, Sabin softly smiled.
Aghh! This damn... Headache. Sabin, I will make sure that you never smile again...
I put the items in my pocket and prepared to leave.
“Master, I will not be able interfere in ‘the demon invasion’ during your practical exams because of Demon Elders, but I will make the proper preparations for ‘your’ ritual.”
‘I know about rituals more than him; he wouldn’t mess with it.’
Ugh! He must be talking about those 6 demons who invaded during practical exam, which will happen in few days and ‘the ritual’ he is talking about will need captured demons. Pill wouldn’t affect the ritual in any possible way, then what is this punk planning?
I stood up and said, “I will be going then.”
“Master, we will meet again at ritual place, you just have to destroy that ring to reach that location.”
Sabin disappeared in thin air and so does the table and chairs he summoned. I, who was left alone in forest, slowly started walking to my dorm room while planning for future events.
‘I bet Sabin must be watching me right now...’
I will be forced to perform ritual by him. I have to deal with Sabin after he prepared the ritual, how should I use this situation to my advantage? Think. What is the best route I can take in this situation.
I gained control of my body again and planned for the actions I have to take in future.