Axelius stormed out of the duke's office, his expression hard and unyielding, fists clenched tightly at his sides. His footsteps were swift and purposeful, carrying him through the long corridors and out into the garden without a single glance back. Owen, still nestled on his shoulder, bounced slightly with each hurried step. "Axelius! Hey! Are you alright? Answer me!" Owen's voice was laced with concern, but Axelius remained silent, his jaw clenched and eyes fixed forward.
They finally reached the garden, the cool breeze brushing against his face as he came to an abrupt stop. Without warning, Axelius gasped for air, as if he had been holding his breath the entire way. His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the soft grass, sprawling out as if he could finally breathe again.
Owen squeaked in surprise, bouncing off his shoulder and landing on the grass beside him. "What in the world was that?!" Owen asked,
Axelius lay there for a moment, his chest heaving, one hand clutching at his heart. His eyes stared up at the sky, wide and dazed, before he chuckled softly, the sound shaky and uneven.
He slowly sat up, running a hand through his hair and shaking his head in disbelief. "What… what happened back there?" he murmured, his voice still trembling.
"Huh? What do you mean, what happened? You were shouting at the duke like you wanted to kill him! It was… intense."
Axelius chuckled again, though there was a hint of nervousness in his laughter. "That… that wasn't me," he said, his eyes staring off into the distance. "I mean, I remember saying those things, but it's like…" He paused, searching for the right words. "It's like I wasn't the one speaking. My mouth was moving, the words were coming out, but it didn't feel like it was me."
Owen wobbled in place, "What?"
Axelius shook his head, still breathing heavily. "I don't know… but it was like… like memories just flooded my head. I saw things I shouldn't have. I felt things that weren't mine."
He pressed his hand to his forehead, rubbing it as if it would clear his mind. "The tension, the anger… it's still here," he added, clenching his fists "Damn, it felt real. You think the real Axelius is still here?" he asked, finally turning to Owen.
Owen shifted uncomfortably, his body jiggling slightly. "No… I don't think the original Axelius is still around," Owen began slowly. "But… I think what you felt was his burden. His emotions. His regrets. His… pain."
Axelius went silent for a moment, his eyes staring blankly at the grass beneath his hands. He finally let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "That… that was heavy," he whispered,
Owen nodded, moving a little closer. "Maybe… maybe his soul left behind more than just memories," Owen suggested softly. "Maybe you're carrying his pain too."
"Then I'm going to make sure it wasn't for nothing. I'm not just gonna let that old man throw me around like I'm some puppet."
Owen's little jelly-like form wobbled with curiosity as he floated beside Axelius. "What is it about Axelius's mother?" he asked, his voice soft yet inquisitive.
Axelius paused for a moment, "Based on the memories… when Axelius was around four years old, his mother was taken away," he began slowly,
"They said she had some kind of disease… something contagious. I don't know, it's all a bit blurry, then they throw her to an island. I saw what the island look like in a photos and It didn't look like a proper place to heal… it was more like she was abandoned there."
Owen stayed silent for a moment, absorbing the information. "That's… that's horrible," he whispered. Axelius nodded, his gaze distant.
"Yeah, and then…" Axelius continued, his eyes narrowing slightly as he tried to recall the scattered fragments. "There was this memory… I don't know exactly when, but I saw him—Axelius—looking out of the carriage, He was just watching… watching this family outside. They were happy, playing together on the street And Axelius just stood there, watching, like it was some kind of fairy tale," he finished, h
A heavy silence settled between them, broken only by the distant rustle of leaves. Just then, footsteps approached, and Elias appeared, his expression soft but concerned. "Young Master, are you alright?" he asked gently, his eyes searching Axelius's face for any sign of distress.
Axelius snapped back to the present, his shoulders straightening as he forced a small smile. "Yeah, I'm fine now. Just… tired," he replied, his voice steady but lacking its usual energy. "I want to rest," he added, already standing up and brushing off his clothes.
Elias nodded without hesitation, then, to Axelius's surprise, knelt down and offered his back. "Allow me to carry you, Young Master," he said,
Axelius blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the gesture. His first instinct was to refuse, but the fatigue from earlier still clung to his bones. After a moment's hesitation, he sighed and climbed onto Elias's back, resting his arms loosely over the butler's shoulders.
Elias stood up smoothly, adjusting his grip to make sure Axelius was secure. "Hold on, Young Master," he said gently as he began to walk back toward the mansion. Axelius rested his head on Elias's shoulder, the steady rhythm of footsteps lulling him into a calm he hadn't realized he needed. Owen bounced alongside them,
"Comfortable, Young Master?" Elias asked softly,
Axelius, feeling a warmth that was unfamiliar yet strangely comforting, just nodded. "Yeah… it's not bad," he murmured, his eyes closing slightly.
As Elias walked steadily through the grand hallways of the mansion, Axelius's small form rested peacefully on his back, his breathing soft and even. His head leaned against Elias's shoulder, exhaustion pulling him into a deep slumber. Owen bounced silently beside them, watching with a hint of concern but saying nothing.
They were just a few steps away from Axelius's room when a familiar voice rang out, stopping them in their tracks. "What happened? The Duke is not in a good mood," Vivienne asked, her expression a mix of worry and frustration as she approached, her long gown trailing elegantly behind her.
Elias adjusted Axelius's weight slightly and turned to face her. "Lady Vivienne," he greeted with a nod of respect before answering, "Young Master Axelius and the Duke… they had a bit of an argument."
Vivienne's eyes widened, her gaze shifting to the sleeping boy on Elias's back. "They did?" she asked, disbelief lacing her tone. The idea of him standing up to the Duke was clearly unexpected.
"Yes, Lady Vivienne," Elias replied with a nod. "Young Master Axelius refused the invitation to enter the Royal Academy," he continued, his voice soft yet clear.
Vivienne's brows furrowed deeply as she stepped closer, her eyes scanning Axelius's face. Finally, she let out a long sigh, shaking her head.
"I'll talk to the Duke. What is he thinking? Axelius is just seven years old… and he's mana-less," she said, her tone dropping to a whisper as if the word itself was something shameful. "He's not even of age to enter the Royal Academy. This is unreasonable."
Elias, ever composed, replied gently, "The Duke is only thinking of Young Master Axelius's future, Lady Vivienne. He believes that entering the Academy may grant him opportunities… perhaps even a chance to awaken something within him," he explained,
Vivienne crossed her arms, her gaze drifting to the window where sunlight streamed in, casting long shadows across the marble floor. "Opportunities…?" she repeated softly, almost to herself. "What good are opportunities if he's forced to endure something he's not ready for?" she asked, her tone hardening.
Elias did not answer, his expression remaining neutral. "Lady Vivienne, the Duke's intentions are not cruel… merely hopeful," he said,
Vivienne let out another sigh, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Hopeful… or desperate?" she muttered under her breath before straightening up. "Take him to his room. Let him rest," she instructed, her eyes softening as she glanced at Axelius's sleeping face one last time. "I'll speak with Father."
Elias bowed slightly. "As you wish, Lady Vivienne," he replied before continuing down the hallway, Axelius still soundly asleep on his back, oblivious to the conversation that had just taken place.Thank