"Bro, what do I need to become a great hero like you and Dad?" a young Aiden asked.
"Hmm, let me think," the figure answered as mist obscured his face.
"Having a great heart and never falling from your path, I guess" the figure answered smiling
'Why did I forget everything?' Aiden questioned himself
The only reason Aiden went to Astralis Arcana Academy was to get away from that man who had driven his brother insane
"Dad, I am tired" a young Aiden said as he panted furiously
"No, you must surpass me" Toshinoro said in fury, pulling Aiden by the hair.
"Dad, no" Aiden said, fighting back
"Dad, can I take his place?" a figure said
Toshinoro shot a glare at the figure before sighing
"Okay Eli"
"Thank you, sir," Eli said bowing his head
Eli, the first child of the Cross family, was smart, elegant, and strong—everything one could want in a son but was bound to the shackles of their father's expectations whose goal was to become the Arcane Sovereign.
It was a title no one had ever reached. Toshinoro, once on the brink of attaining it, had crumbled before the final step before solidifying his title as Master Cross
Not being able to receive the Arcane Sovereign drove him mad and despite having both Aiden and Eli, he slowly began neglecting them and despite that his wife; Millia Cross hoped her husband's depression will soon end until one day
"Honey, I have found it" Toshinoro said, carrying Milia into the air and spinning her around.
Milia, smiling happily, asked "What?"
"I will make our children Arcane Sovereigns" Toshinoro said smiling
Milia kept quiet for a second
"Please put me down honey" Milia said seriously
Toshinoro put her down and Milia went back to her work
"What is the matter now honey" Toshinoro said with a troubled face
Milia stopped what she was doing and looked at Toshinoro with a troubled expression
"Are you alright sweetie?"
"Why did you ask"
"I mean, ever since you have been deployed as a Master, you never had time for me and the kids but now, you want to make them Arcane Sovereigns"
"Are you sure you are alright?" Milia said holding Toshinoro by the arm
"I am fine, I just realized that my children can reach where I could not." Toshinoro said biting his lips hard
Milia wanted to support her husband—she truly did—but she knew this was not the right way.
Milia persuaded Toshinoro day and night but he did not yield. Thoughts crossed her mind of taking the kids away but she ultimately decided to stay so the kids can grow with a father.
She would come to regret that decision deeply.
Toshinoro trained Eli and Aiden recklessly, without hesitation, forcing Milia to watch in horror and agony
"Mom, is dad going to punish Eli" A young Aiden asked as Milia rubbed his head on her lap
"No" Milia said smiling
Milia started singing a lullaby which put the young Aiden to sleep. She was worried for Aiden, Eli and most of all Toshinoro
Why wouldn't she be, her husband is going through something and is now taking it out on her children.
This continued for more years
Eli and Aiden were distant children in various ways and personalities. Aiden was cheerful and playful, but slow in most things while Eli, the older brother, was distant, reckless, and strong-willed.
Despite that, Eli and Aiden got along pretty well helping each other grow very well
Eli was an Initiate at the age of sixteen marking as the youngest to reach that status at Astralis Arcana Academy
"You are cool Eli" Aiden said
"No not really" Eli said
Aiden had not really realized Eli was shouldering a lot.
Eli continued to train and grow stronger not for his sake but all in a desperate attempt to meet Toshinoro's expectations.
All that ended when Eli went to the Siaki Dungeon but what happened there was a day Aiden would never forget
He saw his brother's lifeless body—gutted and left to rot. It was said that a Bloodfiend had killed him, but Aiden suspected otherwise
'A human killed him' Aiden said in anger
It would been better if Toshinoro consoled the family, well he did, for a time, before he said something Aiden would never forget one day he was drunk
"It is because Eli was weak, that is why he died. Hopefully, Aiden won't turn out the same."
Hearing his father speak despicable words about his brother drove Aiden over the edge and that resulted in the unresolved hate he has towards his father Toshinoro
"What made you think you could use my memories against me" Aiden said in fury
"I am done holding back, you die now" Aiden said as he charged straight at Mournfiend
Swinging Rhitta wildly, Aiden tore through everything in his path.
Dodging by a hairsbreadth, Mournfiend tried cowering into a corner but Aiden was faster
Aiden closed the gap on Mournfiend before kicking him in the groin, as Mournfiend spat out blood, Aiden used his momentum to put Mournfiend in an arm lock before snapping the arm clean off
"Ow" Mournfiend shouted in anger
As Mournfiend shouted in agony, Aiden grabbed the leg and broke it too
Standing tall over the crippled Mournfiend trying to escape, Aiden looked at him with ice cold eyes
"Now you die"
As Aiden's sword was about to fall on his head, someone snapped back to reality
"Don't try it Aiden" the figure shouted
As Aiden turned, he said silently, "Professor Eldrich…"