Darian layed his face on the palm of his hand,as he sighed,his eyes having an awkward expression,his lips curling upwards,while his face tried not to look in a certain direction.
He was currently in class amongst the miriad of noble offsprings,those who had experienced the peak of comfort,protection,and liesure while simultaneously experienceing the peak weight of responsibility,training,and education,that only few peasants could match.
Alot of things had transpired since the passing of his birthday,although he had gotten used to his roommates completely,and the school itself,there was still a sense of grandeur about things,at times he would just stare at the Tall Towers,to calm himself,its esthetics,really stood out to him.
If he was to describe this place from things he had heard about or seen in his previous life,he would describe it as a coherent amalgamation of aspects of famous existing sites, such as the old Tower bridge,westminster palace,and last but not least,the loathed,but admired Red square.
The only difference between these,and chrokus would be that, chrokus was significantly bigger,including itsTowers,its architecture was also more gothic as well,having no onion Domes.
Within this higher elevation,was where Darians class was located,chrokus being near the coast also ment that at times it would be covered by heavy fog,which ment when looking from one of theTowers the scene had a soulslike feel.
Darian was in deep thought over the things,that transpired in these passed few months," funny",he said in his heart ," its all so funny",even his heart mimiced the sound of his voice deep,but like an eco in a hollowed out cave.
" lady,Roselles achievements have really shaken up the world",he said," But I guess it wasnt her alone"," Despite being in a world of magic stagnation has really effected this world,Despite being given the technology to build steam trains,Cameras,and radios they rarely expanded it ","In this aspect of progress,this world is quite slow".
Ever since his memory's returned,Darian had always been judge mental,and a bit pessimistic about this world.
With a world of magic he couldn't help but think how,many problems this could solve back in his own chaotic world.
In a way he had always lived comfortably his life had mainly taken place,in a quiet time between the conflict,were Gorilla warfare was implemented in a sense he felt guilty,and a Traitor witnessing things that were written in story books,and novels of his world as if they were as real as he felt he was those times,felt strange.
Why was he so lucky,but even this luck came with strings attached,and now he selfishly clung to life in a game he felt was already decided.
This was part of the paradox,and Contradiction of his heart.
After being bombarded with noise from,the outside world,Darian finally snapped out from his mental state,Annabeth had recently been assigned a seat next to him,their relationship was a very awkward one, she was different from the carefree girl he once knew.
But ofcourse he had changed too,so he had no right to blame her, for doing the same,but what he could not forget was the fact,she pushed him away first.
They both tried to ignore each other as,best as they could,Annabeth was like a rusted statue unable to turn its head to the side,her eyes fixated to the front.
In this process,if she felt Darians eyes scanning to her direction,she would occasionally blush.
The bell for recess rang out,and Darian found himself walking side by side with Galahad, and Benjamin.
The moment they walked out of the classroom, they found themselves in a world where people walked on walls flew as they were propelled by the wind,used bouncy slimes as trampelines to get to higher floors,and so on.
Some levitated in the air,some telekinetically lifted their books flipping threw its pages.
Boys played by making magical constructs fight each other.
While girls created illusory contructs of palaces,grand balls or princes dancing with princesses,as the girls mimiced the dances.
After collecting their trays from old Gwen instead of heading to the caffetieria,they began their walk to the outside yard.
Darian outstretched one hand,above the treys as they turned into particles of light before completely vanishing.
" So you can store things without opening,a gate now impressive"said Galahad," its not that complex once you get the idea"Darian replied,"Now that I've seen you do it I think its similar to digitization"," I should be able to do it soon enough",Galahad replied.
" Honestly as long as I dont have to carry my own food its good",said Benjamin.
As they walked on, sometimes women,would pass them by, looking directly at Darian they would laugh,Darians mouth would then curl downward while his eyes stayed serious and fixated creating an interesting awkward expression.
Galahad seeing this would then tapp Darians shoulder.
In Darians inner mind thoughts sprang out," Surprised it took this long for my words to spread throughout,what was I hoping for exactly,ahh,I cant believe I said that with a serious face".
Meanwhile Benjamin spoke on recent events until he reached a topic that resonated with the two boys.
"The patents of these new technologies,really caused bidding wars at ymirs central halls,but thats to be expected,who would miss such a chance to capture such a hot commodity" said Benjamin.
Galahad spoke," Profit,she is the greatest of motivators".
Benjamin seeing this topic had gained traction,quickly smiled his eyes lighting up as he continued,clenching his fist lifting them up in an exaggerated manner.
"Whats really boomed is the intertainment Industry,and Media"," they say a small,up ,and coming noble house were already on the scene,probably manipulateing their way to buying for cheap".
Darian was in thought," from what I know these technologies have different more archaic appearances from my world,but in some aspects they are all equivalent to my Earths 2010s technologies in varying degrees of proficiency,this mostly applies to the Computers editing abilities or high processing powers,Televisions in viewing quality,Terrestrial broadcasting technologies in signal strength,and video recording cameras are almost one to one ".
Finally Darian chimed in "I have to give it to them","they sure did a hell of a job advertising these technologies".
"Hmm"," I see why you would say that,with all the futuristic messageing from the papers,affordability claims,public broadcasts,and flashy campaigns,I can see where your coming from" Galahad replied almost sarcasticly.
"Besides guys what we should be really thankful for is the fact,more manufacturing companies are going to be built meaning more employment for the less fortunate folks",Benjamin said excitedly.
"Agreed!"
Said Benjamin,and Darian simulataneously with varying tones.
"But realistically,atleast half of these workers will be taken advantage of " Darian added.
" You just had to bum me out man",Benjamin replied dramatically," Besides lets hope its just half".
The tone of Benjamin's last sentence made Galahad chuckle a bit.
"The two of you are scimming through one of the most interesting parts,the technology itself, apparently a women known as Roselle invented,and Developed an analytical engine,it also uses some of these technologies using memory stones for memory storage,and power stones to store and power these technologies allowing them to have, minimal charge".
Both Darian,and Benjamin went wide eyes they had never expected Galahad to speak with such passion,and enthusiasm.
What especially caught them offgaurd was the hand gestures, how he closed his eyes,clenched his fist,opened his palm,and how open and wide his arm movements were.
When Galahad realised everything had gotten too quiet,he opened one eye only to see both Darian,and Galahad looking at him with awkward expressions before they burst into laughter relieveing the brief moment of Tention as Galahad self-deprecatingly joined in.
"Sorry guys ,I think I got too excited there", Galahad said,Benjamin chuckled,"you would never stop to think,that our big tall Galahad was such a nerd for the technical arts".
the last part of the sentence Benjamin said it in a silly way,the way you talk to a baby to open its mouth.
,"True" added Darian," I was not expecting you of all people to turn into prime Socrates for moment"," Prime Socrates whats that",Benjamin sighed,"I told you not to keep me in dark on new slang terms".
"Its just these weird sayings,Darian has,I myself have no clue on where he gets them from",Galahad smiled.
"I guess its his own weird little Quirk",Darian tssked in desatisfaction.
Moments later the trio found themselves a bench to sit down on,it had a proper view of the green grass that was being illuminated by the suns rays.
On this very grass, students trained with swords or played pure physical sports,and now the trio became their spectators.
" Oh that reminds me"," Our Supreme magus finally speaks",Benjamin said in a taunting manner," You've been real quiet lately","huh".
Darian held one hand to his face,shaking his head," Nobodys gonna let me live it down are they"," Well proclaiming infront of the entire class that your going to be the greatest mage to ever live,is quite a cocky goal few would dare to admit it in public even if they such a goal"," it breaks the system entirely".
"Atleast you weren't the only ridiculous one",Benjamin chuckled,"Your fellow Edward,Kinsley had to come up and say he wants to be the richest Man!!",Benjamin almost cracked up.
Galahad chuckled,"what about yours,Benjamin upholding your family name thats quite average","ave,ave,averagge!!"," well I'm offended","I thought with your situation you would say the same thing,when you were asked instead of something so corny".
" Becoming the greatest hero "," come on!",Benjamin said dismissively.
"Look who's talking don't you always,like playing the hero",Galahad rebuttled," besides".
" You dont get it,upholding my family name as it is now, is no good,I have to be its greatest ambassador rebuild a name worth upholding,I cant rely on the tailcoats of my predescessors you see",Galahad said with conviction.
"And what better way,than being a great,no! the greatest hero".
Benjamin's face turned pale,and serious his eyes tilting down," So you cant rely on your predecessors,I guess,I feel the exact same way".
" if thats the case"
"The one to be the ultimate hero will be mee!".
The tension between Galahad,and Benjamin was palpitable,Darian sighed, moving his right hand to his right,causing the treys of food to reappear from points of light.
As they ate,Benjamin would tease both Galahad,and Darian,in a way his bright soul brought them both laughter.
In Darians Room,a single lamps light,lit up the darkness,as Darian sat face down infront of his desk,which was part of his own little office,in the corner of the room.
His arm limping,and outstretching towards the lamps flames,once he stuck his hand inside,from the flames burst forth a set of letters.
Darian sat down on the floor,only wearing a white ruffled shirt ,and long black pants,the back of his head placed at the edge of desk,one leg curled towards his head in a triangular shape,while the other was fully stretched out,as he read the letters.
The letters were co-written by both his parents,for example in one letter,the first half would be written in his mother liedias handwriting,while the other half would normally be written by his father.
At times extra letters,would be released by the flames which pertaining to other members of the family specifically the certain servants,wishing him the best of luck.
something that almost brought a tear to his eye.
Conrad,and liedia would talk about how his day went,his schooling,his health,his safety,what he ate,who he befriended,even how to deal with bullies.
it was clear how much passion and emotion these letters were written with,with how tightly packed and sporadic the words were sometimes written on the letters.
In the passed 3 months,what had really caught his ears, were gossip stories his mother had told,him specifically about,Doulos,and lady Roselle.
How they had visited,the love blossom tree,according to her Doulos had no intentions of proving his love through a tree.
Ofcourse Roselle was very convincing,but once they got there, she felt bad about her decision feeling she forced him into it,before she could say a word,Doulos gently grabbed her hand,placeing his,and hers on the tree,both giving each other a final look,before it glowed with intensity.
Atleast that's how his mother liedia explained it,her,and Roselle by the time he left had grown very close.
They would chat like high school girls,with his mother liedia taking the role of the more experienced one of the two,always giving Roselle seductive tips.
Something that brought a smile on Darians face when he first read it was the fact,Doulos had proposed to her honestly it felt long overdue.
In certain aspects Doulos relationship was like this world,it had been suppressed from advancing for years but when released it truly boomed.
Doulos even skipped past the engagement stage ,but for the amount of time he,and Roselle had known each other, it was exceptible.
Darian took a feathered pen sitting in his seat,arching his back to write a letter his letters were short only being half a page,wanting to calm his parents anxiety,and simultaneously show his independence.
At times he had so much to right so much to say,but he kept in he had no desire to involve them too deep or to show they were his strongest connection.
But his heart still yearned.
Darian finally finished the letter placing it within the lanterns flames.
As he stood up,looking down, and thinking of the school and what he had said,he could only think.
" I don't care,what they think of me,if they think,I'm arrogant,and leave me alone,then good if they think I'm ambitious,and think me a fool,then that's good too,it will allow me to extract information while avoiding suspicion".
"I'll take what I want from right under their nose".
Darian stood up with conviction,"but truly what I said was no lie,I will become the strongest".
That very same night,on Darians bed a traumatic scene flashed through his mind as he clenched the bedsheets.
It was a scene of his mother liedia in yellow dress clenching his dead body,while his real self stood behind her, invisible unable to interact,trapped.
Her tears drained over him,his face looking as if it choked on its own blood,her body clothes ,and face covered with clear blood.
This scene caused tears to flow from his face,as he watched as a bystander,the only words that could surface from his mouth were.
" if you know,why do you love me","why do you hold me","why do you hold me close","why do you cry for me".
"No! push me away,hate me!,loath me!,use me!".
" don't love me,stop loving me,don't cry for me".
The scene shifted to a bang as,something hit the side of his head as blood,and flesh splattered in a flash,seeing,and feeling his own blood the pain of that day.
Seeing the same thing again,his mother being shot right before his eyes,this time his hand moving to slowly to grab her, but only grab the air.
A tear flowing from his eye in real time.
A sentence ecoed in his heart
" I failed,I'm a failure,I'm worthless,so push away from me".
This was Darians true paradox wanting love but feeling unworthy of it,wanting to give love but feeling he only curses.
The selfish desire to be loved,that fights the selfless desire to push loved ones away,if not for himself,but for their own sanity.