A seven-year-old Eri Themis was kneeling in front of his father, Earl Tartus Themis, with tears streaming down his face. His brothers looked down at him in disgust.
"The day of awakening is always a proud day for the Themis family, but then you emerged, Eri. The Themis family has celebrated the prestige and glory of being fire cultivators, our blood blessed with the history of kings. So how can you, my son, be a Shadow Cultivator? A rat of society."
The young Eri sobbed, trying to wipe the tears. "I'm sorry, father. I can change."
The Earl scoffed at him. "Change? You're too weak. Weak-minded and weak-willed. Even your mana was graded as weak. You are an abomination of the Themis family. We are dragons! And dragons do not tolerate shadow rats!"
The Earl never cared for his youngest son. He was a walking contradiction of the Themis family. While they had blonde hair and golden eyes, Eri was the opposite, with black hair and dark grey eyes.
The Earl always looked at Eri with disdain, but now he was branded as a disgrace and embarrassment from when his mana core awakened. Instead of being nurtured and cultivated, Eri was laid to waste. He was neglected and treated as trash who was incapable of contributing to the family.
The only kindness in his world was his mother, Selene, the Earl's third wife.
The Earl had three sons, Terran, Tomas, and Eri, but only Eri was born from Selene. She wished she could protect him, but she was sickly and had been confined to a bed all his life. He would seek her out for comfort, and she gently held him. She would tell him sweet words to soothe his heart.
"You are not weak. The Earl does not know how powerful kindness could be."
"You are blessed by the shadows, which move and dance like smoke. Your powers can accentuate the light, or it could swallow it."
"The darkness is beauty, and you are its personification."
"Those born of the shadows may walk a different path than those of the light. But this does not make your path any less meaningful."
"Be proud of your powers, my child. Be proud of your nature and stand tall."
But her words were always drowned out by the scorn of his father. Out of desperation, he poisoned himself and locked away his mana. He had lost all powers but still bore the stigma of a Shadow Cultivator. He could never earn his father's acceptance.
He was cast out and banished to a boarding school for the powerless. The day he was forced to leave, his mother tried to plead with the Earl. When her cries were brushed aside, she crawled out of her room to stop Eri from leaving.
"You will not send my son away!" She cried out. Her weakened body could not take her far, and his brothers picked her up and carried her back to her room. She screamed and clawed at them, her tears turning to blood that stained her cheeks.
This was his last image of his mother-a nightmare that plagued him every time he closed his eyes. He was never allowed back inside the house. Every time he returned, his brothers would beat him senseless, Then, he was forced to kneel in front of the gate if he did not fall unconscious, hoping to be let in. However, he was never able to enter the premises.
He suffered through every attack and came back for more. All he wanted was the family who used to tolerate him before his Mana Awakening. He was desperate and kneeled in front of the manor countless times. He asked for forgiveness for being born as a Shadow Cultivator and begged to see his mother.
When he turned 14 years old, his mother passed away. He went home to attend the funeral but found himself in the same position as before, kneeling in front of the door. His voice was raw from begging his family to let him in, but he was completely ignored. They didn't even come out to beat him. He found that the cold door was a more formidable torment than the physical pain they had inflicted. He stayed on the desolate doorstep with silent tears and his head pressed against the ground.It was a humiliating position, but he was desperate. His gentle soul trembled as he understood that his family would punish him with the worst agony. He would never be allowed to say goodbye or pay his respects to his mother. They treated him like a ghost and let him kneel before their door for a full day and night.
He felt the pain of abandonment, losing his frail mother and entire family simultaneously. He left a wilted white chrysanthemum on the doorstep in the cold morning. He then picked himself off the floor and stumbled away. His eyes remained downcast as he had never found the strength to lift his head. He didn't know how he got to the cliff, but he stared at the abyss beneath him. The dark waves seemed welcoming, urging him to join the turbulent waters.
He wasn't a fighter. He wasn't strong. He never wanted to see another in pain because he knew the despair that pain can bring. He was weak like his father told him many years ago. Entering the waters beneath him was the only thing he felt he could do. He released a strangled cry no one could hear and stepped off the cliff.
He felt the air rush around him and closed his eyes, anticipating the pain from impact. Or at least, he thought he would feel the chill of the water, but nothing like that came. Instead, it felt like he was wrapped in a warm blanket. He opened his eyes but only saw darkness surrounding him.
[Child. Are you sure you want to end this life?]
A metallic voice sounded in his ear, but it didn't frighten him. He looked around and found nothing. Thinking his mind was playing tricks on him, he stayed silent.
[I see. Your soul is too kind for this type of suffering. How lamentable.]
"Who...." The question was caught in his throat.
In the darkness, a figure appeared before him. He was covered head from toe in black garb, only his silver eyes shined in the darkness. As the figure came closer, Eri noticed a grievous scar running across his eyes. He seemed formidable, but Eri felt safe in his presence.
The figure looked down at the small Eri, his silver eyes creased with anger.
"What is the meaning of this, Shadow Deity?" The man asked. His voice came out as a deep rumble that comforted Eri despite the anger behind it.
[An unrelenting Sovereign who wants to try again and an innocent child who wants to rest. Erebus and Eri... What a pair.]
Eri reached up and grabbed Erebus' sleeve. "Does that mean I can stop now?" He asked innocently.
Erebus sighed and knelt to be at eye level with the small boy. "You have just opened your eyes. Why enter this world of nothingness?"
Eri gave him a broken smile. "This place is a lot warmer than where I came from."
The silver eyes were startled, but then he pressed his head against the child's forehead. The memories of Eri's terrible childhood rushed into Erebus' mind, causing him to sigh sorrowfully.
"You can still change your future," Erebus said gently.
But Eri shook his head firmly. "I'm not a fighter or strong. I'm tired."
The metallic voice mimicked Erebus' sigh. (A proposition. The Sovereign's soul will take over the child's body. The child will be reborn eventually with a different fate.]
"Shadow Deity!" Erebus growled and stood up with rage. "I may be a demon, but I will not selfishly steal a child's life!"
Eri pulled on his sleeve again, causing Erebus to falter. Erebus turned towards him and kneeled again. He seemed unable to ignore the young boy.
Somehow, a mere child had made the Demon Sovereign pliant.
"You died too, right?" The boy bit his lip. "What would you do if you lived again?"
Erebus couldn't help but soften his gaze. He lifted a hand to rub Eri's head a little but pulled back awkwardly before he made contact. He didn't know how to treat a child because his hands were only used for fighting.
"Try to fight my war again."
"Is it a difficult fight?" His eyes held concern for Erebus.
"Yes. It is difficult, but it is necessary." Erebus explained softly. "But/am not necessary. Others can take my place on the frontlines. I am... part of the past and am irrelevant at this point. But you, child, you are still living in the present."
The child laughed sadly. "Whatever this life is, it is not living. I am hardly surviving..."
Erebus seemed to be unable to retort. He saw the life the boy lived, and it was painful. He never knew his own family, so he could not understand how a father could reject his son. He could find no words to comfort him.
Eri hesitated for a moment, biting his lip before he spoke again. "The voice called you Sovereign... what are you the Sovereign of?"
Erebus shook a little. "They called me the Demon Sovereign, but that is an old story. My name must be lost in time."
But Eri gasped excitedly. "Demon Sovereign! You could never be erased from history! The people would never allow it."
Erebus was a little surprised. "They remember?" His voice was soft and filled with dismay.
The boy seemed to have found his resolve. "My mother whispered your name often. She believed in you and your actions during the great Warring Era. You are a hero."
"Hero? No. I was selfish and foolish." Erebus shook his head somberly. "I lost sight of my purpose and was corrupted by vengeance. The realms' harmony was torn asunder, and the lives of many were cut short. In the end, there was no merit in my actions. My war was lost, and my revenge was unrealized. I reaped my demise."
"But if you could fight again?"
Erebus laughed a little. "My anger still hasn't subsided. I want vengeance and blood... but perhaps I could try an altered path and fight my battles differently."
"How?"
Erebus titled his head, amused by Eri's curiosity. "Before, I waged war on everybody, but that was a meaningless slaughter. If I massacre the people, who would be left to save? Instead, I can focus on finding the truth behind the corrupted sects. Carefully choose the wars that must be fought to bring me closer to fulfilling my purpose."
"If you won your war back then, would I have had a kinder world now?" His thoughts were innocent and gentle.
"I never thought about it... perhaps. Although I cannot promise what's in the heart of humans, maybe that should have been the goal all along. A world that would cherish someone like you." Erebus didn't hesitate this time and patted his head affectionately.
Eri seemed to melt with the touch from Erebus. How long had it been since someone comforted him like this? Large tears fell from his eyes, and he rushed into the arms of the man. Erebus was taken back but soon embraced the young child, letting him cry to his heart's content. This child was reminded every day that he was unloved and despised. At least Erebus could show him a little kindness,
Erebus was too familiar with suffering and empathized with young Eri's exhaustion. When the Soul Stone released its final crack, he felt relief to be finished like this small child, but the centuries of isolation stirred his regret. His war was incomplete. The world was still suffering, and this child was a testament to this.
He comforted the child in his arms and tried to give him the little affection he deserved. After the boy calmed his breathing, he found his voice again. "Please, try again. Promise that you will try to make the world kinder, Sovereign."
Erebus shook his head. "I cannot take your life."
"I'm giving it to you." With those words, the small boy's spiritual body rippled and rose like smoke before it wrapped around Erebus and disappeared into the Nothingness.
Erebus uttered a startled cry and felt a profound loss when Eri disappeared from his arms. How could a child be so resolute? Did he not realize he would be trapped in this world of Nothingness until the Shadow Deity decided to let him be reborn? Wasn't this life too lonely?
Erebus was still on his knees, staring at his empty arms, and tears fell from his eyes like black pearls. "Shadow Deity... His next life...."
The Shadow Deity sighed kindly. [I will ensure he has a life fitting for his gentle soul. Will you fulfill his request?]
"For a kinder world? I will have to spill a lot of blood first..." Erebus said quietly. "But I will gladly stain my hands and become a sinner to create a world worthy of him."
[You will start from nothing and experience pain again.)]
Erebus laughed. Pain was something he was used to, and physical pain could not compare to the torment of his mind.
A deep desire filled him. If he lived again, he could not waver. He must succeed because when his arduous task is completed, Eri will be reborn in a world that would appreciate his kindness.
[From one sinner to another, I pray for your success in this new life.]