Awakening The True Beast

Between Two Souls, Chapter 15

The door creaked open, and father and son left the dining hall in silence. Queen Sophie and Vino remained at the table, trying to steady their nerves. The once warm atmosphere had turned tense in an instant.

The flickering candlelight illuminated the marble walls of the castle's corridor. The full moon cast its silver glow, and the night breeze slipped through the open windows, bringing a chill to the air. But despite the cold, sweat beaded on Adrien's forehead—his own words from earlier still weighing heavily on him.

King Arthur led his son to the castle balcony, where the city of Adrestia stretched out before them, a breathtaking sight even at night. Walking up to the railing, the king placed his hands behind his back and took a deep breath before gesturing for Adrien to step closer.

"My son, come here."

Adrien hesitated for a moment before moving beside his father.

"Look at this city," Arthur said, his voice steady but firm. "It's bustling, yet peaceful. Orderly, yet alive. You appreciate peace, don't you, Adrien?"

"Yes," Adrien replied, though his voice wavered.

"No matter how busy this city is, it remains in harmony. Do you know why?"

Adrien glanced at his father. "Because someone protects it… maintains that order."

Arthur nodded. "Exactly. And who ensures that order remains?"

Adrien lowered his gaze. "…The King."

"There you have it," Arthur said. "So why refuse to be king? If you were, you wouldn't just be protecting your own peace—you'd be ensuring it for everyone."

Adrien clenched his fists. "But Father, what if I wasn't meant to be king? What if my true potential lies elsewhere? I want to explore, to learn. I feel like the throne will only chain me down. If I lived alone by the lake, I could study freely, travel without obligations, and return home to peace and solitude."

Arthur sighed, placing a reassuring hand on Adrien's shoulder. "I admire your conviction, son. But leaders aren't born—they are made. And you, Adrien, have already proven that you are capable of leading."

"I am not fit to be king, Father," Adrien insisted.

"You sell yourself short," Arthur countered. "Have faith in yourself! Do you remember your time at Angelo Caduto Academy? You arrived there as a mere boy, and despite your royal blood, no one gave you special treatment. It was a ruthless place. Yet, under your leadership, you transformed that school into the most prestigious institution in all of Arestiana. You were only seventeen then. That was no small feat."

"But that was only because I was forced to study there. What if I can't achieve something like that again? It took a long and difficult process."

"You already proved yourself today," Arthur countered. "You led your soldiers against the werewolves and emerged victorious. Remember this, Adrien—God never burdens His people with more than they can bear. Have faith in yourself, and He will guide you. Besides, as king, you'd have even greater opportunities to explore and learn. In fact, access to knowledge would be far easier."

Adrien took a deep breath, trying to absorb his father's words.

"I don't know, Father… I'll think about it."

Not wanting to dwell any longer on the internal conflict raging inside him, Adrien turned to leave. He needed the solitude of his room.

"Very well," Arthur said. "Rest for now and reflect on it."

Just as Adrien was about to walk away, his father placed a firm hand on his shoulder.

"Adrien," Arthur said solemnly. "Know this—if you refuse the throne, then you must be prepared to accept whoever takes it. And if you're ever unhappy with that decision, you'll have no one to blame but yourself."

With that, the king withdrew his hand and turned back to gaze at the city. His words lingered in Adrien's mind, unsettling him further. He couldn't deny the logic in his father's reasoning. His thoughts swirled in turmoil as he walked back toward his chambers, trying to calm himself.

Just as he was about to leave the balcony, a messenger approached, bowing deeply before the king.

"Your Majesty, forgive the intrusion, but I bring urgent news."

"...................."

Midnight was fast approaching. The cold night air whispered through the castle walls, though the thick stone kept the chambers warm. Adrien walked through the dimly lit corridors, passing torches that flickered against the marble walls.

As he neared the dining hall, he glanced inside. It was empty—his mother and Vino had long since left, and the servants had cleared away the feast. The lively atmosphere from earlier was now nothing more than a memory.

Sighing, he continued toward his bedroom. Upon reaching his door, he pushed it open, the soft creak echoing in the quiet.

Hearing the sound, Vino immediately sat up from the bed. Dressed in a white silk nightgown, she welcomed her husband with a warm smile.

"Adrien, you're back! …You look troubled. What did your father say?"

Adrien, exhausted, set his satchel down on the table and pulled out the Mind Crown—the strange artifact he had been carrying. He turned it in his hands, examining its intricate details as if seeking answers within it.

"Vino, I'm sorry if I disappoint you," he admitted. "I never truly wanted to be king. But after hearing my father's words… he does have a point."

Vino, still sitting on the bed, smiled reassuringly.

"Every path has its challenges and rewards," she said gently. "No matter what you choose, I will always stand by your side."

Adrien exhaled a small breath of relief. "I'm glad to hear that. But… I still don't have an answer."

He continued to turn the Mind Crown in his hands, lost in thought, wondering what visions or truths it might reveal to him when he finally used it.

"Honestly, I never had any feelings for you before. But my mother once told me that love grows from familiarity."

Vino didn't respond.

"…Vino?" Adrien glanced down and saw that she had already fallen into a deep sleep.

He smiled softly and gently stroked her hair. Then, he activated the Mind Crown and carefully placed it on his head, making sure it was secure. He hoped that whoever he would meet in his mind tonight could help him find the answers he sought. Taking a slow breath, he finally closed his eyes.

Adrien drifted into sleep, his arms wrapped around his wife. The two of them rested peacefully on the plush chair, lost in the quiet of the night.

His brain began connecting to another consciousness…

Midnight had come.

The night grew deeper.

".........Z.........."

Patient Zero has regained consciousness…

Failed to initiate the scene…

A cacophony of noise erupted—alarms blared throughout the facility as people stormed into the room in a panic. A critical system error had occurred, triggered by the activation of the Mind Crown on one of the SOULS users.

Patient Zero was never supposed to regain his original memories.

The room was stark white, filled with strange medical equipment. On an operating table, Patient Zero lay restrained, his wrists and ankles bound tightly. Electrodes and wires protruded from his head, feeding into an array of monitors. His face was heavily bandaged, concealing his true identity.

A doctor rushed in, flanked by a team of frantic technicians.

"Adrien has broken into Patient Zero's mind! Get the sedation mask on him—NOW! If he wakes up and goes berserk, we're all dead!"

"Hurry! Shut down the Mind Crown before its intrusion wrecks the SOULS system!" a technician yelled.

But it was already too late.

Patient Zero had awakened much faster than expected. Though his consciousness wasn't fully restored, his body began to thrash violently. The restraints groaned under the strain of his inhuman strength—a monstrous result of experimental mutations.

Sedatives were administered. The Skull Mask, usually used to pacify him, was secured over his face—but it did nothing. He was beyond control.

Then, his voice—hoarse and filled with pure rage—pierced the chaos.

"Adrien, you bastard! I swear, I will kill you and every single one of those damn scientists!"

Dr. Dylan, his face pale with fear, grabbed the emergency intercom.

"This is Dr. Dylan to Control Room! Why hasn't the Mind Crown penetration been stopped?! What the hell is happening in there?!"

KRRSSSKKKK!! Static crackled through the radio.

Then, through the interference, a bloodied voice responded:

"CODE RED! CODE RED! WE'VE BEEN BREACHED—"

BANG!

. . ..... To Be Continued….....