The Past, Present and Future(VI)

Caine stood frozen in the chaotic expanse his mind had become, filled with broken and shattered ideas.

He parsed through countless solutions, discarding them before they solidified, knowing none were worth wasting time on.

His heart was free of fear and despair, yet full of frustration and annoyance—not at the world or his circumstances, but at himself.

He'd gotten too used to these so-called life-and-death situations working in his favor, always providing a path for him to improve his power.

Now faced with a real challenge, where there was nothing to grasp, he was at a loss.

The simple truth was that Caine had never truly faced the unfairness of circumstances or the blade of death during any of these trials.

Taking a step back, he saw it as clear as day.

When he recontextualized everything that had happened, it was almost… pathetic.

From the beginning, he'd been receiving help.