10.meeting with elara

Ren stood frozen for a moment as he watched her approaching from the opposite side of the hall. Her every step seemed measured, deliberate, and unshakably confident. Her name echoed in his mind like a long-forgotten melody: Elara Holmes.

'Elara,' Ren whispered internally, though the name left a bitter taste in his thoughts.

Her presence was captivating, as it always had been. The way her dark blue hair flowed like a river of silk, reaching her waist, added to her regal air. Her hazel eyes, almond-shaped and bright, seemed to sparkle with a playful mischief that had once warmed his heart. But now, Ren saw them for what they truly were—tools of manipulation.

Elara carried herself with elegance and poise, a picture-perfect heroine. To everyone else, she was the embodiment of grace, reserved and mysterious yet compassionate to those who earned her trust. To Ren, however, she was a ghost from a past life, a woman who had once been family but had now become a stranger.

No, worse than a stranger—a betrayer.

As she drew closer, Ren's heart tightened with a painful pang. He could still recall the countless times he had cared for her, supported her, and wished for nothing more than her happiness. He had treated her as a sister in every sense of the word, despite their lack of blood relation. Together with Emma, he had dreamed of a peaceful, happy life—a life where they would protect and support one another.

That dream had crumbled to dust when they betrayed him.

They had stood over his broken body as he lay bleeding, their expressions devoid of guilt or regret. They had chosen the protagonist over him, their supposed family, and they had done so without hesitation. Even as his life ebbed away, Ren had held on to a shred of hope that they might mourn his passing, that they might feel some remorse.

But they didn't. They had walked away, hand in hand with the protagonist, building their love stories as though Ren had never existed.

The memory burned like a brand on his soul, and the sight of her now, so composed and radiant, only twisted the knife deeper.

'She's one of my death flags,' Ren thought grimly, his fists clenching at his sides. 'I need to stay away from her, no matter what.'

"Good morning, Ren," Elara greeted him, her voice smooth and melodic, her smile so gentle it could have fooled anyone.

Ren forced a polite smile in return, though the effort felt like swallowing broken glass. "Good morning, Sister," he replied, the word 'sister' cutting him deeply.

Elara didn't linger. She offered a few pleasant words before walking away, her pace brisk and unbothered. Ren watched her go, his chest heavy with unspoken words. She hadn't apologized for yesterday's incident—not that he had expected her to. Her indifference stung, a reminder that she didn't see him as anything more than a minor inconvenience.

'Even after killing me, they didn't care,' Ren thought bitterly. 'They erased me from their lives like I never existed. I was nothing more than a stepping stone in their grand story.'

The pain in his chest was suffocating, but he refused to let it consume him. He wasn't the same naive Ren of the novel. In his previous life, he had been an orphan, someone who had learned early on that people often wore masks of kindness while hiding their true, selfish faces.

This time, he would live for himself and no one else.

---

In the solitude of his room, Ren began sorting through the belongings of his past life. It was a small act, but it felt monumental. Among his possessions, he found a collection of artifacts, potions, skill manuals, and gifts from Elara and Emma.

The gifts had once been symbols of their bond, reminders of shared memories. Now, they were cruel relics of a lie he had believed in for too long.

'They didn't care about me then, so why should I care about these now?' Ren thought as he set the gifts aside, his movements brisk and decisive.

Instead, he focused on the practical items: four advanced low-tier artifacts, one advanced mid-tier artifact, and a small fortune of 500 gold coins. It wasn't much compared to the wealth of his family, but it was enough to start over.

The currency in this world was simple yet effective:

100 bronze coins = 1 copper coin

100 copper coins = 1 iron coin

100 iron coins = 1 silver coin

100 silver coins = 1 gold coin

100 gold coins = 1 platinum coin

Platinum coins were the pinnacle of wealth, a symbol of power and status reserved for the richest and most influential individuals. Even Ren didn't have a single platinum coin to his name, though he couldn't care less. He didn't need their status or their approval anymore.

The 500 gold coins in his possession had been earned through hunting and other hard labor. Once, he had planned to use that money to buy an engagement ring for Emma—a childish dream that now seemed laughable.

'What a waste of effort,' Ren thought with a bitter chuckle. 'I'll put this money to better use. Artifacts, skills, whatever it takes to get stronger. That's all that matters now.'

---

Ren also remembered the family support funds he had foolishly refused to claim in the past. Each family member was entitled to 50 gold coins monthly for training, but his pride had kept him from accepting it.

Now, he felt like slapping his past self.

'Why should I care about them anymore? I'll take every last coin I'm owed. They've already taken everything from me, so it's only fair I return the favor.'

The thought made him smirk, a dark, satisfied grin that reflected his newfound resolve. He wouldn't just take back what was his—he would leave behind a parting blow, a reminder of the man they had betrayed and discarded.

'Not without a farewell gift,' he thought, his eyes glinting with determination.

This wasn't about revenge. It was about reclaiming his life, his freedom, and his power. Ren was no longer the naive fool who had died for people who didn't deserve him. He was someone else entirely—someone who would live for himself, and himself alone.

And this time, nothing and no one would stand in his way.

Author's Note:

The story is about to take a significant step forward, and I will now be posting new chapters regularly. Additionally, my other novel will also have new chapters coming soon. However, due to heavy edits, it's best to start reading that one from the beginning for the best experience.

Thank you for your continued support!