Deon V. Eirenios [3]

For what felt like an eternity, Walid was still staring at the reflection.

Although he tried to push his mind to reject what his eyes were seeing, his mind had more sense than he did.

'How can this be possible?.. This makes no sense?..'

But the truth was once again in front of him.

'This character design?.. It's Deon from my "Forever Unfinished"!'

Although the character Deon wouldn't appear until the second volume—which Walid hadn't written yet—his character outline was there as the first main antagonist that the protagonist Emlyn would face in his first year at the academy.

So, Walid only had an idea of Deon and a preliminary sketch of him. But what made him certain that the reflection in the mirror was Deon was the presence of the sister character Vierenna.

Vierenna is a character of firm importance in the story, so Walid was familiar with her the moment he saw her. Everything about her was the way Walid had written, or would have written at least. From her appearance, way of speaking, expressions, care for her Brother, and every little detail...

Finally, Walid's feet lost balance, causing him to step back a few steps. The shock still evident on his pale face.

"What happened in the world?.."

'Did I really die from that group of…'

'Car accident???'

'But no... Noo!.'

'Reincarnation?.. That can't be.. right?'

'Why?!' 

Walid lost control over his thoughts as they came out in disjointed fragments of questions and memories trying to make sense of what his eyes were witnessing.

'Is this how everything I worked for will end?'

He remembered himself, his small family, his dream, his diligence, his failures, and his perseverance in trying to build something that mattered to him.

Walid remembered again his mother and her support for him throughout the five years since he first voiced his dream and his intention to pursue it.

Beyond that, Walid didn't have many memories, and he didn't need more than that. Just his dream and his mutual love with his family were enough.

He wasn't perfect, but he sought it like any other human.

And now, all of that was gone.

"Did I really die?"

Walid asked the reflection in front of him, but the reflection of Deon's character.. was just a reflection of what Walid himself was doing.

But somehow, Walid saw an answer in the reflection.

'So this is how it ends.'

'This is the end. No dream, no family, no nothing.'

Walid closed his eyes and sat on the red-carpeted floor. Although he still had more questions, he didn't bother trying to answer them.

He was tired.

For a long time now, he had been tired.

But at that time, he couldn't give up, why?.. the most important person in his life relied on him and trusted him and his dream.

But now,

he had nothing left.

There was no need for him anymore to feel that deep despair accompanying high expectations.

He was truly alone now.

He could give up now.

Those who were destined to succeed will succeed; those who weren't, won't.

Walid belonged to the latter. No matter how desperately he tried, he couldn't succeed. The only thing he got was despair. And now, he could easily rid himself of his despair...

He just had to give in to it and stop once and for all.

But...

Could Walid, who thrived in moments of despair and fed on them to grow, give up now, at this point?

Walid, who had everything he needed, would have said no, a hard no.

But... again!

What is the answer of Walid who lost everything?

"Baby Brother?.." A faint nostalgic voice entered Walid's ears. He knew to whom it belonged, but he did nothing to answer.

He remained in his place, looking as desperate as he came.

"Oh, Deon!.." Vierenna entered Deon's changing room, knelt beside him, and hugged him tightly.

Walid didn't resist her hug or even move. He looked like a lifeless corpse as the same question kept echoing in the back of his head.

'What is the answer of Walid who lost everything?'

Vierenna began to pat Walid's head as she spoke. "Just because you're a Cursed Magician, it doesn't make you talentless or not my Brother. Father's reaction was... bad, but you know how he's become since mother's passing."

"You didn't get what you dreamed of, but you got something. Something of your own, and you should appreciate who you are, Baby Brother."

"You may feel hopeless and abandoned now, but you should look at the opportunities you can create with your own hands. Trust that I will always support you... If the family really abandons you, I will be the first to step out the door, by your side…"

Vierenna brushed her silky white hair back nervously. She paused for a moment, searching for the right words to say, but nothing came to mind. "I'm bad at this…"

"You're good enough." Walid said, then pushed himself out of Vierenna's embrace to sit upright.

He looked at the innocent girl before him. "Thank you, I... I knew the answer, it was always with me. I'm just.. too tired... to think, or to do anything, really."

Vierenna extended her hand to pat Walid's head. She smiled, but her smile was clearly fake. "I know you're not that weak. You will do great things. I can see it."

"You just think that. The truth is, I am so weak that I can't give up."

The girl tilted her head to the side, confused.

"That, makes no sense. But it suits you, you don't make no sense yourself."

Walid didn't say anything in response to the girl's accusation, but he pondered the truth in it. He really didn't make any sense. Neither himself nor his situation. But that's a mystery that would be left unanswered... for now.

Walid stood up from his seated position and this time extended his hand to Vierenna to help her up.

The girl took his hand with a smile and relied on him to bear her weight. Walid was up to the task; and as the girl stood beside him, Walid tasked her with the duty of choosing his clothes. "Since you're here, you can choose my clothes as a token of thanks."

Vierenna opened her mouth like a fish out of water.

Seeing the scene before him, Walid felt he made a mistake.

But quickly and steadily, a terrifying smile formed on her face, glowing with a strange light.

Walid began to regret his decision upon witnessing the smile, but it was too late for him to back out now.