Chapter 22 : Insane

Chapter 22 :

Thania smirked faintly.

"I changed my mind."

The man's face didn't change. He simply detached his eyes from Lucas and lazily looked at Thania. "You do remember you gave me your word that I can do whatever I want to any intruder, right?"

Thania remained calm. "I do."

Just as the man was about to speak again, Thania continued, "But He is an exception. I brought him here. Or are you refusing to give me face, William?"

'William? So that's his name…' Lucas thought silently, resisting the urge to act as casually as he usually did with Thania. Something about this man screamed danger.

William continued his lazy stare. He looked like someone who couldn't be bothered with most things in life.

"So be it."

"But may I know the reason for your visit? I was in the middle of something very important, and suddenly, I felt a disturbance in my otherwise calm and peaceful territory."

Thania scoffed. "Important? Please. You were just reading those filthy books of yours. Don't think I don't notice when you sneak out in disguise to buy them."

For the first time, William's lazy demeanor vanished. His golden eyes sharpened.

"Filthy? You don't know what you're talking about, Thania. These are cultural treasures, vital to any respectable man out there! How dare you?"

Thania looked at him with pure disgust, as if she had just stepped on something unpleasant in the street.

"Oh, come on, what is that look?" William said, his voice urgent. "Let's ask this young man here! He'll see the truth!"

Lucas suddenly found William's intense gaze locked onto him. Before he could react, the man reached into his coat, pulled out a book, and practically shoved it in Lucas's face.

"What do you think of this, young man?" William asked seriously.

Lucas hesitated, then read the title and synopsis.

…

His brain shut down.

His face turned bright red.

Even as a reincarnator from Earth, this was too much.

'Thank god I'm still five years old and underdeveloped in… certain areas.'

He took a cautious step back, feeling as though he had just witnessed something forbidden.

William, seeing his hesitation, insisted, "Well? Tell me your thoughts, brat."

Before Lucas could even try to answer, a sigh came from the black snake coiled around William.

"Stop, master. You're embarrassing me again with your antics."

William didn't even glance at the snake. "Shut up, Sirius. I am trying to have our passion recognized. And don't act like some saint in front of others. You're the one who forces me to find more books most of the time!"

The black snake immediately uncoiled from William's shoulders and slithered away dramatically, staring at his master like a betrayed lover.

Thania, now visibly done with this entire scene, cut in.

"Enough. William, I brought this guy for you to train him."

Immediately, William's entire demeanor changed.

Gone was the eccentric, obsessive man who had just defended the honor of his questionable book collection.

In his place stood a regal, dignified figure—the William.

The William who was known for his strength.

The William who commanded respect.

He looked at Thania, then at Lucas, and then back to Thania again.

"…Are you serious?" His voice was low, steady. Dangerous.

Even Sirius had changed. His golden eyes gleamed, his playful act gone.

Thania had expected this reaction. She merely replied, "You owe me a favor."

William blinked. She's really using her one favor… on a brat?

Still, his gaze turned back to Lucas—this time, truly looking at him.

His ashen hair. His ethereal white skin.

And then… William looked into his eyes.

And what he saw—

His breath hitched.

A spiral of white flames. A jagged crescent moon, sharp like a scythe, waiting to reap souls.

Oh…

Oh my.

This boy was no ordinary child.

William had guessed that much when he saw a human in Thania's presence.

But this… this was something else entirely.

And as he gazed into those eerie, mesmerizing eyes, something long dead within him stirred.

Something old inside him…

A long-dead obsession.

The need to find talent.

To shape it.

To refine it.

But then…

A memory.

A face.

A corpse.

Something ugly twisted in his chest, and for a brief moment, his fingers curled, as if trying to hold onto something long lost.

The fear of seeing—

William crushed the thought.

His golden eyes hardened, burning like twin suns.

Lucas felt a sudden chill deep in his bones.

The air shifted.

It felt like standing before a starving beast that had just found its next meal.

Then, William spoke.

"I will teach him."

Lucas exhaled, shoulders sagging in relief.

Finally—

"And as his first lesson…" William continued.

Lucas froze.

Oh no.

Deep down, he knew this man was insane.

"Deep in the forest," William said, "there are undead beasts roaming around. Go there. Survive for three days. No food. No water."

Lucas blinked.

"…The hell?"

Sirius flicked his tongue mockingly.

William, as if he wasn't done, added, "Oh. And I must mention—"

Lucas held his breath.

"The weakest beast there is at the intermediate realm."

"And don't bother coming back here if you didn't manage to achieve that."

"I don't teach failure."

Lucas's brain completely shut down.

He turned slightly to Thania, his face pleading.

'Help. Me.'

Thania simply smiled.

Not a reassuring smile.

A this is your problem now kind of smile.

Lucas's eye twitched.

She shrugged. "You'll be fine."

Fine?!

"Don't worry," William said, grinning. "If you die, I'll take the time to retrieve your corpse. Maybe."

"MAYBE?!"

Sirius flicked his tongue again. "You should hurry, brat. If you don't start soon, we'll add another condition."

Lucas's face turned serious. 

But seriously this is crazy. 'Letting a 5 year old boy on a undead forest with boast roaming for 3 days without any food and water is just crazy, cruel even.'

This was it.

This was the day he realized—

Everyone here was insane.

He was the only normal one.

And he was screwed.

And as he thinks that 

DING !

—End of Chapter 22.