Chapter 86

Toren had somehow hoped, deep inside of him, that his servant would have an absolutely 'special' connection that could surpass the order of nature.

And then, they could have at least known that their hearts had crossed from each other, bound by loyalty and friendship, but none of those dreams came true.

Toren could only make observations – about how the butler had grown old already, how touching it felt to see him visiting the household until now, and how he had gained some white strands and wrinkles.

When the butler had explored the rooms and noticed that no one was home, he dejectedly went out.

Toren followed the butler going his way through the day.

The butler turned out to have become a politician after the war, working on some foreign affairs.

Toren could only watch from afar how the man interacts with other people, how he eats meals alone, sleeps in a comfortable bed with nightmares, and goes through the day with a masked visage.

Toren could not imagine the misery of dying from such forlornness.

He also saw the man's house which covered the interior walls with his paintings – morbid replicas and cheap imitations from Toren's original designs.

Everywhere he turned his head to, Toren could see the pictures he painted before.

The snake and apple, the portraits of the emperor, the deep blue flower, the abstracts, the mythical creatures told from the books, and Airen's portrait.

He felt sad and heartbroken with such gestures and turn of events, but he could not bring himself to cry at the moment.

And so, he went on, following the old man going up and through different places.

While at the public market, a brawl suddenly broke out. Two men were having a cutthroat fighting, destroying the merchandises and stands and places of the merchants.

The bystanders gathered, circling the center of attention, waiting for someone to come and help.

Toren could hear the butler sighing and see him shaking his head in disappointment.

Few minutes later, while the patrolling police were going towards the riot, an abrupt force pulled Toren away from the scene. When he looked over, he saw his brother Coen forcefully bringing him away through narrow isles.

As Toren could not say a word, still confused and rattled with many questions, he followed until they returned to the En household.

As he was preparing to speak his mind, Coen suddenly burst into anger.

"What were you doing over there?!" He shouted. "Did I not warn you about the shamans that might abolish you?! Did I not tell you the danger of being outside for a dead person like you?!"

"A friend of mine visited," Toren explained. "I only followed him to see how he was doing."

"You were not supposed to know! Why would you insist on knowing and risking your soul just for the sake of satisfying your curiosity?! You must be out of your mind to do that! Even reincarnation will become out of your reach once someone tries to exorcise you!"

"But it is important for me!"

The brothers argued and argued until it ended on a bad note.

Coen forcibly scooped his little brother in the underground room and locked him inside.

The seal was activated and Toren was desperate to get out of the place.

He was getting sick from it along with his brother's treatment.

For the last time, he pounded against the trapdoor and asked him, "What was the bargain you had with mother?!"

The question took Coen off guard like a massive blow. And with that, he recalled Airen – her sinfully beautiful face.