1 Chapter 1- A Fading Existence

A Promise.

Mere words that hold the assurance and a verbal guarantee of the sentence added with it.

But, it depends on the individual who is making it.

And, what the promise is about.

On the other hand, these factors could also render those words hollow and meaningless.

Just like my existence.

I was the source of several tears, the grief of many, and the unending suffering of a few.

But my own reality was an illusion.

Something stitched with the thinnest thread, making it shatter the moment a single string vibrated.

In this moment, the feeling coursing through me was completely foreign: a sensation of emptiness, fading memories, and finally, a peace

With recollection of the last remaining fragments, I was aware that this was an end.

Death was never my fear.

I had already defeated it countless times.

So for me, the End never meant death; instead, it was the point where I will finally find peace.

I was sure that it wasn't a dream.

The ache of my heart was evidence of it, yet I was deserving of this pain.

This pain wasn't physical, nor emotional, but it was ethereal.

Which in itself was a curse.

Since I can't show my wounds physically.

Nor could I shed tears emotionally.

The only thing that could tell the tale of my agony was the shattered soul hidden behind multiple layers of facade.

But there was still a small relief.

"Ah, My Children!" A voice tore through the surroundings, reverberating before finally reaching my ears.

Finally, a cry which gave me immense relief.

"No, no, What you did! You promised me!"

The same voice reached me again, lying on the battleground with a bloodied and limbless body, my pain was now subsiding due to this fading consciousness.

But I wanted to witness that scene before resting in peace.

Due to my broken neck bone, the least I could do was turn my pupils to witness the most soothing sight for me.

"Ah, My Raven, James, My children!"

A woman was crying, holding two individuals' corpses, completely broken and limbless. Their widened eyes held horror, with sword cuts and spears penetrating their chests, drenched in blood.

"Sob, ah, my children!" Her both hands hugged those two young men, with eyes filled with nothing but agony and grief, tears seemed to become crimson.

A Mother, huh.

An existence widely known for their unfathomable love and kindness for their children, someone whose mere presence soothes the burden of oneself.

"YOU KILLED THEM!"

Finally, those eyes met mine, the same ones which cried while holding my hands and took a promise.

Seeing her state, I felt jealous of those two.

Why only me?

Did I really deserve this?

Can't I have a small piece of that love too?

"THEY WERE YOUR BROTHERS!"

...Brothers?

Ah, yes, they were.

A family, which I came to know after 26 years of my unnecessary existence.

Was I happy?

Yes, I was.

But only one question remained: why not earlier?

I suffered alone, lived alone, and now, was dying all alone.

At the last moment, I wanted to hear those words again which confirmed my existence being nothing but unneeded.

"B-but w-wasn't I your child too?" I inquired, with eyes holding the pain which remained since the first time they saw this empty world.

"YOU WERE A MISTAKE!"

Not that I expected less.

A pure noblewoman made a mistake at a young age.

To cover that mistake, she threw away the child in the unending ocean.

How did he survive?

Even the ocean didn't devoured the cursed child whose mother didn't even accept him.

And, after several years, to protect her real children, she knocked on the door of that forgotten one.

She took a promise that he shouldn't harm her blood even at the cost of his own life.

Tears.

Small drops of water and salt, yet far stronger to even melt the most stubborn hearts.

Looking at the crimson sky, soaked in my own blood, the only thing going through my mind was:

Why only me?

It was good at least, my presence was already very faint, making me give a promise to that existence.

Which maybe for some ulterior motive, but at least recognized me as her blood.

But.

I broke that promise.

Seeing both of them, I became jealous.

They, Noble princes of the Empire.

Me, an uncivilized Commoner.

They, everything I envied.

Me, nothing that they can't have.

"I WILL KILL YOU!"

My eyes reflected her lifting a big rock, stumbling yet still balancing herself while coming towards me.

.....It was definitely not in my expectations.

So, I will finally going to get peace at the hands of ones who burdened me.

"YOU ARE A MONSTER!!"

drip-drip

Her falling tears caressed my face.

They were warm.

I can't fathom, how much soothing her whole existence would have, if mere tears were this warm.

But, badluck.

Seeing her finally arrive beside me, with hands lifting the rock and eyes holding immense hatred towards me.

I finally felt relieved that, there was a emotion inside her stronger than love, which soldiated my fading existence.

Mustering a smile, genuinely feeling warmth, I referred to her,

"T-thank you, Moth—"

SPLASH!