Destiny or Fate?
The river water flowed gently.
My head rested on soft silk.
Anneliese’s dress was white; her hands slid smoothly through my hair.
The grass was slightly damp — probably the morning dew.
Anneliese wore a faint smile on her face.
The breeze produced almost melodic whistles, and the closeness of our bodies carried a comforting warmth.
The scent of the grass was sweet and gentle.
For a moment, it truly felt like I was living in paradise.
But I was certain of one thing.
I will kill her.
I don’t know if this is a nightmare — my memories replaying before death, even though I have probably already died — or if I returned to the past, like the stories I used to hear my siblings read in the great library of our house.
I clenched my fists and turned toward her body.
As much as I hated to admit it, it wasn’t possible to kill her right now.
I hid my face, pressing it closer to her stomach.
“How cute!”
“Are you embarrassed? Your body is even trembling.”
That disgusting bitch.
Her voice sounded insidious to my ears.
I wanted to tear her apart right there, but there were still things that needed to be done.
Whether this was a nightmare or a second chance, I would make proper use of it.
I would no longer allow my destiny to be manipulated by others.
This time, I would protect those who deserved my protection — and crush all of their enemies.
The one hailed as the greatest talent of his generation would train.
He would become strong enough to destroy everything that stood in his way.
Absolutely everything.
“Hey, Assir, could you sit up a little? I can’t stay out here much longer.”
Of course.
One of the candidates for the position of saint.
One of the people who were supposed to have the gentlest heart in the entire empire.
I lifted my head from her lap and moved closer to the river.
“You’re very quiet today. Did something happen?”
Her eyes shone like pale emeralds, and her hair, an imperial topaz hue, swayed in the wind like ocean waves.
“Yes,” I replied. “I just made a decision about what I’ll do in the future. By the way, we start at the academy tomorrow, right? It’ll be great to see you every day.”
So I can plan your death — and that of your friends — ensuring the greatest suffering possible.
My heart and mind fed constantly on hatred.
Even I found it strange. Despite craving revenge, I never imagined my instincts would react this way.
It felt as if I could kill her at any moment.
I forced my mind to calm down.
Eyes sharp as obsidian.
Hair pitch-black, like darkness itself.
My reflection in the clear water reminded me of the good times before the fall.
Before all this calm shattered.
“I’m glad you think that way. Honestly, I’m very grateful to have a good friend like you, Assir.”
“I’ll be heading back now. We’ll see each other again tomorrow.”
She clapped her hands lightly.
“Don’t stay out too late. Your parents came to ask me where you were last night.”
“Alright. Go before someone comes looking for you, saint.”
“Well… I’m not one yet. But thank you.”
After Anneliese left, I tried to remember what I had done the night before.
I couldn’t.
It felt ordinary.
After all, that was three years ago. Probably nothing worth remembering.
I stood up and adjusted my leather boots.
I sighed.
Let’s go.
Time to face the other traitors.
!!!
A steel gate adorned with golden spirals.
A halberd-shaped grille.
The front of my house remained exactly as it always had.
There was little left to do here. Starting tomorrow, I would leave for the academy.
After that, I would only return on the day of extermination.
I passed through the gate.
The granite tiles and the apple trees around them caused a strange visual fatigue.
I clenched my fists tighter and narrowed my eyes.
Upon entering the house, I went straight to the dining hall.
Judging by the position of the sun, it was time for the meal.
My siblings, my mother, and my father were already seated at the table.
My sister, one year older than me, stood beside an empty chair.
Since we were the eldest, we sat on the same side of the table.
My older sister was just as special as I was — but in the wrong way.
She didn’t have the black hair and eyes characteristic of our family.
Her hair was pale gray, and her eyes… red like rubies.
Demonic eyes.
Yet strangely warm — like a gentle flame.
Even so, she was a beast.
I would have to kill her first.
Starting tomorrow, she would begin her second year.
I needed to find a way to kill her during one of the academy’s expeditions.
I remembered that the person in charge of those expeditions was one of the princesses — though I didn’t know which one.
The first expedition was conducted together with the second-year students.
It was almost as if the universe itself had prepared this opportunity from the very beginning.
I sat down beside her.
“Assir, were you with Liese again?”
Ah… she called her by that nickname. I had forgotten.
I looked into my sister’s eyes.
Her body seemed fragile, easily breakable — but I knew how strong she was meant to be.
“Yes. I spent quite some time with the saint candidate Anneliese, Sister Helene.”
“You should spend more time with your siblings. Gael wants to train weapon handling with you, and tomorrow you’ll already be leaving.”
I turned to my father, who spoke with firm authority.
“Yes, Father. I’ll train him properly today. I hope the youngest joins us as well. What do you think, Hermann?”
My youngest brother was only four years old.
Even so, he already carried himself like a grown noble.
“I would be honored, Brother. I hope you have good experiences at the academy.”
“Yes… it would be good if that were the case.”
“What did you say?” Helene asked, picking up a fork.
“Nothing, Sister. I just said it would be great to be with you at the academy.”
We began our meal.
There was a wide variety of meats — fish, lamb, chicken.
There was also wine on our side of the table. In the past, my mother used to disguise it as syrup so my siblings wouldn’t try to drink it.
I poured some into a glass for myself.
Today marked the beginning of my rebellion against fate.
I would kill everyone who stood in my way.
I took a sip.
The wine slid down my throat, and I imagined their lives spilling away in the future.
The death of each and every one of them.
And above all…
my sister’s.
