亚洲综合中美

“How can that girl have so much energy left, I’m beat from the practice session we had earlier,” Ysmay tried keeping up but came to a walking pace, she was out of breath.

The waiting room felt empty and lonely, none were here. Randomly: helpers, cleaners, nurses, and doctors would pass from one hallway to another. Some walked hastily while others moved comfortably, it all depended on the situation. Ayleth was taken out of his view, somewhere further inside, a place where he wasn’t allowed; the operation room. Staxius sat, he leaned forward while his elbows rested on his legs and hands closed. The people walking around didn’t notice him; this was because of that suit. Normally, out around the island, a suit-wearing man is rare, but here, it was common and people didn’t really pay attention to their surroundings. It was tunnel vision: one goal, one task, and limited time, a life of haste and worry, a life not worth living. Upon seeing Josiah, Staxius’s mood changed, he was worried. There was something that bothered him, he couldn’t put his hand on it. Sophie Mirabelle’s face popped in and out of his head, what had happened to her, he wondered. From what information he got, Sophie was presumably dead; Julius killed her, or so what he thought. The information only said that Julius had slain a high-ranking mage, but no identity nor clues were given.

Staxius stood in the dark, a place he didn’t like, a place of ignorance and doubt. That place was home to evil, a place that could rupture any men’s confidence, may they be strong or weak – anyone who fell into this pit was bound to defeat; uncertainty is what some referred to it as. Time went by rapidly, Staxius’s decisions hadn’t brought their repercussion yet if any. Slowly, as the sun set, the thoughts and the

what if’s

, filled his mind. Even he who was smart and strong-willed had failed before this thing called regret. What if the silver guardians didn’t go to fight that losing battle, what if he had gone instead? He kept on wondering; his legs begin to jitter unwillingly. That small instant of restlessness felt heavy, he grew aware of the burden he carried. A small deprived province depended on him, companions, friends, strangers, villagers, kids, and plenty more, they needed him. How many schemes could he possibly put into motion to fix everything, his mind started working. It had been a long time, the intellect he felt was lost slowly came back, his perception changed from viewing everything in the box, to viewing everything outside the box. He grew more aware of the things behind him, his perception moved around, though he sat on a single chair, he saw everything. A fruit of constant observation and prediction, the hidden savant came out, the true personification of who he was. This state was a state that only a few lucky individuals could experience, the state of total observation; Clarity. ?Monks have long tried to reach this pinnacle of concentration and focus. Some spent years meditating, but only a few reached it.

Clarity isn’t only bound to a single activity but influences many other things as well. Trained fighters, artists, musicians and many more, people who have trained in the art for a long time, the masters of their crafts, only they could reach it. The populous knew it as inspiration, however, that was just the surface. There’s no feasible end to how engrossed a person could become, a place where the spiritual meets the physical, total harmony. In that moment of total clearness, it’s then that the true potential of a human is brought out, the real strength. Staxius went through regret and into that state almost simultaneously, everything played out before him, all the information he gathered came together, he saw everything unravel. All the doubts he previously had got answered. The growing burden was felt by his mind, and this is when he broke through the barrier, it was an act of self-preservation.

*Reality can be whatever I want it to be, Absolute control, World break.*

.....

“father…Father…FATHER,” it ruptured. “W-what is it?” Crouched before him, Eira shook his shoulders. “E-excuse me,” he wiped his eyes and shook his head sharply to get out of the dazed state. “Are you ok?” she continued asking questions, Staxius’s mind filtered out most of it. “Absolute control…World break,” he mumbled, he got a glimpse of something he should not have. “What did you say?” she asked eagerly. “Nothing,” he fully awoke. She stepped back and stood, “what are you doing here?” Outside, footsteps grew closer. “Ayleth was badly injured, hence my visit here. I know a doctor who’s amazing at what she does, but I doubt she remembers me.”

“Why do you underestimate yourself that much,” Josiah entered, Ysmay stood beside him. “D-director,” Eira was taken by surprise, and so was her friend. “Dear Ysmay, go on and rejoin your friend.” He said while smiling in a deep tone. She nodded and walked over to where Staxius sat. They both stared at each other, “underestimating me, but you were the one who did that years ago, uncle.” Staxius stood and replied sarcastically.

“My dear Staxius, don’t you remember my plea for you to not call me uncle outside my office.” He replied coldly. “I apologize, I must be growing old,” Staxius walked to him, they stared at each other. The clear difference in stature was apparent. For his age, Josiah was well-built and had a large frame, the muscles he had weren’t for show either. Meanwhile, Staxius was lean, he didn’t look imposing, he was plainly average.

“Do you bear a grudge against me?” Josiah asked Staxius who acted cold.

“Maybe and maybe not, but if I did, I’d have drawn my sword already,” Staxius replied smugly.

“What is that guy doing, t-the d-director c-can kill him anytime he wants,” Ysmay pulled Eira’s uniform. “I don’t know, but don’t look down on him just because he looks weak.”

“Someone has grown confident over the years, but I’m curious, you haven’t aged a bit.” Josiah continued without paying heed to the provocations.

“The same thing could be said about you, the same look, the same gaze, the same nonchalant personality, that empty and fake smile. You may have forgotten it, but I know, I know you were the one who gave a fake diary to the royal family, I know it.” Staxius spoke adamantly.

“You’re wrong, who in the right mind would even try and conspire against his loved ones.” Josiah’s eyes didn’t look bothered.

“I’m staring at that very same person this instant,” Staxius kept speaking out of line, he didn’t care for anything. The moment he was sucked into Clarity, some holes that he missed were filled out, and one of those was how the royal family framed him so long ago, though it didn’t matter now. He just wanted to pull strings and see what he could do and what he could not.

“Excuse me young man, but you’re being very rude and out of line, how dare you speak to the director in this way.” A sharp and strict voice was heard from behind Josiah; a whiff of something familiar, something nostalgic, a faint aroma of rose followed. A thorny rose crest was embroiled in the jacket, crimson-colored lipsticks and wearing glasses.

“Instructor Sophie,” Eira and Ysmay cheered. Her attention changed from the boy to her students. “What are you girls doing out here so late?” she asked in a friendly tone. “Never mind that, you boy, how dare you disrespect this man here.” She firmly stood before him, her presence filled with anger and hate. “A-are you Sophie Mirabelle?” Staxius’s tone changed, he shuddered. His sister stood before him, a sister who abandoned him, someone who never did care; someone who ruined his reputation. He knew thanks to Julius; they had a small talk about what had transpired. Staxius fumed, but calmed down – there must have been a reason to why she did it.

“Don’t worry about it Sophie, it’s fine,” Josiah placed his hand over her shoulder reassuringly. “No uncle, that boy has disgraced you, I’ll rectify that insult this instant.”

“You didn’t answer my question, are you Sophie Mirabelle, the crimson princess?” Shocked, the instructor took a step back, “how do you know my old nickname?” her eyes pierced his soul. “You don’t know who I am I take it?” He asked with his tone now formal. “No, I don’t know who or what you are, but what I’m sure of is that you’ve disgraced my uncle.” Her cheeks boiled with frustration. Staxius looked disappointed, a quick glance at Josiah told everything, he avoided his stare. “No matter, the past is the past, I care not for old reunions.”

“What are you going on about boy?” Sophie’s tone grew sharper.

“Would you have the delicacy to stop referring to me as a boy, I’m a noble by title, you should respect that.” He had enough, Sophie didn’t know who he was. “Father, could you not be so rude with my instructor, she’s the one who helped me settle down after all.” Eira stepped up and stood beside Sophie. “Eira, my child, you must be mistaken, that person there isn’t your father, he barely looks old enough to get a wife let alone raise a child like you.” Sophie tried to correct her. “No instructor, that’s my father.” Ysmay stood still, she stopped blinking, it was too much to take in.

“Eira, stop joking, your father is a person who’s rich and powerful. I mean, you own one of the Xerxes series cars, your family is wealthy, unlike this boy who looks like he stole his clothes off a peasant down the street.” Staxius got insulted repeatedly, he didn’t look fazed. Josiah hid his face out of shame, Ysmay froze and Eira, she fumed.

“Instructor, you’re the one whose speaking out of line now, I’ve told you countless time that this man here is my father, why don’t you get it. He’s Staxius Haggard, a noble hailing from Dorchester.” She broke, hearing her insult him was more than enough.

“Calm down Eira,” Staxius said reassuringly. “Fine,” her growing aura subsided. “Director Josiah, the past is the past. I’ve given you my daughter because I trust you can provide her with the necessary education for her to grow into someone like my father.” Sophie tried speaking but was stopped by Josiah who shook his head. She caught on and remained silent. “Worry not, I’ll make sure this young talented girl here can one day stand side by side with you on the battlefield.”

“Thank you for being considerate. On another note, how much will the hospital fee be, for surely this service isn’t free of charge, Claireville academy is a wealthy establishment for you to maintain.”

“As perceptive as ever, the charges will cost approximatively around two-thousand gold pieces,” Josiah spoke without filter; Sophie heard the price. “Uncle, aren’t you being a little delusional, there is no way that man can afford such a high price, I mean, he can barely dress, just look at those bloodstains.” Ysmay heard the price and so did Eira, they both looked as surprised, Staxius stood. “See, he can’t even say anything.”

“Do you accept guild-cards?”

“Yes, head to the counter and ask them about the cost.”

“Director, two-thousand gold pieces is a bit too cheap in my humble opinion, what is the real price?”

“You’re right, I haven’t the slightest idea, that is up to the people in charge of the hospital to decide. Time grows late, we should leave, come on Sophie.” They stepped out; the instructor tried to cause another scene but was eventually persuaded to leave. Ysmay followed close behind, Eira stayed by Staxius side, the director wasn’t opposed to it. Eira waited for her father to make the necessary payments, “how much did it cost?” he returned. “About eight-thousand gold pieces. It’s expensive, I mean, enormously expensive but that is to be expected, I came here from out of town, and her injuries were bad if you take all that into consideration then it’s fair.” A piece of paper on which a seal of approval for treatment rested on Staxius’s lap. Eira eyed it down, the price he told was accurate, they did charge that much.

“Sophie Mirabelle is indeed alive and well, what a surprise. If I’m being honest with myself then I knew deep within that Sophie wasn’t the same no more, this just proves my suspicions. No matter, my head hurts, I want to sleep.”