Hours passed.
An hour ago, I told my sister what I had to do.
She didn't cry. She didn't beg me to stay.
She just looked at me with those calm, broken eyes.
And I knew.
I had to die.
Not literally. But "Vincent Velcrist"... that name needed to vanish.
If I wanted to protect her... I had to become someone else.
Stronger. Smarter. Unshackled.
Even if it meant abandoning everything I had carried until now.
Even if I had to dump that weight—onto her shoulders.
I hated that part.
She shouldn't have to bear the burden I spent years dragging behind me.
But what choice did I have?
I was broken.
No mana.
A hollowed body burned out from slaughtering monsters that should've killed me.
Their screams still echoed in my head.
KRAAAAHHH—
I shook it off.
---
After hours of cultivating what little mana I had, I changed.
Hair—black. Eyes—red.
Same face. Same height.
It felt... wrong. Like wearing someone else's skin.
But I had to. I had to become Cassian Caervale.
He was seventeen. I could pass for that.
Close enough.
I left by carriage, heading to Cassian's old estate.
He disappeared two months before the Royal Academy's opening.
A month after he passed the entrance exams with his blood, sweat, and tears.
Then... nothing. Gone. Just like that.
It was sad.
But convenient.
The Emperor gave me enough funds to live for five years if I was careful.
Food supplies for a month. More than enough to train.
My sister? She was safe.
Under the protection of the King's personal guards—monsters in human skin.
At least rank 5 Sword Elites, maybe stronger.
And the maids I hired before my battle with the Dragonic Beasts? Trained. Reliable.
I could leave her behind... for now.
---
When I got to Cassian's house, I stepped in and dropped my bag.
"What a mess..."
Dust. Clutter. Stains. Like he was running from something.
I didn't care. I cleaned it all.
Took hours. But it was better than sitting with my thoughts.
The house was quiet. Cold.
But it would do.
I had a deadline.
Cassian was a rank 8 Sword Enthusiast when he vanished.
Me? I was a rank 9 Sword Beginner now.
I had to catch up. Fast.
I didn't have time to whine or cry anymore.
This new life wasn't about mourning the past.
It was about carving out a future.
With blood.
With blades.
One step at a time.
-End Of Chapter-