I kept racking my brain, trying to pinpoint Nathaniel's whereabouts. The question was: where is that bastard now? If I had truly returned to the time when I was twenty, then he should only be a fifteen-year-old boy. I knew this detail well because I was once one of his devoted admirers; I had researched everything about him.
As I walked, my memory dug deeper into Nathaniel's past. Amidst the mental dead-end, a figure suddenly crossed my mind. Uncle Jack.
He was the only person who ever cared for someone like me. He was the one who always gave me free meals when my stomach was growling—the man I looked up to as a father.
My head felt like it was going to split from overthinking about Nathaniel, until my feet unconsciously led me to the front of Uncle Jack's bakery. I stood frozen at the door. The scent of freshly baked bread wafted out, triggering a suffocating sense of longing in my chest. How long had it been since I last smelled this scent of peace?
Just as my hand reached for the handle, the door swung open from the inside.
"Draven? What are you doing? Why are you standing there like a statue?" Jack asked, startled.
I fell silent. Staring at his healthy, living face made my chest tighten. The memory of how Jack had left me forever hit me like a physical blow. Unconsciously, my eyes reddened. A single tear escaped.
"He-hey! Why are you crying?" Jack panicked. "Did you eat too many wild weeds or something? Do you have a stomach ache?"
I jolted, quickly wiping my eyes and letting out a hollow laugh. "Hahaha, no, Uncle. I just... suddenly remembered something sad."
"Fine, fine. Just come inside. You're helping me serve customers today," Jack grumbled, pulling me in.
While helping him pack things before the shop opened, a fragment of a memory surfaced. Lunara Village. That was Nathaniel's hometown. I remembered the rumors because back then, Nathaniel was incredibly popular—handsome, possessing extraordinary charisma, and a terrifying talent that placed him among the Top 50 strongest Awakeners in the world by the age of twenty-five.
Lunara Village was still within the Luminare territory, not too far from here. Perhaps I should move out tomorrow morning.
"HEY, DRAVEN!" Jack's shout shattered my daydream. "Why have you been sweeping the same spot for the last ten minutes? Are you actually sick?"
"Ah, sorry, Uncle. I was just thinking about something."
Jack chuckled while wiping a glass. "What's on your mind, kid? The future? Are you still dreaming of becoming an Awakener with that skill of yours?"
He paused for a moment, looking at me with genuine sincerity. "Draven, you don't have to force yourself. If you really can't become an Awakener, I'll take you on as a permanent employee here. I can't offer you luxury, but at least you won't go hungry, and you'll have a roof over your head."
The atmosphere suddenly turned quiet. My heart felt warm. If I didn't know what was coming in the future, I would have accepted the offer instantly and tried to settle for being a low-rank Awakener. But the situation was different now. I possessed knowledge of the future. This was my chance to prevent the destruction of the Five Continents at Nathaniel's hands.
"Thank you for the offer, Uncle. But I won't give up on my dream," I replied firmly, a small smile on my lips.
Jack laughed heartily. "Fair enough. If that's your decision, I respect it."
The day passed quickly. When evening arrived and the last customer left, I slumped into a chair, gasping for air. "Ahhh... I'm exhausted. How do you do this alone every day, Uncle?"
"Hey, Draven. If you're poor, don't complain so much!" Jack snapped back, but there was a playful glint in his eyes.
"Hahaha, point taken."
"Here, take this home for dinner. There's extra bread too," Jack handed me a food parcel.
I said my goodbyes and walked back toward my shack. Chewing on the bread he gave me, I took a deep breath of the night air. The bright city lights, the sounds of people chatting, and the rustle of the night wind felt incredibly peaceful.
Once I reached home, I immediately lay down. My mind returned to one focal point: Lunara Village. Tomorrow, I would find Nathaniel.
However, one dilemma haunted me. If I met him, how would I kill him? Right now, he was just a child who hadn't committed a single sin. But still... he was a monster that had to be eliminated for the safety of the world.
The Capital of Luminare
In an old church that served as an orphanage, the candlelight flickered dimly. A young boy with shimmering blonde hair and clear blue eyes knelt on the floor. His hands were clasped in front of his chest, his lips whispering prayers with deep devotion.
the young boy suddenly ceased his prayers. He opened his eyes, turned around, and offered a faint, thin smile.
"Priest Samuel," the boy greeted softly.
"What were you praying for, Nathaniel?" Priest Samuel asked as he approached.
Nathaniel remained silent for a moment, his clear blue eyes gazing at the crucifix before them. "I prayed that this church, you, and everyone here could live in peace and always be blessed with health, Priest."
Samuel smiled warmly at the boy's words. "Such a good child. Come, let's head to the kitchen. The Sisters and the other children are waiting for us to eat together."
Draven's Journey
That morning, I woke up with a single question burning in my mind: How do I kill him? I had no weapons, but my bare hands should be enough to end a mere child. Regardless, the priority now was to find him in Lunara Village.
After a long journey, I arrived at the village. My plan was simple: Nathaniel would be easy to spot. His physical appearance was far too striking—golden hair and those rare blue eyes. However, reality was not that simple.
I spent hours roaming around, questioning everyone I met, but the result was nil. Not a single person knew or had seen a child with those features. Frustration began to creep in as I wandered deeper into the outskirts of the village.
I stopped in my tracks when I saw an old man in a pitiful state, lying weakly on an old wooden chair. Since I had brought some rations, I decided to approach him.
"Grandfather, excuse me," I called out softly.
The old man startled and immediately sat up. Without much talk, I handed him a piece of bread. "This is for you."
He snatched the bread greedily, devouring it like someone who hadn't eaten in days.
"May I sit here?" I asked. He only gave a small nod while continuing to chew. I sat beside him, letting out a long sigh. "Old man, do you know someone named Nathaniel? Blonde hair, blue eyes... maybe you've seen him around here?"
The moment the words left my mouth, the old man stopped chewing. His eyes bulged wide.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
He shrieked hysterically. The scream was so piercing that people nearby came running in shock. The old man trembled violently, his face turning deathly pale as if he had just seen the Grim Reaper himself.
"Mercy! Mercy! Please let me go! Let me live! Please, I will worship you!" he screamed, cowering in terror.
I froze. A crowd began to gather, whispering in confusion. But the old man didn't stop. He looked up at the sky with trembling hands.
"GOD! GOD, PLEASE LET ME LIVE! I WILL WORSHIP YOU! DON'T KILL ME! I WILL WORSHIP YOU, JUST DON'T KILL ME! AAAAAAA!"
In the midst of the crowd, I caught the whispers of the villagers.
"Hey, isn't that the old man from the village that was massacred two years ago?" one villager whispered.
"Yeah, if I'm not mistaken, he's the only survivor. Even the Awakener forces from the Capital couldn't find the culprit to this day," another replied. "Poor soul, he's been mad since that night. He always screams for mercy from 'God'."
THUD.
My heart hammered so hard it was painful. My breath suddenly felt heavy, my lungs as if they were starved of oxygen. My legs went weak, and my head began to spin. As my body nearly collapsed, a few villagers quickly caught me.
"Hey, are you alright? Why is your face so pale?"
"Hahaha... I'm fine. I just... don't feel very well," I replied, my voice quivering.
The old man suddenly ran away like someone possessed. The villagers could only watch him with pity. Some suggested calling the village guards before he hurt himself.
I sat on the ground, trying to calm my racing heart. One horrifying thought crossed my mind: Has this bastard been doing things this heinous since he was a child?
If that massacre happened two years ago, it meant Nathaniel did it when he was only thirteen. Insane. This was beyond reason. Nausea surged in my gut.
However, amidst the sickness and fear, the corner of my lips quirked upward. I offered a thin, grim smile. For some reason, I felt I was getting closer to the truth about the monster.
"That village..." I whispered to myself. "I have to go to the site of that massacre."