When they went inside, the lavish sofa was easily to be seen by the fire place just like the old man said. The legs of the chair had some soot in them so it must have been used as warmer couch for a long while now.
âThis is my favorite chair. It reminds me very much of my fatherâs study chair, he was quite fond of it.â Old Yeshwa said as he sat on it.
âHe would read thousands of papers with his eyebrows creased, worrying about something⦠I canât quite remember, but I think he mentioned students once or twiceââ
âThat is a good story, sir. But Iâm afraid that I would have to take away your favorite chair.â
Ronin interrupted him before he can say the word âstudentsâ properly. Ah, this old Headmasterâs senility was both a blessing and a curse, he keeps revealing information.
Ronin continued: âIâll try to find a gooreplacementmt for it, something cleaner and more sophisticated.â
âAhâ¦.. I see.â Old Yeshwa looked at it. âWell, can I sit in it for a while before you take it? Just one last timeâ¦.. So I can recall more memories of my father again.â
Lily patted the old manâs shoulder, sounding a little more Calla-ish the longer Ronin stays with them. âNo man with a heart would deny you of that, Old Yeshwa.â
She turned to the man who may or may not have a heart..
âWhy do you plan to take this machine anyway? All experiments that are conducted within school grounds or sanctioned by the Council must be reported.â
âI donât plan to experiment on my own. Itâs for sentimental reasons.â Ronin said. âIâll wait for Professor Espinella to come back so we can continue, but in the meantimeâ¦. I would have it for safekeeping. Maybe polish it amd give some improvements.â
(Nice lies, but I know you can never be sentimental, Ronin. Someone like youâ¦. That would be hilarious.) He heard her thought.
But it managed to convince the old Headmaster anyway, who was not the professorâs father.
âAh, you and my son must really be close, I see! That must be something valuable to a teacher, leaving your mark on a studentâs heart. Having a connection similar to that of a family.â
âFamilyâ¦â He muttered, then started staring off to space. âMother? Father?â
He reached out to thin air, like a little boy blinking wide once he saw his parents have returned.
Lily patted his head. âItâs alright, Old Yeshwa. Your Mother and Father are in a good place now.â
The old man calmed down, and shook his head. âYesâ¦.. Yesâ¦. Well, what are we talking about again?â
Ronin frowned. âHow often does heâ¦. Whatever that was?â
Lily still regarded him with disgust, but answered. âOnce or twice in a day. It can last longer and he would call out to save his family from the âdarknessâ.â
âYesâ¦. The darkness I saw from the Nightâs hand.â Old Yeshwa said.
âSo he does remember after all, but just a glimpses.â Ronin thought.
Almost like his own memories from his past before becoming a system.
âHe can never become a Diamond.â Old Yeshwa said vaguely. âThe Diamond is purity, a symbol of balance and harmony. Of peace.â
âDiamonds are heroes, and can never be voluntarily malicious. It goes against the nature of the stone itself.â
âHe was the antithesis to that. So dark and course was his nature, that even if he took the path to become a Diamond, it will be rendered impure.â
Which was true in geology, of course. Coal turning to Diamond would end up with one with a lot of impurities. And not to mention that Ronin simply do not want to be associated with a Heartsone that symbolizes purity to its core.
He was born from darkness, and so, in darkness shall he become. Reach greater heights of such thing until he reaches the peak of it, so opaque that not light can past through.
Old Yeshwa turned to Ronin with his still slightly blurry eyes.
âMy boy⦠Can I hold your hand again?â He asked.
Ronin raised an eyebrow. Right, he made nor reaction when they shook hands earlier despite his gift of prophecy.
All he could see was darkness, anyway.
He turned to Lily, pretending to be confused. âDoes he also always ask you this?â
âYes, but all he ever does is touch. Nothing else.â She said, eyes narrowing to study every microexpression of his for signs of deceit.
âSo he lost his Mage Focus too? Thatâs rather unfortunate, but it doesnât matter that much in the long run.â Ronin thought.
When she saw him just standing there, she scoffed. âJust hold his hand already. He probably just want to seek physical comfort like all old people do. Or are you too heartless to even give him that?â
Ronin was annoyed by her thoughts, but extended his palm to the old man.
âI see two paths.â
Ronin was surprised for a nanosecond, then asked. âWhat paths?â
âOne is paved in darknessâ¦.. While the otherâ¦.. Someone waiting by the light. I canât see it clearly butâ¦..â
âThe person in the path of the light seemed to be saying something.â
Ronin steeled himself. He knew very well what path he would choose, it used to be the only inevitable path for himâ
âI am sorry. Please forgive me.â
Ronin frowned. Whatâ¦..
Thatâs all the person said? Asking for forgiveness?
How will it convince him, just that weak apology? The vision did not even give a clue to who this person was, but itâs very clear already to Ronin.
Logically, he should have thought that there was nothing to forgive. Because truly, there was nothing that this man did wrong to him to deserve all this, nothing that warrants the destruction he plans to do.
He simply wants to become a great villain, take all the V-points, and go.
But somehowâ¦..
Roninâs blood boiled at the idea of forgiving this despicable and loathsome person.
And for what crime, exactly?
What crime did this person commit for Ronin to pick such a straighforward path to the dark, and not look back? Not caring for morality, nor logic, nor even the great prospects of becoming a Diamondâ¦.
But simply the path of rage and vengeance for this certain crime that was yet to be named.