I Hate Being The Protagonist

Looks like this won't be a walk in the park.

"Come on Oliver, spill the beans. I know you're working for him."

The man which killed me had to have an ulterior motive. He wouldn't just target me for no reason, insuring I enter his layer and kill me. For that to happen, he had to plan it out and go out of his way. There might be a possibility of him still invading Oliver's mind, if Oliver even is alive. Until I'm absolutely sure of my old friend not being a threat, I won't let him leave.

"What are you talking about?" Oliver asks worryingly.

"Is there something he needs or wants from me? Did he kill me just because he wanted to? Perhaps it was me entering his domain that set him off. What even is he? His aura was unlike anything I've ever seen in my life. No regular magic behaves that way. A hard deviation, possibly illusion magic?" I pace back and forth.

"Are you reciting a poem?"

My eyes pierce the once friendly, soft natured ally. What I see now is only potential danger that I have to eradicate. I would oh-so-love to remove his head from the neck down, like I did last time, but that would get me in trouble if the death is traced back to me. Do enlightened cops exist? Will I be searched for by the military if I commit a crime? I'm not about to find that out fortunately, as I tie Oliver to a tree.

"What is going on? Why are you doing this Adam!?"

I offer no words as two of my fingers touch his forehead.

"Surrender,” I order, using psychic magic.

Invading an 8 year old's mind is a piece of cake for an enlightened being. I was taught a bit of psychic magic by Evy, now being able to enter a person's consciousness if their will power is weak enough. I couldn't do it to an enlightened being since my magic is still in its baby phase, developing in simple ways.

I reach into Oliver's mind, asking the important information.

"I've never been to the haunted house," Oliver confesses unconsciously.

After making sure he isn't connected to the man that killed me, I released his 'mind control', setting him free.

"Listen to me well, if you ever approach the haunted house down the block from school, I will carve this blade into your stomach until you suffocate in your own blood. Do I make myself clear?"

Oliver nodded excessively, afraid to his core from my pointy blade I held in my arms. He asked why I threatened him and what the haunted house has to do with this, but I didn't reveal any information, leaving him with a death threat if he ever so much as approaches it.

Being 8 years old, and being tied to a tree by your idol after which he threatens you with a knife was most likely traumatizing, but I couldn't care less. I was traumatized far worse, so I knew he could handle it.

I untied the now crying Oliver, setting him free to run towards his home. I made him promise to keep silent about our encounter, with my blade still in hands. An 8 year old kid would be too frightened to doubt my threats, so I won that encounter. Oliver is taken care of.

One danger down.

-

I wanted to blow the haunted house to smithereens, but didn't want to risk getting involved with the man who killed me. If he doesn't know about me just like Oliver and Rache haven't, It’ll be a smooth sailing.

Leaving my death mystery aside, I chose my path to Obiwon.

The two men I saw last time came to assess me after I've shown an ungodly amount of power to my teacher. I could still use non-enlightened magic, but it was weird. Like playing a videogame, it didn't feel real like using 'real' magic. It spent no mana, and I could not feel the aftereffects.

I was thrilled to see the two men I already met, because I could see their aura now.

I waited on a bench with my teacher outside, when the two men appeared in their vehicle, walking towards me. As soon as their heads turned towards me, their looks changed. I saw their auras, which were much larger than my own. If my manapool is quantified, it would be something like a shot glass. At this moment, it could be compared to a spoonful of water, whilst theirs is comparable to a bottle of wine. The difference is highly noticeable, and I shivered from exhilaration.

I extended my hand, meeting what's already been met. It was a weird feeling knowing these two never saw me, but I met them and had an interaction they can't physically remember.

"Teacher, could you leave us alone for a moment?" one of them exclaims.

"He's all yours," my teacher says as she lifts her hands up.

One of the guys smirks, giving me a nudge with his elbow. "So kid, you're enlightened?"

"Is that some sort of government secret? Enlightenment, that is," I joke.

"It isn't something known by the general public. Not a secret perhaps, but something that isn't spoken about in front of normal people, since it is a bit complicated for the average mind."

"I understand,” I replied curtly.

"There is no need to assess you any further, since this is all we need," they remark, walking back to their vehicle.

"Are you not going to check my magic capabilities?" I ask.

"We don't need to. We can see your aura clearly."

These cheeky bastards. I might have something up my sleeve that they aren't ready for. I don't have anything of that manner, but one can dream.

-

I packed my bag after I received an invitation to Obiwon, to which Rache was elated. "That's the most prestigious school in Holdanis! Forget Holdanis, one of the best in Eviansis generally!"

"What can I say, the son of Kleopatra has expectations to fill,” I chuckle.

"I'm proud to serve such a mighty young lord," he says with a tear forming at the end of his eye.

My heart melts at his kind words of support. "And I’m proud to have the best butler in the world. Thank you Rache. We should play another game of Evil A. before I go."

The most efficient man in the world agreed, setting up the table in a matter of minutes.

"I have to beat you for a dramatic exit," I comment, moving my pawn with a fierce force.

The last game we would play before I leave has commenced. I was delicate and patient with my moves, analyzing Rache's playstyle. His griffin evolved into a phoenix. His knight evolved into an elite knight.

My pawns moved well and none of my pieces evolved. It seemed as if I was on the losing side, potential victory tilting heavily in Rache's side.

This wasn't the case however.

As he attacked my king, I ate his phoenix. I sacrificed my knight for his evolved one. I traded wizards and I trapped his mortar. Our pawns clashed, and our kings were forced to come out into undesired positions. They were in the midst of chaos, both a few moves from getting checkmated.

"A calculated mindset is the right approach, but without risks, it becomes a boring one," I tell Rache, hurling my mortar into his direction, destroying his other knight. This left me with an open mortar, which he took greedily. It wasn't a move made from gluttony for my pieces, it was the right move to choose. The problem was, I was anticipating that very move.

Moving my pawn into a very weird place, I forced the board to turn into something he would never anticipate in my previous life.

"Draw."

It was evident I wasn't qualified to beat Rache yet, but I could force a draw from a very aggressive play. At first, I took my sweet time, but then started attacking relentlessly, in order to seem greedy for a quick victory. The goal however, was for Rache to destroy my attack, defeating my childish tantrum. The tantrum was stopped midway though, and a draw was concluded where Rache least expected.

"..."

He was left with no words.

"What do you think? Pretty neat huh? Bet you didn't expect I would go for a draw!" I yell excitedly.

This draw felt like a win, and in my book it's the same rank of achievement. I bested Rache, in a not so obvious way.

"To be honest, this might as well have been a win. I never saw it coming... You pulled me in, making me believe you were trying to attain a quick victory, when the reality was completely different. In truth, you were manipulating the board and even my moves, knowing how I would respond."

I listened to Rache praise me, and I couldn't describe a better feeling. He was the only figure I had, and it meant the world to me if I met his expectations.

"Lord Adam... I'll say this as one man to another. In my mind, you're no 11 year old kid. Playing against you was like playing against a true mastermind leading his army. Against all odds, you managed to pull the conclusion you wanted. I'm proud to have met such a prodigy as yourself. Your way of thinking surpasses any of my humble expectations."

I extended my hand, after which I hugged Rache with all of my warmth.

"I still can't get past your defenses with my tactics. A win isn't so close even if I pulled this draw," I comment, looking into the ground.

"Don't trouble yourself with winning. Somatia wasn't built in a day. It takes time to get better, patience being the key to success. A man that fought 1000 battles with a rusty sword will always win against someone inexperienced fighting with a golden one. "

I heed to Rache's words, nodding my head in agreement. I've been taught the ways to think my whole life, but I've never met someone so wise as Rache.

"At the tender age of 11, your mind is still in development. I worry at the thought of what a monster you'll be when you grow up."

I laugh, going into the mansion to pack the rest of my stuff.

-

In this second life of mine, I took a weapon from my mother's treasury, packing it with me in case I need it. I wanted to get used to a quality weapon, which my mother had plenty of.

Sunsword that Grey gifted to my mother was the weapon in question, as its golden spike at the bottom of the tightly tied white rope handle gave off a divine appearance. The aura emanating from the long, elegant crystal white blade carried an unseen power.

I was ready for Obiwon, finally free from any impending dangers. At least I hope so...