I Refused To Be Reincarnated

Adam watched as Julius left, his heart heavy and mind churning with complex emotions. He understood the boy's outburst, really. Anyone would have done the same when faced with their past tormentor.

Honestly, even if he dreaded the idea, he thought he would have to fight Julius to calm him down. Yet, after a few words, he reclaimed control of his emotions, even letting go of his righteous rage.

'Can I do the same?'

With the grating sound of a wavering stream, the question uncontrollably resounded in his mind. Despite his genuine advice, he would be lying if he answered he could follow it if the situation were reversed.

'I would have killed her...'

The thought thundered in his mind, causing his frame to shudder as he glared at Eleanor. Of course, he forgave many individuals he had hated, like Vikram, Selene, Shepard, and even Alexander. But he did so only after ripping them off and ensuring they would not threaten him again. Their circumstances were much different, too.

None of them had chased him for years or kidnapped and, most likely, tortured his mother.

So yes, he would have killed her no matter how the boy tried to reason with him in Julius' situation.

'That's why I'll never be a hero... but Julius can.'

Like a colossal tree spreading life force and joy in nature, Julius' good heart had always inspired him, even if he never admitted it. After all, he knew by now that he was a kid when it came to emotions and relationships, too.

The knowledge shared by the copy made him more mature intellectually, but his heart remained an empty book with only a few lines penned by his friends.

Yet, as always, he shrugged the ideas off. It didn't matter to him. He was someone else with different views and gladly accepted his situation.

'I'll grow to become who I want to be. Not Prometheus two.'

With his thoughts sorted, he gazed into Nathan's emerald eyes before swinging his head to tell him to get out.

Without a word, they left the incapacitated Eleanor in the cell and moved to the cages. Then, Nathan cut his palm open, dripping his blood on the lock.

CLICK

A soft metalling noise echoed through the prison's damp air as the rusted bars creaked open, revealing a sleeping, rickety boy.

"How many are here?"

Adam's icy voice cut through the silence as he grabbed the boy gently, ensuring he didn't break his twig-like limbs.

"Around five hundred," Nathan answered, his voice even before he went to unlock the other cages. "We didn't have enough space to keep the other two thousand, but I'll contact our allies with Alexander. I can gather them here in a few hours."

"Take your mother with you and tell her never to appear before us. If she does, I won't stop Julius again," Adam answered, gesturing for him to leave.

As Nathan's boots echoed in the distance after retrieving his mother, a surge of mana left his hand, condensing into comfortable constructs. Then, one by one, he placed the sleeping summoned on it, smiling bitterly, as he noticed the traces of abuse on their youthful bodies.

"You are safe now."

A soft mutter escaped his lips as he dragged them out of the fetid hall, returning to the luxurious mansion's corridors.

The moment his silhouette emerged, Julius and Alina ran to him. He noticed their reddened eyes and wet cheeks and smiled tenderly at them.

"It's time to introduce you two properly!" Julius exclaimed, his smile brighter than the magic devices' light and his shoulders trembling in excitement.

However, before he could speak, Alina lunged and hugged him. Shocked, he lost the ability to talk for a second before feeling the tremors shaking her body.

"Thank you. Thank you so much for everything. You are the ghost from thirteen years ago. I know it," she said, fresh tears streaming down her cheeks.

She had always wanted to thank the mysterious ghost who changed her life. Despite her pure intentions, Adam remained a silent guardian, never showing his presence and commanding Julius to take credit for everything he did. And now, he saved her again after protecting and educating her son in her tragic absence.

She pulled back, gazing into his azure and emerald eyes with a warm smile.

"Thank you for being Julius' brother. C-Can I call you my son?"
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A slight hesitation made her voice crack. After all, he was a mighty entity who could curse Theodore's descendants for seven generations. She would never forget how he killed another ghost in the graveyard, as well. Even if she couldn't see the battle, the rush of wind, the flying leaves and the rumble of destroyed tombs were enough to hint at what transpired.

Despite everything, she considered him a family member... one she was extremely grateful to have.

"Yes! We are already brothers, anyway!" Julius yelled, joining the hug, his delighted face painted with vivid colors.

"I-I..."

Adam failed to answer, a surge of emotions he didn't understand flooding his heart. A family? Besides Julius, he never had one. Even during Prometheus' memory recollection, he hadn't seen his. The concept felt familiar but also alien to him.

He halted his pondering for a moment, observing the duo's joyful expressions. Somehow, a warm feeling he didn't dislike spread through his chest.

'Can I?'

He had nothing but respect for Alina's enduring and bright personality. However, he had to admit he didn't care about her that much in the past. After all, in exchange for her help, he ensured she got a well-paid and relaxing job. He also cleaned her house daily.

But in the end, how could he feel close when he genuinely planned to erase Julius' consciousness to reincarnate? Sure, he changed his mind along the way, becoming something more than an egoist and angry ghost. But that happened a few months ago only.

Guilt always stung his heart like a swarm of wasps when she was around. That's why he did his best to distance himself from her. No, he even erased her from his thoughts, not wanting to suffer from her bright smile while planning to doom her son.

'So, can I really accept?'

A terrible, chaotic sizzling noise assaulted his mind. He was lost. He didn't know. No, he never knew how to express his emotions, especially when facing gratitude.

As the silence lingered and Alina awaited his answer, hope sparkling in her hazel eyes, like a lighthouse lightening a tumultuous sea, Julius' voice resounded in his ears.

"Everyone commits mistakes or makes wrong choices. I know you've been burdened by something terrible for years, going as far as to isolate yourself several times so as not to worry me."

The words caused his wooden frame to tremble on the soft carpet as dull sounds echoed in the corridors. Yet, Julius continued, chasing the chaos away and revealing the bright blue sky hidden behind the dark clouds.

"In the end, like I let go of my anger, you let go of those negative thoughts. So, don't be too harsh on yourself."

A silent spectral tear rolled down his cheeks. Julius had seen through him long ago, silently supporting him, even if he knew something was wrong.

'It had been hard... really hard.'

He recalled his nascent hesitations after he awoke from his coma... no, it had started when Lucius pressured Julius into answering in the Riverwood mansion. Even six years ago, cracks appeared in his determination. Subconsciously, he refused to take Julius' body, making his temper worsen with each passing day. But Julius was right. He had changed.

'No one deserves to be alone.'

He remembered Misha's words, his heart hastening in his chest as he let his emotions guide him.

With shaky hands and a bright smile, he clutched the duo's backs as his voice cracked.

"I love you, brother... and I'm sorry it took us so long to save you... mom."

End of second volume: I Refused To Be Reincarnated.

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AN: I hope you enjoyed the second volume and are ready for the third! Now that Adam can move independently, he'll take much more space and will have many opportunities to interact with others, including the summoned!

I also want to express my gratitude to everyone for your support! You give me the strength to persevere, even if the book isn't doing great! :)