Chapter 143: The price of freedom part two

"I'll take over the world even if I have to sacrifice everything! I'll take over it no matter what, even if I have to kill every single living thing just to get here." 

Excrucio Romswell Brian was the head of the current Romswell family. Though a lot of elders wanted the position, he never gave it to them: he took it from them by force. In his own words, 'if ya can't beat me, I ain't handing this over.' He didn't inherit it from his father, no, he took it. 

Back when his father was still alive, he had this grand dream of starting a new revolution and conquer the world. Why? No one knew. Perhaps for a girl, perhaps just for the fun of it, or perhaps there was a deeper reason no one understood. But there was no denying the fact, he was definitely serious about this. 

His father didn't think it was stupid, but he wasn't willing to let Excrucio do whatever he pleased either. 

The Romswell family had a tradition. If the kid was old enough, he could challenge his parents into a duel and have his way. The tradition wasn't used that often, before this fateful day. 

The two duked it out. It was vastly one-sided. Small droplets of rain fell from the dark clouds above. The sun wasn't visible anymore. 

And as Excrucio laid on the front yard, totally shirtless, covered in blood and snot, he said those words. "I'll take over the world if even I have to sacrifice everything! I'll take over it no matter what, even if I have to kill every single living thing just to get here." He didn't look at his father. "I have to." He reached for the sky. 

His father had laughed harder than ever that day. And he'd also felt the greatest pain too. "Sorry son, but you're too weak to kill me." It rained that day and perhaps that rain was a way to cover the tears of both of them.

That was a long time ago. 

And as Excrucio remembered it all, taking a smoke on top of the Demigrace Academy's head building, he felt just how stupid all that sounded. 

'You were right dad. I still can't kill you.' After all, his father was already dead. 

He hadn't given up on his dream of conquering the world, but he did realize just how vast the world was and what sort of monsters inhibited it. 

Just the thought alone wasn't enough and he'd learned it the hard way, through countless sacrifices, through countless battles. He needed a lot more than just ambition. 

But that's why he was glad. 'At least he has more conviction and a more achievable dream than me.' the conviction he just witnessed this afternoon was something that resonated with him. 

At the time when he said he was willing to kill everyone just to achieve his dream, he'd realized, he wasn't. But that kid, that kid was and that's why he couldn't just abandon that kid. If the kid wasn't strong enough, he'd just lend him a hand. After all, that was what family was for, right?

***

Even if he wanted Excrucio couldn't kill his family, he just wasn't made that way. And killing other people like it was nothing? He couldn't do that either. 

Just after running away from home after that fight, he'd joined a terrorist group: it was more like a group of small-time thugs.

But it was then when he realized, killing, wasn't as easy as he thought. It wasn't just the matter of snuffing someone's light, no: there was more. There was much more. 

When he actually intended on killing people, he thought about their families, he thought about their lives. What if the guy had dreams and goals? All those things hampered his ability to kill and eventually, he became so fed up with life that he left civilization, he left the group and started living in the wild. 

He came back to his family once in a while but he never stayed for long. His dream remained a dream, no more, an ambition. After all, the longer one held on to something, the heavier it got. 

Life passed fast and he even met a girl he wanted to live the rest of his life with.

And so did his little sister. But his sister pulled ahead and also had kids. He didn't want to be outdone so he had kids too. 

Time again moved on and for the first time, he felt a bit happy and his dream of conquering the world remained a dream. He didn't have to run away and when he apologized to his father, his father welcomed him back with open arms. It really was the happiest day of his life. 

Years flew by. 

But when his father passed away he was devastated. The same person died from a mere child? The same person he couldn't even scratch?

He was so intent on killing that child that he came back straight to the Romswell mansion and took the title of the head by force. There wasn't anyone capable of stopping him in the family, or more like there wasn't anyone willing to try. 

He wanted to order the execution of the child and he was going to be the executioner too. And for that reason only he chose the title. But something changed when he learned of the bigger truth. 

Something changed in him too, after reading the last letter his father had left him. 

Now, after all those years, he could only chuckle at his fate and just how stupid he was. 

The cigar was fully burned. 'Guess I should be getting back.'

He wasn't alone, but he didn't have anyone either. 

His dream was just a dream and everything was just a time pass for him. And that's why he wanted to make sure, another dream didn't get prematurely snuffed out. 

***

My head hurt. 

This whole thing became more and more recurring these days.

I woke and saw loads of white light. 'I'm back again?'

I groaned and sat down. 

The sudden burst of light passed and I realized this place wasn't that clean. Meaning, this wasn't my mind, this was the nurse's office. 'Guess not.'

I kind of really didn't want to be here. 

I didn't see anyone around and after checking the Holo I could conclude there was a good reason for that. The reason being, it was past twelve. Then why the hell were the lights still on?

Argh…

There went my chance to eat a hearty dinner and recover my stamina. 

I took a good look at my body and well, I was disappointed. I had loads of bandages and I also couldn't move. Everything stung. 'How the hell am I supposed to fight tomorrow then?'

Damn you, uncle!

Yeah, damn him for sure! Why the hell did he have to do this to me?

Arghh….

Sigh.

Just sighing wasn't good enough anymore. 

With a bit of grumble, I lied down. But couldn't sleep.

Too hungry.

There wasn't any food on the table. 

Sigh.

Did something curse me or something?

I tried to sleep again.

Nothing.

Sigh.

I just kept my eyes closed and lied like that. 

Crickets were roaring in the background. I kind of wanted to nuke them, but oh well. 

"Yes, his condition seems to be inadequate for tomorrow's battle." I heard faint words coming from the other side of the door.

I still kept my eyes closed and a moment later I heard the door open. 

"WE can't have that." It was the headmaster. "Please get him upto shape. If we cancel tomorrow's fight, the backlash would be tremendous."

"I'll try." It was a male voice and I'd heard it before. 

I tried opening a tiny of my eye and all eyes were literally on me. I guess they knew I was pretending.

There were three of them. The nurse, the headmaster, and a transfer student. 

"What are you people doing?"

"Trying to heal you." The nurse said, looking disapprovingly. 

"Can I get some food too?"

She sighed. That was probably a yes, I sure hope so. 

"Alright, do your thing boy. If it doesn't work, I'll throw you out." Well, the headmaster sure was in a mood.

"Yeah, no pressure." The guy chuckled. He was the Asian transfer student. I forgot his name but we fought both today- now yesterday- and during the matches last week.

He came close to me, placed a hand on my chest, and both he and I glowed. 

My wounds felt light and the pain eased up. 

He kept it up and a minute later, I could move my body a lot better.  Of course, I still had the deeper wounds but it was suffice to say, I was a lot better now. 

The guy moved his hand away from my chest and now that I took a good look at his face, he was malnourished. Even just a moment ago he wasn't. 

"You okay?"

"Just a side effect, don't worry about it. I'll be fine by tomorrow."

I guess he tried hard to heal me. "Thanks."

"No pro-" The guy tried to smile but the headmaster grabbed him and carried him back on his back like a potato bag. 

Poor guy. 

"He's all yours," the geezer said.

The nurse grinned. 

'Oh shit.'