Chapter 219 - He, in the past

He was born with traits that were so much unlike his parents and were too unsightly to be seen by the public. Many looked at him with sheer remorse. Some looked at him as if he was filth. He was used to it—because after all, shortly after being born, his mother refused to even look at him the second time around. After being born, he wasn't even held nor b.r.e.a.s.tfed. His father shortly left his mother after taking a glance at the newborn him.

"This is not my child."

"Dear, n-no!"

His existence had tainted more than a thousand years worth of history. He was the black sheep of the family, who harbored the characteristics of a slave race that was deemed to be the lowest of the low. The slave race that aren't even considered human.

The Heilen clan.

Jonathan stares at the moonlight. He was very used to this. From childhood they gave him worse treatment, but they just couldn't throw him away. Jonathan knew it was all thanks to his aunt, Anna Unsterblich. She was the only one who showed him compassion, yet she wasn't really that openly caring to him. She had little gestures he appreciated, and with those little gestures he was able to survive this hellish place he was put into.

Jonathan walked around the garden of the manor, far from the main academy where he was restricted to set foot into. The garden had a good view of the moon, and its red roses looked ethereal in the moonlight. His red eyes, which they said akin to blood, were similar to the color of the roses. His black hair, which they said looked like gloom and evil, glistened against the moonlight.

He lied to the grass. They were having a banquet into the manor, and there were numerous guests invited from the two continents. 

Magierstadt was the bridge to the armistice formed by Zuerst and Zweite many years ago. After all, Magierstadt took in mages that were both from the two continents in peace and harmony. He stares at the moon, which was all alone. 

This was his peace and quiet.

They didn't like him in the banquet, any way. There was no point on him staying in there. They would, once more, look at him with prying eyes and look at his mother afterwards with sheer disbelief and judgment. 

Even Jonathan knows his mother wasn't on the wrong.

He got her features, and his father's as well. 

Jonathan clenched his fist.

If it weren't from his black eyes and red hair…

If it weren't from these traits, then he would have been fine.

'Are you remorseful?'

Jonathan blinked, sitting up out of reflex. "Who's there?"

'Do you hate yourself?'

A shiver run down Jonathan's spine. That voice—there was no mistaking it.

It was his.

He looked around, trying to find the owner of that voice with magic. But he couldn't ascertain where it was—until he sensed a certain presence. A different kind of mana.

Jonathan then appraised his magic, readying himself to summon his staff. 

Rustle.

A magic circle appeared, with Jonathan's staff appearing out of nowhere. 

"Wah!" 

Jonathan blinked the moment a girl tumbled back to the grass as he pointed the gem of his staff straight to her.

Fiery, red hair, and emerald-colored eyes. A fair skin, and light freckles.

Who is she?

The girl then lifted her gaze as she stares at the staff. "Wait… you're my age, and you got a medium already? I'm jealous!"

Jonathan scowled, drawing his staff away. It looks like this girl isn't the one who had spoken earlier. "What are you doing in here?"

He wasn't much of a talker, but he was vigilant right now. Many had come just to assassinate or kidnap him. He learned to protect himself from those who were his potential adversaries. Jonathan stares at the girl; her mana… it felt different. And that made him stay on guard. 

No matter how delicate she looked.

She stood up, and then that's when he noticed it.

"You're… barefoot."

"Huh? Ah, yeah," the woman grinned. "Dancing made my feet hurt. May I lie with you?"

"What?"

"I saw you lying on the grass earlier. I was about to introduce myself, but you didn't seem to be very… friendly."

Jonathan, who was just a teenager, stares at the girl who—for the first time—didn't look at him as if he was dirt. She just genuinely looked interested in lying to the grass with him. 

"I'm sorry," Jonathan bowed courteously. 

"Oh my," the girl then bowed as well, yet a little sloppily. 

Jonathan, although an outcast, still received proper education that was fit for a schoolmaster. His mother said that despite his unseemly appearance, he was still the heir to Magierstadt's seat. 

"I'm sorry about that." The girl, who was barefoot and holding her sandals, sauntered towards Jonathan and then sat down. "Hey, sit down too. It'll feel awkward if it's just me."

He did so, but not out of obedience—she pulled him down, which made him sit with beside her. 

"Having to talk to nobles and interact… it's quite tiresome, huh?I'

Jonathan only stared at her. Judging from the way she speaks, and her etiquette—it seemed like she doesn't belong to the higher noble spectrum. She also had a slight accent which Jonathan was quick to trace into Feuersturm; it was unrefined, so perhaps she's a daughter of a provincial lord.

But what is a provincial lord doing in such a high class gathering? Usually Magierstadt hosts gatherings for nobles in high society because they are the ones in control. He stares at the girl who had now grinned at him.

She must be at the same age as him. 

"I'm here because I'm to study in this school few years from now," she said. "They said my mana was special, so the king sent our family here. But then the schoolmistress only looked at me and said nothing else. Haaah. I was excited for nothin���!"

"Oops," she covered her lips. "The accent got in the way. You must have figured out by now, no? That I'm not in the high society. Just some country bumpkin."

Jonathan stairs at the girl who now lied into the grass as she stares at the moon.

"You know, they are judging me back there. Some asked to dance with me but they look like they're only putting on a show. It honestly feels like I'm in a zoo,"

"…Folkmanor and Goldenfag?"

"Oh! You know that quote! It isn't that famous, but you know it?"

'It feels like I'm in a zoo' is an expression the two philosophers used. The word zoo was comparable to a circus, and they said it was a cruel way of putting animals in cells just for entertainment. This phrase wasn't much used, given it was just a jargon shared by the philosophers. Those who used the said phrase are considered to be the ones who really studied the two philosophers' works. 

"Of course…" Jonathan answered. 

He had spent his time reading books. Of course he knew. 

"They keep on giving me stares. I know I'm just some country bumpkin, but watch me, dammit! I'll make it big! Really, really big. After I get my medium I'll show them who's boss. I'm gonna go down on history as a prodigy mage!"

Jonathan doesn't know how to feel as he stares at the girl who was continuously blabbering on and about how she would redeem her place into the world. He had never experienced this before—someone who was willing to talk to him without looking at him in a way that he would rather not see.

But she was a country bumpkin. Perhaps she didn't know what 'Heilen traits' were?

"…go."

"Huh?"

"You should go," Jonathan exclaimed.

"Why?"

"When they see you with me, they might…"

"Oh, is it because I talk too much? Sorry. I just can't help it when I'm with people I'm comfortable talking to."

Jonathan stares at her, marveled at the thought about what she had said.

"I'm… comfortable to talk to?"

The girl stares at him. "You are."

Jonathan thinned his lips, averting his gaze.

"You don't feel disgusted looking at me?"

The girl scowled, and then, without warning she held both of Jonathan's cheek, making him turn towards her. Jonathan blinked, taken aback with her brazenness. 

"How are you disgusting?"

"I…" Jonathan tried to look away. "I have blood-red eyes and black hair. Doesn't this scare you?"

"Oh yeah, look. I have green eyes like slime and red hair like fire." She raised her brow. "Doesn't this scare you, too?"

Jonathan still couldn't look at her. His heart was racing hard against his chest. She's too close! 

"I think it suits you. How are you scary when you're that HOT?" 

"…what?"

The girl grinned.

"We probably won't meet again, so I'm going to be bold enough to tell you you're hot." Their eyes then locked to each other. 

"Your red eyes are like a ruby's, and your hair is like the night." She smiled. "How is that scary when two are my favorite things?"

"Eulalia!!! Where is that child!!!"

"Shoot," the girl then rose to her feet as she hastily puts on her shoe. "I have to go!"

"W-wait—"

She then glanced back at him before going.

"What's your name…?" Jonathan asked.

"Just call me…" the girl smiled.

"Eula!"