Chapter 4 - 4 - Conversations

Chapter 4: Chapter 4 - Conversations

(Liam's POV)

I watched Ken as tears welled up in his eyes after I responded to him.

This was a rare sight if I was being honest. Ken never cries. Well he stopped after our parents died and so did I.

Even though his appearance was something completely different from what I was used to, I could still feel it. The teenage boy in front of me was of no doubt my brother.

Wiping the tears that were dropping from my own face, I said to Ken as he stared at me with a complicated but nevertheless happy expression.

"I have a lot of things I want to tell you and I know you have a lot of questions to ask. I do too, but we should really move somewhere else. Somewhere secluded"

"Lead the way" Ken replied as he wiped his tears with the sleeve of his shirt.

I guided Ken around the luxuriously built mansion and across the sprawling grounds full of lush but poorly maintained greenery all the way to the edge of a small lake which was situated at the rear end of the beautiful garden.

The still waters of the lake which reflected the surrounding large trees and vibrant lush greenery all around it gave a serene and calming atmosphere.

We stood there for quite a few minutes, taking in the peaceful atmosphere. I could feel Ken taking glances at me at intervals but I was also doing the same so it seemed to me like we were at a loss of words as to where to even begin.

I bent down to pick a few stones and threw it across the lake while watching it as it glided across the water's surface, creating a satisfying skip and ripples that radiated from its points of contact. Ken just looked ahead.

'He's probably pondering as to where he should even begin...'

After a while, I sat down on the lush grass and Ken did the same too. Finally, I broke our silence and initiated the long conversation we were going to have.

"Damn bro. You just had to get ridiculously handsome in the afterlife"

"Very funny Liam"

"It's true though. Your face basically screams Lady Killer"

"Like you're any different. Your charm stats are basically of the charts with that face"

"True" I said and immediately followed up with another question.

"So, you been enjoying those bad boys?" I smiled and said as I nudged my head and pointed to Ken's lower limbs.

"You have no idea the ecstasy I've being in ever since I started walking again" Ken said with a rare grin plastered all over his face. He was going to make a lot of ladies' swoon in the future because of that damn face.

-Swoosh

A gentle breeze blew past us, carrying rustled leaves and the scent of fresh leaves and damp soil.

"So Liam, how does it feel being reincarnated as the male lead in your favorite novel?" Ken continued.

"Honestly Ken, I'm... I'm just as confused as you are"

"This really is surreal..."

"I'm just glad we're back together again as brothers. Even though I don't even have an iota of why this happened, I'm glad you're here"

"Same here bro. Same here"

"Say Ken..."

"Yeah?"

"How..." I made a brief pause before I continued.

"How exactly did I die?"

Ken gazed at me for a good minute or two before finally speaking. n--o(/V-(E(.l--b)-1.-n

"I'm pretty sure you don't want to know"

" ... "

"Fine... You were shot in the head... A stray bullet hit you square in the middle of your head. I'm guessing it was from either the cops or whoever it was they were chasing"

"What a gory way to die" I said as I contorted my face in a painful grimace at the thought of it.

"Yeah. It was a very horrifying sight" Ken said, his face wearing a sad gaze.

"I'm sorry Ken. The trauma it must've caused for you..."

"It wasn't your fault Liam. You had no idea about what was going to happen and neither did I. So, it's alright. We're alive now, aren't we? At least I hope we are and this isn't actually the afterlife"

"Yeah..."

"Also, if you're wondering, I got hit in the head by a car as I cried over your dead body. I'm also thinking it was from the aftermath of that cop chase"

"You say that with such a normal face though"

"Well I wanted to satisfy your curiosity. You were eventually going to ask anyway, right?"

"I was"

Once again, a brief silence persisted for a few minutes before I spoke again.

"This world is heading for doom you know?"

"I know. I also know that I was supposed to be dead by now. Flynn was supposed to die after jumping from that tall building. Although your spell must've helped reduce the impact of his fall, he still died regardless"

"Do you know how shocked I was to see him walking into the Duke's office like nothing had happened at all. That was when I began to have thoughts that you might've been reincarnated as well"

"How long have you been here for though Liam?"

"Three days. I was totally freaked out by the entire thing. I stayed in my room for the entire day just trying to come to grips with my reality"

"And no one bothered to check up on you for that entire day?"

"Of course they did. I just told them that I was feeling a bit under the weather and that I might sleep in for the next few days. Of course they sounded a bit worried but I reassured them that it was nothing they should be too worried about"

"Well, considering how you're the eldest son in this family, they would be. If you include my recent attempted suicide, it's understandable they'd be worried over the slightest changes in your persona"

"I guess you could say so"

"Have you..." Ken's voice trailed off a bit.

"Have I tried using mana?" I completed his sentence.

"Yeah. That."

"Nah... Not really. I can feel it in my core though. Should probably spread it through my veins, arteries and other channels once I fully grasp it though"

"I will eventually do the same. Just as soon as I get used to this body. We need to sort out a bunch of issues before the main story starts..."

"Yeah. Aiden may have died at the end of the novel but I'm not a fan of dying again. Already did once. Didn't like it one bit"

Ken chuckled at my words. It was a rare sight to see him smile like this.

After that, we just stared at the clear water from the lake and took in the tranquil sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustling as the gentle breeze caused the trees to sway in the wind. After a while, Ken spoke up again.

"I remember Flynn's memories. Not all but a lot. I didn't at first but it's been gradually piling up so I have an idea of the kind of person I've been up until now"

"That's how I felt too" I replied and then continued.

"At first it felt weird but now it seems like I've always been here from the beginning. I'd also expected a severe headache to almost tear through my brain but I think because it was gradual is why I felt no pain. It's like I was recovering my memories after losing them"

"That's exactly how I felt. It had been trying to come through since I woke up but maybe because I was unconsciously denying my reality, it took a while for my brain to process it"

"That may have been the case. In fact, it seems like your deduction is on point. You've always been very smart so I'm pretty sure you're right"

"I hope it is..."

We had both been staying here for a few hours so I'm pretty sure Mum was getting worried. Flynn was supposed to go and calm her worries but this discussion had to happen between us as soon as possible.

Flynn probably realizing the same thing, got up from the grass and dusted himself as he turned around to leave.

After walking a few meters away from me he said without turning around, his back facing me.

"I won't allow you to handle all of the responsibility on your own this time. You've already done enough in our past life so you don't need to be worried about me in this life. I will become strong. Strong enough to stand by your side. I know you've already decided to save this world, but no one is going to save you. I'm going to do the same. I'm going to do my absolute best to save this world and also save you in the process regardless of the methods I have to use. That is my promise to you as your younger brother".

Saying all that he wanted to say, Flynn walked away till he was out of my sight. I was genuinely surprised by his words but I had expected it, because I knew the kind of person my brother was.

Someone who was and will always be willing to put others first before himself.

"Yeah, you've always been that kind of person, haven't you?" I said with a warm smile.

I then turned my head away from where he originally was while facing forward to stare at the scenery of the serene lake in my field of vision.