Author's Note 1
[Hey everyone! First off, thank you so much for sticking around. I know this chapter took longer than usual to come out, and I wanted to quickly explain why. Life got a little hectic on my side, and I wanted to make sure this chapter was written with the care and detail the story deserves. I'd rather take a bit more time and give you something meaningful than rush it and regret it later. Thanks for your patience—I really appreciate it!]
Author's Note 2
[Before diving in, I just want to say this: the chapter you're about to read isn't bad writing—it's part of a bigger journey. All I ask is for a little patience as I build the story of Amon Eucliffe. Some parts may feel slower, but every moment has its place, and everything connects in time. Trust me, I'm just as excited as you are to see where this road takes us. So, let me tell you his story…]
"C-Could you say that again?" Amy stuttered, eyes wide.
"You have exactly thirty minutes until the process to become artificial mages begins," Rex repeated, like he was reading off a clock.
"O-oh… I see…"
"..."
"WAIT—WHAT!?" Amy finally exploded, her brain catching up.
'Tch. Why are they so damn loud? Does it run in the family?' Amon thought irritably, covering his ears.
"Wawawa!" Amy squealed, running in circles like a startled rabbit.
"We have thirty minutes! Thirty!! What do we do, what do we do!?"
Yes, she came here to get stronger for her brother. But that didn't mean she wanted to die.
She had to mentally prepare herself!
"Wawawawawa!!" she screamed again, louder this time.
"Shut up, you damn brat!" Alexander yelled from the corner, rubbing his eyes. He'd clearly been sleeping until Amy's panic attack woke him up.
"Um… are you okay, Amy?" Amon asked, head tilted.
Amy darted straight into his face, clinging to him, "Of course not! I don't want my friend to die!" she wailed.
Compared to Sera and Amon, Amy's childishness shone through brightest.
"...Friend?" Amon repeated, He didn't even flinch at her hugging him he was used to it now.
Amy suddenly froze, eyes wide, "Wait are you saying I just assumed we were friends!?"
"But I don't—" Amon started, ready to say he didn't even understand the concept of friendship.
"Ahhh! I did, didn't I!?" Amy cut him off, whining louder than before.
'She's not even letting me speak…' Amon thought inwardly.
Pow!
Sera's fist landed on Amon's head, "Idiot."
"Urgh, why did you hit me?" Amon groaned, rubbing the spot.
"That hurt, you know…"
Amy froze, A vein popped on her forehead.
"Huuuuh!? Don't bully Amon!" she snapped, swinging her fist right into Sera's face.
"Urgh, you stupid brat!" Sera growled.
"Takes one to know one, hothead!" Amy shot back, puffing her cheeks.
The two immediately broke into another shouting match, fists flailing.
"..." Rex stared blankly. Why did Amy suddenly stop crying? Why were they suddenly fighting? What the hell was this group?
"You're such a pain, Amy!" Sera yelled.
"Me!? You're the annoying one!"
The bickering continued, echoing around the room.
Tug, Tug
"Hm?" Rex felt a small pull on his coat. Looking down he saw a 5 year old child with black wavy, violet eyes and pale skin staring at him.
"Amon? What is it?"
"What is friendship?" Amon asked bluntly, staring up at him.
"...You don't know what friendship is?" Rex blinked, caught off guard.
"...."Amon shook his head.
'Wouldn't any normal five-year-old understand that? …Then again, this kid is anything but normal.' Rex thought, his sapphire eyes narrowing slightly.
He remembered the hints of Amon's abuse, the strange mix of intelligence and detachment.
Still, Rex wasn't about to dig into a past the boy clearly wouldn't share. He wasn't a therapist, and he wasn't trying to play father. He had enough of his own burdens.
"...Now that I think about it, you're full of mysteries," Rex muttered.
"???" Amon tilted his head, genuinely confused by the comment.
Rex sighed, searching for the right words, "Friendship is… when people trust each other. When they care about each other's feelings and enjoy being around one another. It's… a kind of bond."
He scratched his cheek awkwardly, "A friend is someone you laugh with… someone you play with."
"..." Amon turned his head, watching Amy and Sera still bickering. His mind replayed the moments he had met Amy's cheerful introduction, Sera's blunt protectiveness.
For someone who had just met them an hour ago… he couldn't deny he didn't hate their presence.
He turned back to Rex, "So… friendship is a social bond formed between two or more people. Humans are social creatures, so our brains are wired to seek connection. It's built on trust, empathy, shared experiences, and cooperation. Correct?"
"...Uhh. Sure," Rex muttered, blinking twice.
Inside, Rex groaned, 'I knew he was smart, but damn… talking to him feels like I'm lecturing a professor, not a kid…'
"I see…" Amon nodded,then walked toward Amy and Sera.
As expected, the two were still fighting. At least they weren't punching anymore now it was just insults.
"You stupid crybaby!"
"Snot monster!"
…Very childish insults.
Stopping in front of them, Amon bowed his head, just as he did when introducing himself hours ago.
"You were incorrect, Amy," he said. "I do consider you a friend."
The two immediately froze. Their expressions softened, warm smiles forming on their faces.
"Amon…"
"Amon… wait a second!"
Veins bulged on Sera's forehead, "Why did you only say Amy!? What about me!?"
"Huh? Oh. You too, Sarah." Amon blinked at him, completely disinterested.
"Y-you little…" Sera twitched, veins popping harder. Not only did Amon sound like he didn't care, but he got his name wrong too.
"Honestly, I don't think me and you can be friends," Amon continued bluntly. "Not because I dislike you, but because I haven't given you anything."
He wasn't joking. In Amon's mind, friendship required an exchange. Amy got headpats in return for her warmth. Sera? Nothing.
"…" Sera's jaw clenched, about to snap back.
But Amy beat him to it. She threw her arms around both boys, pulling them into a tight embrace.
"E-eh!?" This time, both Amon and Sera froze.
"If you haven't given him anything, then we'll just make a promise!" Amy chirped brightly.
"A promise?"
"Yup! A promise between friends."
…
"So, how exactly does this promise work?" Amon asked, sitting on the dinner table and swinging his legs idly.
"Well, it's simple." Amy smiled, sitting cross-legged on the floor. "None of us wanna die, right? So we promise something to each other… Think of it as our last words."
Surprisingly, it made sense. Even if they'd only known each other for hours, none of them wanted the others to die.
Perhaps it was because they were all children who, despite knowing each other for a few hours, cared for one another.
Even Sera, who was sitting on the floor a bit away from Amy, felt the same way. Although he wouldn't say it out loud
Sera, sitting nearby, crossed his arms. "…I'm surprised, Amy."
"Hm? About what?"
"I'm surprised you're being this mature." His voice grew quieter. "Realistically, the best outcome is that only one of us survives. A promise… would be like carrying the last will of the others."
"..." Amy didn't say anything and simply nodded her head to her brother's words.
"Are there rules to this promise?" Amon asked.
"Nope," Amy answered. "It can be anything."
"…I see."
"...." a silence fell into the room, Sera, Amy and Amon started to think about what their promise would be about.
The silence stayed for a few minutes, until finally someone spoke up.
"I've got mine," Amy said.
"I have one as well," Amon replied. He turned his eyes toward Sera. "And you?"
"Still thinking," Sera muttered.
"Then I'll go first." Amy's smile warmed the air.
"For whoever survives… I want you to live your life to the fullest. And live without regrets."
Since they had no way of knowing who was going to survive Project Requiem, she didn't specify who she wanted to carry out her promise.
What was Project Requiem? It was a project with the desire to create an artificial mage.
And since Amy didn't know who was going to survive it, she wanted both of them to hear it.
"What a childish wish." Both Sera and Amon said with a dry look.
"Maybe. But it's the truth." Amy only smiled brighter.
"...."Both boys sighed, shaking their heads.
Amon's gaze drifted away, thoughts pulling him under.
' Project Requiem is a secret program that locates rare children with magic. They then feed and comfort them to lower defenses, and implants Lacrima into their bodies to create or "birth" artificial mages by forcibly accelerating magical evolution.'
'Agents like Rex find kids with high Ethernano and bring them in quietly. Those said kids receive a day or a month of warmth to relax psychological resistance.'
'Scientists test compatibility to see who may safely bond with a Lacrima.'
'A Lacrima is fused into the child via an unknown method. This bonds Lacrima energy with the host's Ethernano to supercharge magic.'
' Some children survive and become artificial mages with amplified power; some die'
Despite being the youngest, Amon was far sharper than Amy or Sera. He knew it didn't matter. Logic said his survival rate was almost nonexistent.
His eyes drifted to Sera. Numbers and cold calculations flickered through his mind.
'Sera, ten years old. Strong body, protective personality. Physically durable maturity gives him stability.'
'Survival rate: ~45–55%.'
Next, Amy. Symbols shifted around her in his head.
'Amy, eight. Average strength. Curious but resilient. Healthier than me. Mentally adaptable. Her curiosity lets her endure pain by trying to understand it.'
'Survival rate: ~25–30%.'
Finally, his gaze fell to his own small hands.
'Amon, five. Frail body. Sharp mind. Iron will. Physically? Worthless. Mentally? Beyond my years. Intellect and willpower might help me endure but biologically, I'm fragile.'
'Survival rate: ~5–8%.'
At five, most children were only learning to string together thoughts. But Amon dissected people. He studied motives, strategies, weaknesses. He had to. Rex's guilt, James's eerie calm, Sera's protectiveness, he saw them all.
He's far beyond any child his age. He's at least as sharp, if not sharper, than an average man.
His "worthy/unworthy" lens of viewing people isn't childish simplicity; it's almost like a moral framework built from trauma.
His intellect is borderline prodigy/genius level, but his biggest limitation is still his body and lack of real-world experience.
He lifted his head. "I thought about my promise. There's only one thing I want."
His violet eyes fixed on them both.
"When I die, I don't want either of you to mourn me."
"!" Amy and Sera froze.
"…Amon…"
"...." But Sera's face twisted, veins bulging.
With a stoic lifeless gaze he lifted his head once again, as if reminiscing about something.
Memories of when he lived with his father flashed through his mind. He couldn't remember the exact time, however, he was sure he lived with his father for six months.
Memory's of how he was abused for nothing but his entertainment. Day in and day out he would get abused both physically and verbally.
How many times did he get hit? How many times did he go to bed hungry? Honestly, he lost count.
In order to live, he had to eat the leftovers and trash of food.
He was hit so many times that he eventually got used to the pain. Strangely enough, there wasn't a single bruise on his small body.
The only time he was injured was when his father punched him in the face, leading to a small noise bleed.
"I can't remember why, but I only lived with him for six months. My mother abandoned me on my fifth birthday. After that, I somehow ended up with him."
Amy and Sera's eyes widened, How could he not remember his own past?
As for why this was? Well, even Amon himself didn't know. Although, using his keen intellect, he had come to multiple conclusions.
The first one was something that must have happened to him the day he turned five years old.
Something so traumatic, so sad, so traumatizing that he subconsciously and unknowingly sealed his memories.
So, what was it that was so traumatizing? Well, even he didn't know. The second conclusion was this was some type of psychological defense mechanism.
Amon had no desire to look into his past, nor did he have any desire to talk about his past.
If someone asks about his past he would just avoid the topic.
Letting out a soft sigh he continued, "im am a weak and pathetic person. I am so pathetic that, despite my father hitting me, despite me having hatred for him, I was too scared to even retaliate."
'She left because you were weak! You were born a loser!'
Memories of his father's words flashed through his mind.
'You're less than nothing. 'Because at least nothing can only be a disappointment at its worst.'
"I am less than nothing. Because at least nothing can only be a disappointment at its worst."
He had repeated what his father said earlier in the day.
"...." hearing Amon's words, Sera was only getting angrier. Several veins could be seen on her forehead.
"I bear no last name because I was abandoned. Abandoned by my father, abandoned by my mother, in a sense, I even abandoned my own self."
What Amon was saying was entirely true. Not only did his mother abandon him but, because he sealed his own memories, his emotions have also been sealed.
A person personally is shaped by their memories, because he sealed his own memories, he unintentionally surpasses his own emotions and his true self.
"I am Amon of nothingness…" Amon said as he continued to stare upwards.
"I'm sorry, Amy," sera said as he slowly stood up from the ground. "But I can't stop myself."
"Bother-" Amy was going to stop sera, but it was too late.
Sera snapped.
With a roar, he lunged and punched Amon in the face. The dinner table cracked apart, plates shattering as both boys hit the ground.
Pinned beneath him, Amon blinked in shock. "S-Sera…?"
"Don't you dare talk like that!" Sera bellowed. "It's not fair! You're my friend, damn it! Do you know how it feels hearing you say that!?"
He shook Amon by the collar, shouting with everything in him.
"I don't care if your parents abandoned you! I don't care what that bastard said! Your life is yours! You hear me!? Yours!"
"..."Amon's eyes widened.
"Make your own path! Decide your future! Choose when to fight and when not to! Be who you want to be! Protect who you want to protect! And most of all—LIVE how you want to live!"
Sera's words shook the air. Amon stared up at him, speechless.
"Promise me!"
"R-right. I… I promise."
Sera nodded firmly, hauling Amon back to his feet.
Amy finally caught up, smiling warmly through teary eyes.
'Sera's name means "the burning one"… it suits him. Contained flame, ready to blaze when needed. And Amon… 'the hidden one.' His past, his emotions, all hidden. As if his name was fate itself…'
Walking closer, she raised her thumb with a bright grin.
Amon and Sera followed, pressing theirs against hers.
They didn't need words. Despite the short time, they cared deeply. Whoever survived would carry the others' will. That was the promise.
Amon's thoughts echoed quietly:
'Sera. Amy. Thank you, both of you.'
On that day, three children made a vow.
A vow that would transcend time itself.
And in the near future, a transcendent one would awaken. His wrath will be so great, it would destroy everything.
....
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