After being unconscious for who knows how long, I heard a familiar voice. I slowly opened my eyes as I gained control of my senses. I felt pain, my body was aching all over and felt heavy. But it was a better feeling than having a spear through your torso.
I opened my eyes and was shocked to see the person in front of me. Looking over me was a mature, beautiful woman with long silvery hairs and green eyes. It was my mother.
Them, without even knowing, tears started to swell up in my eyes as I muttered, "M-Mom…". My mom in turn hugged me and tried to comfort me, "There, there sweetie… It's all right… I'm here".
I couldn't believe it. I was really back in the past. The artifact had really worked. Remembering the last words of Zodiac, I wondered what had happened to him, and how was he able to communicate with me.
Was he really Zodiac? Or was he just a messenger left by the original. Then I started to inspect my surroundings. I was laying on a bed, in the same childhood room that I remembered. My collection of books, scribbled ruins on the walls, a picture of Zodiac, it was all there.
Then I looked at a nearby mirror and a found 10-years old, beaten Aiden, with silvery hairs and deep purple eyes. I looked at my state in confusion and suddenly my brain picked up the pain signal that was momentarily blocked by my thoughts, giving me a shock of pain as my body ached.
But this amount of pain was nothing. So, I ignored it and tried to remember what could've happened for him to be in such a beaten state. However, I wasn't able to concentrate very well as my memories were a bit foggy for a moment and mom was still clinging to me.
I muttered, "M-Mom, I'm fine…". But my mom refused to listen. Then I acted as if I was losing breath under her that she finally let go of me. Then she placed her hands on my cheeks and asked, "What happened to you sweetie? Tell me the truth, did Gary did this to you?"
I soon as I heard that I name I remembered what had happened to me. "Ah, now I remember. Gary…" I thought as childhood memories flashed in my mind.
He was an average bully who would beat me when I was a child. As the son of the chairman of the village, he would always get away with it.
As I was also a scary cat at that time and I wouldn't say anything. Even though I knew that my parents were equal in terms of respect with the chairman due to them being Grimwalkers (Players/Hunters).
As I was still in my reign of thought as to how I will "bring justice" to Gary, the door to my room suddenly flung open and in came a muscular man with black hairs and purple eyes. It was my dad.
He had an angry look on his face and he shouted, "What does that fat pig of a kid thinks he is huh?! I'm gonna roast him!!!". He said that as actual fire erupted from his fists.
My mother gave him an angry glare and he finally stopped throwing a tantrum.
Then my mother started chanting something as green mana started to emit from her and it started to form a blob of light above her head.
After she stopped chanting, the blob took the shape of a beautiful spirit resembling a maiden. The spirit approached me and kissed me on the forehead and all my injuries healing in an instant.
The spirit disappeared and I stood up from the bed. I still had the feeling of powerlessness but that was normal as a moment before, I was a level 150 dark mage and now I'm just a powerless 10 years old boy. "But not for much longer…", I thought as I started to form a plan of operations in my mind.
But then I looked up and saw my parents looking at me. I still needed to clam then down…