Palingenesis, metempsychosis, or the most well-known term: Transmigration.
Lloyd had devoured hundreds of books and novels that dealt with this subject. He'd always wished to reincarnate, but he'd never seen it as a possibility.
Because of this, a part of him wanted to deny what was happening and search for another possible explanation for what was occurring.
"If the boss isn't feeling well, maybe we should head back," Gustavo said.
Lloyd returned to reality. That chubby redhead was the butcher's son; he'd known him since childhood. He always brought big lunches to share in the afternoon, though he always ended up eating them all.
"But what about the xeno? We're just gonna leave her?" Joan replied.
That scrawny boy was the complete opposite of Gustavo; together, they were nicknamed the dot and the I. He was the barber's son, and he deeply hated xenos.
"I suppose so."
They were his friends, there was no doubt about that. They were the town's troublemakers, they'd tormented many.
He had mixed feelings about it; on one hand, he didn't like those jerks, but on the other, he had many memories with them.
They were lifelong friends, or at least of this body.
No, even if that was the case he couldn't tolerate it, but acting strange could raise suspicions about his transmigration.
Lloyd didn't know how well his father would take learning that his son's body was being possessed... And knowing who he was, it was better not to cross him.
"Let's go," Lloyd said with a serious attitude, as he turned around. "I've decided, chasing those filthy xenos is pointless. In a way, the fact that I gave them attention is a gift they don't deserve."
The blond decided to improvise, he'd use pride as an excuse to cease activities against xeno children.
"You're really going to do that? But they're vermin! We're helping society, you said so yourself," Joan retorted.
The boy always heard the discussions his father had with the barbershop clients.
Many often commented that the streets didn't feel safe with so many xenos around. Words that carry much more weight if you remember that this city is dominated by a criminal organization.
Joan believed those words, that's why he'd joined Lloyd's cause. Having fought for it for so many years, there was no point in giving up now.
"Joan, you're contradicting me," Lloyd turned slightly, glaring at the boy. "Don't you know your place? You should be careful, I remind you that in terms of authority, you're closer to the xenos than you are to me."
The blond's words were harsher than Lloyd himself could imagine.
There was another reason why Joan hated xenos, his mother had been murdered by them when he was young.
The reason his father had moved to that city was that the mafia had promised protection.
That's precisely why, when xenos started occupying the city's slums, rumors began to spread.
"Is that so? Am I just a slave to you? Ha... I thought we were friends," Joan's voice trembled, in a mix of sadness and rage, the boy himself didn't know which one to feel.
"Hey, I'm sure he didn't mean it like that," Gustavo commented, trying to calm the situation.
Lloyd sighed.
"Look, what we're doing really doesn't make sense," Lloyd pointed at the girl. "It's clear this idiot has no friends; we're probably the only ones who pay attention to her. That's why she doesn't even cry when we bother her."
The boy had to make something up; otherwise, his argument might fall apart. He'd underestimated how seriously they were taking the task of "exterminating vermin."
"The same goes for the others, the simple fact of paying attention to them is a mistake. We should ignore them, if we do, they'll get bored with us and leave, you'll see."
Lloyd didn't even believe those words himself, but they were the first thing that had come to mind.
"What the boss says makes sense, don't you think Joan?"
The blond was surprised at how quickly he'd convinced Gustavo, though surely Joan wouldn't be so easy to convince.
Right?
"Mmmm, it's true that even after tormenting them for years, the brats we've tormented have kept showing up. It's like they've just gotten used to it," the barber's son reflected.
Lloyd breathed a sigh of relief, he'd succeeded.
"Good, you heard him," Lloyd said, turning toward the girl. "We won't get in your way anymore."
The boy assumed the brat wouldn't care, or maybe she'd even feel relieved. She'd probably think Lloyd was an idiot for reaching such a twisted conclusion.
Who would want his attention?
Though Lloyd couldn't care less, his objective had been accomplished, now he had more things to think about.
"Watch out!" Joan exclaimed.
"Huh?"
A sharp pain struck Lloyd's forehead. The boy, confused, felt the spot where he'd been hit.
Fresh blood slid down his forehead from the wound. His mouth opened in confusion, and his eyes finally settled on the girl.
She still had her hand extended, as if she'd thrown something. Lloyd's gaze descended to find the projectile in question.
A stone... That girl had thrown a stone at him.