A few weeks ago, like every other of his peers at eighteen/nineteen, Dias had gone through the Talent Awakening.
Unfortunately, after his prideful boasts about his confidence in awakening something strong, Dias awakened a B-rank Tamer Talent.
Tamer Talents were not entirely bad, but it's usually a long term investment.
They had to look for a beast in this demonic monster filled world and obtain materials to form a contract—could be a soul or blood, depending on your capabilities.
After that, begin growing your beast who is likely to be in the lower stages while growing yourselves.
With how Dias had displayed himself, he wasn't ready for the long term, he needed to be strong now to obtain all he wanted.
It all became worse when Dias used his money—family's money—to obtain materials to host a ritual to summon a strong beast.
But in the midst of the ritual, he realized the beast, now named Hati, didn't fit his requirements. Plus it was also a known beast and it'll be hard to evolve it, so Dias refused its midst ritual.
Unfortunately, it had gone far enough and refusing Hati made the beast come out in a weaker stage.
Furthermore, the summoning ritual had an auto contract part for a willing beast and the backlash of going against that weakened Dias's soul.
Dias now had a contracted beast and his soul which could previously contract two beasts at his strength couldn't handle more.
He was going to resume for pre-guild scout classes to get used to his Talent, but he would be a laughing stock.
He drank, he raged, he fell apart.
And from there, everything went downhill.
He died in his home back in the capital where he awakened and where the academy was.
Then, he got replaced by Simon, the Emperor of Beasts.
By the time they found Dias, the original was no more, and the new Dias was in a coma.
Quickly, he was rushed back to their territory for better treatment and observation.
During the eight days that he was in coma, the specialist observing him could feel mana exude from Dias and noticed the fluctuation in mental activities.
Something was happening in Dias's soul.
Now, after waking up today, Dias had crossed from E rank into F rank without absorbing any mana.
He had woken up stronger… different.
And that was why he was being heavily scrutinized at the moment.
Dias sat in a lotus position on his wide bed in his luxurious room, Hati sitting on his laps.
His mother, her personal maid and Sebastian was at his left and the Doctor who possessed an Healing Talent and his two assistants were present.
'I need a lie. A good one.'
He said with a plain face as h
"Lord Dias, we've noticed, for the past eight days, that there were activities in your soul. Could you tell us what it was?"
'I didn't think they would be able to sense my soul sea migrating into this body…'
"I crossed into the D rank. I think it's obvious," Dias shrugged with a sigh. "It feels like I've been gone for hundreds of years yet for a few seconds. Let's be fast with this, I'm tired."
The doctor, wearing a white coat on his shirt and pants, had an expression of shock.
"A trial. You went through a trial? How did you reach the state of enlightenment? I was told you have no real battle experience."
His mother, a woman with black hair and green eyes, wearing a yellow dress had a look of concern.
"The closest thing I'd say he has to being in a dangerous situation is his summoning ritual. I heard it went… bad to say the least. Could that have triggered enlightenment?"
It was rare for people especially at lower ranks to obtain enlightenment because they had less experience.
At the end, they all turned to Dias again and he smiled.
He was originally a farmer from the dark corners back in his previous life, and he lied a lot.
A lie had clicked. He had experiences and stories from his last life to form a better narrative.
It was:
During his summon ritual, another beast had infiltrated his soul to take over his body and he had to fight it for a long time.
After multiple trials, Dias eventually won and that brought enlightenment that led to his trial.
This was a rare case they had never heard of before... But why will Dias lie?
They had to believe him.
There was still a bigger unknown to Sebastian and Dias's mother, Miria, who were more familiar with him.
There was a change in Dias's personality. He was less rash and bitter now, he was more calm and carefree.
Dias did say his trial felt like it was a hundred years so that could have changed him.
After confirming that his body was in good state, the doctor and his assistant left.
Miria watched Dias for a while in silence, making him give in to the discomfort.
"I'd appreciate it if you stop staring at me, mother," he said, looking straight at her.
Miria looked flustered for a second and recollected herself. She didn't know what to say.
They had a poor relationship.
She managed to eventually say, "If you need anything, just tell me, okay?"
Dias instinctively wanted to say he'd rather tell Sebastian but he held his tongue.
"Thank you."
A show of gratitude was not her expected response but this was the first Dias had given her in over 15 years.
She was shocked.
And a bit happy.
The change around Dias meant the two of them might be able to reach an understanding one day.
After saying she'll check up on him later, Miria left with her maid.
"You sound a bit more intellectual, my lord," Sebastian said, drinking the tea he knew Dias wouldn't drink. "Would this be a good time to advise you to amend your maternal relationship?"
Dias looked at Sebastian, the person who had been with Dias the longest, quietly.
This man reminded him of his former beasts because of the loyal company.
"If I consider my other actions bad, I don't consider my actions towards my mother the same way. She made me this way after all."
Going through his obtained memory, Dias's downfall might have been when his mother left him when he was three years old.
Ironically, he experienced the same thing in his past life.
With his ever calm face, Sebastian sighed, dropping the tea cup on his plate. "I still believe—"
"Let's put that aside from now, I promise to come back to it, Sebas," Dias said.
Sebastian chuckled. Sebas was a new term.
"Let's go to the academy."
"The academy? But you need to fully recover."
"Don't worry. I'm not going to stay long there."
Dias was a twenty-three year old man at heart.
'Why the fuck will I go to school now?'
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