"You know, Aton, it took your father long enough to utter those words. But it actually does not matter. Even if he had not said those words, I would still have to occupy your body for my plans. So, I would like to apologize in advance."
Relict sincerely said, carrying a faint sense of formality as if he was speaking to someone who could still hear him.
As he spoke, his eyes remained fixed on the boy while he carefully examined the body from the inside out. His gaze lingered on Aton's chest, subtly observing the weak rise and fall, then shifted toward his limbs, noting the lack of natural response. Based on his careful observation, he confirmed that Aton's organs had already started failing, just as the physician had stated earlier. In fact, Aton had already been brain dead a week ago.
It was only with Relict's intervention that the body had survived for a week. The faint movement of air into the lungs and the minimal circulation within the body were not natural, but maintained through his own means. However, this time, it would be difficult for Relict to sustain the boy's life without starting the implant procedure. The body would not continue living by temporarily assisting the breathing, as the organs themselves had already stopped functioning properly. The longer he delayed, the more the internal structures would deteriorate, potentially causing irreversible damage to the body.
"Although you are supposedly dead, I am still not going to use your body wantonly. So, how about this, in exchange for using your body, I will make sure that your father will be proud of you. I will ensure that he will live long enough to see you reborn, rise, and usher a new era for your kind."
This was the greatest thing he could do for Aton's life. Since the moment the implant procedure was done, any remaining consciousness left, if there was even any, would be erased completely. The only things that would remain would be Aton's memories and personality, preserved so that Relict could mimic Aton's character without any flaw. There would be no resistance, no lingering will, only a perfect imitation built upon what once existed.
"Goodbye, Aton. May you rest in peace."
...
A day and a half after the patriarch's visit to his son's bed chamber, the news about Aton's death had already come. The mansion, which had been quiet before, now carried a heavier atmosphere, as if the walls themselves had absorbed the weight of the event. The news came from the young maid who had been present during the patriarch's previous visit. Her face was pale, her breathing uneven as she ran all the way down the corridor toward the patriarch's office. Her footsteps echoed hurriedly against the floor, lacking the usual restraint expected within the household. She did not stop, until she reached the door where Augustus had buried himself in paperwork.
"Master! Master! Please open the door!"
The young maid's frantic voice echoed in the hallway as she banged on the door of the patriarch's office, her hands striking the surface repeatedly without care for formality. Her voice trembled, each call sounding more urgent than the last. The door was immediately opened after her initial banging, as if the person inside had been alert the entire time.
"Young master, he is... He is... No longer breathing..."
She could not muster the strength to say the word "dead," as fear lingered in her mind that perhaps she was mistaken. Her lips quivered as she spoke, her eyes slightly widened, uncertain and shaken. So, she chose the most appropriate term instead, her voice trailing off as if even those words were difficult to say.
Augustus, watching and hearing the young maid, slowly put down his pen on the desk. The room, which had been filled with quiet concentration moments ago, now felt heavy and still. He stood up from his seat. He had already anticipated the inevitable death of his son, having prepared himself for this outcome in his mind countless times, but actually hearing it spoken aloud made his chest tighten. The words seemed to linger in the air longer than they should, pressing down on him. As he took a step forward, his body betrayed him, and he staggered, his balance faltering as a sudden wave of weakness spread through his limbs.
"M-master, are you okay-"
Seeing Augustus stagger and lean on his desk for a moment, she immediately stepped forward, and wanted to assist him. However, she stopped her actions and words midway after Augustus slightly raised his free hand, the gesture firm despite the faint tremor in his fingers, clearly signaling for her to stop.
"I'm fine, Seila. You go and inform Physician Wang to come to Aton's room to confirm his death. I'll go there first."
His voice came out controlled, but there was a slight roughness to it, as if he had forced the words through a tightening throat. Hearing Augustus's order, Seila, although concerned, still lowered her hand and bowed deeply, her posture respectful and restrained despite the worry evident in her eyes. She then turned and went immediately outside, leaving Augustus alone.
...
Seila rushed to the guest room where Physician Wang was staying. The usually quiet hallway seemed longer than usual. Fortunately, she found him there, seated inside the room, and she immediately told him the news without delay. Hearing the sad news, he paused, the movement of his hands coming to a complete stop as the meaning of her words settled in. He immediately stopped what he was doing before rising from his seat. Without wasting another moment, he joined Seila, and together they went to Aton's bedchamber in haste.
Once they arrived, both saw that the door was left open, so they went in directly without pause. The air inside felt heavy and still, carrying a quiet that made their presence seem intrusive. There, they saw the patriarch of the Lyn family holding Aton's left hand, his fingers wrapped firmly yet gently around it, as if unwilling to let go. His eyes were closed, and he was half kneeling beside the bed where Aton's body lay, his posture lowered and unmoving. Both did not know how to engage in conversation with Augustus while he was still grieving, uncertain whether their words would comfort or disturb him. So, the room continued in silence, the kind that pressed down on those within it. Eventually, it was Physician Wang who broke the silence politely.
"My lord, we have arrived.."
Hearing the physician's words, Augustus slowly opened his eyes. He then let go of his son's hand, his fingers lingering for a brief moment before fully releasing it. Then, he stood up slowly, steadying himself as he rose, and turned to face the two. His expression had been composed once more, though traces of what he felt still remained in his eyes.
"I apologize. I haven't sensed that the two of you had already arrived."
"No, no, we had just arrived, my lord. You do not owe us an apology."
Physician Wang hastily replied, trying to lighten the conversation. Augustus understood this, so he did not waste any more time on meaningless talk and directly made his request.
"I have checked his pulse, and there is no longer a beat. Can you confirm Aton's death for me, Physician Wang?"
"As you requested, my lord."
Physician Wang answered politely and bowed. Then, he went near the bed beside Augustus and bent down to remove the sheet covering Aton's body. After that, he placed both of his hands onto Aton's chest and called out his power. A bluish luminescence appeared on his palms as it spread from the gaps of his fingers and lightly illuminated the bed. He was confirming Aton's condition by scanning his body thoroughly using an advanced medical skill that could only be learned in Arendar.
After a minute of examining Aton's body, Physician Wang confirmed the young master's condition.
"My lord, the young master is no longer with us... His soul has already departed."
Physician Wang said as he took off his hands and looked at Augustus with sorrow. The latter only nodded slightly without even looking at him, still staring at his son's peaceful face.
"Thank you for your service, Physician Wang. Let me escort you outside personally."
Hearing this, Physician Wang understood that Augustus might have wanted to talk with him in private. So, he immediately stood up properly and replied,
"You are always welcome, my lord."
As Physician Wang replied, Augustus immediately turned around and started walking outside, while the physician followed behind. Seila, who had been watching and listening to their conversation, immediately went near the bed to properly cover Aton's corpse as the two went outside the room.
Now, as she was putting the sheet back to cover Aton's body properly, she could not help but stare at her young master's face for the last time. Tears finally fell from her eyes as she was no longer able to hold her emotions.
"Ever since we were children, my only wish was to be able to accompany you for longer... To take care of you until I die... But why... Why did you die before I did, young master?.. I will forever miss you... forever regret that I have not..."
Seila wanted to pour out her feelings all at once. However, she had not found the courage to continue what she badly wanted to say. Instead, she bade her farewell in grief.
"Goodbye, young master."
After saying those words, she held Aton's left hand gently under the cover of the sheet with one hand and slowly covered his face with the sheet. Then, she let go of the sheet and was about to release his hand when suddenly, she felt a slight movement in it. This made her flinch, and instinctively, she held his hand tighter after being shocked, which made her feel another movement again. This time, she was sure.
"Y-young master!"
She immediately called out as she pulled off the sheet covering his face and stared at him. There was no movement. She held his hand tighter and started to think that maybe she was just hallucinating. But as she stared at his face, something unbelievable happened. Aton's eyelids suddenly twitched. She saw it clearly and concluded that everything was truly real. Although still shocked, she instantly went out of the room and ran toward the others to inform them.
...