Warning! This chapter has a few sexual implications. Nothing too descriptive, and I kept only the relevant information, but heads up anyways!
"Haa… Hngh… Haa…" She panted heavily, hot air encapsulating the room.
I pulled away, sitting by the bedside, fixing my hair.
"Haiz… " I let out a sigh. Contemplating what I've been doing.
Truly, what was I doing with my life? Sudden clarity had hit me, my actions laid bare in front of me. How did I get here?
…
My entire life's path had been laid out for me since I was born, all I had to do was walk it. I played by the rules, I stuck with the script. From academics, to chivalry, and even the mystic arts I gave it my all. I excelled just like all the others. Then why? Why did I end up like this?
I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth. I could ask for anything on a whim and I would acquire it in mere moments. Everything I could ever want, I had it since birth. It was my birthright as the third prince of the empire.
With my birth came the chains of responsibility. Some of that responsibility was the burden of knowledge. To that end, I was given educators, instructors, and countless teachers well-versed in their magecraft. Another was the burden of pride. I must keep appearances, an image befitting a royal, so I kept myself clean, held my head high, and followed the teachings of my predecessors down to the most minute detail, leaving me regarded as another prodigy alongside the other princes.
Down the road, as my future was already pre-established, I came across a book in the royal library. An ancient history book, detailing the early life of the first empress of the empire, and the ancient hero, Aria Ciceli.
The book described her early life filled with adventures, leaving her hometown to explore the continent. A thrill-seeking life of mystery and the unknown. She was free, truly free. Without the chains of responsibility, without the weight of expectation. A life filled with vitality without knowing what the next day held.
With newfound admiration of such a life, I began experimenting with my own. I started trying out new things, going out more, exploring the capital, meeting new people, living with a bit more whimsy and revelry.
Along the lines however, I believe I've strayed to the wrong path. As I grew older, I became bolder, more rebellious, growing arrogant, and ignoring the clear issues arising with my behavior. I became more irritable, violent, and my temperament itself shifted drastically. My ego had grown inflated and it showed in both my words and actions. The monumental change in my personality had shifted public opinion and my reputation plummeted. And at the time, I couldn't care less.
I knew of the changes I had undergone, and that overtime, deep down, I had regretted what I had become. That feeling haunted me repeatedly, but I had already gone way too far, too deep into the cesspool of bad habits and twisted way of thinking. Whenever I try to better myself, I end up falling back into old habits, losing motivation, leading me to inaction or lacking enough effort. If I had to change, I would need help, and any guiding hand, or outreach was something I would take.
As if knowing this, my father personally saw to my enrollment into Vitalis. An attempt to utilize my familiarity of the ancient hero in hopes that it would realign my ways. I was stubborn, and my pride wouldn't want me accepting help, but something inside me pushed me to do so. Perhaps it was my assumption that he still saw me as his son, or that he still had a slither of trust that I could change. Regardless, it was an opportunity for me, something that I wanted to make the best of… Or so I thought…
…
During the welcome event, I immediately slipped back into my lascivious self. While my siblings danced and mingled, I went around looking for women that pleased my eyes, intending to make them mine. I moved from one noble lady to another, getting myself rejected repeatedly. Eventually I began exploring my options with the commoners, whom to my surprise, had also avoided my advances. I had grown irritated, and blood rushed to my head.
"No matter! They simply don't see the man that I am yet, they'll see."
I thought to myself, whispering under my breath.
I knew that those women eyed my siblings who had a much better reputation than I. I knew that they carried themselves with grace I didn't have. I felt envious, the attention I once had was long gone. With all these thoughts flooding my head, it only fueled my anger.
In an attempt to quell my growing discontent, I took to the outside to cool my head, taking a walk headed to the serene garden. There I saw two women that immediately caught my eye.
A dark haired woman rested her head on the other's shoulder. She was short, slender, with an air of fragility around her. Her face was nothing special. Her features were quite plain and ordinary with nothing noteworthy. Again, plain but with the cosmetics she had on, it was more than serviceable. Besides, the dress she had actually complimented her build.
The blonde on the other hand… She had well-kept, voluminous, wavy, dirty blonde hair, a defined, symmetrical face, and inquisitive eyes that stared off into space.
Her curvy body endowed with a shapely chest and wide hips. Her legs crossed, her posture relaxed. Maybe my head was still clouded with rage, but the sight of her had struck me immediately. She would put a noble's lady to shame.
I approached her with lustful intent, our conversation going south, leading me to draw my sword. Even more so when the dark haired woman interrupted our conversation. With anger welling up in me throughout the night, I had hit her face, sending her to the ground.
"Please… Leave…" She said to me, with a piercing glare.
I was heavily offended, hurt, irritated, and angry all at once. I clenched the handle, sheathing my sword, and faced away. I should have walked away, I tried to, but an itch clawed at the back of my mind before reaching my boiling point. My feelings had burst, reaching my limit, throwing me into a fit of sudden rage. In a flash, I unsheathed my sword, and threw out a slash aimed at her neck.
…
**Badump**
Her head was cut clean, leaving her neck.
**Badump**
Time slowed, sending me into flashes of seemingly familiar scenery.
The Shattering of The Gods…
The Bestowal of Blessings…
The Crimson Fall…
The Great War of Ciceli…
All scenes that perfectly coincided with the descriptions of major historical events, the implications of the situation blanked my mind.
**Badump**
Just as sudden as the anomaly was, I abruptly returned. I collapsed onto the ground. Without a moment's rest, I looked towards the fountain where the women were, and I could only see one, blood across her shaken face.
A sharp pain hit me, my ears began to ring.
The weight of my actions flooded my emotions all at once. I lightened my grip, my sword hitting the ground, realizing what had just transpired.
"What have I done?"