The Runic Alchemist

"Why would you ask that?" she asked, breathing hard. Damian realized he may have overdone it with the anger.

"Just curious. Would you rather answer your national secrets?" He could have asked for anything—important information, embarrassing personal details—but he had spared her. Her eyes softened slightly, understanding that his question wasn't a big deal. It was common knowledge that she wasn't striving for the throne. After all, she had never put in the effort.

"One last time?" she asked after composing herself.

"Famous last words.."

"Huh?"

"Nothing, just nonsense."

She glared at him, as if she wanted to eat him alive, but then looked away, and they both searched their memories for something else. Damian thought about the time Thomas had died, but it didn't elicit much of a reaction from her. Her own thoughts of a subordinate's betrayal on the battlefield weren't giving him much to work with either.

So, he focused on another incident—the time the lord of Pyron, lounging on his cushioned chair, had passed judgment on a group of children while sipping wine. Damian recalled the anger, the disgust, and the fury he had felt, all hidden behind the mask of a professional liar.

He remembered asking for a trial by combat and the cruel joy he felt when he killed the lord's champion—along with the fat lord himself. And there it was. She had latched onto it, fueling his anger, his disdain, and his joy in cruelty. Her eyes widened—guess she hadn't fully believed he had done it, much less so effortlessly.

"Would you choose Eldoris? If so, what would you require from us?"

Huh..? Did she not just see an Eldoris noble treating him like a bug just now, where did she gets so much shamelessness to ask such crap..? Eldoris, was better than the rest, but not by much. Just because it was the only choice did not mean it was the right one. They also had all that greed, their sick games, keeping common people as low class insects..

He might be acting high on his horse, judging them without being in their shoes but he knew that was not peace. That was no life. That was just an illusion of one. Their sacred 'Preserving life', did not mean treating everyone as one or valuing each life, it was simply a decree their goddess had given them and they had to blindly follow. There was no true peace in it.

And yet, Damian's mouth moved on its own, pulling out the deepest thoughts he hadn't even realized were there.

"No, I will not choose Eldoris or any of them, not until your people—and this entire world—understands what real peace is... Not until I make them realize what it means to value every life... Not until I make them fear ever again playing their sick games... Not until I shatter your illusions of peace..."

What the hell? When had he taken the edgy protagonist route in another world? He wanted nothing to do with them because he wanted to focus on his own life, not do whatever the hell that was... He wanted to be just left alone, didn't he..? But then again, a true researcher wouldn't just seek power.

He would appreciate magic for the beautiful, mesmerizing phenomenon that it was, not look for ways to weaponize it at every turn.

Yes, power was necessary for defense and protection, but he also couldn't forget the rush he had felt fighting Moondancer, fighting Threadripper, and... killing Threadripper.

Vidalia looked at him in absolute shock, her centuries of practice in maintaining a calm façade completely shattered. She was seeing him for the first time. Was that her hand trembling? How messed up was his mind to shake a third-ranker?

Finally, the last link connecting their mana cores broke, and the heavy burden on Damian's mind lifted, granting him sweet relief.

"Hah... Hahh..."

Finally his thoughts were his own again. Not being at guard at all times. He was free. In a dead world – surrounded by nothing but black dirt – yet free nonetheless. In few minutes the orb will also be fully charged and they will see just how lost they were from the time they knew. She waited for him to catch his breath, her expressions back to normal.

Damian just crashed down on the chair behind him and just looked away at the falling water. Trying his best to rationalize his own thoughts that he never knew of. It wasn't absolute true, the spell only compelled him to say the truth that his mind thought was true. Just knowing this fact could change his thinking from now on making him take decisions he otherwise wouldn't. Dive into the story on m|vl em pyr

"Don't think too much," Vidalia said softly. "You're young. I understand you find our world barbaric, and yes, your thoughts are problematic, but I've seen you care for people—my people. I've seen your empathy, your rage when they were hurt. Don't worry, I won't let you do anything you'll regret doing in life. After all, I owe you that much."

Damian listened absentmindedly. He knew he shouldn't dwell on it too much. They were just words. He would be fine in a few minutes. He knew how to handle unwanted emotions. It was just his young mind that was angry at the world for abandoning him, but as long as he understood the source of his problems, he'd be okay.

He was an adult. He had learned long ago to live with his flaws. Something this small wouldn't steal his sleep. He was just surprised—that was all.

After her little speech, neither of them spoke. Both were lost in their own thoughts. Vidalia continued charging the orb every few minutes, and soon it was fully charged. She drew his attention back to the shimmering, glowing blue orb—their literal key to returning home.

A new home, but home nonetheless.

After a brief exchange of glances, Vidalia took a deep breath. Without wasting any more time, she poured her mana into the orb. The waygate tool activated, and with the same uncomfortable, nauseating sensation in his stomach, the space in front of them tore open. A shimmering blue portal appeared, swirling with dense, bright blue energy within.

Vidalia leaped through the portal with a single step. Damian clenched his fists, took one last look around, and also followed her into the shimmering portal.