Mathias strode through the university corridors, his hands tucked into his pockets, his mind elsewhere. He had been waiting for Miguel to finish his conversation with Mr. Silva, hoping to speak with him before heading home. The weight of the day was pressing down on him, yet the moment he set foot inside the building, all eyes were on him—again.
Whispers floated through the air like restless specters.
"That's him…"
"Unfair how someone can look like that."
"Even the guys are jealous…"
Mathias sighed inwardly. This routine had long lost its novelty. Not in the mood to deal with more attention, he made his way outside to the campus grounds, searching for a quiet place. He eventually settled in a secluded corner, leaning back against the wall as his mind drifted into memories he wished he could forget.
Then the images came.
Blood.
It coated his hands, his arms, the ground beneath him. His body was bruised and battered, pain flaring through every fiber of his being. Around him, red flames devoured the remains of the battlefield, crackling with a hunger that matched his own despair.
And then he stood here.
A tall, imposing figure stood amidst the destruction, untouched by the flames. His aura was suffocating, a weight that crushed everything beneath it. Mathias couldn't see his face, no he didn't remember it.
"It's disappointing," the man's voice cut through the fire, laced with contempt. "You've done everything, and yet… it's disappointing."
Mathias clenched his fists, his broken body trembling. He knew what was coming next.
The man turned away, his disgust evident in every movement. "You're a failure."
Something inside Mathias shattered. His strength, his will—everything collapsed under the weight of those words. He fell to his knees, the fire suddenly evaporated and tear began to see in his red eyes.
"No… it's… I—"
"Mathias."
A cold voice pierced through the darkness.
"Mathias."
His eyes snapped open. He was back on campus, sitting against the wall, his breathing uneven. Miguel stood before him, arms crossed, his sharp eyes scrutinizing him.
"You were lost in your memories again," Miguel stated flatly.
Mathias wiped his face instinctively, only to realize his cheeks were damp. Tears? His expression darkened as he rubbed them away, irritated.
"Damn it," he muttered.
Miguel didn't comment further, but his gaze didn't waver. "Bad enough to make you cry," he finally said.
Mathias let out a hollow chuckle. "You're as blunt as ever."
Miguel shrugged. "It's better than pretending not to notice. Anyway, I assume you needed me, or you'd have left already."
"Yeah," Mathias admitted, pushing himself to his feet. "I wanted to talk to you."
"About Eric," Miguel finished for him.
Mathias sighed. "Yeah. That's exactly it."
Miguel simply nodded, then turned on his heel. "Let's walk."
They started strolling through the campus, the cool breeze offering Mathias a brief sense of clarity. He needed it.
"So," Miguel began, his voice as detached as ever. "Tell me."
Mathias hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Eric made me an offer, but… something feels off about him."
Miguel hummed in acknowledgment. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, he asked, "Mathias, what do you think of humans?"
Mathias frowned at the question. "What kind of question is that?"
"Just answer."
He exhaled, thinking for a moment. "They're… vicious. Stupid. Arrogant."
Miguel gave a small nod. "Not a bad description. And you're not entirely wrong. But that could apply to any living creature, not just humans."
Mathias raised an eyebrow. "Then what's your definition?"
Miguel's gaze turned distant, as if looking at something Mathias couldn't see. "A human is just… human."
"What?"
"From the moment they crawled out of the Stone Age, humans did everything they could to survive," Miguel continued. "They faced the cold and discovered fire. Faced predators and invented weapons. Faced mechanical problems and built trains and planes."
Mathias was beginning to feel lost. "And?"
Miguel turned his head slightly, his eerily empty eyes locking onto Mathias'. "And today, when faced with the need for money? They look for a promising young pawn."
Mathias stiffened.
Miguel's words struck him like a blade to the gut.
"It's nothing surprising," Miguel went on. "Eric sees potential in you, so he wants to use it. That's human nature."
"But why does it feel so wrong?" Mathias muttered, more to himself than to Miguel.
Miguel's lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Because Eric reminds you of someone."
Mathias's breath hitched.
Miguel kept walking, his voice as calm as ever. "The unease you feel doesn't come from him being dangerous. It's because he has something—a presence, a way of speaking—that triggers something in you. Something you've buried."
Mathias didn't reply.
"You're not afraid of Eric," Miguel continued. "You're afraid of what he represents. Or rather, who he reminds you of."
Mathias's mind was spinning. Images flickered behind his eyes—flames, blood, and him.
The man who had broken him.
The one who had called him a failure.
This man who was his everything but who was the same who destroyed him.
Miguel came to a halt in front of the university gates, glancing back at Mathias.
"You can keep running from it, if you want," he said, "but at some point, you'll have to face it."
Mathias remained still, staring at the pavement. His heart was pounding.
"Come on," Miguel said, opening the gate. "Let's go."
Mathias inhaled sharply, forcing his thoughts back into order. Then, without a word, he stepped forward, following Miguel into the city.
But in the depths of his mind, the voice still echoed.
"You're a failure."
Author note
Remember to give power stone and golden ticket to help the novel gain new height