Chapter 8: Lost Innocence { Eden's Past }

"System, how am I able to understand and communicate fluently even though I shouldn't know the language?"

I raised an important subject that had been bothering me. For a novice like myself, my understanding of this world's language was pretty good.

[Your subconscious has absorbed Eden Morton's memories, giving you his understanding of the language and other learned information.]

"And when did this happen?"

[When your soul became one with Eden's.]

"So, there are subconscious memories too?"

[There are many secrets in this world that are beyond your grasp.]

"How about conscious memories?How do I get to them?"

[Before you go any further, I must warn you of the potential adverse effects of the combining of two unique souls.]

"What will happen if I don't merge the memories?"

I answered, not shocked that there might be side effects from my merging with Eden's memories, because integrating two individual souls was impossible. However, I can't use my logic here.

[The likelihood of acquiring multiple personality disorder rises.]

"That was to be expected. Please elaborate on the adverse effects."

I demanded it, prepared myself for the consequences of such a combination.

[Your emotional discipline will deteriorate, resulting in more emotional responses.]

"I can manage that,"

Some emotional connection was preferable to the emotionless state I had previously been forced to; as in my world, I was made into a killing machine, whether it was monsters or humans, and I didn't feel any emotions while killing them. Being a ruthless murderer is never a good thing in the first place.

[You will share Eden Morton's emotions, including his loves and dislikes.]

"That'll be interesting, considering Eden was both a mama's boy and a bit of a simp in the game. While being a mama's boy is fine, I'll have to work on the'simp' aspect."

As I recognized the difficulties that lay ahead, an internal sigh reverberated.

"Is there anything else to address?"

[There are no other issues that require attention.]

"Then let's proceed."

I said this while closing my eyes and braced myself for the eventual merger of my soul with Eden Morton's memories, feelings, and experiences. The road ahead was bound to be bumpy.

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[Organisation of conscious memories....]

[Organizing memories in chronological order...]

[Calculating the amount of time needed for the merging procedure....]

[9 hours 33 minutes 29 seconds]

[Do you want to begin?]

[Yes/No]

"Yes."

I committed myself to the memories that would shortly emerge in front of me with that single word. Slowly, I felt my mind slide away, transporting me to a bygone time.

_________________________________________________

"Hey, Eden, look, I caught a butterfly."

A girl's happy voice disturbed the quiet of a peaceful meadow, attracting the attention of two young spirits.

"Woah, it's beautiful, Anna."

Eden responded, his attention riveted on the frail creature nestling in the outstretched hand of his friend.

"Of course it is. After all, it was I who caught it."

Anna declared, her laughter resonating in the air like a pleasant tune.

The world around them seemed to vanish in the filtered sunlight that showered their youthful cheeks in a warm and loving glow.

'Is that her?'

As I watched two youngsters at play—a small boy and girl, both approximately five years old—I couldn't help but wonder. This moment represented the day Eden and Anna's engagement was announced, a day full with joy and the commitment they made to spend their lives playing together.

Angelina D. Merovingian was a name imprinted on my view of this world. Eden's terrible downfall in the game was due to her—the one he loved with a depth that even death couldn't extinguish. As he breathed his last, he muttered her name, demonstrating the depth of his feelings.

A feeling of sadness struck me as this recollection played out. I realized their story, like my own, was being led by forces beyond their control. Their love, their suffering, and the decisions they made would weave fate's threads, shaping the realm's future.

'So that's what the system meant when it said "feeling what Eden felt."'

As I began this voyage through Eden's memories, I recalled the system's words.

I sensed a peculiar familiarity as I watched this recollection.

It seemed as if I had seen this image before, not just in Eden's recollections, but deep within my own mind.

The bond between these two young souls felt extraordinarily real, as if I were reliving a piece of my own life.

'Could this be due to Eden's recollections, or is there something else going on?'

I pondered, my mind racing as the memory played on.

Eden's childhood memories revealed that his early years were wonderful, filled with beloved friends and a loving mother who stood by his side. But, as time went, he lost all he held dear. Eden was eight years old when the happy memories began to fade. During that period, he frequently played with friends, especially children from other noble families.

They were acting as stepping stones in the game they played. The Duke's sons were frequently employed as figurative stepping stones for the hero.

My sour smile was brought on by the irony. The seeds of destiny were being sowed even in these innocent childhood games. The memories served as a reminder that decisions, big and little, impact one's future.

Days became weeks, and I discovered a one-month gap in my memories.

Surprisingly, my hair color shifted from silver to pure white during that time, likely when I first awakened my bloodline. I yelled out to the system in a desperate attempt to summon it in this dimension.

"Hey, system,"

I spoke up, taken aback by the system's presence.

[Yes.]

"Do you know why there's a gap in my memory?"

The inquiry that had been gnawing at me was finally uttered, motivated by the desire to learn what had happened during that missing month.

[Yes, young Eden requested that those memories be sealed before he could fully awaken his bloodline ability.]

"Do you know what happened during that time?"

I enquired eagerly, but the system's response was disappointingly brief.

[No.]

That single word was like a door slamming shut, denying me the answers I so needed.

"I suppose I'll have to wait until I awaken my bloodline."

The dreadful day approached as the days passed—the day Eden lost his mother.

He was playing with Anna when he learned about his mother's attack and subsequent infection with a curse, which had put her in a coma of unknown length.

Eden's world began to shatter from that moment on. Friends, family, and happiness all slipped through his fingers. Eden's early innocence faded as his life grew darker. His father, who had been attentive of him, had turned a blind eye, and his siblings, who had formerly respected him, had begun to detest him.

Anna, his once-constant companion, grew aloof as well.

Her visits were discontinued, a painful reminder of how the world can alter when influenced by people in power's schemes.

Eden's life became a shell of its former self as time passed. Eden turned to drugs at the age of 10, seeking refuge in the mayhem that had overtaken his existence. I couldn't help but feel pity for the young boy who experienced challenges well beyond his years when the recollection revealed this heartbreaking transition.

As I closed the chapter on his memories, I found myself reflecting on the complexities of life and the interplay of choices and circumstance, and how I should live my life from here on.