Bab 39: Meaningless Hope

"You don't have to go, young one. It will even be pleasant to talk with a vampire like you" The old man said with a benevolent smile.

"How do you know?" Eden asked before creating all the spells he could imagine.

"A mere tool can't possibly hide the truth from an old man, right?" The old man was staring at Eden.

"You're not answering my question right now," Eden replied while deactivating all of his spells. Since the only thing he could see was question marks above the old man, if he wanted to kill him, he would have already done so. "Was it the empress? or maybe another slave trader?"

"Not at all, young man. But won't it be better to sit somewhere to talk?" He asked while turning his head toward the tree.

"*Sigh* as you wish," Eden said while creating a cherry blossom-like color bench with his blood manufacturing and his illusionist power.

"Truly marvelous." The old man clapped his hands. "The legendary blood manufacturing, and the incredible creative power of the illusionist class. You're quite interesting Eden." He said while sitting on the bench.

Before sitting down with the old man, Eden stared a little bit at him in disbelief. He was talking like he experienced first-handedly the blood powers of vampires and already saw an illusionist performing his moves. But in fact, that wasn't the shocking thing in the old man's behavior.

The truly shocking thing was that firstly, the old man seemed to know the truce behind the system, and secondly, he couldn't understand how he could have experienced his power since the system gives a different class to each individual. So it didn't make sense.

About the system, He suspected that people, especially at a high level were supposed to know a little bit about that. Or even if they didn't, they must have already experienced something like that in their life. However, his theory could also be completely false. Maybe the people who know about the truce were hiding this fact, and by saying it at Athis, he could've as well put Athis' life and his in danger.

"You don't have to stare at me like this" The old man chuckled. "Just take a seat, I will answer your questions if you talk about your problem with me."

"Why would you? There is nothing free in this life. I'm sure you want something from me." Eden replied, still standing opposite the man.

"You're quite hard to convince, but so be it." The old man sighed before continuing. "Your race, as well as your class are interesting me a lot. You will probably ask me why though? Well, you will find out if you come to the academy"

Hearing the academy, Eden's attention was picked, and he wanted to go there as soon as possible. He was sure that the academy was full of information about the world, and he couldn't wait to go there.

Unfortunately, he needed to wait and entertain the old man in front of him.

"Then, what do you want, old man?" Eden said, taking a seat at the side of the old man while watching the beautiful night. It also seemed like he had night vision, so they stared at the night with a smile on their faces.

"Just explain to me what is troubling you"

Eden then explained to him what had happened with Athis. He explained since the first day they met, until this very moment. Of course, he also explains how Athis was broken, how he wasn't good at all, and last but not least, how he wanted to help him, but couldn't if he didn't want him in his life.

One won't help someone if they do not wish for their presence, right?

"Your situation is quite complicated. Forcing someone is never a good option, you must always ask for their consent before doing something. And it's a good thing that you did just that. But if I must say, if you truly care about him, then don't lose him. Even if he doesn't want you to stay by his side, it's just what he is showing, not what he truly wants. Of course, don't force things. Protect him from afar, don't try to meddle too much in his personal life, and be happy for what he does, even if you're not by his side, you must be happy with just that." The old man explained gently to Eden.

"But can't I be just a little bit selfish? I want to stay with him, and go on adventures with him too! I don't want him to be lost somewhere while I could have helped him." Eden replied with a sad tone.

"Of course, you can, but not with human relationships. If he still doesn't want you by his side after everything that you did or will do for him, then there is nothing you can do." He said with a gentle tone. "And don't forget his point of view, too. If he wants to go away that bad, then that's means that he thinks his place is not by your side.

"You're supposed to achieve great things, Eden. He must have felt that you are someone special. And people usually go away or do drastic things when they felt that they are nothing in comparison to someone special. That's life, and you can't do anything about that." He said, but this time with a melancholic voice. He must have remembered something painful for him to speak like that.

"F*ck life then. If I can't even choose what I want. What's the point of letting him go if I will feel bad at the end?" Eden shouted and stand up angrily.

"Eden, my child, let me teach you a thing." He said while creating dandelions fields that shone brightly under the moon. The breeze takes over their petals, and it created an even more magnificent view than it was already. Of course, it was also a spell to not let Eden go. "Nothing is eternal, and pain awaits us all in the end. But that doesn't make life a story of despair. Not at all.

"Life is a battle against death and separation in what precious little time one is given. It's a repetition of meeting and parting despite knowing there's an end. One's story is dazzling and a brief journey, like the twinkling of the stars.

"But this is false for vampires. Vampires are quasi-eternal and immortal beings. Even if Athis decide to come with you, sooner or later, you will have to let death take him away. However, Eden. It doesn't mean you have to harbor hatred toward the meaninglessness of life. Nothing is eternal, but in one way or another, human is. Athis is not the only human in the universe. There are a lot of people, and even if you won't find someone like him every day, sooner or later, you will. It's just a matter of time, and vampires have a lot of time ahead of them."

After listening to what the old man said, Eden sat back. What he told him made him realize something important.

When he was reading books, he only saw the good side of vampires. Their powers, their handsomeness, and their civilizations. But he never saw that side of them.

A lonely life where one must abandon humans to not fall into despair. Even if their life is quasi-eternal, and every wound will heal sooner or later, the emotional ones are not that easy. Losing someone you deem precious in your heart while you, you will just watch them die again and again must take a toll at one point or another. Even if someone doesn't care about humans in general, they obligatorily held a person deep in their heart, be they a friend, family, or someone else.

Humans can't live without others, and unfortunately, a vampire must live without them to not suffer at the end of their story.

"You seem deep in thought" The old man snapped back to Eden. "Do you have questions? Be it on vampires, your power, or how I know all of that?" He said, but Eden didn't answer. He continued to stare on the ground.

"Take your time, you have a lot of it. Even if at the end of your story you will be alone, you must cherish every moment you live, especially with those you held deep in your heart" He said while standing up.

The old man then activated a spell, and slowly, he began to disappear from bottom to top. The process was slow, and every time something was disappearing, cherry blossom petals replace it.

"Wait, can I at least know your name? And where will I be able to see you again?" Eden asked in a hurry when he saw the old man disappears.

"Don't worry, we will meet again sooner than you think."

"At this point and time, people call me Solomon, but I will give you my real name."

"It is Lancelot," He said before disappearing completely.