บท 40: Are we really friends?

Lancelot's disappearance was so beautiful that Eden stayed in awe even when he had left. It marked him so much that it gave him new ideas for future spells, and even a future weapon to use.

However, once he had finished doing the new battle simulation in his head, he sat back on the bench he had created and began to ponder over the old man's words.

'Does this life is worth living? I mean, is it worth living alone?' He thought while watching all the petals left and right. 'When I got transported on Hydrel, I thought I would have met new people and lived a lot of fun adventures. And all of that for what? To get back-stabbed by my ex-best friend, and learn that I will be alone all my life?'

The realization that he would watch all of his friends die in front of his eyes, while he, he would still look like a twenty years old young man was hitting him really hard.

He was hoping that he would find a solution to his already many problems. Since he got reincarnated, he had the impression that he got into trouble every time he went somewhere.

"Well, I just hope that the academy won't be like this. It's annoying to get into trouble since I began to be the center of attention. And being a vampire won't really help." He said to himself while heading back toward the castle. He stayed outside quite a lot of time, and it was beginning to be pretty late.

He began to think a little bit about Lancelot's very last word when walking under the moon. How could he know that they will meet again soon? Was he someone that knew him? At the same time, he looked pretty old and seems to have lived quite a lot of things, so maybe he knew a thing or two about destiny?

"I just hope he's a good guy, not some type of evil that will try to annihilate humanity." He thought as he crossed his bedroom door.

The light was turned off when he entered, so he assumes that Athis was asleep. At last, it was just an assumption.

Since he had night vision, it was easy to navigate through the room, so he didn't hurt himself anywhere. However, when he had changed and was going into his bed, the bedside lamp on Athis' side suddenly turn on, and when Eden turned to see what was happening, a pillow came directly into his face.

"The f*ck?" Eden blurted out.

" 'The f*ck' what?" Athis repeated angrily. "We're supposed to go to the academy in a few hours, where were you?"

"Outside?"

"Thank's dude, I didn't know." He said while coming out from his bed. He then came toward Eden's one who was still sitting on his bed and hugged him.

"Athis, what are you doing?" Eden said while pushing him away. He didn't know what got into him, but it was really strange. When he went outside some hours ago, Athis was like a crybaby, and now, he was like a totally new person.

"Can't I even hug my best friend? And what the heck with this strength? Did you use a spell or what?"

"No I didn't use anything, it's my natural strength. And, I mean... are we still friends?" Eden said, this time letting Athis hug him. However, he didn't return it.

"Are we not?" Athis replied while facing Eden. This time, it was Eden's turn to watch Athis strangely.

"Not anymore?" He finally asked after some time.

"How come 'not anymore'?" Athis repeated. " We're still best friends. I probably take my time, and when I said my time, it mean a lot of time, but I still want to live things with you. The day we spent together was really good, and I want to redo it one day." He said with an apologetic smile.

"You're quite selfish Athis." Eden said, a little angry. "You did everything to push me back. You avoided me for a whole week. You barely talked to me, and you even try to cut all ties you had with me. And for which reason? Because you didn't believe you were worth being my friend? Because you thought you were just trash?

"And what about me in all of this? I always told you that I didn't want anything from you, except for your friendship, and yet, did you even listen to me once? Sure you have a trust issue, I don't blame you for that, but is it fair for me? Am I some sort of yo-yo where you throw me away when you don't need me anymore, and call me back when you need me? Am I a toy to you? Do you see me as a friend or a toy?"

Eden was quite angry, to say the least. Was it because of what Lancelot had said? Or maybe all the stress he had accumulated since he had reincarnated? Only he could have known it.

However, even if he didn't think a portion of what he said, he didn't want to apologize either. Why would he? At the end of the day, it would be him who will stay alone. Sure it will be in a decade, or maybe even five, but he would still be alone. Were the people he will meet during his adventures worth the price? Were they worth all the potential emotional suffering? He didn't have an actual answer to these questions, but he was leaning toward the negative side.

After what Eden had said, Athis felt quite bad. When Eden went outside earlier, he decided to stay and go on adventures with him. But during this time, he never thought about what Eden could have possibly felt during his depression phase.

Usually, people will always be on the crying one's side, but was it really a good thing? People never saw what the other side was suffering, and by extension, they never thought of what they could possibly think in all of this.

It was the same with Athis and Eden. Athis, not even once had thought about Eden's thought. He was only thinking about whether he should stay with him or not, but never if Eden was patient enough to wait for him to think.

He had already waited a week for his answers, so it was normal to have this attitude.

"You're right Eden, I am sorry I never thought about you in all of this." Athis finally replied, staring directly at Eden's eyes. "I know you have probably enough of all my tantrums and attitude, but please I beg of you, give me another chance. I know that I'm still trash, but I will do everything to change myself for the better. And I ask you for your help with this. I know it still sounds like I'm using you, but I promise I will be a better friend to you. Please, bear me a little bit more."

'Is it me or do these brothers always want a second chance?' Eden thought, smiling internally.

Like Aether, Eden wanted to give another chance to Athis. Both of them had grown in a seemingly toxic environment, so he couldn't blame them for this.

And obviously, he still thought of when his friends were going to die. He will be alone, without anyone left. But as Lancelot had said, he needed to cherish the present. He would be sad, but it was life. Men were going and coming, so he will certainly find someone else one day. And who knows? Maybe one day too, he will find a solution to live with his cherished ones forever.

"*Sigh* It's not like I can cut ties with my best friend with a finger snap, right?" Eden said while opening his arms for another hug.

Athis then hugged him while crying heavily. He was so happy that joy was expressed by his tears.

When Eden had lashed at him, he really thought he had lost the only one who wanted to be something with him. But he was gentle enough to give him a second chance.

While crying, Athis slowly but surely fell asleep. Eden then put him back on his bed while watching his solemn face.

'He really looks like an angel, too bad he's not immortal like a vampire' Eden thought while taking his watch to see what time it was.

'Are you kidding me? It's already 5h35 am? Do we have to go in just 1 hour and 20 minutes? Argh, what a pain.' He thought while going for a bath. He was completely wet because of Athis. He had cried so much that his pajamas were all sticky.