‎A couple of days had passed since the incident, and the Astral Mystic Institute had to grant the entire first year a week off. To the general masses, no word was spoken on what truly happened. Only a select few at the top truly knew what had happened.

‎

‎All the general masses knew was that the heretics unleashed a powerful weapon that wiped offshore city off the map, resulting in mass casualties, and deaths of some of the students of the Astral Mystic Institute, including but not limited to the unruly prince, Damon Darkfell.

‎

‎Two days after the tragic incident. It was a dark and gloomy day in Darkfell Capital. A day that completely complemented the gloomy atmosphere that was revolving around the whole city especially in the Darkfell Garden.

‎

‎And today was also the funeral for the fallen prince. Even though no body was discovered, a tomb was still erected for him in the royal tomb.

‎

‎Tears quietly streamed down Yvonne’s face, and by her side her stood her two daughters. Rose who looked vacant like her soul had gone out of her body, and Ariel who stood numbly. Opposite them stood Amon, his face marked with solemnity, with Emmett and Aldrich standing next to him.

‎

‎They all stood staring at Damon’s picture plastered on the tombstone. After the royal family were most high profile individuals or powers based in the Vorde continent, including House Tinubu, and Aric especially, who stood at the front next to Dion.

‎

‎After them were other classmates of Damon and Rose like Alistair, Fabian, Delilah, and even Calum. Others people present were Levi and Sasha. Instructor Black and Instructor Summers were also present.

‎

‎Most of the people who Damon had influenced throughout his short life.

‎

‎For some he was a best friend, for others he was something else. A student, a classmate, a friend, and for some, he was simply the child of their overlord.

‎

‎Unknowingly, unbeknownst to Damon, for better or for worse, he had influenced the life of most people present in the room. The only one who hadn’t attend this funeral for some unknown reason, was Anastasia Necron.

‎

‎Listening to the funeral hymns, everyone lowered their head.

‎

‎For the next thirty minutes or so, no one talked. They all mourned for Damon’s death. On this day, to the world, Damon Darkfell was officially dead.

‎

‎-----------

‎

‎"Omae wa mou shinderu." A voice whispered next to Damon’s ear making him jolt in attention. He swung his curled fist back in a desperate fit of motion, but his fist met simple air.

‎

‎"One would think you would have leart that I’m invincible by now. I mean, I would think so." The same replica who addressed himself as a god said to Damon as he appeared before him.

‎

‎Damon scowled.

‎

‎"What’s the meaning of this? What do you I’m dead."

‎

‎The replica smiled slightly.

‎

‎"I meant it as I said it, you.." he pointed at Damon. "...Damon Darkfell, are dead for the second time. How many people could boast of having dying twice in their life?" The replica chuckled.

‎

‎Damon froze at the replica’s words. ’Dead? No I can’t be dead. This isn’t the first time I’ve come here. That does not mean I’m dead. Surely not.’ Sure the creature had pierced through him with it’s bladed mandibles, and he remembered falling into the sea, but he didn’t think that would kill him.

‎

‎’Surely, one of the others would have fished me out, not unless....’ He suddenly froze, and his head turned to the replica in an eerie motion.

‎

‎"Yes." The replica smiled. "You thought right. That thing tore them all apart limb by limb. It was quite satisfying." The so called godly being grinned wildly.

‎

‎Damon almost fell for the replica’s bluff, but he soon shook his head. There was no way that could happen. The duke sent from the Necron empire should have reached there not long after he fell into the sea, that much he was sure of.

‎

‎Even in the novel, the main casts managed to survive in time for the duke to arrive. And even though this was reality, Damon had his hopes pretty high.

‎

‎"You’re bluffing." Damon met the replica’s eyes and said confidently. The two held each other’s gaze for a few moments before the replica shrugged helplessly.

‎

‎"You caught me."

‎

‎Damon involuntarily heaved a sigh of relief. He couldn’t even begin to think what this world would undergo should the main casts be dead.

‎

‎"That’s for them though, you’re pretty much dead." The replica added.

‎

‎Damon didn’t answer, he knew that within a few minutes, he would be out of this place, wake up like he always did. But reality was a bitch, a minute passed, then two, then ten, then an hour, and finally until he lost track of time.

‎

‎All this time, the replica continued to watch Damon patiently with a subtle smile plastered on his face, and saw as Damon’s expression changed from confident to uncertain, to dread, and finally to hopelessness.

‎

‎"I...I really am dead?" Damon muttered almost to himself after an unknown amount of time.

‎"For someone who has died once before, you sure take death a little too seriously." The replica said, but after a full minute of getting nothing from Damon, he continued. "Honestly, I could bring you back to life anytime I wish." he said in a voice almost too sweet like the devil’s.

‎

‎True to his knowing, that finally provoked a reaction from Damon, but to his disappointment, it was only a single look before Damon turned away, muttering to himself once more.

‎

‎A lot more time passes with both Damon and the godly entity silent. Damon had lost track of time just staring into the star dotted nebulous sky.

‎

‎It wasn’t that he couldn’t believe he was dead, it was just that he felt so unwilling. He had thought of reaching the very end of the story and triumphing over it, but he ended up being killed by a half baked third rate boss- at least compared to the later arcs of the story.

‎

‎It truly was disheartening no matter how he thought about it. What even was the point of everything he had done. All he had achieved had eventually come undone with his death.

‎

‎He thought of Dion, of Aric, Rose, and even Anastasia. Whether he admitted it or not, these were the people he had come to care about since he found himself in this fantasy world.

‎

‎He had heard what the entity was saying about being able to bring him back to life, he knew he couldn’t trust the entity, and worst, there was always a price to be paid, no matter what it was.

‎

‎But still, he couldn’t just stay dead, could he? He had already died once and didn’t stay dead, he didn’t intend to stay dead this time too.

‎

‎So, Damon turned to face the entity who had been staring at him with that annoying smile for as long as he could remember.

‎

‎"I would need you to bring me back to life... if you’re truly capable of such that is." Damon said.

‎

‎"So you’ve finally come to your senses." the entity clapped as if he had been waiting for just that. "Of course I could bring you back to life, but on one condition."

‎

‎"What is it?" Damon asked. He had already expected that. Nothing came for free in life, or even in death.

‎

‎"I get to take over your body...."

‎

‎"Impossible." Damon cut him off before he could even complete his sentence.

‎

‎"At least hear what I have to say first, it’ll only be for 5 minutes."

‎

‎"No." Damon replied flatly. Letting this unknown entity take over his body for even a minute would be surrendering himself to its mercy. But still, one would have to compromise.

‎

‎"A minute, that’s all." Damon said. "Any more, and I’d rather stay dead."

‎

‎"You insolent mortal!" You should be glad I’m offering to bring you back to life instead of outright wearing your body myself." Divine radiance shone off the entity as his voice took a sinister and profane tone.

‎

‎But Damon wasn’t fazed.

‎

‎"Its because you can’t." He said in a matter of fact tone. "If you could take my body for yourself, you wouldn’t waste time trying to threaten me over a mere four minutes."

‎

‎"..." The entity was silent for a bit before the divine radiance faded.

‎

‎"One minute it is." The entity said smiling. "It could be anytime and anywhere, wherever and whenever I see fit."

‎

‎’Why do I feel like I’ve been duped?’ Damon thought, looking like at the smiling entity.

‎

‎"But to go back to life... you have to die here too."

‎

‎Damon froze.

‎

‎"...What?"

‎

‎’Is that my body?’ was the last thought that went through his head as he saw his headless body from above.

**********

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