SYSTEM ASCENSION

The Ringoff family relocated to Zeal’s home in Cagary, the second most advanced town in Salvador. Here, the use of technology was pretty common. Cars were frequent and houses were fancier.

This was the subconscious split of Salvador. Little towns like Cody and Mispi rely more on their abilities and choose to filter of gadgets due to the ridiculous prices. However, in places like sound city and cagary were the elites and leading family resides, it wasn’t uncommon to purchase a wristwatch for a few billions.

Zeal home sat right at the very middle of the city, drawing attention with it’s ridiculously expensive features.

It was always empty, expect for now.

Elias had finally be put to bed by Rowen.

After waking up from the ordeal, and realised that he had gone completely blind, he had cried himself to an emergency state. However after Rowen promises and words, he had finally settled down.

As soon as Rowen stepped out, he turned his gaze to Zeal who stood by the high window.

”Did he calm down?” He asked.

”Is he summoning hands?” Rowen replied.

He went to stand beside his brother, tucking his hands in his pocket.

”You blinded the kid.”

”I’ll take him to a healer.” Zeal replied.

”How would you do that if he doesn’t even want to feel you close to him.” Rowen glanced at him. ”That is too much of an experiment.”

”You saw the results.”

”The results could have destroyed Cody! That was reckless!”

Zeal casually shrugged his shoulders. ”I didn’t even achieve what I wanted.”

”What?” The headmaster frowned. ”Where’s your trying to summon a different personality?”

”Yes, but that’s not it.” He glanced back at the door. ”If I had succeeded, he might have leveled Cody by now.”

***

His words sat with Rowen from sunrise to sunset. He was baffled. He had suspected a double personality at some point, especially when Elias had stared at the mirror in Mispi. He had ignored it at that time, but he could tell that Elias reflection was staring at him instead.

But what had came out was not it?

’How many personalities does he have. Hold on, is that even a personality or a trauma response?’

A ruffle behind him broke him out of thoughts. He glanced back, only to see Elias reaching for the air as he slowly stepped out. The boy held the door and took careful steps.

Rowen sighed.

’For a child who had relied on his eyes to live, this is too hard on him.’

Still, he didn’t move to help.

”I’m here. Nothing is in the way. Follow my voice.”

Elias flinched. Not because he was scared but because his senses were alert, jumping at everything. His head was pounding hard and he was barely conscious.

He glanced around the space even if he could see anything.

”Zeal is not home.” Rowen replied. ”I sent Keen to his siblings, so it’s just the two of us.”

With this Elias finally moved. He crossed the room with slow strides till he could touch the table. He began to pat it.

”What do you want?”

”Leave me alone.” He grumbled. His hand closed around the jug of water sitting on the table and he grabbed it, pouring into a cup.

This act perplexed Rowen. He found himself squinting.

”You haven’t even seen the interior of this house.”

”I can see the essence of things that are alive,” he replied, chunking down the water in the cup. He proceeded to the jug and drank everything before adding. ”Water is alive.”

The headmaster felt a shiver running down his spine. He had never heard such a thing before, and it made him wondering if all Black-eyed are like this. It would finally make sense that their eyes were desired.

”Also, someone is at the door.” Elias added.

The door opened, revealing Zeal who scrolled in with a large smile and some burger takeout. ”I brought dinner!”

Elias frowned. He moved back.

Rowen glanced at him.

’He knew someone is at the door, but can’t tell who. With proper training, he won’t even need his eyes to be fine.’

”No one except you eats burger for dinner Zeal.”

Zeal crossed the room with casually strides and dropped the takeout on the table. He leaned over to the other side, where Elias stood.

”Let’s go out, your highness. We need to treat your eyes.”

”Taking like you didn’t ruin it in this first place.” Rowen snorted.

Zeal laughed. ”yeah I did. While I didn’t complete my objective, I got another confirmation.”

He tugged Elias arm and began to pull him out despite the teenager trying to wiggle free.

Rowen watched them disappear through the doors, before he spoke. ”Confirmation of what?”

___

The ride to sound city was easy. They had travelled by Zeal’s car. Although Elias couldn’t see, Zeal had expected him to show a reaction to the strange ride. Instead, Elias asked a question that made him laugh for a minute straight.

”You guys still travel by road?”

Even as they got to sound city, Zeal didn’t get over it. He just kept smiling till he parked inside a Villa.

”We’re here!”

He skipped over to the other side and opened the door for Elias to come out. ”Ladies first.”

The boy came out, frowning at the term he didn’t seem to understand.

”Welcome! To sound league!”

He could tell that Zeal was stretching his hand towards the noisy structure before him, but Elias sightless eyes were only fixed on Zeal, making him realise how stupid he sounded.

”Let’s just go in.” The older man coughed.

The space was wide and the building itself, a masterpiece, radiating a refined air of professionalism and history. A building that had existed over five centuries.

He tried to lead the boy, but Elias was hell bent on staying away from him. Instead he walked ahead, while Elias followed behind.

As soon as the grand door opened, the noisy atmosphere had turned silent. Elias could see the essence of people lining up. Their voices thundered.

”Welcome back! Sir Rowen!”

”Get back to work.” Zeal waved them off.

”Yes sir!” They dispersed.

”Rowen?” Elias couldn’t help but ask. ”Your brother?”

Zeal grinned, gazing back as they walk. ”I have taken over running sound league of the past seven years and they still can’t tell the difference.”

”Does it not bother you?”

”Nope.”

”Why?”

He shrugged. ”I can commit a crime and pin it against my dear older brother.”

Elias scoffed. ”You’re insane.”

”Didn’t you realise that, when you backed away from me the moment we met?”

Elias didn’t reply. He have had his fair share of humans, but one of the ones that still unnerved him was the one before him.

”We’re here.”

They arrived at the medical facility after a minute. Zeal pushed the door opened.

The space was extremely wide, designed to take as many patients as possible. Numerous bed were lined up the room. A female nurse approached immediately.

”Welcome back, sir Zeal.” She bowed slightly. She was one of the people who knew first hand that he was not Rowen.

”Hmm.” He looked around.

She glanced at the boy behind him.

”Who is this?”

”My little highness.” Zeal said casually, although his expression didn’t say he was joking.

”Little highness? Sir, he’s taller than you.”

”I’m not blind!” He yelled back.

Elias coughed slightly.

”Right,” Zeal pointed back. ”He’s blind.”

”What?”

”Where is Gwen? Have her treat his eyes.”

”Sir,” the lady began. ”Did you forget that you sent lady Gwen to follow the hunters that went into the S rank portal a week ago. You won’t be seeing her for at least the next six month.”