~Chapter 14~
At that time, his older brother, whom their father had chosen as the heir, was nineteen years old.
Cassian had grown up being the only child until he was eight, receiving all the attention and benefits, while at the same time being treated as a potential obstacle to his older brother.
From the very beginning, the idea that the two of them would become true rivals was extremely unlikely.
Still, Cassian was always treated as an unstable factor who might one day take his brother’s position.
Even his mother, who should have embraced him with love, kept her distance, worried that her youngest son might interfere with the eldest.
Their father treated him as a thorn in his side, frowning whenever he looked at him, and the people around their father also dismissed Cassian as an unnecessary presence.
Cassian was constantly puzzled.
If that’s the case, why was he even born? If they hadn’t had him, there would have been no worry, no anxiety.
Why did they act as if there was something wrong with him, when they themselves had created and given birth to him?
His older brother was even worse. Every time Cassian crossed paths with him, he would point out how much better he was than Cassian, chipping away at his self-esteem.
If only he had a different mother, he could have had her and her family on his side.
If his mother had been of low birth, perhaps there wouldn’t have been this idea that he threatened his elder brother.
Even though they were both born of the same noble mother, the world was unfair only to Cassian.
But he could not just complain about the unfairness.
At eleven years old, Cassian looked up at the simple ceiling of the temple room and clenched his small fists tightly.
“There’s nothing I can do but be satisfied that I’m alive. At least they haven’t killed me yet.”
He felt miserable thinking that, but there was no other way.
Cassian vowed that he would continue to grow and would not leave the temple until he reached adulthood.
As long as he remained in the temple, no one would see him as a threat to his brother.
However, he would soon have to admit that even this thought was wrong.
In the pitch-black darkness just before dawn,
On a late autumn day, one week before his twelfth birthday, Cassian woke up to a sudden chill.
The window in his room was open, letting in the moonlight that cast long shadows across the floor.
It was his responsibility to clean his temple room, and Cassian had a habit of closing the window every night before sleeping.
Therefore, the window should have remained closed unless he had opened it himself. Even a strong night wind shouldn’t have been able to lift the latch.
Why, then, was it open? He tensed instinctively, scanning his surroundings.
As soon as he sensed the foreign presence, Cassian blocked something entering his throat.
It was a sword, shining under the moonlight, no longer than thirty centimeters even including the hilt.
“An assassin.”
The figure was covered head to toe in black cloth. Only the glowing eyes were visible.
Those eyes curved as if enjoying the situation.
“So your innate magic really is exceptional. This will be fun.”
Cassian concentrated, and his hands glowed with a dark violet light. It slithered like a snake’s tongue—the natural color of his magic.
“Who sent you?”
The assassin licked his blade with a sour smile.
“Every household wants to eliminate a sibling that blocks their way. I don’t know why you’re asking.”
Cassian bit the soft flesh inside his mouth.
Even at his young age, he knew that assassins never reveal their client. It’s to avoid consequences if they fail.
The fact that this one spoke immediately was likely because their client demanded it.
“They must think the assassination will succeed.”
Cassian realized exactly what his older brother wanted to give him through the assassin.
The despair and fear of being abandoned by blood.
He did not want to fall into the trap, yet the assassin’s words already had an effect.
Just the presence of the assassin, sent by his older brother, was enough to make him despair.
He spent his days from early dawn to late evening praying six times and eating only two small meals, living like a temple priest.
What more could his brother want to take from him?
Why was he so afraid of a younger brother who only occasionally interacted with other noble children at the temple?
Cassian wondered.
Was it right for a cruel man, who envies even his own younger brother despite having parental love, attention, and a guaranteed future, to ascend to the throne?
He didn’t care who inherited the throne as long as his life wasn’t threatened. But if his life was at stake, that was a different matter.
“That bastard must not become emperor.”
Anger surged, and his magic spiraled wildly. His hair stood on end.
This was the reason his brother saw him as a competitor. This was why their parents treated him as an obstacle.
All because Cassian had been born with extraordinarily strong innate magic.
Cassian, carrying dozens or even hundreds of times the magic of an ordinary person, had always been treated like a monster.
Even his mother feared him and avoided him.
Knowing this, Cassian had deliberately not honed his magic.
He preserved it as it was, untouched, living his life quietly, hoping just a little to be noticed.
But now he understood that hope was futile.
“If they’re going to send an assassin even though I’ve been hiding, I won’t endure it any longer!”
Cassian released his condensed magic, subduing the assassin’s legs before they could move.
The immobilized assassin tried to swing his blade while stifling a scream, but Cassian was faster.
He fled through the open window, panting, running barefoot in the cold dew of the early morning.
“If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve learned something from the mages.”
The mages had recognized his innate magic and advised him to learn how to control it.
But he had refused, knowing his mother disliked it. He wanted to gain her affection even through such efforts.
“If only I hadn’t refused, knowing death would come like this.”
Tears welled up, blurring his vision. The familiar temple forest ahead appeared dark.
Rubbing his eyes, he stopped and looked around. Something was wrong.
“Where is this?”
“Hehehe… It was worth herding him in one go. He walked straight into my trap.”
It was the voice of the assassin who had come to his room. Cassian looked around warily but saw nothing.
“This is a barrier. Only I, who drew it, can break this advanced spell. So don’t waste your strength—say whatever you want before you die. I’ll deliver a word or two to the person who commissioned me.”
Only then did Cassian realize the assassin who had come to his room wasn’t ordinary. He understood why his untrained magic had been subdued so easily.
“I’ve been played by the author’s hand.”
It was humiliating, but for now, his life was more important.
“I can’t die like this!”
He tried to move in any direction, but every path led back to the same spot. There was no way out.
The assassin’s voice came again:
“Even though I was hired to kill you, I must preserve your body. Strange, isn’t it? But at least you won’t worry about blade cuts, so consider it a blessing.”
Cassian found the assassin’s words amusing.
His older brother had only wanted him to disappear, leaving no traces, not to be killed.
Realizing his cruel brother’s intention made him even more resentful.
Why had he endured everything quietly until now? Why had he always held back? Now, at least for once, he could resist even if only for a moment.
“Don’t you have anything to say? Fine. I’ll check back at this time tomorrow. Though I doubt you’ll even be alive then.”
The assassin seemed certain Cassian would be dead before tomorrow. Sadly, Cassian couldn’t deny the thought might be correct.
His whole body shivered, his teeth chattering.
Lifting his feet, he saw they were covered in blood. The bleeding was significant, making him dizzy.
“Can I survive until sunrise?”
It would be at least an hour before the sun rose.
Cassian rubbed his arms, searching for somewhere to sit.
He climbed onto a flat rock, scanning the surrounding terrain anxiously.
Dense forest with no light. Even at noon, the temperature wouldn’t rise much.
His thin sleeping clothes stuck to his wet skin from the morning dew. Moving would chill him more if his bleeding feet worsened.
Helpless, Cassian blew on the wounds, hoping the blood would scab.
But instead, the bleeding worsened.
“It’s poison in the blood.”
Seeing the blood gush out like a spring, his grief welled up.
“Why should I die? Why must I endure this?”
His eleven years of life seemed miserable and pitiful. He cried out loud.
“Waaaaaaaah!”
One would think the temple priests would come upon hearing such a scream, but no one appeared.
The small temple was not restricted, so why did no one come?
Then he realized one more thing: even the temple had sided with his brother.
Cassian could only laugh. The priests, who pursued a pious life, would blatantly allow an assassination to occur in the temple they served.
He laughed until he finally accepted everything.
Not only had his parents abandoned him, but the world had, too.
He went through cycles of crying and laughing, finally resigning and letting go of his regrets.
“What is this place?”
A sudden voice made him lift his head from leaning on his arms.
At that moment, a young girl appeared before him.
