Rebirth: Childhood friend of the heroine

"AAAAHHH!" The agonized screams of soldiers echoed as their bodies were hurled like broken dolls toward the castle entrance.

Edric spun, sharp eyes catching the glint of spears rushing toward him. He grabbed the first two, snapping them like twigs, but the darts from his left were too quick.

"Aghh!" he growled, fury igniting as they pierced his side. Ignoring the pain, he roared, flinging the soldiers away with a single violent swing. He lunged at the archers perched on the watchtower—only to stop as a deafening 'GAAAAAA!' Erupted.

The air vibrated as ultrasonic waves tore through the night, shattering the tower's defenses. Archers cried out in agony, clutching their heads before plummeting to the ground like stones.

Edric smirked, his gratitude to the unseen ally brief as he shifted into his Taurus form. His hooves slammed into the ground, leaving cracks in his wake as he charged the next formation of soldiers.

The line of men braced for impact, but before Edric's horns could strike, a massive barrier shimmered into existence.

**TING**

The sound rang out like a thunderous bell as Edric was thrown back, skidding across the battlefield. Snarling, he shook his head, his eyes narrowing as a figure emerged.

A bald man stood tall, his aura suffocating, cold, and unyielding. His gaze swept the battlefield with chilling indifference, but rage burned deep in his soul at the sight of his men lying broken and defeated.

"Commander Get is here!" a soldier shouted, hope sparking among the troops.

"IDIOTS!" the commander barked, his voice like a whip. "Do you think cheering will stop this beast? FORM UP!"

The soldiers scrambled, dragging their battered bodies upright, gripping weapons with trembling hands. They closed ranks, moving as one, a tide of desperation and defiance surging toward the palace gates.

Edric growled, his horns lowering, his breath steaming in the frigid air.

The bald one voiced, "I, the commander of the Imperial Legion, will now take you as my enemy. There is no point in surrendering now since I won't stop until I cleave that head of yours."

Edric growled, he cannot hold back now, can he?

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Mace was being pushed by Alex to bring him to the prison where his mother was caged.

The woman's forehead was covered with sweat as she asked, "You know the consequences of attacking the leading clan of Whiteden, right? Even Grimland won't accept you after this."

Alex scoffed, "That's my problem. Why are once-oh, so are you considering yourself my adoptive mother or something. That's why you are worried for me?"

Mace balled her fist before shouting, "Shut up! And don't so casually comment on my relationship with the Patriarch."

Alex rolled his eyes, "Then don't start the conversation. Now, move it." Roughly shoving her, he ushered the woman to walk faster.

"Lady Mace?" Suddenly, a servant noticed the lady being pushed by a stranger, as he dashed toward her

"Hurry, help-" However, before she could call for help, Alex appeared behind the servant, and with a drop of his hand, he ceased the servant's consciousness.

With a smile, the silverhead asked, "Shall we continue?"

The lady took a strong gulp and bit her lips. Forget it, she will follow what her Lord has asked her.

Wordlessly, she kept walking and walking with the Cursed child behind her.

*Slide*

Sliding open a door she walked further ahead.

Alex frowned; if he was not wrong, this room was the conference hall where the Patriarch, along with his council members, usually gathered.

Mace stepped onto the raised platform where the Patriarch sits, and inserted her hand behind the wall painting.

Alex's eyes widened when, suddenly, the wall on which the painting was hung began to shift to the left—revealing an open space.

"She is in there." Mace turned toward him and voiced.

Alex snarled, "That sick bastard kept her here...this close to him...."

With his fists tightly clenched, he told the woman, "You go in first,"

Mace retaliated, "I already showed you-ah!" She exclaimed, her voice cutting off before her neck could have.

Alex planted his dagger against the woman's neck as he warned her, "Look, woman, I am quite pissed right now, and since you have fulfilled your job, I won't hesitate to slaughter you."

Mace's face was paler than a sheet, as she sensed the cold blade digging into her flesh and drawing some blood.

Slowly, she uttered, "I-I will go!"

Alex removed his dagger before Mace instantly jumped back.

Covering her neck, she looked at the silver head. Barely swallowing the words that came to her tongue, she turned around and walked inside the secret room.

Alex followed the woman and entered the damp and dark space.

There was nothing but dark walls all around. A small window on the left was allowing faint light to illuminate the dark space.

However, what caught Alex's attention was the woman scattered on the ground, looking up at him.

"....mother...." Although he had never met her before. Although he has never said that word to anyone naturally. Although he has never heard a word from her.

He knew....that it was his mother.

Alex knelted beside her and softly lifted the woman to rest her in his lap.

Slowly removing the hair strands from her face, he called out, "Ma...."

The woman took a deep breath; her cloudy eyes appeared from behind her eyelids as she looked at Alex with a smile, "Alex...you are back?"

Her voice was rough, she must be thirsty.

Alex hurriedly took out his bottle and tried to feed her some water.

The lady held his hand, and shook her head, "I don't have...much time left...Alex...so let...me...look at you...as much as I can...."

Alex's eyes widened, as he said, "What are you saying?! You will live. I will heal you!"

Alex took out a potion, and this time, he forcibly fed her....however, nothing changed. Her condition didn't change, and her eyes continued to lose focus.

The lady weakly raised her hand and cupped his cheek. The warmth she felt from him, brought tears to her eyes, as she mumbled,

"Y-You are here....for your mother? I am happy..."

Alex gritted his teeth, "But I was late...I was late to realize that someone was waiting for me."

The lady tilted her head, "Not your fault, Alex...never blame...yourself...f-for it..." With each syllable, her breathing became shallow, and her grip on his face loosened.

Alex's eyes were filled with tears as he held her hand, and assured her, "I will save you, mother..I promise..."

The lady wanted to say something, but Alex instantly picked her up in his arms. Just as he turned he found Eryndor standing there with his arms folded,

"She won't survive. I have been feeding a slow killing poison to her every single day...her organs are no longer functioning. How will you save-"

The man's eyes widened...as he felt something cold grazing past his neck.

The figure of the Cursed Child was no longer in front of him rather, Alex stood behind him, his teeth holding his dagger, and on the metal, was a thin layer of blood that belonged to the Patriarch of the clan.

**THUD**

"AAAAAHHHHHH!!!" Mace cried upon seeing Eryndor falling to the ground; dead and gone.
Stay tuned to empire

Alex didn't remain there to satiate his lust to slaughter the man thoroughly, rather, he marched out of the palace.

His feet never stopped. He held the lady close in his arms as he weaved through the crowd of soldiers.

Reaching outside, he shouted, "FALL BACK!"

Edric immediately responded to the call and shifted his form. His Berserk state was too much for Commander Get to restrain as he was pushed back like his soldiers, and the raven-haired finally regained freedom.

"Nice meeting you, Commander. Now, see ya~" Edric disappeared in a blur, leaving a baffled soldier behind as he scratched his bald head.

Rebecca and Celestria also heard the call clearly as they got out of their hiding spot and marched away.

"I won't lose you...just a few minutes..." He ran as fast as he could, leaving even Edric, who was in his Berserk state behind as he beelined toward the exit point.

The only person who can save his mother is Sarah, and in his current mind, Alex is actually considering running back to Lockwood's territory.

"Alex....please...stop..." He heard her voice, as the lady clung to her son with her life.

The silver head, after exiting the town, slowly came to a halt as he felt his mother's body turning cold.

"Just please...please ..a few minutes...I-I will-"

"Please child...don't do this...in my last moment...I-I just want to see your face...p-please..."

He could tell, that his mother was beyond the point to be saved. He can tell. His mind was screaming that it was the end. However, Alex's heart was resistant to yield.

In his two lifetimes, this was the first time he was allowed to meet his actual mother...who cared for him. Who didn't sell him off or get rid of him. She was here ..in his arms...dying, yet he couldn't do anything.

"Alex...can you do something for me?" Squeezing all her strength to touch his face, the lady asked, "A-After I-I die...p-please bury me ...n-near the Tiger Hill...I-I always wanted to bring you there."

With a smile, she added, "Although not alive...m-my death can f-fulfill tha-that promise-"

"No, no, no, no! Why?! Just why do I always have to bear this sorrow?! Can't I hope to have a family?!"

Alex cried, the tears burned his eyes as the boy fell to his knees.

Celestria and others also arrived by his side and understood the whole situation.

Edric was about to approach them when suddenly, unexpectedly, Celestria stopped him.

"Let them be..." In a sobbing voice, she said.

Alex hugged his mother close to him, relishing the familial warmth for the last few moments. Etching this sensation to the deepest depth of his mind. Her shallow breath, her trembling hands...everything.

"Alex..." Those last few breaths carried the word she always wanted to relay, "...mama will always...always...love you."

That day, Alex and Ceaser truly became one. Since the sorrow was felt by the two souls, equally.

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A/N:- This chapter was written in two sittings. Kind of...yeah, it was emotional. Thanks for reading.