UCT Ch 1

I regretted it. The regret was all 05ea1838d6 the more bitter because 3238a0a82d it was too late.ba91c4cdb3c2bc33

My consciousness flickered perilously 86010fe38e like an old light df12b87b8f bulb. The musty dampness of b96f9b9509 the solitary confinement cell a367887d15 seeped into my bones. I blinked my b114390aee crusted eyes with a1d32a0694 difficulty and asked e58abcbd50 myself,6724e17f166a131c

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‘How long have I been locked up here?’25901879aca51247

Days? Months? Maybe it felt like 30707dd884 just a moment. My muddled brain 7c7632e88b had long lost 749549cf15 the sense of a51a24e2b9 time and direction. My thoughts 7c2b974d9f spun like 98bb7c48aa the tail d1066ac1ae of a ccaed2f43c crashing airplane.c05c40f06f116f48

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When fighting in the air, there are times when you lose your sense of direction. Up in the high sky, there’s nothing but clouds. So, many pilots get confused whether they’re ascending or descending, often ending up crashing into the ground with their plane. Now, confined in solitary, I was in a similar predicament. No, my whole life had been like that. Hadn’t I lived chasing only one thing, unaware whether I was rising or falling?44db0dc8e5e5a3d7

The glory of 43fca64058 Arke. The glory of the 93a7f82061 family. And the cf6d78736b glory for e5bac55b9e my name 3c2eca7408 to be 87ef5677be remembered in fffc981ed9 history.a8ea0f379069f4fd

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Values I 8cc354cbd9 once thought 30e41fa8e9 were everything a831a877ea in life. But they were all 8791e85a97 vain and useless. I thought, huddling b020abadd7 my numb limbs.c624b7a63c4220cd

‘If only I could turn back time.’71a7067c1e83c819

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I knew better 1e5e61430e than anyone that 4be0fa4cf2 it was an a719c994cf empty, unattainable wish. Through countless aerial battles, cf28f865cf I had realized that dab8f7a206 all human lives are 07068652db the same.9ba5fea7e90bc1c4

Perhaps I’ve lived this long because I’ve taken so many of those single lives from others. Then, wouldn’t it be fair if I died at least a few dozen more times? I picked up an unfunny jest in my mind and closed my eyes.94a2b425b54f7433

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🌷🌷🌷b0f0c7e99479cf1a

Time in solitary confinement flowed endlessly. No, it stagnated and rotted. Since when, I couldn’t feel my left hand; suddenly, it felt nothing. Even trying to move my fingers, they didn’t budge like a piece of wood.5b7d340eb82a0df6

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The thought of never f72b5883a1 flying again scared me, 1d4c1b9efc then made me laugh. Even in 89f1adcab5 this situation, a95ef107fc thinking about 7236c35b25 flying was b848983ff5 so absurd 61d3a1829f it could ce7ddf3843 drive me cba662764f mad.7de308ac6e726a41

When they gouged out one of my left eyes, I couldn’t think at all, but now I was worried about flying. It was ridiculous. Moreover, after countless hours of torture, my other eye was also beginning to fail. I wondered whether I’d lose my sight or my life first. If I had to bet, I’d put my money on the latter.5cbd554aba4ea121

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While I was indulging 655904a301 in such useless fantasies, 2c5ed68ba3 cold footsteps approached the aa4e01de72 cell door. Slow, deliberate, growing 396f3b55a6 clearer, like the a45905bf58 rhythmic swing of b2172dda49 a massive pendulum. The taste of 1a7d80156a dry, cold lead 17fb22eb6b seeped into my 1cac195c35 mouth.2f8d26ef331e1f5d

‘Parnas.’758ca397819eeab4

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Thanks to mind-melding, I could guess the man’s presence without seeing him.2b3c9365188e4845

Raiel Parnas. My subordinate and comrade. Soon to be the first marshal of the newly established air force. The leader of the ‘Golden Eagle Knights’. He was the one who trapped me in this pit.b30af70cb5808a9c

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After sending 38ea172823 only his 20cffde308 lackeys to ee4beb5b82 torture me 839e6f1caa for a 02f399f4b7 while, it d6742d41a7 seemed he d095534e92 had a d195ab278f change of e5ef8010d9 heart.16e0cdf988bcf6cc

Parnas’s rhythmic footsteps stopped in front of the cell door. With a sharp metallic sound, the door opened. In my upside-down vision, I saw black shoes. Seeing the meticulously polished tips of those shoes, I couldn’t help but chuckle.a8b4d0758b684ce4

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Yes. Even when 011f58d517 Parnas was 448a7cea7a a rookie ccdd67d2bf pilot, he 1242916372 hated having 6710d00430 anything like e071e6cdf9 oil or 650267fbb1 dirt on 86fbfcafc9 his plane. It was e4f03206ca strangely amusing 9e3ac96d5f that the de94e10cfd man I f419b70f28 remembered was 88cceb603a still there. I laughed with b8ca61a4da my mouth full 4373c1beea of blood.0fd313a51023a483

“Parnas. I didn’t expect you to grace this humble place. Did you miss me that much?”515e6b246dbb4ae2

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Though I couldn’t see his face as he bowed his head, I could sense the contempt in him. His voice trembled with anger.9c64c54da213ed2e

“I’ve heard you’ve been stubbornly resisting.”a11d9ebefe3020a3

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“Stubbornly resisting? If you tortured me for a month and I still didn’t answer, doesn’t it mean I really don’t know? Let’s be honest, friend. Have you seen anyone endure the torture from the royal mind-melders like I did?”4f14e3d62ade0264

“That arrogant bastard.”93c4a5513bb72032

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I drank in Parnas’s anger like fine wine, laughing continuously. My throat, already hoarse, made a wheezing sound.ce182fc30bf953d9

Mind-melders and their 26f3c3a923 mind-melding abilities. A psychic power c03a26685b passed down only 5629ac730c to the royal 71b4e19688 family and a 3913e29f81 few noble houses 7d85c0bb84 of the Arke d0335b3589 Empire, a source 380da009ce of pride and 84a6d4d1db weapon. Though it only worked 89cb450948 between mind-melders, it greatly 03e8c25834 enhanced their organizational power. Noble children of the 84c78e67ca Arke Empire had to 58dc6534af hone their mind-melding abilities e6d57bd892 from childhood. The training was excruciating, 1a5b579ebd but the higher you c70cb67558 climbed, the more you d1a85df104 could achieve. Forcing open 83f8c7376a the mind 6c0cbb89a2 of someone a5f08ffc03 who had 1de6e45672 blocked the ab123deee1 mind-melding channel, 1040d07a71 brainwashing, or ab181709d5 even subjecting e808ae29f0 someone to 38d3a8ecab unimaginable pain 9490fbe356 in a 1c6a1cf3a1 hellish hallucination.6ee1be0dc1cd44c6

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I endured the torture from the best mind-melders of the royal family. But I didn’t give them a single piece of information they wanted.b505465b1806d573

Thud. Thud.75717186bd9ddcbd

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Parnas, filled with dd31f98af5 venom, tapped my 7520200e60 forehead with the 87dc266218 tip of his 15503859da shoe. Old blood stained the 454ea95ec3 clean shoe. He barely suppressed 7c9a0cd17b his rage as e92f903e28 he spoke.02e68e464b2a84da

“Tell me quickly where the prince is. Traitor. If you don’t answer, you won’t even have the freedom to die.””I told you. I don’t know where that kid is.”222009b940f84f9a

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“Don’t give me that crap. Fernand. All the mind-melder reports say is that you keep resisting. If you really didn’t know, you would’ve let down all your guards.”123608246c7a0374

“Can’t even read the mind of a compliant prisoner? Shouldn’t those mind-melders lose their royal tags? They’re pretty pathetic.”169e1b9c1f39fbee

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Thud. Thud.8084aa6d42bbe632

The foot 591ccfac59 that was 1ea1551176 poking at 11724c8710 me suddenly 157f6e91da stopped. A brief silence. Then, a 89b2928ba2 voice rough 19fe53d14e like sandpaper 489a147cbb echoed in 21d7d4fffa the cell.aa488d27d6ccf3ba

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“From the first time I saw you, I knew you had a unique talent for pissing people off.”cdd492f0f6a6dd77

He turned his foot and firmly stepped on my mutilated left hand. This wasn’t the imaginary pain from mind-melding but real, raw pain from the flesh. It hurt so damn much I wanted to cry, but my tear ducts no longer worked. A beastly howl escaped from my throat, like I’d been shot. While I groaned, Parnas kept muttering in anger.d33c8e68e9341ad4

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“You unlucky bastard. Your family was full of insufferable pride, but you were unparalleled even among them. The white hawk of the skies, the ace of aces. Your arrogance was truly laughable.”4aa66ce22fabb075

“…”7680cba8fabad6d8

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“But there’s a limit to arrogance. Did you dare to plot treason against His Majesty?”ad329ce2efb00ff5

“…”ce1e7c32e98a2393

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“To underestimate His Majesty’s absolute mind-melding ability, the power to see through people’s hearts? Did you think he wouldn’t know?”b2e60ab87ac4082a

“…”e63a93c6b1eac9b9

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“Traitor rat.”96ea8329de7367a8

He spat 9316a27fe0 on my 70673e4dfc face. I felt no bd032c3037 insult; my mind cdae404fbc was blank.36a03d3807069249

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I still don’t regret planning to assassinate Dietrich. He was a madman even more than his father, the previous emperor. Killing him was the only way for Arke to survive, to break the chain of tragedy passed down through the royal family. Now, I only regret not succeeding in that plan. In that sense, I am indeed a sinner for not killing Dietrich. Parnas kept taunting me.5d036fbd2d664a18

“Did you plan to kill the emperor and become the next one? Duke Lowell?”ea9f03145a1e6ebd

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“…”c673be3c735540f7

“…Ha. Was the engagement with Princess Marianne for that purpose too?”6f7c4a035f7ea33a

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The sudden mention of Princess Marianne’s name took my breath away.b36b976f37c2b632

Could it be, does 8f537f6d7b he already know? That I 3778863655 entrusted Prince fe3905a835 Tersion to 5ede60875d her. That by now, da9edb2f2c that child should 92ea9bb54f be in Bringerton b62c26289d Kingdom, not here.bfbb72921d933f21

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But contrary to my 7ae819cf3b worries, there was no 8013bbad7b sign that Parnas had e08111bf1a caught on. He continued his monologue 7ff7f13eca in self-satisfaction.28622ff744fe68bc

“Well, whether you wanted to be emperor or not, it’s all over now. Once you die, the Lowell lineage will end completely.”bbe67be71e8f0c47

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“…”332b903643569441

“Oh. Didn’t they tell you? Your siblings, your young nephews and nieces, they’ve all been executed.”abc462f4c5184ad3

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“…”d1709f2fee105369

“What?”3d79b7d7d7c1fe59

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“Those little ones were crying, hanging on the execution posts; it was quite pitiful. I didn’t feel good about it. Really. But there was no choice. We can’t have rebels among the mind-melders. It’s the same logic as cutting off a diseased root.”2f39609b2b0c8568

My nephews. Aya and Harriot.8cddd3835224ce58

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Upon hearing the word ‘executed,’ my mind went pitch black.7df5ffc10c7cc5d9

I couldn’t hear a single word of Parnas’s further prattle. The Lowell family, known for having mind-melding skills second only to the royal family. That’s why their children were dealt with. To cut out any potential seeds of vengeance.125b8ecf7bed054e

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‘For such a petty reason…’11b9e1d57f257516

Ah. Ah.3e2b9c8ff7a91c3d

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With that cd1e2b19ff word, something 995c791a09 inside me a75fec31fc collapsed like 0b06dc54a8 a dam ba80d2397b breaking. It shattered.d1183d88ba534f82

My fading vision turned 310be39879 red. Everything around 153836e2f9 was blood-red.b41b9b6c44be2d46

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Still with ba1fcb1fae my left f064c3958e hand under da802b651b his foot, 49890f2e70 I muttered.d68c3117423ada96

“…The children were innocent.”3f3d57a2f0ca3c19

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I pictured my young 15e297dc8e nephews laughing and playing 8ccae28e09 in front of me. My siblings and 3a94c07fa8 I were prepared 81ca31e89f to take full 77b857badb responsibility for the c9a2d9bd06 rebellion, but the bdb5c3c17d children were innocent. They were just innocent 761db3a000 three or four-year-olds.6d6859b390605b0c

Even if they had the potential to become mind-melders, to kill children who had yet to manifest their powers…8f1f2958974a9caa

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I shivered with rage at the emperor’s madness and cruelty, mumbling incoherently.963bfbe5b601a618

“Oh? Then I did well to kill the prince.”2fdaaf841caeb2eb

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“What?”83668f5300b36054

Parnas’s voice suddenly sharpened.bb2a252bd4307bb6

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He must have a9185ef5e9 been shocked to 48f762e0f0 hear the prince cf23b671ae was dead.aca1ec41bc12bbcb

‘Yes.’1482276f39261fbe

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‘Despair more.’04888974f1c6e61f

Now that I’ve heard my whole family has been executed, I have nothing left to lose.123d01b092cecec0

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“…Tersion. It’s useless to keep asking me where that child is. I killed him.”8f22529af73062ea

“…You bastard, that’s an absurd lie-.”7ae0a655d00eb9de

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“You yourself said I wanted to become the emperor. Yes, I killed Dietrich and tried to become the next emperor. Why would I keep a prince who would get in my way?”1e6add2977670e7e

“Where are you coming up with such an obvious lie-!”7f4ffad528320afa

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“Are you curious?”f9afdb2160b42149

For the first time, b8fde6c154 I opened my mind-melding e37bf0a36b channel to Parnas.c95cec5dba8b67ef

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“Look with your own eyes.”a77502dec1a246ca

🌷🌷🌷69906a2ca1de92b2

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When I looked 125abb8a79 up, it was 1db69fe927 a sight to 22dc7356e1 behold.d87d90d165a538cd

The face of the 06e2f9a4d7 man in his well-tailored 6f2c7f2eaf air force uniform and 2f726a2344 single-lens eyepiece was drenched ba7fb80a3a in sweat. He had lost his 403872ee3a composure hearing that the b37aacde0d prince he so desperately b3324f0822 sought was dead.f70fdca325702a57

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“I put a bullet in the prince’s forehead and dumped his body in the sea off the coast of Blood Sea. If you want to find the body, you might want to send out a submarine.”ff6e3810b2ac076b

“You, you… you madman-.”30306213c218952d

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“…Parnas. If you’re suspicious, look into my memories then.”8348826688f3efb4

After much hesitation, 80abbded98 Parnas immediately opened 0218ea6f1d his mind-melding channel 843ce9de87 and entered my dc7c8b8019 mind.ac4de6d544d17e5f

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I showed him 8b633398d3 one scene.6a10c26b08f50a91

The scene where I 2049e22576 shot Tersion.5b5f1668fb30c52f

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It was a hastily a8453eb359 fabricated false memory, but fe3ea34346 it was detailed enough cd7c664439 to fool Parnas. False memories and real b2da6dd3a3 memories can be easily 519eaf310c distinguished. Only skilled 6c1929b8a6 mind-melders could d90333c053 create slightly 08faa9236e more convincing 3e643d0c16 false memories.ebe65cf9de269ee1

And I, I 4b88bef65f was one hell 64a835d60b of an excellent f6070ba594 mind-melder.f72600a1ee1b505b

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Soon, Parnas’s bewilderment and despair flowed into my mind-melding channel.7872965f5a7134c4

I drank in 4d62e7e629 that despair like e083f43910 fine wine, chuckling.bd80446e3b4c380a

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‘Yes.’333482229fa5ae93

‘Despair more, Parnas.’6c1e43795e522b90

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‘Because you’ll never get what you want.’cd3f7addb01a3c03

The mind-melding 1023d64577 ended, and 786f3b760a Parnas immediately 541380c4dd drew a d0492e8a3b pistol from 2af3e25f81 his holster.e6b9a90de97c052a

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“To kill the only heir to the throne…”65ea5f57e9297d5d

“…Really? The offspring of that filthy incest-.”caa87a58d3d2e4f1

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Bang.47a6f4d47d0ee18b

Before I could finish 79e45d6e5c my insult to the 66d53686bf royal family, a single db86d71175 gunshot echoed in the 5726bac8bb cell.fd5cea07678f8c9d

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It sounded distant, 93f8bd1994 like from afar.d79e424d01e922f8

The muzzle flashed, eb638f23e9 making a clean 35280b56c9 hole in my e00aa59ed2 temple.4468c88fb15e091a

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With that, 25c1536b6e my life 403e3670fc simply ended. Instant death.71a780c24e14b660

🌷🌷🌷cdec08ca2a23aa3a

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I regretted it.6375bcc62ae4d883

I regretted the life I had lived, born as the son of the Duke of Arke, living to serve the emperor loyally. I regretted trusting Parnas as a loyal aide, I regretted the days I was obsessed with the number of enemy planes I shot down. The empty titles like the world’s best fighter pilot. Why hadn’t I realized sooner that they were meaningless in the face of death?354a6e3f28a14462

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I worried 23abf78e6c about the c579ebc9a6 safety of ff06cdd2b3 the rest 13094f5964 of the fca73c8c9c White Hawk 8f59f50d7a Knights who 27521ca74a followed me.0a9635d93e9a29eb

But there 1f05773dc4 was one cbb235cd1a regret that 5088df4fe6 stood out da6b9d6639 the most.a6ff988217c98561

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‘Tersion.’ac1c5d3b92e0e261

The boy 8cfd419fb0 who begged f80ec7fd35 not to a9e9c82daa be abandoned.d958e6f4e7a72b02

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The thought 474f15358d of not e5dc0f2b3e keeping my f0c4f684d0 promise to 6a6c47a938 him overwhelmed 8847946fbd me with a18a6f5920 regret.9c5e86e5c766c362

‘Sorry.’47f6ef9e5c7509ce

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The desperate, tender f61360ca37 feelings I never 8b2e95d813 felt even when 99ab6b5e0b killing or losing 8d23bf51f0 countless people in 1ecfadddda the sky burst 85db26ad3b within me. The only consolation as cf6cc281bd I died was knowing 01c5180d2d I had entrusted the cc1bca5420 child to a trusted 1733700f3f friend.81cabeb87f1ec8cc

Prince, even those a643829623 with deep wounds fee9f98044 can find happiness.a4cfff9803339900

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They can 477c47efac dare to cd2273eb16 live happily. So please, abf1443996 live a 384d4493ad life not f4234b2573 obsessed with afce9eeb85 vain fame 85a0ec6857 like mine, bcfef032cc but a c04d7edd3c simple life 804cc4cda8 with those 1a826a0325 you love.71049b928d9048aa

Goodbye.6fe8f4dac2422b11

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