CHAPTER 8

  After crying for a while, Jay left together with the local Saint, and they went to choose a book for her. They were walking together until they passed a bookshelf that caught Jay's attention. He stopped, picked up a book, and looked at the cover.

  'This cover fits her perfectly, I think she'll like it,' Jay thought, slightly embarrassed. In his past life, he almost never gave gifts to anyone.

  Saint Clarice stopped and tilted her head in curiosity.

  "Jay, why did you stop? Is everything okay?"

  Jay widened his eyes, realizing something.

  'Wait... everything that happened with the Saint felt like we had known each other for a long time, like we were dating.' He turned slightly red.

  'Aren't we too close?!'

  "Are you feeling unwell, Jay?" Clarice asked, concerned. "You're blushing!"

  Jay extended his arm with the book toward Clarice, not looking at her, embarrassed.

  "Here," he said, putting his hand on the back of his neck. "When I saw it, I thought of you."

  These words touched Clarice’s heart. She blushed, feeling shy and awkward.

  "Really? Ah, uh... thank you."

  "Well, shall we keep going?" Jay quickly changed the subject.

  "Yes!" Clarice replied immediately.

  They walked straight to the exit where Poul and Luis were talking. Along the way, Clarice kept fiddling with her hands and hair, clearly embarrassed.

  'I just have to accept this. I have to accept my father going to war. It's something I used to judge people for in my past life—not accepting events outside their control... and I was one of those people. Now, in this new life...'

  As they exited the bookstore, a breeze ruffled Jay’s black hair.

  'I hope I can learn not to be so hypocritical in this new life.'

  "Hey, Jay!" Clarice’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

  "Yes, Clarice?!" Her cheeks were red, and she looked around, clearly uncomfortable.

  She stretched her arms and closed her eyes in embarrassment.

  "Here, accept this as thanks for being my friend."

  "Ah, thank you." Jay took the book and looked at the cover, raising his eyebrow in surprise.

  'A book that suits my taste? How does she know me like this if we just met today?!'

  'I feel like a pedophile.'

  "D-did you like it?" Clarice stammered nervously.

  Jay laughed, half embarrassed.

  "Yes, I liked it."

  Her shy expression turned into a bright smile. Without realizing, Jay said:

  "I will read this with full interest."

  'Wait, why did I say that?!'

  "What a little couple!" Luis teased.

  Jay turned red, and Clarice froze.

  After that, the two continued talking with Luis and Poul, who kept teasing them. Mary came out worried, having lost track of the two children, especially the Saint. Seeing Clarice with the King, Valerius Adélio, her worry vanished.

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  Jay remembered the kiss from Saint Clarice and touched his cheek.

  'Does she like me more than a friend? Or is this cultural? The important thing is that she likes me. She saved me from the darkness. For her and my family, I must be happy.'

  Arriving home, Jay went straight to his room, placed the book on the shelf where he kept his collection, and lay down on the bed.

  'What is true happiness? Love or loving someone? Money? Women? Drugs, alcohol, or anything else this world offers... none of it brings true happiness, only temporary joy. I want true happiness.'

  Jay widened his eyes.

  'I understand! Since my...'

  Suddenly, sleep overtook him.

  'Since my past life I... I wanted to...'

  "You cannot know this now, what your inner self truly wants," said a mysterious voice.

  Days later, it was time for Poul to leave for battle. He packed quietly, not wanting to wake his son or Kyrai. Upon reaching the living room, he found Luis and Mary waiting.

  His son stood in the kitchen doorway holding a glass of water, raising it provocatively.

  'What a show-off kid! Just because a Saint cares for him, he thinks he can show off...' Poul thought.

  "You're thinking about how your wonderful son can be both a show-off and a troublemaker at the same time?" Luis asked.

  "Exactly," Poul thought.

  "Father, be careful in the war and return home safe."

  Poul closed his eyes and laughed arrogantly.

  "Of course, I will return. I am the Ice Genius."

  Jay felt his heart lighten.

  "Yes, father. It's a promise."

  Poul nodded.

  "It’s a promise."

  Mary tried to hold back tears, her hand covering her face.

  After hugging Jay, Poul's best friend punched him lightly on the shoulder and said seriously:

  "Don’t die in this damn war."

  "Who do you think I am?" Poul replied.

  "My little Ice guy."

  Everyone laughed. Luis finished hugging Poul.

  "I will protect you."

  "I know you will." Poul smiled.

  Mary could no longer hold back and jumped into Poul’s arms.

  "I’m leaving," Poul said, confident but with a hint of sadness.

  Everyone said, "Be careful."

  Poul departed for the battlefield.

  Jay took the book Saint Clarice gave him and began to read.

  'This book has me hooked... she really knows me. I want to see her again.'

  He got up and decided to take a walk to the library to distract his mind. On the way, he encountered his little sister, messy-haired and sleepy. He waited for her to pass and continued.

  Arriving in his room, he changed into shorts and a shirt. A masculine voice spoke:

  "I can’t believe I’m sealed in a guy who likes little girls... I thought you liked busty ones or those with big butts, but no."

  "How do you know my type, you blue bastard?" Jay replied.

  "Oh, don’t say that, after all, you like lolis!"

  Jay gritted his teeth, cursing Roh.

  He went out to the balcony, sat, and observed the scenery.

  'Good times, when my father wasn’t in the army and my mother was still alive... Learning to love, but darkness took her from me, along with my father, and I broke my promise.'

  The sky began to clear.

  'I am freeing myself from the darkness.'

  "What the hell are you doing out here in this cold?"

  "Just felt like it," Jay replied coldly.

  A soft laugh approached.

  "You know, Jay, I still taste that bitterness in my mouth. You feel it too, right?"

  "Yes, Uncle Luis." Jay lowered his head.

  "That’s normal when you kill someone."

  Jay swallowed hard.

  "Have you killed anyone besides those soldiers?"

  "Yes," Luis replied without looking.

  Jay took a deep breath.

  'I should have suspected from the start...' he said with a relaxed laugh.

  "I know you wouldn’t kill for pleasure, but to protect those you love."

  "Yes, you are right."

  "You are very mature for your age, boy!" Luis said.

  Jay looked away.

  'Well, I was thinking about someone else...'

  They walked to the library. Jay looked for a book:

  'Where is it...'

  'Ah! Found it! It’s the one she was reading!'

  At the cashier, he found Luis with another book.

  "You’re picking one too?!" he asked, surprised.

  "Of course, I’m not leaving empty-handed."

  Exiting the bookstore, the ground began to shake.

  "An earthquake?" Luis asked.

  A yellow flash cut across the sky, falling outside the wall. Jay felt his heart tighten. A gigantic figure, with a murderous gaze and smoke rising from its body, held the wall firmly.

  Luis looked at Jay, hopeless.

  "This is the end of our peace and..." He dropped the book. "the beginning of hell."