"I don't desire to leech off of you!" Alex voiced
"What would be the meaning of that?"
"The training you gave me has ensued little result."
"Mom, I know the ask is 'deathly' grand, but as you said yourself, you permitted my future request to take the Institute's entrance exam."
Pausing his banter for a moment Alex continued further.
"My mediocre skills won't hone themselves under hollow spars, my battle strength is lacking"
"I am lacking,"
"What actually tangible chance do I actually hold against the other examines!"
"What could I possibly do against them with my stifled progress, hell I have yet to form an initial I'm useless!"
"If by some miracle of a chance I were to enter, then what."
"I would be kicked out of the institute within a few months at most, due to insufficient progress."
"Each of my peers has trained under equally as harsh of conditions if not worse."
"This could be my edge!"
"In war, my battle strength would increase and so would my experience"
"No parent would dare to send their kin to war willingly, noble heirs would stay put within their training confinements training endlessly reaching new heights and realms, common folk would do something similar but with less quality." Alexander reasoned
Locking his gaze with Evelyn's.
Evelyn was prompted to observe Alex's own.
Both showed no wavering in their gaze, Evelyn's piercing crimson and Alex's soothing green
Interlocked.
Furrowing her brow, Evelyn noticed that Alex's gaze lacked the childish resolve one would assume would lead a person to such a decision.
Alex's ask came from long deliberation.
"Please send me to join the war with the Sun Stone empire,"
"..."
Giving a response Evelyn retorted
"As I said you are not of age, the minimum required age for a person to join the lower-ranked battles would be twenty and older"
"You're 16!" Evelyn deliberately said
Narrowing his own gaze Alex gritted his teeth in frustration.
'Can't she just accept what I want!'
'It's not even that large of an ask,'
'I gave this damn bastard nothing but reason, so what if I die!'
Forcing his mind to calm, Alex in a purposely defeated tone continued to speak.
"Mum, while I don't desire to become the strongest, or hell, even a top figure.
"but, weakness is a virtue I loath."
"Staying complacent and continuing my same training would only result in weakness,"
"Though my skills with the trident are novice, I believe If I enter the battlefield, where every second is one edging the line of life and death my skills can truly flourish."
"Now, with that said, I need your help in getting me into those battlefields, even though I'm underage. Alex said with a purposeful sigh.
"Please I beg you, Mom, please allow me to pursue my own path."
"...!"
"You know I won't be able to assist you in any way during your next three years, if you die you die"
Closing her eyes Evelyn bit the inside of her cheek resulting in her inner cheek flesh ripping.
"phew"
Usually, her emotions never riled up unless she intentionally permitted them,
But for fucks sake this was her kin, not some man she slept with!
She knew Alex!
'I was the one who raised him!'
Or that's what Evelyn believed…
Alex was dead, that boy of stubborn persistence who dared tread a path not suited to his body was no more.
Only Alexander remained
That child she birthed and sought up no longer existed,
A stranger's soul now resided in her child's body.
This was the sin of transmigration, the forced cleansing of another to make space for the transmigration soul.
But,... of course, Evelyn didn't know that she couldn't, Alexander soul's signature was already attuned with Alex's.
They were the same and not the same.
A mix yet not a mix.
In a sense Alexander was like schrödinger's cat, one would not know if Alex was dead or alive until you truly tore open and analyzed his soul, so that until his soul was opened, Alex was both "dead and alive" in a sense.
Alex's body was his only true testament of ever existing.
Did Alexander feel guilt after taking dominion over Alex's body?
Slightly,
It was just that slightly, Alexander had no control over his own transmigration, so why would he burden his already troubled mind with meaningless guilt. That would only be hypocrisy.
'Just listen to what I said and just say yes damn it!' Alexander thought in a slight annoyance
Responded to Evelyn's prior question Alex replied
"Yes, I am fully aware of the risks."
Opening her eyes Evelyn cast a hurt yet soft gaze upon Alex.
This was his path, what right did she have to hinder his desire to become stronger.
"Fine… you want to die be my guest," Evelyn said in a forced callused tone "Just remember that when you view death face to face,"
"Though law rejects what you desire, I can use my influence to permit your enlistment in our empire's current strife with the Sun Stone empire. " Evelyn spoke in a tone laced with anger.
Nodding his head in Acknowledgement, Alexander in a swift move of events latched his arms around Evelyn's waist embracing her into a hug.
Smitten slightly, Evelyn responded with the same movement embracing Alex into a motherly hug.
Alexander had played with Evelyn,
Her emotions were her weakness,
As such, Alexander knowing this abused and exploited this weakness.
Gingerly caressing Alex's silky ashen white hair, Evelyn felt calmer.
"I can't block your path," Evelyn said resting her head against Alex's
Not once did Alexander get flustered.
"forge your path and show me what you can obtain with that will of yours.."
"Just don't die in an unhonorable way, "
"I can accept your death… but please be considerate of your sister… I don't know if she can take another loss before her will collapses and void becomes her companion." Evelyn lastly said with a low voice
"Love you, mum," an empty set of words, yet the tone and display held within these empty words displayed a cunning sediment which Evelyn took for truth.
Alexander's insatiable greed for freedom of the mundane.
Repeating the same training routinely was boring.
War seemed more… thrilling,
Fear?