System Ascension: The Vermillion Legacy

CHAPTER TWO

“Aiden,” a female voice called out as he answered, “Yes Mother.” 

The faceless woman stretched out her hands calling for a hug as he went in to hug her then she said, “Never forget who you are, you're my son and the last of Vermillion. You're one of a kind.”

He opened his eyes with the sound of the party still ongoing as he looked sideways to his right he saw his father-in-law with his wife as they walked off into the main mansion. Aiden gave out a loud sigh and rested his back on the chair while looking up and said to himself, “What do I do now?” 

With that sentence, he began thinking of his life and how far he had gone.

From long-forgotten royals of ancient times, the house of Vermillion was once the most powerful in the whole continent. 

They were feared far and wide in every corner of the continent, their name echoed on the borders of other continents. 

They were mostly afraid of the power they had, the ability to control dark magic was feared and it was only the house of Vermillion that studied magic until they perfected their element which was dark magic. 

With it they rose to power and defended the continent and lands they were affiliated to. 

But a dispute arose inside and the house of Vermillion broke into two then the branch and main family of the house fell into a big war that shook the whole of Alanoir. 

The terror and chaos that arose within those days and with the influence of both the branch and main family of the house of Vermillion many royals gave support which in effect turned into a civil war. 

Driving everyone to the edge the houses eventually wiped out each other which led to the grandparents of Aiden running out of the land of Alanoir and coming back after the war had ended which took their standings in the House of Royals and also in the king's faction. 

This was sixty years ago. His grandparents became the dogs of several royals developing artifacts and magical equipment for them, sometimes they went for assassination duties and they were used as rags. 

This continued until the time of Aiden's parents and when his father tried making a way of freedom for him and his mother he was killed along the way as they escaped, to hide the last bloodline of dark magic Aiden mother lived on the outskirts of the land of Alanoir before she died. 

Aiden lost and at the point of dying came knocking at the door of Viscount Philip Lurande asking for help to be a retainer in exchange for his knowledge but he was made into a slave. 

To make him attached to the family more without the aim of leaving he was given Elizabeth's hands in marriage and by this process he was pinned into the family. This meant everything was arranged with plans of getting all his knowledge and doing away with him after that.

Still, in thoughts Aiden looked into the ballroom as he saw some nobles with fancy clothes and manners then he looked up again with another sigh. This time he got up and tried to walk out of the party but he was blocked off by Kristoff Neguda the first son of Viscount Sven Neguda.

“What do you want, Kristoff?” Aiden asked as he tried dodging him. Kristoff looked at him and looked around then raised his both hands up and said in a loud voice,

“Everyone, the fallen royal of the house of Vermillion. Such a shame that you can't even make a name for yourself. Prove to us here that you're worth the credits you ask for.” 

Everyone in the ballroom began laughing as they looked on while Kristoff continued the humiliation of Aiden. With so much shame Aiden tried walking out but was pulled back by the wrist by Kristoff who then asked him, “what you gonna do now, salve boy?”

With a clenched fist, Aiden looked up into Kristoff’s eyes as he tried controlling himself, pain turning into anger and anger turning into rage then Aiden heard a calming voice of a female saying, “Aiden.”

With tears gathering in his eyes Aiden pulled his wrist off from Kristoff’s grip and walked away.

***

“I need to find Liz,” Aiden said as he was unstable. Walking around the house and asking the servants or anyone who knew her, “Did you see Liz? Elizabeth?”

Everyone replied with a shake of the head as he kept searching. He went everywhere he knew she would be but couldn't find her. 

  

“Guess I have to be by myself tonight,” he said to himself then he heard a sound from the guest room which he just passed while on his way back to his room. 

With a turn he looked into the guest room and saw a female figure he seemed to recognize inside a duvet with a man, he opened the door and walked in but the two didn't notice him while still in the heat of their activity. 

He stood there watching with tears rolling down his eyes, after watching to his fill he finally asked, “Is this it, Liz?” 

With shock and surprise, Elizabeth came off the man and looked in the direction of where the voice came from. Aiden was standing with pain written in his eyes, lost for words she uttered, “Wait Aiden, I can explain?” 

  

“What is there to explain Liz? Is this why you kept the attitude any time we're in the room?” Aiden asked as he pulled in a chair to sit down. 

With a stutter in her voice, Elizabeth tried saying words but nothing came out then the man spoke up to Aiden, “Why are you acting this way boy? You can't take care of your woman, why don't you let another man take care of her for you?”

At the sound of what the man said Aiden bent his head down while shaking it then looked up to Elizabeth and told her,

  

“I thought you were on my side, I believed you with everything I had”

The man replied, “But you have nothing, not even a roof over your head.” 

Still trying to speak, Elizabeth cuts him off and says, “Aiden. I never loved you, not even for once. I just wanted to make my father happy so I kept up with your issues and to be honest, I feel relieved that you know. I don't have to keep hiding to do things that make me happy. To be honest, you never for once made me happy, Aiden.”

With those words Aiden's heart sank into his stomach, his world was tumbling into itself as he looked at the woman he trusted so much to betray him. 

Aiden was always seen as a weakling, at this point, he almost lost himself as Elizabeth added, “You don't even have the powers of your legendary house of Vermillion. You're a broken Vermillion” 

His mana spiraled out of control as dark energy radiated around him which gave fear to Elizabeth and her cheating partner sending it down their spines. Then it stopped as he looked up at Elizabeth and called her while asking a question, “Liz, I thought you were happy. I thought you wanted to be with me. All those promises you made of never leaving and always being by my side. Were they all lies?” 

Elizabeth nodded while looking towards the ground then he asked the most asked question everyone asks at this position, “Liz, why? Wasn't I enough? Wasn't I good enough?” 

And Elizabeth replied, “No you weren't Aiden and you'll never be.”

With those words Aiden felt his life ending, his heart was so broken that he felt it shattering. He opened his mouth to speak but words were lacking, he wanted to cry but his tears dried up. 

Nothing made sense at that point as he felt his heart pounding in fear and pain. 

Choking in his own words the only thing he saw himself uttering was, “Why, Liz?”