Treatise Of A Failed Knight Chapter 3: Javier Aditi

Supre Apotheosis... Demigod... Leviathan... Pathways... Leaper... The Princes... Temporal Necrosis... Aego Marks... I choose you...

... Heathcliff.

My sight is blurry, but I feel full of vitality as I open my eyes.

Strange voices whisper into my ears, and unknown images overlap in my head, many of which I cannot comprehend. By the ti I fully gain consciousness, I no longer rember any of those words or flashing mories that surged within my mind.

All I think about are my dying thoughts—my empty life, regrets, and silent wish.

’But what is this...?’ I wonder to myself while slowly rising from a much larger, more comfortable bed. The mattress neither feels too hard nor worn out as a result of the passage of ti, and despite being exceptionally comfortable, it doesn’t feel very familiar to .

I glance around the room and realize that my surroundings are also different from what I rember.

Surely, I must be going senile.

The last straw for cos when I move my body and feel no aches. My old battle wounds and the pains that accompany old age seem to have miraculously disappeared, because I feel no discomfort in my body at all.

Goodness! What could be happening to at this point?

It doesn’t take very long to realize it.

"A-ahh!"

After checking my much younger hands, I jump to my feet in fright. It feels strange; a chilly feeling washes over as I find myself in a much younger body.

My body shakes uncontrollably, and I rush to the mirror.

Sure enough, it is !

My younger self—staring right back at from the clear surface of the mirror within my room.

’This is strange...’ My mind struggles to keep up with the changes, but I try my best. ’So, I wake up in a different room, in the body of my younger self, but I have no mories of anything strange happening to before waking up.’

No, I’m pretty certain that I died already.

I was sixty-five years old when I died, but this appearance of mine is reminiscent of in my early youth. The re fact that I do not have any facial scars ans this body of mine has yet to experience our Household’s coming-of-age ceremony.

That ans, at most, I am currently fifteen years old.

’But what kind of sorcery is this? Or could this be the effect of a Potion I am unaware of? No, is there even a Potion that has this ability? What of Armants? No, if there was such a thing, would it not have gained renown? Even if it existed in secret, why would it have been used on ?’ Many thoughts run through my mind as I stare at my reflection in fascination.

My fingers run through streaks of raven black hair sticking on my olive skin, and my dark-gray eyes flash with bewildernt.

In the entirety of my life, I have never heard of anyone whose body was reverted to their younger years. At most, there are Potions to reduce the effects of aging, and I hear there are Balms from overseas that can halt one’s aged appearance.

There are also very rare Pills—of the highest caliber—that can extend a person’s life by a fraction.

But those are rely rumors, and one must do well not to fully trust them.

Right now, I am beyond confused.

But... also curious.

My Aditi Family was only ever a Middle Rank Knight Household, even until the mont I died. As such, I will admit that there is a lot of information that even I am unaware of. In fact, many of the Kingdom’s affairs were beyond the scope of my knowledge and authority when I was alive, so it’s not like I would be privy to most secrets.

Besides, the Randalorion Kingdom, which I have lived in my whole life, is only one of the fifty thousand kingdoms in the Continent, and by general ranking, it is rely a Mid-sized one.

In essence, it is really nothing special.

All of this simply ans that there could indeed exist such a Potion, or Pill, or Balm, and I would be unaware of it.

But what are the chances? And if they exist, why would such a valuable thing be used on ?

I swear, this boggles the mind!

I feel like I’m going crazy just thinking about it!

Naturally, I am happy that my body has returned to its younger state, but this truly changes a lot of things. How do I explain this matter to my retainers or my children? What of my wife? The entire Kingdom would exclaim in shock and wonder.

Oh no! The Kingdom!

’If I reveal this, will my Aditi Household not be in deep trouble? My unique condition will trigger a lot of reactions, and attention will be drawn to my family. Rumors could spread, and we could get attacked for this reason.’ My thoughts swirl uncontrollably. ’I don’t believe I’m overthinking this at all. Even the Royal Family does not have access to such a Potion that rewinds a body’s ti to such an extent—that, I am certain of.’

Why would a re Mid-Rank Knight Household possess such a power?

Naturally, it would cause envious gazes and imnse pressure from all over. The Kingdom would demand the Aditi Household to hand over the secrets to their Head, reversing his body’s age, and when refused, would retaliate with full force.

Human greed knows no bounds, and the Nowe’arn Race is especially guilty of this.

’What should I do? I can only hide this matter for so long. Should I keep this secret myself and not implicate the entire family? I could run away and leave everyone be. But I still have no clue regarding how I beca like this. Should I call a eting within the Household and discuss what we should do about this? But how can I ensure that this information won’t get leaked? Then there’s also the fact that the room I woke up in is different from where I slept in, which ans soone moved . Doesn’t that an the information could have already been leaked? And what’s it about this room that gives a nostalgic feeling? It’s strange... the furniture looks to be in good condition, and the walls have barely any cracks. It looks recently refurbished too...’

I can’t help but wonder when our Aditi Household had the reserve funds to refurbish a room and afford new furniture.

Ever since the Randalorion Kingdom fell into decline, the quality of life has drastically reduced.

The Nobles who once lived in luxury now have to ration their resources, and even the Royal Family has fallen on hard tis. Naturally, a Mid-Rank Knight Household would also experience its fair share of difficulty.

Even as Family Head, I couldn’t escape this problem. To think there was a room in the Estate that still maintained this level of quality, and I didn’t know about it?

That’s so strange.

’H-hold on... what if I’m not in the Aditi Estate right now? Then—!’

Right as I have this thought, I hear a knock on the entrance door and a youthful voice saying, "Young Master, I’m coming in..."

Before I can even process anything, the person enters.

It is none other than Leon, my closest aide since I was a youth!

He managed many affairs of the Estate for , and despite reaching retirent age, he never stopped serving until I died.

The mont I see him, three questions rush through my mind.

’Why is Leon not surprised to see my younger self in this room, instead of his Lord?’

’Why did Leon call Young Master?’

And... most importantly...

’Why is Leon’s appearance so young as well?!’

My eyes bulge the mont I see a younger Leon. He looks about seventeen years old, which is exactly how old he was when I was fifteen years old.

Does that an—

"L-Leon... it happened to you too? Quickly close the door!"

Leon stares at in confusion, but does as he is told, albeit hesitantly.

"Young Master, what are you talking about?" He asks with a genuinely puzzled expression, which I can’t help but be stunned by.

Also, I can’t stand that he keeps calling "Young Master."

Is it because of my new appearance?

Even then, am I still not the Head of the Aditi Household? As much as I appreciate Leon for all his years of service, there are lines a subordinate should not cross.

Still, I let it slide for the second ti.

There won’t be a third.

"I an... this! Us! We look much younger than before! How is this possible? Do you think so Shaman put a Spell on us? What kind of Potion could exist that causes this effect? I have been thinking about this for so ti now, especially the Kingdom’s reaction, and it does not bode well for the family, Leon." I let out my frustrations at my aide, confident that he will understand all my worries.

After all, he has served for so long.

Plus, he also seems to be in the sa predicant, so surely this is sothing he can personally relate to. Despite thinking this, Leon’s reaction doesn’t et my expectations.

He appears even more confused than before, and a slightly uneasy crease taints his brows.

"Young Master... are you unwell?" Leon asks ekly, his gaze flickering with uncertainty. "Should I inform the Family Steward so they can call the Physician? If it is serious, perhaps I can bring it to the notice of your parents..."

I was about to chide Leon regarding this persistent use of "Young Master," but his ntioning my parents causes to suddenly freeze.

It is now my turn to be extrely confused—no, befuddled.

"... Parents?"

Aren’t my parents dead, though? Certainly, Leon should know this!

He also wouldn’t joke about such a matter, considering how disrespectful it would be to and our Knight Household. Leon has never once crossed such a line when working as my aide, and I can’t imagine him doing that now.

He seems genuinely worried for my health, even now, and his suggestion derives from that concern.

"Mother and Father... where are they right now?" I mutter without even realizing it.

"Ah, I am not sure. But I can confirm for you, Young Master."

Saliva seems to be stuck in my throat, making my voice a little hoarse, but I spill out the next question regardless. "What about my brother and sister?"

My heart races out of worry, perhaps fear.

No, I am definitely afraid.

—Frightened, even!

I am terrified! So terrified of what Leon might say in response to that question.

But, I ask anyway and look him straight in the face as he answers it.

"Your brother, Young Lord Craig, is currently in the garden. As for your sister, Young Lady Selicia... I hear she has been hanging around the Warriors’ Training Area again."

I tremble as I hear this.

My furrowed brows slightly relax, but I am still perplexed.

"Young Master, this is not in my place to say... but please show rcy in your reprimands." Leon bows his head while informing of this.

I can understand why his reaction will be this way. After all, I often punished my siblings for any actions that contradicted what the family expected of them.

My younger brother, Craig, didn’t belong in the garden but in training.

As for my sister, she wasn’t supposed to be anywhere near weapons, but instead inside the house learning ladylike crafts.

These two would often disobey my orders and sneak off to do whatever they liked when we were younger, but they eventually stopped at a certain age. It could have been due to my punishnts getting more severe, or simply as a result of their maturity, but none of that matters now.

What matters is that they are alive right now.

"Does that an... my body didn’t get de-aged?" I whisper, staring at my hands yet again with a realization that, quite frankly, ca a little slow.

This isn’t the sa Aditi Household within the declining Randalorion Kingdom that I died in.

I’m not yet the Head of the Family.

My parents are alive.

My siblings aren’t dead yet.

That ans... Leon and I didn’t simply revert to our younger selves.

We are in the past!

Or rather, I should say that I have sohow returned to the past!

This is even stranger than a Potion that can reverse age.

’I, Javier Aditi, have co fifty years into the past...’ As the realization dawns on , I cover my face with my two hands to hide the flushed expression that currently drowns my entire visage.

This is beyond the level of sorcery, but none of that even matters at all!

I do not care about the cause.

I won’t be able to understand it anyway!

The only thing I think about is the promise I made to myself before death:

"This ti, for sure, I will finally pursue the dreams and aspirations that I set aside in the past. I can finally live true to myself, without restraints or regrets..."

I will be free!