Read The Truth of You | Tapas Web Novels

In Medias Res

He was too much like him he couldn't stand it. There, was a man who accomplished what he could only dream of. He felt betrayed. Was he simply not good enough? Where could he have possibly gone wrong?

In the distance, Aiden silently watched over the scene where the lovable Helios was acclaimed by the jolly crowd. Words of gratitude and blessings were thrown here and there, and the sound of laughter resonated across the entire place.

Wasn't he too cruel?

Aiden couldn't help but hate this side of himself who blamed the innocent man. He was all he could ever be. The better version, yes. The one who couldn't feel such repulsive emotions. The one who couldn't think such ugly thoughts. He, who was born on this land with a glorious name and an outstanding appearance, could only stand on top of it all. Helios was certainly the protagonist of this world as the entire universe was watching over him and assisting him in his most improbable plans. Helios lived up to his name: he was the sun.

For all he loves his people, Aiden can only perceive his existence as disposable and insignificant. He devoted his time and life to them while slowly losing his convictions and resilience when he relentlessly ends up cornered throughout all their adventures.

His patience doesn't bring his heart any comfort, and his slow feats can only seem ridiculous before his grand ambitions. He yearns to accomplish the best outcome possible, leaving his mind in a constant state of stress and fear. His self loathing becomes even more transparent as he struggles alone to solve everything, blaming himself when his environment is just monstrously powerful.

In this way, the boy believed his previous people would genuinely care for him and recognize his efforts. In vain.

He understood life was unpredictable and forgave himself for making mistakes. He acknowledged he was imperfect. He refused to live by such hellish standards any longer. He clung to his freedom and embraced his true character, resolute to love himself more.

His life couldn't be expandable and he would become utterly useless, which he hated to be. Aiden questioned his beliefs: he didn't know how to feel about this change.

He fell out of favor and it was time to accept it.

He was always compared to his role model, his amazing father. An honorable man of good character. He was the lord of the eastern region, well known for his benevolence and talent as he managed to make his land one of the most prosperous across the entire continent within a few years. Thus he, as the son of such a commendable marquis, couldn't fathom the idea of failure but, as his efforts were continuously betrayed, he ultimately gave up, completely devastated. He succumbed to this unhealthy mindset and tricked himself others hated him too. He failed to realize the love in his original world, and eventually gave up on obtaining it at all.

That would be the obejective narrating of this event.

The young man started a new chapter of his life. This time, Aiden would selfishly live for himself and himself alone. Trust was a lie he couldn't believe in anymore. He wanted to live a life of truth and deemed love to be the first illusion in his new world.

He left his companions the very next day, although it seemed his absence was noticed by none. This was the last push he needed to go through with his plan. He wouldn't look back on the old days affectionately anymore. He couldn't afford to feel hurt or futile.

If he was the outshined side character whose potential couldn't be explored in order to leave the spotlight for the main character. If he existed solely to be the shadow for another man's light. If he was to exclusively act for the sake of supporting that man's ambitions with no regard to his own, then he refused to live through the humiliation of his grand person. He wanted to break out of the narrative that made him so miserable.

Everything seemed so different when he distanced himself from the main stage as he now planned to sit in a loge, contemptuously looking down on the play. Aiden created for himself a new place in the world that so stubbornly rejected him.

If Helios was the Hero, then he would become the Villain, and if Helios was the Villain, then he would be the Hero.

The first step to this ambitious project was to gather intel. Information was the greatest human strength and was his greatest ally as well, perhaps the only one. He had lived a life of isolation from the outside for so long, and so was ignorant of all that was happening across the world.

His destination was consequently the city of Rena.