Timeless Assassin - Chapter 824
Chapter 824: Charles’s Last Message
(Planet Ixtal, Inside Soron’s Castle, Soron’s POV)
For a brief moment after unfolding the letter, Soron did not dare read it.
He simply sat staring at it, the thin parchment resting in his palm like something far heavier than its size could justify, as though the weight of an entire lifetime had been folded into that small rectangle.
The wax seal had cracked slightly with age, yet Charles’ handwriting upon the front remained steady, unmistakable, and painfully familiar.
*Sniff*
The letter still carried with it the faint scent of smoke.
The same brand Charles used to frequent, as despite the years having passed, the parchment still retained a faint smell of that cigarette that he probably smoked while writing this.
‘Ha…. This letter sure smells like you, old friend.’
Soron thought, as he finally began to read the first lines.
[Old friend… if you are reading this, then I am already dead.
By the time this reaches you, the Righteous Scum would have likely overrun Juxta, and the Cult would be facing an existential crisis.
I am sorry, old friend.
I know what that world meant to you.
I tried to protect it the way you asked me to…
but I am not you.
I am only mortal… and I have reached the end of what my mortal limits can do.]
Soron’s fingers curled around the edges of the parchment as he read, his knuckles whitening slowly.
He had prepared himself for these words.
He knew Charles was gone.
He had known Charles was dead back when he was inside the blackhole itself, however, while knowing it was one thing, reading it in Charles’ own hand was something else entirely.
“…Idiot,” Soron whispered, though the word lacked anger.
It trembled with grief instead.
“You should have retreated. Although I cherish Juxta, you were worth more to me than every planet under Cult rule.”
He whispered, before then forcing himself to continue.
[Do not carry this failure for me.
Juxta falling was never your responsibility alone, and it was never mine alone either.
Forging that blade was important.
And if I knew this was going to be the outcome of your absence, I’d still choose to do things this way, as I’d gladly sacrifice my life for an Origin Blade, rather than you not having one.]
Charles shared, as Soron felt his eyes water at those words.
Charles knew the risks when he agreed to let Soron leave the Cult, and yet, he did not blame Soron for it.
“This is exactly why I can never replace you, old friend.
For although I may find a more capable warrior,
I’ll never find a vice sect master as selfless as you….”
He whispered, as he forced the water in his eyes to dry up before continuing.
[In your absence, the young Dragons have stepped forward big time, surprising even me.
Rough around the edges, stubborn as hell, reckless in ways that remind me far too much of you… but they have that special spark about them.
The kind of fire you only see once in a few millenia.]
Charles praised, as Soron raised an eyebrow at his words.
[I wish I had more time to shape them properly.
They probably needed more of me than I could give… but fate does not bargain with men like us.
Still, I can say this with all the certainty left in my bones:
If those two survive long enough, the Cult’s flame will never die.
They have what it takes.
Both of them.]
Charles wrote, as a faint, shaky exhale left Soron.
He stared at the words for several seconds, letting their truth settle deep inside him.
He had already known Leo possessed the potential for greatness, and that Charles had a special soft corner for the boy, however, what he did not expect was for Charles to praise Veyr so highly as well.
[If Leo and Veyr are still alive when you read this…then I have one last request, old friend.
If you still have some life left in you, and you’re capable enough of passing down some of your insights to them….. Go out of your way to do it.
I know you’re not big on teaching.
And that you don’t like to pass down your insights when it comes to battle.
But make an exception just this once.
Even if it’s for a single sparring session.
Let those two feel what it’s like at the summit of universal power.
For I feel like if they see it once themselves, they will surely reach it some day….]
Charles shared, as Soron shook his head side to side reading those words.
*Sigh*
“You think that highly of them, huh?”
He muttered, before then chuckling at his own physical condition, as he absolutely hated the idea of undergoing a sparring session with this dying body, however, resolved to do it regardless, just for Charles.
[Leo in particular, I feel, is the second coming of the Timeless Assassin.
As even though both boys are talented, that kid is in a league of his own….
And I know you feel like I’m too biased as his teacher, but believe me when I say, this is my honest assessment of that kid.
For if Leo, with his mentality and talent still can’t become as great as you and your father, then I don’t know who can…. ]
Charles wrote, as Soron nodded in agreement to his words.
Although he wasn’t sure whether anyone could ever become a warrior as great as his father, he did believe Leo had the potential to come close.
With him dying rapidly now, Leo was the man he planned on entrusting the Cult next to, not because he was ready, but because he was the only one left who could possibly endure that burden.
As with Charles gone and his own life fading, he felt like he had no other choice.
*Sigh*
Exhaling slowly, he turned to the next line on the letter, as the ink in this section seemed more blotted and messy, as if this were a part that Charles wrote while losing his calm.