Aeren watched them with growing jealousy and envy, staring at their vibrant colors while feeling increasingly irritated about the situation. He couldn't comprehend why he felt so frustrated by the mere empowerment of others—until he noticed something alarming about his REALM.
Aeren realized that every moment of his existence was dying in the present and becoming past moments. His present-self died and a new present was born within him repeatedly. He was experiencing death again and again, but his consciousness couldn't grasp this death's meaning or understand its significance.
The revelation shocked him when he finally understood—this happened to everyone. All beings died in their present and were reborn into the next present moment, but their consciousness was too weak to remember the countless deaths they experienced every second. Their bodies functioned normally, but they lost their lives continuously without anyone noticing this death or recognizing it as an illusion.
Then Aeren noticed his realm beginning to crumble. He had started feeling irritated without reason, and now he understood why. His Self-Freedom Realm was collapsing because he had been chained, even momentarily—meaning Aeren had accepted slavery from the world.
Though he recognized this deterioration, Aeren did nothing to prevent his Self-Freedom Realm's destruction. Self-Freedom meant liberation from all forms of slavery existing in existence, non-existence, or anywhere—hell, heaven, abyss, nothingness. Self-Freedom could free one from anything by taking all freedom from others. Just as I can take life from a person, I steal their freedom to live.
Aeren had never considered that chaining himself would cost him his Self-Freedom Realm. But he had to take this step to discover the meaning he desperately sought.
As these thoughts consumed him, Aeren observed his mortal form and spoke to himself, "Now death has power over me. I have become human again, like those around me."
He watched his mortal self as his Self-Freedom Realm shattered completely, forcing him to join the realm of human emotions, feelings, and characteristics.
Aeren was surprised that throughout his previous two lifetimes, he had never noticed this constant dying. This realization revealed a new aspect of freedom he had been searching for—though it wasn't as significant as he had hoped.
Dismissing his condition, Aeren noticed his family members discussing the powers they had gained from his unconscious state. Their conversation wounded him deeply. After observing them for a while, he addressed them directly.
"Father, why are we meeting here?"
Aeren's voice interrupted their excited discussion about their newfound strength. They had nearly forgotten about him while celebrating among themselves.
Emperor Baltazar turned to Aeren with enthusiasm. "What type of color manifested within you?"
The Emperor expected exceptional results from Aeren. He had always trusted his son's talent and anticipated that if the entire family had gained so much power, Aeren must have received something only he could understand and describe.
Aeren noticed their excitement and saw their faces expressing belief that he possessed colors beyond even theirs. He looked at them while hiding his shame internally, reluctant to embarrass himself before the people he knew best. Yet he had to tell them—they would discover the truth eventually anyway.
Gathering his courage, Aeren spoke truthfully, "I gained nothing. I have no color within me and have lost all the power I possessed before. Now I'm left with only this mortal body." He had sacrificed all power from his Self-Freedom to seek the meaning of True-Freedom.
Aeren was left with this mortal vessel whose capabilities remained unknown to him—he had never attempted to explore its true strength. This new situation required resolution through this mortal form alone.
Lowering his head with downcast features, Aeren thought: I've lost my Self-Freedom Realm. I could accomplish anything with that freedom, yet I still couldn't perceive true freedom. Now I have nothing. I've become empty again, dying every moment, changing with each second. What if the Self-Freedom Realm was another name for True-Freedom?
No, that's impossible. I would have sensed it if that were True-Freedom.
While Aeren wrestled with these thoughts, his entire family stared at him in shock, exchanging disbelieving glances at his words.
But seeing Aeren's condition, they could tell he genuinely had lost his power. They all fixed their eyes on him, watching his reaction while uncertain how to respond to his situation.
Emperor Baltazar felt sadness for Aeren, but the next moment he also felt relief. He continued staring at his son when his gaze fell upon Swapn. Upon seeing the butterfly, Emperor Baltazar spoke directly to Aeren, momentarily forgetting his son's depression.
"What's on your head, Aeren?" Baltazar's eyes locked onto the beautiful butterfly, unable to look away.
Aeren noticed his father's fascination and wanted to boast about Swapn, but thought: There's no point anyway. Father will forget about the butterfly again.
Baltazar grew confused by Aeren's lack of response, which kindled anger within him—though he didn't show it outwardly. He forgot his question entirely, and in the next moment, Baltazar spoke words that shocked all the royal family members around him.
"Aeren, you are stripped of your crown prince title from now on." Emperor Baltazar forgot his question, but the lack of response from Aeren stirred an inexplicable anger within him. This unknown fury influenced his sudden decision to strip Aeren of his title.
Baltazar's cold tone surprised Empress Hyliana, but she also considered Aeren's situation. She could see that he had more enemies than friends and had recently antagonized people like Jarek, who had manifested new colors and possessed a bright future. As for Aeren, he had lost everything by his own admission.
Therefore, she didn't object to Emperor Baltazar's decision and simply kept her eyes fixed on Aeren.
Aeren was shocked by his sudden demotion but had no words to offer. At that moment, Ellie emerged from somewhere and heard the news.
"HAHAHAHAHA, brother Aeren. Your power is finally gone!" Ellie laughed at Aeren, remembering the last hope he had taken from her.
All family members turned to Ellie, who appeared more beautiful than before. Their eyes could tell she had gained something similar to them. But before anyone could speak—
Aeren ignored her laughter and turned to his father. "What do you mean, Father?" he asked with a frustrated tone. The situation aggravated him—it felt as though he was losing even more freedom.
Although Aeren had previously lost all worldly desires, he had recently regained the worldly desires he had abandoned. This made him more invested in his position than anyone else in the world.
Unable to tolerate any more, he released all his frustration upon his father.
"There's no deeper meaning behind it, Aeren. You have become weak while the world has gained power. Now you're no longer worthy of becoming emperor."
Ellie listened to their conversation with a smile spreading across her face as she observed Aeren. The others also heard their exchange but lacked the authority to interfere—they could only watch.
Aeren sensed the silence surrounding him and spoke again to his father with a polite tone, controlling his frustrated emotions. "Then what about the marriage arrangement?"
His eyes remained locked on Emperor Baltazar, his head unmoving and his face expressionless.
Emperor Baltazar raised an eyebrow at Aeren's question, remembering something he had nearly forgotten. He turned to his three children: Darius, Viktor, and Ellie. The Emperor could entrust his crown to Viktor, his second son, but couldn't decide immediately. So he turned back to Aeren.
"Hmm, we still have a week to decide. I will make my decision on your birthday, Aeren." Baltazar spoke his final words regarding the crown prince position, and Aeren remained silent.
Everyone expected some reaction from Aeren, wanting to witness more emotions they had never seen from him. But Aeren disappointed them by remaining quiet. He accepted the circumstances but didn't know whether he was included in this examination for the crown prince position.