Revan shut his eyes tight, forcing himself to sleep. Maybe... just maybe, a moment of slumber could quell the irritation burning in his chest when he woke up later.
You might be wondering, why did he give up so easily?
Why didn't he vent his anger? Why didn't he drag the brat, beat him to a pulp, or strangle that small neck until his face turned blue?
Believe me, he had thought about it.
In fact, long before he reincarnated into this world, he had planted a dark resolve in his mind: If I ever meet this character, I will beat him to death and cut off that useless little manhood of his.
But all that murderous intent vanished without a trace after he actually lived in this body.
Years of breathing with the same lungs, feeling the same heartbeat... it changed everything. The reincarnated soul had tasted firsthand what kind of hell the original owner faced.
Born into a "fallen" family. Growing up without the right to speak, without a shred of freedom, as if he were merely living property, not a human being.
Revan realized one bitter truth: No matter how much he hated this character, the boy never asked to be born. He never filled out an application form to be born into such suffering.
So, when Revan said in his dying moments that he regretted it... that he understood this character's suffering...
It wasn't an act.
It was the most sincere and honest feeling he had ever poured out from the deepest depths of his heart.
And the explosive anger and coarse curses he spewed earlier weren't actually directed at the boy.
All of it was pure frustration. A scream of protest against fate, which for some reason had given him such cruel torture.
However, right before Revan truly drifted off to sleep... a soft voice suddenly broke the silence.
"I'm sorry..."
Hearing that, Revan instantly snapped his left eye open, looking at the small back lazily.
"Sorry for what?"
There was no answer for a few seconds, before finally, the boy replied in a voice that sounded hoarse and hesitant.
"For... everything."
Revan let out a long sigh. Then, a small laugh escaped his lips.
"The one who should be apologizing is me, Brat."
Revan turned his head, staring at that small back with a gaze that was now much softer. There was no longer any look of annoyance on his face.
"You must have... seen everything all this time, right?"
The boy didn't answer with words, only giving a slight, slow nod. A small movement that for Revan was enough of a 'yes'.
Revan smiled bitterly, then continued his confession.
"Listen... I stole your fate. I took over your body by force."
"You should be the one there... living, breathing, and doing whatever you wanted with your own remaining time. Not replaced by a stranger like me."
He shifted his position to be more comfortable.
"I know I never said it properly, but while I have the chance in this place... I want to apologize to you."
"Forgive me for spitting on your existence every time I looked in the mirror."
"Forgive me for calling you trash, mocking your face, and cursing every weakness you had as if it were a mortal sin."
After saying that, Revan fell silent for a moment.
From his angle, he could see those small shoulders starting to tremble gently. Silent sobs slowly broke out, and even though his face was hidden, Revan knew tears were falling heavily there.
Seeing that sight... somehow, Revan's heart felt relieved.
The heavy burden pressing on his chest seemed to melt away along with the boy's tears. It was a strange kind of relief, but calming.
"Just ignore all my harsh curses earlier," he added softly.
"I didn't mean to direct them at you. I was just... venting a little frustration at this rotten luck. That's all."
Revan slowly rose from his seat. His eyes never left the small back that was still trembling violently from crying.
His footsteps echoed softly as he walked toward the original soul. The figure looked so fragile, trapped in the form of a lonely ten-year-old child.
Reaching him, Revan lowered his body, kneeling to match his height, then without hesitation pulled that small body into a tight, warm embrace.
"This isn't your fault, Brat..." he whispered softly into the child's ear.
Revan paused for a moment, then corrected his address with a tone that was much gentler and full of respect.
"...Ah, no. I mean... Revan."
At least... this is the only thing I can do, that was the thought crossing his mind right now.
It felt truly strange. Truly strange. The figure now in his embrace was the character he used to hate to death. The character he always considered weak and pathetic.
Who would have thought, the character he hated most in the whole world... was actually the only soul he could understand the most.
Every inch of sadness, every drop of fear, and every scream of despair the boy had buried... Revan could feel it as if it were his own.
A tightness slowly began to creep into his chest, bringing with it painful flashes of memory.
Revan remembered his struggle all this time. How he forced that fragile body to train desperately, refusing to rest for even a second, and torturing his physique for one goal: Survival.
At that point, a new understanding slammed into him.
Maybe... the "cowardly" and "weak" nature of the original Revan in the game wasn't an innate defect. It was the result of brutal circumstances. This child's soul had been shattered and forcibly shaped by endless suffering since the day he was born.
The more he thought about it, the more intense the pain in his chest became.
This child was alone... all this time.
While he was busy fighting against the world, spilling blood and sweat under the sun... this boy was rotting in an endless prison.
He had seized that name. He had stolen that face.
If right now he had taken over everything—if he was now the only legitimate owner of the body and fate of "Revan Von Alstaire"—then... who was the figure he was hugging?
If the identity had truly changed masters, then what was left of him? Was he now merely a hollow shell without a name? Was he nothing? Was he nobody?
However, right as that thought echoed in his head...
Suddenly, Revan felt a strange sensation creeping over his entire body. It was like a sudden wave of wind pulling at him.
Like water taking everything without mercy.
Revan is dragged backward, shivering as the cold current pulls him away.
A name catches in his throat... screamed into the wind.
A desperate sound of care that can no longer reach him.
He watches a small life slowly disappearing into the grey unknown...
Leaving him with nothing but the silence.
But... why?