Chapter 131: Chapter 84: Quiet life (6)
[Jevan Perspective]
A whole month had passed since I returned to the past, alongside the younger version of myself. The longest I’d ever stayed in this strange state. Usually, it only lasts a few days before I end up back in the present again.
But that’s fine. It’s not a bad thing at all. Technically speaking, this is the first time I’ve ever had this much peace. No chases, no blood, no screaming in my head just watching the little Jevan go through his daily routine.
The kid looked genuinely happy. I’d never seen him like that before. Honestly, I’d never seen him look happy at all. For the first time, he actually seemed like a normal child living a normal life. Seeing that brightness in his face gave me a bit of comfort, even though I know damn well this won’t last forever.
I mean, what exactly happened to the Street Sons? I remembered what Vensen told me the first time I asked about their fate he said the Investigation Bureau came and captured their leader. But the real question is... who was the leader? Who was the Bureau’s real target? Valeric? Or Yara?
It’s clear that Yara’s the one leading the gang now. And though she’s the daughter of a witch from the Witch Forest, I don’t think that alone would make the Bureau chase her. Valeric, on the other hand, carries a lot of mystery around him, but he doesn’t seem like the kind of man who’d do anything reckless enough to get the Bureau after him.
Still, I need to warn him. It doesn’t look like anyone else will. And once I’m back in the present, I’ll have to find Vensen and force him to tell me everything about how the Street Sons fell.
I passed through the wall to the outside, where Valeric was standing, smoking. His posture was relaxed, but his face showed he was deep in thought. When he saw me, his expression tensed for a second before he sighed in relief and said dryly,
"Oh... it’s you. What do you want this time?"
"I came to warn you."
He turned his eyes away.
"Another warning? If it’s like the last one, save yourself the effort."
I cut him off.
"The Investigation Bureau will catch you."
"What did you say?"
"I said the Bureau will arrest you. I just remembered the details of the Street Sons’ downfall."
"When exactly will that happen?"
"I don’t know."
This time, his face changed noticeably. He actually believed me. Looked more serious than I’d ever seen him before.
He put out his cigarette against the wall and said.
"Try to find out more details."
I rubbed my forehead in annoyance.
"You think I don’t want to? The problem is, it’s not up to me. It’s like... a power that lets me see glimpses of the future, but I can’t control the details. Just fragments."
Of course, that wasn’t true but I had to make him believe me somehow.
Valeric pulled another cigarette from his pocket and shot me an irritated look. He put it between his lips, then lit it with a brass lighter engraved with a crow on the side. After taking a long drag, he exhaled and said mockingly,
"Then why tell me at all? Just to make me nervous?"
"I’m trying to help you, though you don’t seem very grateful."
"No, you’re not trying to help. You just enjoy giving bad news."
"Maybe. Or maybe I’m the only one here who actually cares enough to keep you out of a Bureau cell. Who knows? Anyway, those kids seem to see you as their leader, don’t they?"
"What does that have to do with anything?"
I changed the subject.
"Why is the Bureau interested in you specifically?"
He took another drag, then pulled the cigarette from his mouth and held it between his fingers. He stared off toward the horizon before finally saying:
"Oh, that. I used to be part of a criminal organization."
"Man, what kind of life have you lived exactly? Has anyone in this city ever had a normal, supernatural free life?"
He turned his face toward me and said:
"I don’t think my life’s any more interesting than yours."
"Maybe. Anyway, watch yourself. Don’t die, and don’t let the Bureau catch you. Got it?"
He replied:
"And you try not to stray too far from Jevan. You’ll draw attention if there’s a strong Assimilator nearby."
I didn’t answer. I just kept walking through the building, passing through walls and hallways.
While I walked, I couldn’t help but think would the future really change because of what I did? Would the little Jevan live a better life because I warned Valeric?
I hoped so. But honestly, I didn’t believe it. Up to now, I hadn’t tried seriously to change much of anything. Maybe because deep down, I’m convinced everything I do is meaningless anyway.
Besides, I want the Street Sons to stay alive. But at the same time, I don’t want to change the future too much.
If the future changes and the little Jevan ends up living peacefully, never meeting the lunatic who killed me would I still exist? Would I stay like this? Or would I simply disappear?
Strangely, the idea of disappearing didn’t scare me. Maybe because I’ve already died more than once. Or maybe, to be completely honest, it’s because there’s nothing in this world worth existing for anymore.
And yet... something inside me still refuses to let go. It keeps pushing me to return to the place where I belong.
I’ll keep trying. Even if it takes thousands of years, I’ll find a way back.
I was lost in thought when I heard footsteps in the hallway. I looked up and saw the little Jevan walking beside Valeria. He was laughing, smiling brightly as he talked to her with excitement.
Why do scenes like this always feel so familiar?
I passed through the wall again and started wandering aimlessly through the place just watching the surroundings and the people.
To be honest, there weren’t many people here. Mostly, I was just looking at the furniture.
And honestly, every time I looked around, I was even more shocked. The furniture was luxurious.
Where in the name of the Creator did they get all this stuff?