Rebirth: Childhood friend of the heroine

The person whom she saw before she fell asleep was the same person she saw after waking up.

"Morning." Beatrice softly said as she stretched her arms and let out a soft yawn.

"Good morning. Do you feel any discomfort?" Alex asked which caused her to chuckle,

"I should be asking you that…ah! Umm, can you tell me something…" Her drowsiness vanished as she seriously asked, "Can you tell me if there is something wrong with your grimoire?"

Alex frowned; unsure what was wrong before he checked,

[Name: Alex]

[Age: 17]

[Str: 34] (Avg: 30)

[Spd: 42] (Avg: 30)

[Int: 81] (Avg: 25)Nôv(el)B\\jnn

[Skill: Storage, Sword Arts, Rapid regeneration, Heightened comprehensibility.]

[Soul Energy: 1020]

[Upper limit: 500]

[Lower limit: 25]

…

He shook his head, "There is nothing wrong; I gained Soul energy and my stats have increased a bit after fighting those beasts last night."

Hearing his words, Beatrice heaved a long sigh of relief.

Alex couldn't stop himself from asking, "Can you tell me what happened to me last night? It's all foggy but I could tell something happened last night which has affected everyone in this mansion."

Earlier he noticed how Amanda was dodging his eyes and wasn't looking at him when talking. It showed that she was apprehensive in his presence.

Beatrice got up and sat while facing him. Taking the glass and jug she filled it to the brim.

Alex waited silently as Beatrice drank a few mouthfuls of water before telling him, "I don't think you are prepared to hear the truth."

"If you don't want any innocent to die because I am being kept in the dark, then sure you can choose whether to tell me or not."

Alex couldn't make her believe him so he just offered her the possible future.

Beatrice was rendered speechless. She couldn't believe that the same boy who immediately agreed with anyone who showed a bit of aggression toward him was now talking so sensibly.

Heaving a sigh, she said, "Okay, I will tell you."

She took out a small orb from her pocket and dropped it on the ground, before a barely visible force field erected around the duo.

Alex didn't need to ask what it was since he was aware of the commonly found sound isolation artifact.

The lady was quite hesitant, Alex noticed. However, he was persistent. He has to know what the heck happened last night for him to traumatize his friend.

"Alex…Celeria and Brendon aren't your real parents."

"I am aware ... and before you ask how, it's pretty obvious that no parents would abandon their child just because he was accused. So yeah, it was pretty obvious."

Beatrice was indeed shocked that not only Hector, who was a wise and old person with quite a lot of experience, but a teenager like Alex also noticed the deceit of those two.

Since she didn't need to show him the same projection of that night, she continued with revelation,

"The Nation in the north doesn't work under the same monarchical system as Grimland. There are three major clans running Everloyr. And among the three clans, Frostbate is at the superior position."

"Every new law or the budget is passed by them and they have the authority to change the decision of the council—unless the said decision isn't regarded as for everyone's betterment."

Alex nodded, urging her to continue.

"The patriarch of the Frostbate clan, Sir Eryndor, has three wives and you were his third wife's eldest child."

She then went ahead and told him everything she told Hector. How Alex was adored and was said to have the potential to become the next clan head. His behavior during the childhood phase and his relationship with his siblings.

Alex showed no clear reaction to her words until she reached that point where he showed signs of being inhumane.

"I ate their grimoire?"

"Yes…as what you told us. Since it happened so suddenly, no one saw what you did, but everyone noticed young master Elion fading."

"And when you were asked, you revealed that you found his grimoire appetizing."

Now Alex recalled what was so delicious looking last night. It was the grimoire of the wolf that he devoured.

'Was Alex canonically like this….then why didn't he show such traits when he got killed by the Soulless-ah!' How can he forget that soulless beings do not possess a grimoire?

"So after that happened…the council was united to take the decision of what should be done."

"This council consisted of members from every clan and three members from outside any clan. And the decisions they take are mostly accepted by the people and the clan members."

Slight annoyance appeared on her face as she added, "Sir Elion was the second son of Patriarch's first wife—Lady Sienna. And Lady Sienna's father was among the council who conducted your trial."

Alex moved his head in a semi-circular motion while he added, "So he took the revenge of his grandson by sentencing me to life imprisonment."

Beatrice grimly nodded, "Yes, however, since there were no records about the skill you possess, it was decided to first suppress your curse."

"A team of seven members was assigned for the job that suppressed that skill of yours from your grimoire and erased your memories until that time."

With a sad look, she added, "Among those seven members was my mother."

Releasing a heavy sigh she added, "The only person who opposed the decision of locking you up was your mother. And her demand might have been heard considering the Patriarch loved her dearly…until she was framed to be cheating on the Patriarch."

Taking a pause she added, "Rather than saving her child from the prison, the pitiful lady was punished."

**CRACK**

The handle of the chair cracked as the strength behind his hold elevated suddenly.

Alex looked confused about why he just felt the sudden anger…even though he doesn't know his mother.

In the first place, he wasn't Alex and it wasn't his obligation to care about his parents….right?

Then why did he suddenly feel like this?

Alex, with a frown, asked the lady, "Is there any way to know more about this seal or somehow erase it for like forever?"

Beatrice expected this; as such, she told him, "Those who can help you are the council members and the remaining six members who put the seal on you."

"Do you know where I can find them?"

There was a certain apprehension in his voice that Beatrice noticed, and she knew the reason behind it.

Beatrice calmly explained to him, "Look, Alex, these six people can only be summoned by the council, but threatening the council would complicate things. Rather I have a better and straightforward solution."

"Tell me." Alex urged, calming down his nerves as he did so.

"In a month a tournament would be arranged that would allow the people from different tribes and clans to show their might and prove their worth. The one who wins the tournament can demand anything—a role in the council, a portion of the treasure…anything."

Alex massaged his temples, "So you mean to say, I have to participate in this tournament and get myself a wish to know about this seal?"

Beatrice hesitantly added, "Or…you can use that wish to grant your mother freedom."

Alex didn't reply to her instantly and remained sitting there in silence for a long time.

He has no memories of this said mother, except for those few instances he saw last night.

There was something certain from those memories; his mother dearly loved him. And because of him, she was framed and robbed of her freedom.

For the first time in years, Alex felt a peculiar ache in his chest—a mixture of guilt, confusion, and anger. Memories of a woman who held him close whispered words of love and shielded him with her frail body flickered in his mind.

Yet, these were not his memories—or at least, they didn't feel like they belonged to him. They were foreign like a story read too many times but never truly understood.

Alex would be lying to say that he didn't feel a little inclined to save her. However, his priority lies in getting rid of this damn seal.

After all, his focus was on the upcoming ascension contest. The enemies awaiting there are far stronger than the big wolf they faced yesterday.

Going there without fully aware of his own body…the skills he possesses, and the restriction forced on him would be devastating.

There was a certain hope in his heart that…maybe if he could get control over his hunger then it would be his best weapon during the ascension contest.

'So the tournament arc is it…' He wouldn't say he was confident in single-handedly winning this, but yes, if it was against humans, Alex was confident in his chance of winning.

Suddenly Alex had a thought that he didn't restrict within his mind and asked her,

"Hey, Beatrice…what if, as a reward, I ask for the clan head's position?"

"...."

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A/N:- Thanks for reading. Drop a comment.