Ascension: Strongest Fateless Mage

After three years…

Their fruit of research was near, and they would soon succeed. Zevien had also gathered money and stability. He had some connections, and he was also a powerful 4th-class magician. Once their fairy summoning spell was completed, their future would only get better.

However, Zevien couldn't wait anymore as he felt this was also the right time to confess. He had a strange feeling and urge to propose to her after waking up today, and he decided to do it!

After getting a shower and eating breakfast, he dialed Vernisia's number.

However, the answer he got startled him.

"You are still at the lab? Don't tell me you pulled an all-nighter again…sigh. Wait, I am coming there right away," Zevien said through the Digi call and hung up before pulling out his bike from the house near the fourth magic Academy. This house was given to him by the government because of his job.

After arriving at the lab, he saw Vernisia lying on a sofa with an exhausted expression.

However, she woke up after hearing the footsteps of Zevien and stood up as she sat on the sofa.

"Vernisia…why are you working so hard? You are really pushing yourself past six months," Zevien said with a worried expression as he sat beside her. He checked her forehead and sighed, "you also have a fever. Sigh..."

"Zev…," Vernisia gently smiled as she caressed Zevien's cheeks, "I love you."

Zevien was stunned and overjoyed after hearing that. What was this coincidence? He also decided to confess today, and Vernisia too?

However, before he could speak after opening his mouth, Vernisia's hand that touched his cheek reached his lips and sealed them.

"I love you, Zev. But…we can not be together. I am sorry," Vernisia continued as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Hearing her words, Zevien felt a buzz in his head. The words of Vernisia confused him and sent him into a spiral.

Why can't they be together? They were already inseparable!! At least, that's what Zevien thought and felt while staying with Vernisia for years. On top of that, today was the day they would become one!

Both of them had unconditionally cared for each other all this while, and Zevien was sure that Vernisia loved him just as he loved her because…she was showing him the same type of care as he showed her all the time.

There was not even a need to confess; that's how natural and genuine their love was.

Zevien grabbed Vernisia's hand and put it away from his lips before speaking hoarsely, "why can't we be together? We…have always been together and will continue to stay together, no?"

Zevien felt that he was sinking into the abyss. He felt heavy in his heart and was internally suffocating.

Why did Vernisia say something like that?

"I am sorry, Zev," Vernisia started crying as she suddenly hugged Zevien.

"I am sorry that I hid things from you. I…I don't have much time to live. My magic eidos body has had a fault since I was born…an incurable illness that no magic or magical medical technology could cure. Six months ago, I was told that I would die exactly six months later, which is today. My brain will die, and my heart will stop beating."

Hearing the despairing words, Zevien felt like the sky had fallen on him. Was this why Vernisia never confessed to him? Why? Why something like that has to happen to her?

HE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT IT!

His heart only had a place for one person, Vernisia!

Zevien looked at Vernisia's tear-stained face as she hugged his chest. A suffocating feeling enveloped him.

This…he couldn't imagine how Vernisia would have, waiting for her death. He was sure that Vernisia was feeling more pain than him.

"Was this the reason you'd never confessed to me before? But...you should have told me about your illness, "Zevien sobbed as tears streamed down his cheeks.

"Yes. But…I wanted to tell you in words and actions that I love you," Vernisia said as she looked at Zevien with a tear-streamed face and kissed him.

After staying together for six years, this was their first kiss, but Zevien couldn't find the joy he wanted to feel in this special moment.

"Sorry that I am leaving you, Zev..." Vernisia said while sobbing as she stayed in Zevien's hug.

"No…, you can't," Zevien was heartbroken and was also losing his will to live. He couldn't imagine living without Vernisia by his side.

"Please, you can't die," Zevien cried as tears ran down his cheeks like a river flowing. He hugged her tightly while speaking in a sobbing voice, "please…you can't leave me alone. I can't imagine my world without you…please."

"Zev, I want to meet you again in my next life and stay with you forever next time."

Vernisia and Zevien both cried in a tight hug. But…suddenly, all movements of Vernisia stopped.

Her sobbing stopped…along with her heartbeat.

"Vernisia?" Zevien grabbed Vernisia's shoulder and shook her; however, Vernisia's eyes were closed, and she was not moving.

"No…," Zevien hoarsely spoke as he tightly hugged her again, "no…."

"NO!!!" Zevien shouted in despair and unwillingness as he cried loudly.

"Please…come back…come back, Vernisia!"

Zevien cried loudly as his throat was tearing apart. WHY?!!!

Space inside the lab shook as golden particles suddenly conjured around Zevien out of nowhere.

And at that moment, the entire world stopped moving. Time seemingly stopped as if someone had pressed a pause button.

A little boy with a twelve-year-old appearance appeared and floated in front of Zevien inside the lab. The boy had silver and gold mix hair and looked otherworldly despite wearing pajamas with starry designs.

The boy looked at Zevien and snapped his finger, which caused Zevien to be the only person able to move in this time-frozen Magia realm.

Zevien was shocked to see a boy suddenly appearing in front of him.

"Yo, kid. Stop crying now because I have the power to cure her incurable illness and even revive her," the boy spoke with a grin.

Zevien's body shook hearing that, and he was ready to kneel and beg this mystical twelve-year-old kid floating in front of him if he could bring back Vernisia.

"However, there are some conditions, options, and a price to pay," the boy continued speaking as he waved his tiny hands, causing a meter-square screen to appear on top of him.

"I-I can pay any price if you can bring her back! You can even take my life!"

"Chill and relax. She will likely die again because you two are too deep into each other. How would she feel if I took your life to bring her back? Just like how you are in despair right now and has no will to live in this world without her, she will also feel the same," the kid said with a faint smile.

"Then…then what price do I have to pay? I am ready to pay any kind of price!" Zevien spoke with determination as he looked at Vernisia in his arms.

"The price is your future, your destiny," the kid stated with a grin, "look at the screen above me. It will show you how magnificent your life will be after four months."

"I am ready to give it up! I don't want my future or my destiny! Whatever you want, take it. Just…bring Vernisia back to me."

Hearing that, the kid formed a speechless expression and spoke, "look at the screen, boy. This world runs deeper than you have seen. The thing you were trying to research, yeah? Fairy-spirit magic. It's long been discovered in Astral land, and it's orthodox. The world you live in is just a surface of a deeper world and you…are the heir of a powerful family in that deeper world."

"They will discover you after four months and live a king's life. There will be rows of beautiful maidens for you to marry. Even more beautiful than this girl. You can even marry multiple maide-"

"I don't want any of that!" Zevien shouted with tear-filled red eyes, "I just want my Vernisia back!! P-please...do it."

"Fine, fine," the kid said with a sigh as he waved his hand and removed the screen.

"Now listen to the conditions. You will time travel back to six years ago, right before the opening ceremony and before meeting Vernisia. However, your destiny will transfer to her. Her illness will disappear while your destiny will disappear from you as well. You will also be unable to wield magic normally, but Vernisia will become a prodigy. Of course, you will keep your memories, which is the only advantage."

After saying that, the kid paused and looked at Zevien with raised eyebrows.

Seeing that, Zevien nodded without hesitation, "I am fine with that."

"Did you hear correctly? Your destiny will transfer to HER! Your king's destiny! On the other hand, you will become a defective human, unable to wield magic normally."

"DO IT!" Zevien said without the slightest shred of hesitation, "send me back and do this destiny transfer or whatever to cure her illness."

"Are you sure? It's uncertain that she will fall in love with you again. Her position and status will be vastly different," the kid asked again.

"I am sure," Zevien said while nodding before he looked at Vernisia lovingly, "I will pursue her again and…make her fall in love with me again."

"You have to DO YOUR BEST if you want to be with her again," the kid said with a wry smile before nodding, "alright. I am impressed that you decided to sacrifice such a magnificent destiny for a redo filled with uncertainties."

The kid smiled as he pointed his hand upward and grinned, "get ready. You will have your memories intact, and that's your slight advantage, but you won't be able to wield magic normally. So...

The kid paused before speaking with a glint in his eyes, "I can only say that…you must grasp every opportunity you encounter, whether bad or risky."

Zevien nodded with determination before he hugged Vernisia and whispered, "I love you too, Verny."

"Off you go, happy journey," the mystical kid said with a grin as he snapped his finger.