Reawakening: Primordial Dragon with Limitless Mana-Chapter 33: Coward(2)

Hades had always shared a close bond with Graham’s family.

Their families lived just an hour apart and got along well.

But in his own home, Hades was barely seen or heard. His brother and sister hated him, and his father never paid him any attention.

The only one who ever showed him care was his mother, but even she had duties to fulfill—things that often kept her distant.

So whenever Hades felt overwhelmed or alone, whenever the weight on his shoulders became too heavy, he would head to his second home.

To a family that didn’t just welcome him—but made him feel like he truly belonged.

Graham’s father, the town’s chief and a former soldier, taught Hades how to wield a sword.

Graham’s mother, Natalie, made meals that Hades loved more than anything.

And Graham’s younger sister... she was his little princess. Hades cherished her with all his heart.

Every year, when his own family left town on his birthday, Hades celebrated it with the Grahams instead.

They showed him that not everything had to be earned through pain and struggle. They taught him that without doing anything in return he can receive something.

He owed them so much. If he were standing here today, filled with the determination to become someone, it was because of them.

And Graham... Graham wasn’t just a friend. He was his brother.

A brother he lost.

A brother who died protecting him.

A brother who gave his life for him.

And the same brother... whose funeral Hades didn’t attend.

Why?

"You’re a coward!" came a voice, trembling with emotion.

Hades remained frozen.

He didn’t flinch when her hand struck his cheek, leaving a stinging pain behind.

He only held Rinne’s hand tightly and listened.

"You let him die," she cried. "And then you didn’t even dare to come to his funeral."

Hades turned to face her—Natalie—and lowered his head.

"I...I’m—"

"No!" she shouted, voice breaking. "I don’t want your apology!"

Her face was red, eyes brimming with tears. "You were supposed to protect each other! He gave his life for you—and you... You couldn’t even come to say goodbye. You were too busy... too busy living your happy days with your lover."

Rinne frowned, but before she could say a word, Hades gently shook his head, silently pleading with his eyes for her not to interfere.

The woman spoke again, her voice trembling, "Thalia barely recovered from her illness... and now, she no longer wants to live."

Hades felt something tear inside him.

Thalia... she had always lived for her brother. He was her world.

He wanted to ask how she was now, about her health, but Natalie had already turned away. Her voice, low and bitter, cut deeper than any blade.

"Don’t ever show your face to us again. Our family died with Graham—for you."

Hades stood frozen, watching her walk away, her back growing smaller with every step. He didn’t speak. He didn’t move.

Not until he turned to Rinne—only to realize how tightly he had been holding her hand.

His heart sank when he saw the red mark on her skin. He quickly let go, voice filled with guilt, "Oh, god... does it hurt?"

But Rinne wasn’t looking at her hand.

Her brows were drawn close, her eyes shining with unspoken emotion.

With a quiet, shaky breath, she said, "Why does it sound like it was your fault?"

Her voice cracked slightly.

"When we entered this academy, every parent should’ve known... we might not come back. This place isn’t for play. We train to kill... and to die."

Hades gently placed his hands on Rinne’s shoulders and looked into her eyes.

"She wasn’t angry because Graham died, Rinne," he said quietly. "She was angry because I never went back. Because I didn’t check on them. Because I ran away."

Rinne tilted her head, her expression confused and pained. "But... she—"

He shook his head, cutting her off softly. "I understand her anger. I thought I was giving them time. I told myself they needed space to grieve, to process everything. But maybe... maybe I was just making excuses."

His voice cracked ever so slightly.

"I wasn’t brave enough to face them. I was a coward."

Rinne’s hands trembled as she reached for the hem of his shirt and clutched it tightly.

"That’s not true," she whispered, her voice shaking. "It wasn’t easy for you either. You saw him die... right in front of you. And everyone at this academy turned on you."

Her eyes began to glisten. "Your own father cast you out. The girl you were supposed to marry... betrayed you."

Her grip on his shirt tightened. "You lost everything, and still... you’re here. Still standing."

She looked up at him, her voice firm now. "How can you call yourself a coward after surviving all of that?"

Hades kept looking at her before he wordlessly embraced the girl.

It was comforting to see that someone recognized his misery. It was the first time actually, that someone believed he could feel pain too.

That sometimes, he wants to cry too.

And with each passing day...with each droplet of tear, Hades’s hatred for Cedric only continues to grow.

°°°°°°°

A/N:- It’s about time we take revenge.

Thanks for reading.

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