Reincarnated As The Villainess's Son

He was staring at me with keen interest.

'…Why is Samyaza here?'

It doesn't make sense to me, there was no such thing that involved Samyaza in the mix.

…Why is he here?

Nerissa frowned as Yennefer pulled me behind her.

"And why would you do that?" Nerissa asked. "You do know Esmeray is against him seeing Azariah."

"Oh, really?" Jones replied, placing his hand on his chest, like he was hurt. "Can't believe my sister would do such a thing."

Nerissa glared at him as she was holding back her anger.

Ragnar didn't say anything else as he walked forward.

He looked at Nymeria who hid behind Yennefer.

Ragnar gestured for her to walk towards him. "Come here child."

Nymeria trembled as she looked at Nerissa.

Her mother nodded in response as the little girl walked towards him.

But she was holding my younger self's hand and so I was dragged along as well.

Yennefer wanted to stop me but Nerissa grabbed her hand.

When Nymeria came close Ragnar looked down at her.

He seemed to examine her but when he found nothing he looked back. "Ouza." He called. "Take a look at her."

Samyaza was the one who walked towards Nymeria.

'Wait, is he using a fake name?'

I thought as Samyaza crouched down while smiling softly.

"Hey, little girl." He said, "look into my eyes."

Nymeria did as she was told and Samyaza's eyes flashed.

Her eyes turned blank before they returned to normal.

Samyaza shook his head as he looked back at Ragnar.

"She has potential." He replied with a pitiful face. "But her chances of becoming an Avatar are low."

Ragnar's face immediately turned into that of annoyance as he clicked his tongue.

"Hey, on the bright side." Samyaza said, standing back up. "With the World Tree's blessing, she can control the tree when she is ol—."

"I don't care about that." Ragnar said, his cold gaze falling on the trembling child. "What a fucking disappointment."

Nymeria's grip immediately tightened on my hand.

"Ragnar!" Nerissa quickly walked forward as she grabbed the girl in her arms. "Is that how you talk with your daughter!?"

Ragnar ignored her as his gaze remained on Samyaza.

"What should I do now?" He asked.

"Make another child." Samyaza replied, grabbing his hat. "Hopefully that will work."

Ragnar's face didn't change at Samyaza's words.

He only scoffed, turning slightly away as though the little girl before him wasn't even worth another glance.

Nerissa's voice shook with fury. "Ragnar, she's still your blood! You don't get to dismiss her like some failed experiment!"

Ragnar's eyes narrowed at her, but Samyaza placed a hand lightly on his arm.

"Attachment will only cloud your judgment. If she's not capable, then she's not capable. We move on."

"Move on!?" Nerissa snapped. "She's a child! Do you people even hear yourselves?"

Ragnar clicked his tongue as he began to walk away. "Let's go."

But Samyaza didn't move, his gaze now was on me. "Esmeray's son." He smiled. "Right?"

My younger self nodded. "And you are?"

Ragnar gave me an annoyed look. "Don't waste your breath on him." He said. "He is just a manaless child."

"Manaless?" He raised his eyebrow as it seemed to grab his attention. "…That's something unusual."

Samyaza turned to look at Zenith who was hiding behind Yennefer. "Hey, child! How do I look?"

Zenith peeked her head slightly. "Ugly white hair man."

Samyaza nodded then he asked me. "How do I look, Azariah?"

My younger self blinked in response. "You look…ordinary."

Samyaza smiled brightly as if he had found a hidden gem.

'Hmm, did the others not hear my reply?'

I squeezed my eyes as I found a thin layer of void around me.

He did suppress my voice huh?

Samyaza quickly turned to look at Nerissa. "Can I talk with him alone—."

"No!" Nerissa quickly pulled me towards her. "Don't you dare do anything weird to my child!"

"Let him talk." Ragnar said, when Samyaza looked back at him. "He won't do anything weird, I guarantee that."

Nerissa seemed hesitant as she looked at me. "Azariah?"

I nodded once. "He doesn't look threatening."

Samyaza smiled when I gave him permission as he quickly made me grab his finger.

We moved away from the rest as he made us roam around the garden.

My younger self looked up at Samyaza. "Why do you look different for Zenith?"

"You know when I was young, my younger brother always used to prank me." Samyaza said, with a nostalgic smile.

"He always took other shapes and sizes, so our oldest brother forced a soul contract."

My younger self tilted his head. "Soul contract?"

"No matter the time or condition, no illusion will work on us, we will see each other for who we are." Samyaza explained with a smile. "Well, I chose this ordinary look for myself."

"And your younger brother?" 'I' asked curiously. "You can see him for who he is?"

"No…No, I cannot." Samyaza replied, staring at me. "It seems he found a way to break all his soul curses."

"He was cursed?" 'I' asked, my eyes widened.

"All us brothers are." Samyaza replied, looking forward. "Our father cursed us."

'I' didn't reply as I kept on looking at the ground.

"What were you doing with Nymeria?" 'I' asked after a while.

"I was checking her chances of being an Avatar."

'I' tilted my head. "Why?"

"…Her father and your uncle are in need of it." Samyaza replied with a smile. "They want to break free from their destiny."

My younger self tilted his head again, trying to grasp what he had just said. "Destiny? What destiny?"

"Well, they don't want to die." He replied, shrugging. "And they will do anything for that."

"....."

Both my younger self and I stopped in our tracks.

Something clicked in my mind that I never thought of.

'….Was Jones always part of the plan to kill Liam?'

No, more importantly….was Samyaza the one who guided them?

Was he really the mastermind behind all these events?

….The reason behind all the tragedy.

Samyaza moved in front of me as he crouched down.

"You know, Azariah…I always looked up to my younger brother." He said with a smile. "He was so much more than I could ever be."

My younger self blinked, tilting his head with innocent curiosity. "Why?"

Samyaza chuckled softly, though his eyes carried no mirth.

"Because he was… different. Stronger. More cunning. He wore his curses like they were ornaments. Where the rest of us begged for relief."

He leaned closer, lowering his voice as though sharing a secret. "Do you know what it means, Azariah, when someone laughs in the face of fate?"

My younger self frowned. "…That they're not afraid?"

"Exactly," Samyaza said, his smile widening. "And fear is what keeps the world in order. Without it? You're dangerous. My brother is dangerous."

His voice softened. "I admired him. But admiration… doesn't mean loyalty."

He raised his hand and placed it on my neck. "I hate him enough to kill him." He let go. "But if I do no one could give me salvation."

"Why are you telling me this?" my younger self asked quietly.

"Who knows." He replied, standing back up. "Even I don't know."

He turned around as he began to walk away with his hands clasped behind his back.

"I will see you soon…." He said, without looking back. "Azariah…"

---

Months passed since my encounter with Samyaza and the others.

Now that I think back, that was the only time I saw Ragnar.

I always knew that he was neglectful of his wife and daughter.

But still…..

It unironically summarised his entire character.

A neglectful asshole.

During the months of my ordinary childhood life one day the news came.

Nerissa announced her pregnancy though she didn't seem happy about it.

Was it her motherly instinct?

She seemed to always be unrest about her unborn child.

That was when I met with Mariam once again who came to take her back to Akasha.

Nerissa denied it as she decided to remain close to the World Tree.

Though a part of the reason was me but she didn't say it out loud.

As days passed I also met with Siersha and someone really unexpected.

"Azariah!"

A young child with short white hair smiled as she showed her drawing.

"Look at this."

I looked at the child as I smiled. "You did great, Arianell."

Yep….

This was my first meeting with the Sword Maiden.

Her mother came to see Nerissa and her children tagged along.

"Az, Az! Look!"

Zenith who was sitting close to me quickly shoved her drawing in my face.

She then gave Arianell an angry look. "It's better than hers!"

My younger self let out a sigh as he pushed Zenith a little. "Don't start a fight with her."

"Why should I not!" Zenith replied, hugging my face like a koala. "Who is she to disturb our playtime."

She hissed like a cat as she glared at the sad Arianell.

"Who wants to play with you, idiot child."

A voice spat from afar making us all look at a young boy.

He had the same hair as Arianell—pure white.

A look of arrogance was on his face as he walked towards us.

'...'

He was none other than the [Villainess Maker] of Fall of Akasha, Core Two.

[A/n:- Check Author's Thoughts]