Rise of the Eromancer

Chapter 3: Everything Is My Fault?

Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Everything Is My Fault?

[There are rumours that the Cerberus Guild are inviting you to join their company. Is there any truth in that, Emilia?]

[Well, I guess. It's not really a secret anymore.]

"No..." The sun was still out, and yet the only source of light that could be seen in Rhys's room was his phone; the face of his sister, being reflected into his eyes. The two didn't really look alike at all—her sister had orange hair and a small, cute face—easily making her popular with boys, as is most of her subscribers.

[But aren't there also rumours that... Sylas West is also joining the guild? He's being released today. How do you feel about that?]

[There's... nothing to feel,] Emilia just shrugged her shoulders as she looked right at the camera, [I'd like to leave the past behind me.]

[But he killed your mother... and posted it on WeTube.]

[I can't really blame him for what happened, we were all young. I was just 10 then and I can't really remember much...

...but I think my brother instigated the situation.]

"...What?" Rhys could not help but hold the phone with both his hands as he replayed the video.

[...I think my brother instigated the situation.]

"What?"

[...My brother instigated the situation.]

"No... no, no, no," Rhys quickly threw his phone away, not even bothering to watch the rest of the interview as he started walking around his dark room; biting his nails and repeatedly hitting his head with each step,

"Why... why would you say that? It's not my fault. It's not... It's not?"

Rhys's eyes, as well as the tone of his voice, finally started to waver. His eyes that did not flicker even as he was being beaten almost to death; his voice that did not scream and crack even as a pain enough to turn one crazy bathed his body... both now stuttering.

"No... no, no—Is it my fault?" Rhys's breaths started to become heavier by the second, "Did I do it? Did I... did I kill mom? Was it me? No... no... no..."

"Sir, calm down."

"I am calm." Rhys's voice became even more soothing as he placed his palms on the counter.

"What's going on here?" And with the arrival of the two guards, Rhys quickly moved away and once again showed his palms to show he wasn't a threat—which he truly wasn't.

"P... please escort this gentleman out," the old lady slightly stuttered as she looked at Rhys for some reason.

"No, please. I'm sorry..." Rhys pleaded; his hands, trembling due to the weight of his thoughts, "I am not going to—Emi!?"

And right as the guards were approaching him, he saw a glimpse of Emilia across the hallway.

"Emi! Emilia!" Rhys screamed as he hastily forced his way between the two guards.

"...Brother?"

"That's... your brother?"

Emilia, who was with two of her friends, could not help but almost gasp as she saw her brother running toward her. And before she could even make it halfway to her, she quickly turned around,

"Let's just go."

"Wait, Emilia!" Rhys hastened his steps, but the guards already grabbed him by the arms; even violently pinning him to the floor in front of the people that were starting to gather due to the commotion.

Rhys, however, did not seem to mind as he just looked at his sister, "Emilia, please talk to me! Why, why did you say it was my fault that mom was murdered? Please, please tell me that was script, Emi... Chloe, please, I---"

"Just leave me alone, okay!?"

And before Rhys could finish his words, Emilia turned around and looked him straight in the eyes,

"It is your fault!" Emi screamed as she pointed at her brother, "And you know what...

...I think you're the one that should have died!"