Chapter 209 - Forced Reincarnation

"I killed myself…"

Silence hung between them as each absorbed the words spoken. Talking about Vladimir of Kres before when they were students studying their clan's history, was like discussing someone totally unrelated. But now that the truth was out, it was difficult to think that way anymore.

Homura Ryuu was Emperor Vladimir of Kres, the emperor who suddenly took his own life after giving his son the task to go on a mission to protect the earth. It was who Kresnik was before he died and was born again as the Koutaishidenka of the Homura House.

Now that they knew, the two of them finally had the complete picture in their minds. When Vladimir was born, his circumstances were not the same as Ryuu's whom Mavara welcomed almost immediately as soon as he came out. The late emperor grew up like a normal royal of Kres. The fact that he was a returner to ancestry was totally news to them.

It was probably because the crown prince left as soon as his father died, and was not able to discover that his father was a returner to ancestry which probably came to common knowledge after his death.

The two of them had an inkling that Vladimir's powers and memories were blocked – more blocked that Ryuu's were right now. If the returner to ancestry couldn't remember just a bit, he wouldn't be able to create a great connection with his sworn elementals and tap their divine powers fully.

Since Vladimir couldn't remember who he was, he grew up and lived like a normal prince of Kres. He grew old, got married and had children as his position dictated of him. But maybe, when Perun came to his dreams, the vision unlocked his memories.

He was given a mission. But after fulfilling it, he was wracked with remorse. He probably thought that he had betrayed his promise and his love for Alencica and killed himself to be able to go into a cycle of reincarnation and find her.

"Ara said I was a constant returner to ancestry," Ryuu said, remembering his brief conversation with his wife. "If this was the case, since I'm originally an immortal, it meant that I had forced death upon me countless of times."

Gin who looked grim with all the revelations nodded.

Of course, there was no other way to explain Kresnik's constant presence in the mortal plane. They had all thought that it was just a fluke – that the Flame Emperor of Heaven was bored with his life in Heaven and had descended to grace his bloodline. If it's a normal descent like that, he didn't have to die.

But returners to ancestry, even if they had acquired earthly bodies had really long lives even in the mortal plane. For Kresnik to appear constantly meant he had to die countless times as well.

For someone who had strong divine power second only to Perun himself, Kresnik couldn't succumb to just any disease or injuries unless they're self-inflicted.

No wonder, Kresnik committed suicide numerous times, and it might be because of his wish to be with his wife.

"That's totally… awful."

Gin flinched as if he was in pain as he said that. Well, it was only understandable as he couldn't imagine someone killing himself over and over again. The torture, the agony of existing might have been totally unbearable for Kresnik that he could do that.

Love… it was indescribable and illogical even.

Gin wondered if he would ever be the same as Emi. He couldn't help but think about his own mortality and pondered about his soul when it was his own time to go. For the first time, he feared for Emi – for what would happen when he left the world.

"It's why I want to know what the prophecy said exactly," Ryuu continued. "I feel like what we knew wasn't the whole picture."

Gin nodded again, this time, he too had a determined expression on his face. "I will look as soon as I get back."

"Thanks," the Koutaishidenka replied, and the two of them looked ahead, out the window.

"Czernobog…"Gin began again as suspicion started inside his chest. "Do you think he has something to do with what's happening?"

Ryuu inclined his head, as he thought for a while and a heavy sigh escaped his lips as he nodded his answer. "It seemed it's connected to Alencica's appearance. But I'm not sure why."

Impatience rang in his voice as well as frustration. His fists had balled on his lap, his jaws clenched as his ice-blue eyes looked fierce. "I need my memories back!"

Gin couldn't say anything to him, for he agreed that the Koutaishidenka's memories were vital at this point. For what they'd gathered so far, in the history of the Homura and Kazehaya Houses on Earth, it was the first time that Kresnik came to be as a returner to ancestry, the first time that Alencica reappeared as his fated one, and the first time that the Black God, Czernobog also made an appearance.

It was like the presence of all vital characters from a long time ago came together at the same time, and one couldn't help but wonder whether it was just some sort of a crazy coincidence or fate itself announced – that a foreboding event would happen soon.

"I think I will just bring you to the portal then I'll go to the main houses in Hakone to search for the prophecy. The seer and her relatives should still be there."

After Ryuu's birth, the old seer had become sick as she was already aged. The last time they heard, she had been bedridden for quite some time now. She had already been in her late seventies when Ryuu was born and gave the prophecy. They wondered if she could still talk with Gin.

"If she can't talk anymore, I'll try to at least find someone who knew."

They started descending from the sky at this point, and they both knew that they had finally arrived. Gin quickly shifted in his seat as he opened the window to tell Aello to be careful. But, before he even opened his mouth, the harpy already placed the car gently on the ground, dumbfounding her master.

"Er…Thanks?"