CHAPTER 66: THE PAST (1)

"Now, please welcome our next auction item—Life!"

Along with the auctioneer’s voice booming through the microphone, clinking chains echoed through the hall.

This place was a towering structure—hollow inside, its vast interior encircled by long corridors that now served as stands for the guests attending this apocalypse-era auction.

Nearly a year had passed since the world had fallen, and various factions had begun to take shape.

Here, in the TO Auction Center, rare treasures were traded—items that could enhance an esper’s abilities, or sometimes, scarce supplies that were otherwise impossible to obtain in this era.

Today’s auction had drawn an enormous crowd—because of the pre-announced finale item: Life, one of the rare healing espers still existing.

He was said to be a miracle. Life’s power was defiant of nature itself—so long as a person still had a breath left in their body, they could bring them back from the brink of death.

Once, Life had belonged to Esper Division No. 1 in the capital center of Celestia, and was also part of the Eden Protection Squad—a city once known as the paradise of the survivors.

However, not long ago, Eden faced an unprecedented zombie wave while its key defenders were away. The entire city fell—no survivors remained.

Many believed that the terrifying horde was no mere accident, that human hands were behind it. When human traffickers later found Life, he was lying amidst a mountain of corpses—both human and zombie alike—barely conscious, drenched in chaos.

Most assumed he should have died there, yet his monstrous healing ability had forced his body to stay alive. That was the only explanation for why there wasn’t a single wound on him.

Amid the guests’ murmurs and jeering, a large gilded birdcage was lifted from beneath the floor.

The golden cage gleamed beneath the stage lights—but even more dazzling was the figure curled up inside it.

The man had pure white hair and skin so pale it almost glowed. The auction organizers even dressed him in a snow-white baroque outfit with bright gold accents along the lapels and hems. His high-waisted trousers cinched his slender waist, and though his long coat covered much of him, it couldn’t entirely conceal the elegant contours of his figure.

He lay upon a layer of soft fabric, eyes gently closed. The light from above cast delicate shadows across his pale skin—his lashes and the bridge of his nose etched faint traces of shadow beneath the glow.

The crowd stirred restlessly. None of them had expected Life to possess such breathtaking beauty.

Then the cheerful voice of the auctioneer echoed again:

"According to our examinations, Life has lost all previous memories. He’s completely blank—a clean slate with only basic common sense. You can become the first team he joins and fully use his abilities!"

"Now, the bidding for Life begins at 10,000 Level-1 Crystals!"

The moment the auctioneer finished speaking, bids erupted one after another, rising rapidly until they surpassed 80,000 Level-1 Crystals in the blink of an eye.

Whoever possessed Life would no longer need to fear death. Moreover, since Life had survived among zombies, could that mean he even possessed the ability to cure the zombie virus itself?

After all, they could build a new fortress with him—another Eden. Ambitious teams began to stir restlessly, eager to win the bidding no matter the cost.

Then, a calm, measured voice drifted down from the highest level of the tower:

"1,000 Level-5 Crystals."

The instant the man spoke, the entire auction hall was stunned. All eyes turned upward, though the glaring lights kept them from seeing clearly.

Inside one of the private rooms, Johan stared in disbelief at his team’s captain. The rest of the members looked equally shocked.

Arthur turned to them, smiling faintly.

"This is my personal fund. Don’t worry about it."

The others stammered—they’d never known their captain was this wealthy.

But as their shock subsided, excitement replaced it. The thought of having Life on their team thrilled the group.

They were the Esper squad Mantis, a twenty-member team specializing in clearing zones overrun by zombies. Like many other Esper groups, they risked their lives daily to fight for survival and scarce resources.

Arthur had only joined them two months ago, yet now he was someone the entire squad instinctively followed without question.

Lily whispered to Johan,

"See? I told you—someone like Arthur is destined for great things! He’s going to build a city of his own one day!"

Johan gave a thumbs-up.

"Following Arthur’s lead, we’re guaranteed to live well!"

After the bid of 1,000 Level-5 Crystals, the room below fell utterly silent. At last, Life was sold to the Mantis squad. Some bidders were unwilling to give up, but none could offer a higher price. New thoughts began to take root in their minds.

After all... if they couldn’t buy him, they could steal him.

The TO Auction Center prided itself on transparency. As soon as the auction ended, they escorted the Mantis squad to claim their purchased item.

Yes—Life was nothing more than an item now.

But that didn’t matter. For now, the Esper team Mantis would be his new "family."

Johan and Lily could hardly contain their excitement, while Arthur wore his usual faint, unshakable smile.

At last, the gilded cage was brought before them. Life lay quietly, eyes closed, his breathing calm and steady. In the dimly lit room, he seemed like the only light source.

Arthur smiled and stepped forward. He bent down, reaching out to lift Life into his arms—but at that very moment, Life’s eyelids twitched. His long, white lashes fluttered once, twice, before his eyes opened fully.

Pale blue eyes blinked hazily, their light faint and unfocused. Perhaps he had just awakened; Arthur thought he saw a trace of moisture gather there, as if a tear were about to fall.

But Life blinked and looked up at him. Reflected in those clear eyes, Arthur saw his face—a forgettable one that left no impression after a glance. Yet now, that face was smiling, and his gaze was gentle and warm.

Life stared for a moment, dazed, then his lips curved into a small smile. His eyes bent into crescents, the light within them almost spilling out—pure and untainted.

Arthur heard him ask softly, "Did you come to take me home?"

Arthur gazed into those luminous eyes for a long moment, then finally nodded and answered quietly, "Yes. We’re going home."

At that, Johan and Lily could no longer contain themselves. They rushed forward, Lily calling out brightly,

"Life, don’t worry! We’ll protect you!"

Johan patted his own arm and added,

"That’s right! Mantis is the strongest esper team in all of Celestia!"

Joshua—no, Life—looked slightly startled by their enthusiasm. Sitting in the iron cage, he shook his head and said, "Life? What a strange name. I’m not Life."

Johan and Lily froze in surprise, but Arthur only smiled. He reached out and gently ruffled the young man’s snow-white hair.

"Then what’s your name?"

"Joshua. My name is Joshua."

Meeting Arthur’s tender gaze, Joshua spoke each word slowly and deliberately. Then, taking Arthur’s hand, he tilted his head slightly and asked,

"You... know me, don’t you?"

Arthur said nothing, but Joshua continued softly,

"We must know each other. Even if I don’t remember anything... I remember your eyes."

As he spoke, he lifted his hand and, with natural ease, touched the corner of Arthur’s eye with his tremendous fingertips.

"Black eyes... gentle ones. I’ve seen them in my dreams. But something feels... missing here."

He brushed lightly at the corner of Arthur’s left eye.

Arthur still smiled—but for a brief moment, a thought flickered through his mind.

Henry—the lord of Eden—had black eyes too.

Yet Henry had always been cold, bloodthirsty, and merciless. When he looked at others, it was as though he were looking at the dead. No one had ever seen gentleness in his gaze...