The Deceitful One



Donald sat at the dinner table in his apartment on the outskirts of Nadir. His two kids—a boy and a girl—were playing board games in the living room, meanwhile, his wife was cooking dinner in the kitchen.

A few minutes later, his wife walked to the dinner table carrying a tray full of food. She looked at her children and smiled dotingly. "Kids, dinner is ready."

"Yay, dinner!"

"I'm so hungry, mom. Let's eat!"

The children ran around the dinner table happily. When Donald saw the smile on their faces, he couldn't help but smile as well. "Don't get too tired before eating. Come on, now."

"Yes, papa!" The children giggled and sat at the dinner table. The family of four then began to eat merrily. As Donald saw his family eating with content smiles, he couldn't help but feel grateful to Bryan.

If it wasn't for him, Donald would not have been able to sustain himself and his family for long. Usually, when new owners moved into the house, they would always replace the existing maids and servants with new ones.

However, Bryan hadn't done that. In fact, he had promoted Donald to be his personal assistant and even introduced him to the Transcendent world.

Unlike most newly-introduced people, Donald was actually quite fascinated with this new world. Perhaps, it might have something to do with his relatively high affinity for spiritual force. In short, he looked forward to it.

As he was lost in thought about this mystical world, his wife, Annie, suddenly asked, "Honey? You've been daydreaming quite a lot ever since you got the promotion. Or is something else the matter?"

Donald snapped out of his daze and smiled at his wife. "Everything just feels so surreal. I never thought that I'd ever be promoted. Heck, I even thought that I would lose my job after Mr. Wayne arrived. But here we are."

Annie smiled brightly. "Yes, I am indeed very thankful to Mr. Wayne." She then looked at her two children who were enjoying their dinner and added, "Our kids can now live happier lives thanks to him."

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Donald nodded, he didn't mention anything about him becoming an Apprentice or anything else related to the supernatural world. Bryan had strictly warned him against it.

Firstly, not everyone had the talent to become a Transcendent and secondly, it was a very cruel and ruthless world. Just having knowledge of it might put people in danger.

He didn't want any harm to befall his family. Hence, he thought it was better to keep this a secret. Perhaps when his kids grew older, they could also embark on the Path.

Donald looked at his wife and smiled. "I'll work harder so that our family can be happy."

The family of four continued their dinner in a jolly mood. In the following days, everything was fine. In fact, Donald felt that his life was becoming better and better with each passing day.

His kids were doing well in school and his wife was content that her family was doing so well. Their life was full of happiness. Donald had struggled a lot prior to getting married and starting a family. Now that he saw that his family prosper, he wanted nothing more.

Spring came and autumn passed, his boy had grown into a fine young man. He had just gotten a job at a financial management company and was earning very good money.

Donald's daughter had grown into a beautiful young woman with many suitors. She had opened up her own boutique in the city. The ladies of the noble households were simply in love with her designs. She too was doing fantastic in life.

His wife had grown older but the cheerful smile on her face never once faded. She was happy, she was content. Donald, himself had already advanced to a Transcendent and lived a much more thrilling life, one that he had never expected.

Thanks to Bryan, he was introduced to a lot more mystical things that he would have never come across as a regular human.

However, it was not the new life of a Transcendent that brought him happiness but his family's well-being. Even after all these years, he still remained grateful to Bryan.

More years passed by, and now both his children were married and even had their own families. Donald was now a grandfather. He felt as if he was blessed by good fortune. It brought him immense joy to see his family grow.

Over the years, his wife's health had deteriorated. Old age had taken a heavy toll on her. However, she wasn't sad in the least. Her son and his family were doing great, and her daughter and her family were also happy.

As she lay on her bed, looking out of the window at the setting sun, she muttered, "Donald, I think my time is coming…."

Donald lay beside his old wife and grabbed her hand gently. "Don't say such words, my dear."

As he lay eyes on her white hair and the many wrinkles on her face, his eyes couldn't help but redden. Over the years, Annie had continued to grow old, however, his own aging had drastically slowed down since he was a Transcendent.

Annie looked at him with a smile. "You still haven't aged a day…."

Donald sniffed. "And you still look as lovely as the day I first met you."

Annie began to chuckle and replied, "Don't joke with this old lady."

She then looked out of the window at the scenery outside and smiled warmly. "Marrying you has been the greatest decision of my life…."

Donald's eyes began to tear up. His wife continued, "I have no regrets…. It was a life well lived…."

She turned to look at Donald. Tears slowly trickled down her face, tears of happiness. She smiled brightly and affectionately spoke, "Thank you for everything, Donald…. I love you…."

The light in her eyes slowly began to dim and she gradually closed her eyes. However, the smile on her face remained. Donald's wife passed away at the age of eighty-four with no regrets in her life.

Donald looked at the peaceful expression on Annie's face and sobbed silently. "I will always love you, Annie…. Till the day I die, and perhaps… even after that."

A large number of people attended Annie's funeral a week later. This showed how much she was truly cherished by friends and family alike.

Donald stood in front of his wife's tombstone and smiled. "Look, my dear, so many people have come to bid you farewell. If there is an afterlife, I pray that you find peace and happiness."

One by one, the people began to leave after paying their condolences. Donald's daughter gave him a warm hug and gently spoke, "Father, me and big brother will wait for you in the car, okay? Take your time."

Donald looked at his daughter and smiled dotingly. "Okay, love. I'll be there in a minute."

Soon, there was only Donald left, and one other person who was standing behind him. A few moments passed by as he silently stared at his wife's tombstone.

He then muttered under his breath, "Will all my loved ones pass away while I still live? Is this the curse of becoming a Transcendent?"

The man standing behind him slowly walked up to him and patted his shoulder. "This is something we must live with, Donald."

Donald turned his head and was pleasantly surprised. "Master, you came!"

Bryan gently smiled at him and replied, "Of course, I have always been here."

Suddenly, Donald felt confused. He knew that everything that he had in life was because of his master, Bryan. However, now when he looked back, he had never actually met his master ever! He had no memories of him!

He felt extremely puzzled. When he looked at Bryan's face, he felt a sense of great familiarity and at the same time, he also felt as if he was looking at a stranger.

Bryan smiled looking at Donald's befuddled expression. He came closer to him and whispered in his ear, "Wake up."

GASP!!!

Donald opened his eyes and found himself lying on the floor. He looked around in a daze and soon found out that this was the meditation room in Bryan's mansion.

"W-What the hell is happening?" He began to massage his temple in utter confusion. One moment he was at his wife's funeral, the next moment he was back at his master's mansion. He felt lost.

Bryan, who had now already put on his round black sunglasses, crouched down in front of him and patted his shoulder. "Donald, you were pulled into an illusion."

"What!!?" Donald's eyes widened in disbelief. "How can that be!? My wife just died… a-and, wait! I need to go back. My kids are waiting for me in the car."

He abruptly stood up and walked out of the room. Bryan sighed as he looked at Donald's departing back. He then looked at Benny and spoke, "Go with him."

Benny giggled and ran after Donald. Meanwhile, Bryan muttered under his breath, "Thankfully, I didn't have any ill will toward him. Or else, the illusion might have turned into a terrifying nightmare and killed him."

His eyes not only put targets inside an illusion, but they also altered their perception of time. A whole lifetime would pass by inside the illusion whereas only a couple of seconds would pass by in reality. It was sort of like a mini version of the Dreamworld, so to speak.

This was the terror of the Phantom Eyes, and this was just the tip of the iceberg. Bryan turned around and walked to the center of the room where he sat down in a lotus position. He exhaled a deep breath and mumbled, "Time to check out my new abilities."