Henry and Mary grew up in the same neighborhood, due to their close proximity, and easy going attitude, they became friends easily.
Always hanging out with each other, wherever and whenever they have the time, almost inseparable, even during their school days, they were still trying to find ways to meet with each other.
Whenever one is in trouble, the other would come to the rescue, from Mary getting bullied by her classmates or the neighborhood kids, or Henry facing academic problems, Mary was always there trying to help him and teach him things he don't understand.
Such relationship was almost sacred, the care they shared for each other grew as they reach highschool, later turning into a confession of love, Henry was the one who confessed, Mary happily accepted him.
They were so happy at that moment, they wished it could last forever.
Their relationship took an advance forward, and was closer than ever, even during their college days, taking the same course even
At this point, during their early days at college, they somehow awakened in being a Conqueror, with enhanced strength and capabilities beyond human comprehension such as manipulating nature, Henry and Mary was the star of the campus.
Everyone admired them for their beauty, strength, and relationship, but things took a slight turn as Henry got a bit ahead of himself too much.
With one unfaithful night, Henry found himself, unable to take it in anymore, indulged himself in the presence of another woman other than Mary.
They were both virgins at this point, and they were planning to give it to each other, but Mary herself was not ready yet, only allowing kisses to be made and taken, and due to this, Henry was left frustrated and wanted to lost his virginity immediately just like his peers, realizing he could use his popularity throughout the campus to indulge himself in pleasure, finding a woman by chance, and thus he gave his to someone else.
Mary caught them in the act, and made a terrifying face that Henry would always remember for the rest of his life, Henry was so scared of her during that time, and their relationship was never the same ever since.
They broke off, and before all of this, when they were still happy with each other, Mary was so sure she would marry Henry once they graduated from college, but now, reality is completely different from her expectations.
Mary was determined to get back at Henry for betraying his trust.
And with such determination, she rises to the top as a powerful Conqueror, while Henry plummeted down and down as the years go by.
She made sure that no guild would ever accept him, and even got him fired from the jobs he tried so hard to be admitted on.
Mary made Henry's already suffering life worse and worse in every way she can.
And at this very moment, her goal was seemingly being fulfilled as the man who once she loved and betrayed her, now was simply in a miserable state of mind and circumstances, his face crying, broken down, the thing she wanted to see the most.
"Served you right..." Mary whispered under her breathe as Henry behind her continued in his crying.
—
After some time, during their whole conversation, the limousine took the consideration to drive him back home in his neighborhood.
Henry says his farewell and thanks to her secretary for driving him home, but ignored Mary right beside in her seat.
As the limousine took off, glancing at the side mirror, Mary saw Henry entering his house without even Henry looking back, her face was cold and indifferent to the whole situation.
"Are you alright, my lady?" As the limousine drove off, wanting to comfort and initiate a conversation to break the silence in the car.
"Don't worry, he's just a pathetic loser a foolish girl have fallen for back then!"
"Should we head back to the guild?"
"No, just drive wherever you want, I'm not in the mood for anything right now."
Mary voice was so cold and lifeless, she felt empty inside, her secretary complied, feeling nervousness throughout the whole situation.
—
Back in Henry's house, his aging parents was confused at his sudden appearance at the house despite it still being early in the day, with his eyes still wet from the tears earlier as Henry tried to desperately wiped them away in front of his parents.
"Son, what happened?"
"... So- sorry dad, but I just got fired, I'm sorry..." Henry stuttering a bit, try to find his words, he look down in shame, unable to properly face his parents, but suddenly.
His father hugged him wholeheartedly hearing his son's weakening voice.
"It's alright son, it's alright, no matter what happens, we will always be here for you..."
"... Thanks, father." And so, Henry hugged him back to ensure that he will be okay.
—
After crying and being a little down too much even, Henry back in his room in casual clothing, his skinny figure clearly seen without the suit.
He found himself unable to even cry any more even if he tried to, he just felt really empty, emotionally numb at this point, and pondered over his thoughts.
(Did all of that really just happen, the years I that subjected myself into, the years of torment was all a lie in the end, all in hopes for forgiveness and make her happy again.)
Henry clenched his fist in frustration, but incapable of venting his anger as there's no target to point it's toward to, or even the energy to get out of his bed.
(I don't even wanna think about it anymore, let me just fall asleep...)
He just lie down on his bed, resting, tired, and exhausted from all it.
Slowly, but surely, closing his eyes, he fell asleep, hoping that this was all just a simple dream.
—
Back at the heart of the city, atop the balcony of the most glamorous building.
A beautiful red haired young woman was standing in a daze with her eyes closed, letting the cold wind blew over her face, her hair flowing seamlessly with the wind.
Mary's status as Conqueror is of amongst the highest caliber, as she stands at the top, overlooking the city skyline in the middle of the night, it was a sight everyone would be envious of, a sign of one's success, circumstances, and status they set upon themselves.
With a wine cup in hand, she raise it above her head, adjacent to moon, she to herself.
"To me." Mary then gulped the wine in one go, as if trying to forget the past, the past she once used to cherished so much, and hold extreme value of, now was simply a fleeting memory.
"C'mon, Mary, stop dazing over there, and come here already! I'm tired of waiting!" James, the so handsome blonde haired young man, Mary's Fiancee shouted back with a tone of teasing as if to lure her into the bed he's currently in with a bunch of other women, freely indulging themselves in pleasure.
Mary turned her body around, with a smile across her face.
"Okay."
The heavy and cold mood she was subjected to earlier, now turn into one full of joy, and a hint of seductiveness for the action she will soon indulged herself in.
James mouth widened in exuberance and a hint of triumphant as soon as he heard that come out of her mouth.
And so, with that, everyone atop the balcony fully engaged themselves in maximum bliss in the act of cupolation, with many beautiful women surrounding him, he felt great ecstasy and victory over life.
Mary herself didn't hold back, and took the majority of the time offering her sensual but ethereal body to her Fiancee.
She moaned in elation, her faced screamed of pleasure as everyone continue fucking at the top.
—
Back at Henry's neighborhood, within his own house.
As he peacefully sleep in his bed, the kind of rest needed after breaking down emotionally and mentally, one that he never felt in a long while, he looks so innocent, and unmoving.
"Henry...?" A muffled voice can be heard.
The sleeping man slowly opened his eyes.
"Henry, wake up..." The voice of a woman, one that carry a sense of care and woriness.
Henry woke up, he yawned, and scratched his eyes.
"What is it, mom? What time is it?"
"It's alright night, you're skipping your meals again, honestly, we can't bear to see you like this, you're getting skinnier by the day, c'mon, let's go." Henry's mother care and affection toward her child is unmoving and unrequited, words that can even moved some of the peskiest child.
As she tried to approach the door, hoping for Henry to follow along.
"Mom, can we have a talk? I feel like, I'm gonna break down if I don't say anything."
Dark thoughts still welled up over his mind, he sat on his bed, hoping for his mother to accompany him during his lowest moment.
His mother understood, with a smile, she sat beside him by the bed.
"You can tell me anything, if it's within my capabilities and knowledge, I be sure to help you, so, what is it?" Her voice was soft and affectionate, allowing Henry to find some clarity and a sense of peace.
"It's about Mary, Mom, was it really bad of me to cheat on her?"
She was clearly taken by surprise after hearing those words, she also known Mary for a long time, almost akin to treating her like her own daughter.
She often saw and overlook Henry and Mary playing together, even growing up, she was so sure this happiness they shared with each other would last forever.
But Henry's mistake crashed that expectation like a mirror shattering.
"I won't deny it, but, yes, what you did to her was very bad." Despite knowing how sad and depressed her son currently is, she still admitted to his mistakes, for she understood that's it's what he should hear right now.
"... I'm such a loser, aren't I. It's was hilarious of me to think she would forgive me, I really deserve this."
Henry welled up and cower in regret as he hugged himself, shrinking his figure.
The guilt and culpability grow stronger in within him, but then.
"But I don't think this is right." Henry's mother said those words.
Those words that was even unknown to him, yet he was instinctively anticapating, expectingg, the words to give him some sort of salvation and forgiveness to break free from the sins of the pasts that still continue to haunt him.
Henry's mother failed to conduct this sentence to him properly in the past due to overflowing sense of guilt and his wrongdoing, but with Mary's words earlier this morning, giving him clarity to the overall situation.
How utterly foolish he was for expecting something that will never come, for holding on with no one at the top to greet him back, the words she just uttered right now came into full fruition that Henry was no finally able to understand and took notice of.
"You did something wrong, you we're swallowed by extreme sense of guilt, and wanted to repent, you did repent throughout this whole time, you were willing to see the wrongdoings of your past and fix what is broken sincerely with your heart, most people who committed sins and wrongdoings into other won't even be able to get past that, you already suffered more than enough, it's time you finally forgive yourself." Henry's mother said ever so sincerely to assure and guide her son.
Upon hearing those words, Henry's foundation was shaken, as if he finally found his own sense of redemption and repentance, even though it came from his mother, and not Mary, his former lover, those words were more than enough for him at this very moment.
He went to hugged his mother, and she accepted him without falter.
"Thank you, mother, for never giving up on me..."
"What kind of parents would ever abandon their precious child?"
The unrequited love of a mother towards her child was omnipresent, it's something sacred and can never be corrupted.