His Goal

Two people sat across from each other in a spacious office room filled with towering bookshelves and lavish furniture. Both exuded an aura of authority, one of them, a man with bluish silver hair and azure blue eyes gazed down at a parchment of papers with a serious face. 

His azure eyes followed each sentence with precision. The parchment contains a detailed report on the recent activity near the Blackthorne Forest. King Of Calonia, Marciel Thorne, wanted Duke Arin Whiteclark to handle the matter.

"There has been a rise lately in the activity of the mana beasts in the Blackthorne Forest," Duke Edgar muttered as he put the parchment down on the table. His gaze now met with another man sitting across from him.

The man had his arms crossed, his black hair neatly tied in a ponytail. His emerald eyes shone with a hint of indifference. "So, will you help with the expedition?" Arin asked placing his hands on the table.

"Well I can consider it," Edgar replied while lowering his head and crossing his arms, "The Blackthorne forest is an important area in the Kingdom, most of our resources come from there."

"But what happened suddenly?" Edgar asked.

"I don't know few people have stated that the mana beasts started acting weirdly," Arin began his demeanor calm and collected, "There have been many attacks on travelers and adventurers, some have even died."

"Few sightings have even stated that the looks of the mana beasts changed drastically along with their behavior."

Hearing about the details, Edgar pondered stroking his chin. "Fine, I will lend you my knights."

"Thank you, Edgar" 

"Eh, what are old friends for?" Edgar replied his face softening with a warm smile.

"Oh by the way, What happened to your son?" Edgar asked, he knew about Lucian's condition, his recent change due to memory loss but that duel he just watched and the spell he used, intrigued him.

"He used an expert spell while being an adept," He continued keeping his tone warm and cheerful, "That's a far cry from the Lucian I knew. He was just a nerdy kid before, now he is out here cursing at Dukes"

"I have been worried because of that," Arin remarked his tone lowering a little. "I don't want him to be like this, even though I am proud of what he accomplished. His behavior still concerns me. Liana is also worried."

"Don't stress it too much, he will slowly but surely regain his memory," Edgar reassured him, "And after that, we can re-enact the engagement between him and Vivianne." 

"No, your son lost" Arin replied with a stern tone.

"Really? You want to make that decision now?" Edgar spoke out taken aback by Arin's blunt reply.

"Yes, it's his decision and I will respect it."

"But what about then? When he will gain his memory back? And I don't think Lady Liana is going to be happy"

"Then we will see but right now I want to respect his decision,"

Duke Edgar shrugged his shoulders and let out a tired sigh, he pushed himself back onto the sofa, thinking about what to do with his stubborn friend.

***

A reflectionless black surrounded me from all sides, there was no being, no light, no shadows. It felt like I was in a void. It felt eerily similar to the dream I had before but at least there was something, this time it was completely null. No moon or mountains or any masked warrior.

'What the fuck am I supposed to do now?'

It was clear that this was a dream, the last thing I knew was that I passed out due to mana exhaustion after fighting with Lev Corallia. And now I am here in a reflectionless void. I glanced around my body which was the only thing visible and yet again I was naked.

But something felt off, this body, it had more mass than the body I was currently possessing. 'It felt more familiar but at the same time foreign.' Shrugging off my bugging thoughts I slowly moved forward. Why? Because I felt like it.

I walked, walked, and walked. Hours passed still nothing, days passed but still nothing, and after some time I lost count. I did not feel tired nor did I feel any hunger cause after this was a dream.

The surrounding area never changed, a continuous reflectionless black but after some time I was able to spot a white light, it was twinkling like a star. I hastened my steps to reach the ray.

But the more I moved towards it, the more distant it became. I still maintained my pace and moved forward, not slowing down for a second. Now, the light seemed closer, it took the form of a doorway.

'Am I going into the afterlife?'

I got closer, the door only seemed a few meters away. Now, I was not walking but running, so that I could reach this door and end this dream but before I could do so, a sharp and stinging pain erupted in the left side of my stomach.

I was sent flying away before I could reach the door. I rolled on the reflectionless surface but after a while stopped, the taste of blood filled my mouth as I tried to stand up. How was I able to feel the pain? Wasn't it just a dream?

I slowly looked up in the direction of the blow and before me, I saw someone, a figure that stood before me wearing hooded white attire with golden runes etched onto with glowing intensely. The figure raised his hand and reached for his hood, taking it off. 

His emerald eyes shone with intensity, his auburn fluttering due to the wind magic he coated around himself. His face showed no expressions, it was like a blank slate. It was a face I knew all too well.

"Lucian.." I muttered under my breath. He looked at me with a gaze of indifference but there was something behind his eyes.

"You are not ready yet," He said, his tone completely devoid of any emotion. "As you are now, the power and memories that lay beyond will destroy."

"What do you mean?" I asked, standing while clutching my stomach. "What power? What memories? Tell me what is going on?"

"I cannot" He replied sternly.

"Why?!" I asked again frustrated, "Why? What did you do? Why am I in your body? Who is this fucking Arkansas?"

I had many questions ever since the day I died, these questions would haunt me. I wanted to know what was happening. And when I thought I finally had something, this guy won't answer me.

"Because you are not ready" He replied while maintaining his composure although his eyes were looking at me as if he was pitying me. Pitying the poor soul before him.

"What am I not ready for?!" I asked, I wanted to know what am I supposed to be ready for.

"For my and your memories," He replied approaching me with slow and deliberate steps, "The doorway you see before you is the path to my and your memories, Aiden."

"You know me?"

"Of course, me and Arkansas were the ones who brought you here and Elara, we are the ones who gave her to you"

"..."

"I know you have many questions and in due time they will be answered please trust me" He continued a faint but sad smile etched on his face, "So for now please protect my family and don't hurt Vivianne too much."

"Why did you do this?" I asked

"To protect them, my family"

"But what will happen after that? Most importantly, what will happen to your and my soul?"

"Well I don't know anything about that, I guess I will just move onto the afterlife" He replied, his face softening as he gazed towards the door. "But at least they will live,"

"..."

"Aiden," He spoke out, "As the time will pass, you will slowly unlock my memories and your memories."

"My memories?" I asked clearly confused.

"Yes, your memories."

"What memo-" 

But before I could complete my sentence he pushed me backwards, making me lose my balance and fall. As I fell, the void around me started to absorb me. I tried getting out but It was futile. I looked at Lucian whose smile faltered, with a glint of sadness and regret in his eyes.

"Please win, Aiden, No, N***l ****born"

"Wha-"

But before I could ask any further questions the void around me darkened and I lost my eyesight. It was now completely dark again but I could hear muffled talking of people. I regained my vision and I woke up to a not-so-familiar white ceiling.

"Big Sis! Big Brother Lucian is waking up!" A child's voice erupted in my ears.

I was on a bed lying. Was it the infirmary? Well most likely. I sat up, taking in my surroundings, there were many beds alongside each other, separated and covered by a white veil. It was like a hospital ward.

"Oh, you are finally awake"

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A/N: Yes it is a Skyrim reference.