Exordium

The dwelling was modest, its welcoming façade instantly inspiring a sense of warm hospitality, radiating an aura of calm and peaceful tranquility.

The architecture harmoniously blended elements of a manor and a village house: spacious enough without being ostentatious, thus escaping any precise categorization.

Small windows opened onto solid brick foundations, conveying a reassuring impression of security. The whole was delicately embraced by several trees, the vegetation naturally merging with the dwelling.

The philosophy of the place could be summarized thus: the noblest societies do not require just anyone; they are discerning and know how to detach themselves from both bad and good people.

The entrance was the most distinctive element, with its two enormous doors and fine walls—simply fascinating.

Its bewildering simplicity became its greatest complexity, its greatest importance, the implicit postulate of the majestic history of the great Isaak d'Averno, the mystical ancient God of Abyssinia Magna.

Isaak: "How interesting, the first house I see seems perfect to me. I'm fortunate to be able to live alongside it."

Theresia: "Hmm, well, it's not exactly extraordinary either. Though I'm not criticizing the house negatively, there's nothing to get excited about..."

Isaak: "Yet all of this is new to me. I'm sure that once you discovered your faith in God, you became excited, or at least you were filled with joy."

Theresia: "If I may say so, it's really different—it's the divine source versus simple material things that have been granted to us by God."

Isaak: "Then perhaps the creator and the creation can be on the same level, perhaps even the creation can take precedence."

Theresia: "I can't blame you for thinking. I actually believe that you weren't just born, which is obvious, but that you've lost your memory—that you're amnesiac."

Isaak: "That's unfortunate then, not remembering my entire past..."

Theresia: "I'll go pray for your recovery. I don't know what happened before, but this partial amnesia must mean something. I'm convinced that Reinhardt Voss von Abendrot will grant you what you need!"

Isaak: "That's very kind of you, Theresia. Thank you so much."

Theresia: "It's time I introduce you to my household and the other servants."

Isaak: "Oh, you have servants?"

Theresia: "Yes, actually we can't really say they're servants. They're here of their own free will. They all apparently owe something to my father—nothing too serious, just personal matters."

Isaak: "I wouldn't be against the idea of being a servant if it's of my own free will."

Theresia: "It's really pleasant here. I'm sure you'll love your new home."

As previously decided, they advanced step by step toward the building's door, soon giving way to a new experience for the new Isaak d'Averno.

Now at a distance of just one small meter, preparing to push one of the two doors, the silence was shattered and the door burst open violently.

A figure until then unknown emerged from inside the house, revealing a man in his twenties, frightened by something that was monstrously pursuing him from behind.

The man had disheveled, rather short, dark blue hair, and his eyes were a slightly lighter blue, naturally wide open, similar to prey but especially similar to a friend showing no sign of deviance.

He seemed definitively taller than Theresia but considerably shorter than Isaak, placing him at average height for his age. His features were average—neither athletic nor pudgy, just average—and he wore a simple white top and gray pants extending to his ankles.

Two seconds were enough for the situation to announce the second character: a younger woman, pure but not as much as Theresia, with medium-length, brown, smooth and orderly hair that further refined the features of her gentle face.

Just slightly shorter than the one she was pursuing with the greatest conviction and ardor, announcing the color of her temperament: sometimes calm, sometimes angry enough to frighten anyone.

It was truly a scene of comic theater without deep meaning, just to entertain and nothing other than the entertainment of whoever was spectator to it all.

???: "Ahhh! No, sorry Claire, it wasn't intentional, I swear!"

Claire Velvener: "Argh! The great Claire Velvener is going to kill you for what you did!!"

The blue-haired man stumbled slightly as he exited the house, his panicked eyes quickly scanning the surroundings before falling on Isaak and Theresia. His expression shifted from pure terror to total confusion.

???: "Oh... uh... hello Theresia! You... you brought someone?"

His voice still trembled with the adrenaline of his flight, but he was visibly trying to regain composure. Claire emerged from the house in turn, her brown hair perfectly styled. She stopped short upon seeing the two visitors.

Claire Velvener: "Theresia! Perfect timing! This... this idiot has been up to his tricks again!"

She pointed an accusatory finger at the blue-haired man, who instinctively recoiled.

Theresia sighed deeply, like someone accustomed to this kind of situation.

Theresia: "What happened this time, Henri?"

Henri—for that was apparently his name—hung his head, sheepish.

Henri: "I... I may have accidentally knocked over her favorite jam jar... and splashed her Sunday dress in the process..."

Claire Velvener: "MAY HAVE?! You completely destroyed my things! And on top of that, you had the audacity to laugh!"

Henri: "I didn't laugh! I... I just smiled nervously! It's different!"

Isaak observed this scene with fascination. It was the first complex social interaction he had witnessed, and he found it curious how emotions could create such chaos between beings who otherwise seemed reasonable.

Isaak: "Excuse me... may I introduce myself? I am Isaak d'Averno."

His calm and composed voice had an immediate effect on the two protagonists. Henri and Claire froze, finally truly noticing his presence. Henri blinked several times, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

Henri: "Wow... you're... really tall."

Claire, for her part, seemed momentarily destabilized by the aura of serenity that emanated from Isaak. Her anger somewhat subsided.

Claire Velvener: "I... I am Claire Velvener. Pleased to meet you, Mr. d'Averno."

Henri: "I'm Henri Beaumont! Sorry for... well, for this unseemly spectacle..."

Theresia intervened before the situation could become more embarrassing.

Theresia: "Isaak will be staying with us for a while. He has... lost his memory and has nowhere to go."

Claire observed Isaak with a new look, a mixture of curiosity and compassion.

Claire Velvener: "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. It must be terrible not to remember your past."

Isaak: "Actually, it's rather liberating. Every moment is a discovery. Like now, for example—I'm discovering that human relationships can be... tumultuous but fascinating."

Henri chuckled despite himself.

Henri: "Tumultuous is an understatement with Claire..."

Claire Velvener: "Henri!"

Theresia raised her hands to calm the situation.

Theresia: "Alright, that's enough, you two. Where is father? I need to introduce him to Isaak."

Claire: "He's in his study, reading his old manuscripts as usual. He told me not to disturb him unless it was urgent."

Theresia: "Well, I think the arrival of a guest constitutes sufficient urgency."

She turned to Isaak.

Theresia: "Come, I'll introduce you to my father. Henri, Claire, you can resume your... discussion, but quietly, please."

As they headed toward the interior of the house, Isaak heard Henri whisper to Claire:

Henri: "I'm really sorry about your dress and your jam..."

Claire Velvener: "You'll make me new jam, and you'll wash my dress. Personally."

Henri: "Anything you want, Claire."

Isaak smiled inwardly. He was beginning to understand that these two had a particular dynamic—Claire seemed to have natural authority over Henri, who willingly accepted this hierarchy.

The interior of the house was even more charming than the exterior. The stone walls were adorned with simple but elegant tapestries, and candles diffused a soft, warm light. The air smelled of wax, wood, and something more subtle—perhaps incense or dried herbs.

Theresia guided him through a corridor to a dark wooden door. She knocked gently.

Theresia: "Father? I have someone to introduce to you."

A deep, measured voice responded from within.

???: "Enter, my daughter."

The door opened onto a spacious study filled with books and parchments. Behind a large oak desk sat a man in his fifties, with graying hair and piercing deep blue eyes—the same as Theresia's. He wore a simple but quality robe and radiated an aura of wisdom and natural authority.

The man looked up from his manuscript and his gaze immediately fell on Isaak. For a long moment, the two men observed each other in silence. Isaak felt something strange.

???: "Interesting... very interesting."

Theresia seemed surprised by her father's reaction.

Theresia: "Father, I present Isaak d'Averno. He has lost his memory and has nowhere to go. I thought we could welcome him temporarily."

The man slowly rose from his chair, revealing an imposing stature—not as much as Isaak's, but enough to command respect. He walked around his desk and approached, studying Isaak with an intensity that could have made anyone else uncomfortable.

???: "I am Aldric Kreuznacht, Theresia's father and master of this house. And you, Mr. d'Averno... you are not an ordinary man, are you?"

Isaak respectfully inclined his head.

Isaak: "I am honored to make your acquaintance, Mr. Kreuznacht. As for whether I am ordinary or not... I myself do not know. I remember nothing before awakening near the river."

Aldric Kreuznacht: "Near the river... the sacred river of Abyssinia Magna. That's where my daughter found you?"

Theresia: "Yes, father. He was... well, he had no clothes, but he seemed perfectly innocent. My gift detects no malevolence in him."

Aldric nodded, manifestly satisfied by this information.

Aldric Kreuznacht: "Your gift is reliable, my daughter. If you detect no evil in him, then we can trust him."

He turned to Isaak.

Aldric Kreuznacht: "Mr. d'Averno, you are welcome in our dwelling. But I have an important question to ask you: have you felt anything strange recently? Dreams, visions, a sensation of change in the world?"

Isaak frowned, thinking intensely.

Isaak: "Now that you mention it... I have indeed had a strange sensation. As if something important had occurred, something that had changed the world's balance. But I don't know what exactly."

Aldric's face grew more grave.

Aldric Kreuznacht: "Three days ago, something terrible occurred. A malevolent force awakened, and with it, chaos began to spread. We felt its presence even here, in our peaceful sanctuary."

Theresia seemed surprised.

Theresia: "Father, you hadn't told me..."

Aldric Kreuznacht: "I didn't want to worry you unnecessarily, my daughter. But now, with Mr. d'Averno's arrival... I wonder if this isn't a sign that times are changing."

He went to a bookshelf and pulled out an ancient book with yellowed pages.

Aldric Kreuznacht: "Our sacred texts speak of a prophecy... when darkness awakens, a being of light will appear to restore balance. A being who will have lost his past to better embrace his future."

Isaak felt a shiver run down his spine. These words resonated within him in a way he couldn't explain.

Isaak: "You think that... that I could be connected to this prophecy?"

Aldric Kreuznacht: "I don't know yet. But your arrival at the precise moment when darkness awakens cannot be a coincidence."

He closed the book and looked directly at Isaak.

Aldric Kreuznacht: "Stay with us, Mr. d'Averno. Learn our customs, discover your true nature. And perhaps together, we can understand what role you are destined to play in the events to come."

Isaak nodded solemnly.

Isaak: "I accept your hospitality with gratitude, Mr. Kreuznacht. And if I can help in any way, I will."

Theresia smiled, visibly relieved that her father had accepted Isaak so easily.

Theresia: "Perfect! I'll show him to his room and explain our habits. Henri and Claire can help him adapt."

As they left the study, Aldric called out one last time.

Aldric Kreuznacht: "Mr. d'Averno... be careful. Forces are in motion. But know that you have found faithful allies here."

Isaak turned and inclined his head with respect.

Isaak: "Thank you, Mr. Kreuznacht. I will not forget your words."

As they left the study, Isaak couldn't help but feel that his new life had truly begun. He had found not only refuge, but perhaps also his true destiny. The mysteries of his past would remain to be elucidated, but for now, he was ready to embrace the future, whatever challenges awaited him.

Dusk was gently falling over the Kreuznacht dwelling, and with it, the hope of a new chapter in the story of Isaak d'Averno.