My sword told me the truth about him. My mind trembles in fear about the gravity of the situation, and he's the only one facing it right now. He told no one about it and just rushed away calmly. This is something that I cannot keep to myself. 

Most of them have huddled near the balcony, looking at the same trail from where he left. That just shows how much they missed him these past few years, and that those stories they always told me about him proved it all the more.

Am I invading their lives just by being here? I feel out of place at this very moment. Not belonging here, coming out from the blue and being king all of a sudden. I can't argue, but can't help but feel that something is wrong with the big picture. 

("Those are your thoughts alone. Relinquish them, you are filling you mind with needless guilt,") a disembodied voice coming from my sword chides me. We share one mind whenever I wield him. Nothing escapes his notice, at times staving off negative thoughts that clog my mind. 

This isn't the time to dwell on such things. You're right... There are much more important things here than feeling down and guilty. I'll have to save that for another occasion. "Everyone, please listen to what I have to say," I try to control my voice as much as I can, making sure that the only ones that can hear me are the ones present in this room. 

*knock* *knock* I turn to face the door, but it opens by itself. "Pardon my intrusion King, but I have a report for you about the casualties," says Luke. He enters, still wearing his battle armor adorned with scratches and cuts from the skirmish earlier. 

"Ah general Galehearth. What a surprise this is," greets Lazarus. 

Luke's sights are now focused on the two sobbing maidens kneeling on the floor. "I will not ask about the specific details, but I will tell you that I am curious."

*sigh* "Good timing. General, please call commander Fiol Lumiere here. I have something that I need to show you. Bring no one else, and be discreet as to not let anyone asks about your intentions. I will explain everything that I can once we are assembled," I let out a barrage of commands.

Luke leaves without any further questions. knowing him, he is always calm and composed. Someone you can depend on, and the one who can equal, or surpass me in strength. But Fiol on the other hand is what you can call his polar opposite. I've only known him for a few years after the battle at old zarakiol, but he adjusted to me quite easily. 

Those two might be, no... They will be necessary if we want to stand a chance against Fafnir's and the whole world's enemy.

After waiting for a few minutes. I hear footsteps getting louder, I assume coming towards us. *knock* *knock* "I've brought him my king." 

"Hey wait, I thought you'd be bringing me to that beautiful woman's dorm room. You betrayed me!" I hear his voice right outside. I forgot to tell Luke to shut Fiol up just in case, but our worries will be nothing compared to what I need to tell them most importantly. 

"Enter."

Luke comes with Fiol in tow. "I didn't do anything wrong this time... I promise," he immediately defends himself, bowing in front of me.

"Stand tall Fiol. Listen everyone. What I am about to tell you needs to be kept secret at all cost," Fiol was obviously just joking around. But the moment I say my words with a stern tone, his expression changes into a serious one. He now looks at me intently. 

Nerian, Lazarus, Charlotte, Juliette, Luke and Fiol all have their attentions pointed towards me now. 

"I need to tell you all something important... concerning Fafnir," they go silent in an instant as if his name was a command to heel. Again, I try to remove those thoughts of want and jealousy from my mind. 

"So that person who attacked really was Fafnir huh? He's changed. He doesn't feel the same anymore," Fiol sighs, scratching the back of his head as he looks down on his feet with a frown. 

"I know it's not pleasant to dwell back on it, but I know the reason as to why he left," the adults squint their eyes, and the princesses wipe away the remaining tears left on them. 

I thrust my sword forward by the hilt, presenting it to them. "Lazarus already knows, but I will need the rest if you to follow suit," and by my command, they mimic Lazarus's movements by placing their hands on top of the ornament on the sword. 

"What is this all about? Will this truly tell us about Fafnir and his intentions?" asks Charlotte. Keen on finding out the truth chaining the one she cares for I assume. I not back in silence, saying nothing more. 

"Now close your eyes, empty your minds, and let it wander," I say out the necessary procedures for it to work. ("All has been prepared. We can commence at any moment,") my sword speaks. For now, there is only the two of us conversing within the confines of my mind, but soon I shall be able to bring everyone else as I once did with Marcus and Lazarus.

I then begin to close my eyes as well, concentrating on bringing them all together to convene in my mind.  

A bright flash of white light pulsates above. Then it weakens, just like every time I visit this place. Though I've never seen his true form. I can only discern him from his voice. 

I look around, and there I see them laid down on the floor, sleeping peacefully.

"I'm sorry, but I'll have to wake you up for now," I kneel beside them, shaking them awake. 

Their eyes slowly blink to adjust to the brightness of the surroundings. They realize that they are somewhere different. Looking around everywhere, darting their eyes left and right, admiring or mystified by the scenery. Their mouths and eyes remain open in awe nonetheless. 

I see Lazarus a couple of inches away from my left, getting up with a groggy expression that you'd usually see from waking someone up suddenly. "Welcome back Lazarus," I greet him. It takes him a couple more blinks to realize that I was talking to him. 

Luke and Fiol have already stood up by that time, looking around, but not surprised at all. 

"Oh, amazing! are we in heaven? Everything's so bright and pure white. It's like I'm floating with the clouds!" yells Fiol. His voice echoes, then disappears to fade somewhere. 

"How about giving it a rest Fiol. This isn't the first time we've been somewhere like this one. But I must agree with you. Compared to our adventure, this is quite the change of pace." remarks Luke. What was that about? They've been to a place like this before? 

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*sigh* I am curious about what he means, but that will come at another time. Hopefully there's still a world to live in by then.

Soon they've all been woken up. Lazarus explains all that he can, but I intervene halfway to explain my side of the story, and what this place is. The good thing is that they didn't panic. They took it quite calmly to my surprise. Maybe the beauty of this place distracted some of them from their unrest. 

"Here I can explain to you the reason to Fafnir's distress. Or someone else rather," I pause, and there speaks the disembodied voice that I had made a bond with. His voice roars through everywhere like the voice of god himself, making them tremble at first.

"Greetings. My name is Gram. I am the blade that will bring the truth to light as I was instructed by my wielder, Gram," they look around, trying to find the source of the voice. Then they look to me, their eyes are obviously asking for questions.

"I had made a pact with this godsend sword. Apparently my father had left it for my brother and I. Hopefully wielding it when the time of need arises. He took my name, so we now share the same name," I finish my explanation, crossing my arms afterwards thinking if I had done a good job in answering their doubts

The scenery changes, our very surroundings are being warped all at once, the heavenly scenery distorts. All this surprises me as well as it is my first time seeing the extent of my own sword's ability. It seems that he still has more secrets he has yet to unveil. 

I instinctively back away, my eyes wander everywhere. "What is this?" 

"I have recorded Fafnir's life as I struck him. I will can you his memories," I freeze upon hearing this. His past? Will this be my one and only chance to know whether he truly is my long lost brother?

"will this be able to give us a lead as to what Fafnir concerns about?" Nerian asks out loudly to the disembodied voice. 

"Unfortunately I cannot access his past. The memories of his youth have deteriorated at an astonishing rate, the reason for that is unknown. I can only jump to the most recent part of his memories. Will that suffice?" 

"Yes. It'll be more than enough."

"Then without further ado, we shall now jump to his most recent memory. Keep in mind that you will see everything unravel through his eyes. You won't be able to do anything but watch it all happen," and with that final remark, the sword, Gram turns silent. 

In that moment I felt my entire body vibrate, and with that comes a high pitch sound, nearly making me deaf. Through his eyes huh? I wonder what kind of memory he has. 

I open my eyes, blinking a few times over. My entire body hurts, it's as if I was bitten by a wolf. My sights adjust, and it seems that I am somewhere inside a forest, surrounded by lush, green trees, and in the middle of it is a wide clearing where I'm supposed to be.

"What are you doing!? Keep your guard up and stave it away from you!" I hear a loud voice shout from a distance. I can't quite see who it was, but the terrifying sight before me takes my attention. 

A wolf snarls at me as I barely hold its neck back with what looks like a barrel top. It tries to go in for a bite from time to time, I feel my arms weaken with every assault. 

I try to exert as much strength as I can to drive the wolf back, but nothing seems to change, rather I still feel weakened with time slowly passing.

Why am I fighting a wolf anyway? Wait... I remember. This is not my body, my memories, or my eyes. So it's Fafnir's?

I feel the strain from my body go away once I realize this. It seems that I had imagined myself as the victim, thus afflicting me with the appropriate response of pain as if i was reliving his life as my own.

Why doesn't he fight back though? I've seen his strength firsthand, so why? (Argh! Andour, please help me! I can't hold on for much longer. My arms, they hurt...) my thoughts are interrupted by a voice ringing inside my head. Is this Fafnir's voice I wonder? His inner thoughts?

My gaze shifts to the man under the shade of a tree. He looks at me with prejudice and irritation. Who is he? Why doesn't he help Fafnir then? He looks built for fighting. 

My attention is now caught by two wolves charging in from both sides. I close my eyes. Is this the end for me? 

It goes silent. "Wha-what happened?" (Ah! My entire body hurts. I can't move a muscle, but the wolves are gone. So that means that Andour... Took care of them... Again.)

*sigh* 

"How long are you going to stay weak, lying down and licking your own wounds? Stand up and bear it!" I hear a voice piercing my ears loud and clear. (I knew he'd be mad again. It's always like this. Why am I so weak?) 

I managed to see what he did to the wolves. Shooting three arrows in quick succession, and hitting all three of them without losing focus, or moving in the slightest. Just who is this man... Andour? What does he have to do with Fafnir?

I try forcing my entire body to work together in standing up, trying to make a brave stand against him. (I have to prove to him that I can be strong!)

But to no avail did I succeed. I fell down with a loud thud. Fortunately for me is that the grass made for a good landing. It's soft and the breeze helps me recover my mind. I slowly feel myself fall asleep. "I'm sorry Andour. I couldn't make you proud."

"Treat your wounds when we get back. I'll have something for you to do at first light tomorrow," He speaks. It seems that he is carrying me on his back as I feel his arms carry me off the grass. (Deep inside, Andour is a good person. I'll get stronger someday and maybe, just maybe he might be proud of me for once.)

I awake to the crickets singing outside. It's a gentle and quite night. My only source of light was a dimly lit lantern. "Ah!" my arms give in. I remember that I had injuries that I needed to treat. 

I begin bandaging myself with cloth and some herbal leaves I've gathered in the forest. *sigh* "I wonder where Andour is at this time. It's late..."

"I need to get stronger soon. That wolf from earlier could've killed me if it were not for Andour," I can't move my left arm. It hurts when I try to bandage it, but what can I do? I need to be prepared for any test he's going to give me. *sigh* "I'm tired."

The moon looks beautiful though. I wonder what's in store for me tomorrow.