"Time is a mutable thing, it passes us slowly when we're younger, faster when we're older, and almost not at all in those key moments we find precious, and far too fast in those times we're home" – an aging philosopher

Cycles pass, and the day that Alex turns sixteen cycles old arrives.

'the last four cycles were something, weren't they.'

The day after Robert's exile, Alex had told his father and Ivona about the issues with his memory. A week after that, he told them about past' deaths'. They never really believed him about his deaths, and Ivona had attributed it to the trauma. Still, Ivona did do a few tests that concluded that the memory loss was amnesia stemming from the surgery. Learning that it was unlikely to be cured, Walter hired a new tutor named Reynold to teach Alex about everything he had forgotten. Alex learned quite a bit from him, but just last year, he had to return to his family for Reynold's father's funeral. Of course, Alex and him had had a cordial goodbye, and Alex had given his condolences. Alex heard a partition later that his father had sent flowers and a large sum for the funeral.

While Alex had excelled in most of the subjects taught by his tutor(due to a mix of burning to learn what he had lost, and not having much else to do), but one subject he had always had trouble with was the so-called 'magic,' he had tried to follow along. Still, nothing had happened, after 30 days of attempting to light a candle with not a single spark coming out he had been told by his tutor, "You don't seem to have the knack for this, it's rare nowadays, but you might not be able to interact with the magical forces, the monks of old used to be like that – it took them years to learn the spell you're trying to cast right now, and those were the prodigies. I think we are going to have to skip out on magic, our time is better focused elsewhere" this had caused Alex much distress at first, as the thought of an unattainable skill disturbed him. Alex grew out of it, though. He focused his studies and learned how to manage government, which his father was happy to explain about when he popped in during the lessons.

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Alex smiles as he thinks of his father, and then frowns as his mind drifts elsewhere.

Alex had asked his father numerous times the cycles about what Robert had meant, and Walter had always put it off, until finally, Alex confronted him about it, the result…

"Just wait till you're 16, I'll tell you then… okay?"

Alex had sensed that Walter wouldn't give, so he decided to let the issue rest. When Alex had later tried asking about his mother, he had met the same response.

Alex looks through the westerly window where Ivona had departed…

Ivona ended up staying for the better part of 2 cycles before she left. Ivona would make excuses along the lines of, "If I can't even see a treatment through, what kind of doctor does that make me?" or "Your treatment isn't over yet" when asked when she would leave. Even after it had been made clear that Alex wasn't going to recover his memory, Ivona still stayed. It was only when one of her assistants dragged her home to see other patients. It was a sad day, but probably a necessary one. The house was a bit darker for the weeks following. Alex had been told by the servants that Walter wasn't the same after he kicked out Robert. Alex wasn't sure if it was true or not, but seeing how Walter visibly saddened with Ivona's absence confirmed it for him. His father dearly missed his friends, something Alex dearly wanted to do something about, and in the end, decided to spend time with Walter every once in a while to keep him from being lonely.

Alex sighs and walks to his father's office. They had planned to have the party later that afternoon, and his schedule is clear, so Alex decides that it's time for the answers he has been waiting for.

Alex opens the door and walks inside to see his father in his chair, with his beloved reading spectacles that Alex had given his father on his birthday just a cycle ago, his father looks at him and silence ensnares the room for a moment.

"Does this have to be now?" asks Walter, slowly as if in apprehension.

"I've waited for four cycles, father…" Alex says while walking towards the seat opposite his father.

'It's time I know why Robert felt it necessary to kill me.'