A wide expanse of rolling green hills appeared with fields of wheat and animals alike. An exact picturesque look at the countryside of olden days. Before the invention of privatized land, individuals would instead hold a land lease with an owner. That owner would collect a rent from those working on that land in the form of tax or work on the owner's land in the form of labor. In either of these scenarios, it was clear that fencing was not used, and that was what Holland was seeing. Acre after acre of what constituted a golden sea of starch. Past the fields of beautiful wheat there were empty fallowed lands, a meadow with beautiful red orchids, and woodlands that stretched into the beyond. The smell, oh what a delicious smell. Crisp, fresh air, so intoxicating with the intermingling smell of tree sap and grass itself. The view and smells while breathtaking, only cemented his current situation. And if the facts are laid bare and not some hallucination then... he needed information. That is the first and most dire problem before any significant plans could be formulated. So, it was-

“Young master, why don’t you close the shutter, it feels like Bruma already brrr,” he interrupted, rubbing his thin fur tunic that clearly wasn’t of the correct density for any drop in temperature.

A deep breath, In.... and out.... Shutting the window, he turned back from his crouched position and onto the padded bench.

Imagine forgetting who a person who had known you for quite clearly a long time. Oh, and apparently there's a sword that went unnoticed under his bench. And he didn’t think for a second that this man with muscles as big as leg could crush him, sword or not. Yes, quite the absurdity. Playing along with this situation would only cause far more damage than simply telling the truth. But... maybe not the truth but perhaps a white lie would do just fine? Hmmmm. High anxiety situations like living in these terrible conditions would undoubtably lead to some kind of religious following. Not knowing who that God was specifically was no problem, as long as he asked the right question and controlled the flow of the situation.... yes, he might just survive this catastrophe.

Looking straight into the eyes of a stranger, while mustering up as much swagger as possible, sustaining his head with his fist, and leaning forward with a smirk, he asked “What is your name?”

“Young Master, what are you ta?”

“please sir, please tell me your name” he begrudgingly reaffirmed.

After a few moments fraught with silence, he responded back “Lancast Rala, your bodyguard and as of now, your ward,” he said back with a somber yet strong gaze. The kind one would give in a time of grief and loss.

After a pause, “Do you believe in a god Lancast?”

Inevitably Slight confusion but an answer nonetheless “Why of course, with the revolts down in the Sala region two decades ago, the king finally allowed the free belief of any religion for the first time in centuries. I am a believer and follower of Iesus. But you knew that already Young Master, please explain what is on your mind?” he said with a clear urgency.

“I... have taken a deal...”

“What do you mean?” moving closer and closer to the edge of his bench.

Holland closed his eyes and breathed a deep sigh “I have forgotten.... My name, my home, my family.... everything in exchange for a gift”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A deep dreaded cold flooded Lancast’s body. Like frozen ice moving inside his veins from the extremities to his heart. He had known the young master for more than a decade. Knew his mannerisms and whims. This was something new.... and that scared him, frightfully so.

“What is this gift you speak of?”

“Knowledge” stated with nothing more, nothing less.

“Knowledge?”

“Yes, knowledge. Knowledge on how to grow crops faster. Knowledge on how to build better housing. Knowledge on how to build better weapons. Knowledge on how to heal people. Knowledge.... on everything. I have been given a gift, but such things come at a price. I am sorry Lancast, this person who you once knew.... is gone.” Exasperated and out of breath from his rant, he took another deep breath.

Thoughts and fantasies, dreams and hopes all but crushed under the weight of this joke. Joke of a land that has brought misery upon this boy. Father killed, Fortunes stolen in the form of so-called taxes, and now even the boy himself is gone and replaced by this.... thing. He could tell, there was no need to tell truth or lie. He knew, could feel it in his bones. While it had been a desperate attempt, a few tears got through. Those tears became a flood and eventually a sniveling mess.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few minutes had passed in this awkwardness of a situation before Lancast became approachable once again.

“I am sorry.... I don’t know what he was thinking before he made this decision either. I am someone and he was someone else. I.... simply don’t remember. I do hope you can forgive me one day. But will you please listen to what I have to ask?” Pleading for a chance to say so.

For a few brief moments, Lancast stared at no point in particular. He looked as if a candle that had been lit so brilliantly was suddenly sniffed out. More time passed before that flame suddenly appeared, small and insignificant but still alive.

Finally, he asked, “What is it you are asking for?”

“I need to information, on who I was, the current on goings of this land, anything, anything at all really.” “Please!” This time bowing his head, pleading for this man in front of him.

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The first deep breath was extrapolated from Lancasts breath. “Before anything, you told me you made a deal. Who was this being you speak of?”

Quite expecting this question already, he moved his head back up and he replied “I do not know. Never asked and I feel there may never be a chance to do so. But.... I could feel it. My entire body shook in his presence while his height reached that of the stars above. There was no need for doubt in my mind, this being had reached a much loftier height than any human.”

Through the use of hand gesture and body language, he hoped to make more of an impact. This whole lie of making an exchange through some higher power inherently left much to the imagination. It could be interpreted in a number of open-ended ways that had no true answer. Also, he doubted the concept of another world with technologically advanced humans would make a very good origin story, let alone the understanding that there were different planets out there or that they were circular in shape. It looks like the current state of this worlds astronomy just got added to the list of burgeoning growing questions.

After a few pandering seconds, he suddenly burst into a slight chuckle, “and here I thought it was the phasma of that piss-all annoying king. Good, very good in fact. That makes this situation slightly better. If it was truly a god you met in the land of your dreams or wherever your anima was taken, then there is nothing I can do. I will not talk to the Flames or my mysta about our time on time. I will continue to be your protector and teacher in the ways of the world. You say that you are not Holland but an empty vessel asking to be filled. You say your memories are gone but still understand the Ivixen tongue of our land. You say the power to change the world is now in your grasp but.... why would the magnificence of the gods suddenly show their wisdom now? Centuries upon centuries of human fallacy, pain, and suffering and now you have a solution!” he screamed while still desperately holding back a flood of anger that simply itching to be carved into his face. He didn’t stand up nor move his hands from the bench that cried out under his ferocious grip.

After few moments came yet another sigh expressed by Lancast, his most intense one to date.

I do know whether lie or truth was expressed. “Simply, promise me three things...” ending with a shallow sigh and that somber look he gave before his own world came crashing down.

‘’Anything at all’ he resolutely replied.

‘‘If I find evidence that you are of an evil nature, do not run. Do not hide or leave your domain for I will find you and hunt you down. I will then throw your corpse in the river, leagues away from your fathers’ burial site. Do you understand me” he nearly screamed while using his finger pointing wildly .

Gone was that proud demeanor felt only moments ago and replaced only with a sheepish kind of nod in response.

”Good, and finally, you will remember your own name. Repeat after me, Holland sapientia Malda.”

I was supposed to make a quick in some form of yes but... huh, that was my name. What a coincidence, that was my name as well. Not the middle or last but the first part of my real name. Such a fact could not possibly be a coincidence but.... did this connection between names hold some meaning in his transfer? Well if there was some hidden meaning, he didn’t see it. Besides, he wasn’t complaining, it was in own name!

“Holland Sapientia Malda’’ he repeated back with a smile on his face and an outstretched hand. “Nice to meet you Lancast Rala’’

-A more boisterous laugh echoed throughout the cabin once again, “young master, that gesture is made for those on equal standings. You are the proud owner of the Ariel peninsula and world famous Greysmithy. Your father never treated his citizens with an ounce of malice, and I hope you will take up this task. As your third task, learn the ways of governance once again. It is your duty and right from the body in which you hold. Do these things for me and make a promise?”

“Repeat after me, cum voveris votum retinent.”

“Cum voveris votum retinent,” Holland tried his damndest to faithfully repeat back the statement but couldn’t help but make a few errors along the way. Also, he was ninety-five percent sure that sounded like Latin. He had never spoken Latin once in his entire life, but he had heard it spoken. Perhaps that was the cause for this clearly English spoken language. More questions....

Unlike the promised serenity only moments ago, Lancast burst into a bout of hysterical laugher while vigorously slapping the knee a couple times to go along with it. “Turns out boy, your still terrible at the language of Origin. Thank all that is Holy that has not changed.

Not a moment later, Lancast somehow expertly maneuvered around in what little space beheld the room into a quite elegant bow on the floor. One knee to the floor while the other a foot. Head drawn below while his hand gently slid onto the crest above his heart.

“I am once again prepared to serve once again after hearing your Vow of Promise, thank you,” he shouted in triumph.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few minutes passed before the knight and the noble became resituated in their positions.

Lancast went on to take the initiative, “Questions, I'm sure your questions quite numerous. Please ask.”

Now he had numerous questions. Questions like why a birthmark on his middle fingers right hand is there, and how it looked exactly like his old birthmark. The one from Earth. Another possible connection in this bizarre string of events but in what regards.... who knows? Another unanswerable question was his body. He knew it, could truly and undeniably feel that this was a younger body. Perhaps maybe ten to fifteen years earlier. But out of everything, what seemed to jump into the forefront of his mind was the past. What happened to his body back on Earth? Did he die or did he switch consciousnesses with this Holland? How were his friends, his family? Mother.... It was not a time for such thoughts, perhaps another time. A time far away in the distance beyond on the horizon. Lock the memories in a safe and throw away the key. For now, it was the time for questions.

Taking up the offer, Holland went on to ask....