《Wall of Medyn》 Prologue A young man named Grent Prywell trudged toward his new workplace, his boots crunching against the gravel path. He had taken on countless jobs across the Kingdom of Grendall, yet no matter how many cities he passed through, he never felt at home in them. The capital, Tyllberg, made him uneasy the moment he set foot inside its walls. But his workplace was nowhere near the bustling city streets, nor did it reside within any village or settlement. It lays deep within the Medyn Forest, far to the south. He was an Adventurer¡ª----one who found solace in the untamed wilds rather than the structured order of civilization. Yet, even among his fellow adventurers, he was seen as an anomaly. As he approached the dense tree line, his mind focused on his upcoming trial¡ªthe infamous Wall of Medyn. A stationary yet relentless entity, the living wall stretched across the forest¡¯s inner perimeter, its surface impervious to all but the most powerful assaults. Any attack below a certain threshold would be reflected back at the aggressor. Rumors whispered of priceless artifacts hidden within, guarded by an ancient civilization long thought to be lost. Historians, treasure hoarders, even the kingdom itself sought the mysteries beyond the wall. Adventurers like Grent were drawn to it, not by scholarly curiosity, but by the promise of immense wealth. If he could breach the wall, he would become a legend. With a firm grip on his sword, he prepared to test the wall¡¯s limits. He had braced himself for pain, for the force of his own attack to rebound against him. But the moment his blade touched the wall, a searing shock consumed him. His vision went black. His body collapsed. When the healers examined Grent¡¯s lifeless form, they pronounced him dead. Yet, within his unmoving body, he could still hear, still feel. His consciousness drifted, untethered, as if lost in limbo. The saints, in their mercy, sought to guide his soul into the afterlife. But the overlords of the Multiverse had other plans. In another world, another version of Grent existed. And so, his soul was drawn from the void, merging with his alternate self. He awoke in a lavish chamber, his head throbbing with confusion. The scent of polished wood and fresh linens filled his senses. His fingers ran over silk sheets before he pushed himself upright. His surroundings were unfamiliar¡ªelegant furniture, intricate tapestries, and a golden chandelier casting a warm glow over the room. The door creaked open, and a woman in a pristine maid¡¯s uniform stepped inside. ¡°You¡¯ve finally woken, my lord,¡± she said, her tone even and composed. Grent blinked at her, his mind struggling to piece together what had happened. ¡°Where am I? Why am I here? Who are you?¡± ¡°You are in the residence of House Prywell,¡± the maid replied without hesitation. ¡°You are the master of this estate and the territory granted to you by the Kingdom of Grendall. I am your faithful servant.¡± Grent¡¯s breath hitched. His last memory was of the Wall of Medyn¡ªof striking it, of dying. He clenched his fists. ¡°The Wall of Medyn¡­ has it been defeated?¡± The maid¡¯s expression did not falter. ¡°I am unfamiliar with anything by that name, my lord.¡± A chill ran down his spine. Had it all been a dream? Or had he truly crossed into another life? Dressing himself, he ventured to his balcony, where a breathtaking view stretched before him. Vast plains split by a winding, shallow river. Distant forests looming beyond the western horizon. A land far greater than anything he had ever seen. His thoughts drifted to his past life¡ªto the hardship of his early adventuring days. He had been bullied by higher-ranking adventurers, forced to take the lowest-paying jobs, and endured conditions worse than the kingdom¡¯s underground prisons. He gritted his teeth as a sharp pain lanced through his skull, memories clashing with the present. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Later, he wandered through his estate, eventually making his way to the dining hall. The room was grand, its centerpiece a marble table adorned with swirling patterns. Around him, statues of the deities stood, their presence unmistakable. But only six of them were accounted for. The Greater Deity of Balance - The supreme force overseeing all, ensuring harmony between the other deities. Neither benevolent nor malevolent, Balance acts when necessary to maintain equilibrium. The Deity of Life - Governs vitality, healing, and creation. Worshippers seek their blessing for health and prosperity. The Deity of Death - Oversees the passage of souls. Neither cruel nor kind, Death simply ensures the cycle continues. The Deity of Prosperity - Brings wealth, fortune, and growth. Merchants and kings alike pray for their favor. The Deity of Adversity - Embodies struggle and hardship, believing only through challenge can one achieve greatness. The Deity of Fortune - A fickle force, granting both miracles and misfortune at their whim. But there had once been a seventh. The Deity of Evil, exiled for the chaos he wrought. His power had been sealed away; his body lost to the ages. Not even the Greater Deity knew where his essence now resided. Grent stared at the empty pedestal where Evil¡¯s statue once stood. His fingers unconsciously curled into fists. A foreboding feeling lingered in his gut. As he touched the pedestal, a vision of a dark and gloomy forest, filled with the stench of rotting corpses filled his head. Behind him, 2 entities stand, each holding a Bow and a sword and shield respectively. Grent snapped out of the vision, his mind racing with questions, as his heart pounded heavily while looking at the pedestal. Who was that? Their silhouettes felt familiar yet overpowering, as if they rule the underworld. But I¡¯ve yet to meet anybody like them. What kind of battle happened in the middle of a forest like that? Did it take place inside the wall? And what were they doing standing behind me? Could it be¡­ my allies? He thought as shivers roll down his spine, weakening his knees. He cannot shake the feeling of sinister energy from his mind. Seeking answers about his new life, Grent set out for the nearby city of Cyress, the heart of his territory. The streets bustled with merchants, knights, and common folk alike. Two grand roads crossed at the city¡¯s center, branching out to distinct districts. It was more alive than any place he had lived before. Curious, he made his way to the Adventurer¡¯s Guild. The lively chatter of mercenaries and warriors filled the air as he stepped inside. He approached the front counter, speaking with a clerk who seemed momentarily stunned by his presence. ¡°I¡¯d like to register,¡± he said on impulse, testing his new reality. The clerk hesitated, glancing between him and the paperwork before nodding quickly. ¡°O-of course, sir.¡± Moments later, she handed him an adventurer¡¯s card, her hands trembling slightly. He studied it, amused. ¡°That was¡­ easier than I expected.¡± ¡°It is our policy not to question an applicant who provides proper identification,¡± the clerk murmured. Grent chuckled. ¡°I suppose that¡¯s fair.¡± He noticed a line forming beside the counter, adventurers eagerly awaiting an appraisal of their combat affinities. The clerk gestured toward it. ¡°We offer free affinity assessments, should you wish to discover your natural strengths.¡± Grent¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. ¡°I think I¡¯ll take you up on that. After all, I haven¡¯t tested this body yet.¡± As he waited in line, two adventurers struck up a conversation with him. A lively young man named Andrew and his more reserved companion, Nana. They spoke of their hometown, Rutherwood, and the struggles of their early careers. When Grent mentioned he governed Regeant, Nana scoffed. ¡°There¡¯s no way. That territory is massive. The only one mad enough to take it on is¡ª¡± Her eyes widened. ¡°Wait. Are you actually¡­?¡± He tapped the insignia on his chest. ¡°In the flesh.¡± She frowned. ¡°You know, faking an identity can get you into serious trouble.¡± Andrew sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s not start this again.¡± Grent merely chuckled. ¡°This is going to be interesting.¡± He murmured *** Chapter 1: The Forest It is said that the forest swallows any who stray from the path it opens. Those who reach the wall return barely breathing, their bodies covered in deep cuts and festering wounds. Some are poisoned, their only salvation lying in the hands of high priests capable of cleansing the corruption. Rumors and speculation spread like wildfire, each more dreadful than the last. But the best of the best knows the truth: within the forest stands a wall of living flesh, a grotesque, sentient barrier that defies all reason. Grent awoke with a start, his body slick with sweat, his breath uneven. A nightmare¡ªno, a memory. A past life he had long abandoned, yet it still clawed at the edges of his mind. He had left behind a wife, a home, a dream of a better life. But fate had been cruel. The news had come like a blade to the heart¡ªhis wife and children, murdered in a freak accident. From that moment, settlements became unbearable. He wandered, embracing the life of a nomad, seeking danger to drown out the grief. But that was another world. That man had died with the Wall of Medyn. Now, in this life, he was someone else. A noble. A leader. Surrounded by loyal allies, respected by his people. And yet, as he sat at the edge of his bed, his fingers curled into fists, a vow passed his lips. I will never make the same mistakes again. After his usual morning routine, Grent made his way to the city center, where Nana and Andrew were already waiting. The mood was livelier than the day of their appraisal. Nana was practically buzzing with excitement, while Andrew stood beside her, his eagerness more restrained but no less present. ¡°Check this out!¡± Nana beamed, holding up a beautifully crafted bow. ¡°I picked this from my family¡¯s vault. Looks amazing, doesn¡¯t it?¡± The bow was nothing short of a masterpiece¡ªits grip wrapped in smooth bull leather; its hickory limbs polished to perfection. The string, made of fine linen, was fitted with a coyote-hide silencer. Grent nodded in appreciation. ¡°That¡¯s a fine bow. Your family must be wealthy to own something like this.¡± Nana shook her head. ¡°We¡¯re nobles, but not that rich. This bow is actually an heirloom, passed down for generations. It belonged to my great-great-grandfather.¡± ¡°It¡¯s held up remarkably well for its age.¡± Before Nana could reply, Andrew stepped forward, proudly displaying his gear. His blade¡ªa damascus steel sword¡ªgleamed under the sunlight, its intricate patterns mesmerizing. A scutum shield, reinforced with forged iron strips, rested on his arm. ¡°Impressive craftsmanship,¡± Grent said, eyeing the weapon. ¡°Are those also from the family vault?¡± Andrew shook his head. ¡°No, these were a gift from my father. Got them for my birthday.¡± His voice held a deep sense of appreciation. ¡°The balance is perfect. Feels like an extension of my own body.¡± Grent chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s how it should be.¡± Andrew eyed Grent¡¯s great sword. ¡°What about yours? Looks like a work of art.¡± Grent glanced at the massive weapon strapped to his back. ¡°Found it in my mansion¡¯s armory. Feels oddly familiar, but I can¡¯t remember ever using it before.¡± He gave the blade a testing flex. ¡°It¡¯s lighter than most great swords, perfectly balanced, and still sharp after six months of use. I think the smith used an Edge Preservation enchantment.¡± Andrew let out a low whistle. ¡°No wonder it looks untouched. Must be some damn good craftsmanship.¡± Nana, too engrossed in admiring her bow, hummed a playful tune to herself, completely oblivious to the conversation unfolding around her. She then asked, ¡°You have a quest already in mind or do you want to look for one together?¡± Andrew, still in discussion about their gear suddenly gets interrupted by Nana¡¯s question and said ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s look for a quest before we get too engrossed by our gear¡± ¡°Good idea!¡± said Grent ready for an adventure. The mood in the Guild is as lively as ever. Adventurers crowded the tables, feasting on the meals with mugs of rum to wash it down, quenching their hunger and thirst. The quest board swarmed with people who is eager to start their day. The laughter from conversations fills the air as a bard singing his tales from land afar. ¡°Hey you! Are you new here? Haven¡¯t seen you around before!¡± a drunken adventurer shouted from his table. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°Why don¡¯t you mind your own business?¡± Nana shouted back with a playful tone. Grent fixated on the quest board, skims through the quests to look for something interesting. Finally, a quest caught his eyes: a quest to investigate and subjugate a monster near the Medyn forest never seen before. ¡°New monsters?¡± Andrew said with a frown on his face. ¡°They¡¯re everywhere it seems. Last week I saw a request describing about a hippo-sized hound with fangs as long as long as my arm.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t we take it and see for ourselves?¡± Grent said, intrigued by new monsters. As both Grent and Andrew discussed on a quest to take, Nana was arguing with a drunken Adventurer about who¡¯s better in combat. ¡°Nana? What are you doing? We already have a quest in¡ª¡± Andrew called out but cut off by the scene of Nana brawling with the adventurer. Grent glanced back, catching sight of the battle¡ªyet his gaze lingered on Nana instead. Her frame was slender, almost delicate at a glance, but beneath it lay the strength forged through experience and relentless training. Every movement carried the precision of discipline, her muscles lean yet powerful, a testament to the training she had gone through. Before Grent could break up the fight, a tall and burly man picked up the drunken Adventurer and knocked him out with a single¡ªconcise blow, as to stop the fight from escalating to a full-on bar fight. ¡°You better watch your companion before she gets into much trouble¡± said the man with a soft yet firm tone. ¡°I will keep that in mind¡± Andrew and Grent answered in unison, yet Nana is still pumped up from her interrupted fight. ¡°One more punch and he¡¯s done!¡± she shouted at the man. The man, seemingly unprovoked went out with his gear in tow whilst waving back to Nana, who is still furious her fight got disturbed. ¡°let¡¯s just take the quest and go on with our day, Nana.¡± Andrew said to Nana pointing at the quest paper in Grent¡¯s hand. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re right. Better save that energy for when we fight! Let¡¯s go!¡± Nana exclaimed with excitement in her voice. The three then claimed the quest and went to the edge of the Forest to investigate and possibly subjugate the monster to update the Bestiary of the Guild. As they walked along the forest edge, rustling could be heard deeper in. and suddenly, a figure of a rabbit with fangs that rivals a sabretooth tiger jumps out to confront them. It let out a shriek as terrible as the screams of devils in the pits of hell. The fur stained with blood and smells like rotting corpses of monsters, signifying it was just feasting on another monster. Andrew goes in front to tank the incoming attack as Nana and Grent prepares to strike back. The rabbit then pounced and scratches on Andrew¡¯s shield¡ªleaving claw marks and dents on the metal reinforcement. Nana drew her bow and aims at the rabbit¡¯s eye, while Grent runs from the side. The arrow struck the Rabbit¡¯s eye, making it shriek in pain as Grent dealt the final blow to the rabbit¡¯s neck. Not a single word was muttered¡ªyet all three could coordinate flawlessly as they fought the rabbit. Grent thought to himself, it¡¯s the first time we¡¯ve ever fought together, yet I can feel their movement as if they¡¯re shouting to coordinate. Could this have something to do with the vision when I touched the Deity of Evil¡¯s pedestal? Could the shadowy figure be Andrew and Nana? No, couldn¡¯t be. They don¡¯t have the same presence yet they look similar. ¡°Great work, you two¡± said Grent surprised they could coordinate without so little as a gesture. But then he looked closer at the monster and thoughts with chills running down his spine, I¡¯ve seen this monster before! It was the same one that gave me a scar on my left arm back in the forest! But the way it attacked Andrew was way less threatening than what I experienced. It¡¯s also way more agile than when I fought one. Could it be a sign that the wall is appearing? What is happening with the sudden appearances of the new monsters? ¡°That scared me for a moment¡± said Nana as her hands shake from the appearance of the rabbit. ¡°Let¡¯s bring this guy back and receive out reward.¡± Andrew said, still in shock of the rabbit¡¯s size. It was larger than a cow yet smaller than a bull. With great effort they dragged the corpse of the rabbit back to the wagon they took to get to the forest. As they enter the Guild, loud whispers filled the air. The lifeless corpse of the rabbit gets dragged to the monster submission room, where monster subjugation quests are confirmed and registered to the Adventurer¡¯s record. ¡°It¡¯s a big ¡¯un¡± said the butcher as the rabbit is picked up effortlessly onto the dissection table. ¡°Wow, not even a single drop of struggle as he picked it up, huh?¡± said Andrew surprised at the butcher¡¯s strength. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen it in the last 20 years I been here.¡± said the butcher. ¡°Couldn¡¯t be surprised anymore!¡± he said as he laughed loudly. ¡°Seeing how I¡¯ve seen 3 new monsters this month alone! I¡¯ve also heard some guys saying that they swore they could see a structure forming deep in the forest. Bullshit! No such thing can happen without anyone being there!¡± Grent, heard the butcher and it confirmed his thoughts about the wall beginning to appear. When they returned to the counter, they were asked to describe the strength of the rabbit and its apparent weakness to update the bestiary. Andrew, who experienced the pounce directly said, ¡°It hits like a bull and my arms hurt so bad I almost pissed myself¡± Nana laughed at his statement and said, ¡°I still remember that time you passed out from a goat ramming your shield¡± ¡°Oh, shut up, if you¡¯d experienced it yourself you would¡¯ve gone flying¡± Andrew said as he massages his arm from the pain. *** Chapter 2: That Familiar Mansion That night, Grent lay awake in his chambers, staring at the ceiling. The thrill of battle and the liveliness of the guild still lingered in his mind, yet something felt¡­ off. The silence of his chamber mocked him as if something had been watching, waiting. The pedestal he had touched yesterday comes to mind. The scene of grotesque bodies strewn across the dense woods filled his mind¡ªwho were the figures? He struggled to make sense of the vision. He exhaled sharply, trying to shake the unease. The room was still, save for the faint rustling of the wind beyond the window. Sleep tugged at his thoughts, but a feeling deeper than exhaustion weighed on him¡ªa heaviness that had nothing to do with the body, but the soul. And then, the dream came. Darkness. Before light, there was darkness¡ªso dark it consumes anything that goes within. So thick it causes mental disintegration. Within the dark one may catch a glimpse of an entity of unknown structure. One cannot see nor feel it; one can only sense it. The giant entity consumes all that it sees¡ªgods, deities, even the very fabric of reality, as the realm contorts and shifted with time. Suddenly¡ªlight. A beam of light punctures the ever-dark and sinister realm. Five heavenly figures appear from the blinding light, each exuding different auras: Vitality, Decay, Struggle, Prosperity, and Chance. Their form changing ever so slightly, as if the skies danced with purpose, purging the dark entity from existence. Its miasma evaporated from the rays of light, into pure nothingness. And then, a greater presence entered the realm¡ªAn overwhelming yet pure aura, transcending logic and reason. As it cleansed the realm with a gaze strong enough to see the other 5 from worlds away. Ensuring equilibrium. Grent was awoken by the sun beaming through his open window, warmth touching his skin. A silhouette of a familiar¡ªyet never seen before maid, could be seen behind the curtains, who were dancing from the gentle yet brisk wind, gently whistling as to not disturb anything. ¡°Good morning, my lord.¡± the maid said with a gentle smile on her face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry my whistling woke you up.¡± she added. Grent thought to himself, What a gentle, beautiful smile. Her long, silky black hair danced with the winds, carrying the soft whistles of a familiar song. I have heard this before¡­ it felt like her singing was comforting and guiding my dream. She stood by the window¡ªslim, gentle, delicate, yet undeniably strong. It feels¡­ almost familiar to me¡ªas though she comforted me for the most of my life. As Grent is deep in his thoughts, the maid¡¯s smile widened as she looked at her lord. The unfamiliar maid was not the same as yesterday, but they felt similar. Both brimming with passion, which was a confusion but yet it felt welcomed and right, as though she was there the whole time. Grent re-focuses as his thoughts fly away into his memory. His eyes focused on the maid¡¯s face, reminding him of his late wife. Tears could be seen rolling down his cheeks, as he remembers her warmth and embrace. As the maid walked closer, she wrapped her arms around Grent¡ªher tight hug filled with loneliness. Then she whispered into his ear, ¡°I love you, my dear husband,¡± her voice is laced with pain, ¡°I miss you every moment that passes. Even for this short while cannot last. I¡¯m waiting for you. But do care that with every great effort, I will cheer you on.¡± Grent¡¯s tears turned into a sobbing cry, his voice trembling as he replied, ¡°I promise, I will never let you go this time. Never.¡± ¡°I know you won¡¯t, my dear husband.¡± his wife answered with a sad look as she took a step back, vanishing into the sunlight-¡­ leaving only the echoes and memories of her beloved wife. Grent then reflected on the meaning from his wife¡¯s sudden appearance in the quiet and calm morning. His thoughts filled with questions about whether to look for her or to move on. His mind lingers on their memory together. His hand reaching out to the window where she had last stood, ¡°I don¡¯t understand. Please, tell me what you wanted.¡± Yet he is met with silence as nobody had heard him. But, behind the slightly ajar door stood Grent¡¯s personal maid, watching in silence. Unfazed by the scene which unfolded in front of her, she clenched her fists as though she had been betrayed, with a single drop of tear hitting the wooden floor¡ªyet not a hint of sadness could be seen. She walked away as to not disturb her lord, who is yet to gather himself. She realizes that the lord she loved once belonged to another¡ªa woman of which she had never known. Grent wiped his tears and stood up, gazing out the open window. Gathering his thoughts and taking his time to calm down. Grent dressed up and had begun to start his day. But, before he could ever touch the front door, a gentle and calm voice called out to him, ¡°My lord, there have been conflicts in Cyress¡¯ monthly monetary report.¡± Grent turned around and one of his men stood there. Reporting an issue, as usual. But then thought to himself, Wait, I have never seen any of my men in charge of my territory His face contorted as his mind raced Yet I knew all of them as though I¡¯ve known them since the very start of my journey. Could this be a doing of the cosmic powers preventing my passing? Then¡ªhorrible whispers slithered into his ears, each voice overlapping one another, impossible to ignore and painful to understand ¡®It¡¯s not time yet¡¯ ¡®You were never meant to be there¡¯ ¡®We await your futile efforts¡¯ Those words repeated in his ears as though he had heard them countless times before. The world warped; his vision twisted as his consciousness fades for a slight moment. His knees gave in and he feel down, barely able to break his fall as his hand brushed the cold pedestal beside him. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Nothing happened. The vision he had from yesterday didn¡¯t come to torture him. He was met with silence and felt mocked by the powers that may be messing with him. ¡°Are you okay, my lord?¡± the butler asked with fear trembling in his usually calm and collected voice. ¡°I¡¯m okay.¡± Grent answered stunned by the sudden fall he took. As Grent got seated onto the table, with his mind racing with thoughts, ¡°Franz, let me take a look at the report.¡± with his voice noticeably unsettled. Franz puts the documents on the table, ¡°Right away, my lord.¡± As Grent took a look through the document he saw funds for the city-owned Orphanage kept increasing, contradicting a previous report he had saw from the Viscount of Cyress. Wait, what report? He thought as he frowned to the point where he looked slightly enraged. He plunged himself deeper. Sharp pain filled his head. Ink stained his suit. Documents thrown around the room in rage, yet he felt like he didn¡¯t do it. This is the first time I¡¯ve ever set my eyes upon such documents. And yet I knew documents that I have never saw in my life. Could it be¡­ this world¡¯s Grent¡¯s memories? If so, then does that mean this world¡¯s Grent not exist anymore? If so, I couldn¡¯t be surprised anymore. Since I¡¯ve been transferred here without my consent. Franz, noticing Grent¡¯s face then with a twisted smile, making it obvious his thoughts are lost in torture methods suggested, ¡°It seems like you are enraged by such behavior. May I suggest a fitting punishment, my lord?¡± Grent flinched by the sinister tone of Franz, This is the first time I have ever heard Franz be like this. The previous Grent never touched the reports since he knew it would anger him. And so, he left it the hands of Franz. But I refuse for my man to be involved in dirty work. I better sort this out with the help of others. Grent then answered, ¡°No need. I have supreme control over this territory, correct? Then let me handle this my own way.¡± Franz snapped back to his usual sturdy pose, ¡°I-I apologize, my lord. Then, may I direct you to our shadow? They can provide priceless intel about Mr. Verana.¡± Grent surprised by Franz¡¯s sharpness sat straight in his chair, Ah yes, a division of them does exist. I remember now. Maybe I could use their intel to tip the king and let them do the rest. I couldn¡¯t do anything risky like catching him myself since Verana is way more influential in terms of popularity. ¡°let¡¯s go. Time¡¯s wasting.¡± Franz bowed for a moment, awaiting Grent¡¯s rise from the seat. They then walked towards the basement of Grent¡¯s mansion, where the shadows reside awaiting to be activated. As they entered the basement, a sinister aura can be felt, yet it is weirdly comforting to Grent. Signifying he is not a recognized as a threat, rather as a respected leader, who governs with firm and concise orders. Even to those of high ranking. They went past countless jail cells where the worst of the worse reside, awaiting their demise. Then they met the shadows. Grent¡¯s eyes widened as his eyes are drawn to his personal maid, Her name is Lia, if I remember correctly. He called out Lia to get her attention and signals to follow him. ¡°One moment Franz. I need a minute with her.¡± Franz unfazed then answered ¡°Of course. Take your time, my lord.¡± Grent led Lia back up towards the entrance to the basement. His head filled with questions. This wasn¡¯t in my memory. I don¡¯t remember Lia being a member of the shadow. ¡°Why are you working in the shadow?¡± he asked Lia with a quiet yet firm tone. Lia¡¯s composed and unfazed face noticeably reddened, ¡°Before you took your seat in this territory, I served in the Shadow. I hated working for the last Duke of Prywell. He is rumored to harass any maids he chose to. I joined the shadow to avoid being called to his room.¡± Her voice trembled slightly as she lowered her gaze to the floor, ¡°But you¡¯re different, my lord. You are kind to us and I immediately fell for you. And I want to be there for you for when you are thinking of marriage. Be it a mistress, I don¡¯t care. I want to serve you till the end of my time.¡± Grent was shocked as he heard her explanation, ¡°I will think about tha¡ª¡± Lia cut off his words, ¡°But even so, I can¡¯t stand you having been married. My heart aches so much that it made me join the shadow again.¡± Grent noticed the usually composed and sturdy Lia started to tremble. She bit her lips in an effort to hold it in, but tears rolled down anyway. Grent then hugged her firmly and noticed a similar feeling as to when the ghost of his wife hugged him. Confused by his feelings, he whispered, ¡°I miss you. I love you. I¡¯m sorry I left you behind. I¡¯ll never make you cry again, my love.¡± Overcome with happiness, Lia sobbed harder, her voice cracked, thick with raw emotion, ¡°I-I love you, m-my lord. I love you s-so much, it h-hurts me. Please don¡¯t marry s-someone else.¡± Grent who has felt the same warmth and passion as the wife he left behind, hallucinated of his late wife, who stood behind Lia, smiling at them both. She took steps closer to them as to whisper to Grent, ¡°I¡¯m happy for you, my dear husband. All this time I spent watching over you is not wasted.¡± she then kissed Grent on the cheeks. With the widest smile she had ever shown, she slowly vanished again. This time, orbs of light could be seen as she vanishes for the last time. Is this what you wanted, my love? For me to move forward and forget about you? All the time we spent, all the feelings? The orbs. Are you forgiving me for what I¡¯d done or are you blessing me to move on? It hurts. But I will respect your wish and move forward. I will forget about you and embrace the love I¡¯m receiving from this fragile maiden that I hold. Grent held Lia¡¯s cheeks, wiped the tears and with a feeling of love he never knew he had. He reminisced for the last time about his wife. Readying himself to forget about her. Grent noticed her thick brows that are neatly kept. Her eyes are sharp yet fragile, holding resolve deep within, her short hair complementing her short and slender figure. Uniqueness that made him fall in love with her. Not as a replacement, but as someone he wanted to love, someone he wanted to protect. Someone he can love whatever is at stake. He then thought, Does this mean I¡¯m betraying her? Doubt lingers in his mind. As he held Lia his mind and answer became clear. His wife had smiled and is happy for him. At that moment, his regrets and worries melted away. As their lips met, warmth of Their tongues intertwining filled his body, deepening their love. It drowned out the echoes of his past. His memory of his late wife slowly drifting away¡ªas if the same orbs are dissolving from his body, carrying away the painful memory with it, of a love there once was. He is at peace. Finally, Lia had calmed down and Grent did too. Then, his vision blurred. A vision of fire filled his mind. Darkness crept in, he fell knocked out cold in the hands of Lia, as unwanted memories from the past surfaced. Fire. It devoured the house. screaming pierced the air, coming from within the inferno. His eyes hurting from the smokes. As he stood, he understood that there is nothing he could do. He watched as his family members, desperate to exit the burning house gets burned alive. One by one silenced only by their painful demise. Then, darkness. Grent awoke wondering what happened after Lia¡¯s confession and reminisces in it he tried to remember his old world¡ªthe life he left behind to adventure into the forest of Medyn. Then, a memory of his family being swallowed by a fire came to his mind, which the Grent of this world had already forgotten. This memory brought great distress to him. He is crying as Lia was sitting beside him, almost asleep. As the sound of muffles sobs reached her, Lia woke up and with a sorrowful face asked, ¡°My lord¡­ what is wrong?¡± her soft voice reached into Grent¡¯s heart. She held his face and said, ¡°What is hurting you, my lord? Please tell me¡­¡± Her way of addressing Grent had not changed, yet her words felt way more sincere and comforting to Grent, who remembered a past that the Grent of this world had forgotten and moved on from. Overwhelmed by grief, he clung to Lia, to look for comfort as he had done countless times with his deceased wife. ¡°Fire¡­ it took everything I had. It tore me apart. Left me broken, without a home to return to.¡± Grent explained sobbing from the grief he now had to face. ¡°I¡¯m here for you, my lord. If the pain is too much, let me share the pain with you.¡± Lia said, her voice trembling with sadness. Her words touching his heart, lightening the weight of the past. Grent let the memory settle, the past weighing behind his back¡ªbut he is not alone anymore. Lia is there, supporting him in his time of need. As the sadness melts, something else took its place. A bond, stronger than before. *** -ANNOUNCEMENT- i annouce that this novel will not receive further update until i am satisfied with my way of writing. i am currently writing a whole other novel to get my head out of a creative rut. i will rework the existing chapters some time in the future and re-upload new ones instead of the current ones. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. as for why i even stopped; i felt like i made too many mistakes and i bit off more than i could chew, so it actively hinders my creative thought. the pacing of this novel is all over the place and the overall chapter structure is just plain shit. i will not publish the current novel I''m working on until i have a sufficient number of chapters i deem enough for readers to be satisfied thanks for reading this shit novel thus far and please look forward to my new novel :)