Echoing Reminders

Lawrence was stricken with horror as his eyes fell upon the gruesome images of the deceased bandits he’d cut down only a few days ago.

His heart rate began to accelerate as he heard it beating loudly in his chest. All outside sounds began to echo in his ears as the memories of the battle began to replay over and over again. Every death slowly blended as Lawrence heard the screams of the bandits as they drew their last breath.

Why did I lie to myself and say that this was the same as it was with Mom? It’s nothing alike…

Quickly looking over at his maid, Corinne had a nauseous expression, covering her mouth as she gasped, then quickly looked away and shut her eyes tightly.

“What was your purpose of returning to Leidhal?” Inspector Doyle narrowed his eyes, silently content that his psychological trick worked on the young Blackwood.

“Was it really necessary to show these images?” Lawrence asked, controlling his breathing to calm himself.

Since they had been following me, there’s no reason to lie and say I wasn’t involved with those deaths. But I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to relive that so soon…

“Just answer the question.” The young inspector’s tone was firm and hostile as he continued to observe Lawrence intensely.

His partner remained silent, allowing the younger one to take the lead on the questioning.

“I was paying respect to my father,” Lawrence spoke softly, acting as if he were still mournful.

“It seemed like your somber return ended in a bloodbath.” Inspector Walsh commented, his eyes briefly examining the photos of dismembered bodies before looking at Lawrence.

Doyle held up his hand, wanting to speak. Lawrence could sense a heaviness in the air, foreboding what the inspector would ask next.

“Mr. Blackwood, why would you visit your father’s grave when you stated you had dementia? At this point, you wouldn’t have any attachment to Jacob Blackwood, let alone this maid standing next to you.”

Lawrence suddenly felt short of breath. The beating of his heart became louder, attempting to remain composed as he formulated an excuse to explain himself. They haven't caught him yet, but he wasn’t out of the woods either.

“Inspector Doyle…” He began to speak, keeping himself together, and he took in a breath of air.

The two inspectors sat in silence, anticipating the Blackwood son’s answer. Even Corinne could sense how tense the situation was, but she wasn’t sure how to intervene, or if she should.

“Since I woke up from the remnants of that house, I saw surviving photos of a family unfamiliar to me. It wasn’t until later that I found out I was Lawrence Blackwood. But even then, it didn’t feel natural to me.”

Lawrence averted his eyes from the watchful gazes of the inspectors. He had a pained look on his face as he interlaced his fingers tightly. The room was quiet in this brief lull. Even the embers of the fire didn’t crack.

“I still don’t have my memories of who I am. Since that day, I’ve been walking around as someone nameless in essence. People I don’t recognize often talk to me as if I’ve known them for years. I’ve been searching for answers. And truth be told, I was hoping going back to Leidhal would provide some, but my search turned out empty.”

He looked back up at the pair of inspectors, who, from their faces, showed some pity, even the young and tenacious Doyle.

“Those bandits…it was just bad timing, you could say. They showed up in pure coincidence and tried to kidnap me, but I managed to fend them off just in time to run away.”

The inspectors were at a loss for words as they were mentally trying to come up with a response. Despite the circumstantial evidence, Lawrence’s story swayed their opinions a bit.

“Why didn’t you report this to the police?” Inspector Doyle asked, his tone a bit softer and more friendly.

Lawrence nodded a few times before hanging his head low to bow, regretful of his lapse in judgment. However, the real reason was that he didn’t want more attention to surround him.

“Apologies, Inspectors, it was a grave mistake. I know it’s no excuse, but at that time, my head was spinning with a hundred things after the incident. I didn’t know what to do.”

“Please…lift your head. Don’t worry, as long as what you said was true, everything will be alright.” Inspector Walsh reassured, as Lawrence looked up to meet their eyes again.

The inspectors stood up, buttoning their jackets, closing the folder of gruesome photos, and taking it as Lawrence stood up as well. The atmosphere began to lighten up as the pair had slight smiles on their faces.

“It’s been a long night. Apologies for keeping you up so late. If anything arises, we’ll return.” Inspector Doyle said, holding out his hand.

Lawrence took hold of it firmly, shaking it, and doing the same with the older inspector before Corinne saw them out. When they left, Lawrence sat back down, breathing a heavy sigh of relief.

His maid returned, her perturbed expression unchanging. She silently indicated that she wanted answers, and Lawrence knew that she wouldn’t go anywhere until she got them.

“What in the name of Assiah did you get yourself into, Master Lawrence?” Her voice cracked a bit, unable to fathom his actions.

Her passive-aggressive tone reminds me a lot of mom…

“How was school?” Mom asked, sipping on her soup as she and Kaede sat on either end of the dining table.

It was quiet in the house aside from the faint background noise of a TV show playing in the living room.

“It was good,” Kaede replied monotonously.

He looked down at the bits of chicken and noodles, with bits of cilantro floating around in the yellowish soup, as some steam from the heat met his eyes.

“Why can’t you ever respond to me in full sentences, huh? Is it so hard to want to talk to your mom?” She said in an agitated tone, setting her spoon down to look at him with disdain.

Kaede wasn’t sure how to respond. He kept looking down at his soup, wanting dinner time to be over so he could be left alone.

“I’m simply looking for answers,” Lawrence replied as the flashback of his past came to an end.

“Answers?”

Her quizzical expression was a bit cute to Lawrence, like an innocent puppy discovering new things.

The cat’s out of the bag. I might as well tell her.

Just as he was about to explain himself, the black and brown feline, Oscar, appeared and leaped onto Lawrence’s lap, causing him and Corinne to share a brief chuckle. Oscar wrapped himself up like a ball, purring as he got comfortable in his new resting place.

“I was looking for the answers to the fire, and why I’m alive.” Lawrence gently stroked Oscar’s soft fur coat as the cat began purring even louder, making his owner smile a bit.

Corinne held her hands together tightly, thinking about what could’ve happened that night. Her heart ached for what Lawrence could be enduring and mourning the others who perished.

“I swear to Assiah, killing those bandits was purely self-defense. They gave me no choice.”

She nodded solemnly, believing his words, as small tears began to well up in the corners of her eyes, and she attempted to wipe them away with her white apron.

“I believe you, I’m just glad you’re okay…” Tears of relief increased as she was nearly full-on sobbing.

Picking Oscar up with one arm, who remained relaxed, Lawrence sat up and approached his maid, patting her head for reassurance. She was a bit confused by the action, briefly stopping her crying as she looked up at him.

“I wish I could say that was the most of it, but it isn’t. There was something there that night that caused Leidhal to turn to ruins. I have to find it before it finds me again…” He revealed ominously, his tone grave as he thought back to the shadowy entity taunting him.

“Eh? What do you mean there was something?” She asked, wiping away her remaining tears, unsure if she heard him right.

“A creature, no, some entity was there. It tried to kill me. I was its target, and everything and everyone else was collateral. After I emerged from the ruins and returned to the city, I felt a looming presence that seemed to be always watching, but it turned out to be the inspectors. It doesn’t mean that thing isn’t out there still, though.”

Lawrence opted to continue the facade, not wanting to reveal his transmigration to her, or anyone, for that matter, if he could help it. Even if he trusted everyone in the mansion, revealing such a secret would only bring too much attention to him.

I need to minimize my exposure as much as possible. Those reporters on day one made things difficult from the start.

“Shouldn't you hide, then?” Corinne responded, fearful of what might happen to him in the future.

He closed his eyes and shook his head somberly, although she already knew what his answer would be.

“Hiding would make the deaths of my mother, Lucy, and everyone in Leidhal mean nothing. I have to know why I’m still alive, and why Assiah would allow such a thing.”

Lawrence thought back to the Divine Tower Bernard mentioned. Even in the distance, he could tell it stood as tall as a mountain, sensing countless trials awaiting him when he eventually would go there.

I need to get stronger, to question the alleged Gods of this world. Why would they transmigrate me? Why me, and for what? And once I know, those bastards can send me back home. I don't want to play their game.

“But that’s enough for tonight. It’s quite late.” He spoke, still holding the warm furball in his left arm.

“Yes, I agree. I shall head back to my quarters then, good night.” Corinne replied before leaving the living room and leaving Lawrence alone.

When he was sure he was by himself, he set Oscar on the couch facing the fireplace and petted him a few times before making his way towards the basement.

Descending the stairs to the metal door, Lawrence took out the unique key and inserted it, making a heavy clicking sound as he turned it. Opening the door, he was puzzled by the appearance of the room.

Did I forget to lock the door before?

The study was no longer dusty. The cobwebs and dirt were gone. Aside from the enigmatic box, the basement looked like any other room in the mansion.

It must have been Aria, or perhaps Corinne. Can they astral project or something? Or maybe they’re master thieves!

Mentioning astral projection, an archaic magic technique, was funny to Lawrence. He was more familiar with the modernized magic system. Thinking about one of his maids being powerful enough to use a superannuated technique formed a comical image in his mind.

How did it go again in that book? Divination, a type of magic separate from the more well-versed elemental magic, usually allows for astral projections. Although divination has been considered archaic since the Reformation, many mages used it in the past. However, the church thought it was much more dangerous since it resonated with Madness. According to Lawrence, there were hundreds of cases a day decades ago in which magicians went mad and committed numerous atrocities.

Such a concept intrigued Lawrence. While the current system was straightforward, the idea of the unknown powering old rituals and techniques was fascinating to him.

Forbidden Ritual Magic required calling upon ambient mana from the world rather than the mana within an individual. And as such, many spiritual entities, both malevolent and sincere, answer the call. If I were to perform such a ritual, what being would answer me?

Then he remembered the shadow again, sending chills up his spine, and quickly discarded the thought. As he sat down in the middle of the room, the Scarlet Oracle manifested itself, sitting on the edge of the desk next to Elpis’s Box.