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Present Day

Reincarnation

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The lake was beautiful, some would be afraid of being alone outside of the city, but Lucan was already used to this, after escaping for so long, this was inside his comfort zone.

Then, the first thing he notices is that he is falling.

Looking down Lucan sees himself looking up, with panic he began flailing his arms and see the sky and ground around him break with the air revolving around him.

Two places at once until suddenly, he slams into himself with terrifying speed and falls ass first into the grass. Suddenly, the world is back to normal. Nothing happened, the sun still hides in the horizon and the water in the pond ran slowly but for Lucan, terror sets in.

Breathing becomes harder by the second, bizarre images and thoughts merge in his mind, everything was disorganized, as if his mind was falling apart; there was no center to take things in, no way to put his spirit together and force it to make sense.

Then the shaking began, for a moment the nightmare forced Lucan upright in terror with enough force to disorient him, stumbling; the blood pounded in his ears. His heart thudded in his chest as if it was trying to escape. After taking a few steps he fell over again, lifted his head, tried to scream and slammed his head down, twitching, crying, face down on the grass.

Lucan felt himself sinking into unconsciousness, the temperature became cool, he relaxed, no need to breathe, no cause for alarm, no pain of any kind, totally peaceful. Everything grew dark around the edges until there was only blackness.

Lucan didn't knew how long he stood there but when he finally stood up, everything was dark, and he was drenched in sweat.

''What happened''

Struggling to stand, Lucan put a hand to his face to try and make sense of everything that happened.

''Where am I?What?''

Images began flashing in his head, unknown words and places, the more he tried to concentrate, the more his head threatened to explode once more.

Lucan saw Images began flashing in his head, unknown words and places, the more he tried to concentrate, the more his head threatened to explode once more.

Lucan hugged himself, it was the only thing he could do, and slowly walked away from the lake back to the city, his chest hurt for some reason, as if he had lost something. He realized then that he was crying openly; that would not do, but trying to stop only made him to sniff loudly and feel his stomach turning into a knot.

Walking to the city was no issue, he had done these trips multiple times, luckily for him there was no one in the vicinity on account of the hour, the problem is that things were dark, there was only one source of light and that was the torches of the gates of the city.

One step after the other, Lucan didn't pay attention to his surroundings, still hugging himself he didn't notice the mud under him until it was to late. With a yelp, he slipped and felt the cold wet blanquet of filth touching his clothes.

Getting up was one of the hardest things he remembered doing in his life.

After some time, he appeared in front of the gates looking lost and afraid around him for anyone to help him.

A [guard] appeared from the sides and looked spoke between yawns''Who goes there at this time?''

Lucan realized he couldn't look at that man face, so he simply turned around and said in a voice most pitiful ''I'm sorry, I just…need to go home. Please''.

''Who are you?…what home?''

Lucan felt the eyes of the guard on his neck, lie, he told himself.

''I just, got caught outside playing, i'm Lucan Graves,''pausing to sniff for a moment he was going to add something but suddenly he felt the [guard] put a hand on his shoulder.

''Are you all right kid? …were you attacked out there?''looking back he shouted for his companion''Oy, Dom, come here will you''and then moved to look at Lucan's face.

''I'm fine, I promise I just, really need to come back home''

Appearing from nowhere an old man with a scruffy looking beard appeared and tried to look around Lucan, trying to make sense of the situation ''Ok, what 'append, Who are you kid?''

''he says his name is Lucan Gaves''

''Graves?…as in the Graves? I doubt that''

Still containing tears Lucan begged''Could you please just let me in?''

The old [guard] moved closer and began speaking softly''Ok, ok, calm down, and tell us what happened. Who are you?….and who are you really, no nonsense. Do you have sigil or something?''

Without answering Lucan simply cleaned a little his shirt to reveal the coat of arms of his family.

''Oh…you are from the Graves; where you attacked, are you ok?''

''I just need to go back home''

Sharing a look the [guards] didn't spoke, one of them lifted his shoulders and gave the other an I don't know what to do face; so the old man knelt in front of Lucan and tried to speak kindly ''all right, I'll walk you home ok? does that sound good''

Nodding silently in assent Lucan waited until the gate opened and walked past without a word. The way home was quiet, thankfully, after failing a couple time, Dom realized that Lucan wasn't going to speak, so he simply escorted him and stood near in case something happened.

When they reached his home Lucan turned around and looked at the guard ''Thanks for helping me, I can enter alone, thanks '' hoping that the old man would take the clue.

'' err. yeah, i'm just going to knock for you ok kid''

''No!, i'm fine, I promise, look, I just need to enter my home''

Kneeling in front of Lucan the guard placed a hand in his shoulder and spoke softly ''Look kid, are you really ok?…you look as if you saw one of the monsters outside the city, are you hurt?''

If Lucan could think, he would have realized that the guard was only worrying for his safety, but at the moment, the only thing in his mind where the words that were springing in his mind. Things like Sydney, New York and Paris, places completely foreign and yet, familiar, as if he had seen them.

After some minutes of silence the old [guard] simply sighed and pushed Lucan slightly to the door and knocked. Almost immediately a servant opened and gasped loudly while ushering them inside.

The next few minutes were a blur, in Lucan's mind he was seeing a boat made of iron break waves, in the world around him he barely noticed some of his siblings and his mother appearing and speaking with Dom. After the [guard] left his mother grabbed him by one hand and stormed into a private room, closing the door before any of his siblings could enter.

''COULD YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHERE WERE YOU?''

Almost whimpering Lucan only said''Mother''

''LOOK AT THE TIME! LOOK AT YOURSELF!'' she pointed with both hands to him and then threw them in the air''WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?''

''Where's Dublin?''

Stopping her rant, Marine Graves looked at her son as if he had grown another head''what in the blazes happened to you? Where you with that undesirable friend of yours…I can't believe this, do you have any idea of what you did?''

Lucan stood there for a second unable to process what was happening, looking at his mother as if for the first time. Unwilling to wait she screamed for an answer ''Well?…Do you even care to tell me? Where were you?'' After some more moments of silence she just moved her head and followed Lucan's eyes with her own ''where were you?''

''I was outside of the city ''

Suddenly Lucan was looking at the wall. It took him a moment to realize she had slapped him. Turning to look at her again he hugged himself again and saw a hand pointing a finger in front of his face.

''Do. not. take me. for an idiot. Now tell me, what were you doing at this hour outside the city, you missed classes with your tutor?''

''I…'' And Lucan realized he didn't know what to say, he didn't even knew himself what happened, instead his eyes started watering.

''I can't believe this, what are we going to do with you. First you embarrass yourself in front of everyone in the middle of the city by walking around a meager street vendor, and now this; I can just imagine what everyone will say when they hear about this.''

Realizing that she was walking in circles she turned again and saw that Lucan hadn't moved, exhaling loudly she sat in the nearest chair and massaged her temples.

''Great, now i'm the bad guy.''

Somehow, the pain Lucan felt in his chest became deeper, he didn't knew what was happening, but he did something wrong, he went closer to apologize and then saw another person watching him in the corner of his eye.

Reading a letter in a corner of the room, sitting calmly was his father. Leonel Graves, the shook of seeing him stooped Lucan in his tracks.

Time suddenly stopped, the only sound was the fire in a corner.

Folding the letter, he stood up and walked to the chair where Marine was sitting.

''Marine, why don't you leave Lucan and me alone''

A silent message passed between them, nodding silently, she stood up and left the room opening the door forcefully and closing it loud enough for Lucan to flinch.

''Son, do you know why your brothers are wearing the purple?''

Lucan gulped loudly, changing his posture rapidly. After waiting a few minutes, he realized that his father wanted an answer.

''Yes, sir''

''It's because of our crest''

walking slowly Leonel Graves stared at the painting adorning the room.

''That crest we carry. The white towers, they carry something...Do you know what that something is?''

''Yes, sir''

''What?''

Looking around the room for anything to give him an idea Lucan said the first thing tha came to mind.

''Nobility''

''Well, hm...yes, in a sense, but not just that.''

Motioning with his hands to help himself find a meaning he leaned on a wall directly in front of Lucan.

''They are an expectation. You see son, to be a member of the Graves is to have many, many great expectations in you.''

Standing still once more he pointed at Lucan lightly and reached started to look for something in the room with his eyes.

''You have failed those expectations, unlike your older brothers and sister.''

finding what he was looking for he walked some paces and grabbed something from a stand.

''The reason, I believe, is because I haven't taught you how to stand for yourself; the fault is mine.''

Slowly he appeared in front of Lucan, who was now looking at the object in his father hand, a small strip of leather.

''Look at me'' his father commanded calmly.

Lucan tried, even while trying to contain the dark pit he felt in his chest; even while trying to contain the tears he tried.

He couldn't.

The first slap with the leather strip came as a surprise, he felt the pain all across his left shoulder. In his mind he was running, in reality he was just standing there. Unmoving.

The second slap was dead center in the chest, with enough force to send him tumbling to the door behind him.

After a few more hits Lucan stopped hugging himself and instead covered his head, fumbling desperately for the doorknob, the moment he found it and began opening the door a voice stooped him.

''Lucan, close the door please.''

It wasn't a shout, it was delivered in the same tone one would use to ask for a cup of tea. Closing the door slowly, Lucan turned around and looked at his father, then at the floor.

''well done. Now, remember. This will help you learn''

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An hour later, Lucan entered his room, looked around and sat in a corner of his room.

Half an hour later finally he realized he could cry.

Half way across the city, a witch was standing up from a nightmare.