Graves followed Marilyn to her small, cramped house. Financially, she wasn't stable; she only owned the pet store, which barely made enough money to sustain her. She led him inside and started a fire to warm him up.

  She went to her room and retrieved some towels, which she gave to Graves to dry off.

  Marilyn and Graves sat beside the fire to get warm. Graves was staring into the flames, lost in thought, while Marilyn watched him with a sense of pity. "What are you thinking?" she asked.

  "Nothing, just getting cosy," Graves replied.

  "I see," Marilyn said.

  "So Jessica wants to send me back to jail?" Graves asked.

  "You can't blame her. She's already sacrificing a lot; she can't bear any more consequences," Marilyn said.

  "I understand," Graves said. "Why are you hiding me? How did you find me in the first place?"

  "I've heard the voices too," Marilyn replied.

  Graves looked at her, now fully attentive. "Then you believe me? That I'm not crazy?" he asked.

  "I do believe you," Marilyn said. "Do you remember what the voices were saying?"

  "Come back alive. You heard it too, right?" Graves asked.

  "Yes, but they weren't saying the same thing to me," Marilyn said.

  Graves looked at her quizzically, wondering what the voices had said to her. "What did you hear?" he asked.

  "The voices were asking me to cut your road," Marilyn replied.

  "But how did you know my location?" Graves asked, feeling uneasy.

  "I was following the voices," Marilyn said.

  Graves couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. He hesitated for a moment before asking, "What do you know about me?"

  As Marilyn spoke, Graves couldn't help but feel a sense of shock wash over him. "If you knew what I know," she said, her eyes filled with a deep, unyielding sadness, "I don't think I'd be able to help you anymore."

  Graves furrowed his brow. "Why are you helping me in the first place?" he asked, searching Marylin's face for some hint of an answer.

  She looked at him intently, her eyes boring into his. "I've been waiting for you, Ubel Graves," she said, her voice laced with a strange mix of emotions. "Ubel, son of Than Graves."

  The words hit Graves like a punch to the gut. He stared at Marilyn, his eyes wide with shock and disbelief. Her gaze was like that of someone who had been tortured for a hundred years, filled with disappointment and sadness, stripped of any feeling. In that moment, Graves knew that whatever secrets Marilyn held, they were not ones he was prepared to handle.

  As Graves stood up and took a few steps, he suddenly stopped in his tracks. He turned back to where Marilyn had been sitting, only to find that she was nowhere to be seen. A sense of shock washed over him as he frantically searched the room for any sign of her.

  Just as he was about to give up, he heard a loud noise behind him. He spun around to see a horse charging towards him, its hooves pounding the ground. In a moment of panic, Graves threw himself to the ground, covering his head with his hands as he waited for the impact.

  When he opened his eyes, he found that it had all been a hallucination. Shaken, Graves stood up and called out Marylin's name, hoping that she was just hiding somewhere nearby. But there was no response, and with a heavy heart, Graves realised that he was alone. He gathered his things and left the house, his mind racing with questions and doubts.

  As Graves walked down the street, a sense of familiarity washed over him. He turned to the right and saw James's house in the distance and he couldn't resist the urge to see if James was home.

  He approached the house and knocked on the door, only for it to swing open slightly on its own. Graves peered inside cautiously, calling out James's name. When there was no response, he heard a faint sound of movement coming from the living room.

  Determined to find out what was going on, Graves grabbed a baseball bat from behind the door and approached the sound cautiously. As he entered the living room, he was surprised to see a raven standing on the table. But as soon as the bird noticed Graves, it flew over to a sword hanging on the wall and croaked at him.

  Graves placed the baseball bat against the wall and approached the raven, understanding that it had a message for him. The bird flew to his shoulder and waited as Graves picked up the sword, examining it carefully.

  As he held it in his hands, he felt a strange connection to the weapon, as if the words and phrases etched into its blade were written in his native tongue.

  "What am I to do now?" Graves asked the raven, seeking guidance. "What does all of this mean?"

  The raven turned its head towards the door and croaked, and Graves understood that he was supposed to follow. He took the sword with him and stepped outside, closing the door behind him. He stood there for a moment, ready for whatever adventure lay ahead, and said to the raven, "Okay, my friend. Now you lead the way."

  As He walked behind the raven, Graves began to hear the sounds of swords clashing and men fighting, as well as the distant pounding of horses' hooves. It was as if he were in the midst of a battle, but the sounds only seemed to fill him with dread.

  Every time he heard the ringing of a sword, he closed his eyes, and the voices grew louder and more annoying with every step he took. Eventually, he couldn't take it anymore and stopped walking, covering his ears with his hands.

  When the voices stopped, Graves opened his eyes and looked around, expecting to find himself in the midst of a battle. Instead, he found himself standing in a flat, grassy field with water spots from the rain, surrounded by complete silence. He turned to look behind him, trying to make sense of what had happened, but he was at a loss. Suddenly, he heard a voice calling him by his true name, "Ubel." He turned to see Marilyn standing there, and took a step back as he asked, "What is all of this about, who are you?"

  "Look around," Marilyn said to Graves. "Doesn't it look familiar?"

  Graves surveyed the area, but he couldn't recall anything. "No, where are we?" he asked, turning to Marilyn for answers.

  "Just remember, Ubel," she said, her voice laced with a hint of frustration. "Everything that's happening is caused by you. You wanted to know who you really are? I'm going to help you."

  She pointed behind him, and Graves turned to see his brother Godwin standing there. The sight of him immediately jogged Graves's memory, and he muttered, "Godwin."

  Godwin was dressed in old-fashioned war gear, complete with a sword at his hip and a horse tied to a tree nearby. The surroundings were similarly archaic, with no sign of modern life in sight.

  Graves called out to Godwin, shouting his name. But his brother didn't seem to hear or see him. Marilyn placed a hand on Graves's shoulder and said, "Don't waste your time. He can't hear or see you."

  "But why?" Graves asked, confusion etched on his face.

  "Because we're in your memories," Marilyn explained. "We're here to help you understand your past, and who you really are."

  "Can you please stop messing with me?" Graves said to Marilyn, his frustration mounting. "What is all of this?"

  Marilyn sighed. "Ubel, I just hope that you can really be changed," she said, her voice tinged with sadness.

  Graves ignored her, convinced that she was just playing mind games with him. He turned and walked towards his brother Godwin, determined to get some answers.

  As he approached, he saw that Godwin was talking to someone, but he couldn't make out who it was from a distance. He kept walking until he saw that it was his nephew Azir. Godwin and Azir were standing behind a tree, and it was clear that Godwin was trying to persuade his son to leave.

  Graves couldn't quite grasp what was going on, but he knew that he had to get closer to find out.

  As he approached, he could hear their conversation. "You have to go back and take care of your mother and your brothers," Godwin was saying.

  "I can't leave you now!" Azir protested.

  "Attend, offspring," Godwin said to Azir, his voice incorporating concern. "I am unaware of what is transpiring here. However, irrespective of what you perceive or observe, do not accept it as truth. Your uncle is incapable of causing us harm."

  "I am astounded by your lack of perception!" Azir exclaimed, his frustration evident.

  "Your uncle holds us in affection," Godwin asserted. "You must accept this as fact. Now depart, and do not engage in discourse with me."

  Azir opened his mouth to argue further, but Godwin silenced him with a slap to the face. It was a harsh move, but it was the only way he knew to get Azir to leave. The younger man touched the spot where he had been hit and left slowly, his head hanging low.

  Godwin watched his son go with sadness in his eyes, raising his hand as if in farewell. "Farewell, son," he said in a low voice. "Farewell."

  He then mounted his horse and took up his sword, riding off into the distance. Graves followed him, running to catch up. But when he finally reached him, he was met with a surprising sight.

  Godwin had arrived at a flat plain surrounded by hills and trees, and the field was wide and open. There were more than two thousand soldiers on his side, and they were heavily armed and equipped. The army assembled before Godwin, a formidable force of one thousand strong. Five hundred horses stood at the ready, their riders equipped with bows and arrows. Another five hundred archers stood at their side, their fingers twitching as they awaited the signal to attack. And at the front of it all, five hundred foot soldiers, armed and armoured for battle.

  Graves couldn't understand what was happening as he walked through the army, unnoticed by anyone. It was as if he were a ghost to them. He made his way to the front line, where he saw his brother Godwin standing with a look of anger on his face. Suddenly, Graves realised that Godwin was the leader of this army. But he couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right. He remembered what Marilyn had said about his memories, and he couldn't understand why he wasn't fighting alongside his brother.

  Just then, a man named Erik spoke up.

  "Do you suppose he has no intention of arriving?" Erik inquired.

  "I am more acquainted with my brother than anyone else," Godwin responded. "He is simply attempting to test our fortitude."

  Graves struggled to piece together all of this information. But before he could make sense of it, he saw a rain of arrows flying towards Godwin's army. He tried to protect himself, but the arrows passed right through him as if he were a ghost. When he stood up to see who had launched the attack, he saw no one - the arrows had been fired from behind the trees.

  Godwin turned to Erik with a smug look on his face. "I told you, Ubel will come," he said.

  Godwin yelled out to his army, "Archers! Loosen!"

  The archers released their arrows toward the wooded area, yet they seemed to be ineffective. The projectiles merely struck the trees and plummeted to the ground. Erik approached Godwin, shaking his head in disbelief.

  "Our arrows are useless," he said. "They are using the trees as a shield."

  "We cannot enter the woods," Godwin replied. "That is their intention."

  Erik looked at him, his eyes pleading for a solution. "Do you have any suggestions?"

  At that moment, Godwin heard the sound of arrows being discharged from the enemy's side. "Form shield walls!" he commanded.

  The army raised their shields above their heads to shield themselves from the incoming arrows. The tactic was successful, but there were still some fallen soldiers. Erik panicked, his face contorted with fear.

  "I refuse to stand by and watch as your traitorous brother slaughters us all," Erik yelled out in frustration. "If I'm going to meet my end, it will be with dignity and honour."

  With that, he mounted his horse, picked up his sword, and rode towards the trees. Godwin called out to him, trying to get him to come back, but Erik didn't listen. Godwin knew he had to make a decision. He called his army to gather once more and shouted, "Attack!"

  Graves watched the battle unfold before him, as if it were a movie. He yelled at his brother, urging him not to follow Erik, but unfortunately, he couldn't be heard. The entire army picked up their swords and followed Godwin's command, but it seemed like they had no plan. The cavalry rode forward at breakneck speed, while the infantry charged aggressively, as if they had nothing to fear.

  But as they approached the trees, the enemy emerged from the sides and cut the ropes holding them up with their axes before disappearing once more. Godwin saw this and immediately realised that it was a trap. But he didn't have time to warn his army to fall back. Suddenly, the trees began to fall, and they weren't just any trees - they were Hyperion trees, towering at a staggering three hundred eighty feet tall. More than one hundred of these trees fell on the army, crushing many of them beneath their branches.

  Godwin was thrown from his horse, but he managed to escape injury. However, he lost more than half of his army to the trap.

  After the massacre, Godwin's army was in shock. Those who were still alive stood there, frightened and waiting for the enemy's next move. They seemed to lack any sense of cohesion. Graves watched it all, standing between the dead and the living, searching for his brother among the fallen.

  Finally, he saw him standing there, looking disappointed.

  But the enemy was not yet finished. Without having suffered a single casualty, they loosen a new round of arrows at Godwin's army. These arrows were different, however - they were on fire. When they hit the ground, the fire spread quickly through the ranks of soldiers, fueled by the black oil that covered the ground. It was an excellent trap.

  Godwin remained where he was, as if he were waiting for something. Only three hundred soldiers were still able to fight alongside him, the rest were dead or severely injured. At last, the enemy appeared, running towards Godwin's army with the intent of finishing them off. There were too many of them to count, and yet none of them seemed to notice Godwin. They went straight for his army, engaging them in hand-to-hand combat.

  Graves watched the scene unfold with mounting concern for his brother. And then he saw something that scared him to his very core. There he was, standing in front of his brother, a wicked smile spreading across his face. It was a smile full of evil and hate, as if he were the devil himself. Graves couldn't do anything but cry as he saw this.

  Ubel stood there, sword in hand, and pointed it at Godwin. But then he lowered it and spoke.

  "Your actions have caused the loss of countless lives and wasted valuable time," Ubel spat out, his voice dripping with contempt. "How does it feel to be abandoned by your own kin?"

  Godwin looked at his brother with sorrow and disappointment in his eyes. "What have you done?" he asked, his voice heavy with grief. "What have you become?"

  "You've gone too far, brother," Ubel said, his voice dripping with disdain. "I told you to submit and bow down to me. But no, you would rather die than submit."

  Godwin spit on the ground at Ubel's feet. "You have no mercy," he said, his voice filled with contempt. "You are a heartless bastard."

  Ubel chuckled. "Ah, ah, ah. You are overstepping your bounds once again. But listen, I will offer you one final opportunity. Swear loyalty to me, and you may continue living. Refuse, and you will meet your demise."

  Godwin looked at his brother with disdain. "You are remarkably foolish if you believe I would do that," he said

  "Then come, let's have our final confrontation," Ubel said, his voice filled with excitement. "Kill me, and you'll be the king. Fail, and you'll meet your end."

  Ubel turned to his army and shouted, "Listen to me, all of you. If my brother Godwin takes my life now, he will be your new king. Obey him as you would me."

  Then he turned back to Godwin and said, "I envy you, going to Valhalla before me."

  As Ubel slowly approached Godwin, the two brothers began to fight. Graves watched from the sidelines, his mind a jumbled mess as he tried to make sense of everything. Marilyn appeared at his side and asked, "So, do you still want to know who you are?"

  But Graves didn't respond. He simply raised his hand to silence her, not wanting to be distracted from the fight. He needed to see how it would end.

  The brothers clashed swords with ferocity, their blades ringing through the air. But then, an arrow flew through the air and struck Godwin in the left eye. He let out a scream of pain and clutched at his injured eye, dropping his sword. Ubel, however, showed no mercy to his brother. He struck him with his sword and kicked him in the face, his actions fueled by hatred.

  Then he pointed his sword at Godwin's neck and sneered, "Any words before you meet your demise?""

  Godwin spoke in a low, barely audible voice as he took his last breaths. "Brother, see to it that Azir is protected. I promised him that you would be his sovereign."

  Ubel nodded, a glint of malice in his eyes. "I swear it, dear brother. Farewell." And with that, he plunged his sword into Godwin's neck, ending his life. Graves watched in shock and grief as his brother was killed before his eyes. He couldn't believe that it had come to this.

  As Ubel said "Goodbye, brother," Graves shouted "NO!" and ran towards them, hoping to change the outcome. But it was too late. He watched in horror as Ubel plunged his sword into Godwin's neck, ending his life. Graves fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face as he struggled to process what had just happened. He couldn't believe that his brother was gone, and it was him ending his life.

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  After a moment, everything returned to normal. Graves found himself outside of his memories once more, with Marilyn standing behind him. She saw him crying and asked, "Do you still want to know who you really are?"

  Graves was still sobbing, unable to believe that what he had just witnessed had actually happened. "What happened next?" he asked through his tears. "What happened to Azir?"

  Marilyn approached Graves and sat beside him, her voice filled with concern. "You still don't remember anything?" she asked.

  Graves didn't respond, remaining silent as he struggled with his emotions. Marilyn looked at him with pity and asked, "How do you feel?"

  Graves looked at her with tears in his eyes and said, "I killed my brother. I need to know what happened to Azir."

  Marilyn hesitated for a moment before saying, "I think you should hide. I shouldn't help you, but something about you is different now. I can't leave you alone. Come on, I'll take you somewhere safe."

  Graves stood up and took a few steps towards her, but then he heard the sound of a raven's croak. He turned to see where it was coming from, and it was then that he realised something. Why would Marilyn be helping him? And wasn't she the one who had started all of this in the first place? Graves kept walking and thinking about what Marylin's motivations might be, until he finally asked her, "Let's say I ran away from you. Would you still be able to find me?"

  Marilyn hesitated before saying, "It depends. It's not something I can control. It's just a feeling, an intuition."

  Graves stopped in his tracks and looked at her intently. "What are your intuitions telling you now?" he asked.

  Marilyn stopped walking when she heard Graves' question, but she didn't turn around to face him. Instead, she replied, "Listen, if you want to leave, you're free to go. I can't control you. But I'm the only one who can show you your memories."

  Graves asked, "Why you?"

  "It's why I've been here all this time," Marilyn said. "It's because of you."

  Graves was sceptical. "That doesn't make sense. You can disappear and are almost like a witch, yet you can't control me?"

  Marilyn hesitated before saying, "They shielded you well."

  "Who?" Graves asked. "Who shielded me?"

  Marilyn turned around to face him and said, "You ask too much. Even if I told you, you wouldn't remember...at least not now."

  Marilyn started walking again, but Graves was confused and unsure of what to do. Should he follow her or continue on his own? The raven croaked again, but Graves' thoughts were consumed by his brother. He wanted to know more about himself, so he decided to follow Marilyn.

  Marilyn and Graves arrived at her home, and she led him to the backdoor. She asked him to wait under a particular tree while she prepared for their escape. She knew that Jessica and the police were looking for Graves and wanted to take him to a safe place where he wouldn't be arrested.

  Graves sat under the tree, hiding from the rain and holding the sword he had taken from James' house between his legs. He leaned his head against it, lost in thought. Meanwhile, Marilyn gathered some food and clothes for their journey.

  But just as she was finishing up, she heard a knock at the door. She peeked through the window to see that it was Jessica and her colleagues. Marilyn went down to the door and opened it, greeting Jessica with a forced smile. "Jessica! Hi, is there a problem?"

  Jessica didn't beat around the bush. "I think you know why I'm here."

  "Oh, is it about Graves?" Marilyn asked, trying to play dumb.

  "Of course it's about him," Jessica replied. "He didn't show up?"

  Marilyn shook her head. "I don't know. He hasn't been in touch since the day we were together."

  Jessica raised an eyebrow. "Why aren't you at your store?"

  Marylin's expression turned cold. "What are you implying? Exactly?"

  "I want to search your house," Jessica said, her voice laced with suspicion.

  Marilyn placed her hand on the door, trying to block her way. "Stay right there. Who do you think you are? You lost a lover and now you're trying to break into my house? Know your limits, officer!"

  "It's my duty to serve my country, and it's also my duty to search for missing people," Jessica said, her voice firm.

  Marilyn sneered. "Do you have a warrant, officer?"

  "If you want a warrant, I can have one here in five minutes," Jessica replied.

  "Marilyn peered at her sceptically. "I doubt it. You won't be able to request one. We all know the trouble that would come your way if David found out that you lost him again. But either way, don't even think about knocking on my door until you have your damn warrant." And with that, she slammed the door in her face."

  Jessica was taken aback by Marilyn's hostile attitude. How did Marilyn even know about the trouble she was going to face if her superior officer found out about Graves? She returned to her car, tears streaming down her face as she slammed the door shut.

  Marilyn quickly retreated to her room, gathering the necessary items before slipping out the back door. She passed by Graves, saying tersely, "Follow me. We don't have time."

  Jessica, feeling overwhelmed and unable to bear the consequences alone, made the difficult decision to go to David and confess everything. As she pulled into the precinct, she saw David standing outside his office, surrounded by other police officers. As she approached, they all dispersed, leaving only David standing there. Jessica couldn't help but wonder what was going on. Why had they all left? She approached David tentatively, her voice shaking as she asked, "What's going on?"

  "David turned to Jessica with a questioning look. "Why are you here?"

  Jessica was taken aback. "I'm sorry, Sir. What do you mean?"

  David sighed, shaking his head. "One of the citizens came in this morning, complaining about someone walking around the streets with a sword. To be honest, I'm not really surprised. Lately, I've seen a lot of strange things happening around here. But I was curious, so I asked the citizen to describe the person. And guess what? I think it's Graves."

  Jessica's heart sank. "Sir, I..."

  "Where is Graves?" David demanded.

  "I don't know," Jessica replied truthfully.

  David's expression darkened. "I've told your folks to go out and search for him. If we find him, he'll be thrown in jail. If no one from his family shows up after we catch him, he'll be kicked out of the city. Understand?"

  Jessica nodded, swallowing hard. "Understood, Sir. May I request a warrant?"

  David nodded, as if to say, "Of course."

  Jessica took a deep breath. "Sir, I think I know where Graves is. I think Marilyn is hiding something."

  David's eyes narrowed. "I'll give you that warrant. Wait here."

  As Jessica waited outside the office, she remembered something David had said earlier: "He was holding a sword." A sword? Jessica's mind raced.

  With her warrant in hand, Jessica returned to Marilyn's house and knocked on the door repeatedly. When there was no response, she called out, "Come on, Marilyn. I have a warrant. Open up."

  After minutes of trying to get Marilyn to open the door, Jessica made the decision to break into the house. She searched every room, noticing that Marilyn had taken some things with her before leaving. As she made her way back down to the ground floor, she noticed that the back door was slightly ajar. Jessica approached the door and pushed it open, stepping outside and looking for any clues. She walked around until she came across a tree, beneath which Graves was sitting.

  Jessica saw a rectangular hole, but it didn't mean anything to her at the time. She returned to her car and sat inside, taking a moment to think. Suddenly, something clicked. She remembered that she had been told that Graves was holding a sword. Jessica quickly got out of the car and returned to the spot where she had seen the hole, realisation dawning on her.

  Jessica suddenly realised that the hole was connected to Graves and decided to inform her superior officer. A moment after Jessica reported the case, a police patrol arrived at Marilyn's house and began investigating. David also arrived on the scene, as the case meant a lot to him. While the police crew gathered evidence inside, David and Jessica stood outside. Jessica looked at David and asked hesitantly, "Are you still mad, Sir?"

  David shook his head. "I'm not mad. I'm disappointed."

  "I promise you, Sir, it wasn't my fault," Jessica said, trying to defend herself.

  David sighed. "I know it's not your fault. It's mine. But let's leave the chit chat aside for now. Where do you think he got that sword from?"

  Jessica shrugged. "I don't know. Do you think Marilyn gave it to him?"

  David furrowed his brow. "But why would she have a sword in the first place?"

  Jessica hesitated before answering. "Maybe it was just for decoration. Some people here have swords and knives as decorations."

  David nodded, considering this. "Why do you think Marilyn is hiding him? And why do you think she's not a victim?"

  Jessica took a deep breath before answering. "Sir, I know this will sound crazy, but Graves can't hurt anyone. Trust me."

  David looked at her for a moment, but didn't say anything. He just stared at the hole left in the ground. After a couple of hours, they all left Marilyn's house, leaving four cops behind - two on the front door and two on the back door, just in case anything came up.

  As Jessica drove home, she couldn't stop thinking about where Graves might have gotten the sword. Suddenly, it occurred to her that James had one hanging on the wall in his house. Jessica pulled over and changed her course, heading towards James's house. It was almost midnight when she arrived. The lights were still on, so Jessica parked her car, got out, and knocked on the door. To her surprise, the door was slightly ajar. Jessica felt a sense of unease wash over her. She pulled out her gun and prepared herself for any sudden movements, slowly pushing the door open.

  She peeked inside, checking to see who was there, but the house was empty. She walked over to where the sword was hanging, only to find that it was missing. Now Jessica knew where Graves had gotten the weapon. She left the house, locking the door behind her. As she drove away, Jessica couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility for everything that had happened. After all, she was the one who had released Graves from jail in the first place.

  High up in the mountains, deep in the woods, there was a small cave where Graves and Marilyn had taken shelter for the night. They lit a fire to stay warm and used the cave as a makeshift shelter. Graves felt a little guilty for involving Marilyn in all of this. However, she didn't seem to be upset. In fact, she seemed to be enjoying herself, a smile on her face as if she were young again.

  Graves looked at her curiously. "You seem happy."

  Marilyn chuckled. "As if I've ever known joy."

  Graves chuckled too. "You love being in trouble?"

  Marilyn raised an eyebrow. "I think you're wiser than that, Ubel. Think about it. Why do you think I'm happy?"

  Graves thought for a moment before realisation dawned on him. "You were waiting for this moment all along?"

  Marilyn nodded. "I've been waiting for you since I was eight."

  Graves shook his head, amazed. "There are a lot of things you need to explain to me."

  Marilyn shook her head in turn. "Wrong. You need to explain to us."

  "Explain what?" Graves asked, confused.

  Marilyn looked at him intently. "How did you come here?"

  Graves shrugged. "I don't know. You're the one who's known me for many years. You should know."

  Marilyn sighed. "Your answer is correct... if we were living in a normal world. When they told me about you, they convinced me that there was no room for change. But I think there is."

  Graves looked at Marilyn, trying to understand what she meant. "What do you mean exactly?"

  Marilyn hesitated before answering. "You saw how you killed your brother. I think you know what I mean."

  Graves waited for her to continue, focusing on her words.

  "I saw you crying," Marilyn said softly. "You tried to prevent your brother's death. You wanted to make some changes."

  Graves nodded slowly, deep in thought. "What happened after the battle?"

  Marilyn raised an eyebrow. "Do you think these are your memories?"

  Graves nodded again. "I have concerns. I still don't understand what it all means, but it feels real and true."

  Marilyn looked at Graves with understanding. "I can see that you want to change. I don't know if what I'm doing is right or wrong, but for some reason I want to help you."

  Graves sighed. "My mind isn't in the right place. I just want to know what happened after I killed Godwin."

  As Marilyn listened to Graves, a small smile appeared on her face. But it quickly faded, and she closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, her pupils had disappeared, her eyes turning white. Suddenly, Graves and Marilyn were transported into Godwin's memories again.

  Graves and Marilyn watched as Ubel stood behind Godwin's body, staring at it and taking a deep breath. He remained there for a minute before Erik, who had been fighting with Godwin, approached from behind and said, "He's gone now, Ubel. It's done."

  Ubel didn't say anything, just slowly turned and stared at Erik. Erik continued, "You're a man who keeps his promises. Don't forget that."

  Ubel nodded, then commanded, "bury my brother's body where he died. It was his commandment."

  Ubel then walked away, ignoring Erik. When Erik saw that Ubel wasn't paying attention to him, he reached out his hand as if to stop him. Ubel took this as a threat and punched Erik in the face, knocking him to the ground. Ubel's sword was now pointed at him. "Don't test my patience," Ubel growled. "I will help you take over Wessex." And with that, he left.

  Graves watched as Erik abandoned Godwin, realising that Erik was the main reason why his brother had died in the battle. It had all been a setup. He turned to Marilyn and said, "He abandoned him. Just like I did."

  Marilyn nodded. "Yes, just like you did."

  Ubel took his army and returned to Vok, his main land, to celebrate the victory over his brother. To him, it was a very important victory. As Graves watched, he asked Marylin, "Where did I go?"

  Marilyn replied, "Let's test your memories. You tell me. Where did you go?"

  Graves closed his eyes and tried to remember, then opened them and said, "I went back to Vok."

  As soon as he spoke, Graves was transported to the same exact memory in Vok. The shift happened so quickly that he didn't even realise it had occurred. Graves looked around, confused. "What happened?"

  Marilyn explained, "When you remember a memory, you can move to it. You can only do that when I'm with you. Look around."

  Graves started looking around, a smile spreading across his face as he realised he was back in his home. He was transported to where the villagers had gathered to see their king. At that time, they were told that Ubel was arriving to announce the great victory. As Graves looked at the crowd, he recognized many people and called out their names whenever he remembered them. Marilyn was also looking around and said, "I've always wanted to live in the past."

  Graves looked at Marilyn, wanting to talk, but was interrupted by the arrival of Ubel. The cheers from the crowd were deafening as they celebrated and hailed Ubel. He smiled and walked through the crowd until he reached his throne. He pulled out his sword and raised it up, causing the cheers to explode once again. As the crowd gradually calmed down, Ubel spoke.

  "My brother is deceased. Godwin was an exceptional warrior. We fought side by side in numerous battles. He saved my life on multiple occasions, and I reciprocated. I am deeply grieved by the way events transpired, but sometimes it is necessary to make difficult decisions. Today, I sacrificed a part of myself to ensure that this country becomes the greatest on earth. Vok will be renowned and feared throughout the world. Now... May I have a drink?"

  The crowd laughed and cheered in response to Ubel's speech. Someone in the front of the crowd approached Ubel with a drink, which he took but didn't drink. He then said, "I know that you all have concerns. I'd like to hear your questions."

  A villager in the front asked, "Now that Godwin is dead, should we be afraid of Azir?"

  Ubel replied, "Azir is an ambitious man, but he is family. I promise you he won't do anything."

  Another villager said, "Godwin was your family."

  Ubel responded, "Godwin betrayed us all. He wanted us to be ruled by the English."

  A third villager asked, "What are we going to do now?"

  Ubel replied, "Now? We will drink! But to answer your other question, no, we're not going to attack England. I'm going to stay here, drink and eat, and die like an old man snoring in my bed." The crowd chuckled at his sarcastic response.

  The crowd laughed at Ubel's response, and then the villager who had brought him the drink spoke up. "My lord, as you stated, we have concerns. To be frank, I have been pondering a question. You stated that Azir will not seek revenge and therefore will not be considering ruling over Vok after you. Additionally, it is known that you do not have any offspring yet. So, my lord, how will the next monarch be selected?"

  Ubel smiled at the man and placed the drink on his left hand. "Finally, a real question. Please come stand beside me." The villager approached Ubel and stood beside him with his head bowed. Ubel then asked, "What is your name?"

  The villager replied, "Grom, my lord."

  King Ubel addressed the crowd, saying "Grom asked a great question. I'm glad to see that someone from Vok is really thinking. It's true, I don't have children, and I may not survive the next battle or even live through the night. But that's not right. I should choose my own successor.

  One of the villagers spoke up, saying "I apologise, King Ubel, but I believe that the successor should come from your family. Our lands have prospered under the rule of your ancestors. You should have children to carry on your name and your throne."

  Ubel nodded and asked Grom, "What do you think? Do you think I'll live long enough to have a child?"

  The crowd looked at each other, confused by Ubel's remark. Grom responded, "I'm sorry, my lord. I don't really know."

  Ubel interrupted him, saying "I appreciate your deference, ((My lord)), but as far as I know, only the English say that."

  "Grom looked at Ubel with confusion in his eyes. "What do you mean, sir?" he asked.

  Ubel gave a small shake of his head. "We don't say 'sir' nor ‘My Lord’, Grom. Remember your place."

  Grom's anxiety was visible as he struggled to understand what was happening. Ubel asked, "Where did you learn these phrases? They don't sound like the way we talk."

  Grom stuttered, "I heard them from travellers, I'm sure. I didn't mean any disrespect, my lord."

  Ubel offered a sly smile. "Listen, Grom. If you take this drink and drink it, I promise you will be my successor. Think of the power and the wealth that could be yours."

  Grom's hands shook as he reached for the proffered cup, the entire crowd watching him expectantly. But instead of drinking it, he poured it on the floor, his face contorted in terror. The crowd realised that the drink was poisoned and began to whisper amongst themselves.

  Ubel's voice boomed out, silencing the murmurs. "And now you see our next move. We will teach the English how to send better informants. They should know better than to send us such a weak and easily swayed man."

  The crowd chuckled at Ubel's words.

  Turning to Grom, Ubel asked, "My lord, are you married? Do you want to live? Do you have children?"

  Tears streaming down his face, Grom begged, "Yes, my lord. Please don't kill me. I'll do anything you want."

  "Ubel stood in front of Grom, his eyes piercing into the trembling man's soul. "Is your real name Grom? Tell the truth, and I promise you you won't die."

  Grom's voice shook as he replied, "Yes, my lord. This is my name."

  As Grom's tears continued to flow, Ubel's expression softened and he placed a reassuring hand on the young man's shoulder. "Be at ease, do not weep. Observe those surrounding us. Each person standing here knows that I am a man of my word. You shall remain here, and I shall bring your family to live with you in this place. You have my solemn promise."

  Tears of joy streamed down Grom's face as he exclaimed, "Thank you so much, my lord!"

  Graves watched the exchange with shock, a feeling of unease settling in his gut. Something was off about this whole situation, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

  At Ubel's command, two of his soldiers set off to bring Grom's wife and children to him, secretly and without harm.

  Graves turned to Marilyn and said, "Something isn't right, but I can't remember. What happened after?"

  Marilyn placed a calming hand on Graves's arm. "Why are you rushing? Give yourself some time. You'll remember everything."

  Ubel had given the command for two of his followers to journey to England and retrieve Grom's wife and children. Despite the fact that Grom was not actually imprisoned, Ubel had taken the precaution of placing him in a house and assigning guards to keep watch over him, ensuring that he could not escape.

  As the new day dawned, Ubel awoke from his slumber, habitually reaching for the knife he kept under his pillow. After washing himself with a bowl of water and donning his clothes, he made his way outside to tend to his horse. There, he was met by Trevor, the only man he trusted implicitly.

  Despite their close relationship, few were aware of the extent of their connection, and they preferred to meet in secret, with Trevor covering his face with a black scarf whenever they needed to discuss important matters. Upon seeing Trevor, Ubel's face broke into a smile and he greeted him with, "You are always on time."

  Trevor's face remained cold as he replied, "I had to be here."

  Ubel asked, "What's wrong?"

  Trevor responded gravely, "You made a big mistake, Ubel. You think killing Godwin will solve your problems?"

  Ubel protested, "I never said that."

  Trevor continued, "Then why did you do it? Do you know what the nearby kingdoms are planning now that they've heard about what you did?"

  Ubel looked at him in silence, and Trevor went on, "They think you're weak now. Everyone wants to rule over Vok."

  Ubel asked, "Who wants to rule Vok? Precisely?"

  Trevor replied, "You want names? Five kingdoms are having secret meetings to plan for the invasion of Vok."

  Ubel wondered, "How did you find out if it's so secret?"

  Trevor explained, "While you were killing Godwin, I happened to be in Osna. I heard the news of Godwin's assassination spreading quickly. And do you know why they're celebrating? They think Vok is now up for grabs since the 'true king' of Vok is gone."

  Ubel nodded, understanding, "They think I can't defend it."

  Trevor agreed, "That's exactly what they think."

  Ubel asked, "Is that true? What is your perspective on the matter?"

  Trevor responded, "I won't deceive you, killing Godwin was a grave mistake, but we cannot alter the past. All I am suggesting is that you ought to begin strategizing."

  Ubel replied, "I already have. I knew they would commence scheming for Vok. Ugor, Asmorg, Osna, Esma, and Straya."

  Trevor nodded, "It appears you have done your due diligence."

  Ubel then mentioned, "England."

  Trevor asked, "England? What about it?"

  Ubel admitted, "I cannot cease thinking about it. I have heard tales of its verdant and wealthy lands. I desire to go there."

  Trevor implored, "Might we direct our attention to the difficulties already plaguing us?"

  Ubel, seated atop his steed, replied to Trevor, "Join me here this evening. I have an errand to run, and afterwards we can converse further on the matter."

  Without further ado, Ubel urged his horse into motion and rode off into the distance, leaving Trevor standing by his own.

  Graves and Marilyn were standing there as well, lost in Graves' memories.

  Marilyn asked him, "You don't want to know what happened next?"

  Graves shook his head and muttered, "How did I not think about this before?"

  Marilyn inquired, "About what?"

  Graves replied, "If these were my memories, then... How did I end up here? Now it makes sense. That's why I can't figure out the objects you use. I've never seen them before. But how did I come here?"

  Marilyn sought to reassure him, saying "I promise you, dear, I am just as perplexed. I have no explanation for this either. You hail from the past, while we reside in the future.

  How did you manage to travel through one thousand years of time? "

  Graves was in a state of shock, unable to fully comprehend what was happening. He tried to make sense of it all, but he couldn't remember or explain how he had travelled through time and ended up in the future, a timeline in which he shouldn't even exist.

  Graves sighed, "I need some time to process this."

  Marilyn nodded, "Don't rush yourself. You'll understand it, and hopefully then you'll be able to explain it to us."

  As he looked at Marilyn, Graves couldn't help but feel that she was hiding something from him. It seemed as though she knew how he had ended up in this timeline, but she didn't want to tell him. However, he didn't press the issue and simply said, "I want to sleep."

  Marilyn nodded, "I think that's a good idea." She reached into a bag she had brought with her and pulled out a towel, handing it to Graves and saying, "Here, use this as a pillow."

  Graves accepted the towel and lay down on the ground next to the fire, attempting to fall asleep. As he drifted off, he found himself dreaming about the events that had led him to this point.

  After bidding farewell to Trevor, Ubel journeyed to a peculiar location - a cave nestled atop a mountain. Upon entering, he discovered a series of stairs hewn into the rock, leading deep into the mountain's interior. As Ubel descended, he came upon a massive door that opened of its own accord as he approached. Behind the door sat an old man draped in a black cloak, seated at a long table surrounded by eight chairs.

  This man, known only as the Maven, greeted Ubel with a grave warning, "You should not be here."

  Ubel, mindful of the Maven's authority, inquired politely, "Might I enter?"

  The Maven queried, "Would you depart if I forbade it?"

  Ubel replied with conviction, "Test me."

  The Maven relented, "Very well. Come in. I have been expecting you. I knew you would come."

  Ubel offered a smile and approached, taking a seat beside the Maven. He inquired, "Is anyone else joining us?"

  The Maven replied, "They are all present." With that, seven more people materialised, taking their seats at the table. Ubel surveyed the gathering and remarked, "I suspected as much."

  The Maven and the other souls who had appeared were those who had chosen to remain and support the Graves family over the decades, due to the strong bond that had existed between them for centuries. This bond had formed more than five hundred years ago, when one of Ubel's ancestors first took control of Vok.

  These souls only aided those with good and calm intentions, and sought out destruction and chaos wherever they could find it. They saw Ubel as the most destructive individual to ever come from the Graves family, and so they had formed a close bond with him and always supported him. The Maven was the only one of them who had the ability to speak, as he was their leader. The other souls, known as retainers, communicated through facial expressions, such as smiling or looking irked.

  The Maven declared, "We are pleased that you rid us of Godwin. He was a disgrace."

  Ubel replied, "Only you and I agree on that. Everyone else thinks I made a mistake."

  The Maven countered, "The mistake was allowing him to live. A peace pact with England, of all things? He was not in his right mind."

  Ubel announced, "I'm planning to invade England."

  The Maven responded, "This is good news, but I believe that Vok should be our priority. I have heard that Trevor informed you of the situation."

  Ubel confirmed, "He did. That's why I'm here. I need your advice. If the five kingdoms unite, I don't think my army would stand a chance. And by killing Godwin, I've eliminated any possibility of receiving help from his allies. I have you, though. Would you fight with me?"

  The Maven replied, "You know that we cannot engage in physical combat... However, I can tell you this: every kingdom believes the others to be untrustworthy. You can use that to your advantage."

  Ubel glanced at the retainers and saw that they were all smiling, indicating their agreement with the Maven's suggestion.

  Ubel furrowed his brow as he considered the Maven's proposal. "I understand what you're saying, but I'm not sure I'm comfortable playing on their fears and suspicions like that. It feels manipulative, and I'm not sure I want to sink to that level."

  The Maven replied, "I understand your hesitation, Ubel. But you must remember that we are at war. In times of conflict, one must do whatever it takes to protect one's own. And make no mistake, the kingdoms that surround Vok will stop at nothing to conquer it. They will not hesitate to use any means necessary to defeat you, so you must not hesitate to do what it takes to defeat them.

  "Ubel nodded, a grim determination settling over him. "I understand. But even if I can convince them to ally with me, I will still need to be prepared for the possibility of them turning on me as well. I cannot afford to let my guard down."

  The Maven nodded gravely. "That is true. You must always be vigilant and ready to defend yourself. But do not let that fear consume you. Trust in yourself and your abilities, and do not underestimate the power of strategy and cunning. Remember, Ubel, you are the leader of Vok. It is your duty to protect your kingdom and your people, no matter the cost."

  Ubel leaned forward in his chair, his eyes narrowed in thought. "We need to come up with a solid plan for defeating the invading kingdoms. Any suggestions?"

  The Maven steepled his fingers, his eyes narrowed in thought. "We must consider all of our options. Do we have the resources and manpower to go on the offensive, or should we focus on fortifying our defences and waiting for them to make the first move?"

  Ubel sighed and rubbed his forehead. "I'm not sure. On one hand, going on the offensive could catch them off guard and give us the element of surprise. On the other hand, we don't want to overextend ourselves and leave our own kingdom vulnerable to attack."

  The Maven nodded. "That is a valid concern. We must weigh the risks and benefits of each option carefully. Perhaps it would be wise to send out scouts to gather intelligence on the size and strength of the invading armies. That way, we can better assess our chances of success."

  Ubel nodded. "That's a good idea. We'll also need to consider the support of our allies. Can we count on them to have our backs, or will they sit on the sidelines and watch?"

  The Maven frowned. "It is difficult to say. Some may be swayed by promises of power or wealth, while others may be more loyal to Vok. We must be prepared for any possibility."

  Ubel sighed, the weight of his responsibilities bearing down on him. "It's a lot to consider. But we must come up with a solid plan if we hope to emerge victorious in this war."

  The Maven nodded gravely. "Agreed. Let us get to work, then. Every moment counts in times of war."