Duke Fairchild stood in the dark prison still seething with anger. He stomped his foot.
Crunch! The stones beneath his foot cracked. Fissures spread out in a spiderweb-like pattern.
"I didn't ride from the border to the capital for a corpse! Bring me the warden! Now!" In his rage, he released the aura of his saint realm cultivation causing those around him to be unable to move.
A man who had a trickle of blood running out from the corner of his mouth groveled before him. "The warden went out for leave yesterday. I'm afraid he's no longer in the capital. I— his replacement— haven't even been here a day. Please forgive my ignorance."
The Duke snorted in disdain then brought his hand to his plump chin. "Something's fishy here..." He pointed at a prisoner in a cell adjacent to Reinhold's former cell. "You there I'll pardon your crimes if you can tell me what happened to the boy in the cage."
The prisoner who was prostrating on the ground lifted his head. "He was exchanged for a corpse a few days ago, my lord."
"Take this truthstone and repeat what you just said."
"He was taken away a few days ago my lord." The truthstone lit up scarlet.
"Liar! You are only adding to your sentence!"
The prisoner's face was forced into the ground from the pressure, but he lifted it again blood running from his nose. "Apologies, my lord. I was only recently transferred to this cell."
"Useless!"
The prisoner's face once again slammed into the ground, yet he lifted it once again a cunning gleam in his eyes. "But, my Lord is wise, I can see you are convinced, yourself, that this body is not the boy you're looking for. I only told you what you already know. This should be the truth based upon your great wisdom."
This flattering argument made the corners of the Duke's lips rise into a half-smile. He pounded a fist into his open palm. "That's right this situation stinks of conspiracy. Even the adjacent prisoners were exchanged."
He motioned to his guard. "Call my men for a meeting. We'll get to the bottom of this! Oh, and pardon this prisoner of his crimes."
* * * * *
Niles refuses to inform me about the destination of our carriage. At least, I'm not chained up. Instead, I am sitting across from Niles sandwiched between two guards. The dark shutters on the windows stay tightly shut, so I can't watch the passing landscape. Niles is keeping to himself, so I have plenty of time to think.
In my last life, I lost my family early and kept a lonely, solitary life. This time around, I want to protect the ties with my former family. If I can earn their trust, I can safeguard them and prevent the calamities of my past life from occurring. To that end, I spend the trip thinking of what identity I could use my memories to acquire.
I expect them to ship me to Alphonso's Plain, but it's a great distance away. Thus, there should be many stops. Luckily, the important operations on the plain will yield many opportunities for me to prove my worth.
Several hours later the carriage stops inside the gate of a lavish mansion. I sneak a peek at the exquisite gardens noting several rare plants as Niles escorts me inside. The walls of the mansion are hung with the paintings of familiar figures allowing me to guess that this is a manor of the Mallory family. I'm brought to a drawing-room where I stand beside Niles facing a familiar old man. He sports a well-maintained white beard and tidy hair.
It's granduncle Byron! To be more precise it's my first life's granduncle Byron. Like his hair, he is eternally disciplined and proper, but he always had a soft spot for his grandchildren and spoiled his grandnephews— including me— rotten.
"Meet the owner of the facilities you will work at," says Niles.
"[True,]" says the stone around my neck.
Excuse me! Weren't you shipping me to Alphonso's plain? How am I supposed to prove my worth doing odd jobs in a manor?
"Alright, I'll take it from here. Niles, you can go now." Byron waves Niles away.
"Yes, Your Honor!" says Niles. He bows and leaves the room.
They really aren't sending me to the plain...
"Are you proficient in any crafts?"
"Ah, Alchemy."
[True.] The stone around my neck glows green.
"Oh? so you're an apprentice alchemist..."
I can only keep silent and nod.
No. I was a grandmaster alchemist last life... If the circumstances didn't force me to become a leader, I would have taken up the alchemist occupation. My former dual fire-ice spirit root was particularly suited to alchemy as well.
"We can start you out with a few chores. Such as tending the back garden and cleaning and sorting herbs."
"Ronald!" Byron called.
A black-haired butler in a suit came through a side door of the drawing-room.
"Ronald here will be your direct boss. In the future, listen well to his orders." Granduncle Byron pointed at the pale-faced butler. "Ronald, bring us an assortment of herbs suitable for the assessment of apprentice alchemist abilities. "
After the servant left granduncle Byron picked up his tea and asked, "I'm curious how familiar you are with the Mallory family. For instance, do you know who I am?
The stone has no response to Granduncle Byron's words. His cultivation is too advanced.
Is this a trap? Would he be pleased or angry if I call him Granduncle? I'm a little kid now so it might work.
First, I try shaking my head no. "Who are you, Your Honor?"
"Tell me so the stone can verify it— do you know me?"
I grit my teeth.
"Forgive this little one for being forward, but I am familiar with you, Granduncle Byron."
[True.]
"Granduncle Byron?" His face smiles softly. "How do you know me?"
"Forgive me, Granduncle Byron, I was too young and don't remember how or when exactly I learned your name."
[True.]
"How about these paintings? Do you know who is depicted in this one?"
I sigh internally. I might as well make things more confusing.
I speak the names of the living members and Granduncle Byron nods. Next, I identify a few of the ancestors and his mouth slacks a bit eyes wide. Unfortunately, I can't remember a few of them anymore so I can't astound him completely. Not all the members of the family I point out are public knowledge. He must believe I am either really affiliated with the family or I am a spy from a terrifying entity.
"You are quite knowledgeable about the Mallory family. Who taught you these things?"
"I've always admired the Mallory family. I was taught these things from young by family members."
[True.]
"Oh, where are these family members now?"
"I separated from them a long time ago. If they are living anywhere now I believe it would be in Mallory city."
[True.]
"Do you remember the names of your family members?"
"Yes. I don't suppose you will let me keep it a secret."
[True.]
I'm trapped. Yet, a crazy thought appears in my head. What will happen if I tell them my real story?
"If you don't want to be locked up indefinitely, you'll have to tell me."
"Fine… To tell you the truth, I am someone you know well…"
[True.]
Granduncle grasps his chin and cocks an eyebrow. "Is that so?"
"Yes, do you remember when you got me that Focus Assisting Massage Mat for my ninth birthday?
"You mean to tell me you are really my grandnephew?"
"Indeed, I am the grandson of your brother, the son of the current Family Head."
[True.]
"Impossible!" Granduncle Byron took a step back. It was quite a statement for someone who believes not breaking posture is the sign of an expert.
"I would think so too."
[True.]
"Could this body be a puppet controlled by honorable grandnephew?
"No, I'm afraid it's more complicated than that. I'm no longer the grandnephew you know. I lived in this world for more than 50 years before transmigrating from the future to the past into this body. This is how I know so much about Alphonso's plain and many future events."
[True. True. True.] The bright green glow on my neck informs Granduncle that I am not lying.
Uncle Byron's eyes are about to pop out of his head. The teacup slips out of his hand. His body blurs in my vision and he somehow recovers the teacup before it can shatter. Only a splotch of tea soaking into and staining the fine carpet on the floor remains as proof he lost it.
"Oh yes, I'm not an apprentice. I'm actually a grandmaster alchemist."
[True.]
With trembling hands Granduncle takes a sip of tea before saying, "How did this happen? Did someone send you to prevent something? Perhaps, the end of the world?"
"Nobody sent me here… I was betrayed and cursed. How I arrived here is a mystery even to me."
[True. True. True.]
"I'm sure you know how inconceivable your story is… I can barely accept this, much less the rest of the family. We'll have to treat your presence with discretion for now."
Hopefully, I can change the future and save my family.
"Speaking of preventing things, I have something important to tell you about your future..."