The room was filled with light, thanks to the large windows that allowed the sunshine to flood in. The curtains, made of silk and embroidered with golden threads, fluttered gently in the breeze. The walls were paneled with richly polished wood, giving a sense of warmth and elegance to the room. The ceiling was high, embellished with elaborate carvings and adorned with crystal chandeliers that sparkled in the light.
The main feature of the room was a large desk made of dark, sturdy wood, situated in the center and facing the door, and behind it was a high-backed chair that looked like it was made for a king. The desk was littered with papers, documents, and books, suggesting that the owner of this room was a diligent and studious person who spent many hours here. The desk was also adorned with gold-plated accents, and the surface was organized with neat stacks of parchment, quill pens, and a polished silver inkwell.
Behind the desk, a tall bookshelf stretched up to the ceiling, filled with leather-bound tomes, scholarly volumes, and antique artifacts. To the left of the desk, a cozy seating area was arranged around a crackling fireplace, with plush armchairs and a low table covered in maps and charts.
The walls were adorned with portraits of past leaders, each one representing a significant moment in the history of the Republic of Acuna. The furniture was crafted from the finest materials, and every piece was perfectly placed, creating a sense of balance and harmony within the space.
I took in the grandeur of the space, the weight of the history that hung in the air, and the knowledge that was housed within these walls.
Even the air felt different in this room, as if it were imbued with a sense of importance and significance. The room was truly a sight to behold. As I took it all in, I felt a sense of awe and reverence. It was a room befitting a leader who embodies the height of taste, style, and sophistication. It was clear that the person who owned this room was someone of great power and influence.
As I gazed around the room in admiration, I noticed a figure standing at the back, behind the wooden desk. The man was dressed in a well-tailored military uniform, and his back was turned to the door as he looked out the window. The figure exuded an air of authority and strength, his posture and demeanor commanding respect.That's why even with his back turned, I recognized him immediately. He was Leonidas Asura III, the Head of the House Asura, and the current head of state of the Republic of Acuna. He was my paternal grandfather…and this room—this was Grandfather's personal study.
Just then, a hollow knock echoed at the door.
"I-I'm here…" the voice of a visitor sounded from the other side of the door.
"Enter."
Without turning around, Grandfather gave permission for the person on the other side to enter.
"P-pardon me!" squeaked a nervous voice.
The door handle rattled, then the door itself swung open. The visitor was none other than me, or rather, a past version of myself. As I stood there, stunned and unsure of what was happening, I realized that I was witnessing a moment from my past that I had long forgotten. It was a strange and surreal experience, as if I was watching a playback of my own life.
I couldn't believe what I was witnessing. As I watched my past self in the memory, I suddenly realized the connection between the scene and the events that had taken place after my duel with Marcus. Yes, this was the aftermath of that fateful day, when my actions had caused such disappointment and shame to my family.
I squeezed my eyes tightly shut, then took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions and make sense of the surreal experience I was witnessing. I felt like I was in a daze, disconnected from the present moment, and lost in my memories.
"Open your eyes," a voice interrupted my thoughts, and I slowly opened them.
With a clearer mind, I took another look at the scene unfolding before my eyes. I was now witnessing a moment from my past, a moment that I had long forgotten but was now being replayed before me. It was a surreal experience, and I could feel a knot forming in my stomach as I watched myself from a different time and place.
I stood frozen, watching as my past self entered the room. I could see the fear and anxiety etched on his face. The memory of the uncertainty and doubt that I had carried with me into this very room flooded back to me, and I knew exactly what my past self was feeling.
As my past self made his way into the room, he stumbled over his own feet and nearly fell to the ground. I remembered how my heart had been racing as I tried to steady myself, but it was no use. I was a nervous wreck.
"Close the door behind you," Grandfather commanded, his voice cutting through the tense silence that filled the room.
My past self scrambled to obey, hastily shutting the door before taking a few shaky steps forward. I watched as he stopped a few feet away from Grandfather, his eyes downcast and his body tense with fear
"I heard that you got expelled from school. Is that true?" Grandfather spoke without even turning around, getting right to the point.
"Y-Yes," my past self stammered out a reply, his fear palpable. I could feel my own anxiety rising as I relived this moment, even though I knew how it would all turn out.
"So, what have you done this time? Have you anything to say for yourself?" Grandfather asked, his tone icy and emotionless.
My past self hesitated for a moment, looking as if he were about to speak before quickly shutting his mouth. He stood there, frozen in place, as if he were waiting for some kind of punishment.
"Did you not hear me the first time?" Grandfather asked, his voice still as cold as ice.
"I-I heard you," my past self replied, his voice shaking with fear.
"Then answer," Grandfather commanded, his patience wearing thin.
My past self's words were barely audible as he finally managed to say, "I-I wanted to prove that I'm not incompetent." The air grew thick with tension as the weight of those words hung heavily in the room.
"You've done me a disservice and denigrated our house's name just so you could prove that you're not incompetent? Are you out of your mind?"
Grandfather's words dripped with disappointment and anger, as if he couldn't believe the reckless actions my past self had taken. My past self, meanwhile, fixed his eyes on the ground, seemingly unable to reply.
"You, Leon, are not just an individual, but a member of this family. With that comes a great responsibility to uphold not only our values, but also our traditions and reputation. But what have you done? Instead of bringing honor and respect to our family, you have done the complete opposite. You have denigrated our name and everything we stand for. You ought to be ashamed of yourself,"
The weight of his words hit me like a ton of bricks, and I could feel my past self's shame and embarrassment as if it were my own.
"My apologies, grandfather," my past self responded, his voice trembling with regret. "But I felt the need to make them retract their words. They spoke ill of my parents, and I simply could not let their hurtful comments go unanswered. Moreover, they also questioned my competence and suggested that I did not belong in that school, which only fueled my desire to prove them wrong and assert my worth.
"I am fully aware of the gravity of my actions and how it reflects on our family, Grandfather," he continued in a contrite tone, his head bowed. "I know that what I did was unacceptable and unbecoming of a son of the Asura house. I regret that I did not consider the potential consequences for our family's reputation before giving in to my anger and engaging in such foolish behavior. I humbly ask for your forgiveness for my misguided actions and promise to do better in the future."
My past self begged and pleaded, attempting to make his case and explain his actions, but Grandfather remained unmoved by his words.
"You fool. You showed such disgraceful behavior in front of many people and brought shame to the family. Everything you have done has been nothing but a headache. Do you even understand the gravity of your actions? Do you know whom you raised your sword against? It was none other than the Head of House Lios, a great contributor to our country, managing all of the schools within it. Your reckless actions have caused irreparable harm to our family's reputation and standing in society. I cannot believe you would act in such a manner just to prove your competence."
My grandfather's voice dripped with disappointment and anger as he spoke to my past self. My past self, on the other hand, trembled with fear and shame, his head still bowed.
"Well, you've certainly proven that you are incompetent," he added, his voice laced with disappointment.
As I watched this scene unfold before me, I couldn't help but wonder what had led to this moment. Why had my past self felt the need to prove his competence in such a reckless manner? Whatever the reason may have been, I couldn't remember it. It was as if the memory had been locked away, buried deep within my subconscious. All I could do was stand there and watch as my past self received the scolding of a lifetime from my grandfather.
"Just how far are you going to betray my expectations? I barely had any left for you, but this incident has left me in utter disappointment," Grandfather continued, his voice laced with frustration and disappointment.
The disappointment in his voice weighed heavily on my heart, and I couldn't help but feel like a failure all over again. It was a strange feeling, to witness myself being scolded from a different perspective, as if I were an outsider looking in. My past self hung his head in shame, depressed at failing to meet his expectations. He clenched his fists and bit his bottom lip, trying to hold back the tears.
As I watched the memory play out, I found myself wondering why I had acted so recklessly. What had driven me to try to prove my competence to others? But despite racking my brain, I couldn't recall the reason for my actions. It was only as the memory continued to unfold that the reason finally became clear to me.
It was a dream that had driven me to take such a risky course of action. A dream that I had wanted to realize more than anything else.
That dream was...? What was it again?
I couldn't remember what that dream was anymore.