Ludwig Maximilian von Valtoria opened his eyes, but all he could see was darkness. He tried to move his arms, but they were bound to his sides, preventing him from even lifting them. He struggled for a moment before realizing that he was tied to a wooden post. Panic set in as he frantically looked around, trying to make sense of his situation.
The room was small, cramped, and poorly lit. The only light source came from a single flickering candle on a rickety table in the corner. Ludwig's heart sank as he realized that he was not in his own body anymore. He lifted his hands as best he could and took in both the familiar and unfamiliar features. The same long blond hair cascaded down his shoulders, but his unfamiliar slim build was nothing like the muscular physique he was used to.
A wave of confusion washed over him as he tried to recall the events that led to his current predicament. He remembered the betrayal of his advisors and the five houses, his wife leaving with him, his royal guards turning on him, the cave and finally, the fatal blow. But how had he ended up in this body? And where was he?
Ludwig tried again to focus on his magic, but no matter how hard he tried, there was no spark of power within him. Fear gripped him as he realized that he had been stripped of his magic along with his body. How could he protect the kingdom without his magic?
Tears of frustration welled up in his eyes as he hung his head. The weight of his failure as a king pressed down on him, and he couldn't shake off the feeling that the gods had forsaken him. He had always believed that his magic was a gift from the gods, proof of his divine right to rule. Now, without it, he felt powerless and weak.
Ludwig's thoughts raced as he struggled to come to terms with his new reality. He couldn't help but feel a sense of regret for all the times he had taken his magic for granted, believing it to be a constant presence in his life. Now that it was gone, he felt alone and vulnerable.
As the darkness of the room enveloped him, Ludwig closed his eyes and tried to find some semblance of calm. He knew that he needed to regain his strength and find a way to escape, but he couldn't help feeling defeated.
"Why?" he muttered to himself. "Why did this have to happen to me?"
Ludwig's thoughts were interrupted by a creaking sound as the door to the room opened, revealing two figures. They were dressed in the same rough-hewn clothes that he is currently wearing and carried metal spears in their hands.
Ludwig tried to sit up but a sudden wave of dizziness overtook him. He groaned and rested his back against the wall. "What happened to me?" he muttered to himself.
"Ah, you're finally awake," one of the men spoke from the doorway.
It belonged to a middle-aged man with a thick beard and a friendly smile. The man approached him, carrying a bowl of water and a piece of cloth in his hand not holding the spear.
"You were found unconscious by the riverbank," the man said, dipping the cloth into the bowl of water. "We don't know what happened to you."
Ludwig frowned, trying to remember what led him to this state. He does not feel nor see the injury that he presumed ended his life.
"Where am I?" he asked the man.
"You're in a small mining village on the outskirts of the Ironheart Mountains," the man replied, handing him the wet cloth. "We found you washed up by the riverbank."
Ludwig's mind raced with questions. Who was he now? Why was he found unconscious by the riverbank? Where are the Ironheart Mountains in relation to Valtoria? He does not remember a place like that. How much time had passed since his death? He needed to find answers, but he knew he couldn't reveal his true identity. Not yet, at least.
Trying to hide the urgency in his voice. "What's your name?"
"I'm Garek," the bearded man replied, offering a friendly smile. "And you are?"
Ludwig hesitated for a moment, thinking about how to answer. "I...I don't remember," he said finally, hoping to buy himself some time. "I'm sorry."
Garek looked at him with a sympathetic expression. "It's alright," he said. "You've been through a lot. And it does look like you hit your head pretty good when you were in the water. Let me help you up."
Garek untied the ropes that bound Ludwig to the wooden post and helped him to his feet. Ludwig's legs felt weak, and he stumbled slightly. Garek caught him and steadied him.
"Thank you," Ludwig said, feeling a little embarrassed. "I'm not sure what's wrong with me."
"It's alright," Garek said again. "You'll get your strength back soon enough. Come, let's get you something to eat."
They walked out of the small, dimly lit room and into a slightly larger common area. Ludwig saw that it was a simple, yet well-kept space with a large fireplace, a few chairs, and a long table. A group of men and women were sitting around the table, eating and chatting.
Ludwig felt a pang of envy as he saw them. He had lost everything - his kingdom, his family, his friends, his entire life. He was now trapped in this unfamiliar body, with no knowledge of what the future held for him.
As Garek led him to a seat at the table, Ludwig noticed that everyone was staring at him. He felt uncomfortable and self-conscious, wondering what they were thinking about him.
"He's a stranger," Garek said, breaking the awkward silence. "He doesn't remember who he is."
The others nodded in understanding, and the conversation resumed. Ludwig breathed a small sigh of relief, glad that his identity was still a secret. He needed to find out more about this world, this place, and the person whose body he was now inhabiting.
Ludwig sat at the wooden table in the small mining village, his stomach grumbling with hunger. Garek, the man who had found him, brought out a bowl of hot, steaming stew and set it down in front of him. Ludwig eyed it warily, the unfamiliar aroma filling his nostrils.
"What is this?" he asked, lifting a spoonful of the stew to his mouth.
"It's a local delicacy," Garek replied with a smile. "You'll love it."
Ludwig took a tentative sip of the stew, but his taste buds recoiled at the flavor. It was unlike anything he had ever tasted before, and it did not taste good to him. He tried to suppress his grimace and swallowed it down.
Garek noticed his expression and chuckled.
Ludwig did not want to be rude, so he forced himself to eat more of the stew, even though it tasted unpleasant. He wondered how long he would have to stay in this body and how long he would have to endure such meals.
As he ate, Garek began to speak about the village and the people who lived there. Ludwig listened intently, trying to gather as much information as he could about the world around him. He wanted to know what was happening and how much time had passed since his death.
Garek noticed the marks left by the rope on Ludwig's hands and explained why they had done it when they found him by the riverbank.
"We didn't know who you were or what your intentions were," Garek said, taking a sip of his own stew. "We had to make sure you weren't dangerous."
Ludwig nodded, understanding their caution. He had to be careful about revealing his identity, especially in a place where he was not familiar with the customs and culture.
"I apologize for the inconvenience," Ludwig said, trying to sound as humble as possible. "I am grateful for your help."
Garek smiled. "You're welcome. We may be simple folk, but we take care of our own."
Ludwig finished his stew, feeling his stomach slightly unsettled. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and looked up at Garek.
"I have to ask," Ludwig said, trying to sound casual. "Do you know me? Or do I look familiar in any way to you?"
Garek looked at him, surprised by the question. "No, we don't know who he was. We just found you by the riverbank, unconscious and alone."
Ludwig nodded, feeling a twinge of disappointment. He had hoped that Garek might know something about the body he was in, but it seemed like he was in the dark about it as much as Ludwig was.
As the night wore on, Ludwig grew more and more restless. He could not shake the feeling of being trapped in this unfamiliar body, in this unfamiliar place.
Ludwig couldn't shake off the memories that kept creeping into his mind. The betrayal of the five houses, his trusted advisors, and even his closest friends weighed heavily on his heart. How could he have been so blind to their treachery? How could he have trusted them so blindly, only to be backstabbed and left for dead?
His mind wandered to the last few moments before his death, the pain of the fatal blow still fresh in his memory. The blood-red jewel that Adalyn had, if he remembers it right, was a gift for their one year wedding anniversary. From whom, he does not recall. Did she know that the shadow guard used it to track them? Did she knowingly lead them to him, to his death?
Ludwig's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. He looked up to see Garek standing in front of him, another bowl of this dreadful soup in his hand. Ludwig couldn't help but notice how the man seemed to move with such ease, as if he didn't have a care in the world. It was a stark contrast to Ludwig's current situation.