The Sunlight came through the cracks of the shattered roof casting an ethereal glow over the devasted room. Voiknwen no... Vesh, as he had decided to call himself now in remembrance of the boy sat on a wobbly wooden chair, his gaze distant yet piercing. The boy whose body he now inhabited had left behind more than a fragile frame some of his memories, emotions and a lingering sense of duty weighed heavily on Vesh's mind.
Through the fractured lens of the boy's memories, Vesh pieced together his life. Vesh had been a beggar, a nameless face on the streets until heaven blessed him. The Quasti family was a noble household which was on the path to ruin. So, it had taken him in as a laborer. Over time, his diligence and unwavering loyalty elevated him to the position of a servant. In return, the boy held deep gratitude for the family even harboring a quiet affection for their eldest daughter, which was a feeling as innocent as it was unspoken.
Standing, Vesh felt the unfamiliar weight of mortality. The walk to the wardrobe, which now was a half-broken chest of drawers felt slow. His walking manner had changed, each step purposeful yet strange. The natural confidence of a Voidwalker seemed out of place in this human form but he carried it nonetheless. Pulling out a set of tattered yet clean clothes, he changed into them and discarding the torn garments that clung to him like remnants of a past life.
"These will do." he muttered to himself, his voice a mixture of the boy's youthful tone and Voiknwen's commanding timbre. His reflection in a cracked mirror startled him for a moment. The eyes though still youthful held a depth now, a stark contrast to the boy's shy demeanor.
With his decision made about his cloths, Vesh now resolved to stay with the Quasti family at least for the time being. The memories of the boy had left a mark and there was no sense in abandoning a place where he could observe, learn and regain his strength. He needed to adapt to this world anyway and the turmoil surrounding the Quasti household presented an opportunity.
The Quasti family estate was a complex architecture, though its grandeur had long since faded. Vesh approached silently from the servant's back gate, a narrow path hidden from the prying eyes of the nobility. The area was alive with subdued activity. Servants moved with hurried steps, their faces pale with fear and exhaustion. Whispers of an impending attack from the neighboring kingdom hung heavy in the air.
As he passed through the servant's quarters, a familiar voice called out. "Vesh! How did that happen to you? How many scars are needed for you to stop going to the frontlines to help?"
Turning around, Vesh saw an elderly woman with her weathered face etched with concern. She was one of the oldest servants in this household and a maternal figure to all the servants. Her frail hands rested on her hips, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the wounds still visible on his arms.
Vesh's response came naturally though the words carried the weight of both the boy and the Voidwalker. "I should repay what I owe here before everything else." he said with his tone steady but distant. It was a sentiment the boy had truly believed in and Vesh saw no reason to deny it.
The woman sighed her expression softening. "Many of us here are planning to leave. The neighboring kingdom's forces are growing stronger at the moment and reinforcements haven't arrived yet. Mark my words child, this place may not stand much longer."
Vesh offered her a respectful bow, the gesture almost instinctive. "Thank you." he said simply before continuing toward the main estate.
The butler, a stoic man with a sharp gaze greeted Vesh with a nod as he approached. Vesh wasted no time. "I wish to leave the household after this war." he said with his voice firm.
The butler raised an eyebrow. "That decision is not mine to grant. You'd have to speak to the patriarch himself. But know this, the family is currently divided. Many including myself plan to retreat to the neighboring state if the attack worsens. Only the patriarch and a few loyal elders will remain to face the onslaught. If you wish to leave after the war, your best chance is to ask him directly."
Vesh nodded. "Thank you."
He turned around to leave there after talking with the butler, his eyes suddenly met a familiar figure. She was elegant, her presence radiating despite the chaos happening around her. The Quasti family's eldest daughter stood near the entrance speaking in hushed tones with another noble. Vesh instinctively bowed his head as he passed her but not before she glanced his way.
Her gaze lingered her brows knitting together in mild confusion. Something about him seemed different today though she couldn't quite place it. The old Vesh had always been a shy one avoiding eye contact and dashing away like a frightened mouse. But now though his eyes met her, his stride was steady, his posture was upright. He carried himself with quiet a bit of confidence that seemed entirely out of place from his usual demeanor.
The journey to the frontlines was both sobering and surreal. The battlefield had stretched far out before his eyes, it was a grim testament to the cruelty of war, which he had seen many times. The smoke rose from the battleground and the air was thick with the scent of blood. The soldiers moved forward with their weary determination and their faces hardened by the endless fighting, which was ongoing.
Vesh's steps were measured, his presence was almost ghostly as he wove through the chaos. Despite the boy's memories and the injuries that still plagued his body, the Voidwalker's essence shone through. He moved forward determined with his mind focused on his next goal. That is the meeting with the Quasti family's patriarch.
As he approached the command tent, a soldier stopped him saying, "Servants aren't allowed here." the man had his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
Vesh's gaze met the soldier's for a brief moment. The man hesitated to take his sword out in front of a kid. Vesh broke the silence with "I'm here to speak with the patriarch.".
The soldier stepped aside and went inside to tell the patriarch after he told him to go inside and Vesh passed. Inside the tent, the patriarch stood hunched over a map, his expression grim. Vesh took a deep breath. This meeting would determine his next move and he would need to speak carefully.
To Vesh, this was more than a battlefield. It was a ground, a stage upon which he would begin to reclaim his strength from other's blood and reshape his destiny. The Voidwalker had been humbled from the strippement of his former power but he was far from lost. This world with all its conflict and potential was ripe for the taking of his and Vesh likes all the challenges which are ahead that would rise and will face that with excitement.
The patriarch looked up from the map his sharp eyes fixated on Vesh with a mix of curiosity and surprise seeing him here. "What have led you here, brat?" he asked with his voice cold from years of commanding.
Vesh bowed slightly as a gesture of respect. "I seek permission for me to leave the household after the war, Patriarch." he stated with his voice steady and deliberate.
The patriarch raised his eyebrows leaning himself back on his chair. "Why would you want to leave suddenly? Haven't we provided more than enough for you?"
"Yes, you have helped me from when I was a beggar to now and I am deeply grateful for that but..." Vesh replied. "I believe my path definitely lies elsewhere. So, For that I wish to explore more of this world and grow stronger after seeing how weak I am in the war and also perhaps to find ways to aid this family through the things I learn if they need it in the future."
The patriarch listened to him but his facial expression was unreadable even for Vesh. Finally, he nodded. "For speaking with conviction brat I respect you for that, if you really could really survive this war and proved your worth. I will grant your request but know this the world outside these walls is unforgiving unlike me. You will need strength to convince those others and that strength comes only through hardship."
Vesh nodded. "I understand. Thank you very much, Patriarch."
He turned to leave then the patriarch called out. "One more thing. If you are to leave, you must first fulfill more than just your duties here. The entire family's survival depends on us here and I expect you to do atleast that much for now."
Vesh left the tent sighing "He seems like a nice guy". The battlefield stretched out before him, a chaotic ground full of conflict and survival. He knew that his journey was only the beginning and that the road ahead would be fraught with challenges.