"It almost feels like it was just yesterday that I found a little child in this vast forest. Look at you now—all grown up, haha~~," the soul said with a warm chuckle.
"You know, Dad, I'm still just 13 years old. And, by the way, you say this exact line every year. I can even predict the precise minute you'll say it. How about trying something new for a change?" Azure replied, feigning boredom as he scribbled notes in his notebook.
"Just seven or eight more years, and you'll probably have a child calling you Dad! And—just to clarify—I said 'probably' because it might be a daughter too, not because the timeline will change," the soul quipped with a mischievous grin.
"..."
Azure fell silent. At least this time, his father had added a new twist to his predictable annual jest.
"On second thought… there is something else," the soul murmured, his tone abruptly somber. He turned away from Azure, his once-cheerful demeanor fading like a retreating sunset.
"What is it, Dad?" Azure asked, unease creeping into his voice as he glanced up from his notes.
"It's just… I used to be a duke, you know. And, well, no one's taken over since. Technically, the title still belongs to me," the soul said, attempting to infuse pride into his faltering tone.
"And?" Azure asked, tapping his pen against the desk as his curiosity grew.
"I want you to inherit it. There are no other successors," the soul said softly, his spectral face shadowed by sorrow as the atmosphere in the room grew heavier.
Azure hesitated, his voice cautious. "I'm sorry if this is too personal, but… why no successors? What happened?"
The soul sighed deeply, his words weighed with memories. "I had a brother. He was my only sibling, and I cherished him dearly. But he could never see past the fact that I was chosen as the heir. No matter how much I tried to support him, he resented me for it."
Azure frowned but held his tongue, sensing there was more to the story.
"One day, I was called away to resolve a territorial dispute. While I was gone, he made his move. He sought power—power far beyond his capacity to wield. And that's when he called upon the Eternal."
Azure's pen froze mid-scribble, his posture straightening. "The Eternal?"
The soul nodded, his gaze distant and wistful. "The very same Eternal who made a pact with our ancestor, the founder of the dukedom. The Eternal is no monster, Azure—at least not in the sense the tales would have you believe. It was a being of immense power, yes, but also one bound by fairness. Pragmatic, even. It made contracts that served mutual interests. Generations passed without anyone seeking its aid, and the Eternal refused to deal with those unworthy of its terms."
"So why did it respond to your brother?" Azure asked, suspicion lacing his words.
The soul's voice darkened. "Because it saw something in him—a desire, a hunger. My brother didn't approach the Eternal out of duty or necessity. He sought it out of greed. And the Eternal, ever the opportunist, struck a deal."
Azure's grip tightened on the desk. "What kind of deal?"
"The terms were standard—nothing inherently sinister. The Eternal granted him power in exchange for dominion over certain aspects of the land and a portion of his soul upon his death. These were the same terms it offered our ancestor. My brother accepted."
"And then he lost his mind?" Azure ventured.
"No," the soul replied grimly. "At first, he wielded the power with control. But it was never enough. He kept pushing the limits, twisting the contract to demand more. He sacrificed his own soul piece by piece in his insatiable quest for dominance."
Azure swallowed hard. "And the Eternal allowed it?"
"The Eternal warned him once," the soul said, his tone grave. "But my brother ignored it. His ambition consumed him, and he became a hollow shell—a vessel of his own desires. He didn't last long. His greed destroyed him, and the dukedom was left in ruins."
Azure leaned forward, his voice sharper now. "So, did you try to reclaim the title?"
"I couldn't," the soul admitted with a weary sigh. "I was poisoned—whether by my brother or a rival noble, I'll never know. I died before I could set things right. And now… here we are."
Azure tilted his head, incredulous. "Let me get this straight. You want me—a random kid you found, while wandering in the woods—to take over a dukedom? A dukedom tied to an Eternal? Don't you think that's a little… ambitious?"
The soul chuckled lightly, though there was a sadness behind the sound. "You're not a 'random kid,' Azure. You may not share my blood, but you've grown up in this forest, learning its ways and its people. You're clever, resourceful, and far more capable than you realize. Besides, who else is there? I'm dead, and the bloodline is gone. The Eternal doesn't care about lineage—it values potential."
Azure leaned back, running a hand through his hair. "That's… flattering, but also deeply suspicious. Are you saying the Eternal would just accept me as the new duke? No questions asked?"
"Not exactly," the soul admitted. "The Eternal doesn't choose lightly. It will test you—determine if you're worthy of the title. But it won't reject you simply because you lack noble blood."
Azure frowned. "And if I fail this so-called test?"
The soul hesitated before replying, his voice quieter. "If you fail, the contract remains unfulfilled, the land continues to decay, and the people will suffer. The region will collapse entirely."
"Great," Azure muttered, drumming his fingers on the desk. "No pressure at all."
He glanced at the map on the table, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "But why me? I've never seen the Forgotten Region, let alone ruled anything. Why not find someone more qualified?"
The soul's gaze softened. "Because qualifications alone don't make a leader, Azure. Heart does. You've spent your life devouring every scrap of knowledge—history, diplomacy, nobility. You may not have formal training, but you understand the weight of responsibility, even if you don't see it yet."
Azure sighed, rubbing his neck. "Alright, fine. Let's say I go along with this. What exactly am I supposed to do? March into some ruined castle and announce myself as duke?"
The soul chuckled, a glimmer of pride in his voice. "Not quite. The first step is summoning the Eternal. Establish your contract with it. Only then can you begin rebuilding."
Azure's expression turned pensive. "The Eternal… It's not a demon, but it's not exactly benevolent either. It grants power, sure, but always with strings attached. Are you certain this is the best option?"
"It's the only option," his father replied solemnly. "The Eternal seeks balance, not destruction. If you approach it with clarity and respect, it will listen. But be cautious. The terms are binding, and the consequences of breaking them..."
"Are probably worse than death. Got it," Azure finished dryly. He straightened his posture, determination hardening his features despite the doubts flickering in his mind. "Fine. If this is what it takes to save the region, I'll do it. But let's get one thing straight—I'm doing this for the people, not for some title or legacy."
The soul smiled faintly. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you."
The soul gave a soft, satisfied nod. "Then it's decided. Rest for now, Azure. Tomorrow, we begin."
Azure leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply. "Alright, Dad. But you better not say that same cheesy line next year."
The soul chuckled, fading slightly as his presence grew quieter. "No promises."
With that, the room fell into silence, the weight of their conversation still lingering in the air. Azure closed his notebook and stared out the window, the faint rustle of the forest outside filling the space where his father's voice had been.