When I opened my eyes, I was in an unfamiliar room that was adorned with antique furnitures. Rich mahogany wood, intricate carvings, and opulent fabrics surrounded me, giving the room an air of old-world elegance.
"Young master?", I heard a women's gentle voice from my lest side.
I turned my head and saw a middle-aged woman dressed in a traditional maid's uniform. Her kind eyes were filled with concern, and she held a silver tray with a steaming teapot and a delicate cup.
"Are you feeling alright, young master?" she asked, setting the tray down on a nearby table.
I didn't know her, and I asked to her. "Who are you and where is this place?"
The maid's eyes widened slightly, and she looked even more concerned. "Young master, I am Eliza, your personal maid. This is your room in the west wing of lower castle.
My mind raced, trying to make sense of her words. Lower castle? None of this was familiar to me.
"I...I don't remember," I admitted, trying to keep the panic out of my voice.
Eliza's expression softened. "You took quite a fall earlier. Perhaps it has affected your memory. Please, rest, young master. The doctor will be here soon to check on you."
I nodded, deciding it was best to go along with her for now. "Thank you, Eliza. Could you tell me more about this place and... about me?"
She gave me a reassuring smile. "Of course, young master. You are in the castle of Duke Cedric, your father. You are his fourth son Lord Rian,and this is the dukedom of Rhyder.
I felt a wave of dizziness as I tried to process this information. A castle, a duke, a family I didn't recognize it was overwhelming. Eliza noticed my unease and gently guided me to lie back down.
"Rest, young master," she repeated softly. "The doctor will arrive shortly and perhaps he can shed some light on your condition."
I nodded again, too bewildered to argue. Eliza left the room quietly, closing the door behind her. As I lay there, I tried to recall anything about this place, this life I was supposedly a part of. But my mind was blank, a frustrating void where memories should have been.
The minutes dragged on, each one feeling like an eternity. Eventually, there was a soft knock on the door, and an elderly man with a kind face and a stethoscope around his neck entered.
"Good afternoon, young master Rian," he said, approaching my bed. "I am Dr. Harland. Eliza tells me you've had a fall and seem to be experiencing some memory loss."
I nodded, still feeling dazed. "Yes, doctor. I don't remember anything about this place or myself."
Dr. Harland's expression was thoughtful as he examined me. He asked me a series of questions, some simple, others more complex, trying to gauge the extent of my memory loss. After a thorough check-up, he sighed and sat back.
"It appears you've experienced a form of retrograde amnesia, likely due to the fall," he explained. "It's not uncommon for people to lose recent memories or, in some cases, even memories stretching back several years. The good news is that this type of amnesia is often temporary."
"Temporary?" I asked, hopeful.
"Yes," he confirmed. "With rest and familiar surroundings, many patients begin to regain their memories. It may take some time, but there's a strong chance you'll recover fully."
I felt a mixture of relief and frustration. The prospect of regaining my memories was reassuring, but the uncertainty of when or if it would happen was daunting.
"Thank you, Dr. Harland," I said quietly.
He patted my shoulder reassuringly. "In the meantime, try not to stress too much about what you can't remember. Focus on the present, and let those around you help. You're in good hands."
After the doctor left, Eliza returned with a tray of food. The smell of warm soup filled the room, and despite everything, I realized I was starving.
"Eat, young master," Eliza said, placing the tray on a small table beside the bed. "It will help you regain your strength."
As I sipped the soup, I watched Eliza move around the room, tidying up and adjusting the curtains. Her presence was comforting, and I found myself relaxing a little.
"Eliza," I began hesitantly, "could you tell me more about my family? About my father and brothers?"
She paused, a thoughtful look on her face. "Of course, young master. Your father, Duke Cedric, is a respected and just ruler. He cares deeply for his people and his family. Your brothers—well, they are quite different from one another. The eldest, Lord Alistair, is the heir and takes his responsibilities very seriously. He's stern but fair. Lord Marcus, the second, is more carefree, often found in the stables or out hunting. And Lord Edwin, the third, is a scholar, always with his nose in a book."
I listened intently, trying to picture these people, hoping it would trigger some recognition. But nothing came.
"And me?" I asked, my voice almost a whisper. "What was I like?"
Suddenly the smile on eliza's face vanished, she faked a smile and said. "You were the kindest among your brothers Lord Rian".
I saw the hesitation in her face as she said that, I said her to give me some time alone in a soft voice.
She nodded her head and walked out of the room and closed the giant door gently.
I slowly turned my head and saw my own reflection on the window, I was now turned into a skinny boy, my current body had pale skin, it also had ocean blue eyes and jet black hair.
As I gazed at my reflection, I found it hard to reconcile this image with the person I felt inside. The boy staring back at me seemed fragile, almost delicate, with an air of melancholy about him. My mind was a whirlwind of confusion and uncertainty, but I knew I had to find out more about this life I had supposedly lived.
The room was quiet, the only sound the faint rustling of leaves outside the window. I decided to take a closer look around. The antique furniture, the rich tapestries, and the detailed carvings all spoke of a time and place that felt utterly alien to me. Yet, there was something oddly comforting about the room.
I noticed a desk in the corner of the room, cluttered with papers, books, and a few personal items. Curiosity got the better of me, and I slowly got out of bed, my legs feeling weak and unsteady. I made my way to the desk and started to sift through the items, hoping to find something that might jog my memory.
One of the first things I found was a leather-bound journal with "Rian" embossed on the cover. I opened it hesitantly, the pages filled with neat handwriting. The entries were a mixture of personal reflections, sketches, and detailed notes about various subjects. As I flipped through the pages, I hoped for a spark of recognition, but nothing came.
One entry caught my eye:
"Third month of the imperial year 560,
Today, Father praised me for my progress in my studies. It feels good to be acknowledged, even if I know I still have much to learn. Alistair smiled while looking at me, it was my first seeing him smile while looking at me. I'm happy to see my brother smiling."
As I read the entries suddenly my head started to hurt, and a flood of memories surged inside my brain.
In those memories Rian was always alone, his brothers didn't like him either because he was the of his father's second wife.
As the days progressed his brothers started to bully him more and more, it made him aggressive, he started to his anger on others mainly the servent's of his household.
His father only cared about him for to convince the public and other nobles, apart from those he didn't care about Rian at all.
The only person who cared about him was his mother, but she is also almost treated as the same as other maids.
As I watched the memories my eyes started to tear up, and I felt a surge of emotions overwhelming me. The pain of loneliness, the sting of betrayal, and the weight of unspoken words pressed down on me like a heavy burden.
I closed the journal with trembling hands, unable to bear the flood of memories any longer. Rian's life seemed like a cruel tapestry woven with threads of neglect and isolation. It was a stark contrast to the idyllic picture Eliza had painted of a loving family and a caring father.
As I were thinking about that something caught on my eye, it was an icon for a mailbox.
I rubbed my eyes but it didn't go away, then I realised that it was now infront of me as a holographic panel, it also showed a red dot on top of it implying I have an unread mail.
With a mix of curiosity and trepidation, I reached out and touched the holographic icon. Instantly, the panel expanded, revealing an unread mail titled 'Important'.
With trembling fingers, I selected the message, and it opened to reveal a detailed letter addressed to me:
"Dear LostDragon1,
If you are reading this then that means you awakened in the new world that is unfamiliar to you.
I know that you are wondering how you got in this world and who am I, then let me introduce myself I'm EmperorOfSnow your biggest fan, I was worried after seeing your mail and I wanted you to experience the things you didn't in the previous world, and this is my first gift to you.
I also gave you another gift as well, once you finish this reading this mail you can check file attached to this mail and redeem that gift.
I hope you that you would live a wonderful life this time, and most importantly Welcome Back".
My hands shook as I reread the message, the words blurring together as my mind struggled to comprehend the reality of my situation. A new world? Did EmperorOfSnow really send me to this world?
The notion that I was no longer in my original world was as absurd as it was terrifying. Yet, the holographic panel before me was undeniable proof that something extraordinary had occurred.
Taking a deep breath, I navigated to the attached file and opened it. The panel displayed a set of instructions and a simple interface with a button labeled "Redeem Gift." Hesitating for only a moment, I pressed the button.
It then revealed two cards that looked like tarot cards, they had a captivating yet spooky drawing on them.
he cards glowed faintly in the dim light of the room, their intricate designs pulsing with a mysterious energy. I picked up the first card, examining the detailed illustration. It depicted a dragon entwined with snowflakes, its eyes gleaming with an almost sentient awareness. The title below read "Heart of a Dragon"
When I touched on that card it explained it's details:
"Heart of a Dragon" let the user to be calm in serious situations while strengthening mental fortitude, providing clarity of mind, and instilling a sense of inner strength and resilience. It acts as a shield against emotional turmoil and helps the user remain focused and composed even in the face of adversity.
The second card depicted a bouquet, where the white roses were dripping blood. The title read "Bouquet of Blood."
When I touched that card, it revealed its details:
"Bouquet of Blood" purifies the user's body, removing poison and other filth that has accumulated. It also reduces the effects of any poisons that may enter the user's body in the future.
With the descriptions of each card clear in my mind, I carefully considered which one to activate. Both offered valuable benefits, but I knew I could only choose one to activate now.
After a moment of deliberation, I decided to activate the card that might be most beneficial to for the time being.
I touched the card then all of a sudden a warm light enveloped my body, and the tingling sensation was became more and more comfortable as the Seconds passing.