there were things about his homeland and life before aladonia graham wasn’t too particularly keen on sharing. even though he trusted lukaz, it was better the mage didn’t know. “i wish i could tell you more. but like i said, most of my years prior to migrating to this country is a blur.” he took a long sip of his tea, listening to lukaz’s own time in eddis and the responsibilities as a senior warden. “i’m sure the country appreciates all your hard work. and your pretty face as well.”
perhaps that was where they differed. graham hadn’t a single clue about the arcane, but he was a man of faith. the young blond prayed to a foreign goddess. in secret of course, as he feared worshiping a deity outside the main pantheon in aladonia would cause people to label him as a heretic. even with lukaz, he wasn’t ready to share such personal information just yet. but despite all his religious ideologies, he was unable to piece together exactly what lukaz tried to explain to him regarding reincarnation. souls moved on after death. at least, graham believed such.
nevertheless, graham allowed the mage to continue speaking. he simply sat there, trying to take everything in. so all this time… lukaz has been mistaking him for somebody else?
graham opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. he needed a moment to think of a proper response. instead, all he managed to utter were a few questions. “do you really expect me to believe i’m not who i am?” he asked, scoffing. as quickly as his hand was placed on lukaz’s leg, the gentleman in waiting quickly withdrew. “in conclusion, you only took a liking to me solely because of this baseless theory?”
Lukaz expected the revelation to stun Graham a bit. He’d have been foolish to not mentally prepare for such a reaction. But he wouldn’t have mentioned his theory if he did not sincerely believe it. Lukaz had a reputation in Eddis; people saw him as a trustworthy, if perhaps slightly eccentric, warden who would not violate anybody’s trust. He probably would not have even aired this out to Graham if he’d also been a native Eddisian.
He sighs, struggling to explain himself. “I do not believe you are lying about your identity, no,” the warden clarifies. “Reincarnation is not as simple as a soul being born into a new body... oftentimes, as the theory goes, the soul is linked to a similarly-minded one when it’s born. The successor’s life is their own, but— entwined with the predecessor. Perhaps it’s my inherent mastery of the arcane, or whatever else allows me to recognize Lenor in yourself, but...”
“I truly believe Lenor is within you, Graham. All of his best attributes, you share with him, saying nothing of your own likeness resembling his so much... you’ve got to believe me. Theres— I know of a ritual that will allow you to perceive my intense emotion for Lenor. One that will possibly unlock Lenor’s memories that are latent within you—”
The most he spoke, the more he realized how crazy he sounded.
He gestures wildly, as though to wipe the slate clean. “Forget it. This was clearly an immense mistake, bringing you here to discuss this. I understand if you’re so repulsed by me now that you wish to sever all communication between us—”
