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Chapter Text

It’s strange. He wakes up, horror overwhelming him, making him gasp for air. But the strange part about it is that he woke up at all. Because he remembers dying so clearly.

Where is he now, what happened? It’s dark around him but he can recognise a moon in the sky and some shapes around him. He’s in the woods. How did he get here? And why is there a dead body next to him?

Bern stands up. The very next second he’s on the ground again. What’s wrong with him? Why is he feeling so… washed up? It’s almost as if he doesn’t have any strength in him and can die if he gets struck by a gust of wind.

But even that problem becomes secondary once he notices what he’s wearing. Those definitely aren’t his clothes. Is there a puddle or something nearby? He looks around in distress. How will he know if his worst fears are true if there isn’t a puddle or a mirror?

In the end he doesn’t find one, but there are things he knows even without it. This body isn’t his. It’s someone else's and it’s weak beyond any reason. And that someone is of high ranking if Bern were to decide from the clothes he’s wearing.

That’s bad. The worst. This means that he was probably brought here to die but as his soul occupied the body, he’s still alive. Means that he can’t go around like this if he wants to live. They’ll hunt him down once again.

The body next to him is in rags and clearly malnourished. That’s most likely what killed him. But Bern gets an idea from that. And it’s not like that guy is going to miss his clothes. He’s dead already. It’s a gift to bury him in this gold and silk which he could never have while he was still breathing and moving. Now that it's done, he just needs to find a pharmacy from somewhere and change his outlook.

Franz is the first one to notice that Calian is missing. Mainly because he doesn't need to remark even once how his eyes disgust him. And he gets disturbed by it. He goes to see what his dear brother is up to but discovers his door broken and room trashed. What has happened? Where is Calian? He searches for signs of him and there aren't any. What happened to him? Does the king know about this?

Turns out he doesn't and that makes him furious. He orders the guards to search the palace but it becomes quite quickly evident that Calian isn't there. That's when the panic ensues. The king orders Franz to lead the search party and although Franz isn't rejoicing about it, he's willing to do it. He wants to see where that idiot has ended up.

And when he does, he wants to unsee it. The dogs find a body. It's wearing Calian's clothes. But it didn't die because of wounds. This means that Calian was killed and stripped of his clothing. And then the killer died. Before they could do anything with them to find out who ordered the attack.

"Search for a body!" He orders voice trembling and when they leave, he stabs the body over and over again.

How dare this peasant take his brother away?!

Although he didn’t exactly like him too much, he can't stand the thought that Calian is dead. If he can see the body, then maybe...

They don't have it. The body is missing. He comes home like a wet dog. It's pouring rain, the trail got washed off. They were lucky enough to find a way back but he doesn't think of that as a win.

"Leave me alone!" He screams to everyone who tries to come to his assistance and threatens them with a knife. He doesn't want their help. Calian's body is still missing and he just wasn't enough. So he isn't going to let them make that feeling of helplessness even worse.

When he finds a town, he also sees how he looks for the first time. He has black hair and red eyes. What is this child's name? He doesn't remember ever meeting anyone like this. Well, he'll find it out later. Right now, the disguise. Red eyes are going to stand out like hell.

He finds a pharmacy that doesn't ask too many questions and is led by a kind soul. That's where he finds his help. Now he has brown hair and his eyes aren't so bright red anymore. But when he walks around later, he finds people crying and it looks like they're mourning someone. Who was important enough for the whole nation to mourn?

He understands once he sees the pictures being hung around. It's him. This body he has occupied.

The posters say his name is Calian and that he was the son of the emperor. That's surprising. Bern remembers that he died yet never saw a picture of him in the past. But now he's him. Calian. That ain't too bad for a name. He almost likes it just like he pities the poor soul who this body originally sheltered. Now he's gone. Murdered. But Bern hopes he's in a better place now. This here isn't too great. He's so impossibly weak that even a little exercise makes him feel like he's dying. The war must be stopped but how will he do it if he's like this? Well, the best option would be to get a job in the palace so he could stay close.

The problem with that is that there is only one job that's constantly vacant there. At least it has been so after he supposedly died. One of the other princes, Franz, hasn't been in a good shape since then. The servants change faster than the mind of a cat. He has become even more of an asshole than he was before. And no one is willing to work for him anymore. Which is good news for Bern. He's going to take this chance.

This one's strange. Franz stares at the young boy who just became his servant. Doesn't he know the rumours? Everyone near him ends up bad. He chases them away, even wounds him if he really hates them. Some have died though that was mother's doing. Not that he's keeping a score or something but it's been a while since there last was someone willing to serve him. And this one doesn't look desperate enough to be only moved by money. He's rather cheerful. Is he a spy? Is he an assassin? He's really strange nevertheless. But Franz has a feeling he'll let this one stay a few weeks. He has red eyes which remind him of Calian although they aren't as bright as his brother's. Franz smiles at him, which is rarer than diamonds. Although that smile is painted with anger.

"What's your name?"

"Bern."

It's an unusual name. Almost foreign sounding but Franz doesn't pay it much attention.

"Bern. Leave." He orders right away because even though he was merciful enough to not hurt him, it doesn't mean he wants him near.

"Can't. I need to be here."

"Why? Here to kill me?"

"Never. I must be here. I have a reason."

"I have one too. I can't stand you. Stay away!"

Franz throws a bottle at him which Bern avoids.

"I won't. I'll stay here and serve you until I die."

He's strange. Franz wants him gone, his eyes make him feel terrible. He doesn't want to be reminded. But it doesn't look like Bern will go away. Maybe it's for the best to let him stay for a while. After that, Franz can always act bad enough to chase him away. And really, no one will last those few weeks with him if he keeps on acting like he does at the moment.

As long as he doesn’t make attempts on his life, he can stay even if he's an enemy. Franz is just in such a mood for this type of crazy acts that may cost him his life.

And yet, he's still alive two weeks later and during that time, Bern has started to look better too. Before that, he was so thin and fragile that Franz doubted if he would survive the tasks at all. Now, he's a bit better although Franz can't understand how he could’ve reached such a condition. It's much like Calian's who was being poisoned. Did someone already try to get rid of him although he's just a worthless peasant with red eyes? What if someone claimed that he's the spawn of the devil and that's the reason why he's insisting that he must stay? Because he'll die if he goes back. No. In that case it's better if he's here.

Although Franz planned to get rid of him, he's starting to doubt that decision. Bern is actually quite good but his similarity to Calian is still a problem. Franz can't stand looking at him. He only gets reminded of the tragedy caused by neglect. Both his and his father's.

How could he have been so blind to what his mother was doing? He tries to forget by drinking. His father doesn't even try to stop him anymore. His mother doesn't care unless he causes a scandal, but that doesn't happen a lot, because he hasn't gone out in a long time. And even if something happens his mother sweeps it under the rug. Franz simply feels helpless and Bern's eyes keep reminding him of his mother's power over everyone in the country. He can't help but get angry every other day. At least Bern's good at dodging stuff thrown at him.

Until he doesn't dodge a knife aimed at Franz. He gets hit and although it saves Franz's life and costs the attacker his, Bern is still wounded. Franz rushes him back to his room. He doesn't like Bern but he owes him his life and can't just watch how his life spills out of him. He's just about to call for a doctor when Bern stops him.

"Don't. Not necessary. I'll live. And the healer would only kill me."

And although it looks bad, Franz believes him as unbelievably, his wounds are already closing up. There's some kind of outer force definitely involved in this. Does he have a blessing? Did father fool around in his younger days? Would explain his similarity to Calian and the blessing. 

"Who are you? Not your name but where you come from and who are your relatives. How aren't you dead from such a wound?"

Bern wheezes from pain and tries to explain. His sentences are a mess.

"Orphan. My parents... haven't met them. Don't remember... much."

Is he really related to father? Franz hopes not but fears that he is. Did father order his family dead? Or was it mother? Either way there's someone with a blessing. He isn't alone with that idiot in the garden.

"Why can't I call a healer?"

"I'm a… mage …would kill me."

"Why did you come here and why do you have the blessing?"

Franz demands answers.

"Had to… a… job. This… available."

After that, he passes out.  Franz gets so frustrated. He didn't get any answers he could actually use and now he has to wait Bern to regain consciousness.

It’s hard to open his eyes. They're painful. It's been a while since he last almost died so it's an unfamiliar feeling. Just like the soft blankets around him. This isn't his room. Where did that fool drag him? He finally manages to take a look around and freezes. It's Franz's room and his bed. Why is he here? Does Franz know about this?

He knows as Bern sees him sitting right next to the bed, looking all grim and dangerous. Bern wouldn't want to meet him in a dark alley. He had madness in his eyes.

"Why do you have the blessing?" Franz starts with questions right away once again.

"Don't know."

Technically it isn't lying. He doesn't know why he occupied this body.

"Why did you have to get a job?"

He's awfully curious, isn't he. Bern has to make up a believable lie although he has no idea what that would sound like.

"The village wished me gone. I was going to die if I stayed there any longer."

"Were you aware that they were poisoning you?"

"No! What are you talking about?!"

He can't believe his ears. Calian was being poisoned? In this castle? How had he managed to survive that long?

But that isn't important at the moment because Bern notices something.

The look in Franz's eyes changes.

He had no idea why he was dying. Yet he lived. Hadn't it been for the blessing, he would be dead. Franz can't get over that thought.

"Stay with me," he orders Bern, who looks at him with confusion. He doesn't understand what's going through Franz's head.

"I won't let you die," he promises and Bern sighs and lets his head fall back into the pillows. He must be still tired from healing that wound up. He closes eyes once again. Franz is a bit bothered by it as it gives him an overwhelming feeling of Bern being on the death door once again. He has to get out of this room if he wants to feel better so he does it.

Usually, the halls would be empty. Today, they aren't. Someone made an attempt on the prince's life, of course everyone's going to be shaken by that. But he fears this isn't all there is to that. Mother must've already heard about him taking a wounded servant to his chambers. He won't hear the end of that. She will continue to scold him about how stupid he was, ruining beautiful things with blood. Not that he cares. He could’ve done that by himself too. Wounded servant wasn't exactly necessary.

Although Franz can't say he doesn't like the fact that he knows Bern has a blessing. He's fascinated by it.

Fascinated so hard that when Bern has recovered, he drags a blade across his skin just to see it heal up. Bern is bothered by it but doesn't stop him. Not after the first time. Maybe he senses the danger and maybe he knows it's what's keeping Franz going. On the days when he focuses on admiring Bern's blessing, he doesn't drink. And when he does, he asks Bern to sober him up. His servant is a mage after all.

"Don't ever go away. I'll chase you to the end of the world if you do. You're my only hope in this place."

"I won't."

Bern is quick to promise and Franz meant every word he said. 

He needs Bern for his plans. He needs him recognised as a son of the king. He needs him on the throne. That's why Bern's blessing, a proof of his royal lineage, is so fascinating for him. He'll get out of this cursed place thanks to him. But first he has to make sure mother won't kill another one of his brothers. Otherwise everything he has done so far would be meaningless. He doesn't want to keep losing people to whom he can almost say he cares about them.

It’s been almost half a year since Calian died. A servant screams and stumbles down the stairs breaking a leg. He claims to have seen the dead prince. There are others too who claim that, yet, no matter how much Franz searches, he never gets a sight of the infamous ghost. Lemaine is growing worried. All his sons are going down the wrong paths. Franz will go insane at this rate. He should stop. Yet, when Lemaine orders him to, he has the audacity to laugh in his face.

"I'll stop searching for him when I'm dead. At least the body. When we have a body to bury, then I'll leave it."

And he continues to run after that ghost, trying to catch him, trying to learn where the corpse is.

Lemaine sighs. This isn't how he wanted it to go. Calian should've lived.

Franz has lost it. Since he found out that Bern has a blessing, he's been a madman. Although Bern lets him do all the things he wants to do, he's also worried. Franz should get himself together. He mumbles about Calian and his own mother, how very much he hates her and stuff like that, but when he isn't cutting him up to feel secure that he has a blessing, Franz is acting unbearably sweet. So sweet that there are rumours going around that he has fallen in love with his male servant. Bern wouldn't believe those.

Unfortunately Silike doesn't seem to do so. She called for him through the mouth of another servant and he followed. Partly out of curiosity, partly because he couldn't refuse the queen.

"Have you forgotten who you are?" she asks right away when he steps in and threatens to hit him with a fan. He doesn't get intimidated.

"No. Madam, I’m not interested in your son like that."

She looks almost disappointed. Almost like she was ready to beat him up for that.

"Are you really sure?" she doubts his words.

"Yes."

"But can my son say the same?"

"I can't speak for him."

"But oh, you will. Because I'll see you dead if you don't."

Well, that's a threat. Although Bern can't see it happening.

"It's only temporary. He'll get better as soon as he gets over that blame and..." He isn't sure if the next word is the right one to tell her "grief."

"He has nothing to grieve for. Tell him to toughen up. He has to be a leader. I'll leave him at your hand and I'll expect results. Don't forget that."

She marches away after that and Bern takes the liberty of leaving. That was one fast but uncomfortable conversation.

He's running his fingers through Bern's hair as usual when he notices something. The colour is different near the roots. It's black there. How come he hasn't seen it before, though it has become a habit for him to play with Bern's hair?

Calian had black hair. The fact hits him like a stone.

"Bern. What colour is your hair?"

"Brown."

Liar. Franz can see that it's not.

"No. It isn't. Why do you colour it?"

"I don't."

Bern keeps on insisting that it's natural for him to have two hair colours. That's enough. Franz has been worked up by memories already and Bern only continues to test his patience. It's no surprise that he snaps.

He drags Bern to water and he washes and washes and washed but nothing comes off. He stops once Bern's scalp looks like it's about to bleed. That's when he gives up trying to get it out.

But he can't be wrong. Bern's hair is black near the roots and it's messing him up because he would look a lot like Calian if only his hair were black.

True, their personalities are opposites of each other but... it's just...

Franz can't explain what he's feeling. He's just sure that if Bern were to look like Calian then he wouldn't mind it. Actually, he would be glad. But Bern, who is scared that he may do something again, doesn't know anything about it. He doesn't even know who he resembles so it's useless. Franz storms out of the room, sure that if he didn't Bern would only get more hurt because he couldn't hold himself back from causing him pain for being oblivious to his torments. But that's not what he wants so he runs. How much of these thoughts are his own and how many have been prepared for him by the others? He isn't sure anymore.

What came over Franz? Does he suspect something or is he going mad because Bern is sure his hair is in the right colour. He bleached it just a few days ago. The process of that is disgusting but he doesn't want to die so smelling bad for a while is a small price to pay for a life. He just hopes that Franz won't notice that smell.

But in the light of this, today's a good day to go around the castle, pretending to be a ghost.

It has been one of his entertainment since he arrived and as his ability to use magic has improved, he temporarily colours his hair the way it used to be and walks around, pretending to be dead and a ghost. It's funny to see how people react. It gives him a good overview about the castle's inhabitants' thoughts regarding the original owner of this body and truth to be told, there are some concerning results. Especially regarding the queen and Franz.

Franz is just trying to meet him. Or at least that much Bern has understood. But why meet a ghost? And the way he's trying to meet with him, looks more like he's ready to chase him down to catch him. Which is even stranger because logically, it shouldn't be possible to catch ghosts. Well, it's possible with him. But he's no real ghost anyway.

The night's quiet when he finally sneaks out. Unfortunately for him he can't have a quiet night all by himself as Franz's already waiting for the "ghost". If the pea has no interest in chasing him down, then he'll talk with him but otherwise he's ready to expose his magic just to get away.

Franz surprises him with crying. Tears start to fall from his eyes before anything else and it leaves Bern perplexed. 

"Why are you crying? It's not like you have a reason to miss me. Or are you trying to gain someone's favour to use it for your own gain just like your mother? If so then you truly are her son. Coming to a dead person for a favour. Especially when they're dead because of you!"

"I'm sorry. I couldn't save you while you were still alive. Please tell us where your body is. I want to give you a proper burial."

He sounds really apologetic. Bern would like to give his mind a rest from these thoughts about him, but he can't. He can't reveal that he's still alive. There are still too many things he doesn't know or understand.

"I can't. I have no idea where it is."

"How are you here if you don't know where it is?"

"Who knows?" Bern gives him a bitter smile full of regret and looks out from the window as if he's longing to go there. If he were a real ghost, it would probably be like this. "I just woke up here. This is everything that's remaining of me. Just fragments. And it’s not even the place I love but it's the only one I know." His face twists in embitterment "I want to get out of this place. Get reincarnated, live a life that isn't full of suffering and neglect. I want to live for once. I want to be happy."

"But you can't. Because you have no idea what's keeping you here. Isn't it so?"

Bern makes a face, like he's surprised to see Franz understand.

"Yes."

"I'll help you. But until then... Will you please talk to me?  I want to see you for a while longer but it'll be hard if you keep running from me."

"Talk to you? Despite everything you said to me?"

Bern is angry. He knows Calian's memories. Lived through every one of them. One could say he has become a mix of him and who he used to be and now he has a feeling that he's been possessed by the original owner. He has had that for a while now. From the moment he first started to play a ghost. He's taking the role of Calian, acting as if he's him. It isn't really surprising that he's now truly feeling like it was him who went through it all. And it’s not that he wants revenge, not at all. He just wishes for something better. Just like he said before. That's what Calian would've liked to see. But Bern still can't help but feel wronged.

"I suffered because you all just didn't care. I hated what was a part of me just because you said I should. And I don't want to do that again. Why must you torment me even after I'm dead!?"

Bern bursts into tears. It's not him talking, yet, Franz is listening. He's concerned and reaches out his hand only to pull it back, his whole body stinking of regret. He must've finally understood that it's too late to change anything and that he's no help like this. He couldn't possibly comfort Calian when he's a ghost. And he doesn't have anything else to say.

"Just leave me alone for now. I'm going to find my own way out."

Bern leaves, walking through a wall like a real ghost. It takes up quite a lot of his mana, but it'll come back and he just couldn't stand there anymore. Now, Franz will only hear an echo of the cries from Calian. After calming down a little, Bern curls into a small ball. This child suffered so much and he can't say he had any better. He just couldn't hold back there. Franz didn't deserve all those words. No, not everything was his fault, but once the dam broke, there was no stopping the words anymore. Bern would like to apologise. Probably later. He can't go back right away while looking like this. Ghosts are definitely real but none of them are acting like him. He shouldn't at least show his swollen eyes to Franz. Then he wouldn't get suspicious.

He finally managed to meet with Calian. It didn't go like he wanted. He asked about the corpse, but then discovered that even Calian's ghost doesn't have an idea where it is. And after that... things went a bit south. He always knew that Calian had it hard but not that it affected him so. Most likely, the ghost won't talk to him again but Calian looked so sad. Franz truly felt bad and wanted to help him. Now, he's taken over by another feeling. If he finds out what's keeping Calian in this place, then he can prevent that he ever leaves. Because he doesn't want it.

He's selfish, ignoring everything Calian said about wanting to have another chance and to be happier but Franz is still alive and he thinks for himself. Although he has Bern now, it isn't nearly enough. He needs Calian too. Although there's only a fragment of him left there. It's still his soul. It's still him. Although death has changed him too.

So for now there are three goals. To find out why Calian was taken away and killed and where the body is now. The third goal is to find out why he still haunts the castle to secure the reason. With those goals on his mind, Franz dries what's left of his tears and goes back to his room. Next thing tomorrow, he's going to talk to mother. She must confess her sins. She must pay for them. After all, she's at fault and getting rid of her would also ensure that no one needs to get hurt like Calian again. Not even Bern once she finds out he's a candidate for the throne.

Once again, the look in Franz's eyes has changed. He looks even colder than before but Bern discovers that his heart has at least seemingly warmed up a bit. He clearly wants to hurt him again because it has become a part of his twisted temper but he's trying his best not to. Bern can see him give his all. He's almost ignoring him because of this. Bern can't say it's too bad but it makes him feel lonely in this castle. No one wants to talk to him or have anything to do with him because they fear who he works for. They fear he would use the connection to ruin their lives. Which he wouldn't because no one deserves to be hit with such rage and it's not like Franz even cares about him that much so he would just blindly run at someone just because he said so.

That's the true nature of his life at the moment. No one cares too much when he's presenting as Bern. Must be the lineage. Calian was much more important to a lot of people although there was no way they could help him. Because they were the peasants and he was one the candidates that could’ve one day ruled them all. Except something happened and he was supposed to die.

His body's still breathing and living but it isn't him in there anymore. And Bern isn't too sure who he is anymore. A servant, a ghost of a prince or someone who's dead and delusional, thinking that he's someone who he's not.

All that leaves him alone when Franz isn't around. He hates these moments of silence but what can he do? It's not the right moment to reveal that he's Calian. Or is he? Probably should leave that question for later. As Franz is avoiding him at the moment, it's the right time to just go and search for what was left in the past. Like who killed Calian? He would’ve searched it up a long time ago if it weren't for one tiny problem.

He didn't know where to start. The dead guy was nameless. No one knew him. That's what knights confirmed later when he was already in the castle. He came here to find the clues from the first source but regrettably, they don't allow anyone into Calian's rooms anymore. Those are preserved as they were. Not that it has stopped him but... he's sure that someone in the castle is involved. He just needs to figure out who.

Mother is sipping tea and her face doesn't betray her feelings. Franz would like to get a reaction out of her but she knows he came here to condemn her so she's not speaking. In fact, she's acting like he isn't there at all. That’s much like her, but today’s not that day where Franz’s just going to sit and take it although her being quiet means that at least she’s not bothering him with her big ambitions and plans.

“I wasn’t planning on coming here, mother, but I figured I should give you one last chance to do what’s right. After all, we’re related and I’m your flesh and blood.”

From his mouth, it sounds exactly like a curse. Queen can definitely hear how much he detests that fact and yet, she isn’t doing anything. Although she’s angry because her teacup is shaking and Franz notices cracks forming.

“I’ve found someone with a blessing. I’m going to make him sit on the throne. You’ll never get it.”

The teacup shatters.

“You can’t stop me,” she growls at him and now she doesn’t even try to hide her hostility towards him.

“But mother, I know what you did with Calian. So confess the truth, pay the price and maybe, just maybe, you’ll manage to see the next spring.”

“You know nothing! Everything I’ve done I’ve done for you. You can’t discard me like this after my efforts!”

“Oh, but I can. Because it’s just an excuse. You only think about yourself and if I succeed the throne, you’ll kill me. Ain’t it so?”

She doesn’t reply but her expression is intense so Franz must’ve struck the head of the nail. He smiles because there’s nothing for him to lose in this situation while for her, everything’s at stake.

“I’ll leave a will. If you try or manage to kill me, everyone will know you did it. And even if you try to find out who it is who I’ve found, you won’t manage to do it. He’s in a safe place, out of your reach. So confess your sins so your soul will at least have a slight chance at redemption although your hands are already bloodied.”

If she didn't do so before, now she’s definitely looking at him as if he’s the enemy and who she needs to kill. She hates someone else being in power and controlling her. And she definitely wasn’t expecting her own son to find a way to seize it from her. There isn’t a move she can make without consequences.

Yet, there isn’t despair in her eyes. She’s definitely planning something. Franz doesn’t hear about it as she stands up and gives him a final cold glance and walks out, her dress still dripping from tea. Even in that state, she still has that atmosphere of power around her.

It’s making Franz worried. He planned it for so long, what was it that he overlooked?

Chapter Text

Franz must've done something. Otherwise she wouldn't bother to come to him. Bern is trying to remain calm but the way she acts, looks like someone pushed into a corner, so he wishes to be cautious. What if she's planning something? She has this look in her eyes. Desperation hidden behind her pride.

Bern can see it but he's not sure others can. He has been observing people for a while. Especially since he arrived here.

"Tell me about every single person my son has met since you've arrived here," she demands and sits down, waiting for him to follow her orders. She acts like she owns the room and everything in it.

Bern lists the names but there aren't many. Franz has been avoiding people altogether if they weren't related to the investigation or something he absolutely had to do.

She isn't satisfied with his answer. Was there something wrong?

"How old are they and what do they look like?"

He then describes everyone once again but when he finishes, she still isn't happy.

"That's not it! Did he do it while you weren't with him?"

"Her Majesty the queen, may I ask what's wrong?"

He doesn't like being this polite, but the situation requires it. If he makes her mood worse, there's no telling what'll happen.

"I'm searching for someone Franz has met. So tell me again, are those people really everyone who he's met or did you forget someone?"

"No, I'm sure I didn't forget."

She looks disappointed and angry but then she comes to an idea. Bern can see it from her face. It lightens up instantly and cruelty sneaks in. He doesn't like it at all.

"But what about you? What if you're the one?"

S he smiles, her eyes focused on him and his reactions.

"Come with me," she orders and stands up.

He stays in place.

"I have a contract with Franz and can't leave his side. I'm afraid going with you is impossible."

"Are you talking back to me?"

"Not at all. I'm just pointing out reasons why I can't follow that order. He's your son after all."

"That's arguing. And him being my son isn't going to help you once I confirm my doubts. I'll accuse you of treason if you don't come."

She steps closer and closer. She's trying to intimidate him and sad to say, it's working. He wants to get out of her company so bad. But he still needs to follow her.

He doesn't see Bern anywhere when he comes back and doesn't manage to find him.

Where did he go? Did she come here? Did she take him? Does she know? Is Bern still alive?

All these questions flow into his brain, causing an overload. He needs to catch his breath or he's going to black out. It's hard to do.

Can he go and ask father to act just because mother took his favourite servant with her and he isn't back yet?

Maybe there'll be enough reasons for father to act once he tells him about her poisoning Calian? He planned on giving mother a chance but she has left him no choice. Bern can't die.

Franz starts moving. Better to try than regret later like he found out while talking to Calian's ghost.

The queen's laughing. That can't be a good sign. Bern is feeling uncomfortable but nothing's happened yet.

She's just spinning around while laughing like she's lost her mind. Did she even have it at all or has she just been good at pretending? There's clearly something wrong with her life at the moment because that's not how she usually is.

"You."

She finally pays attention to him again and pokes him with a finger

"You're supposed to be dead."

A shot of fear runs through Bern. How does she know? Did she orchestrate it?

"I thought I paid so all the bastards would get killed. How did you survive?"

Bern holds his mouth shut. She has the wrong idea and he's not going to explain it.

"You don't have to explain. I'll just confirm that you are what I believe you to be and then we'll see what'll happen to you. It depends largely on how you act so keep it in mind."

He has an idea about what she's going to do. After all, there just happens to be a fast and sure way to confirm that someone belongs to a royal family. Of course everyone's going to use it. Moreover, she's Franz's mother so of course there will be some type of similarity. So far, he has seen plenty of signs about that. Starting from their personality to their hair. They couldn't even hope to hide the fact that they're related.

Bern has heard horror stories about the two of them from the day he started working at the castle. He even helped to create one with all his blood that has been spilled. But the horrors about the queen seem to be true. She doesn't even take anything to cut him. She simply uses her nails. So Bern can't even wriggle away as her nails only dig deeper into his skin that way and draw out the blood.

She has an unrivalled grip. Who would've guessed. It’s painful and Bern hates the fact that it’s his face she’s ruining but it’s not that much worse than what Franz used to do so he can bear it. Especially as she lets him go once she’s sure he has a wound that may heal up. And it will. Bern knows it will. There are no options regarding that, but he’s making a plan. If she decides she’s going to kill him, he’s going to run. With magic. It doesn’t matter if she gets to know at that point because then, the situation will be desperate.

Her eyes glitter the same way as Franz's did when he first witnessed the blessing healing him. At the moment, she doesn't even look angry. Instead, she puts her hand on Bern's cheek, her touch gentle like and her face sweet. Almost like a mother she isn't. Bern flinches in response to that. It isn't intentional, he just can't believe it's just an innocent action from her. Maybe he’s biassed, but it just is like this.

"Don't be afraid of me. I'll make you a king."

"What about your own son? Isn't giving it to him supposed to be your priority?"

"What about him?"

Her smile fades.

"He won't just stand still when he gains power. But you'll let me decide everything while you just act like the king, won't you?"

Now she's talking with a smile again but her words are cunning. Bern has a feeling that he'll die if he refuses. So he gulps and nods.

"God boy. Maybe I'll adopt you if you continue acting like this. Sadly, my own son is a disappointment. I worked so hard for him and now he dares to threaten me. At this rate I'm going to disown him."

Bern says nothing. He's too afraid she'll get worked up if he voices his opinion of the situation. She's having a conversation with the smartest person in the room, herself, or at least she clearly believes it to be like that. She can't even imagine she's being deceived.

"You'll be staying with me for now. I'll send Franz someone else so don't worry about him. And tell me if you need anything. If it doesn't go against my plans, you'll get everything you wish for. Oh, and before I forget, what's your name?"

"Bern."

"We should change that. It sounds too foreign, no one will support you with that."

She turns around to go and give people their orders, planning to leave Bern alone in the room but he doesn't like that. He walks along. She doesn't like that.

"You stay here. You aren't a servant anymore, don’t follow me around."

"Why? I'm not someone great. Why are you acting like this towards me? I can't become a king."

"Bern. You can and you will as this will save me from the bother of killing again. You're Lemaine's son and although a bastard, you can still claim the throne. So just act like I tell you and you'll live. Otherwise..."

She puts her nails against his neck.

"I'm suddenly tired. I'll just stay here."

He has no choice but to change his plans. She smiles and locks the door behind her.

How could Franz survive for this long with her as his mother? Bern is worried about him though Silike told him not to. What if the new servant tries to kill him? If she's the one to send the person, he'll most likely be targeted.

He sits on the sofa and starts tapping his fingers against it. He's growing more anxious with every passing minute she's away. If she's near him, he at least knows what's going on. If she isn't, he feels helpless because it's not like he can leave. What if she comes back while he's away? He'll get punished and may even die. Or she'll accuse Franz of kidnapping him and that won't be any better. It's bad. Really bad. He hopes the king won't acknowledge him and will just send him back to Franz. It was safer around him.

"No."

What? Franz can't believe his father just that. Everything he said was reasoned. There are more than enough reasons to send Silike away.

"Why not. Tell me!"

"There's no evidence. I can't just order her to leave without it."

"But she was poisoning Calian!"

"And we don't have his body. He died because of something else. There's no evidence."

"She just took my servant away."

"I'm sure she will send you another one."

"She can't do that!"

"She can."

"I want my servant back!"

"Franz!"

That's the first time in a while Franz has heard his father shout at him or anyone. He didn't even do anything wrong this time, why is he shouting?

"Stop it. You aren't a child anymore. She's the queen, you are her son. She can do what she wants and you don't have the authority to tell her otherwise."

"Didn't you care about Calian at all?"

It sounds sudden when asked like this and it definitely manages to surprise Lemaine. He shuts up although just a second ago he had opened his mouth to speak.

"Of course I cared, I just..." he finally tells Franz but before he can continue, Franz interrupts him with sarcastically marking

"Yeah, you loved him to death, didn't you? His ghost told me many things. Don't you want to hear what he said?"

Although Lemaine doesn't give him an answer, Franz continues to speak

"He wants to start again, to be happy. He felt neglected and tormented by our lack of care. But the worst part about it all is that none of us did anything. He died because of us."

"Leave!"

Lemaine looks like he's about to snap. Franz can see himself in that. He has been the same. But he didn't run from this truth.

"You're a bad father although you serve your country well. Bern, my servant has a blessing. I’m afraid Silike will kill him."

That knocks all the air out of Lemaine. Suddenly he looks as pale as a sheet.

"What? What are you talking about? What blessing?"

"You have another son. He doesn't know his parents, he doesn't know what his ability means but he's also a mage. So please save him although you couldn't do anything for Calian. I'll be a better father figure for him than you. Or at least I'll give my best to try to be that. So don't let Silike kill him."

At this point, Franz is almost begging him. It's unlike him, he hates asking father for help, but Bern must survive so he's ready to tolerate this shame.

But before Lemaine answers him anything, Silike marches in, her hair neatly done and her face victorious. She definitely feels like the tables have turned.

"Lemaine, we'll have to organise a debut. Bern, is going to be accepted as a prince."

"I have to do it just because you say so?" Lemaine isn't too friendly with her and with that, Franz can agree.

"No. Because he has a blessing and because I'm going to adopt him."

"So it's true? He has a blessing?"

"It's been confirmed. Come and see for yourself if you don't believe me."

She isn't in the mood for a big talk. Rather it looks like she's in a rush and doesn't really want to talk to either of them. Franz still looks at her like there's something foul in her place. He has no choice but to just observe what she and Lemaine will do.

Silike found out. It's bad but not the worst. She hasn't tried to kill Bern yet, and is working on a debut for him instead. She's also planning his visit to the dragon's cave as no one has any idea about how old the kid is. Franz is worried as there haven't been any news from Bern and they haven't been able to meet as the queen is keeping him near her all the time.

She sent a new servant to him, just like the king said she would. But it's not fine. This one is too scared of him for Franz to get along with him. And he can't even send him away, because the queen has threatened to replace every one of his servants with her own if he were to get rid of this miserable being. Even Calian was more tolerable when he was alive. He at least knew how to stay away.

Although father seems to have it even worse. He looks really confused and goes through old documents and letters trying to find something and when he doesn't, his confusion only worsens. Franz doesn't pity him. He still isn't acting like a father he's supposed to be. As far as Franz knows, he has only met with Bern once and that meeting wasn't very long. Franz would like to do things differently. He's not his parents, or at least he tries to be better than them. But he's not good enough to leave Calian's ghost alone.

The only moment of peace he has is when he goes out at night to act like a ghost. It's been exhausting. Bern sighs. Silike shouldn't have found out. What did Franz do to force her to move like that resulting in this mess? He can't ask as they don't meet. Silike doesn't want Franz near him and as far as Bern has understood, there's some really bad blood between them. But he's not being poisoned at the moment at least. He's sure of that. Maybe it's because he's too close to Silike and she'll be suspected if he dies or it's because she needs him, but they're not trying to kill him at the moment.

"Calian!"

God, he's here again. Bern managed to avoid him for a while but now he has found him again. He's worried about Franz but when he's playing Calian, he can't show it as he said to leave him alone.

"Don't go. I want to talk."

"I don't."

"Please. Someone may die if we don't."

What is he talking about? Bern knows he's not getting killed at the moment. But it makes him stop walking and it encourages Franz to keep talking.

"I think you may have noticed Bern. He's our newfound brother. I'm afraid he's going to die."

"I wouldn't be that worried. She needs him, he's going to live."

"But she was killing you."

"And she has killed before. I heard her confess that. Yet she can't be stopped as no one is dying at the moment."

"Evidence. Why do they want it so much?!"

Franz is really frustrated and angry at that point. Finally, he gets a plan or so it seems because the frustration disappears and gets replaced with determition.

"Fine. If they need evidence, I'm going to create it. Then they won't be able to ignore her evil deeds anymore."

"Are you planning to poison yourself?"

Bern can't believe what Franz just said. He may act stupid sometimes but he's not that stupid, is he?

Franz doesn't answer him and turns around. Bern runs next to him and walks along with him while he tries to convince him otherwise. Even if there's no evidence, he shouldn't risk his life, trying to make it. What if he dies?

"Don't do it! One ghost here is enough."

"I wouldn't mind haunting this place. Calian, I want to make them suffer from guilt. They deserve it."

"But you don't deserve to die for that."

"What other choice do I have?!" Franz shouts at him and turns to look him in the eyes "They don't listen, they don't care. They only believe what they can see so I'll show them."

"Franz, that's not it. You'll find some other way. Just wait a little. Please, think it through."

"There's nothing to think about and no time to wait. She was supposed to go weeks ago."

"Franz!"

He's stubborn like a mule. Bern wants to kick some sense into him so bad. He's definitely related to his parents as not even one of them is willing to give up when they've decided something.

"Calian, don't stop me. When I come here, you won’t be lonely either."

He has no choice anymore. He can't make Franz risk his life for someone who is still alive when he's believed to be dead. There's no need for revenge yet.

"But I won't be here when you do that."

Bern starts to cry and this makes Franz stop in perplexity.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not dead Franz."

Franz looks at him like the sky has fallen in response to that and grabs his hand. Bern lets it happen but when Franz's grip gets too strong, he uses his magic to get out. He can't get caught yet. Not now. He runs away without looking back to see what Franz's face looks like. Hopefully it's enough to keep him from using that ridiculous plan.

His hand didn't go through Calian. How? Is he really alive? Is that why they haven't found the body? But where is he then? Suddenly Franz feels rage unlike before. How dare Calian fool them like this. Why did he have to make them worry? Why act like a ghost and disappear? He was making him lose his mind.

Franz wants answers but no one but Calian can answer and most likely, he won't be back for a while. Franz can understand why he chose to reveal the secret now, but if he hoped that it'll make him rethink his decisions, he was wrong. Because now he's going to do it even more than before as Calian will definitely come to stop him once he finds out he's proceeding with the plan despite his warnings.

Lemaine still hasn't accepted it. Yes, he fooled around in the past but not really that much and Silike got rid of all the offsprings from that time. How is this one alive? Where did he come from? Lemaine tries to remember I'd he ever romanced a woman who had brown hair, but can't recall any. There weren't any nobles in the suitable age with that hair color and he definitely didn't touch peasants.

At least he believes so. It's hard to recall. It's been more than fifteen years. The boy looks to be almost the same age as Calian. He wasn't fooling around anymore at that time. Is he really his son at all?

He may have a blessing but Lemaine doubts that they're really related. He just can't explain his existence and it makes him suspicious enough. He wouldn't leave the throne to Bern, but Silike seems to be set on that. She even adopted the boy while completely abandoning her own son. Lemaine has a hunch of what she's planning but there isn’t a good way to stop her. Putting anyone else on the throne would mean a fast death for the person. She wants it for herself and the only thing that's keeping Bern alive is the fact that he can be used as a puppet. If only there was evidence, but she's too careful to leave any.

The only good news Lemaine has had in a while is Franz coming to his senses. He has started acting like normal people do once again and stopped chasing that damn ghost. But strangely, he also gave up on finding the body. Something must've happened because before he acted like he was ready to die to find it. Lemaine asks him about it between other things to make it sound casual. Like he isn't that worried.

"Nothing happened."

"Really?"

"Yes."

If he isn't saying anything, Lemaine won't continue to ask. If he isn't speaking about it, it mustn't be so serious that he needs to ask for help. Franz is strong, he'll manage by himself just fine.

Damn hair. Bern looks at himself in the mirror. Living so close to Silike brings a lot of problems with it and bleaching the hair is one of them. He can't do it anymore as he's closely observed and that's why he resorts to magic. It’s bothersome as he can't do anything else with it when he's keeping the hair colour and keeping it up constantly is draining. He wants to go back to the original goal which was to find the killer. He knows that Silike was poisoning him, but she doesn't know anything about who took him from his room and dragged him to the woods. He asked her about it when they passed by his old room and when he saw his portrait.

"Who is this?"

"Someone dead."

"How did he die?"

"He was weak. Just like my son."

"Was he ill then?"

"Not really. You can keep a secret right?"

Bern nods. They've made this agreement and if he tells on her, he'll die. Her mercy is the only thing keeping him alive.

"I poisoned him. He was in my way and useless."

She doesn’t see any threat in telling him as he already knows she's capable of such things. After all, she told him she organised killings when she found out he has a blessing.

"So he died because of that?"

"Sadly not. It was a lot more messy," Her face twists in unpleasantness from the memories and her grip tightens around her fan "someone kidnapped him from his room and dragged him to the forest and killed him. Useless things. My way would've been clean at least. They caused everything to be investigated, my plans were almost exposed because of them."

"Don't you know who it was?"

"No. No one does. I tried to find out to get my revenge. After all, it wouldn't even have been suspicious as it would've been seen as me getting revenge for a dead family member although I never considered him one."

"That's sad."

Out of all the things he has said before, that's what makes her look at him strangely.

"No. Never."

She grabs his shoulders and he flinches when her nails dig into his skin. Her eyes are locked onto his and the look in her eyes is determined.

"Don't forget. You're only my family because my own son turned out to be useless. You need to act better than him. So never feel pity towards anyone else. Your own goals are the priority. Your own life and wellbeing must be ensured. No matter what prize."

"Because you can't gain power if I don't?" Bern asks because that's the feeling he gets from her words. She isn't really worried about him.

She smiles

"You catch on quick. But don't get too smart. I like my people when they’re obedient."

"I know."

Bern knows. Better than most.

It’s his useless and annoying debut. Bern keeps an eye on Franz. After what he said in that corridor, he's been acting strange. But he gave up on his plan, didn't he? Right now, he's avoiding chatting with people by hiding his face behind a glass of wine. Still unfriendly as ever.

Bern notices his new servant near him looking anxious and suspicious. Bern himself wouldn't trust someone like that but Franz has no choice. Although he avoids talking to him too very effectively by just ignoring whatever the man is telling him. They clearly don't get along. Instead of paying attention to the nervous man next to him, Franz has set his eyes on Bern. He's looking more than he should.

Is he angry about something? Has he figured it out?

Franz chases his new servant away but he comes back and Franz grows annoyed. He looks like he's about to shout at him but before he gets to that part, he stumbles. He doesn't fall and manages to regain his standing but it makes Bern react nevertheless. He starts rushing closer to Franz but feels like he just isn't fast enough. They’re in different parts of the hall and there’s a crowd between them. Everything looks like it's moving in slow motion. He sees Franz grab his head like it's hurting and then cough out blood before falling to the floor.

Did he really do it? That idiot!

But the servant pulling out a knife isn't part of his plan. It can't be. Why kill yourself twice? Did he really plan it or is it Silike's plan? What's going on?

No one is fast enough to stop the servant so Bern makes his last desperate attempt and uses magic to send him flying.

On the good side, Franz won't get stabbed anymore. On the bad side everyone knows who he really is now. His hair is like a flame in the dark among them. He can't stay here anymore, they'll say he orchestrated it all to deceive everyone.

But Franz's life first. He searches for a healer and when he sees one coming, he knows that there's nothing he can do for him anymore so he runs. Runs for his life. No one can catch him. Now he really must live like a ghost until things calm down or get solved. But he has a feeling that it won't happen soon.

Everyone will be searching for him. He must hide away somewhere no one can find him. At least for a while. At least until the queen doesn’t want to murder him for deceiving her anymore.

Chapter Text

Franz isn't sure what happened. He took poison but not that much. He also didn't tell his servant to attack him.

Did mother order him?

He drags himself out of the bed and staggers towards the dungeons. The servant is probably there if he isn't dead yet. But why should he be when he's an important witness and a culprit. He can testify against his leader if persuaded enough.

Halfway there, he remembers what happened when he collapsed. It causes him to grab his head. How could he have been so stupid? Maybe he was really blinded by grief like his mother and father thought him to be. Bern was Calian.

What happened to him after he exposed himself? Is he in dungeons too?

Franz runs down as fast as he can, which is still slow. All his muscles ache. It must be an aftereffect of the poison. Yet he almost stumbles down from the stairs and all for nothing. Calian isn't there. Not in his real form or even as Bern. There's only the servant but he looks bad. Was he tortured already? Franz tries to talk to him but the man isn't in the condition to hold a proper conversation.

He won't get any useful information from him so Franz drags himself upstairs again and searches for father.

Instead of the man he used to know, he finds someone new. Someone who has changed and who doesn't ignore things although it necessarily doesn't make him a better person.

"Were you going to frame Bern for poisoning you? Or was it all your mother's plan? Where's Calian now and was it really him?" He asks and he seems to truly believe that those are the only questions he needs to ask.

Where did he deduct those from? It's absurd!

"No! I would never frame him. I have no idea what happened but the servant was sent by mother so I believe she had her hand in it. About Calian, I'm as shocked as you."

The last sentence isn't really true. He did know that Calian is still alive but he would’ve never imagined that he was hiding in such plain sight. He never suspected that Bern could be someone else. Calian wasn't like that when he disappeared.

"So you don't know where he's hiding?"

"No!"

Father looks disappointed. Was he hoping that Franz knew?

"We haven't managed to find him. People are doubting if it was really him. Some say it was his ghost."

"What do you believe?" Franz asks him without any hope for an answer. Father tends to ignore such questions or he gets angry because of them.

"I'm not sure. We never saw the body, but Calian would've never done things Bern did. Maybe Bern was really possessed by Calian's ghost for a moment."

Funny theory, but Franz knows better. Calian himself told him.

"There's no body."

Lemaine stares at him.

"What are you saying?"

"Calian told me. He's not dead."

"When did he do that?"

"When I met his ghost again. He told me he's not dead to keep me from doing foolish things."

"Did it stop you?"

"Not really."

Lemaine sits down. He looks like a balloon without any air left in it.

"So what now? Search for him or what? It seems to me he doesn't want to be found."

"Of course he doesn't when it means he'll get killed. What happened to Silike?"

Lemaine sighs

"Under trial. Like you said, the servant was sent by her and he confessed to having received orders from her. Most likely, she's going to be executed. Multiple reasons for that."

"And what are you going to do about Calian? He pretended to be a peasant and acted like a servant. He deceived everyone. Me and you included. He fooled the entire nation. He had a reason, but... I'm not sure all the nobles will be too happy about that."

Lemaine sighs again. Franz is sure that he’s having a headache because of his sons.

"I have no idea. Let's hear his reasons first."

Franz nods to show that he agrees with that.

"I'm going to search for him now. Tell people to spread the word about Silike's trial."

"Why though?"

"He'll feel safer if he knows she's been put away."

After Franz leaves, Lemaine pours himself a drink. Usually he doesn't drink while the sun is still up, but lately, things have been too strange and hectic for him to take it with a sober head.

He thought his son was dead. Then another one turned up only to then come out as the son who he thought to be dead when his second son was dying. Far too strange.

And in the end, it's all his wife's fault. But at least she won't kill anyone again. And Calian is still alive. Small things. At least something. He needs something good in his life even if those things are almost irrelevant.

He's been too scared to meet with anyone. He can't use either of his names to go around and everyone knows what he looks like. He's been living alone in the forest. Just like a witch but he's a warlock instead.  And he doesn't have a house. Instead he found himself a cave of some kind and he hid there by just sitting down and waiting. Almost gives him a feeling like he's hibernating.

But that wouldn't be too bad.

It would be peaceful then at least. He can live like this even when the winter arrives. He has no need to interact with other people and he doesn't really want to. He can live just fine by himself with the skills he got when he was a knight in the time forgotten. Fate has never been too kind to him.

It’s almost like nothing happened when he finally goes to a village. People are still living their lives and everything looks normal. Although there are new posters around taverns which he can't afford to stay in.

"Are these real?" He asks from some passerby and points on the poster saying that the queen was tried guilty of treason and executed.

"Under which rock have you been? Of course it's real. She died a month ago or something like that. I haven't kept the count."

The passerby gives him a quick explanation and walks on, leaving Bern confused.

When did they actually do it? He thought it's never going to happen because of all the rules and Lemaine just ignoring all the obvious signs. Can he go back there now? Will they leave him alive?

The other posters don't talk about it at all. They're about Franz's accomplishments and other small matters of the royal family. But what matters the most to him is the fact that Franz is visiting different parts of the country. What if he comes here?

Bern discovers he doesn't hate the idea. Out of all the people he got to know in the palace, he was the most reasonable one although he sometimes got stupid ideas. He's the one Bern will manage to talk to without worrying about his life. He hopes that at least. That's why decides to change his plans. He's staying in the village.

"Has anyone ever told you you look like the lost prince?"

"Yes. But I don't think so. You have to get your eyes checked "

He smiles as another villager walks away after his confusing answer. It isn't the first time this has happened. He's gotten used to it.

Living is also easier here than it was in the palace. He can't say he misses all the schemes and plans that were going around there. Everyone was twisted. He too wasn't a saint but he at least didn't plan anyone's death. And the worst he did was hiding his real identity from those who cared about the real Calian or at least learnt to express their feelings after he was gone.

"The crown prince is coming!"

He has waited for this shout more than anyone. But now that it's finally happening he's not sure he can do it. He wasn't originally supposed to be there or at least never meet them and yet they did. Can he really go there to take someone else's place?

Calian isn't here either. Franz feels his disappointment rise. He was really hopeful this time. There aren't many places left and when he was looking at the map, this looked like his most likely hiding place.

"Are you all here? There isn't anyone else in this village?"

He asks a little girl who smiles to him two of her teeth missing. She takes a look around, counts the people on her fingers and shows him four fingers.

"Four are missing."

"Who are those who aren't here?"

She counts them all one by one.

"Grandma Mat, she's too old and blind to come, hermit Lerm but he never meets anyone and he's strange. There is also that man whose name we don't know and Ine. Ine is sick, she can't get out of the bed."

Franz signals the healer who's with him.

"Show him where Ine is. He'll help her."

The girl runs off, leading the confused healer after him.

Franz continues the conversation with other villagers.

"Have any of you seen red eyes and black hair recently? Raise your hand if you have."

They all raise their hands. How can it be? Is Calian actually here?

"Where?"

"That man who doesn't tell us his name, we call him Nameless because of that. He has red eyes black hair."

"Where is he now?"

"Probably chopping wood for the winter in front of the tavern."

That's enough. Franz makes his way there and stops his horse before he gets too close. It's really him. He actually looks happier than he was in the palace. For a moment Franz doubts if it's the right choice to call him back but then, Calian notices him.

He puts down his axe and comes closer first. That's when it really hits Franz how much he has changed. Calian before that kidnapping would've never done something like this. He would've been too afraid.

What happened to him? He has been acting like this since the kidnapping. Who is this new Calian? 

"What happened to you? You're not the Calian I knew."

"How come you didn't notice before?"

Calian asks like it was supposed to be obvious. He's not even denying what Franz said.

"I never tried to hide that I'm not him. You all just couldn't see that it was only his body."

"What happened?"

Franz doesn't entirely understand what Calian is talking about so that pathetic question is the only one he can manage to think of.

"I died. Then came back. But in the wrong body. Calian was supposed to die but I brought his body back to life."

"So who are you if you say you're not him?"

"Bern. A former enemy."

"And yet you didn't even try to kill me?"

"Had no reason to."

Part of Franz believes him. It would explain just so much and every piece would fall into its right place.

"But who killed the original Calian?"

Deep in the forest, there rests a village where rarely anything happens. There, an old woman is weeping, waiting for her son to return home.

"He was sick when he left, let go of him. He's not coming back," others tell her but she shakes her head

"That's not why I'm crying," she explains "I weep for the tragedy that could’ve been if not for my son. I weep for the souls lost in it."

"But why still wait for him to come home when you already know he isn't coming?"

Woman smiles. They don't understand.

"Because he prevented a war. He gave his all to save those people and heroes always come home. One way or another. He will be back."

"But what did he do? We haven't heard anything about a war threatening us," they ask and she sighs.

"He took a dying person from his home. He gave him peace, he freed him at last."

And although she explains it like that, they don't understand. And so she weeps on while they shake their heads, saying that old age has destroyed her mind.