The Oakheart archives were not what most people imagined when they thought of an old family repository. Rather than old dusty shelves and cobweb-laced chests, Lucian stepped into a climate-controlled wing of the library a sanctuary of polished dark wood and labeled cabinets. The air smelled faintly of aged paper and leather preservative.
He found the archivist, a precise, silent man named Mr. Finch, whose spectacles held a number of tiny, unnecessary magnifying lenses on hinged arms. He quickly and without question retrieved the designated box. It was a small, unassuming dark oak chest labeled simply: "Lucian Oakheart ."
Lucian carried the box to a large table near a window, the afternoon sun casting a warm square of light on the wood. He took a deep breath, his heart beating with a frantic rhythm against his ribs. This was it, at last, the best chance to unlock the buried history of his own mind.
The box held the typical debris of a privileged childhood: report cards printed on early-model steam-presses, few old books about him and few other things. Finally, beneath a stack of letters tied with a frayed silk ribbon, he found the album. It was small, bound in faded blue velvet, its corners worn smooth.
He opened it to the first page. A formal portrait of himself as a solemn five year old stared back. He flipped through several pages of family gatherings Lady Oakheart beaming, his late father looking kind as usual. Then, the photos changed.
The Vision Made Real
On the fifth page, there she was.
A girl, no older than twenty two years old, with kind, dark eyes and a lively, slightly crooked smile. Her hair was pulled back simply, and she wore the plain, dark livery of a maid, but her posture was anything but servile. She was perched on the stone ledge of a fountain, laughing. Next to her sat a miniature Lucian, his arm looped carelessly through hers.
A strange, electrical jolt ran through Lucian's skull. It wasn't just a vague feeling; it was a physical trigger.
He flipped the page. There was another photo,Maria braiding a garland of wildflowers, her head bent in concentration, while Lucian watched her, utterly mesmerized.
Then, the next image. Lucian stared.
It was another photo of them this time with Selena and Julian. To any person who was just seeing some old photos it should have looked regular old photo but not for Lucian because it was taken at the same spot that he saw in the vision , the same old wall.
But there was a difference, a detail his mind had refused to supply. Behind Maria, in the deep shadow of the hall, stood a third person. A tall, imposing man, whose face was indistinct in the poor light, but whose silhouette was sharp and familiar. He wore a heavy, dark coat, and one hand was raised as if ushering Maria away.
"Don't worry, Lucian. I'll be back soon," again a voice echoed through his mind, soft and clear, the words that accompanied the vision.
Suddenly, the pieces clicked together, sharp and agonizing pain rushed through his head. The sickness, the missing memories, the secrecy everything now makes sense. Why did Maria suddenly disappeared, who was that man behind her and why did I never tried to look for her. Many emotions started swirling inside of him. The pain that rushed through Lucian's head was sharp, agonizing, and blessedly real. The emotion he felt the strongest was rage. Anger toward the one who had sealed his memories and was the reason he had to suffer for this past five years. If not for the memories of another world he got that day he might have never recovered from his illness. That day when his recieved those memories something got triggered and helped him to recover from his illness. If not for that he would have been bedridden even now. Every part of him was screaming and telling him to go and kill the one behind all of this but as if remembered something he surpresed the fury of his anger and his emotions to the point as if nothing happened. He tries to calm down. His outer appearance had not changed much but on the inside he had completely changed, deprived of all emotions and feelings as if he had given up on the life itself. He had gone from swirling with negative emotions to a lifeless state in an instant. On the outside he hadn't changed much but his eyes has become lifeless like the eyes of those who have given up on all hope and just waiting for their death. After calming down he only says one thing:
"It's not time for that yet."
After saying this sentence Lucian put all the things like they originally were in the oak chest and hand it over to Mr.Finch and left the archives. On his way to his room he heard someone calling his name from behind It's was Mary. " Wait young master. I heard from Lady Oakheart that you have went to the archives to see some old photos of you and Maria in hope of regaining your memories. So how was it? Do you remember anything?"
Mary said all of this while looking at Lucian's back. Lucian didn't had the courage to turn around, If Mary saw him like this she would be very courcern or even scared of him. Even if he tries his best he couldn't suppress all of his killing intent since he just regain his memories and if Mary saw him like this other people would also know of this and they would also be worried about him .So not wanting to worry Mary and the others he calmed his emotions down put on a fake smile and turned back to Mary and said:
" Yes, I remember it all. I have finally regained my missing memories. Not all of it, but I have regained most of it."
Mary overjoyed after hearing this said.
"That's wonderful news young master. You finally recovered from the illness and also regained all of your memories as well. This calls for celebration. I will tell about this to everyone. Everyone will be overjoyed"
Lucian keeping his fake smile replied.
" Their no need for that. It wouldn't be good to distrub everyone and keep the celebration on such a short notice. Let's keep the celebration on some other day."
He was about to end this conversation and leave but Mary said something that completely caught him off guard.
" Yes you are right let's keep the celebration on some other date. But Young master I have to ask you something..... Ever since earlier I been having a strange feeling, you seems somewhat different than usual. Did something happened?"
It was this question that had shaken Lucian to his very core he didn't know what to answer but he quickly regains his composer not letting Mary notice it and says, " N... No! nothing happened. I am perfectly fine and nothing happened. I have just regained my memories so I am just little tired."
Lucian somehow maintaining his composer answers to Mary.
"I guess you are right. You should go and rest and tell me if you need something."
Lucian ended the conversation their and he heads to his room before anyone else see's him.