( Knock Knock Knock )
"Enter."
After hearing that, Athen opened the door and saw a very humble study. Seated behind a desk was his Father, letting off a presence of a very stoic and accomplished man, no sign of the previous loving nature he had prior.
"You wanted to speak with me?" Athen asked, although he knew what was likely to be discussed, in was more line with his noble upbringing to let his Father lead the conversation.
"Indeed, as I'm sure you know, our territory has been in decline ever since Valaria and the Kardic Empire declared war on us."
It was as Malric said, the Holy Empire, the country that Athen lived in, recently entered a war with two of their neighbors. The Holy Empire was the most prosperous nation in the Elder Continent, the sole continent in this world.
The Holy Empire was located in the southern most region, with a bustling economy built around ship trade. To the east was The Kingdom of Valaria, a relatively young country run by warmongers. Although not wealthy, their military capabilities were nothing to scoff at.
To the north was the Kardic Empire, a close contender to the Holy Empire in terms of wealth and prosperity.
Both nations had come together with the goal of conquering the Holy Empire and taking control over their trade networks, which was a rather surprising development considering the good relationship the Kardic Empire and Holy Empire had in the past.
Money talks, huh?
Although their town of Blade was in the western part of the Empire, they were certainly hit hard by the war efforts.
In the Vars territory, the town of Blade was a massive exporter of food. This should've been a good opportunity to rise in the ranks as more supplies were needed towards the frontlines, but reality was different.
"From my understanding, the Emperors house is expecting us to export a large amount of food to aid the war efforts, at a low cost."
This was the root of the problem, one that Athen was able to grasp at with a combination of the vague memories of Earth and his teachings as a noble.
Malric simply nodded to Athens statement, clearly expecting him to expand further.
"In that case, it might be worth temporarily lowering taxes for our citizens while raising the general price of our goods for other consumers."
"Hmm, please explain why you think that."
Malric seemed slightly taken aback by what Athen had said. Although he had considered such actions, he hadn't paid it much thought.
"If we continue to tax our people the same, while selling our product for extremely cheap and expecting more work from them, we will lose their trust. Without them, we are just a family with a title. To compensate for the loss in profit, we can charge other nobles and establishments more to keep the town functioning."
"Quite the noble argument." Malric chuckled slightly, slightly losing his stoic persona. He seemed slightly proud of his sons argument, but he only let that last for a moment.
"However, there are a few issues with this course of action. It assumes other nobles and buyers won't retaliate—and that's rarely the case. We risk losing long-term stability and valuable alliances by prioritizing short-term relief. We must consider the long-term when trying to do good."
I see.. it seems my knowledge of Earth leaves me with less understanding of all the bureaucracy. Ahhh, it's certainly upsetting that such a structure comes at the cost of the average person.
"I understand, Father. It seems I failed to truly consider the long-term affects."
Although Athen disagreed with the moral implications, he had to consider his new status as a noble.
He also had a suspicion that his Father was simply playing devils advocate, trying to push and challenge Athen a bit for future growth.
"Your heart is in the right place, and I don't fully disagree with this plan. How about we start by easing taxes slowly, and raise our prices just enough to keep our people happy while not angering our allies. It will certainly be quite the delicate balance." Malric responded softly.
"Yes, Father." Athen responded with a slight bow, before returning to his room.
Malric, who was now sitting in silence, suddenly looked to the corner of the room.
"What do you think, Master?"
"Huhuhu, quite the child you've raised. Clearly educated, yet not bound by the arrogance expected of most noble children."
An old man walked out of the shadows, slowly stroking his long white beard.
"Does that mean...?" Malric asked expectantly.
The old man grew somber, his voice lowering.
"Unfortunately, a child of such good nature is unlikely to be able to cope with the costs, at least without losing himself in the process." The old man responded slowly, disappointing Malric.
"Malric, this path is one whose cost cannot be counted in coins. It comes at the cost of something much greater, something a parent should never wish on their children." The old man paused, his fingers twitching as if tracing invisible threads in the air.
"Be wary. The abyss takes at will, and it is patient." With that, the old man vanished into the shadows, leaving Malric with his thoughts.
...
Athen sunk into his bed, the wood creaking beneath him. He rubbed his small hands against his eyes, his mind heavy–too heavy for a child of his age.
He had been awake for what felt like months, drifting through that endless void. Now he was thrust into a new world, overwhelmed with new memories, all without a moments break.
Instead of the modicum of peace he desired, he had to cope with all these new responsibilities. Responsibilities he wasn't sure he was equipped to handle.
Coupled with his memories of Earth that felt like a fleeting dream, a dream that he didn't want to forget. He was very overwhelmed.
Who was he truly?
He felt like a stranger in this world, yet his life before felt like nothing more than a blur–a flickering candle, fragments without names.
Did that mean he was always Athen, but just awakened memories of a past life? He didn't know. And worst of all, he didn't know where to begin looking for the answer.
One step at a time...
Athen closed his eyes, sinking into the first sleep he had in months, hoping that sleep might grant a moments escape.
...
Darkness.
A cold, cold darkness.
Athen floated, weightless in a dark and endless ocean. The world was very still, and he could barely feel his own body. Even his own consciousness felt fleeting.
Then, from somewhere far away, a sound pierced the empty ocean.
Muffled. Warped.
Screaming..?
There were dozens of voices, fading in out of existence, yet over time they grew louder. He tried to move his body, cover his ears, or scream out. But his body wouldn't move.
Then... silence.
An eerie silence.
There was a voice.
A woman's voice. Loud. Commanding. It sounded familiar, though he didn't know why.
"Wake up,Athen."
His eyes flew open.
Athen jolted up, gasping for air. His body was drenched in a cold sweat, and he was shaking. He looked around his room, confirming that he was awake again.
The light of morning broke through his blinds, that terrible nightmare was over. For a moment, he could still hear the many screams that echoed in that ocean.
But it was gone.
He wiped his forehead, taking slow, steady breaths to compose himself.
Was that really just a bad dream?