The Dawn of the New World

Even though all the proof he needed was staring him in the face, Hyde still couldn't believe it entirely. Or rather, he couldn't allow himself to believe it.

He had already forsaken everything and everyone by choosing to stand against the Emperor and coming here but it all started because of the death of the 'Jewel of the Empire', Albus.

Being faced with Hyde's silence even now, Albus called out to him.

"Do you still think me to be a liar, brother?"

It seemed to really matter to him what Hyde thought.

"I...don't know what to think anymore. I don't care. Nothing that happens here will change what I am going to do, what I HAVE to do!"

Albus had no choice but to accept Hyde's decision.

"It seems a lot will change after I am gone, and not for the best."

"How far away is that parade he was talking about?" Jin Wang took the opportunity to inquire quickly.

"Three weeks' time."

Jin Wang couldn't help but frown at the idea, "So sometime within the next 3 weeks you will be attacked. You should take extra care these few days."

Albus shook his head nonchalantly, "Praesul, our oldest brother is coming to pick me up personally in just a few hours. I will return to Solum with him. With both of us together I doubt anything will happe-"

"That's not possible!" Hyde immediately interjected, "Praesul was- IS halfway across the galaxy cleaning up resurgents near the frontier. He will arrive even later than you."

"I think I know who I talked to, brother. Praesul said he needed to speak to me about something in person and is making the journey in secret."

Jin Wang's eyebrow raised upon seeing Hyde's flabbergasted expression.

"What? That's not how you remember it?"

"No. Praesul never said anything about it. He arrived on his private ship after everyone else."

Jin Wang took in a deep breath to collect his thoughts. In his eyes, it was pretty obvious what was going on but these two brothers were so close to it that they couldn't even see the truth that was right in front of them.

'Or maybe they don't want to see it.'

Still, he needed to point out the obvious.

"This 'Praesul' person, is he...trustworthy?"

"Yes!"

"Of course!"

They replied simultaneously.

"Enough to trust with your lives, and the future of the entire Imperium?"

They hesitated for a bit but eventually, Hyde spoke up, "Yes, without a shadow of a doubt. No one took his death harder than Praesul. He was like a completely different man. So much so in fact, that he even talked back to father in open court..."

And while Hyde was saying everything he could think of to disprove him, Jin Wang's eyes were locked on Albus. He could tell just with one look that Albus had put two and two together, however unlikely it appeared to be.

He couldn't deny it any further.

"If the past has not changed then there is only one explanation for all this."

Albus met Jin Wang's gaze, more distraught than ever.

"Please don't-" he whispered but Jin Wang wasn't going to sit idly by and let these fools continue.

"Your oldest brother has already betrayed you. He will most likely ask you to join him, and you will decline. The killing blow will come from his own blade. Then he will use your death to turn the others against the Emperor, furthering his own cause."

Having already lived through it Hyde was seething at the mere thought of the idea.

"How dare you?! You know nothing of our world! Praesul did what he had to, father had already let things get too far."

Jin Wang smirked, "So it was indeed him who started your rebellion?"

"Of course not! We only wanted to talk to father, for him to listen to us for once."

"Aha, so you had no choice then. He didn't give you the power so you had to take it from him."

"You're damn right we did, we DESERVED it!" Hyde growled, finally breaking free of the mask of illusion that had been keeping him from the truth.

Jin Wang looked towards Albus, both of them recognizing the true reality of their predicament but unable to change it.

"Praesul will be here soon. I must take my leave now," he turned to leave, "Bring him here when it's time, the one who opened the door. Father will be waiting for him...and you brother."

Before Hyde had the chance to say anything the light flickered and Albus was gone just like that.

Jin Wang walked towards Hyde who was shocked into silence.

"What do you remember of his death now? Has your memory changed?"

He nodded weakly, "Stabbed through the back...twice."

'But still dead. One cannot overturn fate so easily.'

"I will allow you to stay here for the time being. The moment you leave this place your memories will be overwritten and you will not remember it any other way. Only in this room can you remember both of the pasts."

😉