- "Let's go to the party, my love".

A beautiful young woman dressed in an astonishing wedding gown held his hand and pulled him away from a crystalline lake. He remained still by the lake's shore and pulled her back.

- "Wait, my darling. I…I can't go there yet".

The woman looked at him and frowned.

- "Why not? What's wrong?"

- "Nothing is wrong, my dear. I just need to go…to do something before we leave tonight".

The young woman looked at him puzzled as the breeze waved her red hair gently.

- "Alright…but don't take long".

She hugged him.

- "I love you so much, Lucious".

- "I love you too, Mrs. Willingham".

The woman chuckled happily.

- "We'll be waiting for you at the party"- she said touching her belly and disappearing through the forest.

Suddenly, the environment turned dark, as if everything around him had lost its life. Numerous shadows flew quickly around the trees, making their way towards his beloved Oakvale.

- "Stop it, please! Stop it!"- he shouted as he ran through the forests as fast as he could.

- "Take it back! Take my immortality, but please, stop this!"

Before him, the village of Oakvale was getting attacked by horrifying shadows who reaped the souls of every person on their way.

- "Dainara! Dainara!"- he shouted, trying to find his wife.

- "Lucious! Lucious, help me!"

He turned around and made his way towards her quickly. Her eyes were full of tears and she looked so scared.

- "Lucious, please!"

When he was about to reach her, a group of shadows held him back. One of them approached her threateningly.

- "No! Leave her alone!"

- "Lucious! Lucious, help me! Lucious!"- she shouted desperately.

The shadow hit her chest and she fell to the floor lifeless.

- "No! No! Dainara!"

He gasped.

Reaver sat on his bed breathing heavily, his face and body covered by a cold sweat. He looked around him: a group of men and women, all naked, lied on his bed sleeping peacefully. He frowned and pushed his way out of his bed, taking an elegant red robe and putting it on.

He left the bedroom and went to his office, where he sat behind a big wooden desk. Reaver rubbed his eyes and forehead and sighed deeply. Why did he still have such nightmares? For how long must he live before they fell silent? These memories didn't belong to him, not anymore…they belonged to another man, to another time.

Despite his attempts to convince himself that he was not the man from his dreams, he felt an acute pain in his chest.

- "Dainara…"- he thought, closing his eyes as the pain got more intense.

Those dreams, those nightmares had been haunting him for hundreds of years since that dreadful night…That night when he made the most terrible mistake of his life, the night when he let everyone die, when he let her die…

He took a little key from his desk and slowly unlocked one of its drawers. Inside, there was a beautiful medallion made of gold and precious stones carefully placed inside a wooden box, along with a wedding ring. He reached his hand for the drawer and caressed them sweetly.

It hurt…It hurt too much…He couldn't allow it…

Reaver closed the drawer angrily and opened a little cabinet below the desk, taking out a bottle of wine and a chalice. He poured some wine in the chalice with shaking hands and drank it immediately. He repeated the process several times until the warmth of the wine replaced the bitterness of his thoughts.

Suddenly, the door opened.

- "Oh, I'm sorry Master Reaver. I thought you were still in bed".

And old woman stood in front of him, surprised to find him there. She was wearing a black dress and a pair of small glasses, and her white hair was tied on a tight bun.

Reaver raised his head slightly and looked at her.

- "I was going to clean your office. I will come back later"- she went on.

- "Could you do me a favour?"- he said dryly- "Could you remove everyone from my bedroom, please?"

The old woman remained still by the door, looking at him concerned.

- "Bad dream again, Master?"

Reaver drank another chalice of wine and placed his hand on his forehead.

- "Be gone and do as I said".

The old woman looked down and closed the door, leaving him alone.

No…Those dreams were not his, he was not that weak despicable man who was so afraid of death, he was not the man who lost everything he ever had…

- "I am Reaver"- he said firmly holding another chalice of wine.

And, after drinking it, he fell on the desk exhausted.

Meanwhile, in the Royal Castle, the Guardian got ready to leave. She had got up early, before the castle's routine began for the day. She left her bedroom and crossed the long corridors of the castle quickly, making her way towards the kitchen, where there was a back door. She didn't want anyone to see her leaving the castle, she didn't want to explain to anyone where she was going.

The previous night, she hadn't managed to sleep. The memories of that moment in the throne room, when she had managed to see him after so long haunted him, especially after seeing how much he had changed.

The owner of all the industry of Albion…Reaver Industries. This thought resonated on her mind once and once again.

- "I have to go…I must see these industries they all mentioned"- she had thought.

The Guardian left the castle's premises, making her way towards Bowerstone Industrial. She knew it was not far from there, at least according to the map she had seen back in the castle hanging in one of the rooms.

She crossed the colourful Bowerstone Market, which was already full of merchants selling their wares despite the early time.

Soon, the area got darker and grimier and the people around her were not cheerful merchants anymore, but dirty and sad-looking citizens who carried boxes from one building to another. A strong smell of burnt carbon filled the streets, making it difficult to breathe properly.

The Guardian looked at one of the ominous buildings: it had some kind of logo with two Rs painted on it, each one facing a different direction.

- "This must be it. These must be his factories"- she thought.

She looked around and approached a factory which doors were wide open. Dozens of workers worked without a rest in a long mechanical assembly line while a bald severe-looking man watched them carefully.

- "Come on, move faster, you lazy maggots!"- he shouted angrily- "Do you want me to use the whip?"

The workers started moving as fast as they could. The Guardian looked at their faces: they all looked tired and sick, like they had been forced to be working all night long without a rest.

One of the workers started coughing loudly.

- "What are you doing, you idiot?"- shouted the bald man.

- "I'm sorry, sir. I think I need a rest…please"- the worker replied, still coughing badly.

- "A rest?"- laughed the bald man- "Do you want to tell Master Reaver that you asked for a rest? He will be very pleased, I'm sure he'll even cure your damn cough. Once you are dead, you won't cough anymore".

The worker coughed even louder and held his chest.

- "No…please…I will…"

The bald man grabbed the worker's arms and pushed him back to the assembly line, making him fall to the floor while the Guardian observed the scene in horror. She entered the factory quickly as the man was ready to drag the worker to his place.

- "Stop! Leave this man alone!"

Both men looked at her surprised. The bald man frowned.

- "Who on Skorm are you?"

The Guardian looked at him defiantly.

- "Do not touch this man! Don't you see he's sick?"

- "And why should I care? Get out of here and mind your own business, woman!"

The Guardian got really angry by this comment.

- "Does your master know how you are treating his workers?"

The bald man scoffed.

- "Of course he does! He's the one who asked me to go hard on these worthless bastards!"

The Guardian looked down and tried to conceal the deep sadness that learning this caused her. She approached the worker and offered him her hand.

- "Are you alright, sir? Let me help you".

The worker looked at her for a few seconds and held her hand, getting up from the floor.

- "Thank you, my lady".

Suddenly, the bald man grabbed her clothes and dragged her out of the factory violently, making her crash against a child who was passing by. The Guardian approached the child quickly and helped him up.

- "I'm very sorry! Are you alright?"

The child smiled sadly.

- "Don't worry, ma'am".

The Guardian looked at him and got pale: he was wearing the same clothes as the workers in the factories and his look was as sad as theirs. His small cheeks were stained by a black substance.

- "Do you…work?"- asked the Guardian, hardly able to speak.

- "Yes, ma'am. And I really need to go before I get in trouble"- he said running down the street.

The strong pain she had felt the previous day came back to her chest while a tear fell down her cheek.

- "That's not possible…It can't be true. This is horrible"- she thought, wishing she was just inside one of her nightmares- "I need to know, I need to understand why".

Far from there, in Millfields, everyone was busy in Reaver's Manor. A group of servants, all young and good-looking, were setting the table for breakfast while an old woman supervised everything carefully.

- "Come on, it is almost time!"- she said- "Our Master will be down here any moment now".

The servants placed delicious food on the elegant table. One of them, a brunette young woman, approached the old woman shyly.

- "Mrs. Norrington, do you think I could ask about a raise today?"

Mrs. Norrington shook her head.

- "I don't think that's a good idea, girl. Especially, not today".

- "But…he told me that if I worked hard enough I would get it. And…I have done everything he asked me to do"- the young maid replied, blushing.

Mrs. Norrington sighed.

- "Some other time, dear. Trust me".

Suddenly, the door of the tea room opened and Reaver appeared in front of them, wearing his usual elegant attire. Every servant in the room bowed to him politely.

- "Good morning, Master Reaver"- said Mrs. Norrington- "Did you rest well, sir?"

- "Good morning to you too. Of course I rested well, my dear, I always do. Unless some naughty bed partner entices me with more pleasant plans…"- he replied in his usual tone, as if nothing had happened earlier.

He sat at the table and looked at everything on it. A young servant approached him and served him some tea.

- "My, my, what a nicely set table we have here"- he then turned his head and looked at the servant smirking provocatively- "Everything looks so delicious today".

The servant blushed and left the teapot on the table. Reaver took his cup and started drinking his tea while he glanced through the pages of a newspaper.

- "Oh, dear! Why must everyone say such lies about me? What do they know about business?"- he took another sip of his tea- "Barry! Where is he now?"

Barry Hatch appeared quickly through the kitchen's door, chewing some food.

- "I'm here Master Weaver!"

Reaver frowned and looked at him disgusted.

- "When will you learn manners?"- he sighed- "Anyway, could you please find out who is writing these inaccurate facts about me? I'd like to pay them a visit and…correct them".

- "Of course, Master Weaver".

- "Very good. And will you please read my agenda for today?"- he asked while he placed some delicious sweets on his plate.

- "Today you have a meeting with a supplier in your offices of Bowerstone, Master. And later you have another…meeting with a Miss Valerie, sir".

- "Oh, yes, I had forgotten. Busy day, I see"- he drank what remained of his cup and got up- "Well, I'd better get to work. I'll be in my office checking some accounting and I am not to be disturbed unless it is deadly important, is that clear?"

Everyone nodded quickly.

- "Very well"- he said smiling and making his way towards his office.

He had been checking the accounting of his industries for a while when the bell on the main door rang.

- "Barry, please, answer the door. If they seek Master Reaver, just dismiss them"- said Mrs. Norrington.

Barry approached the main door and opened it. A young woman, whose head was covered by a dark hood, stood before him.

- "Hello"- he said- "Can I help you, miss?"

The Guardian remained silent for a moment, unable to decide what to do or say. Her heart was beating fast in her chest.

- "I…I want to see your Master"- she said in an almost inaudible way.

- "What? Master Weaver? I'm afraid he's not available at the moment".

The Guardian looked down.

- "I…need to talk to him. It is urgent".

- "I'm sowwy, miss. Come back some other time"- said Barry closing the door.

Before he could close it completely, the Guardian held it with her hand and looked at him.

- "Please".

Barry sighed.

- "Alwight…I may get into trouble for disturbing him, but I'll try. Wait here, please".

Barry made his way towards Reaver's office and knocked softly.

- "Who dares to disturb me?"- shouted Reaver angrily.

Barry opened the door slowly.

- "Barry…what part of "I am not to be disturbed" didn't you understand?"- he asked trying to control his anger.

- "I'm sowwy, Master Weaver. But there's a young hooded woman at the door asking to see you".

Reaver sighed, feeling quite annoyed.

- "So? I can't see anyone now".

- "Well, I thought that maybe you'd make an exception for a young woman".

- "Barry, dear, I have all the women that I desire, why would I be interested in the only one who is bothering me?"

- "Alwight, Master. Sowwy"- said Barry making his way out of the office.

- "Did you say a hooded woman?"

Reaver's voice stopped him.

- "Yes, Master Weaver. I could hardly see her face".

- "Hmpf…How very curious. Actually, now she got my attention. Ask her to come to my office, let's see what she wants".

Barry went back to the door, where the Guardian waited nervously.

- "Master Weaver allows you to see him. Please, follow me".

The Guardian pulled her hood to cover her face even more and followed the butler. When they arrived at Reaver's office, Barry opened the door and invited her in with a gesture of his hand. She entered slowly, unable to look at the man who waited for her in front of his desk.

As soon as Barry left, Reaver looked at her with curiosity and smiled.

- "Hello there. Please, my dear, take a seat"- he said pointing at a nearby chair.

The Guardian remained still, rigid, unable to move, speak or even breathe. The pressure had returned to her chest and she felt like a thick rope was tied to her neck, making her unable to even utter a word.

Reaver raised his eyebrow.

- "My butler has told me that you wish to talk to me, so here I am".

The Guardian's heart was about to leave her chest. She bit her lower lip, trying to stop it from shaking.

- "A little shy, aren't we?"- Reaver sighed- "Listen, darling, I'm a very busy man and I cannot waste my time with you, so you'd better tell me what you want before I lose my patience".

The Guardian swallowed and kept looking at the floor.

- "Alright, time's up. Get out of here!"- said Reaver angrily- "You are lucky I'm in a good mood today, otherwise I would just kill you for wasting my time".

- "Would you do it?"- said the Guardian suddenly- "Would you kill me…again?"

Reaver remained silent for a moment, looking at the Guardian confused.

- "Again?"- he scoffed- "Let me assure you, my dear, that if I ever wanted to kill you, or anybody else for that matter, you would be most dead".

- "That's what you do now? Killing people?"

The sad bitterness of her voice caught his attention. Suddenly, for some reason, Reaver started feeling quite restless.

- "I have always done that, darling…"

- "No"- she interrumpted him firmly- "You have changed…"

A tear rolled down her cheek. Reaver frowned.

- "Who are you?"- he asked.

- "Who I am is not important anymore"- she said turning around to leave the room.

Reaver approached her quickly and grabbed her arm firmly. Suddenly, he noticed the two rings she was wearing. As soon as he recognized them, he got pale: those were the rings he had given to the woman he loved a very long time ago, before everything happened, before darkness fell upon them…

- "Where did you get these rings?"- he asked, shaking her violently- "Why do you have them?"

The Guardian just looked down and didn't reply.

- "Tell me where you found these rings or I swear I will…"

- "Kill me? Is that what you will do…Lucious?"- the Guardian removed the hood from her head slowly- "Or shall I call you Reaver now?"

As soon as he saw her face, Reaver let her arm go and recoiled, crashing against his desk.

It couldn't be…It was impossible…

The only woman he had ever loved, the one he had been missing every day of his life since that dreadful night, the one he thought had died back in his beloved Oakvale, stood right before him like a ghost from the past.

- "Da…Dainara…"