Deliberation

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While his retainers are entertained by the antics of their troublesome comrades, Hadrian was occupied in contacting his grandfather.

With the help of automaton's guidance and the link to the moon of his world, the PT connected to the other mystic device that he had left in the Wizard Marshall's care.

In a few moments, the screen blinked into life and the familiar bearded countenance of his grandfather was displayed.

However, something was amiss as the young mage noticed the expression on his grandfather's face.

Unlike in their previous meeting, the mischievous grin that was often present was nowhere to be found.

Rather, in its place was a calm, neutral demeanor that would cause even the most cutthroat of killers to stop and shiver in their place at the cold and calculating glint that was in his crimson eyes.

It was the kind of expression that his grandfather would only wore when he was in his element, the first rate magus-turned-magician of the Mage's Association.

But, when Zelretch's gaze met his grandson's, the unsettling demeanor disappeared and his crimson eyes softened at the sight of his grandson's face.

"Ah, is that you, Adri?" The Wizard Marshall called out, glancing from the screen of the mystic device and to the spot in his right.

Hearing his childhood name, the young mage couldn't help but smile a little.

"Yes, it's me, opa." Hadrian confirmed with a slight nod, adjusting his grip on the PT to make sure that it won't slip from his hand.

"Good timing, I was just about to contact you." Zelretch began, sighing at the end as he turned his gaze to the left.

The audible noise of fingers tapping against a glass surface and the gentle chimes from out of the camera's view were enough hints to Hadrian that his grandfather was in front of his computer inside the lab of his workshop, judging the familiar background behind his grandfather.

An unusual development considering that the old magician was not fiddling with his computer the last time they spoke to each other.

Silently, Hadrian raised one eyebrow before asking.

"Oh? What for?"

"Well, I wanted to know what happened there recently after I have noticed some noticeable spikes in your vital signs here in this computer." Zelretch calmly stated, then stopped before turning his undivided attention to the screen as he continued. "So, did something occur there recently?"

Even from afar, the old magician's discerning expression was piercing as always.

Sighing, Hadrian looked to the side as he answered his grandfather's inquiry.

"Something did." Prompted by the older man's raised brow, Hadrian continued. "A few hours ago, I was checking the wards around the Flamel's territory and placed a bounded field of my own creation. It's the one that augments the effects of the wards, nothing out of the ordinary." He explained briefly when the old man's brows lifted higher up. "Although, I'll have to double check again and see if there's any counter-measures I can add to it later on after this."

Wordlessly, Zelretch nodded his head in approval, subtly pleased that his heir was being careful and attentive of his current location's security.

"Now, back to what I was saying, I was there and was about to meet Charles halfway down the ground – I was using the magic carpet that time. Um, you know, the one I found from my benefactor's spatial storage that no one has ever found." Hadrian supplied at the curious look that his grandfather had sent in his way.

The old magician's crimson eyes glinted in understanding as it dawned on him what his heir has said.

"Ah! The egotistical stupidly rich hero-king! That's him, right?" Zelretch said with a grin, fangs making their appearance as he did so.

By the jest but accurate dig at his late benefactor, Hadrian smiled, unable to suppress the chuckle that escaped him.

"Yes, that's him. But we're getting carried away, as amusing as it would be to jest around at his expense." The young mage reminded, causing his grandfather to shrug in turn. "As I was saying before, I was outside, observing the wards and then I applied one of my own. I was about to meet Charles on the grounds when something… flooded in my head, which caused me to lose consciousness."

The mischief in his grandfather's crimson eyes soon disappeared, a calm and observant expression replacing it in its stead.

"Elaborate, enkel (grandson)." The old magician stated simply.

For a few moments, Hadrian was silent as he carefully gathered his thoughts before speaking once he was ready.

"It was… sudden. It was like a rush of scenes that I'm familiar with but not at the same time. I'm hesitant to call them memories, considering my alternate self had been in a coma for a long time until I came along and took over." The young mage explained, unsure in tone.

"Describe some of those memories to me." Zelretch ordered idly.

And Hadrian did.

Through it all, his grandfather was silent, only interrupting once in a while to ask a question or two, but mostly kept quiet as his grandson speak of his experience.

Several minutes later, Hadrian was finished and the old magician was leaning against his chair, rubbing his beard in thought as his heir waited patiently.

Finally, the Wizard Marshall seemed to be done with his musing as he moved to speak.

"So… the suddenness of those images rushing into your head was what caused you to faint, yes?" Zelretch asked.

"Yes, it probably did." Hadrian nodded, smiling wryly in disbelief as he recalled what happened to him.

"Hmm…" The old magician hummed.

Noticing the expression on his grandfather's face, Hadrian asked.

"What are you thinking, opa?"

"I'm thinking of how this coincides with the sudden appearance of those memories that you mentioned." The old magician mused aloud, his gaze to the side of the camera.

"And have you come to a conclusion? Perhaps a few theories?" Hadrian asked, ignoring the loud banter a few feet behind the couch he was sitting on.

One quick glance behind him saw that Astolfo and Kieran were wrestling one another, while Arash looked on, laughing in amusement by their antics.

King Hassan, who had been standing by the entrance, was now beside the couch he was seated on, calm and stoic from where he was standing.

Thankfully, Charles seemed to have the mind of making sure that his master remains uninterrupted, keeping his eyes on the peanut gallery occurring nearby while listening quietly to their conversation.

Hadrian's attention turned back to the screen, just in time to see his grandfather speak again.

"I have a few, but most are theories without much proof. There is one that is plausible, and I have a bit of an experience with." Zelretch explained slowly, thoughtful.

"Fill me in, then." Hadrian urged.

"It is possible that the memories that you've seen earlier comes from your alternate self." Zelretch stated with a sigh, eyes closing briefly as he rubbed the back of his neck to relieve some tension.

Hadrian blinked, taking a few moments to absorb the new information dumped on me before responding.

"Alternate self? But wasn't Harry in a coma since he was a toddler?" Hadrian asked, his brows knitted in thought.

Zelretch chuckled, then spoke with a vague smile on his lips.

"Now, whoever said I was speaking of the owner of the body you are occupying?"

The implication behind his words was enough to render Hadrian speechless.

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