Chapter 28: Finally saying one’s name
Finishing with his story, the two boys whistled loudly as if impressed by this story. Inorra was the most fascinated by this story and look at Vlad and asked excitedly.
"Brother Zag, how is this prince called. You have to at least tell me his name."
" I still don't understand the language that dream of mine came from. It's as if I was struck day by day by it, but I think because I don't know how to write and read, I simply can't make the conversion."
"What? You need to know how to write and read to say someone's name? Isn't this stupid? Hmmm, let me think about it maybe I can help you a bit."
Started Inorra pondering to himself while Kipset, still lying on the ground, began contemplating about the story.
'This story really feels unique. As if it was something told by someone who lived those exact moments. But how? Zagreus is only 14 years old. How could he know about such a detailed story that spanned on the course of so many years?
'Sure, he is smart, but being able to tell such a story with such great accuracy as if he really remembered everything and lived those exact moments. Could it be that is one of his unique powers? I heard about the devil fruit that can grant you mystic powers. Could it be that Zagreus is one of those guys who have special powers?'
"Brother that story of yours is really fascinating. It's a shame that only the two of us would know it, but a pledge is a pledge. If we are to broke it may we die cursed."
"No need Kip to say such things. All I hope is that you would learn something from this story. To have an open mind, keep your emotions in check in all types of situations, even if it's tough to do so. To be sometimes skeptical of the people surrounding you, but at the same time not alienize the people approaching you with good intentions.
We as humans will be nothing without helping one another, just like the prince who first lost his throne because he didn't have his soldiers to defend his right to rule."
"Yes brother, this story of yours really contains a lot of teachings that will surely stay with us for a long time. But I wanted to ask you something, do you have by chance wierd powers that you are hidding? Devil powers?"
"Hmm, I don't know about any powers. I'm just me and my own body. However, I kind of understand you are questioning about how I know such a story?"
"That is right brother. It's a story to great for someone of our age to even talk about."
"Well, you are right. I'm not entirely normal. Sometimes when I sleep, there are memories that look like dreams who constantly flood my head. The stories about those gods I've been telling you, or this one comes from my dreams. I can't explain to you how this happens."
'This is possible to be one truth. But from how this story was told is really unthinkable of knowing all places so vividly from only some dreams. Could it be?? That is big, really big.
If it is really what I think is it, I better keep it for myself. Zagreus, you really are a weird person, but I can feel that the story of this prince and the way you act with us really matches a lot. The arrogance and that experience and wisdom you have it's similar to the prince in your story. The ruthlessness and madness when you fight with those criminals inside the zone are similar to the story of how the prince fought with country A.
So you are the prince from the story. Arghhh, my head hurts. I better think of it in bed.'
'But I have nothing to worry, that prince protected me and Inorra from the dangers of this mine. I got nothing to fear.'
Kipset exhaled a deep breath to calm himself, something that Vlad noticed with his kneen eyes that also made him think a bit.
'I knew you are a smart and bright kid, little Kipset. Obviously, I would leave interpretations, so probably only you who lived with me for 4 years and observed my actions could be said to manage to figure out the story double meaning.'
'As for you telling this secret to others? I don't care, no one would even believe you if you do so. It's simply like if the Great Roman Emperors such as Augustus or Constantine would come to me now and tell me, they are those emperors using only this world language. If you are to speak in Latin with me, I might believe you, but speaking in this world language makes my story hidden in words and meaning.'
Inorra finally stopped from stretching his head and told Vlad with a bright smile.
"I got it. I can teach you how to write and read, and maybe you will figure out a way to tell me the prince name."
Kipset staring at Vlad's face as he looked calmly at Inorra with a smile, sighed to himself, but he too wanted to find out about the prince's name or, better said, find Zagreus(Vlad's) hidden identity.
"Bro, can you really write something?" asked Kipset with a perplexed expression, remembering something Inorra once said to him.
"Yea man, I'm quite good. I can write my name, the name of the kingdom we live, Zagreus's name, your name Kipset, and some other interesting words." Said Inorra while holding himself proudly for this achievement.
Kipset was taken a bit by surprise to find that Inorra knew to write his name.
"How did you manage to do this?"
"There's been a friendly miner who in his break would talk with me, and then at one point, he asked me if I knew to write. Obviously, I didn't know anything at that time because my bastards of parents treated me like a dog.
Ahem, each day that miner, whenever I was on the same job with him, would teach me to write all kinds of words."
Vlad's interest got picked. He felt peaceful and calm, even calmer than before he told the boys about his story. If they understood the hidden meaning, that is good. If they don't, that was also good. It made his brain release some compounds that eliminated slight anxiety about his real identity or what combination between a child and adult he become.
"Go on Inor start telling me. What words can you write, show me otherwise I will not figure out the prince name, and you'll remain without the name."
" Yes, yes. I know, but let me think about it. The characters are quite hard to understand and write them even for me."
"Don't hurry we got all the time in the world, well at least until we escape from the camp. Go on, start writing with a branch on the soil some words for me to see maybe I figure something out.
"Sure, then let me begin with this one."
Walking towards a branch, he started writing on the ground each of the names of his brothers. Zagreus and Kipset.
Even Kipset was glued next to Vlad as they stared at Inorra, who was concentrating on the characters.
First, it was his name, Inorra. The characters had a unique feeling about them. Vlad slowly tried to read that word in his mind using the Latin alphabet, and surprisingly he was able to say in his mind, which means that the characters required for Inorra's name got saved in his mind.
'"I N N O R A", so this is how you write your name, good to see that the boy also has potential. While he might be silly, he's a good boy.'
Later Inorra began writing Kipset's name, which then made Vlad slowly call that name by each character in his head. It was followed by the name Zagreus, which did the greatest effect on Vlad's body.
When he turned to comprehend the name and its characters, his heartbeat began hitting harder all of a sudden. 'Ohh, you're happy little boy? For only this? Well, it's still something, but old me still has to find his name.'
With time Inorra listed all short of words on the ground that Vlad memorized writing quickly. Then he stopped Inorra when he wrote "dragon" while his face turned serious.
As he turned silent, his thought process was in full swing, and after being stared at weirdly by the other boys, he said only one word in a confused tone.
"Vlad. Dracula" '[Son of the Dragon] So this is how my name sounds here? Such troublesome language to work around.'
"Tell, me kids did you hear me say the name in its entirety?"
"Yes, but it sounds a bit weird compared to how we're named here. Damn the prince's name sounds really badass. But what Dracula mean in that name?" asked Inorra while staring excited at Vlad, while Kipset nodded his head as if memorizing that name for himself.
"Wait a bit. Let me search on that memory of the dream."
Taking some time to think, using a combination of Latin and this world language, Vlad then nodded his head satisfied.
"Ok, good. Better be focused because it might be confusing to understand. Dracula means in that country "son of the Dragon". It's a name and title inherited from his father who was also a knight. "
"Wow, the prince's father was a knight? This is so badass."
"Haha, well. You can say so."
"However you two, since we are preparing to escape from the camp and most likely my name will be looked after this entire kingdom. I want you two to start addressing me as the prince, Vlad."
"Ehhh? But why? So what if you are looked after, that's your name. Be proud of it, others don't even have one." commented Inorra, a bit confused about Vlad's request.
"You say this, but what if people associate Zagreus with you two? If you start boosting like you always do. "My brother is Zagreus. He can beat you all easily." would that also target you as maybe criminals? What about your dreams? Are you willing to abandon them just because of a name?
"But, still. You are our brother, why call you using the prince name?" replied Inorra, back even more confused.
Meanwhile, Kipset turned to Inorra and said to him, a bit annoyed by these repeated useless questions.
"Just do it. We can say that is Zagreus another name, and only the two of us will know that Zagreus is also called Vlad. When we heard about him, we will know about who to pick up."
"Ohh, so it's like this. Fine, I understand. Vlad, it might be a bit wierd since I'm not used."
Vlad just stared at Kipset with calm eyes, and you could even say that we seemed to smile a bit at him.
'Thank you little Kipset.'
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"Ahh, still it feels weird, can I just call you using both names?" asked Inorra for another confirmation.
That question made Vlad laugh heartily, not bothered at one bit by those silly questions.
"As you wish. Remember, only the three of us know about that story."
"That's good. Right, do you have by chance other stories about the prince? Those one are by far the best stories you have ever told us."
"Possible that I might have another dream about the prince. Once I settle down those dreams I will tell it to you without a problem. Now let's go inside." laughed Vlad hearty while patting Inorra and Kipset's shoulders.
As he was walking toward the shack, he continued with.
"Time is running out. Soon it will be the best opportunity to get out of the mining camp. Focus more on the training. Tsk, also go wash yourselves, eat something and prepare for sleep. The next day will be interesting."
Kipset and Inorra, who remained for a bit more outside, stared at one another, and the first one to say something was Inorra, who saw that Kipset's expression looked a bit troubled.
"What's wrong Kipset? Your face seems to be troubled by something. Do you need to go and shit? Just go, you don't to look after me."
"It's not that. It's about Vlad's story. What do you think about it?"
"Pretty good story. Almost as if it really happened, but in the end it's just a story. Why ask?"
"No, nothing much. I was just curious to hear what you think of the story."
"Ohh, it's that so. You know I like stories, especially those fantasies about strong people. Since I also want to be a strong person in the future. Someone who's name will resound in the entire world."
"Haha, good luck. We will really need it."
Ended Kipset as he moved toward the shack, followed by Inorra, but he thought a bit more in his head while he was walking.
'I think is better Inorra doesn't know about Vlad's real identity? Or could it be I'm really wrong myself and it's just like Inorra said, a good story that seems realistic?'
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The next day came, the same scenery welcomed Vlad's face when waking. When he first opened his eyes, he felt good, knowing that even if he let some blunders and spoke in his native language, it wouldn't turn others hostile on him. Especially now that he managed to scare Inorra with some creepy stories from back home.
Looking around the shack, one could see that many of those things changed for the better. Every hole that once his hut had when coming into this chaotic zone was gone. You couldn't even notice the decaying wood. Walking towards a bowl with water, using the water there, he washed his face when suddenly someone knocked on his shack door.
At first, Vlad was skeptical. People in the chaotic zone wouldn't be the kind to be courteous when wanting something from you. Instead, they would rush into the room and make noise. The same rule applied to the guards. Why would they bother knocking on slave's doors?
Still, he walked to open the door from the opposite side, and when doing so, what showed up was an unfortunate surprise. A boy with a bruised face and body, barely standing on his feet, was looking fearfully towards Vlad. The boy reminded him of his younger self when being sent out by his father to be the enemy as a hostage.
Having his upper body not covered by any clothes, maybe he looked more menacing for the kid, or his height affected the boy's mentality. However, seeing himself in the boy when he was younger and having a soft spot in his heart for young kids, he kindly asked the boy.
"How can I help you, little boy? Do you need any help around? Have you got lost around here? Hey, are you listening to me?"
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A/N: Is revealed or not? Did the boy figured out his identity or not. The boy really is bright, his future will undoubtedly hold big things for him.
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Apart from this, Vlad finally began figuring out his name after all this time. He only had to learn how to read and write and then covert his first world language to this second life one.
Hope you liked this new take on revealing one's transmigrated character identity. A subtle manner of keeping things secret but also revealed.
You get it good, you don't, that's good too. Since it will not affect his well-being or those two boys.
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