Chapter Text
Javier was not stupid. Something was wrong with Lloyd Frontera, ever since that day he collapsed while drunk. Javier just couldn't figure out what it was. His first thought was partial amnesia. This would explain his behavior on that first day, where he seemed to know Javier, but not his own identity. It would not explain the complete transformation of his personality, nor his sudden knowledge of how to build these heated floors. This new Lloyd has such an odd selection of information. He knows about Javier's childhood, but avoids needing to talk about his own. He knows about the issues facing the Barony, when before he would barely take any interest.
The most glaring issue with this theory was the complete change of mannerisms. Every person, whether you realize it or not, has a set of mannerisms that identifies them. The way you eat, sleep, walk, and talk are all things that are particular to an individual--and they can't be changed easily. If the amnesia erased these mannerisms, the affected would have to develop new ones while relearning the affected skills. Lloyd, however, thoroughly changed his mannerisms to a new set in an instant. Like a new personality was suddenly inserted into his brain...
It couldn't be possession, could it? Some kind of dark mage trying to infiltrate the Barony. That would explain how he was able to help Javier perfect his mana absorption technique. But why would someone want to possess Lloyd Frontera? He's the drunkard son of a debt-ridden minor noble. Their Barony has no special resources, nor is it placed in a strategic or advantageous location. And if such a smart mage was able to figure out possession while leaving no mana trace, they surely would pick a better target.
Javier was worried. If this transformation is temporary, Lloyd will go back to his drunkard ways. If it isn't, Javier will need to figure out what happened to the young man he was supposed to protect. Both options would break the Baron and Baroness' hearts.
---
Javier smiled at his master's words. Maybe he really wasn't such a bad man.
"Aw, you're thinking that maybe I'm not such a bad man, yeah?"
Though Lloyd's tone was teasing, his words were eerily spot on. Javier usually chalked this kind of thing up to his master's strange newfound charisma, but what if there was something more to it?
Was the change... was Lloyd a mind-reader?!
Javier's smile instantly disappeared as he went into sleuth-mode.
"Uhhh, Javier?"
Perhaps the influx of information from minds across the continent caused a hit to his personality.
"Javier?"
Maybe his knowledge of construction came from some dwarves hiding in a place only Lloyd's mind could reach! No, that was a bit too fantastical. Maybe--
"JAVIER!"
He was jolted out of his thoughts just to see Lloyd grabbing his shoulders and shaking him slightly.
"Snap out of it buddy, what's up with you today? Anyway, as I was saying about the coal..."
Lloyd continued yammering about the latest construction as if the weird moment had never happened. He walked forward along the newly built road with Javier trailing behind him. Javier couldn't let it go, though. Mind reading? It seemed plausible, with the way he always knew when people were thinking about him. Javier would keep observing. Eventually all of his master's strange quirks would make sense, right?
---
The ants nearly killed him. The ants nearly killed his young master, and Javier couldn't protect him. The entire experience left Javier feeling... hollow, yet oddly warm. He truly felt as if he was going to die in that cave, fighting alongside his master. His master who, Javier hated to admit, he really cared for. Lloyd Frontera was a blessing to the Barony, but also to Javier. Maybe a comrade, or a brother in arms. Certainly someone he would fight alongside, despite his master's scamming tendencies.
Out of habit more than anything, Javier pulled out his notebook and opened it up to the last pages where he kept his important sleuthing.
LLOYD FRONTERA DISCOVERIES
- Mannerisms (Odd bending motion towards parents, almost like a partial servants bow, among others)
- Personality (annoying, but different)
- Knows too much about mana
- Almost precognition level of predicting the future
- Knows too much about construction and materials
- No longer an alcoholic (Strong willpower--also a change)
- Sometimes eyes glaze over as if he is seeing something in front of him that no one else can see (sometimes his hands will twitch up as if trying to touch said thing?)
- Summons??
- MIND READING???
Javier's list was far from organized, but it covered the main things he was keeping an eye on. This new Lloyd, whatever he was, didn't seem to be a bad person. Well, maybe a bad person, but not a complete scumbag.
---
It's been a long time since Javier has looked at his list or made any deductions. He just can't get Lloyd's words out of his head. Javier was angry at Lloyd for trying to run away from the Gigatitan instead of protecting the people. But now...
"Javier, you can't fight that thing! If we stay we'll die!"
His young master was right. He couldn't fight the Gigatitan. And now--
Javier's eyes traced the lines of Lloyd's pale face. His young master was right about everything.
Through the guilt, a thought came. Could master Lloyd be from the future? Is that how he knew that he would die to the Gigatitan? Was that his grand secret?
Javier hoped it wasn't that. Then, not only would his young master be dead because of him, but he would also have knowingly chosen death to save his knight. Javier could never live with that. Why would his master do such a thing? Didn't he want to live a lazy life full of comforts?
Javier made a resolution to himself. It wasn't his place to discover master Lloyd's secrets. He would simply stay by his side until he earned enough trust to be told by the man himself.
---
It was during the construction of the sewer system. Lloyd, as usual, took it upon himself to do the most dangerous jobs. Javier wanted to scold him for his self-sacrificing tendencies, but Lloyd had passed out. The undead mastodon attack was over, but master Lloyd was badly hurt. Javier wished he knew how he could keep his young master safe. How could he get it through his thick head that his life mattered?
"Ungh..."
Javier was startled out of his thoughts by a groan.
"Master Lloyd?! Are you alright?"
Lloyd's eyelids twitched but remained closed. "Bright... slept in..."
Javier didn't know what to do. His master seemed fine, if a little disoriented. Should he ride Ggomonig and bring Lloyd back to the fiefdom? He was worried about moving him without injuring him more.
Eventually, Lloyd opened his eyes, and they looked blearily around. "Where--"
Javier finished his thought for him, not wanting him to need to exert more effort than necessary. "You passed out as we were escaping the undead mastodons, Master Lloyd. We are currently in the field above the canyon. The workers are safe."
Lloyd blinked a few times, then widened his eyes. "Lloyd Frontera?!" Before Javier could react to the strange outburst, Lloyd slapped his head as if he just remembered something. "RIGHT, g*d why did it have to be Lloyd Frontera, out of all the people."
Javier was conflicted and more than a little concerned. He was fairly certain by now that his young lord was not who he claimed to be, but it was a tightly kept secret that he never let slip. If he was so blatantly admitting these things, his young master must be incredibly hurt. Should Javier do something? Get some help?
"Javier Asrahan, you prick."
Lloyd grabbed onto both of Javier's hands which had just been hovering around, wondering what to do. "You prick, why are you so hard to save?"
"Um, lest you forget, young master Lloyd, I was the one who saved YOU from the undead mastodons. You're the reckless one."
"No, I'm talking about the future, you handsome dimwit."
Excluding the backhanded compliment, what in Lorasia was his master talking about? "Master Lloyd," Javier spoke carefully, knowing that if he phrased this correctly he could get the information he'd been wanting for so long. "Could you explain to me what you mean by 'the future'?"
"Disease, this time," Lloyd said, matter of fact.
"This time?"
"Well yeah," Lloyd seemed to notice that he was still laying on the grass, and pulled himself onto Javier's lap so he could explain with his hands better. This did not do good things to Javier's heart rate. "The last future was everyone dying from the monster domino. Before, I suppose it was the debt and the tyrant queen. But now, it's disease."
Huh. So, the future. "Master Lloyd, could you explain how you know--"
But before he could finish his question, his master was fast asleep in his arms again. Javier decided that this was probably bad, and he should probably get him to the fiefdom. The doctor concluded it was just a concussion, and Lloyd needed rest.
---
When Lloyd woke up again, Javier was ready. "Young master," he shouldn't call him Lloyd if that isn't his name, "Could you explain a bit more about what we were talking about in the field?"
Lloyd seemed confused. "What do you mean, Javier? What field?"
Javier paused. If he truly didn't remember, it might be better to keep his newfound knowledge to himself. On the other hand...
"Young master, can you see the future?" It was the first time either of them acknowledged the mystery out loud. The man who looked like Lloyd Frontera blanched.
"W-- Javier, what kind of ridiculous fantasy books have you been reading? You sure are gullible, haha!"
More denial. Not that Javier didn't expect it, but at least his reaction lent some credence to his 'future seer' theory.
"If the man who is now Master Lloyd wishes it, I will not bring it up again. But that man should know that I respect him and thank him for what he's done. I believe we all would have died if not for his actions, and I am eternally grateful for that."
With that, Javier bowed and exited the room. He didn't get to see the other's face, but he assumed it looked shocked and ugly. Javier smiled at the thought.
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Lloyd--no, Suho--was bewildered. Just what had he said to make Javier act like that? Like he knew his secret, but didn't want to kill him? How?
Maybe he told him about how he didn't know what happened to the original Lloyd Frontera. Maybe his knight forgave the trespass against his master because it was an accident. But seeing the future? He didn't tell Javier about the system and RP, right?
Suho was nervous. He didn't know what exactly Javier knew, and he didn't know if he would truly leave it alone. He hoped that if he ignored it for a while, the knight would forget, but that probably wouldn't happen.
Ah well, worth a shot. Suho wasn't going to bring it up, so hopefully it would just sit untouched forever.