He found himself walking in an empty space, filled with darkness, every step was taken with uncertainty.

Beneath his feet there was water, stagnant enough for his steps to cause ripples across the surface whenever he moved.

"Where am I?" He spoke out, but his words seem to disappear into the abyss. In all his years he had never experienced something so strange.

He walked endlessly for hours until he saw a bright white light in the distance, it seemed to be approaching him slowly.

By the time he got there, he saw his grandson, standing there, smiling at him.

"Jacob?" The old man asked, still struggling to keep his vision.

"Yes grandad, it’s me." The young man spoke, he didn’t seem as surprised as Alaric.

"Jacob my boy! Ho! Ho! Missed your granddad that much did you?" The old man laughed, his demeanor had changed in an instant, but his doubts remained. "It could be that you’re just a mirage set by my enemies, in that case I should probably eliminate you."

Alaric smiled mischievously after that statement, gazing directly at his grandson’s face.

Jacob just calmly stared at him, and with a wry smile he replied, "You can try."

They both stared at each other in silence for a moment until an abrupt laughter tore through tbe space.

"Am I dreaming or did you pull me into another dimension?" Alaric asked his grandson with a serious expression, still unable to fathom how he was able to pull this off.

One thing was clear though, this place where he currently stood was entirely of Jacob’s design

"I believe it’s called Astral Projection." Jacob responded. "It turns out I can only do it when the person is unconscious."

"Oho! Is that so." Alaric responded, then stroked his beard.

Two seats immediately materialized behind them, and Jacob gestured for his grandfather to sit on one of them, he immediately occupied the second.

"So why have you called me here son? What do you want to know."

"As you might already know, I have dug a bit into your memories and I now am aware of the Elder Covenant and your plan to save the World Tree." Jacob said casually, but Alaric didn’t flinch, he already expected this.

"If you know all that, then you know why I’m unconscious." Alaric suggested, raising a brow.

Jacob didn’t respond with words, he only nodded in affirmation.

They had a close bond, the both of them, Alaric had always believed Jacob to be a reincarnation of him, possessing all his qualities. Good, and bad.

Jacob had nothing but reverence for the man, he respected him and held him in high regard.

"Yes I know all about the battle with the demon, I must say you really overworked yourself there grandpa."

"Ehh it’s nothing, I was just trying to preserve some energy for the tree. If I used it all on that attack, then there would be nothing left to save the tree. And Morbius would most likely be dead." Alaric said confidently, and with a knowing smile.

"I could feel it, I could feel that that wasn’t all of your power."

"Trust me son, I’m not sure anyone has seen what all of my power looks like." Alaric started, "And I’d like to keep it that way."

"Well granddad, I just wanted to see if you’re okay, the Aether poison really did a number on you, coupled with your Qi depletion." Jacob had a faint hint of worry in his voice.

"Ahhh that’s my boy! Worried about his old man, I’ll be okay boy. What about you, how’s your journey coming along?"

"It’s interesting so far, I met some really amusing characters and I learnt quite a lot." Jacob said, excitement creeping back into his tone.

"Ohh really!" Alaric laughed as he looked at the boy with curiousity in his eyes.

"Guess what, I met the Great Sage of the Ten Thousand Beast Forest." Jacob said, smiling.

"Ohoo! So you went there? And you met the Great Shinzo? Boy you are having a blast out there haha!"

"Yeahh he taught me and Xenia a lot. I also met a pretty amusing young man who says he’s from the Wutherhorn Dynasty."

"Wutherhorn eh." The old man’s expression changed upon hearing that name. "Must be the runaway child that failed to awaken twice. I don’t much like the Primarch, what a bland man." Alaric hissed.

"Yeah that’s him, his name is Light. He’s awakened now apparently, but he’s really annoying, and I think he likes Xenia. By the way, Dad’s the new Patriarch now?"

"Yes, I’m positive he can handle the responsibilities that come with the title." Alaric responded.

Jacob sounded much like a kid when he was around his grandfather, he didn’t know if it was the fondness they shared. But, something about the old man’s aura seemed to pull that personality out of him.

After a while of talking, Alaric laughed and spoke out. "Look at us grown men, gossiping like a bunch of women, we better leave that for your mother and grandmother eh!" He joked.

"Yeah you’re right."

It wasn’t long before it was time for Jacob to leave, he had a new sense of fulfillment now that he had spoken to his grandfather.

"Jacob, I really appreciate you coming to see me, I’ll tell your grandmother you said hello. Be safe on your journey. Do not forget to be wise. May the heavens guide you my boy." The old man adviced as his grand son had started to back away slowly.

"Yes grandpa, I’ll help with whatever I can for now, see ya." Jacob waved, and in an instant, the small space where they stood collapsed into nothingness.

He opened his eyes, his legs were sprawled across his the soft mattress.

He look around, moving his eyeballs like lenses to view each corner of the dim lit room. He found his wife laying on his chest, already fast asleep.

He was conscious again, the wound on his arm had completely healed, he felt no pulse or pain on his cheek.

Only one though crossed his mind in that moment.

’I really need a shave.’