The Ambitious One
What is Ambition?
Some would say it is a goal, the finish line of a journey.
Others would say it is what drives change, the will to improve.
But Victor always believed that Ambition was pure and simple desire. From the moment he became self-aware, he realized he wanted to be more.
He desired to be great, known by many and remembered for ages. Even without a powerful family, even in an unjust world, he fought and persevered.
He strove with all his might to become the greatest at something, but even that was denied to him. "Doctor Victor, I must say I never imagined you would get this far. Your story is admirable," a man in a dark suit said, looking at Victor lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to the stomach.
"I've always been good at surprising those who underestimate me," Victor said as he felt his vision waver, but he kept his gaze fixed on the man sent to kill him. His pride wouldn't allow him to show weakness in his final moments.
"From son of addict parents to the most likely presidential candidate in the United States. Your journey is indeed impressive. You rose from the very bottom of society, the pit where no one escapes, all the way to the top," the man said with a smile, crouching down to look Viktor in the eyes.
"I respect you, believe me. But despite climbing so high in life, you chose to ignore the rules of the powerful. You chose to flip the table by exposing half the Senate and the country's influential people. You could have been king, but you thought you could single-handedly destroy those who operate behind the scenes. Truly, admirable." The man spoke and, with a sigh, drew his silenced pistol and placed it against Viktor's forehead.
"Your name will be forgotten, Doctor. Your story will be tainted with lies and your honor discarded. But if it's any consolation, I will remember you," the assassin said coldly. At that moment, Viktor smiled.
"I would rather be forgotten than remembered by an ignorant man whose hands are stained with innocent blood," Viktor said, spitting at the man's feet. A brief silence followed before the assassin's own smile faded.
"Goodbye, Doctor."
Bam.
At various points in his life, Viktor had wondered: what is death? Would it simply be the end, an indescribable void, or a new beginning, a new life?
However, now that he was dead, all he experienced were the memories of his life from beginning to end, over and over again, in a seemingly endless loop.
Various emotions flowed through him—hatred, anger, a desire for revenge, acceptance. In this cycle of memories, Viktor had time to see and review every aspect of his life and reached a conclusion.
His only mistake had been to trust in human rationality. He believed that when faced with right and wrong, humans would choose, because they possessed a conscience.
But that was an error on his part, an irrational one. He should never have tried to reason with words with those who only understand power.
And in the end, like an insect, he was eliminated by the power of another.
"If I had another chance, I would bring the world to its knees before trying to change it," Viktor exclaimed to himself. And in that instant, a brilliant light enveloped him.
His next sensations were strange. He felt as if he had emerged from a viscous liquid. Indistinct noises sounded around him, and his eyes could only see blurred shapes.
Soon, the first sensation of pain struck him, and he screamed with all his might, heralding the start of his new life.
"Congratulations, Count. It's a boy, your second son," the midwife said joyfully, handing the crying child to the father.
Gareth Graves looked at his second son with tender eyes. His body was robust and tall, his hands and face full of scars, and his hair already appeared white as snow, but his black eyes showed the vitality of a man who had seen everything.
For a moment, Gareth allowed himself a faint smile before returning to his usual cold expression. He handed the baby back to the midwife and prepared to leave.
"Take good care of my wife and my second son. When Liora wakes up, tell her a new Orc patrol has entered the territory, and she will understand my absence," he said firmly. Upon opening the bedroom door, two soldiers were already waiting with his helmet and sword. Without delay, Count Graves left to fulfill his duty.
Knowing how busy the Count was, the midwife did not linger. Together with other maids, she began to clean the room and care for the Countess.
In moments, everything was clean and tidy, and soon Countess Liora awoke with tired eyes. "How is my baby?" she asked, not moving much as she was still in pain. One of the maids stepped forward to reassure her.
"The birth was a success, my lady. It's another boy. The Graves house is surely blessed," the maid said. Liora smiled, gesturing for them to bring her the baby.
Liora was a woman of a pale, almost sickly appearance, with blond hair and tender brown eyes. Gently, she took the baby in her arms and smiled with satisfaction.
"Where is Gareth?"
"An Orc patrol was sighted, my lady, and the Count left to investigate."
"I understand." Liora sighed for a moment, but there was no anger or disappointment in her voice, only concern. She knew her husband's duties better than anyone in this house and knew she could not be saddened.
Soon her gaze returned to the baby in her arms, and she smiled again. "I believe the responsibility of naming him has fallen upon me once more," she said, thinking for a few moments before continuing.
"I shall call him Viktor. Viktor Vance Graves, second son of the Graves Family."
And so began the story of the one who would change the world.