《Kioku no Itami - Volume 1》


 Chapter 1: I run

    ¡« Inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale.


    An action we all do effortlessly and unconsciously every day of our life, yet right now it''s all I can think about, as if every neuron in my brain was fixated on this one action: breathing. I never imagined a day would come when I''d need to consciously think about breathing, but there''s no time to be surprised now.


    ¡« My legs... where are they? Do I even have legs?


    If only I could check it out. After having legs for eight years, I''m suddenly worried they''ve vanished. Legs don''t just disappear, and I never imagined I would ever doubt their existence. I''m aware that I''m moving, and moving fast, but I have no idea what''s driving me at such speed. I could be flying and wouldn''t notice the difference, but there''s no time to look at my feet either.


    In fact, aside from my ribcage which I can feel swelling like a toad during mating season ¡ª to the point where it''s a mystery it hasn''t exploded yet ¡ª I can¡¯t feel anything. Not my legs, nor my arms, and not even my head, which should be resting gently on my neck.


    I look ahead, yet I see nothing. The last I knew, I was in a forest, but I could just as easily be in a grassfield or on a frozen lake without noticing. I''m moving too fast for my brain to process the images my eyes are sending, and it''s already busy with my breathing anyway, so let''s not insist.


    I think I am bleeding, but I can''t guarantee that either. All I know is that I''m not very concerned about it. Blood flows, coagulates then disappears. Some wounds never fully heal, but most of them do eventually. I know it because I''ve had quite a few since I¡¯m able to walk. If there was a contest for scars, I''d probably win easily. As for the reason of my bleeding, I really don''t care. My brain has decided it''s not the top priority right now.


    ¡« What is more important, then?


    ¡« ESCAPE!


    ¡« Escape from what? To go where?


    I have no idea. That''s not important either. What matters is that I''m breathing and moving forward. Everything else is just a distraction from my race.


    ¡« My race?


    I seem to be running, after all. I''ve run countless times in my life. In fact, not a day went by without me running, for one reason or another. And even without a reason, I''d still run, but I had never run to escape, and never to the point where I doubted the presence of my legs. Now I realize there are as many ways to run as there are reasons. Strangely enough, running feels easier than breathing. At least I don''t have to think about it ¡ª my legs know what to do and do it brilliantly, as if they had a mind of their own.


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    Suddenly, the shapes in front of me start turning white, and I feel my eyelids tightening.


    ¡« Maybe I''m leaving the forest ¡ª if I was in a forest to begin with.


    The light grows more intense until I can''t see anything. There''s something warm and comforting about the enveloping white, like when my mom used to hold me, with her firm yet soft arms.


    ¡« My mom? What did she look like again?


    ¡« And her name, what is it?


    ¡« Why am I not with her right now?


    ¡« I would give anything for her to hold me one last time.


    Grief suddenly invades me, creeping up my spine like lava from an erupting volcano and shaking my whole body.


    ? No child should ever be separated from their mother. For if one can truly die of loneliness, it does not come from the mere absence of company, no. It arises when her compassionate gaze no longer rests upon us, the eyes of the one who wipes away our tears, heals our wounds, whether on our knees or in our hearts, and whose smile drives away our fears and banishes our nightmares like the sun dispels the night. To be removed from that gaze which gives meaning to our existence ¡ª this is true solitude, the kind that kills. ?


    All of a sudden, I notice that my feet are no longer touching the ground. It''s strange because I couldn''t feel them until just a second ago, and now that they''ve stopped moving, I can finally confirm their existence.


    I fall.


    I don''t need to see to know that I''m falling ¡ª I can feel the cool air caressing my skin. I don''t know how long it''s been since my legs stopped supporting me, nor how much further I have to fall, but I do not panic. If anything, I enjoy it. The fresh air soothes me and takes my mind off my mom. Moreover, this fall allows me to escape from whatever was chasing me.


    ¡« What was chasing me again? Was there even something behind my back?


    It doesn''t matter; I feel safe now, as if my body were drifting far, far away to a place where no one could ever find me.


    Inevitably, just as every precipice has a bottom, every fall has an end.


    The landing wasn''t painful. I couldn''t feel my limbs before the fall, and I feel them even less now. I can''t tell if the ground is hard or soft, dry or wet. All I know is that it''s there, just below me, and that I don''t need to run anymore. So I relax and look around. I can vaguely make out the foot of the cliff from which I fell, as well as some grass and even small flowers growing in a shaft of light. I can''t hear anything, assuming there''s something to hear, and my vision begins to blur. Just before my eyelids close, plunging me into darkness, I see two feet pointing in my direction, a few meters away. Big feet in simple wooden sandals. Eventually, the darkness swallow me entirely and my consciousness evaporates.

 Chapter 2: The man of the wild

    Ten years later¡­


    ¨C Ishizora, eighteen, single. I wouldn¡¯t describe myself as exceptionally good-looking, but I¡¯m confident in my appearance ¡ª after all, I train my body every day. I enjoy watching wild animals and...


    ¡« Why am I introducing myself again?


    After six years of traveling alone in the wilds of Historia, I think I''m starting to lose it. I can''t believe I''ve been lost for six years and still haven''t found a single road. Humans? Let''s not even mention them. I''ve encountered a few brigands who capture wild creatures to sell in town, but I''ve always avoided interacting with them. Who knows if lost young adventurers are also part of their merchandise.


    It was old Tak who told me to stay away from brigands. In fact, he taught me almost everything I know, since I didn''t remember a single thing when he took me in ten years ago ¡ª not even my name or where I came from. He¡¯s the one who named me Ishizora. Apparently it means "sky stone" because when he found me, I looked like a stone that had fallen from the sky. He even estimated my age based on my bone structure, just like you can tell if a fruit is ripe by feeling it with your fingertips.


    He also said that when I grow up, I''ll be tall and strong. I can''t say if he was right, since I have no one to compare myself with. The brigands I occasionally meet are only slightly smaller than me, and I''ve never had the chance to measure their strength. It''s important to have examples to compare ourselves with. When you haven''t seen a human being for a while, you start to wonder if you really look like them. I don¡¯t hate my face, but maybe other humans have a completely different one.


    ¡« Maybe I look weird, maybe people would find me hideous.


    ¡« No, they wouldn''t. Old Tak told me I was quite good-looking, that I''d be successful if I went to the capital, and that I''d even find work.


    If only he hadn¡¯t left before teaching me the way to the capital. Because of that, I''ve been wandering around for six years in this bloody endless vegetation.


    Recently, I''ve started encountering brigands more frequently. "Encounter" is a strong word since, although I often linger to observe them, none of them has ever noticed my presence. I can¡¯t tell if my senses have always been this sharp or if they developed from years of wandering the wild, but I can hear the brigands talking and feel the vibrations of their wagons as they roll along the ground several hundred meters away. Then, if I close my eyes and focus, I can make out the shapes around me up to fifty meters away, even if they''re hidden behind trees. This is what I call my sixth eye, and that''s how I''ve always managed to avoid bandits and dangerous creatures.


    Speaking of dangerous creatures, Historia is full of them. Encountering a six-meter-high grizzlion as you emerge from a bush, waking up tied in the web of a giant flying spider, or falling into a hole left by a gargantuan mole scorpion ¡ª these are daily occurences here. Old Tak told me this is the reason we rarely come across travelers. On the other hand, it''s a real playground for brigands. After all, there''s no risk of anyone getting in the way of their activities here.


    The brigands I''ve come across recently seem more excited and less patient. Just a week ago, I overheard two groups of brigands arguing over who owned the corpse of a blood-warthog. What a hard life the one of a brigand is. Not only do they risk their lives at every turn, they also have to handle competition, especially as I''m seeing fewer and fewer creatures these days.


    This phenomena, combined with the recent increase in the number of brigands, leads me to believe that I''m finally approaching a town. Old Tak often told me about the great cities where the people of Historia, fleeing from the dangers of nature, gather in their thousands. I''ve often seen them in my dreams or imagined them, with their cobbled streets, their buildings of various shapes and their immense walls protecting hundreds of thousands of inhabitants. For someone who has seen almost no one in the last six years, the idea of meeting so many of my fellow human beings excites me as much as it frightens me.


    ¡« What if I can''t make any friends? What if everyone hates me?


    I''ve been practicing introducing myself out loud for several days now. It''s important to talk when you''re travelling alone. If I didn''t talk to myself a bit every day, who knows what would happen to my voice. I wouldn''t want to spoil my first meeting with a fellow human by letting out a groan straight from the abyss when I''m just trying to say hello. Besides, talking helps me pass the time. After all, I have plenty of time on my hands. Thanks to my heightened senses, I have no trouble finding game or a quiet place to rest. I spend most of my time exercising or observing wild creatures. Occasionally, I get a little too close and they notice my presence. Most ignore me. Some, more fearful, graze elsewhere, while others, more belligerent, start chasing me. I''ve lost count of the number of times I cursed my curiosity after narrowly escaping a disastrous fate.


    This is the exact situation I¡¯m currently in. The only difference is that my curiosity has nothing to do with it, this time. Wolves appeared out of nowhere without me even sensing them approaching, and they''ve been on my tail for a while now. I''ve tried everything to lose them, but nothing has worked. They''re as tenacious as the leeches in the great swamps of the West. I''ve always had faith in my stamina, but it won''t be long before it fails me. I can feel them gaining on me, and to top it all off, their numbers are increasing. Of all the tricky situations I''ve gotten myself into over the last six years, this is by far the most precarious.


    ¡« And what''s up with these gigantic wolves?


    It¡¯s the first time I see ones like this. Their ferocity, combined with impressive musculature and very sharp canines, leaves no doubt that they could cut down a full-grown human with a single bite, like a twig being trampled underfoot.


    The forest I''m in seems strange too; it is unnaturally bright, yet I can¡¯t see the canopy. The light appears to emanate from within the forest itself, but I can¡¯t focus on that right now. I need to find a way out of here. Maybe then I''ll be able to find a hideout. The vegetation seems less dense on my left, so I make a sharp turn. Suddenly, I feel a mass slam onto my back with phenomenal force, and I collapse to the ground, taking my ennemy with me in a series of uncontrolled rolls. I feel its claws digging into my skin, and the pain makes me lucid. Despite the chaos of the situation, I manage to place my feet on the animal''s belly and propel it against a tree trunk. I hear squeaks of pain and get up as quickly as possible. It won''t be long before the other wolves catch up to me.


    I finally reach a clearing where I¡¯m first blinded by the light. I''m once again amazed at its intensity, despite the thick foliage acting as an airtight blanket supported by the endless trunks of the forest. The presence of a small solitary apple tree, standing like a king in the centre of the clearing ¡ª though it pales in comparison to its forest counterparts ¡ª adds to the surreal atmosphere exuding from this landscape. At least here I don''t risk being taken by surprise, and I can better assess the number of my pursuers. I keep running towards the apple tree and suddenly see what, ironically, seems to be the most surreal aspect of this situation: a young woman, about my age, busy picking apples with a basket in her arm. Although I''m delighted at this surprising yet long-awaited appearance, it would be a great pity if the first fellow human to cross my path ends up in separate pieces. She''s still a long way off, but I do my best to warn her of the danger with my voice strained with breathlessness.


    ¨C Run! It''s dangerous!


    I''m not sure my words reached her, as she simply turned her head in my direction, looking as surprised as irritated. For my defense, I''m a bit out of breath to shout properly, and even though I practiced my voice a lot over the last six years, there''s no guarantee I can still express myself normally. Seeing that she doesn''t react, I decide to run toward her.


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    ¨C Who the hell are you? And what are you doing here, she asks, looking shocked.


    I''m pleased that she decides to initiate the introductions herself, but it doesn''t seem like the right time, so I stop in front of her and turn towards the wolves, arms outstretched, determined to face my adversaries head-on.


    ¨C Just run! I''ll hold them off!


    Now that I''m heroically facing my pursuers, I realize the stupidity of my action. I''m not even sure I can win against one of these rabid wolves ¡ª whose diet seems to consist of grizzlion and blood-warthog ¡ª but against twenty of them, my chances are virtually zero. To make matters worse, the girl I''m vainly trying to buy time for doesn''t seem the least bit alarmed, as if she were more surprised by my own presence than by that of the wolves.


    ¨C Why on earth would you want me to run away?


    ¡« Is she deranged?


    The situation already seems desperate ¡ª the wolves will be on us in less than five strides, and two fangs should be enough for our heads to take leave of our bodies.


    Suddenly, to my surprise, the girl sweeps me aside with a wave of her arm and steps forward to face the wolves alone.


    One look.


    No more, no less. No gestures, no tricks. The wolves stop dead in their tracks, and their aggression melts away like snow in the sun. I think their piercing eyes became white for a moment before they turn their backs and calmly head back into the forest from where they came.


    I blink, as if trying to chase away a reality my brain cannot explain, then resolve to look at my rescuer''s back. Her slightly dishevelled, mid-length red hair looks like a blazing inferno. Her figure is slim, perhaps too much, but she doesn¡¯t look fragile in the least. Even with her back turned, she inspires strength and tenacity. During my journey, I have observed numerous dangerous creatures and individuals, and this has taught me that there are different types of strength. Hers is as rough as a diamond, as untameable as a wild beast, and as elusive as a flame.


    ¨C Just now... you did that?


    ¨C Has the barrier weakened again? I''ve got to tell Mother as soon as possible, she mutters while holding her chin.


    ¡« Holy fire-raven! I¡¯m being completely ignored here!


    ¨C Excuse me, may I ask...


    Before I know it, a knife is at my throat, and the girl who has just saved my life is now looking at me with contempt.


    ¨C What are you doing here?


    ¡« I don''t know how It ended up like this, but I think I can draw two conclusions from here. The first is that I''m highly unlucky. The second is that my long-awaited first meeting with one of my peers ended in failure.


    Now that she''s facing me, I take a moment to observe her in more details. After all, she''s the first representative of the opposite gender I see since I lost my memories. She''s slightly shorter than me, but her upright posture and piercing wolf-like gaze conveys a haughty confidence. A fringe obscures her forehead and partially masks her orange-red eyes. Her facial features are fine, and her nose is pointed. Her breasts are present but not eye-catching. I had noticed her slender and athletic build from behind, but now I see it clearly again. Her simple clothes suggest she comes from a poor background: a black sleeveless tunic, fastened at the waist by a piece of string tied above her left hip. A small V-shaped neckline fastened with laces reveals her collarbones, and an old ragged piece of black cloth is wrapped around her right arm. Her bare legs evoke power, while the metal rings on her slender ankles rest delicately on damaged bare feet.


    ¨C Hey! Are you listening to me? You''ve just broken into my house after disturbing our wolves. I hope you have a good excuse, she asks me, increasing the pressure on my throat.


    ¨C Wait, your wolves? In your house? But where the hell are we?


    I feel the pressure on my throat ease slightly as she probes me with her eyes. She finally lowers her arm and drops what I thought was a knife but was, in reality, just a twig.


    ¨C Don''t tell me you''re just a traveller who got lost and ended up here by chance?


    ¨C Well... yes.


    ¡« I mean¡­ what else could I be?


    ¨C I was on my way to the capital and got lost. I had no intention of breaking into your house, I promise.


    After five long seconds staring into my eyes, she crosses her arms, finally coming to a conclusion.


    ¨C Hmm, you don''t look like someone who knows how to lie. Besides, your outfit speaks for itself. I''m surprised, though, that you''ve managed to escape our wolves all this way. What¡¯s your name?


    ¨C Ishizora! My name is Ishizora! And yours?


    Ignoring my question once again, she turns her back on me and heads hastily for her basket, which she had left under the apple tree.


    ¨C The fact that you managed to get in here was a mistake on my part, so I won''t hold it against you, but you must understand that you''re not supposed to be here. So I''m going to ask you to disappear as quickly as possible and, most importantly, not to tell anyone about what you''ve seen, including me.


    ¨C I more or less understand the situation. I promise I won''t tell anyone about this place or about you.


    ¡« I don''t even know where I am anyway. Since I''ve been walking in this forest, I''ve lost all sense of direction and wouldn''t even recognize north from south. I feel a bit ashamed to ask her for a favor when she''s just saved my life, but I don''t want to be attacked by wild beasts again today.


    ¨C By any chance, would you be so kind as to¡ª


    ¨C You want to know where the capital is, right, she interrupts me, sighing.


    ¡« The one time she answers me, she doesn''t even let me finish!


    I simply nod, afraid of saying something that might upset her even more.


    ¨C Follow me! I''ll show you the way out.


    I thank her flatly before following her into the forest.


    ¨C We''re almost there, she informs me, although the forest remains just as dense, and I still can''t see a single path ahead of us. First, blindfold yourself with this, she orders me, handing me a fern leaf that I stare at, perplexed, before delicately grasping it by the tips of my fingers. Just to make sure you can''t find your way back. Come on, hurry up!


    I comply in silence.


    ¡« I don''t understand why such security measures are necessary, but it seems wise not to ask any more questions.


    ¨C Are you done? Can you see anything?


    ¨C No, I can''t.


    ¨C Nothing at all?


    ¨C Not even my nose.


    ¨C Perfect! Don''t you dare take it off or I''ll throw you to the wolves.


    ¡«  With such a warning, there is no chance I¡¯ll be removing it.


    I try once more to ask her name.


    ¨C Listen¡ª


    The ground suddenly starts shaking so violently that I almost lose my balance. It''s terrifying not to be able to see anything when even the ground ceases to be a reliable landmark.


    ¨C What''s going on?


    ¨C  ¡­


    I don''t know why I expected an answer from her. After what seems to me as an eternity, the shaking finally stops, and the girl abruptly pushes me onto my back. I take a few clumsy steps forward and turn towards her, even though I can''t see a thing.


    ¨C On my signal, count to ten and then you can take off your blindfold. Once you''re out, head west, and you''ll eventually see the walls of Aragane.


    ¨C Once out? What do you mean?


    ¨C Oh, and one last thing. What were your intentions when you stopped between me and the wolves? You weren''t going to sacrifice yourself to protect a stranger, she asks me, caughting me off guard and requiring that I think about it a few seconds.


    ¨C I wasn''t going to sacrifice myself, but I did intend to fight.


    ¨C Alone against twenty holy wolves?


    ¨C Holy wolves?


    ¨C You don''t seem to be lying. You''re just completely deranged, then, she slips in a sigh.


    ¨C Saying that I was trying to save you is not entirely accurate, tho.


    ¨C Oh? Then why did you shout at me to run away?


    ¨C Not knowing your strength, it would be rather pretentious of me to try and save you, don''t you think? I simply didn''t want to involve anyone else in a dangerous situation for which I alone was responsible.


    She remains silent for five seconds, as if reflecting on wether she should still throw me to the wolves. I noisily swallow my saliva.


    ¨C I see... Count to ten!


    Violent jolts, even stronger than before, nearly knock me over again. This time it feels like the ground isn''t just shaking ¡ª it''s moving!


    ¨C Wait! You haven''t told me your name!


    No reply, only the roar of the ground and the sound of wood cracking as if the forest itself were howling. I stand there in the darkness, struggling to stay on my feet.


    The vibrations fade as suddenly as they appeared, leaving me motionless, blind, and deaf. I decide it''s been ten seconds and when I finally remove my blindfold, I find myself in the middle of¡­


    Emptiness!


    Not even a shrub or bush in sight ¡ª only an expanse of endless grass where the forest once stood. The mysterious forest that once seemed boundless has vanished as dust in the wind. Puzzled by what just happened, I take a deep breath of fresh air, undoubtedly better than the stagnant one of the forest.


    Who''d have thought I''d be so moved by finally seeing the sky and its few sheep on pilgrimage. I realize I''ve completely lost track of time. The sun is edging toward the horizon, already tinged with orange.


    ¡« West, she said.


    I should hurry if I want to reach the city before dark. I decide to set aside all my questions for now and head toward the capital. However, one question persists in my mind.


    ¡« Who is this girl with fiery hair and mysterious powers? And whys does she live in this¡­ strange forest?

 Chapter 3: Aragane

    The capital is just as I''d imagined it, except it¡¯s ten times better. The first thing that surprises me is the lighting in the streets, which almost makes it feel like daytime. This effect seems to come from the lighthouses at each cardinal gate, and from the little fireflies flitting through the streets. Thanks to this illumination, I can take in every building and passerby with a clear view.


    I''m amazed at how many people are out and about despite the late hour. I''m reassured to see that their faces aren''t so different from mine, but that doesn''t stop me from being noticed. I must look ridiculous, marvelling at every building, but I can¡¯t help it. They are nothing like old Tak¡¯s wooden hut. Here, each house has at least two storeys, is built of brick, and seems strong enough to withstand any cataclysm. The ramparts are particularly impressive, standing fifty meters high and about five meters thick.


    ¡« Where did they find all those stones?


    I also take great pleasure in staring at every person I come accross as if they were new exotic creatures, an interest that seems to be shared. It''s almost comical how I consistently provoke the same reaction: first, a phase of surprise, where one of their eyebrows is about to fly off, followed by a phase of disgust, where they glare at me as if to make sure I''m not carrying any contagious disease. Then, finally, a more calculating phase where they pretend they haven''t seen me and frown as they ponder the trajectory that maximizes the distance between us. They must not be used to travellers, and my long, unkempt hair and torn clothes pale in comparison to the neat appearance of city dwellers. The only advantage of my outfit is that it allowed me to get into town quite easily. The guards at the great cardinal gates seem to have been instructed to let in all travellers.


    Some people catch my attention. They all have red noses and seem to have trouble putting one foot in front of the other. Some are laughing stupidly, while others are crying their eyes out. I decide to ignore them. After all the weirdness I''ve seen today, I don''t have the energy to think about it. One of these strange beings suddenly comes out of a busy-looking place. A soft, pleasant light emanates from it, along with smells that tickle my hypersensitive nostrils and activate my digestive system. The place is so noisy that I heard it as soon as I entered the city, and unconsciously approached it, guided by my ears.


    ¡« I can probably find some useful information there.


    I enter.


    Although I was gradually getting used to the presence of other humans, seeing so many of them gathered in one place pinches my heart. Everywhere I look, there are smiles, and my sensitive ears are filled with resounding laughter, while my nostrils follow the dance of young women carrying silver trays.


    ¨C Welcome!


    A burly man in his forties stands behind the bar, calling out to me. He''s well over a head taller than me and twice as wide. His muscular body shows through a tight black T-shirt. I wonder why this man, probably capable of knocking out a grizzlion with one hand, is behind a bar serving drinks. He seems a little overqualified for the job.


    ¨C A traveller? That''s pretty rare. I bet you don¡¯t have a coin.


    ¨C Does it really show that much?


    ¨C I''ve seen many different faces here. Over time, I''ve learned to recognize the types of people. Those who come into a bar without having enough money to buy decent clothes aren''t usually very good customers, he says with a laugh.


    I don''t know what to answer, so I just give a slightly embarrassed smile.


    ¨C You can call me Karim. Here, take this to cool you down, he says, handing me a drink that I look at warily.


    The liquid has a brownish tinge and a bitter smell.


    ¨C Drink it without hesitation, it''s on the house.


    After the crazy day I''ve had, I could empty a lake. I grab the earthenware glass and thank the tavern-keeper with a nod.


    ¨C In that case, I''ll be happy to drink!


    ¡«  Bitter!


    ¡«  Holy stary magpie! This is awful! And what¡¯s this burning sensation like my throat¡¯s being torn apart?


    I remember old Tak warning me about a drink they sell in the capital that poison people. Instinctively, I pull out my knife and point it at the tavern-keeper.


    ¨C What have you made me drink, you bastard? As you said, my pockets are empty!


    The lively chatter that filled the room a moment ago has now turned into the deepest silence. Nothing moves or breathes, and I can feel all eyes in the room on me as time stands still. Being the center of attention has a strange effect on me: my face warms up and I feel a few drops of transpiration beading from my armpits. Finally, a voice in the audience breaks the silence.


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    ¨C Hey Karim! What are you giving this kid? That¡¯s a drink for tough guys!


    Everyone burst out laughing and the din picks up from where it had left off. Even Karim can''t help smiling.


    ¨C That''s a very funny reaction right there. You don''t need to be so on your guard, you know. Nobody here means you any harm, he says in a reassuring voice while sweeping the room with a wave of his hand.


    I suddenly feel terribly stupid. Just looking at the smiles on everyone¡¯s faces, it''s obvious that I''m safe. My heart pinches again.


    ¡« I''m safe here!


    ¨C Maybe that was just a bit strong for you. Sorry about that. Here, take this instead!


    He now hands me a glass of water and gulps down the one I hadn''t finished. I look at the new liquid, making sure it''s clear, then gulp it down with the same vigor, before apologizing in an embarrassed voice.


    ¨C Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s nothing. You must be on edge after a long trip outside the walls. Where are your friends?


    ¨C I''m travelling alone.


    ¨C Aren''t you a bit young for a solo traveller? How long have you been traveling like this, kid?


    ¨C Next winter will be the seventh since I left home.


    Hearing this, his eyes try in vain to pop out of his sockets.


    ¡« Is it really that surprising to survive for several years in the wild? Admittedly, it''s quite dangerous at times, but there''s everything you need to feed yourself. You have to be good at running, though. It must be hard to imagine for a city-dweller, born and bred within these walls. Perhaps I''d better keep my survival in the wild a secret if I don''t want to attract any more attention.


    The tavern-keeper is now glaring at me.


    ¨C I''m surprised you''ve survived all this time on your own with such a small weapon. I heard it''s crawling with brigands outside the walls. And if only that were the worst of it... But it¡¯s obvious that your muscles don¡¯t come from a few summer walks, he says, although his imposing build would strike fear into any wild beast. Anyway, I suppose you had your reasons for undertaking such a journey.


    ¨C Reasons? Hmm, I suppose I just wanted to see the capital I''ve heard so much about.


    I can see from his face that this answer doesn''t satisfy him. Actually, the way he looks at me makes me feel like he knows more about me than it seems.


    ¨C Don''t worry about it. It''s not my style to stir up people''s past. Beside that, you must be hungry and tired after such a long journey.


    ¨C You¡¯re not wrong.


    ¨C Then you can sleep here until you find somewhere better. I can''t offer you a room, but you can stay in the stable. It''s not as comfortable as a bed, but it should be enough for an adventurer like you.


    ¨C Really? I don''t know how to thank you. To be honnest, I was planing to spend the night outside on a patch of grass.


    My remark makes him laugh again. I don''t know if it''s because of the relief, but my stomach suddenly emits the most vile of grumbles. With all the events of the day, I completely forgot to eat.


    ¨C Here, treat yourself, he says, handing me a large plate with all kinds of food, none of which I recognize.


    ¨C I can''t accept, it''s too much!


    ¨C Don''t worry, it''s leftovers from the kitchen. Just come and buy me a proper meal when you can afford it.


    ¨C In that case, I''ll gladly accept, and I promise to come back as soon as I have some money.


    I pounce on the plate of food like a starving animal, triggering once again the tavern-keeper''s laughter which echoes around the room. As I eat, I listen to the conversations around me. All the voices blending into a confusing jumble of words, I panic at first, thinking that all these people are speaking a language unfamiliar to me, until two particularly loud men with red noses catch my attention.


    ¨C Did you see the last Geika tournament?


    ¨C Nope. My parents needed help on the farm. I would have loved to see that.


    ¨C This year''s was particularly impressive. Especially the final battle opposing the Jiskar and the Hivar Geika. I hold my breath until the end.


    I can¡¯t make sense of their conversation, so I turn to Karim for clarification.


    ¨C What''s all this about a tournament?


    ¨C It''s an annual event here, where several Geikas face off in an arena. The winners not only earn a substantial sum of money but also gain higher status and a position in the consulate. Every year, the city gets really crowded during tournament time, but it''s good for business, he admits while rubbing his hands, a spark in the eyes.


    ¨C That sounds interesting. What exactly is a Geika?


    Karim suddenly spits out the liquid he''d just put in his mouth.


    ¨C This is my forest man right here. But what kind of hole have you been living in?


    ¡« Given his reaction earlier, it''s probably best not to mention my memory loss or the fact that I spent three years living in a wooden hut in the forest.


    I dodge the question and simply apologize for my lack of knowledge.


    ¨C In simple terms, Geikas are groups that train to master ancient, secret techniques. These are mostly combat techniques, but some Geikas also specialize in espionage, medicine, or other fields. There are of all kinds. They also represent the country''s armed force in the event of an attack from a neighbouring country.


    ¨C If I understand correctly, these are groups of people with extraordinary skills, right?


    My sudden enthusiasm seems to catch him off guard, prompting him to raise an eyebrow.


    ¨C That''s one way to put it, he replies while raising an eyebrow, surprised by my sudden enthusiasm.


    ¨C And how can I join one?


    ¨C Each Geika has its own set of very specific criteria. Honestly, I have no idea what¡¯s in these people head. I''m sorry, but your best bet is to approach them directly and ask.


    ¨C I see, thank you for everything.


    ¨C Are you leaving already?


    ¨C I don¡¯t want to keep you any longer, and I¡¯m exhausted from the long day.


    ¡« Honestly, I¡¯m just eager for tomorrow to speak with these... Geikas. Perhaps I¡¯ll finally find a master! It was definitely worth coming all the way to the capital!


    ¨C I understand. The stable is just outside to the right. If the noise bothers you, just put some hay in your ears.


    ¨C I¡¯ll make sure to pay you back one day, I promise!


    ¨C No need for that! Oh¡­ he¡¯s already gone.


    Despite the strong scent of animals and the noise drifting from the tavern, I fell asleep quickly, resting comfortably on a bed of straw.

 Chapter 4: Geikas

    Karim warned me that today is what they call "market day", a special occasion when the streets are packed and the traders are exceptionally loud. But nothing could¡¯ve prepared me for the reality ¡ª it''s overwhelming. I can barely move without bumping into someone, and I''ve lost count of the times I''ve apologized for stepping on someone¡¯s foot. Also, the sea of human faces is overstimulating for a solitary traveler like myself, and I feel a knot of anxiety forming in my stomach. Needing to escape, I duck into an alleyway, where I end up spilling my dinner from the previous night on the ground. I feel bad for Karim, who kindly offered me these nutrients. After a few breaths of fresh air, I wander through the quieter streets.


    In an alleyway shadowed by tall buildings blocking out the morning sun, I walk past a shop window filled with all kinds of weapons and decide to go in for a closer look. The fresh air and the scent of metal are calming, and I marvel at a variety of weapons I never knew existed.


    ¡« I''d love to replace my rusty knife with something more... striking?


    My attention is caught by a long-handled sword that looks familiar. Old Tak had a similar one hanging in his hut, though I''ve never seen him use it. I pick it up to examine it more closely.


    ¨C Hey! Put that back! Where do you think you are? These are top-quality weapons, forged by the Hagan Geika. If you¡¯re not buying, get out!


    Kicked out into the street, I glance back at the shop one last time.


    ¡« How did he know I wasn¡¯t gonna buy anything?


    I lower my gaze to my torn T-shirt, barely covering me, and my old, muddy shoes with toes poking out.


    ¡« I really need to find new clothes.


    I continue walking until I reach the end of the alleyway where a crowd is gathered, blocking the path as they all seem to be staring at something. Curious, I climb onto an old barrel abandoned against a wall. It appears that all the attention is focused on a confident young man strutting down the street, flaunting his charms and leaving a trail of smitten admirers behind him.


    ¨C Look out! It''s Jonathan from the Hivar Geika! You should have seen him win the final of the Geika tournament ¡ª he was like a god!


    ¨C I admit, he''s not bad to look at. I wish he could be my son-in-law.


    ¨C Do you really think he''d go out with a peasant girl? At best, you daughter could become his mistress.


    ¡« What¡¯s all the fuss about? His face isn''t unpleasant, but it hardly justifies this level of excitement¡­ Oh screw it!


    ¨C Excuse me!


    I¡¯m not sure if it¡¯s my outfit or the fact that I just leapt over their heads to land in the middle of the street, but now everyone is staring at me as if they¡¯ve seen a specter. As someone who hates being the center of attention, I would have felt nauseous in such a crowd if I hadn¡¯t already emptied my stomach. But I can''t let such an opportunity slip by, so I do my best to endure this awkward feeling and call out the young man.


    ¨C Can I ask you something?


    ¨C Who''s this filthy guy daring to talk to him, murmurs a woman in the crowd.


    ¨C Don''t become like him, son, adds another in an authoritative tone.


    ¡« What''s wrong with these people? I mean, it¡¯s just clothes. I even take pride in my hygiene. During my journey, I used to bathe once a week, though I sometimes went a month without finding a proper water place to wash.


    ¨C May I ask what a peasant wants from me, he asks me with a haughty expression.


    ¡« From his tone, you''d think the word "peasant" is the worst insult, although these honest workers are supposed to be the ones who keep everyone fed.


    The man looks irritated that I¡¯ve drawn all the attention away from him, though he¡¯s trying to maintain his composure.


    ¨C You''re part of the Hivar Geika, aren''t you?


    ¨C You mean you don''t recognize me? Hu-Hum, I mean¡­ What does that have to do with a peasant like you, he retorts, once again emphasizing the word "peasant", visibly struggling more and more to keep his cool smile from slipping.


    ¨C Actually, I¡¯ve just arrived in town and I¡¯m trying to learn about the different Geikas. Would you be willing to tell me about yours?


    ¨C Are you some sort of spy from Techna?


    ¨C A what?


    His face finally betrays his irritation.


    ¨C I don''t have time to waste on a nobody like you. Get out of my way, he orders, shoving me intentionally before continuing his parade through the streets.


    I can hear people whispering around me while avoiding eye contact.


    ¡« Pfff, this is gonna be more complicated than I thought.


    After hours of wandering through the sprawling maze of this enormous city, I decide to rest in the shadow of a towering structure that stands out among the other buildings. The metal entrance door is so massive that I wonder how the inhabitants manage to open it.


    ¡« It must belong to very rich people.


    Suddenly, a man in a black hood ¡ª probably not to shield himself from the sun ¡ª approaches the door. Summoning my courage, I step forward to speak to him.


    ¨C Do you live here?


    The hooded figure extends a hand towards the doors, which immediately begin to open with a metallic squeal. Captivated by the show, I realize too late that they''re already starting to close, engulfing the man in total darkness.


    ¡« I¡¯ll get used to being ignored if this keeps up.


    I approach the doors and notice an inscription embedded in the metal: "Jiskar Geika"


    ¨C Geika members are definitely all eccentrics.


    ¨C You¡¯ve got that right, a voice responds from behind me.


    I turn around, surprised, and discover an elderly woman whose back is as arched as a crescent moon.


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    ¨C I swear, it¡¯s ridiculous that the country relies on this bunch of idiots for protection. The kingdom of Historia has really hit rock bottom.


    ¨C Um, who am I speaking with?


    ¨C Just a bitter old woman with no place in today''s world. Don''t mind me, she replies before turning on her heels and beginning to walk away.


    With that, she turns on her heels and start going away.


    ¨C No, wait! I¡¯d really like to ask you some questions. Could you spare me five minutes?


    She stares at me for a moment ¡ª a treatment I''m beginning to get used to ¡ª then closes her eyes and changes hands with her cane.


    ¨C Well, if there¡¯s one thing still working in this old body of mine, it¡¯s my memory. What do you want to know, kid?


    ¨C I''d like you to tell me about the Geikas.


    ¨C They''re a bunch of good-for-nothings. End of explanation, she says sharply before resuming her walk.


    Her small legs move surprisingly fast, making me have to put in effort to catch up with her.


    ¨C Why do you hate Geikas so much?


    ¨C Back in the day, the Geikas were much closer to the people. Their members used to help citizens for a modest fee and weren¡¯t as arrogant as they are now. Nowadays, even the smallest favor from a Geika costs a fortune, and they lock themselves away in their towers, completely indifferent to the needs of the people.


    ¡« That¡¯s consistent with the impression I¡¯ve gotten so far.


    ¨C And why is a brat like you interested in Geikas?


    ¨C If possible, I''d like to find a teacher to help me perfect my training.


    ¨C Hmph... I wouldn¡¯t recommend dealing with the Geikas, but I know that at your age, you don''t listen to the advices of your elders.


    ¨C Hahaha, sorry. I¡¯m really determined to see this through to the end.


    ¨C Well, if it''s that important to you, I can show you the way to the nearest Geika in exchange for a small favor.


    ¨C Would you do that? Thank you so much!


    ¨C Don¡¯t thank me! If old folks like me don¡¯t guide the young, who will?


    Despite her rough manner, I¡¯m convinced she has a warm heart inside. It¡¯s clear that something serious must have happened with a Geika in her past, but I decide not to ask.


    Arriving in front of the Medras Geika building, I part ways with the old lady and step inside, donning my best smile. The entrance hall is quite plain, lacking any decorations. A young man behind the counter greets me with a friendly smile.


    ¨C Welcome! What¡¯s the purpose of your visit?


    ¨C I¡¯d like to learn more about the Geikas.


    ¨C Why¡¯s that? Are you interested in joining one?


    ¨C Well, I¡¯m not sure yet. I''d like to see if it''s the kind of place I''m looking for.


    ¨C I see... If you¡¯d like, I can take you to meet our boss so that you can ask him your questions.


    ¨C Would you really do that?


    ¨C Of course! It¡¯s the least I can do for a traveler who¡¯s come all this way. Follow me.


    ¡« Goes to show that my status as a traveler can be useful from time to time.


    I follow him until we reach a dimly lit corridor.


    ¨C Go this way and open the door at the far end. Behind it, you¡¯ll find the answers to all your questions, he says, indicating the direction with the same fixed smile still stretching across his lips as if it had been carved onto his face.


    I thank him politely and follow his instructions. When I reach the end of the corridor, I open the door abruptly, eager for answers. After a few moments of glare caused by the sudden light, I find myself back on the shopping street I arrived from. I turn around, but the door has vanished, replaced by a fishmonger trying to sell me fish apparently fresh from this morning.


    ¨C What exactly just happened?


    ¨C You, my boy, just got royally screwed, the familiar voice of the old lady responds behind me, while I am still under the shock of what just happened. You''ve been tricked by an illusion. That''s the Medras Geika¡¯s specialty. But don''t worry, it happens to everyone who tries to get something out of those egoists. Anyway, don''t say I didn''t warn you. Come on, close your big mouth before a bird makes a nest in it and help me carry my groceries.


    ¨C So, are you going to buy the fish or not, yells the fishmonger as we walk away.


    When we arrive at her house, I thank the old lady and watch the sun set over the horizon.


    ¨C Already twilight...


    ¨C What¡¯s your plan now, kid?


    ¨C I''m gonna keep trying for a bit. I came all this way to find a master, after all.


    ¨C Ah, youth¡­ Just as beautiful as foolish, she says in a weary voice.


    As I squint, I catch sight of a shape being swallowed up by the gigantic celestial fireball at the top of a hill.


    ¨C What''s that over there?


    ¨C Oh, that! It''s the Izar Geika estate. They moved up there to make the most of the sunlight, from what I heard.


    ¨C In that case, I¡¯ll try my luck there to end the day. Thanks again for everything!


    I bow respectfully before running off.


    ¡« I need to get there before the sun completely disappears behind the horizon.


    ¨C I swear, what a carefree kid. Reminds me of another one at his age¡­


    Turning back one last time to say goodbye, I think I catch a faint smile on her wrinkled face, but she quickly looks away.


    ¡« How many steps has it been?


    I lost count when my lungs started burning, desperately trying to escape from my ribcage. After a final, seemingly endless effort, I finally collapse at the top of the stairs, gasping for breath. From here, the sun is still high in the sky.


    ¨C Oh? It''s not often we get visitors, surprise me a voice on my right.


    I stand up to face my interlocutor: a young man in his twenties, draped in white cloth and wearing sandals. I''d never seen such a handsome face before. His long, silky gray hair and light eyes, framed by long silver lashes, give him an elegant and ethereal appearance, very different from ordinary city dwellers. His figure is slim, but his muscles are certainly not just decoration.


    ¡« Living at the top of such a staircase certainly requires a certain level of fitness. Or maybe it''s from living here that he¡¯s sculpted his body? Either way, he must have all the women under his spell.


    ¨C You''re very brave to have come all this way. What''s your name?


    ¨C Ishizora.


    ¨C What an unusual name. You''re not from the capital, that''s for sure. A traveler maybe?


    ¨C Yes, a traveler.


    ¨C And what can I do for you, Ishizora the traveler?


    ¨C I''d like to know how to join a Geika.


    ¨C You want to join one? Hmm, since you''ve come this far, I can take you to see my brother. But if I were you, I''d turn back. My brother''s criteria are a bit... selective, he admits to me with compassion.


    ¨C Oh don¡¯t worry, I''m already used to eccentrics.


    ¨C Haha, I like you. Follow me; I''ll take you to him.


    ¡« After everything I''ve been through today, it can''t get any worse.


    I am first dazzled by the pristine whiteness of the Geika Izar building. It is entirely made of white marble, supported by majestic, finely carved columns. All the members are dressed in white tunics and radiate an aura of prestige. Their sculpted bodies confirm my suspicions about the staircase.


    ¨C Big brother! Here''s a traveler who''d like to ask you a few questions.


    ¨C A traveler? Is that really the case, asks the older brother with a suspicious look.


    The so-called big brother is barely taller than a child, but the opulent marble throne he sits on makes it clear that he is indeed the authority here. The sunlight streaming in from behind him reflects off the marble columns, creating a blinding glare that forces me to lower my gaze. He scrutinizes me from head to toe, but this time, it''s not to try to understand what species I belong to. No, he seems to be analyzing every detail of my form, like a painter who¡¯d have only five seconds to memorize my body before recreating it with his eyes closed. His gaze now fixes on my eyes, and I feel as if he¡¯s probing directly into my mind. I eventually look away, uncomfortable.


    ¨C You are not shining, he suddenly says.


    ¡« My tanned skin and black hair must stand out against all this blinding whiteness.


    ¨C Please excuse my appearance. I¡¯ve just returned from a long journey and haven¡¯t had the means to buy new clothes yet.


    ¨C There¡¯s that, but I was referring more to your posture, your attitude. You look like one of those limp bugs that crawl on the ground. You know? Slugs.


    ¡« What?!


    His acolytes laugh silently, covering their mouths with their hands, while the good-looking man who guided me here looks at me with compassion.


    ¨C But let¡¯s set appearances aside. May I ask why you¡¯ve come all this way?


    ¨C I''m looking for information on¡ª


    ¨C No, not that! I''m talking about your real purpose, he specifies imperiously, striking his marble armrest.


    ¨C Well... As my previous master passed away before I could complete my training, I''m searching for a new one to help me grow stronger.


    ¨C Ooh? And why do you seek strength?


    I recall a familiar voice urging me to become strong, strong enough to never lose to anyone. I''ve heard this voice many times in my dreams, but I¡¯ve never known whose voice it is or why it speaks to me.


    ¨C To be honest... I don''t know.


    My answer causes a stir among the assembly, and murmurs begin to be heard.


    ¨C What do you mean by that, Ishizora, asks the silver lashes man with a worried face.


    ¨C I have a reason, but... it¡¯s complicated, I can''t remember what it is.


    The whispers among the assembly grow louder until their leader silences them with a wave of his hand.


    ¨C Of all the stupidities I''ve ever heard, congratulations, that takes the cake. Walking the path of power requires unwavering determination. We all have our own reasons, and you claim to want strength without knowing why? Don¡¯t make me laugh! Those who seek power merely for self-satisfaction are always first to die!


    I remain silent, unable to respond to these legitimate accusations, and a heavy silence fills the room as the little man¡¯s words continue to echo.


    ¨C This is absurd. I don¡¯t have time to waste on this nonsense. Get him out of my sight!

 Chapter 5: The predator

    As I descend the hill, I''m struck by how dark the winding streets have become, even though the last rays of daylight still reflects off the marble columns of the Geika Izar estate, as if it were a legendary island that night cannot reach. The stones, once warmed by the sun, now exude a soft coolness, and the ambient bustle that filled the air before I began my climb is now reduced to a distant echo, messenger of life. With a deep sigh, I try to shake off the frustrations of the day and make my way to the stables, where, at least, I won¡¯t have to tolerate the disdain of my peers.


    ¡« It¡¯s only been a day since I arrived in town, and I already long for the company of animals... Unlike people, they don¡¯t judge based on origin, status, or appearance.


    Being in no mood for sleep, I decide to take a detour before heading home.


    As I walk along a narrow path through one of the city''s few green spaces, my sensitive ears catch the faint sound of whispers coming from a nearby thicket. Intrigued, I pause to listen. Three unseen voices seem up to no good. Instinctively, I slip behind a tree trunk and close my eyes to focus. My surroundings soon appear in shades of black and white, and my vision broadens. I easily spot the three thugs crouched behind a bush near the edge of the path.


    ¨C Shhh! Someone¡¯s coming, get ready, murmurs suddenly one of them while shifting nervously.


    The men grip their weapons, eyes locked on the path, not moving a single muscle. I reopen my eyes and do the same. In the faint glow of Someon and Daria, the twin moons, a slender figure approaches, carrying shopping bags that seem a bit too large for her small frame.


    ¡« Could it be... She''s in danger!


    Before I can react, the three men have already jumped out of their hiding spot, blocking the woman''s way.


    ¨C It''s risky to walk alone at night, miss. Now, hand over everything you''ve got, and we¡¯ll be gentle with you.


    As they laugh, clearly confident they''ve found an easy prey, the faint light from the cardinal headlights sweeps over their yellowed teeth and identical tattoos ¡ª probably a symbol of belonging to some bandit group.


    ¡« Is it a habit of city robbers to offer advice that could damage their business?


    Stupid as they may look in their oversized clothes and fragile stances, they haven''t chosen their spot at random. The fireflies that roam the city at night don''t venture into isolated places like this, and there''s little chance of anyone being able to hear the screams of the victim. Added to the fact that they are three against one, and all of them armed, I decide to step in, using a replica meticulously prepared during my six years of wandering.


    ¨C Is it local custom to give warnings before attacking, or are you just unusually polite thieves, I ask while drawing my knife, assuming my best combat stance and putting on my most confident expression.


    Old Tak once told me that bluffing works wonders against small-time criminals like these.


    ¨C What?!


    Their confused looks suggest my grand entrance didn¡¯t quite land as I''d hoped.


    ¡« Old Tak had warned me that appearance matters as much as attitude when trying to intimidate someone, and in that regard, I''m sorely lacking! But it doesn¡¯t matter, the important thing is to buy time so the victim can escape.


    ¨C Who''s this guy? Looks like a pest. Should I kill him?


    The casual tone of this death threat sends a chill down my spine. One-on-one and unarmed, I might have a shot, but this situation is far more precarious. I continue bluffing, hoping to buy more time.


    ¡« Maybe, with some luck, I¡¯ll get to escape as well. After all, a day without a chase would lack that little touch of adrenaline I¡¯ve grown accustomed to.


    With a discreet yet firm gesture, I urge the woman to slip away while keeping my focus on the danger.


    ¨C Do you think you''re scaring me with those toothpicks?


    ¡« They absolutely do.


    ¨C And there are only three of you? You don¡¯t stand a chance against me.


    ¨C What¡¯s this guy on about, asks casually one of them while actually using his dagger as a toothpick.


    ¡« Damn, it doesn''t seem to be working. I suppose I was too optimistic in thinking I could scare men accustomed to fighting creatures as tall as a tree.


    ¨C Brigands like you, I¡¯ve beaten up hundreds of them! Haha-hahaha...


    ¨C Boss, there¡¯s a mosquito buzzing in my ears. Can I stab it?


    ¡« It seems that neither my comedic skills nor my forced laughter ¡ª cruelly lacking in conviction ¡ª were enough to conceal my nervousness.


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    ¨C Mind if I ask what¡¯s going on here, suddenly asks the woman behind my back.


    The voice seems devoid of panic, and I would even say it carries a slight hint of arrogance.


    ¡« Why does no one in this country seem to grasp the seriousness of a situation?


    ¨C Is this one of those old flirting tricks, she asks, leaving me puzzled as to what she''s referring to. You know, where your friends threaten me so you can swoop in, save me, and I¡¯ll owe you?


    ¡« Wait, that¡¯s a thing?! The people of this town are unsettling in so many ways¡­


    ¨C Am I wrong? Doesn''t matter. Can we just get this over with already?


    The aggressiveness of the three men has now given way to confusion, which soon turns to irritation.


    ¨C That little bitch is mocking us.


    ¨C Boss, let¡¯s kill the boy and take the girl!


    ¡« Where does this girl get all her confidence from? At this rate, we''ll have no choice but to fight.


    ¨C Pff, it''s always like this when I come to town. Why are there so many rats these days? Are you breeding in the bushes or something, she throw with a bored voice.


    Despite the tension in the air, I can¡¯t suppress a chuckle at the indignant looks on the thugs'' faces.


    ¨C Okay, jokes time is over. Restrain her without causing too much damage. We¡¯ll have our fun with her before selling her off. As for the boy, kill him if he resists.


    ¡« It seems, after all, that the merchandise of these gentlemen is not limited to the creatures of Historia. I was right to follow old Tak¡¯s advices and not interact with their colleagues during my journey.


    ¨C They don''t seem to have a sense of self-deprecation. You''d better¡ª


    I don''t have time to finish my warning before the girl abruptly hands me her shopping bags, a gesture that stirs a strange feeling of d¨¦j¨¤ vu in me. The unexpected weight nearly topples me, and by the time I recover, I recognize my savior as she walks past me, cracking her knuckles. Dumbfounded, I watch the silver rays reflecting off her vermilion hair and fall once again under the spell of her athletic figure. Her hair, dancing like flames in the wind, fills me with a gentle nostalgia, evoking winter evenings when old Tak would tell me stories by the fire. Lost in this reverie, my awareness drifts away, and my mind is no longer part of the present reality. My doubts and fears dissipate, swept away like dust in the wind by her unwavering confidence, and I stand here, my gaze fixed on the back-and-forth of her fiery hair as she faces two armed opponents.


    By the time I snap back to reality, the situation has completely shifted ¡ª both men are now unarmed, one with a broken arm, and their mocking laughter has turned into screams of panic.


    ¡« The prey has become the predator.


    The first bandit is sent flying when the foot of the enraged beast, who once was a charming young girl, makes contact with his right cheek, before I could even see her leg lift. A sound of breaking bones escapes the bandit''s mouth, accompanied by a thread of red-tinged drool, as he is hurled like a stone against a cedar trunk. He is quickly joined by his colleague who, his wrist oriented in an unusual direction, finds himself upside down in less time than it takes to realize. Both men crumple to the ground like overripe fruit, unconscious, under the horrified look of the third. The predator now directs a feral gaze toward her last victim, two frightening red glints piercing through her fringe.


    ¨C A... A monster! It''s a monster, yells the last bandit in panic, falling onto his backside before scrambling to his feet and fleeing in a hurry.


    I almost feel pity for these poor men who¡¯ve clearly chosed the wrong target. I remain stunned as the girl now heads in my direction.


    ¨C Sorry for ending the party, but I still have a long way to go. I don''t know who you are, but could you hand me my bags now?


    As my body no longer reacts to my brain''s commands, she ends up taking the bags out of my hands.


    ¨C Hey, hello? Can you hear me?


    She leans in, her face getting very close to mine, and I hold my breath.


    ¨C Wait a second... I know you! You¡¯re that weird boy from yesterday!


    I finally manage to shake off my lethargic state.


    ¨C Uh, yep, that¡¯s me again! As strange as it may sound¡­


    ¨C What was your name again? Ishi... Ishimura?


    ¨C Ishizora!


    ¨C Yes, that''s it! Yoshimura, she exclaims, snapping her fingers.


    ¡« Is she doing this on purpose?


    ¨C So, what are you doing out here so late? Are you stalking me?


    ¨C What? No! I didn¡¯t even recognize you until you handed me your shopping bags. Small world, isn¡¯t it? Hahaha¡­


    I try to break the tension with an awkward laugh. I at least understood that I shouldn¡¯t make her my enemy. Surprisingly, a slight smile appears on her lips.


    ¨C And once again, I had to save your butt. Are you the type who constantly finds himself in trouble?


    ¡« Technically, she was the target this time, but it¡¯s probably best not to mention it.


    ¨C Anyway, thanks for not running off with my bags.


    ¨C Do I look that desperate?


    She shoots me a glare, and I can already guess what¡¯s coming next.


    ¨C Honestly... yes. Don''t tell me you''ve taken up residence in a local bush?


    ¨C I''m not an animal!


    ¨C Says the guy who lived in the forest for years.


    ¨C It¡¯s completely differ¡­ Wait, what? How do you know that?


    She lets out a long sigh, as if the mere thought of continuing this conversation irritated her to the highest degree.


    ¨C It¡¯s obvious. You don¡¯t develop such muscularity and a keen sense of danger by staying cooped up behind these walls. Besides, I don¡¯t know of any town in the direction you were coming from when we met.


    ¨C Well, I can confirm that. But your strength doesn''t seem to come from here either. Where did you learn to fight like this?


    ¨C If you don¡¯t have anything else to say, I¡¯ve got a long way to go, she says before starting to walk away.


    This time, I refuse to let the discussion end here.


    ¨C Wait, wait!


    ¨C Wait for what?


    Her furious gaze would probably make anyone swallow their words, but I¡¯m already used to the stare of ferocious beasts. However, I still feel the need to swallow noisily before proceeding further.


    ¨C Could I at least know your name?


    She hesitates for a moment.


    ¨C Kana! And don''t you dare forget it, she says although she forgot mine.


    On this terrifying threat, she disappears into the darkness of the night, leaving me with a final, sarcastic warning.


    ¨C And take care of yourself! I won¡¯t always be around to save your butt.


    ¡« I have to admit, that one stung a little bit. She''s definitely not an opponent against whom you can let your guard down.


    I won¡¯t lie, this little woman scares me more than any wild creature from Historia. Yet, as soon as she disappeared from my sight, I felt the immediate need to see her again.


    ¨C Kana...


    I repeat her name out loud to make sure I don''t forget it, but it''s unnecessary. Her name is already engraved in my memory like marble, and I have the feeling it will take more than a violent fall on my head to make me forget it.

 Chapter 6: Dream fragment

    Houses are burning, screams of terror pierce the smoky sky, and lifeless bodies litter the village streets. The entire valley is shrouded in choking smoke, and I run as fast as my little legs can carry me. I clutch a piece of cloth, torn hastily from a burning corpse, pressing it to my face to block out the searing smoke. My throat sears, my eyes sting, my legs tremble, and each glance backward tightens my chest, as if an invisible tether binds me to this inferno, and every step I take away from it tears at my heart.


    A young man runs beside me. His face is familiar, yet I can''t tell who he is. His severe face is blackened by soot and tightened with frustration. Or maybe he''s just trying to contain his grief, like a dam cracking under the weight of a torrent of emotions. He looks like a young man who has grown too old; his body, still full of vitality, seems weighed down by a burden too heavy and too precocious. His presence is a comfort, the last link to reality that keeps me grounded amid the chaos.


    ¡« Wherever he goes, I''ll follow!


    When we''re finally beyond the searing heat, and when the cries have faded to distant echoes swallowed by the stagnant air, the man places his hands on my shoulders and crouches to meet my gaze. He looks me straight in the eye and speaks with a serious face, but no sound reaches my ears. He then pulls me into a tight embrace, and my vision starts to blur. At last, he loosens his grip, leaning close, and his final words reach me through this time.


    ¨C There are two things you must remember, Cyan. First, you must become stronger ¡ª stronger than anyone else, he says in a barely audible voice, as if speaking from the other side of an icy wall.


    Eventually, a tear rolls down his cheek, first crack heralding a flood of emotions.


    ¨C And finally...


    His last words, in a voice cracked with sorrow, are swallowed by the hot air, before he turns and runs back toward the flickering shadows of the village. Smoke clouds my senses, and I wake up.


    Sunlight streams through the gaps in the stable¡¯s wooden boards, piercing the dimness like a thousand sharp arrows of light that dazzle me. Suddenly, I feel a wet nudge against my shoulder, pushing insistently until I tumble off the straw mound that served as my bed. Jolted awake, I leap to my feet and instinctively reach for my weapon, disoriented by the sudden chaos. There, standing in front of me, the culprit is happily chewing on the hay I had warmed with my sleep, whinnying in delight. I vaguely recall dreaming something important before I woke, but now all that lingers is a throbbing headache. As I blink away the confusion of my rude awakening, the situation becomes clearer.


    ¨C Up and at ''em early today, are you?


    I recognize the deep, gravelly tone of the stocky tavern-keeper, standing in the stable doorway with an armful of hay. He looks in bewilderment at the absurd scene unfolding before him: a young man half-asleep with straw in his hair, ready to fight with a spotted mare who, completely ignoring her opponent, calmly enjoy her breakfast.


    ¨C Who exactly are you fighting against, he asks me, puzzled.


    I finally see the absurdity of the moment and lower my weapon, feeling slightly embarrassed.


    ¨C Looks like you slept well ¡ª judging by the straw in your hair.


    ¨C Not too bad!


    ¡« Bad dream or not, I admit straw isn''t less comfortable than tree moss.


    ¨C Good! So, what''s your next move?


    ¨C I''m going to keep looking for information. If I don''t find anything by tonight, I''ll be on my way. I don¡¯t want to impose on you any longer.


    ¨C Why not try speaking to some of the less prominent Geikas? They might be more open to helping you.


    ¨C You¡¯re right. I¡¯ll give it a shot. Thanks again for everything.


    ¨C Don''t worry about it. You know, kid, as long as you keep searching, you''ll always end up finding something, he tells me as I exit the stable.


    As I walk, I reflect on the tavern keeper''s last words, surprisingly wise for someone with the looks of a grizzlion boxer. This raises however an important question.


    ¡« Do I really have time?


    I can¡¯t shake this strange sense of urgency, as though something deep within me is bubbling up, ready to erupt. This voice ¡ª the only piece of my past I¡¯ve managed to hold onto ¡ª never imposed any deadlines. At least, not that I remember. No, this restless drive comes from somewhere deeper. It¡¯s been with me since I was "reborn" ten years ago. Everything before that is just a tangled fog of colors and sounds, as vague as it is maddening.


    ¡« I''m tired of not knowing. I¡¯d give anything to remember something else from my past, something more useful, like a place, a name, or just a face.


    With these thoughts swirling in my mind, I step into the Renkin Keiga¡¯s HQ, brimming with determination. The place is a chaotic whirlwind of activity. People in white coats rush about, deeply engrossed in what seems to be important work. The energy in the room is palpable, and I feel a little out of place, hesitant to interrupt anyone. Before I can decide on my next move, a man in his thirties, unshaven and full of soot, approaches me.


    ¨C What can I do for you, my friend? Are you a science enthusiast, by any chance, he asks me excitedly.


    ¨C A what? No, no! At least I don''t think so.


    ¨C Oh, don''t worry about that! Everyone thinks science is irrelevant these days ¡ª until they don¡¯t.


    I don''t know what I should worry about, but it''s impossible not to agree with his childlike smile, theatrical gestures, and sing-song intonation accompanied by a slight lisp. Adding to his eccentric aura, a small flame dances atop a lock of his salt-and-pepper hair that seems to defy gravity, like a match someone forgot to blow out. His fogged-up glasses can¡¯t hide the spark in his eyes, and with hands on his hips, he radiates confidence.


    ¨C I¡¯m just curious about what kind of activities you do here.


    ¨C Ah, perfect timing, my friend! Right now, we¡¯re experimenting with extracting Mystra from bluish ptirotactites in order to build a choroxybolite propellant.


    ¡« It''s very far from the answer I was expecting, but at least he didn¡¯t brush me off, which I consider a huge success. Nobody else seems to be available anyway.


    ¨C And, uh, what¡¯s the point of that, exactly?


    ¨C What''s the point, he repeats, raising his voice in outrage at the question, as the answer seems so obvious.


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    He looks genuinely outraged at my question, as though the answer should be self-evident.


    ¨C Not only will it allow loaded vehicles to move effortlessly, but above all, it would be an unparalleled scientific breakthrough! For centuries, our Geika has been chasing the dream of perpetual motion, and after countless setbacks, we''re finally on the cusp of success! Just imagine the infinite possibilities! Previously unexplored horizons are about to open before us! And that, my friend, is the word of a scientist!


    ¡« I don¡¯t understand a single word of his fiery speech, but admitting it would mean giving up on his infectious good mood.


    ¨C It all sounds... fabulous!


    His wide grin lifts my spirits, almost making me forget the reason of my visit. But the aura of happiness radiating from this funny man is abruptly shattered by a loud explosion from the adjacent room. A young woman in a lab coat bursts through the door, her face etched with panic.


    ¨C WARNING! CODE RED! CODE RED! EVACUATE THE BUILDING IMMEDIATELY!


    Thick black smoke billows out behind her, underscoring the urgency of her warning. The room erupts into chaos, people rushing toward the exit. Meanwhile, I stand there, staring at my eccentric host, who seems unfazed by the situation. His goofy grin remains plastered on his face, eyes still twinkling as though the world wasn¡¯t about to end.


    ¨C Uh¡­ this smoke¡­ is it dangerous?


    ¨C Oh, don''t worry about that! We experience failures all the time, but if passion is the horse that pulls the cart of knowledge, failure is the reins that guide it!


    Not in the least bit alarmed by the situation, he even starts laughing, amused by his analogy that went completely over my head. Then, a second explosion echoes, and a man emerges from the same room as his colleague before him. He staggers and coughs up his lungs, holding a cloth to his face to avoid inhaling the now yellowish smoke chasing him. The colored gas fills the room at the speed of an avalanche, though it doesn''t rise more than a meter above the ground. Once again, I ask my host, still as stoic as ever, for his opinion on this sulfur-scented cloud.


    ¨C And¡­ what about that smoke?


    As if to answer my question, the dying man warns us between coughs.


    ¨C It''s¡­ dangerous! Get¡­ out¡­ now, warns the newcomer between two coughs, as if to answer my question.


    The man staggers and eventually collapses into the thick blanket of smoke, as if swallowed by a dense fog. Keeping my composure, I use his brave sacrifice as a point to support my suspicions.


    ¨C See?! Your colleague says it''s dangerous.


    The match man, as I''ve decided to call him, ponders the situation for a few seconds before finally nodding his head.


    ¨C Hmm¡­ yes, it does seem rather dangerous this time¡­


    Once everyone has evacuated to the street, amid the scandalized stares of passers-by, the acrid smoke billows out from the Renkin Keiga¡¯s building. As it reaches the open air, it condenses into a multitude of ghostly wisps that dissipate in the morning breeze, leaving behind only a trickle of golden liquid, slowly dripping onto the cobblestones before seeping into the adjacent drains. I turn to one of the relatively clean scientists and ask the question that has been burning in my mind.


    ¨C Out of curiosity, what would¡¯ve happened if we¡¯d breathed that in?


    ¨C Oh, it varies. Once, someone lost an arm! Unfortunately, I wasn¡¯t around to witness it that day, he says in a nonchalant tone that makes me doubt the existence of a survival instinct in these people. But don¡¯t worry, we stopped doing those kinds of experiments. I mean¡­ I think we did, his hesitation unfortunately failing to reassure me.


    ¡« To be honest, I cannot picture any of the match man colleagues being cautious in the face of an exciting discovery.


    ¡« Speaking of him, where has he gone? Surely, he hasn¡¯t stayed inside. Has he? I lost sight of him in my haste.


    Just then, I hear an old man''s voice break through the tumult.


    ¨C Again?! I wonder how they''re still alive in there.


    After some thought, I decide it''s best to get away from here. After all, I can''t afford to die now.


    ¡« No, I cannot die yet!


    Those words echoe inside me with an unexpected intensity, far greater than I anticipated.


    Sneaking out of the crowd, I finally spot the match man whose lited wick has finally gone out, leaving a small amount of black smoke and the smell of burnt clay. Crouching beside a manhole cover where the golden liquid is dripping, he observes it utterly fascinated. He finally dips a finger in the liquid, brings it to his lips, then leaps to his feet and runs off to join his colleagues, looking more exhilarated than ever.


    After wandering for several minutes through the maze of the city, I sit down on the edge of a fountain, trying to steady my racing thoughts.


    ¡« This really isn¡¯t going according to plan...


    I let the despair simmer inside me for a few moments, then think back to the warm, reassuring voice of the corpulent tavern-keeper, the wistful smile of the sour old lady, and the girl whose feline eyes and fiery hair now haunt my thoughts, as if they¡¯ve taken up permanent residence in my memory. I slap my cheeks, forcing focus, and spring to my feet.


    ¡« There''s still hope.


    I scan my surroundings, gauging which direction to take. That¡¯s when I realize the unexpected beauty of the square I find myself in: the space is wide, encircled by quaint stone houses of varying hues, their architecture noticeably older than the other buildings of the district. A few wooden benches, scattered in the shade of leafy trees of various species, are harmoniously arranged around the square, and bushes carefully pruned into four distinct sections encircle the fountain on which I was sitting. The fountain itself is impressive, crowned by a striking white marble statue of a majestic winged wolf, its wings spreading proudly in the centre of the square.


    ¡« Do wolves have wings? Not the ones I know, at least.


    Upon closer inspection, I notice intricate symbols carved into the feathers of the wolf¡¯s immense wings. I''ve seen these patterns many times, ever since I arrived in the city. They are embedded in the capital¡¯s architecture, though I¡¯d never given them much thought, thinking of them as mere decorative motifs. Strangely enough, I feel like I¡¯ve seen them even before I reached Aragane, but the memory remains elusive. Judging by the surprising plumage of the marble animal, there are seven different symbols. As for what they represent, I haven¡¯t the faintest clue.


    My attention shifts to the tallest and most modern building of the square. Although it isn¡¯t particularly high, it stands out for its width, its recent architecture in smoothed white stone, and its wide-open wooden doors, creating a grand entrance several meters across. The interior seems to be bustling with activity, and my curiosity quickly guides me up the short flight of stairs.


    Stepping through the vast opening, I find myself in what appears to be an infirmary. The room is very spacious and minimalistic, stripped of any unnecessary furnishings or decor. Apart from the numerous beds where patients are being tended to, the room is completely empty. The stark whiteness of the walls is broken only by a large inscription painted boldly across the far side:


    ? Kusur Geika ?


    Nurses hurry about, their footsteps and urgent voices echoing off the walls. Every bed is occupied with men and women wearing the same black uniform. Some patients, only slightly injured, are getting an arm or leg bandaged, while others, clearly in more severe condition, writhe in pain, their torsos wrapped in bloodied bandages.


    Apart from me and another young man chatting in the middle of the room with an older nurse, everyone else is either a carer or someone being cared for, so that I begin to feel out of place, awkward and unsure of where to stand. As I contemplate the agitation and distress filling the room ¡ª yet totally absent outside of its walls ¡ª a young nurse calls out to me, snapping me out of my daze.


    ¨C How can I help you?


    It takes me a moment to realize she''s speaking to me.


    ¨C Uh... Yes! You do belong to a Geika, right?


    The young man who was speaking to the older nurse, now gone into the anthill of white aprons, turns his ear in our direction, seemingly interested in our discussion.


    ¨C Yes, you''re in the main building of the Kusur Geika. Are you injured or ill, she asks in a cold and impatient tone, fearing that I might waste her precious time.


    ¨C No, no, I''m fine, thank you. I was just looking for some informat¡ª


    ¨C If you don''t require our services, please step out so we can focus on those who do.


    ¨C Chloe! I need your help to prepare the painkillers!


    The woman vanishes as swiftly as she had appeared, joining the older nurse who now holds a handful of midnight-blue flowers, while the young man slips a few silver coins into his pocket. Realizing I¡¯m in the wrong place, I quietly retreat, head bowed.


    Once outside, the world feels entirely different ¡ª calm and serene. Few people pass through this large square, despite its obvious charm, and the only dominant sounds are those of the fountain and birdsong. A few steps away from the chaos inside, this peaceful place seem almost unreal.


    ¨C I wonder what happened to all those people...


    ¨C They''re border guards from Historia''s army.


    Not realizing that my thoughts have escaped, I''m initially surprised that a voice answers them.


    ¨C Judging by their wounds, they must have had a skirmish with Techna''s men.


    I turn to face my interlocutor, who is none other than the young man I saw in the room. As soon as our eyes meet, he greets me with an elegant bow.


    ¨C Natsuki, at your service!

 Chapter 7: Natsuki

    Even though he''s standing a step higher on the stairs, our eyes align at the same level. His shoulders aren¡¯t particularly broad either, yet he exudes confidence. I must admit, his face is quite appealing ¡ª the type girls must fall in love with, though I¡¯m no expert on the preferences of modern city girls. His short, almond-green hair is neatly trimmed, framing his face in a way that casts a slight shadow over his contours while emphasizing his open forehead. His sleeveless, midnight-blue tunic with white piping reveals his skinny arms, but his legs, surprisingly long in proportion to the rest, remind me of a silver gazelle. Not that I¡¯ve ever seen one of those fabled creatures from the tales of old Tak, but I¡¯ve often imagined them racing the wind across the vast steppes of the Eastern Empire, far beyond the Serenitas Desert.


    ¨C Why are you staring at me like that? Do I have something stuck between my teeth, he asks, panicking seriously, his nail already digging into his gums.


    I smile; an action that, now that I think about it, hasn¡¯t happened in a while. Fearing that my smile might seem strange, I quickly wipe it away.


    ¨C My name is Ishizora.


    ¨C I know.


    ¡« He knows? How? I can¡¯t have made a name for myself in such a short time¡­ Maybe my outfit has drawn too much attention to myself.


    ¨C Nice to meet you, Ishizora, he says, extending his hand with a smile while I continue to stare at him, puzzled. Never shaken hands before? I¡¯m not going to bite, nor drag you into a dark alley to chop off your limbs and sell them on the black market. So, take my hand before I start looking ridiculous!


    ¡« If that was supposed to reassure me, it failed. I wonder who¡¯d even buy a severed arm. Besides, he doesn¡¯t seem like a bad guy ¡ª too clean-cut to be a bandit.


    I coolly place my hand in his.


    ¨C Nice to meet you¡­ Natsuki, right?


    ¨C Nakki for my friends.


    There¡¯s something about him that I can¡¯t quite pinpoint ¡ª a mischievous spark in his emerald eyes, perhaps, suggesting he always has a bad idea in mind, about to get him into trouble.


    ¨C So¡­ Natsuki, what¡¯s with the warm greeting?


    ¨C You¡¯re new in town and looking for information about the Geikas, aren¡¯t you?


    ¡« It seems I¡¯m already famous, after all. I guess I¡¯ve been noticed more than once: at Karim¡¯s tavern on my first night, and again on the street the next morning.


    ¨C Don¡¯t look so surprised. I know it¡¯s not right, but I overheard your... brief conversation with the nurse. And judging by your outfit, it¡¯s pretty obvious you¡¯ve just arrived.


    His explanation reassure me a bit, though I¡¯m still not entirely convinced. Either he¡¯s very perceptive, or he¡¯s hiding something.


    ¨C So, what can I do for you?


    ¨C Don¡¯t be so suspicious. It¡¯s crazy what the capital can do to someone. Anyway, you must¡¯ve had a rough time until now, but cheer up ¡ª Natsuki arrived to put an end to your suffering!


    ¡« I¡¯m not sure what there is to be cheerful about. His theatrical gesture, fist raised towards the sky, inspires more fear than anything else.


    ¨C And¡­ more specifically?


    ¨C I¡¯ve got a deal for you.


    ¨C A deal? What kind of deal?


    ¨C The kind of deal you discuss by a fountain, not on a staircase. Come on, follow me, he says as he brushes past me, heading toward the fountain with the winged wolf.


    I hesitate for a moment, torn between the intrigue and the mistrust this deal story arouses. As I reach the fountain, I watch him from behind as he seems to focus on the basin.


    ¨C So¡­ this deal, what¡¯s it about?


    ¨C Shhh! I¡¯m trying to concentrate. I¡¯m not as skilled at this as the others.


    ¨C The others?


    Suddenly, as he holds his hands over the surface of the water, ripples start forming on the surface. The water ripples more and more until a bulb slowly rises beneath the hands of the young man, whose tense face betray his efforts of concentration. After a few moments, a drop of water, as wide as a hand and as long as an arm, begins to emerge laboriously from the fountain. I watch, astonished, as the liquid floats in the air, moving in sync with the young magician¡¯s gestures.


    ¡« Ever since I arrived in town, I¡¯ve encountered people with abilities as diverse as they are extraordinary. First, there was Kana, the red-haired girl, who scared off ferocious wolves with a single glance. Then the mysterious man hiding his face who opened huge metal doors without touching them. Right after, there was this strange illusion that sent me back out into the street when I could gave sworn I was in the heart of a building. And now, I see water defying gravity, dancing around a fountain.


    Completely hypnotized, I don¡¯t notice the liquid is heading towards me until it splashes over my head like a bucket of cold water. Stunned, I stand there, mouth open, while Natsuki bursts into laughter.


    ¨C You should see your face right now! It made my day, he says, laughing hysterically.


    I regain my composure and think that, after all, I might have been better off not following him. Seeing my face, as dark as can be the one of someone who has never known anger, Natsuki sobers up, wiping away a tear of laughter, though a few chuckles still escape his mouth.


    ¨C Sorry, I couldn¡¯t resist. Your smell was scaring off all the girls around here. I¡¯ve got a reputation to uphold, you know, he informs me proudly.


    Confused, I discreetly sniff my armpit.


    ¡« Now that I think about it, it¡¯s been over a week since I had a proper wash, and spending my last two nights in the stables surely hasn¡¯t helped.


    ¨C No wonder you¡¯ve had trouble getting information. Who¡¯d want to let someone who smells like a beast come into their place? This isn¡¯t a proper bath, but it¡¯ll have to do for now.


    I want to argue, but I can¡¯t deny his truthful words.


    ¨C With this sunshine, you¡¯ll be as dry as an ibex butt in no time, and while you¡¯re drying, we can chat.


    I¡¯m not sure what the butt of an ibex has to do with it, but the wetness isn¡¯t my main concern. Although I hate being the center of attention, I can feel the stares of passers-by landing on me with a mix of disgust and amusement.


    ¨C I don¡¯t mind a quick rinse, but next time, give me a heads up before you douse me.


    ¨C If I had, I wouldn¡¯t have laughed as much, he answers very seriously.


    Normally, I¡¯d protest such absurd logic, but his hilarity makes it clear that arguing with him would be pointless. He seems to be the type who lives only for fun, blissfully unaware of the dangers of the outside world, which he¡¯s probably never experienced.


    ¨C Let¡¯s get back to our discussion.


    ¨C Well said! So, here is the thing, I got up late this morning and I¡¯m behind on my chores.


    ¡« That doesn¡¯t surprise me from him, but why is he suddenly telling me about his day?


    ¨C So here¡¯s the deal: you help me run a few errands around town, and in return, I¡¯ll answer all your questions. I can even sign you my new essay : How to have charm in ten steps.


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    ¨C Oh, that¡¯s very kind of you, but as you mentioned earlier, I¡¯m more interested in¡ª


    ¨C ¡­ Geikas, yes, yes, I know, he says with a disappointed look, though my response seems legitimate to me. It happens that I¡¯m part of a Geika myself. My little trick should¡¯ve been enough to convince you. But don¡¯t be so serious! Whatever your goals in life, nothing justify to rush through your youth!


    ¡« There he goes again with his dramatic gestures.


    ¨C I¡¯m not sure to get the point¡­


    He suddenly gets very familiar, draping an arm around my shoulders to whisper in my ear.


    ¨C There must be a girl or two who¡¯s caught your eye since you¡¯ve been here, right?


    I want to deny it, but his confident smirk stops me from doing so. I briefly think of Kana. After meeting her twice under¡­ peculiar circumstances, it¡¯s clear I¡¯m not indifferent to her, though anyone would feel that way in such situations. Not knowing anything about her yet, I can¡¯t say I feel anything beyond curiosity.


    ¨C So, I was right, he whispers in my ear with a grin that annoys me as much as the fact I can¡¯t refute it. Good for you ¡ª you¡¯ve come to the right person, he finally says before strutting away with a smug expression, laughing loudly.


    He laughs heartily, hands on his hips, strutting away with a smug expression.


    ¡« Despite his suspicious behavior, especially when I think he somehow knew my name and eavesdropped on my conversation with the nurse, his offer seems fairly straightforward.


    ¨C So, are you coming? These errands won¡¯t run themselves, he yells at me from the other end of the square.


    I¡¯m surprised at how quickly he covered such a distance. I have thus no choice but to do something I hate to answer him: I shout.


    ¨C I haven¡¯t agreed to anything yet!


    ¨C What did you say? C¡¯mon, hurry up!


    I give up. I might be able to outrun a pack of wolves on steroids, but when it comes to people like him, they¡¯ll always outmaneuver me.


    Exploring the shopping district with Natsuki turns out to be far more enjoyable than I anticipated. My usual aversion to crowds seems to have eased, though I¡¯m still not entirely comfortable in packed spaces. True to his nature, Natsuki takes every opportunity to wink at the city girls we pass, eliciting a range of reactions ¡ª from a few who seem flattered to many who meet his gaze with disdain. When a woman runs a stall, he immediately start negotiating with compliments, which surprisingly works quarter of the time.


    With the handful of silver coins he gave me, I purchase whatever he requests, never venturing too far from his side. It''s the first time I¡¯m holding coins in my hand. After all, in the wilderness of Historia, a piece of metal is nothing more than a piece of metal. Each one is stamped with the image of the winged wolf from the fountain ¡ª a sign that it must be a prevalent local legend.


    ¡« I don¡¯t know anything about the city¡¯s customs and traditions yet. Old Tak could¡¯ve filled me in...


    Still, there''s a peculiar satisfaction in trading these small coins for various items I¡¯ve never encountered before. The merchants eye me warily when they see my clothes, but their expressions brighten the moment they spot the coins in my hand.


    ¡« Who would''ve thought such little metal discs could wield such a power?


    After each purchase, Natsuki asks about the price to ensure I haven''t been cheated. After all, I still don¡¯t know the value of goods here.


    ¡« So much I have to learn... This world really is full of surprises, and delicious treats.


    The aromas from the food stalls are making my stomach rumble loudly enough to be heard beyond the walls. Natsuki seems just as affected and suggests we take a break. He hands me two bronze coins and tells me to choose whatever I want to eat. Though it pains me to make a choice, I finally decide on caramelized meat skewers ¡ª their enticing scent has been tempting me for a while now. The stall seems to be quite popular, since five people are already in line.


    As I wait, I fill my lungs with the delicious aroma escaping from the grill. My impatience must be readable on my face because when my turn finally comes, the middle age woman running the stall greets me with a warm smile. I exchange the two bronze coins for two skewers, and to my surprise, she also hands me a jam-filled sugar bun. A gift from the house, she told me.


    ¡« Perhaps my tattered clothes sparked this sudden generosity...


    I accept without question and join Natsuki, who leads me to a small park a few streets away. "Park" might be an overstatement. This modest patch of greenery, barely larger than the square with the winged wolf fountain, is bordered by six light wooden benches spaced evenly apart. A few scrawny trees dot the lawn, offering small patches of shade where some couples relax.


    With all the benches occupied, we end up sitting on the grass under a tree, not without a hint of embarrassment on Natsuki''s face. Wrapped in a soothing calm, only the sounds of our chewing can be heard. I must say, I haven¡¯t eaten anything this good for¡­ as long as I can remember. It¡¯s finally Natsuki who breaks the silence.


    ¨C So, do you have any questions for me?


    Engrossed in my meal, I¡¯d almost forgotten the reason of my presence with this strange character.


    ¨C Holy swimming panther, you¡¯re right! There are so many things I want to know, actually.


    ¨C I promised to answer all your questions, didn¡¯t I? Just pick one to start.


    ¨C Alright, here¡¯s my first question. Yesterday, someone asked if I was a spy from Techna¡ª


    As Natsuki is about to take a drink, with the neck of his waterskin between his lips, he suddenly spits out the liquid he just sipped.


    ¨C Wow! As discreet as can be a traveler with fool breath and tattered clothes, you sure got noticed quickly.


    His teasing remarks do not reach me anymore, but I discreetly exhale into my hand before continuing.


    ¨C I think you also mentioned Techna earlier, so I was wondering... where exactly is Techna?


    This time, his eyes almost pop out of their sockets.


    ¨C Are we starting from there? What cave have you been living in?


    ¡« It¡¯s true that old Tak only told me about the places he¡¯d visited during his adventures, and as much of a traveler as he was in his youth, he can¡¯t have seen the whole world.


    ¨C I come from too far away for the people here, it seems.


    ¨C Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to be rude, he says with an unusual seriousness.


    ¡« I¡¯m not sure why he¡¯s apologizing ¡ª I don¡¯t care what the people here think of me. Maybe the memory of old Tak has cast a shadow over my face.


    ¨C I¡¯m just surprised that¡¯s what¡¯s concerning you. If you really were a Techna spy, you¡¯d have been hanged in the public square by now. Listen..., his skewer of meat now finished, he uses the stick to draw a map of the continent on the grass. This large area surrounded by water is the kingdom of Historia, with the Republic of Techna to its north.


    ¡« After traveling through Historia for over six years, I knew it was a vast kingdom, but seeing it represented like this is astonishing.


    ¨C Techna is barely a tenth the size of Historia, and that¡¯s not even counting the rocky mountains that separate us, eating away at their habitable space. Together, these two countries form the continent of Aktos, separated from the rest of the world by the Serenitas Desert to the northeast. If you like sand, that place is for you, he exclaims, spreading his arms wide as if presenting a location that only he boasts of knowing.


    He spreads his arms wide, as if showing me a place that only he claims to know.


    ¡« Has Natsuki been that far already? He doesn¡¯t exactly look cut out for that kind of adventure...


    ¨C Do you like sand, he asks suddenly, making me stammer a vague response. Me, it irritates my skin.


    This touching confession is followed by a long silence during which I wait impatiently for a follow-up that never comes. Natsuki is now playing with his skewer, passing it between his fingers with a dexterity that commands respect.


    ¨C And so?


    ¨C Sorry, what was I saying again?


    ¨C You were talking about the S¨¦r¨¦nitas Desert.


    ¨C Ah, you¡¯re right!


    He clears his throat before continuing.


    ¨C Beyond this desert lies what we call the Eastern Empire, but that name is more of a label given to unknown lands than the one of a real empire. In fact, we know almost nothing about these regions since no one has ever been there. Or at least, no one has ever returned.


    ¡« Old Tak did! At least, that¡¯s what he told me, and his stories were always so rich in detail that it¡¯s hard to doubt their truth. But I¡¯d rather not interrupt Natsuki with that.


    ¨C Beyond the Mycean Sea lies the territory of the Northerners. Again, apart from a few traders who left their mark long time ago, we know next to nothing about them.


    ¡« It seems we don¡¯t know much about many things in this country. Probably because the dense vegetation of Historia makes long journeys as tedious as dangerous.


    ¨C As for Techna, their relations with Historia are... delicate. We¡¯ve fought many wars in the past, but after years of conflict and mutual depletion of resources, a truce was signed about fifty years ago.


    ¨C In that case, what about the men I saw at the Kusur Geika? They didn¡¯t exactly give the impression of being in a time of peace.


    ¨C In reality, a deep animosity still lingers between our two nations, and the situation at our borders is far less stable than the government would have us believe. Being so far from these tension zones, it¡¯s easy to deceive the people into the illusion of a false peace.


    I glance around me. The city seems so peaceful, behind its immense protective walls. Enclosed in this haven of peace, the inhabitants are probably unaware of the dangers that threaten them beyond these fortifications.


    ¨C What were they fighting over?


    ¨C According to history books, Techna, having exhausted its resources through rapid industrialization, invaded Historia in search of new ones. But if you ask me, Historia¡¯s leaders likely aren¡¯t blameless either.


    ¨C If the difference in our territories is so vast, why didn¡¯t we share some of our resources? A few less hectares wouldn¡¯t have made much difference, especially since much of the wilderness is uninhabited.


    ¨C The thing is, people of Historia have a very negative view of Techna''s industrial development. Here, tradition and respect for nature are paramount. Our society may seem outdated compared to Techna¡¯s, but our leaders would never risk losing popular support by building factories that would eventually deplete the land and the Mystra. You could say Techna chosed progress, while we remained rooted in our traditions. Over time, this choice drove a wedge between our communities, and as they stopped understanding each other, conflicts erupted.


    ¨C You mentioned Mystra earlier, didn¡¯t you? I think I heard that word today already.


    Natsuki sighs deeply, striking his forehead with his hand.


    ¨C Pfff... We¡¯ll never see the end of it, he says as he places his hand on his forehead and lets out a long sigh.


    ¨C Sorry about that...


    ¨C Anyway, let¡¯s save that topic for later, or we¡¯ll never finish these errands in time.


    Standing up, he brushes off his tunic.


    ¨C Hang on a second! I still have that bun.


    ¨C So? Eat it! You¡¯ve earned it.


    ¨C Without your coins, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to eat.


    I break the warm bun in half and offer him one piece. After a brief sigh, and seeing that I won¡¯t back down, he accepts the modest present.


    ¨C If you¡¯re this generous, you¡¯ll go broke. I don¡¯t know what forest you came from, but it is a real jungle here.

 Chapter 8: Mysteries and truths

    After following Natsuki on his errands for most of the afternoon, I slowly start to get familiar with the value of things. A bronze coin is worth ten copper coins. With two or three of these, you can get a decent meal at most inns. For twenty bronze coins, you can obtain a silver coin, which allows for occasional purchases of slightly more expensive items, such as furniture or festive clothing. Gold coins, equivalent to fifty silver coins, are reserved for the middle and upper classes and are mainly used for real estate transactions.


    Finally, although he¡¯s never seen one, Natsuki told me that there are even more valuable coins, owned only by high nobles and the royal family. These are made of mystrite, a rare material, and the exclusive mining of it in Aragane is the source of the capital¡¯s wealth. A single mystrite coin is worth a hundred gold coins, or the equivalent of one hundred thousand caramelized meat skewers.


    Natsuki is now taking me to the fishmonger, the last stop on his list. Even before seeing him, I recognize the booming voice of the gruff fish seller I encountered after my visit to Geika Medras. Natsuki tells me to stay back with the bags, that he¡¯ll handle everything.


    ¨C Watch and learn!


    Not reassured by his mischievous smile, which doesn¡¯t bode well, I watch him approach the portly man whose bald head benefits from the fresh air. He stops a few paces from the stall, as a precaution, and shouts loudly enough to cover the fishmonger¡¯s voice.


    ¨C Hey! Marius! How about you stop yelling like anyone cares about your stale fish?


    ¨C WHAT?!


    The fish seller¡¯s eyes look like they¡¯re about to explode ¡ª a look that, if directed at me, would have been enough to send me running out of town. But Natsuki doesn¡¯t stop there.


    ¨C You know what everyone says about your fish. That they¡¯re bland and spread diseases.


    Passersby begin to stop and listen to the heated exchange between the two men.


    ¨C You little bastard! It¡¯s you again, coming to disrupt my business?! I¡¯m fed up with your lies! You won¡¯t find better fish in the entire capital, he says, proudly opening his arms.


    Natsuki pretends to laugh.


    ¨C Cut the act, even a glutton shark wouldn¡¯t take the risk. Tell me, is it since you eat your own fish that you can breathe through the top of your head?


    Offended, the man inhales loudly as the veins in his eyes bulge, ready to burst. Some passersby chuckle, while others, relying on experience, think it wise to take cover. The fishmonger¡¯s face now turns lobster-red, and I wouldn¡¯t be surprised to see smoke coming out of his ears.


    ¨C You asked for it, you rascal! Don¡¯t come crying when I shove your nose into your face!


    With this declaration of war, the fishmonger grabs one of his finest specimens ¡ª a striped tuna that must weigh at least six kilos ¡ª and prepares to hurl it with all his strength.


    ¨C Ishizora! Catch, Natsuki yells at me, ducking just in time to dodge the animal projectile slicing through the air with surprising aerodynamics.


    I realize a bit too late that I¡¯m right in the object trajectory. Saved by my defensive reflexes, I clumsily juggle the fish whose wet scales are as slippery as a bar of soap. I finally manage to grab it by the tail, and Natsuki joins me, a proud grin on his face.


    ¨C That, my friend, is what I call a Natsuki-style negotiation. Now, run!


    Seeing the murderous look on the fishmonger¡¯s face, I don¡¯t wait to be told twice.


    Once we¡¯re far enough away, we stop to catch our breath. I feel a twinge of sympathy for the poor fish seller, who did nothing to deserve such treatment. I suppose this is the "jungle" Natsuki was referring to earlier.


    ¨C What you said about his fish, was it true?


    ¨C Not at all, he admits casually, without a hint of remorse. As he keeps saying, his fish are probably the best in the entire capital. But they¡¯re far too expensive for the people in the lower districts. Don¡¯t worry, with all the profit he¡¯s making, one missing fish isn¡¯t going to affect his business. When you don¡¯t have money, you have to fight with this, he says while tapping his skull with his index finger.


    ¡« So Natsuki is from the lower social class?! I had assumed he came from a wealthy family, with his constant good humor that makes it seem like he¡¯s never had a problem in his life.


    ¨C You seem really comfortable here. Have you lived in this city all your life?


    ¨C No. Actually, I¡¯ve never even lived here. But I come once a month to take care of various tasks at the request of my... mother.


    I notice the hesitation in his voice when he says that last word.


    ¨C You mean¡­ you live outside the city walls?


    ¨C Exactly, he replies casually, as if living outside the walls were the most normal thing in the world.


    ¡« I¡¯m in no position to say this, but any sensible human being would choose to live in the city if they had the chance. As far as I know, the only humans who live outside are bandits, and apparently, girls with red hair... Could he be from a family of bandits?


    ¡« No, that can¡¯t be. Even though he doesn¡¯t seem to live in the most honest way, he doesn¡¯t fit the profile of a poacher or a human trafficker.


    ¨C Thanks for the help, Ishizora! Now, all I need to do is figure out how to carry all these bags home, and I¡¯m set, he exclaims, pretending to think about it.


    The seconds pass without any conclusion coming from his mouth.


    ¡« I have the feeling he¡¯s already found the solution to his problem, but he¡¯s just waiting for it to come from me.


    ¨C Would you like me to help you carry them to your place?


    Barely had the words left my mouth when he clasped his hands in a prayer-like gesture and bowed his head in supplication.


    ¨C I would be infinitely grateful to you!


    ¡« What happened to his speech about kindness eventually being my downfall?


    Instead of admitting to him that I have nothing better to do and that earning someone¡¯s gratitude by helping them is always more pleasant to me than enduring the contemptuous looks of the townspeople, I decide to play tough.


    ¨C Don¡¯t think I¡¯m doing this to help you, but you haven¡¯t answered all my questions yet.


    ¨C Yes, of course, your questions..., he repeats with that little smirk, full of the insolence he seems to be the master of, leaving me thinking he saw right through my act.


    ¨C In that case, let¡¯s go now! I¡¯d like to get there before nightfall, if possible.


    Judging by the current position of the sun, his concern suggests a long journey ahead of us. After gently placing the fish into one of the four cloth bags, I take the two that seem the heaviest. I¡¯d feel bad seeing him carry more than me with his arms as thin as twigs. The bags are filled with all sorts of things: a large loaf of bread, various aromatic herbs, some spices, wheat and flour in great quantity, some fabric, sharpening stones, a small shovel likely for gardening, and an axe for chopping wood. There are also two or three objects I don¡¯t recognize and can¡¯t figure out their use.


    ¨C Doesn¡¯t your mother ask too much of you?


    ¨C Don¡¯t get me started¡­ It¡¯s exploitation!


    Seeing his disheartened expression, I can¡¯t help but have pity for this odd character, for whom I already feel a great sense of sympathy.


    After passing through the East Gate, we are now walking on a small, seemingly seldom-used path. The only thing that sets it apart from the plain it crosses, like a fleeting stream, is the slightly yellowed color and the flatness of the grass. In fact, the path is only visible when you''re walking on it, and it¡¯s impossible to predict its direction beyond about ten meters. Natsuki keeps his promise to answer all my questions, and do it with an unusual seriousness.


    ¨C To get back to Mystra, it''s an ethereal substance that permeates things and souls, spreading from the deepest roots to the highest mountaintops, connecting nature with all its inhabitants. It¡¯s comparable to infinite threads linking everything into a single entity, called the Vahna.


    While speaking, he keeps one arm behind his back and a finger pointed at the sky, which he waves to the rhythm of his explanations.


    ¨C Those who manage to master Mystra are called ethernauts, and the first of them gave birth to the first Geika. Today, many people begin to follow the path of the Vahna, but ethernauts still make up only a small percentage of Historia''s population.


    ¨C Is Mystra limited to the borders of Historia?


    ¨C It''s said that, in the past, Mystra''s only boundaries were the sea and the desert. However, through excessive exploitation of their lands, the people of Techna eventually depleted Mystra from their territory, thus separating themselves from the Great Whole. This earned them the title of "deserters", a term that well reflects the opinion of Historia¡¯s people, all united by the Great Weave of the Vahna.


    ¡« All united in their isolation, I suppose. Enclosed behind their high walls, they don''t seem connected to the deepest roots, let alone the highest mountains.


    Aragane is already far behind us, and I savor the view where the capital appears so tiny, despite seeming infinite once you pass through its walls. I imagine the inhabitants jostling in the streets, the merchants shouting at the top of their lungs, a few people drinking with laughter and good cheer at Karim''s tavern, and I feel an unexpected sense of nostalgia. Even though I only spent two days in the capital, that time was rich in encounters and discoveries. Moreover, an inexplicable intuition tells me I won¡¯t be returning to Aragane anytime soon.


    ¡« There''s no point in overthinking it for now. Tomorrow is tomorrow. Today is now.


    ¨C So? You haven''t run out of questions already, have you?


    ¨C No. Actually, every time you answer, a new question pops up. Just a few days ago, I only knew about nature and its creatures. And now, it seems like a lifetime won''t be enough to fill in my ignorance.


    ¨C Don''t worry, just take it at your own pace. I wouldn¡¯t want you to end up like one of those boring bookworms.


    ¡« Am I really allowed to take my time?


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    ¨C I¡¯d even say I¡¯m a little jealous of you, he blurts out suddenly.


    ¨C Why¡¯s that?


    ¨C In my Geika, we say that a man only grows old when he stops learning. In other words, you¡¯re on track to live a long life, he says while giving me a friendly punch on the shoulder. Plus, discovering new things every day is like living a life of celebration.


    ¡« Do I really want to live a long, festive life? I have a feeling the future holds something very different for me¡­ Anyway, he did manage to lift my spirits.


    ¨C You¡¯re quite funny you know?


    ¨C I know, I know. You can also say charming, gallant, smart, athletic, resourceful, generous...


    I laugh heartily, swept away by his carefree attitude and infectious joy. He stops his list and puts on a mock-offended face.


    ¨C Hey, why are you laughing like that? I¡¯m just repeating what people have told me, he states with a falsely offended look.


    ¨C Sorry, I couldn¡¯t help it.


    Natsuki pretends to be upset but ends up laughing too.


    ¨C Anyway, I was wondering, has Mystra always existed?


    ¨C Great question! It¡¯s believed that it hasn¡¯t, but its appearance dates back to the age of legends, of which only a few scribbles and inscriptions carved in stone serve as a history book. You saw the statue of the winged wolf, right?


    I nod.


    ¨C That¡¯s Varandir, the original wolf. The story goes that he spread Mystra across the continent, establishing a new order through a harmonious fusion of souls. As the creator of the Great Whole, he is worshiped like a god and represents a symbol of unity for all living species. Humans interpreted this symbol in their own way and declared that this unity only applied to their own species. It was this vanity and narcissism that led to the construction of the walls and shaped the current society of Historia. At least, that¡¯s the teaching passed down within my Geika.


    ¨C Is that the reason why you live outside the walls?


    ¨C Among other things, yes.


    The plain we''ve been walking on for quite a while now rises into a hill about twenty meters high, stretching across its width. The slope is steep, and the linen handles are starting to cut into my hands.


    ¨C How did the Geikas come about?


    ¨C A Geika is a bit like a school. Each was created at different times and by different people, all of whom shared the common trait of pushing the boundaries of their art. Driven by the desire to preserve it, they decided to recruit young people from all walks of life to pass on their ancestral techniques.


    When we reach the top of the hill, a vast plateau of tall grass unfolds before us, though a growing mist prevents us from seeing its full extent. The path is only discernible by a slight bend in the blades of grass, making it almost impossible to find after straying from it. I follow Natsuki closely to prevent that from happening.


    ¨C You could say that passing down their teachings is what has sustained this country for ages, and it''s also what protects us from neighboring nations. For this reason, the founders of each Geika are often called "prophets".


    ¨C Geikas are even more impressive than I thought.


    ¨C The government thinks so too. They quickly realized the Geikas represented a formidable force and did everything they could to enlist them in the army in exchange for certain benefits. Today, most Geikas are under government supervision, forced to fight when ordered.


    ¨C So, some remained independent?


    ¨C Yes, they''re called renegade Geikas, though I don''t like that term very much. You see, according to urban customs, choosing independence is seen as a betrayal, and most city dwellers despise those who make that choice. The government adds to this by claiming that these Geikas have no intention of helping the country in times of need, when in reality, they simply have no obligation to do so.


    The mist thickens into fog, eventually turning into a dense pea soup, leaving my sense of direction as sharp as a dull old knife. The path, already difficult to follow, becomes less and less distinct until our footprints are the only thing giving us any sense of direction.


    ¡« Is that really the case?


    I turn around and realize there''s no sign of our footsteps or bent grass to prove we''ve passed through. It almost feels like someone is carefully straightening each blade of grass behind us.


    ¡« Behind us? Where is that?


    ¡« Us? Where is Natsuki?


    Suddenly, panic grips my throat, like a predator mercilessly pouncing on its prey. Without a guide, it''s impossible to know which way to go, and without the sun, there''s no way to tell East from West.


    ¡« What should I do? Go back? I don''t even know where my own steps are anymore!


    When Natsuki grabs my wrist and tells me to stop dawdling, I jump in relief. Fortunately, my guide doesn''t seem fazed by the thick fog and, still as laid-back as ever, shows no hesitation about the direction we should take. Determined not to lose sight of his back again, I keep asking questions to better orient myself by his voice.


    ¨C What happened to those renegade Geikas?


    ¨C Expelled from the city, condemned to live autonomously, and stripped of many rights¡­ But as long as they don¡¯t cause trouble, they¡¯re free to continue their activities. These Geikas chose to prioritize their freedom over money and social status. It¡¯s not always easy, but you get used to it, and eventually, you realize that living in the wild isn¡¯t so bad. The hardest part is enduring the scornful looks from some city folk. That¡¯s why I hate going to the city, he sighs.


    I thought all the hostile stares from passersby were directed at me, but it¡¯s true that I sensed a new kind of animosity throughout the afternoon.


    ¨C And what¡¯s your Geika like?


    ¨C You¡¯ll see! We¡¯re almost there.


    I have no idea what landmark he¡¯s using to make that claim, as the uniform whiteness surrounding us has distorted even my sense of distance.


    ¡« Now that I think about it, I¡¯ve felt strange ever since we started walking through this fog, as if it¡¯s not just clouding my vision but muddling my mind as well.


    This feeling of dizziness prevents me from thinking clearly, and I have to focus all my attention just to keep Natsuki in sight.


    ¨C We¡¯ve arrived!


    He snaps his fingers, and the sharp sound reverberates through the thick whiteness, vibrating in my ears for what feels like an eternity. When the echo finally fades, I notice the fog beginning to clear. In barely ten seconds, there¡¯s no trace left of the mysterious white veil.


    ¨C Perfect, we¡¯re right on time, he says with relief, looking up at the sky.


    His enthusiasm reassures me, although it seems completely absurd, since the place we¡¯re standing in doesn¡¯t have any more distinction than a drop of water in the ocean.


    ¡« Is he messing with me?


    We find ourselves in the middle of an empty plain, with not a single rock or shrub in sight. In fact, this emptiness feels familiar, as such voids are always marked by a recognizable strangeness. Hypotizing two empty spaces can differ, this vast plain is eerily similar to the one where I landed two days ago. Natsuki motions for me to join him. My mind still clouded, my muscles act on their own, moving me quickly toward him to drop the bags that have been cutting into my hands.


    The sun has shifted quite a bit since we left the city, and the fading light is becoming noticeable. Without even considering how much time has passed since we began our journey, I simply embrace the meager twilight that warms my skin. I take a deep breath, filling my lungs until they threaten to burst, and finally, my mind clears as if it were crystal-clear water. It was about time ¡ª the enchanting fog had started making me doubt my own existence.


    ¨C That was a magical fog used to conceal the entrance to our domain, he says, as if reading my thoughts. Just a security measure.


    Satisfied with these sparse explanations, I decide that some things are better left unknown.


    ¨C So? Where¡¯s the entrance?


    ¨C The entrance?! Who needs a door when you have the POWER of Natsuki!


    For a moment, I see the cheerful joker who pulled me out of my urban solitude, but seriousness quickly returns to his face. He kneels down, placing one hand on the ground, and concentrates deeply for long seconds. As I hold my breath in this frozen moment, the only sound breaking the near-absolute silence is the wind whispering through the tall grass.


    ¡« What is he doing? Is he just tired? Although his bags were lighter than mine, they still had enough to exhaust anyone after such a long walk.


    As if to answer my musings, the ground suddenly begins to tremble. The earthquake intensifies until I¡¯m forced to get on all fours to avoid a painful fall. Beside me, Natsuki remains crouched, one hand on the ground, eyes closed.


    ¡« Holy mole-scorpion! How can someone as small as him cause such a quake?


    Suddenly, I feel my body lighten, quickly realizing it¡¯s because the ground beneath us is sinking.


    ¡« The ground is sinking!!


    Only a small patch of earth around us seems to be affected by the vertical movement, which allows me to discover, with amazement, the composition of the soil we''re passing through. For about ten seconds of rapid descent, we are surrounded by a dense tangle of roots, so compact that slipping even a finger between them would be impossible. As we descend, the roots gradually become more spaced apart until we finally emerge into an open space, where I can hardly believe my eyes.


    ¡« A forest! There¡¯s a forest under the ground!


    My knees tremble under the weight of my astonishment, while my jaw threatens to unhinge. Looking up toward the vegetation-covered ceiling, I realize that the "roots" were actually branches, so tightly woven that not a single ray of sunlight penetrates them. The trunks, hundreds of meters long and mostly devoid of branches, act like massive pillars supporting the thick ceiling. Though outside, the sun was nearing the horizon, here it feels like it¡¯s still noon.


    ¡« This strange brightness, the sealed roof, the surprising vegetation, and to top it off, those tremors that almost knocked me over¡­


    ¡« There¡¯s no doubt about it, I¡¯m back in the strange forest where I first met Kana.


    Now that I¡¯m here as a guest, not an intruder, I take advantage of the long descent to observe the flora more closely. The light seems to come from small crystals embedded in the tree trunks, casting a bluish hue over all the vegetation. The plants are equally remarkable, adorned with intricate patterns as if someone had meticulously drawn on each leaf.


    ¨C You can step off, Natsuki suddenly tells me.


    Too absorbed by my surroundings, I hadn¡¯t even noticed that the shaking has stopped and we¡¯ve reached the ground. Natsuki has already moved several meters away and gestures for me to follow him. I comply, still gaping, and Natsuki snaps his fingers again. Immediately, the platform of tall grass ¡ª which looks nothing like the surrounding vegetation ¡ª rises toward the sky at a speed three times faster than our descent, carried by one of the long wooden pillars scattered throughout the forest.


    ¨C Impressive, isn¡¯t it?


    ¨C So that¡¯s how she got me out of the forest¡­


    ¨C Huh? What did you say?


    A grin of excitement spreads across my face, which, judging by Natsuki¡¯s reaction, is almost frightening.


    ¨C This is completely crazy! Are you the one controlling these trees? How does it work? And that mist? And the light¡ª


    ¨C Whoa, calm down, calm down.


    Consumed by curiosity, I hadn¡¯t realized I was gripping Natsuki by the shoulders. He pulls away from my grasp and lets out a sigh.


    ¨C You know, I¡¯m not supposed to reveal this kind of information to an outsider.


    I beg him in the most polite way that old Tak taught me ¡ª kneeling on one knee, head down, hands clasped in prayer.


    ¨C Please! I won¡¯t tell anyone! I swear!


    Obviously flattered by this display of politeness, which he probably isn¡¯t used to, I see hesitation rise on his face.


    ¨C Aaaah, what the heck! Mother¡¯s going to scold me again. Alright, the entrance isn¡¯t far, I¡¯ll explain on the way.


    I spring up like a child promised a treat and rush to join him, my ears wide open.


    ¨C According to a legend passed down in our Geika, Varandir, the original wolf, was born here. That¡¯s why we call this place "Varandir¡¯s forest". Whether that¡¯s true or not, the fact is that Mystra is abundant here. As a result, the forest functions as a single, complex living organism, with its own consciousness and defense mechanisms.


    I look around with admiration.


    ¡« And to think I passed through here without knowing it was a legendary place. No wonder Kana greeted me with a knife to my throat ¡ª I mean, a twig.


    ¨C The mist you saw earlier is designed to confuse people and force lost travelers to turn back. It¡¯s automatically secreted at the top of the carrier trees whenever someone approaches, with each step triggering another puff of smoke.


    ¨C But then, how did you manage to dissipate it?


    ¨C Once you¡¯ve been accepted by the forest, it allows you to use its powers. I can¡¯t give you more details, but it¡¯s the same principle we used to descend here. I simply borrowed the strength of the forest to ask an elder to bring us down, he says like it¡¯s as easy as lending someone money.


    ¨C An elder?!


    ¨C That¡¯s how we call the bearer trees of the forest. They protect it by camouflaging it with their thick foliage. Thanks to this impenetrable cover, no one suspects the existence of this little paradise, except for us, of course, who have inherited it from our ancestors.


    ¨C That¡¯s amazing!


    I take a closer look at the vegetation and notice that the symbols engraved on it resemble the ones found in the city. Natsuki seems to have noticed what¡¯s caught my attention.


    ¨C These symbols are more present in nature where Mystra is strong. They once flourished throughout Historia, but Mystra is weakening day by day, and only places like this have been preserved. Humans saw them as signs of Varandir¡¯s presence, which is why similar symbols can be found in city architecture. That¡¯s also why Varandir is often depicted with these seven symbols engraved in his feathers.


    ¨C How lucky you are to live in such an extraordinary place!


    ¨C You¡¯re not wrong, but this forest has its drawbacks too. As you¡¯ve seen, the journey to Aragane is quite exhausting. In autumn, the ground is covered in fallen leaves, and it¡¯s easy to get lost. Last time, it took me three days to find my way back. In winter, game becomes scarce, and the lakes freeze, forcing us to stock up and ration our supplies. In spring, the game takes a while to return, but we can start fishing again. Just be careful not to fall into the water because it¡¯s still freezing, he says, shivering as if recalling an unpleasant memory. But I suppose life in the wild holds no secrets for you.


    I simply nod.


    ¨C And those glowing stones in the trees? What are they?


    ¨C Those are Mystrite stones. They convert solar energy absorbed at the top of the trees into light energy. Since it takes some time for this energy to travel through the trunks before being distributed into the stones, night falls later here than outside.


    I pause to look at the blue stones that glow brilliantly.


    ¡« Didn¡¯t he say Mystrite was an extremely rare material only found in the mines of Aragane? I have a feeling my surprises aren¡¯t over yet.


    ¨C Ishizora!


    As I tried to mentally replace each blue stone with a hundred thousand skewers of meat, the sound of my name pulls me back to reality. Swallowing back my saliva, I turn my gaze to Natsuki who¡¯s a few steps ahead, waiting for me under a red wooden gate.


    ¨C Welcome to the Geika Shinzu!


    Aside from his humble bow, which reminds me of how he introduced himself when we first met, his serious expression and the tone he used to speak those words make me feel they hold a deeper meaning than they appear to. In fact, I¡¯m starting to think that behind his comedic demeanor and lively eyes lies a maturity far greater than he lets on.

 Chapter 9: Natures heart

    After seeing the walls of Aragane, I thought nothing could impress me anymore, but I was wrong. The tree in front of my eyes is a true marvel of nature, though it¡¯s hard to believe that water and sunlight alone could have produced such monstrosity. Tall enough that its top is out of sight, and wide enough to exhaust oneself trying to walk around it, this tree is undeniably the sovereign of the forest, the king among kings. Straight and bare like all the other ancient ones, this immense oak commands respect from its peers, which do not approach within a hundred meters, leaving it to reign at the center of a clearing scattered with short grass and roots that seem to bear the weight of the world. A mystrite stone as large as a house is lodged halfway up the trunk¡ªassuming it¡¯s as tall as I imagine¡ªflooding the entire area with a dazzling glow from its wooden prison.


    As I approach the trunk¡ªbecause my legs seem to have kept walking without my consent¡ªI begin to notice details carved into the bark of this vegetal pillar. I don''t know what divine force could have cut into such bark, but it wouldn¡¯t have had much more trouble slicing through a mountain. Two particularly visible cuts spiral around the trunk from its base up to about fifty meters high. In places, these twin serpents divide into thin branches, each leading to outgrowths that bud from the wooden armor. Now close enough that the trunk fills my entire field of vision, it seems these outgrowths are topped with slanted wooden planks aligned side by side...


    ¡« Could those be¡­ roofs?! Is that really what I¡¯m seeing? No, it can¡¯t be... Are there houses built into the cracks of the bark?!


    As if to shatter my doubts, a male voice suddenly rings out from one of the bark¡¯s cavities, urging a companion to hurry up and get ready. Another voice responds wearily before the sound of a slamming door echoes to my ears. I finally see the two men descending along one of the branches carved directly into the bark, the first scolding the second for slamming the door carelessly. Reaching one of the two main notches, they start running along the spiral path and are quickly hidden on the other side of the trunk.


    ¡ª Don¡¯t tell me you live in this... thing? I ask bewildered, unable to find a word fitting enough to describe such an enormity.


    ¡ª Ishizora, let me introduce you to Elvijkiar, the eldest of the elders, the wisdom of the world, the heart of nature, and, as you guessed, it¡¯s also my home.


    I can¡¯t believe my ears. It seems I could spend my entire life wandering through Historia and this country would never cease to surprise me.


    ¡ª Come on, follow me. Mother is waiting for us on the other side, he says casually before striding off.


    ¡ª She¡¯s waiting for us?! How does she know¡ª


    ¡ª Mother knows everything, he interrupts without even turning around, cutting off my question with the fewest words possible.


    ¡« Mother knows everything! Well, that¡¯s clear enough.


    I linger for a few seconds, staring at the gigantic trunk, trying in vain to capture its summit. When my neck starts to ache, I hurry after Natsuki, who is not waiting for me.


    Now that I¡¯m just a few meters from the trunk, I can barely make out its curve. The only proof that I¡¯m not moving in a straight line is that the scenery changes slightly as we go around the obstacle. A few moments later, we pass under a root large enough to probably shelter an entire family of grizzlions, including cousins and grandparents, with still enough room for them to dance around a campfire. Just thinking about it makes me smile. Old Tak often told me I had an overactive imagination and that it would be a powerful weapon in the future. I can¡¯t really see how imagining grizzlions dancing around a fire could be of any use, but it wouldn¡¯t be the first time I get a headache trying to make sense of his words. The root plunges into the ground about twenty meters ahead, like a giant earthworm that fell asleep and forgot to hide its rear end. This part of the tree, lacking luminous stones, is a true refuge for darkness. I close my eyes and inhale the fresh air circulating there. Unlike the stagnant air that made me dizzy during my last visit to these woods, the one near the trunk is as pure as it is soothing.


    Once back in the light, my eyes squint for a brief moment. When I open them again, I see people busy with various activities. Young, shirtless, sweat-drenched men lean against the trunk, wiping themselves with towels while admiring the fruits of their hard labor, which appears to be a massive pile of logs. They smile, clearly satisfied with their work. A young woman brings them something to drink, and they start chatting together, their conversation occasionally punctuated by loud laughter. A man and a woman return from the forest with wicker baskets filled with black laundry, talking with smiles on their faces. A young girl with a long red braid is focused on stringing a bow. I wouldn¡¯t give her fifteen years, and I¡¯m surprised when she finally manages it. But on closer look, the muscles in her arms make no secret of the fact that she¡¯s the rightful owner of the weapon, which is as tall as she is. She closes one eye to inspect her work, then draws the bow with disconcerting ease.


    ¡« I wouldn¡¯t bet much on the chances of the unfortunate souls she sets those azure eyes on.


    She suddenly loses focus when children come running toward her, circling around her with ear-to-ear grins, one clearly trying to catch the others. She laughs heartily, then sets the weapon down and starts chasing them in turn. I feel my heart ache, touched by this cheerful atmosphere that reminds me of feelings from a forgotten life, of days long gone and forever lost in the abyss of my memory.


    ¡ª Can you stop standing there with your mouth open? Ask Natsuki, not bothering with delicacy, before pulling me by the wrist. First of all, it¡¯s gross, and I¡¯ve still got plenty of things to do.


    When he notices the tear rolling down my cheek, he lets go of my wrist and asks if I¡¯m okay. I don¡¯t know what to answer, since the cause of this overflow is unknown to me as well. I wipe the lone tear with the back of my wrist and rub my eyes, which had started to sting from being held wide open for too long. After a loud sniff, I signal to Natsuki that everything¡¯s fine.


    ¡ª I swear¡­ you¡¯re surprisingly weepy for a guy. So, it is true that clothes don¡¯t make the man, he teases, though the worry doesn¡¯t entirely leave his face. See that building over there? He points to a stone structure using one of the gigantic roots as a roof. That¡¯s the kitchen. Let¡¯s drop the bags off before going to see Mother.


    Since we entered the forest, I completely forgot about the bags that had threatened to cut off my hands not so long ago. As we pass by the young woodcutters, they stare at me as if I were some strange object, but there¡¯s no trace of disgust in their purely curious gazes. Everyone we cross paths with stops what they¡¯re doing to look at me, quickly making me feel very uncomfortable. I settle for wearing a goofy smile as I follow my guide to the root that shelters the kitchens.


    A tall, tanned-skinned young woman suddenly steps out from inside and freezes when she sees us approaching. Her dark brown hair is tightly tied back in a ponytail that rests against her lower back. Her bare shoulder, long eyelashes, the lace tied elegantly on her left hip to cinch her black tunic with red trim, and the two silver buds adorning her earlobes give her a coquette look that sets her apart from the other women here, whose appearance doesn¡¯t reflect any desire to look pretty. This all contrasts with her powerful forearms wrapped in tight red bandages and her visible biceps, proof of the effort she puts into her training.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡ª Eeeeyooo! Natsuki!


    ¡ª Ishizora, meet the source of all my troubles, he says in a sigh, low enough for only me to hear.


    Her stern expression suddenly softens when she looks at me, as if deciding how best to grill me.


    ¡ª Sorry, Mai, I got here as fast as I could.


    ¡ª Hard to believe those words coming from a chronic slacker.


    ¡ª At least my breath doesn¡¯t smell like a viper¡¯s, he retorts, launching into a staring contest.


    The fierce battle showing no signs of a winner, I step in with a timid voice.


    ¡ª Pardon me¡­


    They both snap their eyes toward me in frightening sync, making me instinctively take a step back.


    ¡ª So? Who¡¯s he?


    ¡ª A traveler I met in the capital. He seemed a bit lost, so I helped him out¡ªhence the delay¡­


    ¡ª Any excuse is a good one for slacking off, I see. And you even made him carry your bags?!


    ¡ª It was a fair exchange!


    ¡ª Right, sure, and what did you give him in return for having to put up with you all afternoon?


    ¡ª Hey! When it comes to company, I¡¯d say mine far outshines that of a cranky witch with a wart on her lower back.


    ¡ª H-HOW DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT?! She shouts, outraged.


    ¡ª Don¡¯t act so surprised, the whole family knows.


    ¡ª It fell off three days ago! And it was tiny!


    ¡ª As tiny as the Atalmor Mountains.


    The young woman¡¯s face turns scarlet. Since their sparring¡ªverbal so far but looking like it might turn physical soon¡ªseems endless, I step in again before there¡¯s a casualty.


    ¡ª Nice to meet you, I speak loud enough to grab their attention. Natsuki didn¡¯t mention he had such a charming sister.


    ¡« I never thought I''d say something so clich¨¦ one day, but desperate times call for desperate measures.


    ¡ª Well, at least there¡¯s someone here who knows how to respect his elders. Though I¡¯m wary of people who hand out compliments too easily.


    ¡« Just as I feared¡­ Oh well, at least I¡¯ve got her attention.


    ¡ª When will you finally learn to tell the difference between a forced compliment and genuine sincerity? Needles Natsuki.


    ¡ª I was looking for information, I quickly add before his provocation take hold, and Natsuki held up his end of the bargain in exchange for my services. Without him, I¡¯d probably be back on the road empty-handed by now.


    She now starts circling me, inspecting me from every angle.


    ¡« I¡¯ll never get used to being scrutinized like this¡­


    ¡ª And may I ask why he thought it was a good idea to bring a stranger to a place supposed to stay secret?


    ¡ª He doesn¡¯t look dangerous, replies Natsuki, and Mother always says travelers are welcome at her table. You know she can¡¯t resist hearing stories from an Ex-Muros.


    ¡ª An Ex-what?


    ¡ª Ex-Muros, answers the young woman without taking her eyes off me. That¡¯s what we call people who live outside the high walls, she explains while lifting one of my arms to examine the underside.


    ¡ª Be careful with her, she wouldn¡¯t hesitate to attack you in your sleep if you so much as annoyed her, warns me Natsuki as she leans her face closer to mine, as if planning to dive into my eyes.


    ¡ª If I¡¯m not mistaken, aren¡¯t you supposed to be helping in the kitchen tonight? She asks sharply, keeping a remarkable lid on her irritation. What are you still doing here?


    ¡ª But I promised to take him to see Mother¡ª


    ¡ª I¡¯ll handle it! Go chop the onions before I chop yours, she threatens without even glancing at him.


    ¡ª Alright, alright, he admits defeat with a sigh, before taking vacation.


    ¡« These two bicker like a pair of baby swimming panthers. I guess sibling relationships transcend species.


    ¡ª Sorry for the scene, she apologizes softly.


    ¡ª Haha, don¡¯t worry about me. I shouldn¡¯t even be here to begin with.


    ¡ª You¡¯re wrong.


    ¡ª What do you mean?


    ¡ª No one ends up here by accident. Your meeting with Natsuki was probably the will of Varandir.


    ¡« I find it hard to believe that some mythical creature lost to the sands of time could have influenced our entirely¡­ random encounter.


    ¡ª Chance doesn¡¯t exist, she declares, as if reading my thoughts. From the bloodiest battles to the flower where the bee lands, everything is written in the Vahna.


    ¡« Her devout words, free of any doubt, make me decide it¡¯s better not to share my hesitations with her.


    ¡ª Besides, though it¡¯s hard for me to admit, Natsuki usually has a good sense when it comes to judging people.


    ¡ª You¡¯ve known each other for a long time, haven¡¯t you? I envy that.


    ¡ª What?! I really don¡¯t see what there is to envy, she reacts instantly.


    ¡ª Sorry, I spoke as if I knew something about your relationship. But for a solitary traveler, your bickering sounds as pleasant as the crackling of a winter fire.


    A sudden flush rises to her cheeks, and she turns her head away, embarrassed, revealing an unexpectedly cute side of her.


    ¡ª Follow me instead of talking nonsense. I¡¯ll take you to see Mother, she says, using it as an excuse to hide her embarrassment as she turns her heels.


    I stop her by suddenly grabbing her arm, eliciting a small cry of surprise that catches even me off guard.


    ¡« Her arms are definitely as hard as rock. Only strict physical training could produce such a result at such a young age. I can¡¯t imagine what could scare a woman like her about me. Maybe I was too familiar? I still don¡¯t know anything about social boundaries and proper manners¡­ Oh well, she forgot the most important thing herself.


    ¡ª I still don¡¯t know your name, I say as I release her arm.


    ¡ª Where was my head! You¡¯re right, I¡¯m sorry. But that¡¯s still no reason to grab people by the arm without warning.


    ¡ª Haha, sorry about that, I¡¯m not used to all this¡­


    ¡ª All this?


    ¡ª You know, people.


    ¡ª It¡¯s nothing, she says after stifling a laugh. I¡¯m Mai, call me just Mai! And you are?


    ¡ª Ishizora. Simply Ishizora.


    ¡ª What a strange name¡­ You¡¯re definitely not from around here. Nice to meet you, Ishizora. May the ancestors guide and protect you, she says ceremoniously.


    ¡« Must be a local expression.


    At that moment, a shout echoes from the kitchen. Curious, I peek through the doorway and see Natsuki cutting vegetables with incredible vigor, his passionate intensity making it seem like he¡¯s charging into battle, ready to conquer or perish, though his vegetable opponents don¡¯t seem capable of fighting back. The other people in the kitchen have stopped to look at him, impressed.


    ¡ª Holy dancing beetle, he sure is fired up, I say, equally impressed.


    ¡ª He¡¯s always been like that, Mai admits with a blas¨¦ look.


    ¡ª Hey Natsuki, the oldest cook chimes in, you might want to slow down a bit if you don¡¯t want to cut your¡ª


    Another shout, of pain this time, escapes from Natsuki¡¯s mouth as a few drops of red liquid bead at the tip of his finger.


    ¡ª You see? It wouldn¡¯t hurt you to listen to your elders from time to time.


    After finishing sucking on his finger, Natsuki apologizes before starting again with even more enthusiasm.


    ¡ª Natsuki, you¡¯re getting blood everywhere, protests one of the cooks.


    ¡ª His stupidity hasn¡¯t changed a bit, Mai sighs, to which I respond with an amused smile. Let¡¯s hurry now. Mother is waiting for us, she says coldly before setting off at a pace closer to a sprint.


    ¡« Even though it¡¯s the second time I¡¯ve heard that phrase, it still sends a chill down my spine. What kind of person could this ¡®Mother¡¯ be?


    Caught between impatience and apprehension, I walk quickly enough to keep my guide in sight but slow enough to create some distance between us, forcing her to slow down a bit. When she turns around and notices I¡¯ve fallen behind, I pretend to be marveling at the surroundings. Mai suddenly stops in front of a huge root¡ªtoo tall to consider climbing over and so long that I can¡¯t see where it disappears into the ground.


    ¡« Could she have gotten lost in her own backyard?


    She turns toward me, arms crossed and foot tapping impatiently. When I finally catch up, just a few steps from the massive root¡ªif you can even call it a root¡ªI spot a spiral staircase descending beneath it. An


    intense, shifting light spills from the underground, as if beings of light were dancing an enchanting ballet, inviting me to come down. Seemingly tired of craning her neck to check on me, Mai gestures for me to go first with a broad, obviously fake smile. I step onto the narrow staircase hesitantly¡ªmy way back now cut off, I have no choice but to follow the flickering light toward an uncertain destination.


    ¡« Was the staircase very short? Or have I simply been hypnotized by the glowing light reflecting off the walls, losing even my sense of distance? It wouldn¡¯t be the first time today.


    At the bottom of the staircase, I stop in front of a curtain filtering the intense light beyond, like a portal to another world. Mai urges me to go through, and I swallow hard, trying to imagine what lies on the other side to mentally prepare myself. Just as I¡¯m about to take the big step, she suddenly pushes me forward, and I find myself thrown into the light like a child tossed into the sea to learn how to swim.

 Chapter 10: The blind woman

    Anticipating the impact with the solid light, I place my hands in front of my eyes to avoid burning my eyes. When I slowly lower them, I¡¯m surprised to find that the light, though omnipresent, isn¡¯t blinding. Two immense braziers burn on either side of the vast circular room, and no one seems worried that the plant-covered ceiling might catch fire. The floor, made of roughly smoothed stones, opens up before me to reveal a basin stretching from one side of the room to the other. It¡¯s just wide enough that it can¡¯t be stepped over, and a small arched wooden bridge allows passage across. Colorful fish I¡¯ve never seen before bask in this shallow pool of water, continuing their pilgrimage tirelessly, as if unaware of their captivity. Portraits line the walls, separated by engravings of the seven symbols that adorn the wings of the so-called legendary wolf.


    ¡ª The barrier seems to still be intact. Sorry to have worried you for nothing.


    Surprised to recognize this voice, I turn my gaze toward the center of the room, beyond the wooden bridge. Kneeling equidistant between the two braziers, with a third casting a vermillion veil over her shoulders that I¡¯d recognize anywhere, the girl who haunts my nights has her back to me.


    ¡« It¡¯s not surprising¡ªafter all, she lives in this forest too.


    ¡ª It¡¯s nothing. Better to be too cautious than not enough, responds a middle-aged woman facing Kana. But too much zeal can be harmful to your health.


    This woman¡ªprobably the ¡°Mother¡± I¡¯ve heard so much about¡ªis seated at the far end of the room on a throne that holds the title only due to its privileged position. It¡¯s certainly not just any wooden chair, but it doesn¡¯t compare in any way to that of the Geika Izar. The woman, with her gleaming bald head, seems taller than average. Her slender figure is hinted at through her loose orange clothing which, like her throne, carries no arrogance. Her white pupils, encircled by pale blue irises, give her the appearance of a blind person who sees everything. I¡¯ve never seen eyes like hers before, but looking at them too long makes me uncomfortable, as if every time my consciousness dives into them, something inside me is pulled into those immaculate orbs. She doesn¡¯t seem to have noticed my presence yet¡ªor at least, she¡¯s very good at pretending.


    ¡« Maybe she really is blind?


    She stares at her interlocutor with a warm but measured expression, a slight shift at the corners of her lips capable of turning her face as severe as the coldest winter.


    ¡ª You¡¯re excused from training tomorrow morning, so take the chance to rest, she orders more than suggests.


    Besides the two protagonists, the only people present in the vast room are me, Mai, and another middle-aged woman whose presence is so discreet I hadn¡¯t noticed her until now¡ªand even then, I still consider the possibility that she¡¯s a mirage conjured by the acrobatic flames. Completely motionless, she stands just a few meters from the head of the room, facing the scene with a seriousness that feels disproportionate for a simple suggestion to rest. Her straight hair forms a violet curtain that stops just before her shoulders, cutting across her face diagonally and casting a shadow over her one visible, unblinking eye. No detail seems to escape her cyclopean gaze, and it doesn¡¯t take long before she notices our presence. As startled as if I¡¯d seen a statue move, I watch apprehensively as the medium-height woman approaches the throne and leans in to whisper in the mistress of the house¡¯s ear.


    ¡ª If I may, I¡¯m perfectly able to attend tomorrow¡¯s training, and I¡¯d be upset to be left behind while everyone else is hard at work, answers Kana, making no effort to hide her disapproval.


    The ¡°Mother¡± casts her colorless eyes straight into mine, and my instinct makes me take a step back. Then, as her assistant straightens up, she shifts her attention back to Kana.


    ¡ª Do as you please. I¡¯ve given you free time; it¡¯s up to you how you use it, she sighs, aware that her authority won¡¯t bend such a zealous pupil. In any case, even if I forbade you from training, you¡¯d end up practicing alone in the forest.


    ¡ª Mother, thank you for your understanding.


    ¡ª More importantly, it seems our guest has finally arrived, she announces, turning her gaze back to me.


    ¡« Maybe she¡¯s not blind after all.


    ¡ª Our guest? Kana repeats, confused, before standing and looking behind her back.


    ¡ª Hey! I greet her simply with a nervous smile.


    For a few seconds, her lips remain sealed, while her eyes are wide open.


    ¡ª YOU AGAIN?!?


    ¡ª Yep¡­ If I didn¡¯t believe in fate before, I definitely do now.


    ¡ª Kana, do you know this man? The matriarch asks, without taking her eyes off me.


    ¡ª Uhm¡­ yes, well, no. I met him in town. Yeah, yesterday, while shopping. I¡¯d never seen him before, she lies with a panicked voice.


    ¡ª You haven¡¯t forgotten my ability to read lies, have you, young lady? Interjects the woman with the diagonal fringe.


    ¡ª Kana?


    The head of the house leans forward in her seat, and her bewitching gaze finally leaves me to settle on Kana. The latter fidgets nervously, uncomfortable under those blind eyes that strip you bare, peering into your inside in total ignorance of your outside. I feel sorry for Kana, but I¡¯m relieved not to be the target of those two ocular pearls anymore.


    ¡ª Alright, it¡¯s possible I ran into him by chance the day before yesterday in the forest, she finally admits.


    ¡ª WHAT DO YOU SAY!? Exclaims the woman, rising from her throne.


    Maybe it¡¯s my imagination, but it seemed like the braziers flared up for a moment.


    ¡ª He was being chased by the sacred wolves, and he suddenly burst into the meadow. I¡ªI just helped him get out by blindfolding h¡ª


    ¡ª Enough!


    Before such authority, even the wildest of beasts would crouch and lower the head, and Kana is no exception, she obeys without delay. The woman sits back down with a sigh.


    ¡ª I understand your concern about the barrier much better now. Well, what¡¯s done is done. If this young man managed to enter despite the barrier and the guards¡­ who knows, perhaps it was fate.


    ¡ª If I may, I really don¡¯t think this man is¡ª


    ¡ª However, she interrupts Kana abruptly, the fact that you deemed it appropriate not to inform me of a stranger''s intrusion into Sylvheim warrants a discussion.


    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    ¡ª But¡ª


    ¡ª We will continue this conversation later, Kana. I do not wish to keep my guest waiting any longer.


    Kana cranes her neck to shoot me a glare as dark as a night with no moon nor stars.


    ¡ª Please, young traveler, come closer, invites me the woman with a soft voice and a slight flick of her wrist.


    If possible, I would have preferred not to move any closer, but my body moves on its own, responding to a will that is not mine. After crossing the wooden bridge, I continue forward with slow steps until I stop in front of Kana, whose beastly stare chills my back. Strangely, the heat radiating from the two enormous braziers is not suffocating, and overall, the forest does a good job of shielding against the summer temperatures. Mai places her hand on the back of my head, urging me to bow.


    ¡ª So, Mai, may I ask who this young man accompanying you is?


    ¡ª It was Natsuki who¡ª


    ¡ª My name is Ishizora, I interject without much hesitation, since interrupting others seems to be a common practice in these woods. Mai looks more surprised by my boldness than offended by my rudeness. As you have gathered, I am a traveler, and I arrived in this forest by chance two days ago. I met Kana here, who showed me the way to the capital and made me promise not to speak of this place to anyone¡ªnot without some threats, I add to tease Kana, whose piercing gaze alone confirms that I hit the spot. I swear that I haven¡¯t spoken about this forest to anyone since then.


    ¡ª Very well, I believe you. In any case, if you were lying, Sasha would notice immediately. So speak freely, my child.


    I glance at the woman with the diagonal fringe, whose narrowed eye is locked right between my own. I swallow hard before continuing.


    ¡ª I have no reason to lie to you or hide anything, but if I must talk about myself, I would at least like to know to whom I am speaking.


    A frightening aura suddenly triggers all my senses, giving me the same jolt as an archer wasp¡¯s sting. Mai discreetly kicks my ankle, making me wince in pain, but when I turn, I realize the aura came from Kana, who hasn¡¯t moved an inch.


    ¡ª It¡¯s alright, says the woman with an amused smile, easing the tension among her disciples. He is absolutely right. My apologies, Ishizora. My name is Clarence, and I am the matriarch of the Shinzu Geika. The woman at my side is Sasha¡ªshe¡¯s my second-in-command, in a way. She assists me with nearly everything.


    Sasha bows so slightly that one might think she simply relaxed her shoulders.


    ¡ª Well then, now that introductions are out of the way, would you care to explain how you ended up back here a second time?


    As I recount the events of my day, she listens attentively, resting her chin on the backs of her clasped hands. When I finish, Clarence remains deep in thought for a long while, the only sound in the room being the soft crackling of the braziers. Eventually, Kana breaks the heavy silence.


    ¡ª That idiot Natsuki. He knows full well he¡¯s not supposed to bring the first friendly stranger he meets into Sylvheim. Mother! Let me deal with him. I¡¯ll make sure he never gets the urge again, she says coldly while cracking her knuckles.


    ¡ª Natsuki is not to blame, replies Clarence sharply. And this was bound to happen sooner or later.


    ¡ª What do you mean, Mother? Asks Mai, perplexed.


    ¡ª Kana said it herself¡ªthe barrier meant to keep intruders from entering the forest is intact. Do you know how many lost travelers have managed to get in since my predecessor entrusted me with this position? ¡­ Well, you¡¯re looking at the first one, she declares, to the great surprise of my neighbors. And not only did he manage to enter the oldest of forests, but he also ventured all the way to the Sylvheim, braving the fastest and fiercest wolves in all of Historia. Two days later, he just happens to run into Natsuki in town and gains his trust? Does such a coincidence exist?


    The silence that follows is all the more uncomfortable since I am the subject of it, yet the only one who does not understand anything they are saying.


    ¡« I don¡¯t like being the center of attention, especially when I feel like a stranger who has no reason to be here.


    ¡ª If I may, my meeting with Natsuki today was purely coincidental. And as for my arrival here two days ago¡­ well, I don¡¯t know what this barrier you¡¯re talking about is, but as for the wolves, I¡¯m quite confident in my ability to outrun wild beasts.


    ¡ª Those wolves are not mere wild beasts¡­


    Realizing that I will never convince her that I¡¯m just a passing traveler, I decide to keep quiet and wait patiently for the conclusion.


    ¡ª Well then, whether your presence here is due to chance or the unfathomable web of the Vahna, any traveler who has walked the wild lands is welcome at my table. Would you accept to share a meal with us tonight in exchange for a few adventure tales? Everyone here loves them¡ªespecially the children.


    ¡ª I can¡¯t accep¡ª


    The same aura as before suddenly chills my blood, and I don¡¯t need to turn around to know where this terrifying sensation is coming from.


    ¡« Holy rock worm, how can such a small woman have a presence so similar to that of a ferocious beast?


    ¡ª H-hm, if you insist, I would be delighted to share my adventures with you.


    ¡ª Then it''s settled. Mai! Take care of him, if you would.


    ¡ª Yes, Mother, she replies, bowing solemnly. Come on, let''s go.


    As Mai pulls me by the arm, I follow without protest, unable to endure the gaze of the chief and her one-eyed assistant any longer.


    ¡ª Kana, I¡¯m not done with you.


    Knowing that she¡¯s about to receive a scolding because of me, Kana shoots me a sideways glance that says everything about what she¡¯ll do to me if we ever find ourselves alone in the future. I make sure to stay as close to my dear guide as possible, and together we hurry up the staircase with its dancing reflections. Once outside, I fill my lungs as if trying to create a vacuum around me.


    ¡« The air is much less stale than on my first visit. It¡¯s probably related to the presence of that tree. What was it that Natsuki called it again? El-Elviar? Elvi¡ª


    ¡ª You handled yourself pretty well for a first time.


    ¡ª Huh? What do you mean?


    ¡ª Mother¡¯s gaze¡ªdidn¡¯t it make you want to hide behind your own shadow?


    ¡ª You couldn¡¯t phrase it better. I was trembling like a leaf.


    ¡ª That¡¯s the effect it has at first. But don¡¯t worry, you get used to it.


    ¡ª Those eyes¡­ Could she be, you know...


    ¡ª Blind? She sees far better than you, me, and anyone else. But you''re not entirely wrong, since she can''t distinguish colors or shapes. She sees souls, she declares as if it were nothing special.


    ¡ª Souls?!


    ¡ª When she looks at you, she can see what kind of person you are. If you had bad intentions, she would notice it at first glance. It''s as if she can see your past¡ªin other words, every version of yourself that has ever existed up until now, all condensed into a single portrait.


    ¡« My past? Could she have seen something about my memory loss?


    ¡ª It¡¯s both reassuring and¡­ terrifying.


    ¡ª I completely agree, but she didn¡¯t choose to have this gift. She was born with it. Apparently, at first, she could see normally. Her ability only manifested as vague colors surrounding the people around her, but little by little, it overtook her sight, and she became unable to see anything else.


    ¡ª That must not be very practical, seeing only souls.


    ¡ª Oh, if you think that makes her unable to fight, let me warn you¡ªno one in this Geika or any other can match her. Even those arrogant fools in the capital wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. After all, seeing an opponent¡¯s hostility in its rawest form lets her anticipate even the dirtiest tricks. And for everything else, her other senses compensate.


    ¡ª I never thought she was weak, not for a second.


    ¡ª Oh? Then you must have a talent for judging opponents. That¡¯s probably the best skill to have if you want to stay alive in this crazy world. Anyway, if you were talking about everyday life, Sasha helps her with anything that requires¡­ normal vision, let¡¯s say.


    ¡ª You mean the woman who was beside her?


    ¡ª That one. Mother took her under her wing at a young age because she has a vision-related gift as well.


    ¡ª What kind of gift?


    ¡ª Well¡­ like Mother said earlier, Sasha can detect lies. As for how she does it, and why she keeps her second eye hidden, no one knows except Mother and her.


    ¡ª Me, all I know is that sometimes, it¡¯s better not to know.


    ¡ª In that case, you know far enough, she replies with a light laugh.


    I suddenly realize that she isn¡¯t lacking in charm either¡ªfar from it¡ªeven though her style is completely different from Kana¡¯s. If Kana¡¯s beauty is like a rough, cold diamond, Mai¡¯s is more like a flower soaking in the summer sun atop a hill.


    ¡« Why didn¡¯t I notice it right away? I was probably too distracted by everything that happened.


    ¡ª Why are you staring at me like that? Do I have something in between my teeth?


    ¡« Huh, I heard that same line earlier today. She and Natsuki are closer than they let on. That must be what a sibling relationship looks like.


    ¡ª And why are you smiling now? Will you stop that? You¡¯re making me uncomfortable.


    ¡ª Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to.


    ¡ª Come on! I¡¯ll introduce you to the others, she suddenly exclaims, full of energy.


    ¡ª The others?


    ¡ª You¡¯ll see, we¡¯re one big family!


    She suddenly grabs my wrist and starts running. Her childlike excitement warms my heart, and I decide to let myself get swept up in her game.

 Chapter 11: The embrace of anger (Kana)

    ¡« Why did I even save him from the wolves? Nothing forced me to. If I had let him get devoured, no one would have ever known that an intruder made it all the way to Sylvheim while I was in charge of the barrier. I''m sure Keros and the others would have gladly feasted on him. Though¡­ he does look a bit tough to chew.


    ¡ª Kana!


    I jolt out of my thoughts, suddenly remembering that I¡¯m kneeling before Mother, and about to be lectured. I grit my teeth and apologize as politely as I can, despite the lump of rage stuck in my throat. It took residence in me long ago and has never left since. Sometimes, I manage to forget it''s there, but the moment something irritates me even slightly, it tightens around my larynx again. Then, the simple fact that I was able to forget its presence fills me with an intense anger, and I always end up losing control. The only exception is when Mother looks at me with her transparent eyes. My mind clears, and I regain my senses. Of course, I wasn¡¯t always like this.


    ¡« It all started that day! No, probably even before¡­


    ¡ª I don¡¯t hold anything against you, so there¡¯s no need to get so worked up.


    ¡« Once again, Mother has read me like an open book.


    ¡ª So¡­ I¡¯m not going to be punished?


    ¡ª I know how seriously you take your mission. Do I seem like the kind of mother who would punish her most devoted children?


    ¡ª No, that¡¯s not what I meant. Sorry, I¡¯m just¡­ confused.


    ¡ª Relax, I¡¯m only teasing, she says with a childlike smile stretching across her lips.


    ¡« It¡¯s not every day I see that kind of smile on Mother¡¯s face. Is it the arrival of the traveler that¡¯s put her in such a good mood?


    ¡ª Mother, may I ask you a question? I stand up to face her.


    ¡ª Oh? Why being so serious all of a sudden? Go ahead, my child.


    ¡ª Do you really trust him?


    ¡ª You mean the traveler? Are you doubting my abilities?


    As her smile vanishes suddenly, I fear I may have upset her with my foolish question.


    ¡« Of course, she trusts him¡ªshe saw his soul and invited him to her table. But still, a traveler has no place among us, the ones society has cast aside. This family is all we have left. If I were to lose everything again¡­


    ¡ª I understand your hesitation about letting a potential threat into our midst, especially when our survival is already so fragile.


    ¡ª Then¡ª


    ¡ª But never forget this, my child. We are the sole architects of that fragility. We chose this way of life, and we must take responsibility for it. Tell me, Kana, what do you think of those nobles who cower behind their walls and look down on the peasants fighting for survival every day?


    ¡ª I hate them. My blood will continue to boil, and my hands will never stop trembling until I have strangled every last one of them, I answer with calm and honesty.


    These words were not driven by anger. They left my mouth as naturally as gusts of wind rushing through a breach in the mountains¡ªsudden and sharp. I expect Mother to reprimand me for such words, which far exceed the limits of propriety, but she doesn¡¯t even flinch.


    ¡ª Now tell me, in what way are we any different from those nobles, hiding away endlessly in this forest without a care for the rest of the world from which we are cut off?


    ¡ª What?! That¡¯s¡ªno, come on, that¡¯s completely different. You gave us a place to sleep and a family to protect, to those of us abandoned by the world.


    ¡ª That¡¯s right. And it is because I opened my mind to the outside world that I was able to find you and save you in time. So why does it surprise you that I would wish to help a young man who has lost his way?


    I stammer, trying to form a reply, but I can¡¯t find a convincing argument.


    ¡ª The world may have abandoned you once, but that is no reason for you to abandon the world, Kana. I sincerely hope that one day, you will be able to forgive it.


    ¡« Forgive?! How could I? That word vanished from my vocabulary the day I lost everything¡­ or rather, the day everything was taken from me. The day they took everything from me.


    ¡ª You know very well that it¡¯s impossible, I clenching my fists so tightly my nails dig into my skin, hovering on the edge of my composure.


    ¡ª Nothing is impossible for those who open their hearts. But let¡¯s set aside talk of vengeance for now. Don¡¯t you think you might be unfairly directing your hatred at this young man, who has nothing to do with your suffering?


    ¡ª I don¡¯t hate him. Not particularly¡­


    ¡« No, she¡¯s probably right. Aaaah, this is infuriating. Why are Mother¡¯s words always so painfully accurate? It¡¯s as if she knows me better than I know myself. No¡­ she definitely does. After all, I would be nothing without her.


    ¡ª Or perhaps, she turns her head toward Sasha as if consulting her, could it be the troubles of a young girl in love?


    ¡« What?! What is she even talking about all of a sudden?!


    ¡ª It is true that such matters are fitting for her age, Sasha continues as though making a medical diagnosis. I hate this way of speaking of her. The heart of an adolescent is as impenetrable as the path of the Vahna.


    ¡ª By the fangs of a horned viper, you¡¯ve completely lost your minds!


    ¡« Damn it! I lost my temper and even swore in front of Mother!


    ¡ª Your cheeks are as red as your hair, Kana, Mother says in an amused tone.


    ¡ª Have you forgotten my ability to detect lies? Sasha adds in that same neutral voice of hers, making it hard to tell when she¡¯s joking unless you¡¯re used to it.


    ¡ª Pfff, would you please stop making fun of me?


    ¡ª My apologies, my apologies, Mother says with her usual childlike smile. Enough teasing. If you feel neither hatred nor love toward him, then you won¡¯t mind showing him around tomorrow morning.


    ¡ª You mean¡­


    Sasha seems just as confused as I am. Then she shakes her head and sighs in resignation.


    ¡ª What? Do you object to him staying the night? What kind of host would I be if I let my guest leave in the middle of the night?


    ¡ª But, Mother! There are limits to how much trust we can place in this stranger.


    ¡ª If, after hearing his story, you still don¡¯t trust him, then you can keep an eye on him during the night.


    As frustrating as it is, if Mother has made up her mind, there¡¯s nothing I can do to oppose her. Only Sasha has that power, and she seems resigned as well. I accept, my voice making no effort to hide what I think of the situation, then turn on my heel before Mother notices the vein pulsing on my forehead.


    Once I pass through the curtain, I stop to savor my anger. I don¡¯t remember when I started doing this, but it¡¯s become a habit. Every time I get angry, I feel strangely reassured, as if this familiar heat rising inside me is proof that I¡¯m still myself.


    Even though Mother took me in and gave me a place in this loving home where everyone pretends their lives are flawless, my anger is the only thing that truly feels like home. It was my sole companion when the world abandoned me. It gave me the strength to fight, to survive, to one day exact my revenge. It burns away my fears and doubts, and the thought that it might one day fade fills me with unease.


    So, for now, I breathe, letting that heat consume my core and rise to my throat.


    ¡« My blade has not yet dulled.


    ¡ª Was it really a good idea to leave this to Kana? Sasha¡¯s muffled voice reaches me through the curtain.


    I know I shouldn¡¯t, but I, too, want to know what Mother is thinking, so I stay hidden and listen to their conversation.


    ¡« If this mysterious woman confides in anyone, it can only be Sasha.


    ¡ª His mere presence is enough to throw Kana completely off balance, Sasha argues.


    ¡ª That is precisely why I want her to handle it.


    ¡ª You can be quite cruel sometimes. Is this some kind of punishment for earlier?


    ¡ª As I¡¯ve already said, I have no intention of punishing a child as dedicated as she is.


    ¡ª Then why? You could have asked Natsuki or Mai¡ª


    ¡ª I want it to be Kana. It has been six years since she came to live among us. Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s about time she forgets, like the others?


    ¡« WHAT?! She wants me to forget?! I¡¯m sorry, Mother, but I am not as weak as the rest of them. Rather than forget my pain, I would rather savor it.


    ¡ª Kana¡¯s case is¡­ different. And even so, I don¡¯t see how this young man could offer her the salvation we failed to provide.


    ¡ª As you say, none of us have been able to save her. If this young man can awaken something within her, perhaps he will be able to carry away her sorrows, like the wind sweeping fallen autumn leaves.


    ¡ª No offense, but the autumn wind heralds the arrival of frost. Aren¡¯t you afraid this could have the opposite effect?


    ¡ª Your judgment is always thoughtful and wise, but sometimes, when logic fails, one must take a gamble on the unknown.


    ¡ª Yours, however, is always obscure and senseless, Sasha sighs. And yet, for some reason beyond my understanding, it always turns out better than mine, she adds with a trace of frustration in her voice. I wish I could see even a tenth of what you see, but I have no choice but to follow you blindly.


    ¡ª Your trust in me touches my heart.


    ¡ª If I may ask a question, what did you see when you looked into his soul?


    I was just about to leave, more irritated than ever, but that question grabs my attention like ivy wrapping around my ankle.


    ¡« Do I even have the right to know what Mother sees through her transparent eyes? She never speaks of it, to the point that it has become a taboo subject among the members of the Geika. And why does this even interest me in the first place? No matter what his soul is made of, I can''t trust some weak, lost, and ignorant fool. Who knows what kind of influence he might have received in the city?


    ¡ª You want to know what I saw in his soul? I swallow the lump in my throat and press my ear as close to the curtain as possible. A second one.


    ¡ª What? What do you mean by that?


    ¡ª Nothing more or less than what my words imply. There was a second soul hovering above his own, watching over him with a faint but genuine glow.


    ¡« A second soul?! That¡¯s utterly impossible. Humans are given a soul at birth, shape and color it throughout their lives, and return it with their final breath. A single incarnation cannot possess more than one soul at a time.


    ¡ª But that¡¯s¡­ absurd! Sasha exclaims, taking the words right out of my mouth.


    ¡ª And yet, that is what I saw. Do you doubt my eyes?


    ¡ª You know I don¡¯t¡­ I understand now why you¡¯re so interested in this young man.


    ¡ª I know someone else who doesn¡¯t seem entirely uninterested either, Mother suddenly says in a slightly louder voice¡ªjust enough for me to hear her clearly.


    I blush with shame before bolting up the stairs at full speed, completely flustered.


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    ¡« How could I ever think I could spy on Mother without her noticing?


    Once outside, I take a deep breath to calm my thoughts.


    ¡« What¡¯s the point of thinking about it? Tomorrow, he¡¯ll be gone.


    A wave of sweet aromas suddenly reaches my nose, soothing me completely. My stomach then speaks up louder than a wailing infant. Whenever I get angry, I always end up starving, as if my inner fire burns through everything in its path.


    I pass by the kitchens and take the small staircase leading to the dining hall. As I push past the curtain of animal hide, I stop to take in the lively scene unfolding before me. Everyone is gathered around the table, laughing as Ishizora plays with the children.


    ¡« Or would it be more accurate to say that the children are playing with Ishizora?


    He runs around the long, single wooden table that fills the room, a small creature under each arm, one clinging to each leg, another gripping his neck, and yet another perched on his head, gleefully tugging at his hair. The remaining children eagerly wait for their turn to ride this peculiar mount. The spectators clap their hands in encouragement, with Mai at the front of the crowd.


    ¡« Gosh, what¡¯s gotten into them? It¡¯s like they¡¯ve already accepted him! Am I the only one here who¡¯s being cautious? Even if that¡¯s the case, this is way too fast. They¡¯ve only known him for a few minutes, and he already seems like part of the family.


    ¡ª Well, well? What¡¯s going on here? Mother asks as she steps into the room, followed closely by her shadow, Sasha. It¡¯s quite lively today¡ªwe could hear the laughter from outside.


    Everyone freezes on the spot, returning silence to the room, save for a few stifled giggles hidden behind a wall of bodies. The crowd parts, revealing the source of the commotion to Mother. Ishizora, oblivious to the sudden shift in atmosphere, continues his set of push-ups, with three children sitting on his back, enthusiastically counting along.


    Mai whispers something to him, and he stops mid-push-up, balancing on one hand. The children, caught off guard by the sudden end of their amusement, blink in confusion. Mai helps them climb down, and Ishizora stands up to face Mother, who has already taken a few steps toward him.


    ¡« His smile suddenly turn into a clumsy expression. Serves him right¡ªthat will teach him not to act like he owns the place¡­


    ¡ª I see they¡¯ve already grown quite fond of you, Mother says with a warm smile. You didn¡¯t have to stop because of me.


    ¡ª No, on the contrary, your arrival saved me, Ishizora replies with an embarrassed smile. These kids would¡¯ve worn me out soon enough.


    ¡ª What are you saying? It takes more than that to tire you out, doesn¡¯t it? She eyes Ishizora, who stammers awkwardly.


    The atmosphere relaxes, the crowd regains its cheerful mood, and laughter fills the room once more.


    ¡« Why are they chatting so casually like old friends? I¡¯ve rarely seen Mother in such a good mood. And everyone else too¡­ Just because he¡¯s a little strong doesn¡¯t mean¡ª


    ¡ª Do you have something to say, Kana? Mother asks, as if she had read my thoughts.


    I remember she just caught me eavesdropping earlier and decide it¡¯s best to keep a low profile.


    ¡ª No, nothing at all, Mother, I blend in with the others to slip out of her line of sight.


    ¡ª DINNER¡¯S READY! Suddenly shouts a man at the other end of the room, standing at the bottom of the staircase that connects the dining hall to the kitchens.


    He freezes, looking perplexed at the scene he just interrupted, drawing every eye to him in an awkward silence.


    ¡ª Uuh¡­ am I interrupting something?


    ¡ª Thank you, Gustavio, Mother replies reassuringly.


    ¡ª EVERYONE, TO THE TABLE! Bellows a broad-shouldered man in his forties.


    The commotion resumes as everyone scrambles to find a seat. With Mother sitting at the far right end of the table and Ishizora at the far left, I take a spot in the middle. Mother chats cheerfully with the elders, while the younger ones gather around Ishizora, laughing heartily. I sigh in relief at the sight which is not so different from usual.


    ¡« I¡¯ll do whatever it takes to protect these smiles. Even if no one believes in me anymore, even if I have to go against their will, I will continue to watch over them from the shadows.


    Meanwhile, Ishizora tells his adventures, which the younger ones drink in with endless fascination.


    ¡ª And what happened next? Asks one of them.


    ¡ª Turns out, the cave I had hidden in to escape the grizzlion was actually its home. I barely made it out that night.


    His audience erupts in laughter, and Ishizora no longer seems as tense as when he first arrived.


    ¡« What could they possibly find interesting in these obviously fabricated tales? No human could escape a situation like that. A grizzlion can run up to 70 km/h when it¡¯s angry. Maybe he really is capable of it¡ªafter all, this is the man who almost outran the sacred wolves¡­ What¡¯s the point in overthinking it? One thing¡¯s for sure¡ªhe must have been born under a lucky star.


    The food finally arrives, carried by Natsuki and the team of cooks, accompanied by a few ten-year-old children who volunteered to help. Today¡¯s meal is venison stew.


    ¡« Looks like Anissa and her team of hunters had a successful morning.


    As both a garnish and a vegetable, the modest piece of meat submerged in a bowl of broth is topped with a mubanda flower, whose bitter-tasting purple petals make it rather unpopular with the children. However, it is packed with nutrients and blooms even in the darkest corners of this forest.


    ¡« Good grief, they could¡¯ve at least seasoned it.


    Just as I¡¯m about to give up on the petals and sink my teeth into the juicy piece of meat, I hear the children gasp in surprise at Ishizora, who is devouring his flower as if it were a piece of bread.


    ¡ª You¡¯re not put off by the bitter taste?! Asks Mai in admiration.


    ¡ª Oh, is this bitter? Sorry, after years of eating anything soft enough to swallow¡ªand surviving multiple near-death experiences¡ªI¡¯ve pretty much lost my sense of taste, he replies with that foolish grin I despise, as if Historia¡¯s wilderness were some kind of pleasant playground where nothing can truly harm you, even if you¡¯re poisoned or weakened.


    ¡ª I find it hard to believe you¡¯ve survived this long in the wild without any knowledge of edible plants. Avoid foraging around here¡ªa third of the plants in this forest would either drive you insane or cause internal hemorrhaging.


    ¡« Well, those two seem to be getting along. Mai, don¡¯t tell me¡­ No, that can¡¯t be.


    Out of pure pride, I eat my flower petals and continue eavesdropping. Suddenly, Natsuki barges in, plopping himself down on the bench between the lovebirds, complaining as usual.


    ¡ª You¡¯ve got to be kidding me! I went through all this trouble in the kitchen just to impress my new friend, and it turns out he has dysfunctional taste buds?!


    ¡ª It¡¯s true that you put in a real effort this time, Mai admits, as Natsuki nods in proud agreement. Even shed a little blood.


    Everyone who hears this last remark immediately starts inspecting their broth, as if they had just lost a tooth in it.


    ¡ª I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about, Natsuki denies, hastily hiding his left hand under the table.


    ¡ª Don¡¯t worry, you know what they say¡­ uh, what do they say again? Ishizora wonders, while Natsuki glares at him impatiently.


    ¡ª All that counts is the thought? Suggests Anissa, sitting among the children.


    ¡ª That¡¯s it! Exactly what I meant to say!


    ¡ª That¡¯s my best friend right there! Natsuki exclaims, moved. You really know how to talk to a man.


    Laughter erupts once again, assaulting my left ear, until Mother restores order with a few taps of her spoon, bringing back a soothing silence.


    ¡ª As you all already know, we have a guest tonight. While it¡¯s not often that we receive visitors in this cozy little hideaway, I would like you to treat him as one of our own until his departure. He brings us tales of the outside world, a world our ancestors once entrusted us to protect. The elders bow their heads in shame, and the younger ones imitate them without fully understanding why. We live in troubled times, and anyone who has set foot in the city knows that many do not hold us in high regard. However, we cannot remain forever cut off from the rest of the world. While we remain prisoners of this forest¡ªa relic of the past left to us by our ancestors¡ªthe outside world is constantly evolving. If we do not wish to become relics ourselves, it is essential that we stay informed about what happens beyond these woods.


    So, consider our guest¡¯s words as the finest of wines, and drink them with the same thirst.


    Raising her glass to conclude her speech, everyone follows suit, their excitement palpable. Having just been compared to a free-flowing barrel of cellar wine, Ishizora does not share the same enthusiasm. Besieged with questions from all sides, he answers them one after another, recounting his journey to an audience so silent I can hardly believe it¡ªespecially coming from the children. Even the few slow eaters who haven¡¯t yet finished their plates put down their utensils, unwilling to miss a single detail from the young man¡¯s six-year-long odyssey.


    ¡« Six years?! Without encountering a single village or human?!


    Such an absurd lie almost makes me laugh, but since everyone else seems to be taking it seriously, I hold back.


    ¡« How can they swallow such nonsense? This isn¡¯t some picnic on the grass of an Aragane park! Few would dare to spend even a single day in this deadly wilderness, let alone six years. When I first saw him stumble into our meadow, I could tell he had been on a long journey, but to think I was the first person he had spoken to in six years? No, that must be a lie.


    ¡ª I did come across a few bandits here and there, but I always made sure to avoid them, he says with that ever-irritating nonchalance.


    ¡ª This is the first time I¡¯ve heard of bandits living outside the walls, a female voice remarks in surprise from the right side of the table.


    ¡ª To survive in the wild while making a living off monster captures, begins a man from the same side in a sarcastic tone, they must be at least as dangerous as you were that time you tried to play hide-and-seek with the children and spent the whole night searching for them while they had gone home long before.


    ¡ª Oh, Marco! You promised you wouldn¡¯t bring that up again!


    Laughter erupts once more around the table, even reaching Ishizora¡¯s lips, which have now completely relaxed.


    ¡ª And before that? Asks Mother.


    ¡ª Before that?


    ¡ª Yes, before you set off on your adventure. You must have started your journey somewhere.


    ¡ª Of course. But, I¡¯m not sure how to answer.


    ¡ª Surely you remember the name of your hometown? Ask a broad-shouldered man sitting to Mother¡¯s right.


    ¡ª A town?! No, no. Where I come from has nothing to do with one of those oceans of white stone. It¡¯s more like a¡­ hut. That¡¯s it, a hut! A small wooden hut, lost deep in the forest.


    Surprise spreads across all faces and lips, rising like morning dew. Among the murmurs, I am relieved to finally hear doubt creeping in. To counter this doubt, a new line of reasoning emerges: his long survival in the wild would make sense if he had always lived there.


    ¡« Justifying one absurdity with another¡­ They¡¯ve truly fallen low.


    ¡ª So, you¡¯ve lived in the wild your whole life? Asks Mai, cutting through the whispers.


    ¡ª No, I didn¡¯t stay in that hut for long. An old man took me in and cared for me for two years before he left this world.


    ¡ª An old man?!


    ¡ª He never told me his name.


    ¡ª And before that?


    ¡ª A complete blank. I don¡¯t remember anything, he admits sheepishly. The old man said he found me at the foot of a cliff, badly injured. He nursed me back to health, and since I couldn¡¯t remember anything¡ªnot even my name¡ªhe named me Ishizora, after a stone fallen from the sky.


    Silence falls over the room, a mix of doubt and surprise hanging in the air.


    ¡« There it is! He finally slipped up. After this, I doubt anyone around this table will still believe his nonsense. I don¡¯t know what trick he¡¯s using to deceive Mother and Sasha, but I see right through his little game. I also don¡¯t know why he¡¯s trying to win the favor of the Shinzuits, but whether he¡¯s just a freeloader or a potential threat, I won¡¯t tolerate his presence among us any longer.


    ¡ª So, your name means big lump?! Natsuki cuts in, blowing away the tension in the room with a single joke and replacing it with contagious laughter.


    Only the elders remain deep in thought, the only ones aware of how slim the chances of survival are for a young boy with no memories and an old man for sole company.


    ¡« I can¡¯t stay silent any longer.


    ¡ª If you really lived in the wild for so long, I begin, raising my voice just enough to force everyone to listen, then you must know it¡¯s crawling with ferocious monsters that attack anything that moves¡ªnot to mention Techna¡¯s spies and these so-called bandits you claim to have encountered so often. You don¡¯t actually expect us to believe that a twelve-year-old boy with amnesia and an old man on death¡¯s doorstep could survive peacefully in such a hostile environment?


    ¡« I had to raise my voice, but it seems to have worked. The foolish smiles have disappeared, and silence has returned. People need silence to think, and doubt can only be born from reflection. What I¡¯m doing is right¡ªreasoning is always the right thing.


    ¡ª What you¡¯re saying is true. After my fall, I was the weakest of creatures. Incapable of speech and completely ignorant. I would have undoubtedly died the first time I encountered a beast of the forest. But for some reason I don¡¯t understand, none of those creatures ever came near the hut. To be honest, I spent an entire year unaware of how dangerous the wild truly was. The old man forbade me from wandering off and dedicated his days to teaching me about the world and martial arts. Language came back to me quickly, but aside from that, everything he taught me was new, and his knowledge of nature seemed endless.


    ¡ª After a year, he decided I was ready to venture outside and took me on my first hunt. That was the first time I ever saw a wild creature. I was fascinated by such beauty capable of such strength and cruelty. But with the old man by my side, I never felt threatened. On the contrary, the creatures were powerless against my mentor¡¯s hunting tactics.


    ¡ª When he passed away and I began my journey, I realized that everything he had taught me over those two years had only one purpose¡ªto prepare me for his departure. He knew he didn¡¯t have much time left, so he did everything he could to make sure I could fend for myself when the time came. The rest, I learned through experience. I won¡¯t tell you I¡¯ve never been in danger or that I never came close to dying. Quite the opposite actually¡ªthat was my everyday reality.


    ¡ª And why did you keep going without giving up? Asks a small child¡¯s voice.


    ¡ª Why¡­? He repeats, sounding confused as his gaze drifts into the void.


    ¡ª That¡¯s true, Mai chimes in. Without any memories of your past, you didn¡¯t have a reason to fight all those years. Normally, no one survives such adversity without an exceptional will to live.


    ¡ª Maybe it¡¯s precisely because I didn¡¯t remember anything¡­ I couldn¡¯t accept dying without knowing who I am or where I come from, not even knowing if someone will be waiting for me to return their whole life, in vain.


    From his hesitant voice and averted gaze, I can tell it¡¯s just a facade¡ªa carefully crafted argument. The real truth remains hidden behind his tightly pressed lips, and it seems Mother and Sasha have also noticed. Their perceptive eyes narrow in suspicion.


    ¡ª In the end, I think I was just lucky, Ishizora continues, trying to end the conversation before Mother can uncover his secret.


    ¡ª LUCKY?! I repeat, jumping to my feet, my anger awakened like a bucket of cold water thrown over me, and showing no signs of fading. This world isn¡¯t kind enough to let abandoned kids survive, no matter how strong they are. Because at the end of the game, it¡¯s never the strongest who win¡ªnot even the fastest or the most ingenious. No matter your principles, your efforts, and your sacrifices, in the end, cruelty always triumphs. If that weren¡¯t the case, none of us would be here. Remember, for god¡¯s sake! Are we here because we were weak? I ask, sweeping my gaze across the assembly as everyone lowers their heads. That¡¯s not true, and you know it. And it¡¯s not because we deserved it either! We simply lost to the world''s cruelty, and luck had nothing to do with it¡ªI swear it, as surely as I stand before you.


    ¡ª If we live in a place like this and lower our chins before the people of the city, it¡¯s not because we are weaker than them. It¡¯s because we ran¡ªlike cowards! We removed ourselves from the world and its sadism. And now, some kid shows up out of nowhere, expecting us to believe that luck is what kept him sane in such a place for six years, when even the strongest among us were broken in less than one?! Doesn¡¯t it bother you to be humiliated like this? To be told you simply lacked "luck"?


    ¡ª That¡¯s enough, Kana, says Mother calmly.


    ¡ª I can¡¯t forgive them. Not the world, nor people like him who¡ª


    ¡ª I SAID ENOUGH!!


    Mother¡¯s voice echoes through the room for what feels like an eternity. She can be harsh at times, but it¡¯s rare to hear her raise her voice like this. I know I can¡¯t fight back alone, so I scan the room once more, hoping my speech has earned me the support of at least some of them¡ªbut every head remains bowed.


    ¡ª Fine. If you all insist on pretending, then I¡¯ll carry your rage alone. After all, my glass is still far from full, I murmur almost to myself, before striding away from the table.


    ? What is more convenient than one-sided rage,


    Not shackled by reason, nor by wisdom cage.


    Through seasons and lands, it blazes untamed,


    Until, finally, the hour of judgment is claimed.


    Seldom it strikes the ones to blame,


    And breaking free often brings greater pain.


    But as long as it beats within my chest,


    No sorrow lingers, no wound can rest.


    Born of father Violence, and Injustice its mother,


    Let its fire never smother.


    For in the cold world it has made,


    Only its warmth keeps me from fade.


    Ah, truly, what could be more sweet,


    Than fury unchained, anger complete? ?

 Chapter 12: The crack in the rock (Mai)

    Kana''s last words before her abrupt departure left a heavy aura at the table, accompanied by an unrelenting silence. Not daring to exchange glances anymore, most are simply staring at their empty plates, tracing circles with their forks. Kana''s outbursts of anger aren''t exactly frequent, but they are well-known and feared by all members of the Geika. After all, when she gets angry, it¡¯s also for our sake, and it¡¯s hard to remain indifferent when being told the harsh truth.


    Another reason is that her rage is so intense that it becomes almost tangible, making the room feel hotter and the air heavier. Such anger in the body of a teenager¡ªcan''t be easy to bear. That¡¯s why no one here will ever hold it against her. No, we simply cannot blame her for anything, not when it is all our anger that she carries on her far-too-small shoulders. If we can all laugh every day, it¡¯s because our tears flow through her eyes. If we can forget the past and keep moving forward, it¡¯s because she remembers for us. And when we cleansed ourselves of all our pain, it is in the river of her fury that it found refuge, fueling her burning desire for vengeance.


    Deep down, we are all grateful to her, so when she gets angry like this, we can only feel guilty for making her carry the weight of the world in our stead. I hope that one day, someone will be able to stand by her side to share that burden and free her from all her suffering.


    ¡ª Did I say something inappropriate? Asks poor Ishizora with a sincerely troubled face. If I did, I¡¯m truly sorry. I haven¡¯t seen other humans in so long¡­ When I arrived here, I thought that maybe, just maybe, I could even make some friends¡­ I forgot, for a moment, that I am nothing more than a visitor who knows nothing, and in the end, I hurt one of your own.


    He looks around, searching for someone to tell him otherwise, but all those who had welcomed him with open arms just moments ago now remain locked away behind thick emotional walls. Seeing this, a deep sense of shame stirs within me.


    ¡ª I don¡¯t belong here among you. I¡¯ll leave now, he finally says while standing up, since no one seems willing to stop him.


    ¡« Why does it have to end like this? This isn¡¯t his fault¡­ Well, in a way, it is, but he is also a victim in this story. I can¡¯t accept that he leaves like this!


    ¡ª Ishizora¡ª


    ¡ª Stay! Please, Mother pleads, cutting me off after I had already leaped to my feet, ready to block his way with my body if words weren¡¯t enough to stop him. We¡¯re all just a little tired, so please forgive us, as well as my daughter. I promise you; she has nothing personal against you. It¡¯s just¡­ our family is complicated¡­ and she has convinced herself that she must bear all the responsibilities alone. Since this isn¡¯t the first time you¡¯ve met her, you must have noticed how stubborn she is. And sometimes, she just¡­ breaks. I am certain that by tomorrow, everything will be better.


    ¡ª Tomorrow? He repeats, perplexed.


    ¡ª What kind of host would I be if I let my guest leave in the middle of the night? I know it¡¯s not very proper of me to ask this after what just happened, but would you be willing to stay with us for just one night? If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯d like to continue this discussion one-on-one tomorrow morning. After that, you¡¯ll be free to leave wherever you wish. What do you say?


    ¡« I¡¯ve rarely seen Mother bow with such courtesy. If she¡¯s pleading with him this much, it means there¡¯s something about him that interests her. Mother, you are not thinking that¡­


    ¡ª Natsuki! Could you guide him to the dormitory and prepare a bed for him?


    ¡ª Yes Mother! Natsuki agrees with more seriousness than he¡¯s usually capable of.


    ¡ª If you insist so much, it would be impolite to refuse your kindness, Ishizora finally accepts, bringing smiles back to everyone¡¯s face. I would be happy to spend the night here before resuming my journey tomorrow morning.


    His last words cast a chill over the smiles in bloom¡ªespecially on the lips of the children who have already grown fond of him.


    ¡ª Mister, you''re leaving? Asks a small voice, tugging on Ishizora¡¯s sleeve.


    ¡ª Just like life itself, my journey continues, Ishizora says after crouching down to the child''s level, a warm smile on his face. And so does yours. Our paths may part here, but it¡¯s just a fork in the road. If my six years of surviving in the wild have taught me anything, it¡¯s that life is full of endless crossroads, and we can never predict where our choices will take us. So, who knows? Maybe we¡¯ll meet again someday. And when that day comes, I¡¯ll have ten times more amusing stories to tell.


    In response to this touching speech¡ªperhaps too complex for a young child to fully understand¡ªthe little one suddenly throws himself into Ishizora¡¯s arms. The surprise is written all over Ishizora¡¯s face in large letters, while his eyes begin to glisten with moisture.


    ¡« It may be the first time he receives a gesture of affection in six years.


    ¡ª Heyyy! What do you think you¡¯re doing to my buddy? Natsuki intervenes, prying the child off Ishizora. He might look tough, but he¡¯s got a sensitive heart! You¡¯re gonna break him if you hug him like that.


    In response to Natsuki¡¯s legendary lack of tact, the child bursts into real tears, much to Natsuki¡¯s embarrassment as he desperately tries to calm him down. Anissa finally steps in, pulling the poor child out of Natsuki¡¯s grasp, not without shooting him a sharp glare.


    ¡ª What? What did I do? Natsuki asks, utterly devoid of guilt.


    And suddenly, I hear a sound for the very first time.


    A sound that makes my heart tremble and my lips stretch into a smile, almost automatically. I quickly realize that I¡¯m not the only one experiencing these strange symptoms¡ªeveryone in the room is left speechless, their irises quivering, their lips curving into smiles, as they witness what may be the first genuine laughter of the solitary traveler.


    The one who, until now, had never known human warmth, is now glowing like a blazing fire, flooding the room with a gentle warmth¡ªone that is very different from the oppressive heat from earlier. I¡¯d even say it¡¯s¡­ refreshing. Perhaps in an effort to preserve this newfound freshness, everyone visibly holds back, allowing Ishizora¡¯s voice alone to fill the room with its powerful echo.


    ¡« This might be the first time he¡¯s truly relaxed in six years.


    Just thinking about it sends a chill down my spine. Then, as always, Natsuki shatters the moment¡¯s veil with a deadpan remark about how even a caveman can learn to laugh like everyone else. That¡¯s when the dam finally bursts¡ªlaughter erupts all around the table, flooding the room in a wave of pure joy. It¡¯s impossible not to get swept up in the collective laughter, a cathartic release of all the tension that had gripped the room just moments ago. Such sincere hilarity can only arise from a spirit of solidarity and mutual trust, strengthening my belief that this clumsy man belongs here.


    Here, in Sylvheim.


    ¡« Hasn¡¯t he wandered in solitude long enough? Isn¡¯t it time for him to experience the joys and struggles of living in a community? I absolutely must talk to Mother about this tonight¡ªbefore it¡¯s too late.


    When the laughter finally fades, Ishizora excuses himself, citing exhaustion, and leaves with Natsuki toward the dormitories. The children follow suit, and those responsible for the dishes disappear with the plates, while I remain deep in thought, replaying the extraordinary stories of the amnesiac adventurer. Before long, I find myself alone with the group of elders still seated at the other end of the table.


    ¡ª Are you sure it¡¯s a good idea to leave those two together? Asks Ram, the family¡¯s blacksmith, directing his question at Mother.


    ¡ª I understand your concerns, but she¡¯ll have to move forward one day.


    ¡« It seems they¡¯re talking about Ishizora and Kana, but I¡¯m not sure I¡¯m supposed to be listening to this conversation¡­ Did they forget I was here while my mind wandered? Oh well, they¡¯re the ones who brought it up in my presence¡ªthey can¡¯t blame me later.


    ¡ª Let¡¯s just hope it doesn¡¯t make her go backward instead¡­ Replies Ram.


    ¡ª When you¡¯re backed against a wall, the only way is forward, says Mother with her usual knack for stating the obvious. Sometimes, though, it takes a few jolts to take that first step.


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    ¡ª A few jolts¡­ echoes Ram in a thoughtful and faintly amused tone.


    ¡ª Anyway, do you believe his story? Asks Sasha, changing the subject, since nothing is more pointless than a debate where Mother has already made up her mind. He didn¡¯t seem to be lying, but my ability to detect lies isn¡¯t perfect, and I find it a bit hard to swallow.


    ¡ª It¡¯s true that if the world were gentle enough for a teenager to survive six years alone in the wild, we wouldn¡¯t need to hide behind a magical barrier, admits Ram with a long sigh. And Kana understands that very well. Besides, memory isn¡¯t something that just vanishes overnight without a trace. In six years, he should have remembered something¡ªat least his name, or that of a family member.


    ¡ª There are some things we¡¯d rather not remember, replies Mother. Who can understand that better than us? As for his survival in the wilderness, I believe he simply doesn¡¯t realize that he was never truly alone.


    ¡ª What do you mean by that? Asks Ram.


    ¡ª Are you referring to what your eyes revealed to you earlier? Guesses Sasha, Mother''s silence confirming it. The second soul¡­


    ¡« What? What is this about a second soul? And why are they discussing such taboo topics in front of me? Aside from Sasha and maybe Ram, Mother never talks about her visions with anyone. Have they really not noticed that I¡¯m still here? Am I that easy to ignore?! I wanted to beg Mother to let him join the Geika, but there¡¯s no way I can interrupt them now¡­ I should probably slip away quietly before even more sensitive information spills out.


    ¡ª A second soul?! Exclaims Ram apparently uninformed just as I discreetly rise from the table and head toward the kitchens.


    ¡ª There¡¯s more to it than that, Mother admits, just as I¡¯m two steps away from the exit.


    ¡« Ooh, damn it. This is definitely something I¡¯m not supposed to know, but now that I¡¯ve already heard more than I should, if I don¡¯t listen until the end, I¡¯ll never be able to sleep tonight. That¡¯s right, I¡¯m just doing it to protect my sleep. I¡¯m not doing anything wrong. No, nothing wrong.


    ¡ª What do you mean by that?


    ¡ª It''s just a feeling, but¡­ spirits seem to like him a lot.


    ¡ª So that¡¯s what that glowing aura around him was? Sasha exclaims. I thought I was going crazy.


    ¡ª An aura? Ram repeats, perplexed. I didn¡¯t see anything that extravagant.


    ¡ª Your vision is still blocking your gift, Mother explains to Sasha. That¡¯s why you can¡¯t clearly distinguish spiritual entities¡ªonly the energy that radiates from them. If you could see through my eyes, you would have seen a dozen tiny benevolent beings orbiting around him.


    ¡ª I swear, Ram sighs, reaching for his glass. Listening to the two of you, I¡¯m starting to think I¡¯m the odd one out for only seeing what¡¯s actually visible.


    ¡ª Is it related to the presence of his second soul? Sasha asks curiously, ignoring the grumbler.


    ¡ª That, I can¡¯t say¡­ but one thing¡¯s for sure¡ªit¡¯s piqued my curiosity. I hope to learn more about him tomorrow.


    I quicken my pace toward the kitchens, spurred by a growing sense of guilt. After wishing a good night to the dishwashers who are just finishing, I step outside to take a deep breath of fresh air, hoping to calm my thoughts.


    ¡« On second thought, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be able to sleep anytime soon. Maybe I should take a little walk?


    From Sylvheim, a discreet and little-known path winds about thirty meters into the forest before opening onto a tiny beach facing the Milky Ocean¡ªnamed after its smooth as oil surface, stretching endlessly into the horizon. As I make my way there, my mind replays the conversation I just overheard.


    ¡« I knew Clarence could see souls, but I also thought I knew that one human equals one soul. When a living being dies, its soul, unable to remain in a lifeless body, seeks a newborn to reincarnate into. Thus, hosts change, but a soul never withers, and the cycle of reincarnation continues. If a soul ever chose not to reincarnate¡ªassuming human will resides in the soul¡ªit would break the cycle and, in doing so, defy the laws of nature¡­ And then, can a single body really harbor two souls at once? It¡¯s absurd. And then there was that talk about spirits too¡­ Aaaah, I¡¯m going to drive myself crazy if I keep thinking about it.


    ¡ª But just who are you, mysterious traveler¡­ I murmur aloud as I reach the shore.


    My eyes follow the silver path left by the moon on the oil-slick water stretching into the distance, when an anomaly in the landscape catches my attention. There¡¯s someone sitting on the sand, feet in the water. Looking closer, and considering who might be here at this hour, it can only be Kana. She was so still that I had first mistaken her for part of the scenery.


    ¡« I wasn¡¯t planning on talking to anyone, least of all Kana, but she seems to have calmed down. And besides, I feel like dipping my feet in too.


    ¡ª You came to talk sense into me? She asks calmly as I sit down beside her¡ªneither too close nor too far.


    ¡ª What? No, not at all¡ª


    ¡ª Don¡¯t bother. I already know what you¡¯re going to say.


    ¡ª Oh really? I wasn¡¯t planning on saying anything¡­


    ¡ª You think I¡¯m unfairly taking my anger out on him too, don¡¯t you?


    ¡« Oh great, I just wanted to enjoy the moonlight in peace¡­


    ¡ª You know I¡¯m not in a position to tell you who to direct your anger at, Kana. I don¡¯t have that right¡­ No one does. But if you let me be completely honest with you, I think that hating him and being wary of him are two different things. In my opinion, that boy belongs with us. You must have felt it too.


    ¡ª You¡¯re right¡­ She replies with a long sigh. Though it took me an hour of staring at the horizon to reach that conclusion.


    ¡« I¡¯ve never seen her so down before. I suppose she feels guilty about earlier, yet she still can¡¯t bring herself to believe she was wrong.


    ¡ª He fit right into the Geika in just one evening, she continues. Something I haven¡¯t managed to do in all these years.


    ¡ª But Kana, what are you talking about? Everyone here loves you and accepts you as you are.


    ¡ª Don¡¯t mistake respect for mere pity.


    Her words hit me like a slap in the face, and though my lips part to refute them, no words come to mind. That frustrates me.


    ¡ª You think I haven¡¯t noticed the way you all look at me? I can get as angry as I want, say the most horrible things, and none of you will ever hold it against me. You¡¯re even¡­ grateful! Sure, I¡¯ve taken on all your burdens, your dark thoughts. I devoured them without leaving a single crumb, all so I could become a wretched being, faithless and lawless. You¡¯re mistaken if you think you¡¯ve unloaded your anger onto me¡ªbecause I chose to bear it. To make myself stronger, as tough as granite, so I¡¯d never again lose to the cruelty of the world.


    ¡« A wretched being? Kana? How can she have such a low opinion of herself?


    ¡ª I did all this for myself, just as much as I did for you. For myself, because I hate the girl who was too weak to fight when she needed to the most. Anger gives me a sense of power, a reassurance that lets me forgive myself by thinking: ¡°You were simply too young back then, your shoulders too small. But today, you wouldn¡¯t let the same tragedy happen again¡±. She says while holding her hand in front of her eyes. And for you, because I want to be able to protect you. I don¡¯t care what you think of me, as long as I can fight in your place¡ªjust as so many people once fought in mine.


    ¡« I understand that feeling all too well. We all want to protect each other, so why must she be the only one fighting? Someone whose whole life has been a battle¡ªdoesn¡¯t she deserve some rest?


    ¡ª But tell me, Mai¡ªdo you think it¡¯s easy to keep carrying this weight without ever forgiving, when I myself am constantly being forgiven? I know you all mean well, but your empathy is the most virulent poison to me. It erodes the walls I worked so hard to build, melts the stone I sculpted in my own image. In the end, the ones I sought strength for are also the ones weakening me.


    She catches me off guard with this sudden wave of despair. I need time to find the right words, time in which our ears are soothed by the gentle lapping of the starry ocean. Bathed in starlight, Kana¡¯s face remains as impassive as ever. And yet, something about it is different. It¡¯s just a feeling, of course¡ªnot something visible, like a flaw in a pattern or a misplaced stain. No, it¡¯s more like a hairline crack in a rock¡ªso fine it seems nonexistent, if not betrayed by the fragility it creates.


    No matter how hard the stone, under time¡¯s assault, it turns to sand.


    ¡ª You¡¯ve fought many opponents in your life, Kana. More than any of us. But if there¡¯s one opponent that, by nature, cannot be defeated alone, it¡¯s oneself. Do you know the difference between you and the other Shinzuits? The reason you feel like an outsider here? It¡¯s not because we¡¯ve forgotten¡ªnot at all. No one talks about it, but nightmares don¡¯t just disappear so easily. The thing is, Kana, when we have a burden on our hearts¡ªany unease eating us from within¡ªwe share it. You¡¯re the one keeping yourself apart by refusing to open up to us.


    ¡ª And what difference would it make? If I suddenly spilled my heart out, said the words I never dared to say, shed the tears that never fell. No one here would understand. And that wouldn¡¯t bring the dead back to life, she says with that same emotionless, tearless gaze¡ªlike a frozen river.


    ¡ª You might be right. No Shinzui could understand you. Which leaves only one candidate.


    ¡ª What, you mean that amnesiac traveler? She looks at me in disbelief, and I meet her gaze with a firm nod. Pfff, I can¡¯t tell if you¡¯re trying to make me laugh or piss me off¡­ He¡¯s like a newborn. What could he possibly understand about human cruelty?


    ¡ª They say the truth comes from the mouths of children. If there¡¯s anyone here who could tell you your truths without holding back, it¡¯s him.


    ¡ª As usual, you¡¯re spouting nonsense¡­ Is the moonlight messing with your head?


    On the contrary¡ªbathed in this gentle light, I feel clearer-headed than ever. Even Kana, it seems, isn¡¯t immune to the moon¡¯s warmth. She looks more at peace than I¡¯ve ever seen her. Even her sharp remarks lack their usual sting. More importantly, the face I¡¯ve always known to be as tense as a drawn bowstring now seems as soft as the water¡¯s surface, its fragile transparency able to erode even the sturdiest rock.


    Faced with such untamed beauty, a thought crosses my mind¡ªone I never imagined I¡¯d have.


    ¡« If I were a man, I would surely have fallen in love.


    As I surprise myself with this thought, something even more unexpected takes my breath away. Without a glance or a word of warning, Kana¡¯s head drops onto my lap like a falling stone.


    ¡« What on earth got into her?!


    A moment of silent understanding follows¡ªwhere time freezes and words lose their place. I take the chance to observe her profile, particularly the delicate upturn of her nose and the small lobe of her ear, usually hidden beneath her fiery mane where my hand now absentmindedly weaves through.


    For the first time, the girl before me doesn¡¯t appear as a terrifying monster, nor as a pitiful victim deserving my sympathy. She¡¯s just a simple teenager¡ªyoung and fiery¡ªwhose fragile heart longs for joy and freedom.


    ¡ª I¡¯m tired, she murmurs suddenly, her voice weak but steady.


    My hand stills for a moment before continuing its slow strokes through the fiery strands shimmering under the cold moonlight.


    ¡ª Rest for now. Everything will work out¡­ I promise.

 Chapter 13: Drowned

    Long before my eyes open, it is my ears that awaken first, enchanted by the morning song of birds whose species I probably do not know. At least, their voices are unfamiliar to me. Actually, everything in this forest is foreign to me, so that I have decided to forget everything I once knew and accept the new oddities as they come. Otherwise, it would be difficult to stay sane.


    ¡« What kind of bird could it be? Do they have four wings? Two beaks? Six legs? Perhaps they have fur instead of feathers? Maybe they glow in the dark or burrow into the ground like moles to dig out tiny worms. Perhaps all of this?


    Ironically, my overactive imagination has caused my awakening. My eyes slowly open in the hope of seeing one of these strange creatures perched by my bedside, frantically singing its recital just for me. Naturally, nothing of the sort appears. The bluish light squinting my eyes does not come from a luminescent bird, but from the countless Mystra stones scattered along the trunks of the forest¡ªmodest little suns flooding the dormitory with their breath of life.


    I sit up on my soft mattress and take a fresh look at the dormitory, which I had only vaguely observed the night before, in the dark, before collapsing from exhaustion. A simple and charming room, consisting of four walls and a roof, with a few beams for support. Nothing more, nothing less¡ªexcept for the round window through which the messengers of light filter in, and the few hammocks stretched between the beams. The absence of a wardrobe, cupboard, or any belongings lying around catches my attention.


    ¡« Do these people own nothing?


    The floor is as bare as the walls, dirtied only by my presence. The other futons have all been hastily folded and placed against the walls, a sign that the inhabitants here are early risers¡ªor that I have slept far longer than usual. The cabin is made of light-colored wood, slightly aged in places, and¡­


    ¡« Huh? Why are my cheeks wet? Could it be that¡­ I¡¯ve been crying? But why? I remember having a dream last night, but I don¡¯t think it was a bad one. I believe I was in the cabin with the old man and¡­ It¡¯s useless¡ªI can¡¯t remember the rest.


    It is very rare for me to remember my dreams. Usually, my nights are filled with terrible nightmares or abrupt awakenings, alerted by my sense of danger. Now that I think about it, this is also the first time I¡¯ve felt safe since I left the cabin. That must be the reason of my burst of laughter last night, and the reason why I was able to sleep longer than the sun this morning, and¡­


    ¡« What¡¯s happening now? Is it the morning dew that makes these droplets run down my face?


    Normally, I would be alarmed to have woken up so late, but this morning, perhaps for the first time in my life, nothing is urging me forward. I am almost tempted to stay like this a little longer, to savor this calm¡­ and these tears. But suddenly, I remember that this is not my home, and my hosts are already awake. I promised Clarence we would finish our conversation this morning, and it would be rude to keep her waiting after she so generously welcomed me.


    I stand up and take a few steps toward the round cavity that serves as a window. Unfortunately, the first trees marking the edge of the clearing are too far away for me to verify my theories about the forest birds. Looking down, I notice a round roof about ten meters in diameter, covering a flat stone slab. I had caught sight of this strange structure the day before, but only now do I understand its purpose. The Shinzuites are gathered there, sitting in meditation in perfect stillness. From my vantage point, I can make out Natsuki sited there, and I¡¯m surprised to see how seriously he is taking the exercise. A few steps in front of him is Kana, as calm as a picture. She had left the table like a hurricane last night, but it seems the storm has cleared overnight. Seeing them meditate so diligently makes me want to train as well.


    I descend the steps carved directly into the trunk one by one, marveling at this masterpiece of craftsmanship. Undertaking the task of carving corridors into this massive pillar of vegetation requires a boldness that commands admiration.


    Once back on Earth, I find a discreet spot in the shade of a root and begin my usual exercises: Always start by warming up the joints. Then, do push-ups until the ground itself decides to crush my face. Next, squats until the sky flattens me to the earth. And finally, hang upside down from a branch by my legs and lift my torso to touch it before unfolding and starting over¡ªuntil either the branch or my head hits the ground first. Once finished, repeat.


    It was the old man who taught me this exercise routine¡ªone I wouldn¡¯t exactly recommend¡ªand whenever I was at my limit, questioning the purpose of this training, he would always repeat these words:


    ¡ª My boy. If you want to survive in the wild, you must become stronger than nature. But for the simple reason that nature made us, it is impossible for us to surpass it. So all we can do is train every day of our lives until the very last. Do you understand, Ishizora?


    When I asked him why he didn¡¯t train like I did, he would reply that he had already died once, and that laziness was the privilege of the deads. He used to say many things that made little sense, and even though I only understood a tenth of his words, I miss hearing his voice. After his death, they eventually made sense to me, and I realized the purpose of this training: It is impossible to truly live in nature¡ªyou can only hope to survive it, and that requires spartan training¡­ and a great deal of luck.


    I push these memories from my mind as I begin my second set of push-ups, focusing only on my biceps and pectorals contracting at regular intervals. I concentrate on the pain, keeping it from overpowering my will. I have learned to tame it over time. At first, just thinking about it made me want to quit, but eventually, it became familiar. Every time I feel this pain, I am reassured because it means my body is working as it should. Nothing is more dangerous than feeling nothing at all. It also gives me a certain satisfaction, as if I were fighting against my own body¡ªand winning! And finally, it reminds me of the days I spent in the old man''s hut. If I were to forget that part of my life too, I think loneliness would eventually get the better of me.


    Once my arms start to shake and my torso crashes heavily to the ground, Natsuki¡¯s voice rings out, echoing beneath my leafy roof. He seems to be looking for me, shouting my name at the top of his lungs. I push my voice out of my throat to let him know where I am, but since I am in the darkness and he is in the light, I remain invisible to him until he steps into my humble dwelling.


    The moment he sees me lying on the ground, struggling to get up, his face contorts in horror, as if he had just stumbled upon a crime scene.


    ¡ª So I was too late, he says, panicked.


    ¡ª What? What are you talking about?


    ¡ª I was told Kana was looking for you, so I came to warn you about the danger¡­ he puts a hand over his mouth, as if to stifle his horror. But it seems the damage has already been done. If only I had been faster¡­ I never imagined she would go this far.


    ¡ª What? No, Natsuki, there¡¯s been a misundersta¡ª


    ¡ª Don¡¯t try to cover for her, he interrupts me sharply. This time, she¡¯s gone too far. Even if it costs me my life, I swear I¡¯ll avenge you!


    With these words, spoken as if they were his last, Natsuki rushes off as quickly as he appeared.


    ¡ª I just hope he doesn¡¯t end up hurt because of me¡­


    Unable to do anything against Natsuki¡¯s unhealthy impulsiveness, I resume my training, trying to push the thought out of my mind, though a lingering worry continues to cloud my concentration. I start my second set of hanging crunches, the pain quickly wiping away all distractions from my mind¡­ well, almost.


    ¡« Kana is looking for me?


    Normally, I should go back to the dormitory and wait for her there, but I¡¯m not sure how to face her without knowing why she was angry at me yesterday. I hope not all girls get mad like that without explaining why¡­ And besides, training comes first. She can wait a little longer.


    ¡ª Ahem!


    ¡« Huh? Was that a human voice I just heard? Or just the creaking of the wooden perch I¡¯m hanging from?


    ¡ª Ahem! Ahem!


    I stop mid-movement and turn my head toward the sound. Even upside down, I can make out Kana¡¯s silhouette, as she seems to be avoiding my gaze, arms crossed. True to my name, I crash to the ground like a stone. At this embarrassing display of agility, Kana lets out a laugh before quickly stifling it. I get up as fast as my stiff muscles allow, brushing off my clothes as if that would somehow erase what just happened.


    ¡ª You were looking for me, I hear? I say hastily to not give her time to make fun of me.


    ¡ª Oh? So you knew and still stayed here? Could it be that you¡¯re afraid of me? she replies, amused.


    ¡« Damn, trying to cover up one blunder, I just made another¡­


    ¡ª W-well, it was Natsuki who came to warn me in the middle of my training. I was planning to come find you as soon as I finished, I swear!


    ¡ª Hmmm, if you say so¡­ she replies, sounding unconvinced.


    ¡ª Natsuki! I exclaim, having just found a new way to change the subject. He went looking for you, I believe. Did you run into him?


    ¡ª Oh, so that¡¯s what happened?! I saw someone taking him to the infirmary after he nearly knocked himself out tripping over a branch. Not like I haven¡¯t told him a hundred times not to run in Sylvheim.


    It seems Natsuki¡¯s clumsiness far outshines mine. I¡¯ll have to thank him later for that.


    ¡ª So, why were you looking for me?


    ¡ª Mother asked me to bring you to her, so get dressed quickly and follow me, she orders, stealing a quick glance at my torso before turning away, blushing.


    Since she arrived, she¡¯s been avoiding looking directly at me. I thought it was out of disdain, but could it be¡­ shyness? Realizing that I¡¯ve caught on, she blushes again and immediately turns her back to me, confirming my suspicion.


    I smile at this unexpectedly cute side of her and quickly slip on my shirt before following her.


    ¡ª Ishizora¡­ she begins timidly, making a noticeable effort not to look at me, I¡¯m sorry for what happened.


    ¡ª Oh, don¡¯t worry about it. I just slipped. And besides, I didn¡¯t break anything when I fell.


    ¡ª I wasn¡¯t talking about that! she suddenly raises her voice before picking up her pace.


    ¡ª This girl is seriously confusing¡­ I mutter under my breath. One moment she¡¯s apologizing, and the next, she¡¯s mad again¡­


    I hurry to catch up since she doesn¡¯t seem to be slowing down, but I make sure to stay a step behind her. I¡¯m surprised when she moves away from Elvijkiar and leads me toward the forest, but I remain silent, even as we enter the dense vegetation with no visible path or markings on the ground.


    ¡« Where exactly is she taking me? Don¡¯t tell me Natsuki was right¡­ Was Clarence just an excuse to get me alone and get rid of me?


    I don¡¯t want to believe Kana would go that far, but I stay on guard nonetheless. If it¡¯s not her, one of the wolves from the other day could jump on me at any moment before I even see it coming. As if to confirm my fears, a bush suddenly rustles. By reflex, I extend my arm protectively in front of Kana, stopping her in her tracks, while my other hand grips the handle of my dagger.


    In a flash, a fierce wolf leaps out of the bush and attacks Kana¡¯s leg. I¡¯m about to react when I realize that the beast isn¡¯t taller than a loaf of bread, its razor-sharp claws barely protrude from its fluffy paws, and its tiny fangs make way for a hanging tongue that eagerly laps at Kana¡¯s leg while its tail frantically sweeps the ground.


    If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    ¡ª Akaaa! Kana exclaims with obvious excitement before pushing my arm aside and crouching to scoop up the young pup, showering it with affection.


    ¡« And now she¡¯s fawning over a puppy like any ordinary teenage girl. This girl is completely unpredictable!


    I feel privileged to witness what is probably a rare phenomenon¡ªthe darkness of the forest being pushed away by Kana¡¯s childlike smile. The little wolf, with its reddish fur matching Kana¡¯s hair, eagerly returns her enthusiasm with affectionate licks. I feel almost jealous watching this touching reunion between what seems to be longtime friends. Clearing my throat to remind her of my presence, Kana finally introduces me to the object of her affection.


    The pup¡¯s name is Aka, and he belongs to the pack of guardian wolves that chased me the other day. He¡¯s even the heir to their leader. It¡¯s hard to believe that this adorable furball is related to one of those oversized wolves. I learn that his red fur is extremely rare, even within the pack, and is believed to be a symbol of the lineage of the original wolf, Varandir.


    In the span of a minute, the creature I saw as nothing more than a cute little fluffball has transformed into the prince of a legendary wolf bloodline, the chosen one of a mystical being revered across the continent. I kneel to pay my respects to the legendary plushie. If I were to disrespect him in any way, I can¡¯t begin to imagine how far his pack would chase me.


    ¡ª What are you doing? Kana asks, clearly amused by my bowing. You can see he¡¯s just a baby. Besides, that whole ¡®chosen one with red fur¡¯ thing is just a legend passed down within the pack.


    ¡« So wolves are superstitious too? Wait, there¡¯s something more important¡­


    ¡ª Are you saying you can understand the language of these wolves?


    ¡ª Of course. He says you look appetizing, she replies as if it were as cute as a child drooling in front of a bakery window.


    Seeing my frightened reaction, she laughs again before reassuring me. Apparently, it¡¯s meant as a compliment in their pack, based on the superstition that devouring a powerful creature allows one to absorb its strength. In short, it¡¯s his way of saying I look strong.


    ¡« I hope it''s just a legend, because otherwise, I don''t even want to think about what they must have swallowed to become the four-legged masses of muscle that nearly got the better of me.


    ¡ª Ahem. If I remember correctly, you called them guardian wolves, I ask, trying to hide my embarrassment. Are you bound by some kind of contract?


    ¡ª Contracts don¡¯t exist in nature. Let¡¯s just say our relationship is mutually beneficial. Animals are simple creatures, you know. They¡¯d never do anything that doesn¡¯t benefit their own kind. It¡¯s that simplicity and honesty in the way they look out for each other that I admire so much, she explains, without shifting her attention from the little wolf, who is wriggling with joy under her constant scratching.


    ¡« The Kana from yesterday would probably have answered coldly that it¡¯s none of my business. So she does have moments of good humor. It¡¯s probably thanks to this little wolf. Thank you, divine messenger with the red fur!


    ¡ª So if I understand correctly, this forest is simply their natural habitat, and they protect it alongside you?


    ¡ª That¡¯s not entirely wrong, but not quite right either. As I said, our relationship is a two-way street¡ªgive and take. Our Geika has always maintained an invisible barrier around the forest.


    ¡ª A barrier? What kind of barrier?


    ¡ª It confuses the mind, making people lose their sense of direction, and for the simplest ones, it even makes them turn back the way they came, she explains to me with her nose pressed against the wolf pup''s snout. To put it simply, it¡¯s an anti-monster barrier.


    ¡ª Something like that is possible?! But the forest is enormous! It¡¯s incredible to be able to maintain such a barrier at all times¡­


    ¡ª As our meeting has proven, the barrier is far from perfect. The more intelligent monsters and humans can still enter the forest, and since they lose their sense of direction, someone has to guide them out, she says while Aka runs back and forth on her shoulders.


    ¡ª And that¡¯s where the wolves come in! I exclaim to take over. This way, they can raise their young away from danger, as long as they take care of driving away any potential intruders.


    ¡ª Plus, the barrier weakens over time, so someone has to monitor its condition. That¡¯s my job.


    Aka, back in the hollow of her hands, licks her cheeks as if they were a treat.


    ¡ª Quite the responsibility.


    ¡ª Meh, to be honest, it¡¯s just a good excuse to play with Aka, she says, gently placing the little wolf on top of her head, where he blends in like a chameleon. Right, my boy?!


    Judging by his enthusiastic yaps, the young prince is quite pleased with his new throne. In response to his happy squeaks, a distant howl echoes through the forest. That¡¯s his father calling for him, Kana explains, as if recognizing a wolf from his howl was the most natural thing in the world. She also tells me that despite his responsibilities, the young heir is reckless and only thinks about playing, much to his parents¡¯ dismay.


    After their goodbyes, young Aka disappears into the dense vegetation, leaving me alone with Kana once again.


    ¡ª It¡¯s pretty quiet around here, huh? I say stupidly before the silence becomes too awkward.


    ¡ª Let¡¯s go, she replies simply before turning on her heels.


    ¡« She seemed open to conversation just a minute ago, but the moment the wolf left, she turned back into the ice princess¡­ But I¡¯m not giving up yet!


    ¡ª By the way, where are you taking me?


    ¡ª You¡¯ll see.


    ¡« I expected that answer, but it was worth a try. Time for a different approach¡­


    ¡ª So, is it really true that he said I looked appetizing? I ask in vain, Kana showing no intention of responding. I was just thinking that if he finds me appetizing, that explains why he¡¯s practically drooling over you.


    ¡ª What do you mean by that? she asks, a hint of irritation in her voice.


    ¡« Well, that reaction was to be expected. This is the first time I¡¯ve ever tried to turn animal drool into a compliment.


    ¡ª I just figured he must find you irresistibly mouth-watering. After all, you¡¯re much stronger than me.


    She suddenly stops walking for a few seconds but doesn¡¯t turn toward me. It¡¯s hard to tell whether my flattery worked or just annoyed her, but at least I got a reaction.


    ¡ª Why do you think that? she asks in a neutral tone after resuming her walk. We haven¡¯t fought each other yet, as far as I remember.


    ¡ª You see, when traveling alone, it¡¯s crucial to assess your opponents. Otherwise, the hunter can quickly become the hunted.


    ¡ª And if you had met me during one of your travels, blocking your way, what would you have done?


    ¡ª I would have definitely looked for another path, even if it meant taking a big detour.


    ¡ª That would have been the right choice, she says after a brief silence. We arrived, so stop talking nonsense, she adds while holding back a fern to clear the way for me, revealing a patch of light through the vegetation.


    As I walk past her, Kana takes her leave, claiming she has other matters to attend to. I continue forward at a slow pace, a bit disappointed that the conversation I had finally managed to start came to such an abrupt end. Shielding my eyes with my arms, I step through the opening into the light. The once-dense vegetation suddenly gives way to what one might call a clearing¡ªif a clearing could have a natural canopy overhead. The light here isn¡¯t particularly intense¡ªthere¡¯s no place in this mystical forest that could truly be called dazzling¡ªbut coming from the especially dark undergrowth, my eyes remain squinted for a moment.


    Suddenly, I am struck by a feeling of d¨¦j¨¤ vu, as if I¡¯ve seen this place before. A quick scan of the surroundings makes me realize why. At the center of the clearing stands the unmistakable small apple tree where I first met Kana. The sight of that little tree strangely fills me with joy, as if it were an old companion. After all, it bore witness to my first interaction with another human in six years. And just like last time, someone is standing there, a basket in hand. There¡¯s no need to squint to recognize the one who summoned me to this place.


    As I hurry to join Clarence, I amuse myself by comparing the young apple tree to Elvijkiar, the pillar of the forest. These two trees, though diametrically opposed, share one common trait¡ªtheir sorrowful solitude, which they both seem to bear with pride. Perhaps the reason I feel a connection to this small apple tree is that it reminds me of my own solitude.


    Clarence greets me with a radiant smile, looking particularly cheerful. It seems like today is a good day for everyone¡ªexcept maybe for Natsuki. I must admit, this place is quite pleasant. I hadn''t noticed it during my first visit, obviously, but the apple tree is bathed in particularly beautiful light, while a refreshing breeze seems to caress it constantly.


    ¡ª If I may ask, why did you arrange to meet me in such a secluded place? If it was just to talk, the grand hall would have done just fine, wouldn''t it?


    ¡ª If we had talked in that cold, vast room, you wouldn''t have been able to relax, am I wrong? Besides, this place is special, she says while approaching the apple tree and gently running her fingers along its trunk, eyes closed.


    ¡ª Special? I suppose it has to do with this tree¡­


    ¡ª Exactly. Ishizora, let me introduce you to Istand¨¹r, the heir of Varandir¡¯s forest!


    ¡« What does that mean? Is she saying that this insignificant little apple tree was chosen to succeed that monstrous colossus? That would explain why the other trees keep their distance, but it looks so fragile, and its predecessor so¡­ mighty. While its youthful branches bend under the weight of a single ripe apple, is it really capable of bearing the weight of the entire forest?


    ¡ª I know what you''re thinking. Despite appearances, this little sapling will one day grow as tall as Elvijkiar¡ªperhaps even taller.


    I lift my gaze toward the leafy canopy, trying to imagine the apple tree reaching that height.


    ¡ª Though that won''t happen for thousands of years, she says with an absent look, as if she is projecting herself into the future she¡¯s talking about.


    ¡ª Why do you concern yourself with a future so distant that no trace of our existence will remain? I ask with curiosity.


    ¡ª Excellent question, she replies with a satisfied smile, as if she had been leading me toward it all along. In your opinion, what is the greatest difference between humans and animals?


    ¡ª What? Why that question all of a sudden?


    ¡ª Because it¡¯s important, she simply says.


    ¡ª Well, I¡¯d say it''s intellect. Our ability to use our surroundings to build traps, tools, houses¡­


    ¡ª You''re close, but that¡¯s not quite it. What truly sets us apart from animals is our ability to think about the future. The fear of tomorrow led us to build houses, villages, then cities, while the hope for tomorrow forged our beliefs. Humans are always thinking of ways to improve their future, never content with the present. This constant dissatisfaction is what has driven our society to grow¡ªand it continues to do so. And you, Ishizora, have you thought about your future?


    ¡« Why do I feel like this whole conversation about the apple tree was just a setup for this question? It feels like I¡¯ve been manipulated from the moment she greeted me with that big smile. What a terrifying woman¡­


    ¡ª I have to confess something to you.


    ¡ª I''m all ears, she says, setting down her wicker basket. Shall we take a walk?


    I follow her into the forest, and during our stroll, I tell her about the voice that haunts my dreams. A voice I do not recognize, yet feels so familiar. A voice that calls me by a name I do not know. A voice so gentle, so comforting, and yet so sorrowful. A voice urging me to become stronger than anyone else, without ever giving me a reason. A voice that stirs emotions within me that I do not understand. Clarence listens intently, never interrupting me.


    ¡ª ¡­ I am convinced that I have a family waiting for me somewhere, and that they need me. For what other reason would they have abandoned me while urging me to grow stronger? Why, when I have forgotten even my own name, do I still remember this mission I was given? I must find answers to these questions at all costs, but as I am now, I fear I am still far from the strength I promised to attain.


    ¡ª Well, it¡¯s true that children don¡¯t just grow on trees, Clarence finally says with her usual bluntness. I understand your desire to know where you come from and why you were separated from your family, but that¡¯s not what I want to talk to you about today. Only time can restore lost memories, after all, and searching for your family blindly across the continent is a hopeless endeavor.


    ¡ª If you didn¡¯t call me here to talk about my past, then what do you want to discuss?


    ¡ª The future, Ishizora! The future¡­ she repeats as a rushing torrent suddenly blocks our path. If I were to push you into this river, which direction would you swim?


    ¡ª Pardon?


    Though she doesn¡¯t seem to mean any harm, I instinctively take a step back.


    ¡ª It¡¯s just a theoretical question, don¡¯t worry. I have no intention of throwing you in. So, what would you do? Would you try to fight the current to return to me¡ªperhaps to seek revenge or at least demand an explanation for my behavior? Or would you let yourself drift away, forgetting the betrayal and simply continuing your journey wherever the river takes you?


    ¡ª Well, I think the obvious answer is that I would swim toward the nearest shore.


    ¡ª And why is that?


    ¡ª I wouldn¡¯t presume to question your reasons. You are my elder, and I respect your decisions. But I also don¡¯t like having my path decided for me. Rather than letting myself be carried away by the current, I would prefer to forge my own way.


    ¡ª That¡¯s exactly what I thought you would answer. But, Ishizora, you have always been caught in the river of Vahna, since the day you were born. You just don¡¯t realize it, but your choices have never truly been your own. And, my boy, once you are in it, you can never swim against the current. The Vahna, like time, moves in only one direction. Fighting against it is futile¡ªit would only exhaust you until you drown.


    ¡ª Why are you telling me this? What exactly do you want from me?


    ¡ª The current has brought you to my doorstep, and there must be a reason for that. I believe it is the will of the Vahna that you join our Geika. Instead of dwelling on a past you no longer remember, wouldn¡¯t you rather focus on your future? What do you want to do tomorrow? What do you want to do with your life? Have you ever truly thought about it?


    ¡ª If you stay with us, I will treat you as one of my own children. You will have a warm bed to sleep in every night, without ever having to worry about danger. You will grow stronger among us and eventually you could even build your own family. But there is one condition¡ªyou must let go of your past, abandon your senseless struggle, and embrace a new future. It is a trial that all my children have had to face, and it is as difficult as it is necessary.


    Hearing her words¡ªthat my free will has never been anything more than an illusion¡ªI feel a lump form in my throat before sinking down to my navel. A warmth spreads inside me, and before I even realize it, every muscle in my body is tense.


    ¡« So this¡­ is what they call anger?


    As soon as I become aware of my feelings, I close my eyes for a few seconds and focus on this new sensation, making sure not to forget it. Then, I take a deep breath and relax my muscles one by one. Slowly, my body returns to its normal temperature, and the knot in my stomach fades away.


    ¡ª I appreciate your offer, but you forget one thing¡ªbefore I can turn my back on my past, I must first remember it. You cannot erase a slate that was lost along the way. I¡¯m sorry, but I cannot accept. Even if my chances of finding my family are slim, even if my journey is in vain, I will continue to grow stronger until I fulfill my promise¡ªbecause that is what I have chosen.


    ¡ª Even if that promise is nothing more than a trick your mind is playing on you? Even if the person in your dreams is no longer of this world?


    I simply nod.


    ¡ª So you are choosing to drown¡­


    ¡ª I am well aware.


    ¡ª In that case, I won¡¯t stop you. You are free to resume your journey. Sorry for wasting your time.


    ¡ª It wasn¡¯t a waste of time. It¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve confided in someone. Thank you for welcoming me among your people. I must admit, your children are remarkable, and your home is the warmest.


    ¡ª They are my pride, she says, her eyes fixed on the torrent, before turning to me and placing a hand on my shoulder. Now, go! As for me, I will pray that you find the answers you seek¡­ so that one day, we may swim in the same direction. When that day comes, my home will be yours as well.