"Raijin… listen to me carefully now."
Sora's voice this time lacked its usual softness. There was an urgency in it, as if time were truly running out.
"You have already wasted too much time. Listen closely to everything I say from this moment on. Do not interrupt me."
Raijin wanted to speak, but the words caught in his throat.
It was as if he were yearning to discover his true self.
"From now on—whatever happens around you, whatever is happening, or whatever has already transpired—never place your absolute trust in it.
Not even in your own memories."
Sora's eyes—which usually gleamed with profound depth—now seemed to grow even deeper.
"Your lost memories will return gradually, on their own. Do not attempt to force them back; otherwise, your mind will shatter. Your body will rupture, and something will occur that you could never even begin to imagine."
Silence. Absolute silence descended upon everything.
Raijin's world of light—a place filled with solace, tranquility, cool breezes, and the chirping of crickets—was now slowly sinking into darkness.
He felt as though someone had piled mountains of burdens upon him—a weight impossible for anyone else to comprehend.
"And one last thing…"
Sora's voice gathered Raijin's scattered thoughts.
"For now, forget about Sora and the Lord.
Focus, instead, on discovering your current reality—who you are, what you are, and why all these strange things are happening to you."
The air suddenly grew heavy.
"Time is up.
And yes… do not dwell too much on this conversation of ours.
Perhaps when you wake, you will have forgotten it entirely. But if you do remember, heed my words well."
"Wait—" Raijin tried to call out.
But in that very instant, everything shattered.
Raijin shot upright.
"Gasp…!"
He was in his room. The same walls, the same ceiling, the same darkness.
Without a second thought, he rushed toward his sword and drew it through the air, as if someone stood right before him.
But there was nothing there.
Only silence.
A few seconds later, he took a deep breath and sheathed his sword once more.
"It was just a dream…"
But his heart refused to accept it.
The events of the night echoed in his mind, yet—strangely—it felt as though something were forcibly blurring them away.
"No… I shouldn't think about this."
He told himself. "He forbade it."
At that very moment, a sound rumbled from his stomach.
"…Uuuu."
Perhaps that was the reason. He hadn't eaten anything since yesterday afternoon.
Raijin got ready quickly.
Dark brown trousers, a white shirt, leather boots.
As always, he fastened his black sword to his left side.
When he reached into his pocket, the smile vanished from his face.
"Just one gold coin and one silver…"
That was barely enough for a single decent meal.
As he stepped out of his home, a strange sense of relief washed over him.
People were watching him—first him, then his rather peculiar sword.
Continuing on his way, he stepped into the restaurant located right next to the Guild.
The moment he entered, the aroma of spices, the sweetness of fresh bread, and the scent of hot food flooded his senses all at once.
His hunger sharpened.
He took a seat at an empty table.
A short while later, a young woman approached.
"Sir, what would you like to order?"
"One roasted chicken and a mutton stew."
"Sir, that comes to one gold and three silver coins—"
Raijin's eyes widened.
"…Just bring me the roasted chicken, then."
"Very well, Sir."
The moment the food arrived, he could wait no longer.
As he took the first bite, a strange sense of relief spread through him.
The taste was absolutely perfect.
Neither overcooked nor undercooked.
Crisp on the outside, tender on the inside; and as he chewed, the sharp, slightly bitter juices of salt and chili released—making it even more exquisite.
As he ate, thoughts of Sora crossed his mind.
Before long, his plate was empty.
Raijin stood up and headed straight for the Guild.
The Guild wasn't far away.
He reached it very quickly.
Along the way, he passed numerous shops—selling clothes, meat, fruits and vegetables, and fresh bread.
He observed them all intently, as if catching glimpses of his own past within them.
He now stood before the Guild's entrance.
He murmured softly, "I fear that as long as I remain in this city, I will never truly be able to leave my past behind."
Amidst the vibrant bustle of the place, every single day he had spent with Sora began to flash before his eyes, one after another, and he would once again lose himself in those memories.
The Guild doors stood right before him.
Without hesitating any longer, he stepped inside.
Without wasting another moment, he headed straight for the Guild Master's office.
No one stopped him—Zenn had already informed everyone about Raijin.
Raijin stood before the Guild Master's door.
He didn't pause; he walked straight toward it.
"Is anyone there? May I come in?"
"Yes, come in."
The door opened.
"Master, I'm here."
Then he realized he had been a bit too casual.
"My apologies… I meant no disrespect."
Zenn looked him straight in the eye.
Raijin seemed different today.
There was a newfound sparkle in his eyes.
As if a dying ember had suddenly burst back into flame.
"It's quite alright," Zenn said. "Sit down. I have something important to discuss with you."
Raijin took a seat on the sofa.
"The Guild has reviewed your past records,"
Zenn stated.
"Your provisional B-Rank status has now been made permanent."
Raijin simply nodded.
It was as if the news made absolutely no difference to him.
"And now, there is a mission."
Zenn's voice turned grave.
"Traces of Grim Howler Wraiths have been detected in the old cemetery just outside the city."
Raijin's senses went on high alert.
"They are generally classified as an A-Rank threat,"
Zenn continued.
"However, given your past exploits, I felt it would be appropriate to entrust this task to you."
He wanted to get away from here—even if only for a short while—at any cost. He couldn't have asked for a better opportunity.
He nodded without hesitation.
Raijin spoke firmly:
"If you have assigned this to me, you must have done so with good reason. I am ready."
Zenn offered a faint smile.
"Wait downstairs. Emi will provide you with the necessary details."
Raijin rose and left the room.
Silence settled over the chamber.
Zenn spoke softly:
"Emi… did you sense any change in him?"
Emi paused to think.
"No, Master. I didn't notice anything different."
Zenn turned his gaze toward the window.
"I felt…
that he was different today than he was yesterday."
"Like…"
He left the sentence unfinished.
"Like a new person."
.
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Thank You For Reading This Chaptar.
Author: Mohammed Zaid Saifi