"How so, Master?" Jorald asked.
Master Aldous took a slow sip of his tea. "The curse is this — his memories are completely gone. He remembers nothing of his past." He paused. "And the salvation is... that he has been reborn."
The words landed heavily. Both men wore the weight of them on their faces.
"His entire body — even his mind — had been completely broken," Master Aldous continued. "But slowly, piece by piece, it all came back together. I don't believe he'll remember anything. He has been reborn. Truly reborn."
"So that's what it is," Jorald said, stroking his mustache slowly.
"When you called me and I entered that room," Master Aldous said, "I felt something strange coming from that child."
"What kind of energy?" Rudious asked, visibly caught off guard.
"As if energy had been forced into him. Crammed in against his will." Master Aldous looked at him. "When you found him — what was his condition?"
"Master... there was a seal on him when we found him. One built to reverse his energy or suppress it entirely. Clad removed it."
"Hmm." Master Aldous stroked his beard. "So they couldn't kill this child by ordinary means." A beat of silence. "Could he be... demonic?"
The atmosphere shifted. All at once.
Every pair of eyes widened. A crushing pressure began to build — as if the air itself had grown heavy, pressing down from all sides. Master Aldous and Jorald held their ground. John's knees buckled. He began to fold toward the earth, his body bending low under the weight.
Jorald reached over and steadied Rudious — who was barely holding himself upright, his face a mask of suppressed rage.
Then, just as suddenly, it passed.
Everyone exhaled.
"Hoo..." Jorald's voice carried a quiet apology. "I got a little too excited hearing that word. Forgive me."
"Yes, yes. It's fine." Master Aldous helped John to his feet and signaled him inside. John left without a word.
Then Master Aldous turned toward the merchant, and his voice shifted.
"Rudious."
A different kind of silence entered the garden.
"You've been losing control of yourself lately," Aldous said. "You used your power. You brought that child out of that forest." A pause. "Have you forgotten the promise you made to your wife?"
Rudious lowered his head. "I..." he said quietly. "Forgive me, Master. It's just... hearing that word. I..."
Master Aldous exhaled slowly. "We have all suffered through that. Every one of us. And we hate those people just as deeply as you do. But that was the past. You have a family now. A child. Look after them." A moment passed. "Understood?"
Something moved in Master Aldous's eyes — a quiet pain, and behind it, a tired smile. "We miss that boy too."
He stood. "I've placed Clad and Drake with the child. They'll look after him. You two focus on your own responsibilities. No more carelessness."
With that, he walked away.
---
Rudious looked at Jorald. "Thank you. And I'm sorry — you had to apologize because of me."
Jorald looked at him for a moment. "It's nothing, Rudious." A pause. "Ah... I mean, My Lord."
Both of them laughed. A real laugh — the kind that only comes between old friends who have bled together.
"Come on, let's go inside," Jorald said as a light drizzle began to fall. "You have work waiting. And remember what Master said."
"As you say, my friend."
---
Days passed.
The rainy month drew toward its end, and a gentle coolness settled into the air.
One evening, Rudious rose from his desk and stepped outside for some fresh air. In the garden, he saw Drake pushing someone in a wheelchair, moving slowly through the evening light.
Rudious stopped. He couldn't quite make out the figure from this distance. He walked closer.
His eyes went wide.
Drake looked up with a quiet smile. "Hi, Father."
And from the wheelchair, another voice followed. Small. Careful. Like someone trying out words for the first time.
"Hi... Father."
---
**[Chapter 11 End]**
*He forgot everything. But maybe — just maybe — he's starting again. Add the story to your library and don't miss what comes next. See you in Chapter 12.*
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