Then, he was pulled into the crack.
Everything around him shattered into darkness.
A moment later, he slowly opened his eyes.
Before him stretched a vast forest unlike anything he had ever seen. Towering ancient trees reached toward the sky, while a crystal clear lake reflected the morning sunlight like a mirror. Nearby, a horse drawn carriage stood quietly beneath the shade of the trees.
Not far away, a young man lay unconscious on the grass.
The young man slowly opened his eyes.
The mysterious voice that had echoed in his mind was gone.
Knock... Knock...
"Young Master, please wake up!" someone called anxiously.
Blinking several times, the young man took in his surroundings the endless forest, the breathtaking lake, and finally the worried face of his servant.
"So... Young Master, did the potion work?" the servant asked nervously.
The young man remained silent for a moment before shaking his head.
"I don't know, Harrin... Let's go home."
His name was Ardin Vale, the second son of the prestigious Vale family.
He had come to this secluded lake to test the Potion of Remembering, hoping it would restore the memories he had long forgotten.
On the journey home, Ardin looked out the carriage window.
Something unusual caught his attention.
A small doll-like creature was locked inside an iron cage while several children threw stones at it, laughing.
"You bastards!" the creature shouted furiously.
"Just wait until I get out! I'll make every single one of you suffer!"
The slave merchant simply laughed.
"Yeah? Go ahead, shorty," he mocked.
The little creature gritted its teeth in anger.
"I... the Great Gelepttin... will make you all regret this!"
The merchants burst into laughter.
"Oh no... Please don't. We're so scared," one of them replied sarcastically.
Furious, the tiny creature slammed its fist against the iron bars.
BAM!
"...Ouch!"
Instead of breaking the cage, it only managed to hurt its own hand.
The merchants laughed even louder.
Ardin watched the strange little creature in silence.
For a brief moment, the tiny creature's eyes met Ardin's.
Everything went silent.
A strange feeling crept into Ardin's chest.
"...Why does it feel like I've seen those eyes before?"
For the first time, the little creature looked up.
Their eyes met.
The creature froze.
"...Impossible."
Its golden eyes widened in disbelief.
"...You're finally back."