It began like a faint warning, a caution of a fate long past or yet to come...
The heavy silence of the world started to fade, giving way to familiar voices that shattered the darkness and breathed life into a weary body.
"Help...
Why?!
Mira...
How did it come to this...?"
Voices tangled in his mind amid the pitch-black darkness—muffled screams and blurred words chasing his thoughts relentlessly. Then a female voice rose above the chaos, carrying urgency and worry:
"Haruto... Haruto..."
The voice grew clearer, like someone trying to pull him out from the depths of darkness.
"Haruto!"
Haruto gasped as he suddenly opened his eyes, surprise etched on his pale face. His wide black eyes pulsed with a frantic heartbeat, as if just escaped from a deep nightmare. He was leaning on his pillow, his body slick with cold sweat.
"How many times must I call you before you wake? You were moaning in your sleep."
A young woman entered the room just then, sighing lightly as she placed her hands on her hips. Her long black hair flowed smoothly over her shoulder, and her deep blue robe softened her features with a warm smile.
"Good morning!"
Haruto sat up on the bed, running a tired hand across his face.
"Good morning... Leila."
He hesitated for a moment, trying to recall the hazy details of his dream. Was it just a nightmare? Or a lost memory? A heavy feeling clung to his soul, as if something important was missing.
"I feel like... I forgot something important..." he muttered quietly.
Leila looked at him silently for a moment, then answered:
"The same mysterious dream again?"
She turned to fold some blankets beside him, adding in a reassuring tone,
"Don't worry... everything is fine now."
Before he could think further, the sound of heavy footsteps approached, like beating drums. The door burst open violently, revealing a young man in his twenties, his face flushed with anger:
"Harutooo!"
He stopped suddenly at the door, raising his hand in a military-like gesture full of enthusiasm:
"How long do you plan to keep sleeping like this?!"
He clenched his fist tightly, adding with excitement:
"Come on, get out of bed and train with us like a real man!"
Haruto was startled and barely whispered:
"J-Jace... you look lively today."
Jace was a young man in his early twenties, with messy golden hair, wearing a yellow robe with blue hues. His features were unusual, as if his clothes were from another time.
As a loud voice rose from afar, blending with the sound of heavy footsteps:
"What's all this noise, guys? It's still too early for fighting."
Derek appeared—a man in his thirties with prominent muscles, a thick beard, and brown hair adding to his stern look. He was much taller than Jace, dressed in traditional gray clothes, and a long black coat draping over his shoulders. His presence commanded attention, like an unyielding leader.
"But Sir Derek, it's been almost a month since he arrived here. He hasn't trained with me in a week; he needs to do some training to regain his strength."
Jace replied.
Derek's eyes hardened:
"Just being here doesn't mean he'll heal quickly."
Then his voice lowered suddenly, eyes filled with resentment:
"You know what he's been through..."
Jace slowly lowered his head, as if understanding. Silence spread over the small wooden cabin. Everyone inside was affected, including Leila who stopped folding the blankets. Haruto appeared lost in mystery, as if unaware of anything.
He smiled weakly:
"It's not that bad... Maybe I just fell off a cliff and lost my memory."
Derek looked at him for a moment, then smiled quietly:
"Yes, that's right."
After a short pause, Derek put his hands in his pockets and began to walk away, glancing at Jace outside the cabin, adding:
"Anyway, if you can get up, the mayor and the villagers won't mind some extra hands. And you too, Jace..."
He smiled before closing the door:
"You know the value of tomorrow in this village."
It wasn't long before Jace left, saying quietly:
"I think I'll go too..."
Then he looked at Haruto with sharp eyes and a serious tone:
"Haruto... don't try to miss training."
Haruto nodded in agreement, but Jace left quickly without waiting for a reply, as if his words were more a warning than a reminder.
Leila stood watching as she finished tidying the room.
She sighed, saying:
"Well, I'll leave you to rest. Don't let Jace pressure you too much."
Haruto turned to her with a hesitant look:
"You... sorry, but you always seem to worry about me a lot. Is there something I don't know? Or did you discover something when you first found me in the forest?"
Leila paused silently at the door, then before leaving, Haruto quickly added:
"Sorry, that sounded selfish..."
Leila interrupted with a gentle smile:
"It's nothing serious. I'm the village's second doctor and healer, and you're a sick person the village took in and cared for. It's natural I worry. Don't overthink it."
Haruto sighed lightly, as if a weight had been lifted from his chest.
Then Leila added thoughtfully:
"Uh... speaking of which, the doctor will call you if you feel better."
Haruto gestured in surprise:
"You mean...?"
She nodded:
"Don't forget to see her."
After Leila left, Haruto remained alone in the room. He sighed and whispered to himself:
"As if I could refuse her... she's sacred in this village."
Then he looked out the window towards the horizon and quietly added:
"Can she really know where I came from?"
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Note from the author:
This is Part 1 of Chapter 1. The story will continue—stay tuned for Part 2 coming in five days!