The night was heavy with silence, the alley dimly lit by scattered lanterns swaying in the soft wind. Footsteps echoed through the narrow path as two figures moved through the shadows.
Arn walked beside me, his eyes darting to every corner, ever alert. I could tell he was nervous, even if he didn't say it. I broke the silence.
"You remember my sister's name, right?"
Arn nodded. "Yuri. You've talked about her a lot these past few weeks. It's strange... I feel like I've known her too."
I smiled faintly. "She was the only family I had. Is. I won't lose her again."
As we reached the gates of the Central Guild, two guards stepped forward, crossing their spears.
"State your business."
I looked them in the eyes. "I'm here to see someone in the Lost Persons Department. My sister is inside."
After a moment of scrutiny, they let us through. We climbed the stairs in silence until we stood before a woman sitting behind a wide wooden desk.
She was stern but not unfriendly. "I need proof that this girl is your sister."
I took a breath. "She'll say my name in her sleep. 'Satoru'. That's the proof."
Her eyes narrowed, but after a brief pause, she nodded. "Room 7. She's still unconscious."
The door creaked open, and I stepped inside.
There she was. Lying on a small bed, bandaged and pale. My heart clenched, and without thinking, I rushed to her side.
"Yuri... It's me. I'm here now. You're safe."
My hands glowed with soft light as I pressed them gently over her wounds. Healing magic flowed through her as tears welled up in my eyes.
The receptionist watched silently, her expression unreadable.
When I was sure the worst had passed, I lifted Yuri carefully into my arms. Her body was light, too light.
"I'm taking her back."
Downstairs, I handed Yuri to Arn. "Take her to the inn. Don't let her out of your sight."
Arn nodded, his face solemn. I placed a hand on his head.
"Thank you."
Then I turned to the woman at the desk. "I need the records of her discovery."
She handed me a thin folder. I flipped it open.
Yuri had been found unconscious, a magic circle beneath her feet. Witnesses said she kept whispering my name before she passed out. There was no mention of where she came from.
I held the pages in my hand and let a pulse of light consume them. The ashes fell to the ground.
"I'm sorry," I said, turning back to her. "But I need to erase your memory of the past hour."
Her eyes widened. "Wait—"
Before she could say more, a flash of light enveloped her. The same went for the guards at the gate.
When I walked out, my hands were still trembling.
"I'm committing a crime," I whispered to myself.
The street was quiet as I moved through it. Soon, I reached the spot marked in the report.
The magic circle was faint, almost gone. I sketched its pattern into my notebook, then waved my hand and erased all traces from the earth.
"Everything's secure now."
Back at the inn, Yuri had calmed down. She lay wrapped in blankets as I sat beside her.
"Tell me what happened. From the start."
Her voice was soft. "I remember someone shouting. Then darkness. When I woke up, a slave trader was dragging me along with others. But something happened... I got left behind."
She paused, shivering. "I was in the magic circle. Creatures came. I fought them off... barely. Then... nothing."
I pulled the blankets tighter around her. She was safe now.
Arn and I stepped outside the room, letting her rest.
"What do you think?" I asked.
He folded his arms. "I think someone planned this. Maybe she wasn't meant to be found."
I nodded slowly. "Tomorrow we'll get supplies for her. And I'll investigate that circle more."
When I returned to Yuri's side, she was already asleep. I lay down beside her, wrapping my arms around her gently.
But sleep didn't come.
I felt it.
A presence.
Somewhere, miles away, something had noticed me.
I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her, and smiled faintly as I looked back.
"Stay safe."
My hands still trembled as I climbed through the window, leaping across rooftops into the night.
Friend or foe, I didn't know.
But I had to find out.