Chapter Six: Another Day, and Another
Wake up… Wake up… Have I woken up again?
I thought it was a dream that would end, but it seems that only dreams are beautiful.
Now… I've gotten used to it.
Two months have passed since I first came here… Maybe the world has forgotten me, or maybe I should find a new path.
But I don't care… I don't even know why. I just… don't care.
He chuckled lightly, then muttered sarcastically: I'm starting to go insane… talking to myself like I'm two different people.
But there's something inside me screaming… I don't know why… and as I said, I'm not interested.
He rose from the bed, dressed quickly, grabbed his sword, and stepped out of his room.
Everyone was gathered at the usual table.
He thought to himself with dry humor: I don't know… should I call that table cursed, because it brings me nightmares? Or beautiful, because I eat my meals there?
He greeted the family, and they replied with a cheerful: "Good morning."
He answered, "Morning."
Mrs. Chloe asked, watching him: "You don't look tired. Did you go to bed early last night? Didn't you study the language like you usually do?"
Rion replied with open pride: "No… because I finished all the language lessons, and I've completed both books Chloe gave me."
Mrs. Chloe stared in surprise. "You really are a fast learner! Your writing, reading, and speaking have gotten so good… this is incredible progress!"
Rion smiled, lifting his head proudly—until Chloe, mid-bite, commented: "Careful… lift your head any higher and you'll hit the ceiling."
Rion laughed dismissively: "Oh… are you jealous of my talent? Shame on you, envy is ugly."
Chloe's face flushed with anger and embarrassment. "You bastard… who would ever be jealous of a worthless fool like you?"
Rion felt he'd gone a bit too far. He gave her a comically worried look: "Alright, alright… calm down. It's not worth it."
The whole family laughed. Chloe finally relaxed and said, taking a slow breath: "At least the training's paying off. You've grown a bit, and your swordsmanship has improved in the last few days."
Then, with a note of excitement: "Do you want to come with me on a mission today? What do you think?"
Rion answered without hesitation: "Of course! I'm dying of boredom, and you have to ask?"
Chloe smiled. "Yes, but you've been improving fast… most people take months, even years, to reach your level. I don't blame you for being bored… I was the same."
Rion cut in provocatively: "No… you weren't. I'm sure you were running away from boredom entirely."
Chloe snapped: "Damn you, you bastard!"
Rion laughed nervously: "What's wrong with you? You need to control yourself… but you didn't answer my question."
Chloe avoided his gaze as she stood up. "Come on, we're leaving right now."
Rion was sure his guess had been right, but he didn't press further.
He followed her, she gathered her hunting gear, and they walked under the sunny, cloudless sky toward the city's outskirts.
On the way, he asked: "A hunting mission? Does the guild have jobs like that?"
Chloe grinned: "Who said this is for the guild in the first place? Don't worry, it's an easy job… perfect for your first mission."
Rion sighed. "Oh… that's good to hear."
As they passed through the main gate, Chloe raised her finger and pointed toward a nearby forest.
It was the same forest where Rion had first awoken—but from here, it looked different… vast, immense, stretching across the horizon.
Chloe said: "This forest is the main source of monsters. People call it the Forest of Loss, because it's split into three zones…
The first, right ahead, has small trees and many lakes, with almost no monsters. Most people there are woodcutters or fishermen.
The second, the hunters' domain… huge, with towering trees. I think my destroyed village was there.
And the third… beyond that. A boundless area with stronger monsters. Getting in is hard. People simply call it the Loss."
Rion commented with relief: "Good… so we're only going to the first zone."
Chloe's face went blank, pale as a ghost. "Who said that… huh?"
Rion swallowed nervously. "You're joking… right? Please tell me you're joking."
She laughed. "Don't worry, I'm joking… I've never gone into the third zone in my life."
They continued until they reached a lake with crystal-clear water and lush green trees, the ground around it soft and pleasant.
The sight was familiar… Rion remembered seeing his reflection here when he first awoke.
He wandered off to find the exact spot—but when he reached the burned remains of the small fire beast, he was shocked.
No flowers. No grass. Even the trees had changed—thicker now, denser. It was as if something had vanished.
He whispered to himself: "What is this? Am I imagining things? No… it can't be…"
He searched more, but found nothing. It was as if the place had evaporated.
Softly, he muttered: "Days pass… memories fade… places disappear. Am I dreaming? What is happening to me?"
Chloe's voice called to him, breaking his thoughts. He went to her quickly.
She was sitting at the lake's edge, one leg crossed over the other. He sat beside her in the same pose.
She handed him a wooden fishing rod, instructing: "Gently… cast the line, and stay still… don't move, or the fish will run. And when you feel a tug, pull hard… the hook will catch. The most important thing is patience."
Rion took a deep breath and cast the rod with a sort of careless grace. He closed his eyes… maybe because that's how he sleeps, how he escapes thinking.
Moments later, the rod twitched. He yanked it upward—and out came a tiny fish.
Both of them froze, then said in unison: "What is this? It's so small!"
Chloe laughed, teasing him, while Rion stared at the catch in disappointment before focusing again.
They stayed like that until sunset. Then they packed up and headed home.
Before leaving the forest, Rion took one last look back, remembering the moment he first woke…
He sighed quietly, thinking: Who am I?
At home, the family greeted them warmly. They asked about his first mission, but he was too tired.
He dropped his gear and sat at the dinner table, eating quickly.
Afterwards, he spent a little time with Chloe, who—as usual—was writing in her notebook.
He teased: "Do you buy one notebook to last your whole life? I haven't seen you change it since we first met!"
She smiled. "No, but it's big… I bought it after we first met, exactly two months ago."
Rion commented: "Oh, maybe I need one like it."
Then he stood to leave.
Chloe said: "By the way… we're going on another mission tomorrow. Don't worry, this time… monster hunting."
Rion sighed with a smile. "Finally. Alright… I'm going to bed. Need anything?"
She replied: "No."
He went to his room, lay on his bed, and closed his eyes—but it didn't help.
He thought again… Who am I? What am I? How did everything vanish? Every memory… my sister… the place where I woke…
What is happening here?
Thinking was useless… sleep finally took him.
End of Chapter.