At a time of uncertainty and anticipation, when they thought they would be warmly welcomed to their world, Asahi came to the discovery that it had changed rather than been destroyed.
Brich, the brown-haired, golden-eyed man, and the enigmatic silver-haired boy dashed down the hills, their feet barely touching the earth as they fled from the looming figure behind them.
With surprising strength, the silver-haired boy swept the siblings onto his shoulders, his voice steady and calm as he addressed Brich.
"Brich, get the carriage. It should be close by. I figured that we would have arrived at the city by now, but due to that shooting star we saw just before sunrise…." Sadiki hunched his shoulders and took his breath, placing Asahi and Aletha's bodies against a soft grass bed. "... things have changed."
Without resistance, Brich snapped his fingers and vanished into thin air, leaving brown particles as he went.
"Understood."
Meanwhile, the silver-haired boy gently tended to Asahi and Aletha, his hope quietly flickering that they would soon awaken from their slumber.
. . .
The wind blew strongly through the grass, gently brushing the passing clouds in the sky and causing the trees to sway in rhythm with its movement.
As the warm sunlight gently stroked her skin, Aletha inhaled deeply from her slumber. She brushed tiny dirt particles off her eyelashes and parted her eyelids, taking a moment to observe her surroundings.
The terrain appeared to be a vast, nearly treeless grassland plain with rolling hills, extensive swathes of lush vegetation, and crystal-clear lakes all around; a strikingly different view in contrast to the dense and claustrophobic labyrinth that was the forest.
The only thing that really came up in her head at this very moment was that spine-tingling and unnerving sight she noticed in the forest. Two piercing magenta eyes, cold, empty, and hollow, pierced her gaze without any movement. It made her heart stop, stamped in her mind without any renown.
"Where are we?"
"You're in the Grasslands of Purity." A mysterious and familiar voice said from a distance. "The Nation of Pladtioa; One of the most isolated and secluded nations in Gincad."
Aletha instantly turned her head, searching for the source of the mysterious voice.
He had shining ashen hair, bright blue-lavender eyes, and fair skin. Aletha's eyebrows raised at the radiating aura he presented. A presence devoid of mistakes, with a face as clear as the stars. A large gray stripe stretched from the top of his face to his chin, and he was wearing a dazzling shirt with a mixture of dark gray, purple, blue, and white scattered all over.
She placed her hand over her forehead, trying to compare the silhouette she saw emerge from the smoke to the one she witnessed now.
(Is this the boy that saved us?) Aletha thought, her face contorting into a disbelieving expression. (He looks so… pure.)
"I apologize for that encounter." The silver-haired boy said as he looked over to the sun. "You two shouldn't really be wandering in a place like that. I've heard it reeks with the stingy aroma of creatures."
After a deep breath, the boy with the pure aura strode toward Asahi and Aletha, ready to introduce himself.
"The name is Sadiki, a white knight of Pladtioa. A pleasure to meet you two." He said with a firm handshake. "So, what are both of your names?"
As Asahi stepped back, taking his time to immerse himself and digest the view of his new surroundings, Aletha proudly straightened her posture and answered.
"Oh, my name is Aletha, and that boy over there is my brother, Asahi."
"Aletha and Asahi…" Sadiki said, scratching his chin. "Sounds like they're both very uncommon names. Say, where do you two come from?"
At that moment, Aletha's eyes broadened in shock. Not because of the obvious question, but what he said prior. "Uncommon names."
Although Asahi couldn't care less about it, Aletha felt composed to root her feet in her stance, ensuring that this wasn't some sort of trick. So, she repeated herself.
"Uh, I'm afraid you have been mistaken. I'll repeat it." Aletha said as she gulped. "My name is Aletha Adtraic, and that boy over there is Asahi Adtraic." She made sure to emphasize speaking their last names.
"Oh, Adtraic is both of your last names," Sadiki said. "Sounds like a relatively unique last name. To be honest, I have never heard it before."
"WHAT?!"
Sadiki's answer struck a discordant note, shattering Aletha's expectations in an instant.
In the past, when the family of The Adtraic was still prosperous and conquering the entire world of Gincad, it was unusual for someone to claim that they had never heard of the Adtraic before. Because in all actuality, no matter where anyone went during that era, the names of The Adtraic would be inscribed everywhere in the world.
It was a respected, worshiped name; even enemies acknowledged The Adtraic as Gincad's True Rulers.
However, after the calamity and a ten-year absence, their names have been completely wiped out. And then came the memory from the white void.
. . .
("And to make matters for you worse, I erased the memories of your family's very existence from everyone in Gincad. Yes. The Adtraic Family!
Once Aletha recollected those screams from that unforgivable creature, she grew silent and refused to speak.
. . .
As Aletha stood still in disbelief, staring at the clouds with blank gray eyes, she eavesdropped on Sadiki and Asahi's conversation not just a foot away.
"While you two were unconscious, I managed to find these strange swords falling from the sky."
Without hesitation, he gave one of them to Asahi and placed it in his hands, saying.
"I figured these blades matched your attire, so I thought it respectful to return them to you."
Two long, dazzling blades coated in the color of night, each bearing a sprinkling of pale dots that shimmered across its otherwise smooth and sharp surface.
He felt an overwhelming sense of relief as he clutched his blade. It had a hefty and substantial feel and was icy to the touch, just like he remembered it. Although much had been lost, Asahi cracked a little grin on his face and said.
"Thank you."
Soon, Aletha's nerves settled as she reached for her blade, cradling it between her fingers and gazing at it with a tender, unwavering affection.
"I never want to be separated from you again," She said as she stared at the glittering white dots sparkling on the blade.
Sadiki couldn't help but chuckle at Aletha's response. He could never believe someone could be so attached to a weapon. Nonetheless, it was apparent that he knew nothing about Asahi and Aletha, and had only saved them out of the good spirit.
Before Sadiki could say anything else, a high-pitched sound shook their ears.
(SCREE)
"He's here." He mumbled.
On its sides, the carriage had two horses pulling it, with four windows on each side.
The structure of the horse-drawn carriage was a box shape, with diamond patterns painted on both the left and right sides and three clear windows on the front, back, and left sides. The horses that drew the carriage looked to have bright white fur and gorgeous lavender eyes, matching what a Pegasus would look like.
The horses radiated strength and power, their poised forms promising speed and endurance.
It was anyone's guess what sort of person might emerge from within.
Promptly, the carriage's wheels skidded on the ground and came to an abrupt halt centimeters away from the log.
Sadiki signaled the carriage by waving his arms, and seeing the horses, stopped.
"Hey, you two... follow me!"
The wanderers nodded.
"Okay..."
Afterward, Sadiki guided the wanderers (Asahi and Aletha) to the carriage doors.
A click sounded behind the entry, and two doors slid open and parted away while a wooden staircase rolled toward the ground.
The bright ceiling lights shimmered at the entrance, revealing a figure slowly walking down the stairs.
Sadiki realized it was a man in a black suit, hair tied in a bun. Aletha immediately recognized him.
"Brich?!" She exclaimed with a stupefied expression.
Sadiki smiled at her reaction.
"Yes."
The man reached the bottom step and walked past Sadiki, stopping right before Aletha and Asahi.
He stared directly into Aletha's eyes with his dark brown eyes and asked her in a soft tone.
"Didn't I tell you to wait for Sadiki? Now, look where you are!"
The man took off his hat and brushed his long, light-brown hair behind his shoulders, exposing his smooth, pale neck.
Aletha gulped, then blurted out.
"... You're Brich, aren't you?"
"That's correct," he answered in a calm tone. "And who might you be?"
At this point, Brich was trying to test her memory and see if it was still intact.
Aletha glanced at Asahi, then back to Brich, finally answering.
"I'm Aletha."
"Ah, yes, I've heard of you." He said sarcastically. "I think I met you back in that forest and helped you out, didn't I?" Brich started to chuckle at his own joke.
Aletha stood up straighter and gave Brich a cold stare.
"Yes, and you vanished without explanation."
Silently, Asahi added to Aletha's sentence inside his head.
(Much like The Ruler of The Forgotten.)
The thought stirred something deep within him, coaxing a memory back to the surface.
("If you dare lay a finger on me, blonde one, I will make sure my presence is known in every corner of Gincad!")
As the memory faded from Asahi's mind, he looked down at the ground and mumbled.
"I remember. The Ruler of The Forgotten was serious. I can already sense his presence."
While he saw Aletha walking into the carriage, with Brich laughing at his own jokes, Asahi continued to mutter.
"He didn't die then. Each fragment of his skin contained a memory. So if he really meant by making his presence known everywhere in Gincad, it could mean…."
His eyes flashed with realization.
"That the Ruler of The Forgotten is not only messing with EVERYONE'S memories, but those memories are also scattered everywhere."
. . .
"We're ready to depart as soon as you get on board, so hurry along."
When they entered the carriage, Brich made his way up the steps, lowering the lever and pulling back the wooden staircase.
"Something is tampering with my memories," Brich mumbled as he shut the door, clenching his fist and closing his eyes. "I don't recall acting like this at all. I was… I was…" He slammed his fist against the wooden wall, frustrated beyond comparison. "Ah, I can't remember."
Asahi's eyes widened in shock at seeing this. He knew immediately, just by gazing at the action previously betokened him… that…
(These have to be traces of The Ruler of The Forgotten.) He thought as a heavy feeling pressed upon him. (And it's getting stronger by the second.)
Suddenly, the world fell silent. The carriage, the voices, all faded away, leaving him alone with the echo of his own thoughts.
He could sense a ghostly presence encircling him, crawling on his back like a spider.
When he returned to the door to check if anyone was around, he felt somYet an invisible barricade stood firm, sealing away every memory he tried to reach., a blockade blocking everything.
As he took a seat among the five red cushioned chairs around the carriage, he heard Aletha ask from the background.
"Wait, Asahi, where did our mother's scarf go?"
AND THAT'S THE MOMENT WHEN HE REALIZED.
"Our mother's scarf!"
. . .
"What scarf are you talking about?" Brich asked as Asahi became silent.
The carriage had already taken off, drifting across the dirt road, swerving its way through the rolling grassy hills. If not, it would take approximately ten minutes for them to reach their destination.
Although Asahi couldn't recall any details of the scarf anymore, Aletha wasn't hesitant to answer.
"A brown one with sparkling patterns." She said with a confident and prideful look on her face.
"Oh, you are looking for that?" Brich replied as he placed his glass on the table next to him. "I saw it appear with a shooting star the other day. It came from the clouds, crashing down into the grasslands. Indeed. And I saw that my friend approached and grabbed it. I guess he thought it looked nice and took it to the city to sell it."
Asahi winced in disbelief. He had always tried to ensure only he or his sister possessed the scarf.
Hearing that their most cherished relic had been snatched away by a stranger ignited a storm of rage deep within him.
But suppressing the thought like extinguishing the chaotic, disjointed flames of anger, Asahi responded to it with a slight tone.
"Are you being serious?"
"Absolutely," Brich said with a wide grin. "A city not too far from here."
As Sadiki looked over to the window, Aletha hoisted her arm into the air and tilted her head to Brich, her eyes narrowing.
"What city?" She asked with a lifted chin.
"Pladtioa City. The capital of this nation," Brich answered with a discernible tone. "It is the most prominent and busiest place around here. You haven't been there before?"
Sadiki scratched his head and added in a nervous voice.
"I thought I already informed them we are taking them there."
Brich laughed it off and shrugged his shoulders, leaning back and spitting out his glass of water.
"I guess they forgot."
Although most around the carriage have been relatively humble, Asahi was still drowned in suspicions of the Ruler of the Forgotten.
He knew that if the Ruler of The Forgotten were to make an appearance at any moment, his personality and emotions would be undoubtedly tampered with. In a swift and hasty tone, Asahi interrupted the others' bouncing laughs and uttered.
"Look, all we want is our mother's scarf."
Silence filled the carriage.
Brich looked back at the paintings and thought the ride would be much more enjoyable with visitors around.
However, due to the urgency of Asahi's anxious and uneasy attitude, Brich decided to accelerate the horse's pace, going at a speed so fast that the surroundings behind the glass transformed into a blur.
As Brich placed the glass back, scratching his stubble, he replied with a neutral tone.
"Oh, if you want it so badly, Sadiki and I can take you two to the city faster," Brich said calmly as he noticed Aletha holding onto the chairs for dear life. "I must admit, being in the wilderness of Pladtioa can either be a blessing or a curse, depending on where you are. You never know what dangers lurk here."
A serious, sharp look flared from his golden eyes as he squinted at Asahi's face and resumed.
"And it only gets deadlier."