Erick's POV:
- Erick, when will the food be ready?
- Just wait a little longer, it'll be ready in a second.
With a girl perched on my shoulders, I stir the cauldron with its bubbling contents. When I think it's ready, I raise the ladle to head level and hand it to her.
- ...it needs herbs.
- You think so?
I look up at where the girl is.
- ...!!
But when I look up, she's completely vanished. Even though I turn in every direction, I can't find her anywhere in the small kitchen. My throat goes dry instantly as I search for her. Before I know it, I start hyperventilating while practically ripping off the apron I'm wearing. In a flash, I'm out of the kitchen and I open every room in the house looking for the girl. The pang in my heart is becoming more and more noticeable as thoughts of worse scenarios flash through my mind. To silence those painful memories, I slam my head against the wall, practically demolishing the section in front of me.
- ...She must be outside.
I dust myself off as I stumble. When I step out of the house, I'm in an unfamiliar place.
- A lake?
My surroundings have suddenly changed. Despite having been in the house just a second ago, behind me there's only a lush forest. That nostalgic house that I shared with...?
- Me and... Who?
My heart feels heavy. Even though I don't know why, I feel like something is missing. Something doesn't add up. The feeling of being forgotten only deepens the more I think about it. There was something important, something I had to protect no matter what. A debt I had to repay throughout my life. A valuable companion who helped me when I needed it most. As if my heart were being squeezed by something invisible.
*Woshh*
A sudden gust of wind hits my face. It abruptly pulls me from my thoughts. The trees around me sway violently, some as if they'll be uprooted by the wind. The lake's water churns like water in a bowl. Though I couldn't hear it, nature seemed to be letting out some kind of scream. As if everything, including my body, were rejecting what was about to happen. Though I didn't fully understand, I looked in every direction, searching for that something. That's when I found it.
- But what?
A fissure. Something as black as night and as white as the brightest light stood out above the trees. It was shaped like a line, dividing the landscape in two. Nothing obstructed its view. The line, which had seemed static, began to descend violently. Like a stick falling to the ground, the black and white line slowly fell to the earth as even wilder gusts of wind swirled around it, as if the air itself were fleeing. Though I wanted to run, my legs froze in place. I just watch as the line meets the horizon.
*Boom*
Followed by a violent explosion. Before I know it, I'm sucked into the line. Even though there was a huge distance between the line and me, everything around me is pulled into it before it explodes again. Before I know it, the entire area I'm in is flooded with light as if it were a flash.
.............................................................
I jerk out of bed. My breathing is erratic as I feel myself drenched in sweat. I slowly touch my chest to confirm I'm still alive. A steady thump is felt through it.
- A nightmare?
I look at my hand and it's still trembling. As if my body is still rejecting that strange line in the sky. Even though I make a fist, it still shakes slightly.
"Welcome back, sir."
A somewhat stiff but familiar voice hits me. I sigh with relief as I look over my shoulder. As if something inside me were stabilizing, my hand stopped trembling.
- Hello, Ifrit.
"I've been waiting for you, sir."
- Waiting? How long have I been asleep?
"Approximately a month, sir."
Shock hits me. As if I'd barely noticed, I turn around. A well-decorated room with strange architectural touches surrounds me. I look down at my own body. I'm wearing something that looks like a robe. I slowly pat my body, but nothing really hurts. I jump out of bed to see what's happening outside, but as soon as my feet touch the floor, I fall pathetically face-first.
- What the hell?
I stare at my feet in utter shock. As if they weren't my feet, they refuse to respond to any attempt to move.
"Sir, you have been in a coma for a month. Although I have helped you a little to prevent your muscles from becoming useless, it has been too long since you used them. You must gradually get used to them."
- I have to admit I didn't expect that from you. Scolding me like that isn't like you. You're almost like…?
I cut my sentence short. The feeling I had in the dream returns. Like a name is on the tip of my tongue. Like something I was about to remember, but it slips through my fingers.
- …
"Sir?"
- I have to move.
I summon my golden axe and plant it firmly in the ground. I try to stand, but my legs barely respond to my commands. With the power of the axe, I forcefully send energy into my muscles. The energy flows into them as I feel a sudden pain.
- Ugh
"Sir? Don't do that. If you force your muscles to move like that, I can't guarantee they'll stay intact."
I don't answer as I slowly stand up. The incoming energy tears at my muscles as it forces them to stand. The pain and the tearing are so intense I want to lie down and cry. Large drops of sweat fall from my forehead as I finally stand.
"Sir!"
- Shut up! Stop sounding like…
My frustration only grows. It slips through my fingers again. Like a fish darting through my hands, my memory refuses to give me an answer. An invisible pressure only increases the more I try to remember. Which only makes my frustration grow in a vicious cycle.
- Ha… haa…
I lean on the axe as I desperately try to stay on my feet. I stare at the door as I stumble forward. Ifrit remains silent as I slowly get used to the pain that tears at my legs with every step. I finally reach the door. When I open it, a group of maids in strange clothes stand at the door, as if they're ready to trap me.
- Move!
I shout like a roar as I slowly push my way through them. Soft moans of pain escape my lips as I pass by. Some of them startle in terror, but I'm incapable of thinking about it. I advance slowly between them until something gets in my way.
- Halt right there, Mr. Hero.
A person extends their arms in front of me. A feeling of deep irritation washes over me as I look at the woman before me. Unlike the servants, she wears finer, more revealing clothing. Her gaze upon me is hard, as if she were looking at a child.
- I said Move!
I roar again as I clumsily try to push her out of the way. She dodges my clumsy shove and throws me to the ground. My rear end hits the floor as my back slams against the wall. A deep anger bubbles up inside me as I glare at her. She just sighs as she watches me.
- For a prince of another nation, you certainly lack manners.
- What did you—?!
Before I can scream, she places her finger against my lips.
- It's not good for you to try to move in your current condition. I understand your distress, but before you lose control and wreck your legs, I want you to talk to someone.
Before I can reply, she nods to the other maids. The terrified maids move quickly around me and lift me off the ground, grabbing my arms.
- Let me go!, I need—
Although I try to struggle, she places a finger in front of my eyes to get my attention.
- I know you're confused right now, but fighting is useless. Even I could knock you down as many times as I wanted in your current state. Let me take you to that person. I'm sure he'll answer all the questions you have right now. Or you can fight and let me drag you to that person. It's your choice.
I look at her for a moment before resigning myself. I knew she was right. I stop sending energy to my legs and let the maids carry me.