Erick's POV:
Surrounded by his handcuffs, I stand face to face with Amin. Unlike his usual jovial demeanor, this time he exudes a serious air. He sits in that strange chair in the room adorned with enormous yellow fabrics hanging from the ceiling. Beside him are Sheccid and another girl I don't recognize at first glance.
- I see you've recovered well, you silly hero.
- Not as well as you. Now at least I can see more than just those strands of hair sticking out from under the bandage.
Although it seems like a friendly exchange, we're both in hiding. The tension is palpable as our voices, dripping with sarcasm, are traded like a duel.
His now unrecognizable but still visible face stares at me intently, as if testing the waters first. Although I understand his intention, I'm already tired of waiting.
- I'm recovered and about to leave for Granest. In a few hours, I'll be traveling in a carriage. But despite that, I still haven't said a word about my lost memories. I hope at least the Grand Prince of Sahara can keep his word.
The room fills with silence. We exchange glances with an almost fierce intensity. A few seconds pass before Amin lowers his gaze and lets out a sigh.
- …I'm really not cut out for formalities. Having a wife like Sheccid by my side is definitely the ultimate way of life.
Lazily but lovingly, he looks to his side where Sheccid is sighing ruefully.
- …If you know my worth, I hope you'll refrain from doing stupid things in the castle.
- Come on! Don't be like that. Being cooped up all day is bad for a recovering patient.
- Listen y-
*Thumb*
The serious atmosphere was replaced by a silly conversation between Amin and his wife. I usually wouldn't mind waiting for them to finish, but my patience, carefully guarded for two whole weeks, finally ran out. I summon Ifrit and slam the axe handle firmly into the ground. The sound and the shockwave make the room tremble slightly. A few panicked screams from the wives echo through the room, while others stare at me in terror.
- You really aren't very patient. I was trying to lighten the mood, though.
- I didn't come here to see you messing around with your wives! Give me the answers I'm looking for right now!
I raise the axe and point its blade at where Amin is sitting. Immediately, some of the wives surrounding us pull daggers from their clothing and stand in front of Amin, eyeing me carefully.
- Look what you've done…
With a signal, he orders his wives to lower their weapons and step back. Although not all obey, most return to their original positions. He lets out a long sigh before speaking.
................
With the destruction of Rishon, the great country that once encompassed the entire continent, at the hands of the Storm Witch and the Witch of Deceit, several smaller, independent countries were established.
But unlike the previously known borders, the Land of Water was then a collection of city-states fiercely vying for water sources and the numerous gold mines scattered throughout the region. Among them, in what would become the capital, a child was born into the ruling family. The child seemed unremarkable in any way. He was the most mediocre among his siblings, who excelled in various skills. Frustrated by his circumstances, he went to a temple now lost in the endless Sahara Desert. There, it is said that he stole the treasure of the spirits that inhabited the temple. This granted him superhuman abilities. Thanks to these powers, he managed to seize the throne of his city-state.
But far from being satisfied, he quickly expanded his power and influence to the other city-states. One by one, he conquered or allied with them until all the dunes were part of his vast empire.
His greed led him to attempt to conquer neighboring countries as well, convinced that the treasure he had stolen from the spirits would continue to shine in his favor. However, in an instant, the conqueror was erased from history. His children took control of the unified empire and immediately ordered their father's exploits to be written down so they would not be forgotten. In this way, his wisest children set aside their father's thirst for conquest and became the mercantile powerhouse they are today.
......................
- ….. Why are you telling me all this?
A slight hint of annoyance tinges my tone as I stare at Amin. I try to discern whether what he just told me was just another silly thing to lighten the mood or if it was truly important.
- Well, didn't you get it? I thought you'd be smarter than that.
- Stop messing around and tell me once and for all!
- ....
With a hint of annoyance in his eyes, he sighed before turning back to me.
- The king who unified the Sahara was cursed by the spirits when he stole their treasure.
- Cursed?
- Yes. It was a curse that destroyed people's memories of the cursed person. Wives, friends, children. No matter how close you were to that person, the curse slowly corroded your memories of them until nothing remained but fragmented recollections and a vague sense of loss… or at least that's what the documents describe.
- So what does that have to do with—
Before I could finish my sentence, his last words hit me with overwhelming force. As if something had just clicked.
- Fragmented memories… with holes?
- Yes, that girl you had with you was cursed by the spirits.
I couldn't believe what he told me. I tried to process it, but I couldn't quite believe it. As if it were some kind of elaborate lie.
- The documents describe how the cursed king personally traveled to the battlefield to command the troops, but when he arrived, no one recognized him as the king. Neither his generals nor his sons, who were among the high-ranking officers, recognized him. When he returned to the castle, they turned him away like any other stranger. It's speculated that the cursed king went to return the treasure to the spirits but died trying.
The story of the cursed king cast a huge shadow of doubt within me. The irritating feeling of emptiness inside only deepened as I desperately tried to find some memory of the girl.
- …If she was cursed by the spirits… why do you remember her?
- Because when I met her, her curse had practically been broken. My spirit warned me about her, and when I found her, it was all too obvious that the spirits were fleeing from her…
He leaned back, a hint of regret in his voice, as if carefully considering whether his actions had been right.
- Back then, I thought she was a witch. Her strange condition, along with a spirit attached to her. It was too obvious that she wasn't a normal girl. Although I admit my judgment may have been hasty, I don't believe I acted wrongly.
His cold, apathetic words hit me in a strange way. I hadn't had time to think about it, but from what he said, it seemed there had been some kind of fight between them. Despite not understanding it, a strange rage hit me and roared in my stomach as if I were about to lunge at his throat.
- I'm not sure why… but right now I feel like I want to attack you with everything I have. Although I'm not sure what you're talking about, I have the feeling I hadn't forgiven you for that.
He looked at me, slightly perplexed, before smiling melancholically.
- I see…
A few moments passed before he spoke again. From his voice, he seemed to have lifted a weight off his shoulders.
- In any case, there's another important thing I wanted to confirm… did you happen to have two spirits?
- …!
Surprise hit me as I unconsciously opened my eyes. I stare at him, completely bewildered.
- …You know Vulk?
- Vulk?... I see, so that's why she was cured of her curse.
He gives me an irritating "I just figured it out" look. It takes all my patience not to punch him.
- What do you mean?
- Listen, my people spent generations researching what it meant to be cursed by spirits. Many offered various hypotheses, but after much investigation, a simple conclusion was reached.
- …
I hold my breath while he remains silent for a few moments. Although it annoys me, I simply stay quiet, waiting for him to continue.
- Being 'cursed by spirits' basically means that spirits run away from you.
- …Huh?
My disbelief was palpable. I wasn't sure if what he'd just said was another load of nonsense or if it was actually true. Noticing this, he sat and laughed for a while before speaking again.
- It sounds stupid, right? But I want you to think of it this way: our world is rich in spirits of all kinds. Water, light, earth, fire. Everything that exists in this world is built upon them. Although religion rarely addresses this topic, the very gods we worship could be spirits superior to the greater spirits we know. So, what do you think would happen to a person who is avoided by these spirits?
- …!!!
- Exactly, that person wouldn't be able to leave any trace in this world. It's like a product in a crowded market. If customers don't pay attention to that product, it might as well cease to exist, and no one would even notice. That's how it works.
- So she was partially cured of her curse because Vulk was attached to her?
- Indeed. Although most spirits ignored her, Vulk allowed her to exist. While her existence was somewhat weak, she wasn't completely cursed.
A wave of joy flooded my chest. Knowing that Vulk hadn't completely disappeared, knowing that she still existed and that I could find her.
- Well, that's enough talk. It's time for you to go, fire hero. I suppose you already know what you have to do, right?
- What I have to do?
- You can track her, can't you?
As if struck by lightning, I stare at the reddish sphere floating on my shoulder, searching for an answer. Noticing my gaze, it replies in a calm tone.
"Although it's not very strong, I can indeed track Vulk's existence."
My eyes light up at the news. The anger, the unease, the discomfort of the holes in my memories. It all feels as if they've been purged from my heart. Now I finally have a clear objective. I turn back to Amin, who has a pleased smile on his face.
- Thank you very much, Amin. I'll head to Grannest immediately to return the favor.
He looks at me before letting out another sigh.
- Don't pretend to be calm. Even though I said it was urgent, I highly doubt whatever's going on there will be immediate. You're desperate to see her, aren't you?
- ...Thank you. I promise I'll return the favor many times over.
He remains silent for a few moments before smiling at me again.
- I'll be eagerly awaiting it.
Without waiting for him to finish speaking, I run out of the room.