My brother and I lost our memories nine or ten years ago. I was probably 13 or 14 years old at the time. My brother is two years older than me. Everything before that is a blank slate for me, except for her. She is the only piece of the past that hasn't faded; she is the only face I can still see in my mind.
The most mysterious thing, though, is this small necklace with a rare black oceanic stone. Its surface is smooth and shimmers blue and dark gray.
I can't remember where it came from. Is it hers? Or does it belong to someone else? Or does it belong to the girl in my dreams? I don't know. I get an annoying feeling when I think about it. But I do know that it feels important to me, as if it's tied to something or someone. Whatever its origin, I can't lose it. It's the only fragment of my past that I have left, and I'm sure that one day I'll solve this mystery.
The day after the Stage 1 results, we were sleeping when suddenly, loud shouts from the camp officials started echoing like alarms. Andrew jumped up and rushed to the door. He opened the door and asked,
"What's going on?"
One of the instructors replied urgently, "Emergency meeting! Everyone to the hall now."
Andrew shut the door and turned to me with a serious look. "Let's go, Roy. It looks like something big is happening."
I looked out the window and saw that it was already dawn. I grabbed my shoes and clothes and replied, "If we hurry, we'll find out."
I felt strange about this. Is it an attack, or maybe the beginning of stage two? So many questions ran through my mind.
We got ready and headed to the meeting room. The room wasn't big, and it felt cramped with so many people inside. There were a lot of faces I didn't recognize—new recruits and people from other divisions—and a platform at the front.
Andrew and I found seats near the back. Sophia joined us and sat beside Andrew. Her hair was a little messy. Same for us; we didn't have time to fix it. She gave us both a quick nod and looked calm and focused as usual.
My attention shifted to the front of the platform, where fifteen people were seated in a line. They were clearly the camp leaders. Yuri was among them. He spotted us and gave us a small wave with a smile. This is typical of Yuri, who remains calm in the middle of the storm.
One of the leaders stood up and stepped forward. He had a commanding presence, and his bald head, short beard, and green eyes added to his intense features. His deep voice echoed through the hall.
"My name is Daniel, and I am the supreme leader here. I will be direct, so listen carefully."
He pulled out a map so that everyone could understand what was happening.
We were in the Devotion Lands, in the northwest of what was once Asia. Our location is strategic but dangerous. We are surrounded by enemy forces and other camps. The main camp is located in the southwest and was chosen for its defensive capabilities and ability to conduct covert operations.
Daniel's voice brought my focus back to the front.
"This is the Drayton Empire," he said, pointing to their territory on the map. "Our intelligence suggests that their princess is planning a meeting with the Ingocia Empire. If this is true, it could change the balance of power in these lands. We've received word from our spy that the convoy will be moving soon. I will not send an army, though, because it may be a trap."
He paused, his eyes scanning the room.
"This is where you come in, Special Forces. The elites. I need a team of four to lead a small group of additional soldiers. Your mission is to intercept the convoy and bring the princess back alive. She must not be harmed under any circumstances. If we succeed, we'll be able to negotiate the release of our prisoners held by the Drayton Empire."
He closed his hand into a fist. "This is our chance to get all our comrades back."
His words settled over the room.
Yuri stepped forward, his calm voice cutting through the tension. "You've trained for times like this. This mission isn't just about strategy and skills now, it's about shaping the future. If you choose to volunteer, you need to understand the risks."
Andrew leaned toward me.
"This seems like a big deal Roy. What do you want us to do?"
I stared at the map, a cold determination settling into my mind. This wasn't just any mission; it could change everything.
I nodded to Andrew and Sophia, keeping my tone steady and calm. "Let's be the team that takes on this mission. It's our chance to move forward."
They agreed to my request without hesitation. Their confidence in me was unshakable. I stood, feeling the weight of every gaze in the room pressing on my shoulders. My hands trembled slightly. Then, I raised my hand, waiting for Daniel's approval. He nodded, leaving me to speak. I said with a confident voice, "Sir, I'm Roy Celgius. I would like to volunteer for this mission with a team."
"Roy Celgius..." He murmured, as if he had heard that name before.
Andrew and Sophia raised their hands and, after receiving a nod from Daniel, immediately stood up.
Daniel's expression changed briefly, a hint of surprise appearing on his face at how quickly we had made the decision. "Roy, I've heard your name before. Your history is… remarkable. I'll approve your volunteer request and expect results. From what I've been told, you've never failed in a single mission. I trust you'll handle this one well." He then looked at Sophia and Andrew. "And you two behind him?"
Andrew said with his confident voice, "I'm Andrew Celgius. I would like to volunteer for this mission".
Then Sophia followed, "I'm Sophia Vila, I am ready to volunteer in this mission."
Daniel nodded. "Perfect. Then Andrew and Sophia will be under your leadership, Roy."
That last part caught me off guard. My lead? I hadn't planned for that. But I held my reaction. If it was going to be like this, so be it.
Then he looked at Andrew. "You're Roy's brother, right? I've heard a lot about you, too." Then he put his hand on his back and continued. "However, you'll need one more member to complete your team. If anyone wants to participate, please raise your hand."
He scanned the room, and I was surprised to see that several hands had been raised. But the one that caught my attention the most was Crimzo's.
I wasn't expecting him to volunteer. I wasn't about to waste this opportunity. I calmly said, "For this mission, we need someone skilled in sniping and long-range support because we are all close combat specialists."
Daniel turned toward the others, addressing the snipers in the room. "Anyone else interested?"
Everyone else lowered their hands except for Crimzo, a girl, and a person in the corner of the room. I really wish he chose Crimzo over them. Then, Daniel gave Crimzo a nod of approval, which made me really happy. It really worked well.
Crimzo stood up and spoke confidently. "I'm Crimzo Lee. I'm ready to join the team. I believe my experience in long-range combat will be very useful."
I was surprised by his sudden willingness. What made him change his mind? Was it because of the mission, or did he have his own reasons? In any case, I'll find out in time. For now, I'm excited to see what's coming next.
Daniel seemed satisfied. "Great! With four members confirmed, the rest will be dismissed to resume their normal duties. As for you, stay here. We'll discuss the mission details now."
I looked at Crimzo briefly as he approached. He offered nothing more than a neutral expression. Whatever his reasons, this mission just got a lot more interesting.