The ashes of the bandit camp still smoked when dawn touched the trees. Charred tents slumped like defeated soldiers, and broken arrows littered the ground like fallen leaves.
William sat on a stump beside the creature that nearly killed him. The giant gnarlhound — now docile as a stone — slept peacefully by the fire, legs twitching as if dreaming of charging mountains. His mossy hide steamed in the morning light.
"So… what are we calling him?" Miri asked, hands on her hips as she stepped over a shattered spear.
William blinked. "What?"
"He's your oversized puppy now," she said, motioning to the beast. "You tamed him. Give him a name."
William rubbed the side of his head, where a dull ache still throbbed. "He's huge… strong… impossible to move. And when he hit me, it felt like a mountain fell on my face."
He looked at the beast, thoughtful. "Boulder."
The gnarlhound let out a deep grunt in its sleep, as if in approval.
Torrin snorted. "Fitting."
They shared a quiet moment. The ruins of their victory cooled around them. The previous night's adrenaline had passed, but uncertainty lingered like smoke in the air.
"Are you sure we should go to this Crimson base?" William asked.
"They're the only ones who might be able to help," Miri said. "And you knew them before."
"But I don't remember them."
"They won't hold it against you," Torrin said. "They're rough, yeah, but they look after their own. And you were one of them — even if you don't remember it."
William nodded slowly. He glanced at Boulder, then at the quiet forest beyond. "Then let's go."
⸻
They traveled two kilometers south through old trails and thick groves, the trees thinning the closer they got to the mountainside. At one point, Boulder sniffed out a cluster of foraging goblins — and simply stared until they squealed and ran.
"That's… a terrifying pet," Torrin said.
By midday, they reached a natural stone wall that curved like a canyon mouth. Embedded into it stood a gate of blackened iron, guarded by crimson-armored sentries.
The Crimson Nest — fortress base of the Crimson Rebel Army.
Banners hung from the walls, painted with jagged wolves and burning roses. Smoke curled from forges. Dozens of soldiers trained, sparred, and marched in drill lines.
As the trio approached, the guards at the gate stiffened.
"Torrin? Miri?" one called. "You're back early. And is that—?"
Their eyes landed on William.
"That's William," Miri confirmed. "But… he's different."
"He made it out," Torrin added. "But not the same."
The gates creaked open, and they entered.
Everywhere they walked, people stared. Some whispered. Some pointed. A few looked stunned, a few angry, but most simply confused.
Then, someone shouted—
"WILLIAM?!"
The voice cut through the courtyard like a war horn.
A tall, broad-shouldered man stormed across the training yard. Crimson-black armor. A massive glaive slung across his back. A jagged scar cut across his cheek like lightning.
He stopped just in front of William. His expression shifted from shock… to hope… then worry.
"Do you…" the man asked, voice rough, "remember me?"
William's chest tightened. His fingers curled into fists.
"No," he said quietly. "I don't. I'm sorry. Who are you?"
The man stood frozen for a beat. Then he let out a slow exhale, the weight in his eyes softening.
"Kael," Miri said gently, stepping forward. "Something happened in the ruin. He was trying to prove himself — he ran off alone."
Kael turned toward her.
"There was an ancient ruin in the forest," Torrin explained. "We scouted it together. William disappeared while we were checking the upper floor. Said he could handle the lower chamber alone."
Miri continued, "There was a training golem — big one, magic-fueled, and ancient. He thought he could take it on. We found him mid-fight, already bleeding."
Torrin added, "The golem struck him — sent him flying into a strange altar covered in old runes. As soon as he hit it, the whole room lit up."
"There was an explosion of light, wind… and magic," Miri said. "The golem just shut down. And William…"
"He was unconscious," Torrin finished. "Eyes glowing faintly. We dragged him out before the ruin collapsed."
Kael looked at William. "And since then…?"
"He only remembers us," Miri said. "Nothing before the ruin."
Kael's jaw clenched. "That idiot… always rushing ahead. Trying to be strong."
William's gaze dropped. He didn't know this Kael. Didn't remember being reckless. Didn't recall facing a golem, or touching an altar.
He only remembered waking up on stone… with Miri crying above him.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly.
Kael shook his head. "No. Don't be. You're here. That's enough."
Then, he smiled.
"You used to annoy me every day. I assume that means we were close."
William gave a faint chuckle. "Guess we start fresh, then."
Kael extended a hand. William took it.
Kael turned and shouted, "Bring the heads. If we're starting over, let's do it proper!"
Within minutes, six individuals joined them.
Kael pointed to each.
"This is Riven," he said, motioning to a tall, quiet man in slate-gray leather with a long curved blade on his back. "My right hand. Tactical genius. Always watching."
Riven bowed slightly. "You once challenged me to chess using only a stick and dirt. You lost."
"This ball of madness is Lanya," Kael continued. "Traps expert. Explosives, snares, alchemy."
Lanya grinned and elbowed William. "You helped me build a gas trap once. We both nearly suffocated. Good times."
"This is Bram, our beastmaster," Kael said, nodding to a massive man with fur pauldrons and scars on every inch of skin. "You once tried to ride his rhino-bear."
William gave Bram a nervous glance. "Did I succeed?"
"You screamed the whole time," Bram said cheerfully.
Kael continued.
"Juno, scout leader. Best archer we've got."
Juno gave him a wink. "You owe me five silver and an apology for the mud incident."
"Edek, quartermaster," Kael said, nodding to a square-jawed man with soot-stained gloves. "Keeps us supplied."
Edek grunted. "You owe me boots. You left 'em in a river."
"And finally, Kara, our medic."
A woman with red-streaked gloves waved lazily. "If you collapse again, at least bleed in the infirmary this time."
William stared at all of them.
"You all really knew me?"
"You were one of us," Kael said. "And you still are — memory or not."
William stood there, heart pounding, unsure if it was guilt, gratitude, or fear.
He looked at Miri and Torrin.
He looked at Boulder, who had somehow followed him into the base and was now being sniffed by a nervous stablehand.
He looked at Kael, who had every right to be angry — but wasn't.
And he made a choice.
"Then let's build new memories," he said.
Kael grinned wide. "Damn right."