I once made a promise to a girl.
That I would stay by her side. That I would come to her, even if it killed me.
She was drowning in despair —a life stripped of meaning, dreams turned to ash, hope long abandoned. She wasn't alone, not truly, but no one truly saw her. Surrounded by people, yet untouched, ununderstood.
I told her I'd be there. Always. If she needed me, I'd find her. No matter how long it took.
Was it love? No… I don't think so. It wasn't affection that gripped me. It was the sadness in her eyes —a gaze that looked less like life and more like despair made flesh.
And so I promised.
And I was there.
…Wasn't I?
At least, I want to believe I was. Because now I'm dead.
Dead? Am I? I ended my own life, yet even now I'm not certain. I feel strange, suspended somewhere between being and nothingness. But if I'm not alive, then what else could I be?
I said I would be there for her.
And she…
She only laughed when I told her. Laughed, as if it were some joke. She never realized I meant every word. Yet for some reason, she believed me. Why? We'd only known each other a handful of days, and still she placed all her hope in a promise born between strangers.
Hope? No…that wasn't it.
What I saw in her was despair dressed in hope's clothing. A desperate smile, a spark of life forced back into her eyes —but it wasn't joy. It was something brittle. Something hollow.
Her name…her face…I can almost see them. Grey-green hair, eyes like storm-tossed seas, a body like a fallen angel. A beauty so radiant it seemed god-touched —and yet beneath it all, she was fractured. Sad. Lonely. Cold.
Why?
And me? How did I die? Did I really die? I feel no pain. Or… no, I felt no pain. The memory is slippery, melting away before I can hold it.
The more I think, the less I understand.
I promised her something —didn't I? Or was it someone else? What kind of promise was it? Did I even make one?
A promise…yes. I think so. I think I remember. I promised to be there. For someone. For… who?
Think. Calm down. I don't know many people. It shouldn't be so hard to remember. Just one name, that's all.
A friend.
The first friend…the first is—
Who?
My head feels heavy. Am I losing myself?
No. Wait. I have a name!
Lyrania.
Yes…that's it. That must be it. The one I promised.
But…who is Lyrania?
The harder I cling to the thought, the more it slips away. And breathing… why is it so hard to breathe? As if the air itself is vanishing around me.
Strange.
Until now, all I've seen is darkness. Did I really not notice? Am I asleep? Alive? Dead? What is this place?
I can't remember. Not even my own name.
Then—
Shhhhew.
Something streaks past me. Light —a star, burning across the void.
Beautiful.
But wait… how can a star pass by me? I'm not in space. Am I?
Then suddenly—
"—Haaaah!"
Air slams against me. I'm falling. Fast. Too fast. Clouds rip past, the moon spins overhead, and the ground surges up to meet me. Mountains, oceans, forests, all rushing closer.
The wind roars in my ears, freezing my voice in my throat. I can't even scream anymore.
One more second, and I'll—
But nothing.
The air pressure vanishes. The fall stops.
When I open my eyes, I'm lying on soft, endless grass. A breeze brushes my face, cool and gentle, carrying a peace I've never felt before.
Then —chhhriiing.
The sound drifts from above me. The light. The same one from before.
"Haaah…" Relief escapes me like a sigh.
It hovers just in front of my face, glowing faintly.
Can I touch it? I have to. Just a little tap.
"Hello, Mr. Light. I don't know my name, but I'm not a bad person. Heh."
Slowly, I raise my hand. My fingertip brushes it—
And suddenly my hair lifts, crackling with static. The air itself seems to pull me toward it.
"What —aghh!"
A flash bursts before my eyes, blinding white.
Chhhrrriiing —whoosh.
And everything shatters into light.
"Hello? Hello, young man? Can you hear me? I'm talking to you, you know? Hmmm. Maybe he really is dead?"
A voice.
Annoying voice.
"If you don't wake up now, you'll be eaten alive, and I never lie, just so you know."
My eyes…
Heavy. Too heavy. Not opening the way I imagined.
Slowly…painfully…I forced them open. And then —he appeared.
"Oh, so you're alive after all. Hey, I'm Juenzi. I was out walking when I saw you lying here. What's your name, by the way?"
Glasses. Brown hair. Green eyes. Athletic, yet awkward in those glasses. Fitter-looking than his face suggested. Juenzi?
Did he say Juenzi?
"Name…I don't know my name."
My name.
What was my name?
Where even am I?
My head aches.
Strange.
Empty.
Hollow.
Do I have to remember?
"You don't remember? Hmm. Maybe because you fell from the sky. Did you hit your head when you landed? Maybe you were fighting? This region is crawling with monsters. Lots to see, lots of ways to die."
He smirked at his own words.
Was that…a joke?
"I fell from the sky? No. I don't remember that. I don't remember falling."
"Hmmm. Hit your head too hard, maybe? Try remembering anything —doesn't matter what. Just something."
That's exactly the problem. There's nothing.
And then I noticed it.
The ground beneath me…no, not just the ground. A crater. Very big. Towering walls of earth surrounding us. Deep, wide. At least three kilometers across. Hundreds of meters down. What in the world had happened here?
"I don't remember anything. Not my name. Not my past. Nothing. I may have even forgotten how to walk."
"Good to know. Actually, I need someone to help me with my work in the city. Want to come with me? I'll give you a roof over your head. A bed and food too."
Food and shelter...should I choose? Do I even have a choice? Saying no feels…impossible.
"Work? Me? I just said I've lost my memory."
"True, true~ but…you're clutching that sword like it's your lifeline. So I'd say you know how to use it."
Sword?
What sword?
Huh—!?
My hand. My palm. Something solid pressed into it. A blade. A sword, curved, gleaming. White edge, black hilt, a blade tinted blue, glowing faint but real.
Is that mine? I don't…remember.
Wait.
I don't remember anything.
So…it must be mine. Right?
"I didn't even realize I was holding this."
"Then you've really lost everything. Poor you. Well, let's get moving. Hope you can fight, otherwise we're both done for. I'm just saying —I don't know what it's like to get beaten up."
We climbed out. From above, the crater looked monstrous. Like a meteor had slammed into the earth. Or a battle of gods.
"Listen, when we get there, don't play dumb. Be polite. They're good people —the research group. Do me that favor."
Research group?
Where am I even?
"It's the least I can do. By the way…what is this place called?"
"Ah, right. You lost your memory. My bad. This is Longyuan. Means Dragon Spring. Long ago, dragons lived here in harmony. To keep it short, their dragon leader fell. The rest fled… many killed one after another. Afterward, the Moritae family bought the land, built a civilization. They're one of the twelve great families now. Respected, feared and also known for trade and alliances. Their princess is our age, seventeen, I think?"
Too much.
Too much information.
I asked one question and he gave me a whole book.
My age? I don't even know how old I am.
"I don't know my age. But thank you for the…lovely story."
"Maybe I really did talk too much."
"It's all right."
I already had my doubts.
Well…whatever. Let's just focus on this "work" he kept bringing up.
After what felt like hours of him talking, we finally reached some kind of building. Actually —three buildings. The middle one looked like the main hall, the other two probably just side places for workers or something. Government-supported? I had no idea.
They looked…different. Old, but not old. Antique and modern at the same time. Kind of strange, Kind of beautiful. People were everywhere —selling things, laughing, kids running around. There was even a little water park where children were splashing. Their laughter felt… real.
Peaceful compared to the crater.
"So, when we go through this door, try to act normal, okay? Friendly. I don't want things to get awkward again…"
"Again?" I raised a brow.
"L –let's not talk about that. Just —come on." He shoved the door in.
The mechanism was odd —no handle, just a push. Easier, I guess.
Inside, I stopped.
So this was the "research group"? Just three girls.
The first girl didn't even glance at me. Red hair, red eyes, sharp focus on a map she was scribbling on. She wore a white uniform —probably standard here. Her body was…well, strong. Trained. Attractive, but in a way that made you realize how hard she worked for it.
The second girl looked softer. Brown hair, glasses. Similar build, maybe a little curvier. I sound like I'm inspecting them. But the way she smiled at me —it was…warm. Genuinely warm.
And then the last one—
Yeah. I had to force my face not to react.
She was blonde. Long hair that nearly brushed her back. Eyes like deep oceans. And her body —everything just…balanced. Perfect.
"Oh! Is he the new one? Is it him?" the brown-haired girl asked.
"Well, technically, yeah," Juenzi said. "I found him lying on the floor. I couldn't just let him starve. Sniff sniff poor guy…"
What the hell?
"He's lying," the redhead snapped.
"He forced you, didn't he? Desperate as always, Juenzi. You're insane."
She really sounded like she didn't like him and honestly, I could see why.
"Fine, fine!" Juenzi waved his hands.
"Truth is —I found him in a huge crater. I swear. He fell from the sky. Not a single injury, not even a scar. Just no memories somehow."
"The first story was more believable," the brown-haired girl frowned.
"Falling from the sky? Seriously? Sure, we all saw the weird light explode, but that's pushing it. Even he looks confused."
And she was right. I did look confused. I was confused. Who in their right mind would buy a story like that?
Except…it's the truth. As much as I know it.
"He's not lying. At least…I don't think so," I muttered.
"I woke up there. That's all I remember."
"See?" the redhead scoffed. "You're just obsessed with your little energy obsession again."
"It's important!" Juenzi argued back instantly.
"If we could tap natural energy directly —imagine the savings! Imagine the money!"
Yeah…
They'd clearly been at this argument before. Dozens of times. Poor girl.
"Does that matter right now?" I said.
"I'm already here, so…might as well help."
"Good! Great! Perfect!" Juenzi beamed. "Just need to grab the drill and we're set. Don't worry about a thing!"
A drill?
And then—
"Wait."
Her voice. Quiet, but heavy. The blonde one.
Her expression didn't waver —serious, proud, and steady.
"I'll come too. We shouldn't overwhelm the newcomer."
After we set off and finally arrived, our paths split. She went her way, we went ours. She didn't say a word the whole time. No questions, no glances, nothing. Like I wasn't even there. Meanwhile, Juenzi just wouldn't shut up —question after question, explanation after explanation. Annoying, but…helpful. At least he was filling the silence.
He told me about this world. About magic. Or mana —same thing. Everyone has a core in their body, like a second heart. It's where life energy flows from, keeping you alive, strong, balanced. You can gain more mana by killing creatures, eating certain fruits, pills, or just… training. Cultivation, he called it. There are so many creatures here I couldn't even try to remember them all.
But mana isn't the only thing. There's also something called Aether. Complicated but has something to do with runes. Aether can't be gathered naturally so you have to consume it. Different runes also mean different powers. Creation, destruction, who knows. I didn't get most of it, honestly.
Still —one thing bothered me.
How do I even sense mana? Do I even have any? I don't feel like I do. Or maybe I just can't tell.
"Where are we going? You said cave, right?
That one looks like it," I said, pointing.
He stopped me. His voice changed —sharper.
"Listen. This isn't an ordinary cave. It's like a small dungeon. That means monsters. Everywhere. And also waiting.
Dungeons form when too much mana gathers. Trapped by heat, lack of oxygen, triggering a small chain reaction, and then boom. Everything inside gets infected, stronger, twisted. The deeper you go, the worse it gets.
I don't know you. You don't know me. But once we're in there, you listen to me. Okay? If you slip, we both die. And if you die, I'll leave you behind. That doesn't make me the villain —it's just survival. We need fifteen minutes for each drill. We have 3 locations total. After that, you're free to go. I'll even give you contacts —people who can help you build a new life. If you survive."
Contacts. A new life.
He says it like he's already sure I'll make it through. Or maybe like it doesn't matter to him either way.
"Fine," I said.
"Lead. I'll follow. I'll fight. I'll survive."
"That's the spirit!" he grinned. "Let's find the first spot."
The cave wasn't natural. Jagged walls glittered with black crystals. The air hung heavy, thick, sharp in the nose. Mana, maybe. Every step echoed like a scream.
We reached the first spot. Crystals arched overhead, humming faintly. The ground uneven, black moss crunching under our boots.
"This is it," he said.
He set the drill down. It came alive, humming, tip glowing blue. The stone shook. Dust rose. The moss shifted.
"Skrrkkhh."
Claws.
Something scraping.
Then —screeches. Eyes opening in the dark. Rats. Not normal rats. They seem bigger. Crystals bursting from their backs.
Teeth glinting like blades.
"I knew the noise would bring them," Juenzi muttered.
The drill kept turning. Fifteen minutes. Just fifteen. Long enough for anything to happen.
"Don't worry," he said quickly.
"They sound close, but it's just echo. Still…careful. The next drilling spot is nearby. Maybe we'll rest first."
Was he nervous? His voice didn't sound steady.
I smirked. "Hope the food's worth it, otherwise I'll drain your natural energy instead." A weak joke, but I had to try.
"Also…since I'm actually starting this conversation, tell me something. About Aether. Can you feel it?"
He blinked, surprised.
"Oh —you talk? Interesting. Well. To feel Aether, you'd need to consume runes. But only someone with no mana at all could do that. Me? Still alive. Still full of mana. So, no experience there. But theoretically speaking…no. You wouldn't feel it. Aether doesn't flow through a core like mana. It merges with you. Becomes part of you.
Let's say I drained all your mana. You'd die —no oxygen, no brain activity. But if you somehow lived and consumed Aether, it would form an artificial core. Stronger, sharper, more defined. Not flowing like blood, but using your nerves instead. You'd need stronger nerves to handle it. Otherwise —it means horrible death. If you survived, though…you wouldn't notice much until you used it. That's why converting mana into Aether is forbidden. Too dangerous."
I leaned back, needing space. His words kept spinning in my head.
"So basically," I muttered, "Aether isn't power. It's… replacement."
My voice dropped.
"No wonder it's forbidden."
"Pretty much," Juenzi shrugged.
"But it's all theory. In reality, you'd be dead long before you got that far."
By the time he finished the third drill, the crystals had turned to liquid. He scooped the glowing pink fluid into a container, eyes sparkling with greed.
It was beautiful, I had to admit. Strange, glowing, and alive almost.
Learning new things about this world should've been exciting.
But all I could think was—
If I hadn't lost my memories…
Would I have already known all this?
"So, we're finished!" Juenzi cheered.
"Expected monsters, but nothing came. Not even one. What a day to be alive!"
The grin on his face was too wide, too greedy.
Typical scientist.
As we left the cave, I thought it was over. But then—
"Shrieeeee!"
The scream tore through the forest. My ears rang, my skull throbbed.
"Argh —damn it!" Juenzi staggered.
"That…that sounded like a Syrithiel! Shit —I wasn't expecting that!" He dropped everything, bags, tools, didn't even care, and bolted.
"What's a Syrithiel?" I yelled, trying to keep up.
"You don't want to know! Fighting one is suicide, especially with you in your state! With memory loss? You'd get us both killed!"
We ran. Through the forest. Trees blurring past —one, two, three, a hundred. My lungs burned.
And then the trees ended.
Before us…grass. Miles and miles of grass. Endless, swaying under the wind. The sky swallowing everything. Too open and too wide. Damn it.
"Skkrii!"
The scream again. But this time much closer..
It was following us.
Of course it was. That dungeon stench of mana clung to us like blood.
"We can't lose it here!" Juenzi gasped.
"Open land? It'll catch us in seconds." His hands shook, eyes wild.
"Think, think, think…there has to be a way…maybe —no, no that's suicide —damn it, damn it!"
He was cracking. Sweating, trembling, muttering to himself.
"It's almost here!" I shouted, but he didn't hear me. Or maybe he did and couldn't process it.
Then—
Crack.
The sound behind us.
I turned. And froze.
A shadow moved out of the trees.
Huge and terrifying.
Black scales jagged like shattered obsidian. Wings sharp as broken glass, sparks hissing at their edges. Horns curling from its skull. And eyes —eyes that burned white, merciless, cold.
The air itself buzzed like it was alive. My skin prickled. Grass bent low like it was bowing. The scent of ozone filled my throat.
Every instinct screamed. Run. But my legs locked.
"Juenzi," I whispered.
"Don't move fast. Slowly—"
But he didn't hear me. He wasn't even trembling. Just…frozen.
Then—
"Fwoom!"
He was gone. Thrown like a ragdoll, crashing somewhere in the grass. Unconscious. Dead? I didn't know.
And I —I was alone.
My chest burned. My whole body burned. Not fire. Something else. Something inside me is tearing itself awake.
Breathing became hard. My skin tingled, hot. Too fucking hot.
The creature stepped closer. Three meters tall. Muscle and scale. Not even a strong one, I realized dimly.
Just an anomaly. And still —more than enough to kill us.
It loomed over me. Looking down. Studying me.
My body screamed. Heat, rising. Like I was on fire from the inside.
What's happening to me?
"Hungry."
…What?
The voice didn't come from it. The sound was inside me.
"Eat him. Eat him. EAT HIM!"
Screaming now. Ferocious. Mad. A voice I didn't know, but one that felt too close.
I staggered.
"What? Who's talking?"
The monster didn't move. Just stared. Almost like it was waiting.
"NO! EAT HIM!"
The voice roared again. My blood felt like it was boiling. My skull splitting.
And then—
The monster's claw slammed down on my shoulder.
"Splrch."
Pain exploded.
"ARGHHHH!"
My shoulder —gone. Crushed into pulp.
I collapsed. My vision shook. I clutched the wound, blood soaking everything, but…I barely felt the pain anymore. Adrenaline numbing me.
Pathetic. I was dying. Just like this.
"NO! I'M HUNGRY!!" The voice again. Loud. Hungry. Rabid.
What was happening to me?
I remembered waking in a crater. Memory gone. Meeting Juenzi. And now —dying in front of some ugly creature.
Maybe if I closed my eyes, it'd be quicker. Maybe it wouldn't hurt.
"Eat…eat…EAT!"
My body jerked. Not me. I didn't tell it to move. My arm stretched forward, hand open, fingers splayed.
The creature tilted its head, almost…puzzled.
My vision blurred. Colors smeared. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't feel.
"EAT! CONSUME!"
The voice shattered everything inside me.
I reached. Further. Further.
And then—
Darkness.
My eyes closed on their own. Consciousness slipping like sand through my fingers.
Maybe dying isn't so bad. And so my eyes closed.
"Eat…eat…lied…"