Night fell, the moon sat like a witness above .
Arden and Verona were seated at the small wooden table. The lantern above them flickered.
Verona smiled gently. "That's nice to hear… you've gotten your memories back."
Arden didn't respond.
Verona studied his face. "But… seeing the look on you right now, it seems it wasn't a good memory."
Arden inhaled slowly, deeply—like he was trying to swallow a storm. "It was indeed… a good memory," he said softly, and he forced a smile that didn't reach anywhere near his eyes. "One that I'm… glad came back."
Verona brightened a little. "Then that means you know your name."
Arden nodded. "My name was Rain."
Verona chuckled. "That's a good name. Then you should drop Arden and use Rain instead. Since you now know who you are."
Arden suddenly stood up. His chair scraped harshly against the floor. He stared at the moon .
"No. Rain was my past."
Verona frowned. "Don't talk like that. You didn't change. You just lost your memory."
Arden's shoulders tightened. He turned around sharply, eyes blazing with something dark.
"You don't get it, do you?" he snapped. "Rain was just a stupid, foolish, naive boy who didn't understand anything. He questioned everything—everything—but still couldn't see the truth right in front of him. He trusted the wrong people. He gave everything, and he got stabbed in the back at the end of it all. That's who Rain is."
His voice cracked a little. Rage and pain mixed.
"And I've left that part of me behind. For me… and for the world… Rain is dead."
Verona's lips parted, shocked. She had never seen that look on him before—like something inside him was burning and freezing at the same time.
Arden exhaled shakily. "I'm sorry I yelled. It was wrong of me to dump my anger on you… after everything you've done."
"No," Verona whispered. "I understand. I truly do. You're in pain… anyone can see that. I know you didn't mean to shout at me."
Arden looked back at the moon again, eyes cold and far away. "There is no one named Rain anymore."
—————
One Week later .
Morning .
Arden stood outside with a small bag strapped to his back.
Verona hovered at the doorway. "Are you sure you know where to go?"
Arden gave her a faint smile. "Yes. I've gotten my memory back, remember? Once I reach the village, I'll know exactly where I need to go. So… you don't have to worry."
"Why wouldn't I worry?" Verona snapped a little—panic showing through her gentle tone. "For the past week you've been disappearing into the forest to train. Now you suddenly say you have some 'work' to do." She clenched her hands. "How can I not worry?"
Arden adjusted the straps of his bag. "I'll be fine. I'll return when my work is done."
He turned.
"Goodbye."
He walked away .
Verona watched his back grow smaller, swallowed by the morning mist. She sighed, long and heavy. "Only God knows what's going on in his mind…"
Then she slowly walked back inside.
—————
Hours Later…
Arden stood in front of the dungeon entrance—dark, cracked, breathing out that same cold air he remembered from before.
"This is where it all started," he muttered, stepping inside.
The interior was pitch black. He paused, reached into his bag, and pulled out a lantern—inside it, six fireflies glowed weakly. He shook it once, and they lit up brighter, casting dim golden circles across the walls.
He walked alone, following the path the Crimson Owl team had taken three weeks ago. Every turn felt like a replay.
Eventually he reached the hall.
Or… what used to be a hall.
The passage was completely blocked with massive fallen rocks, except for one gaping hole in the center.
Arden stared at it for a second. Then he crouched and slipped inside.
The place beyond was bright—crystals embedded in the walls glowed like someone had stuck fragments of frozen lightning there.
Far ahead, he saw movement.
A pack of wolves tearing into flesh. Blood smeared the floor like spilled paint.
And there—right at the center—was the boss. The same beast. Its jaws were drenched in blood, dripping as it tore another chunk from whatever poor creature lay beneath it.
Arden stepped forward, voice echoing through the crystal chamber.
"Quite a feast you're having there."
Every wolf immediately froze. Then slowly, one by one, their heads turned toward him. Red eyes. Dozens.
The boss lifted its head too, blood dripping off its fangs.
Arden stared right back at it.
"Let's finish what we couldn't three weeks ago…"
He tightened his fist.
"You scumbag."
The wolves abandoned the corpse. The boss rose, muscles tensing. Two wolves charged at Arden as one of the leapt in the air .
Arden zipper his bag open and brought out an axe.
He slammed the wolf aside. Blood splashed, coating the axe .
The other wolf came straight at him. Arden sent the axe down. The axe pierced the Wolf's skull. Blood splattered on his face .
He pulled the axe free. Raised his head to look at the rest wolf that stood with the boss .
" Next, " he said coldly.
More wolves surged.
Arden ran straight to them, swinging and smashing, axe flying like lightening . Blood painted the floor and his body.
One wolf latched onto his leg.
Arden glared at the wolf coldy ." It seems you like chewing one legs, huh?"
The wolf whimpered like a frightened pup.
Slash!
Its body fell, head stuck on his leg. He kicked it away.
The wolves didn't stop. He pressed a hand to his leg.
"Heal."
As his leg knitted, another wolf leapt at him.
Slash!
Its head rolled across the floor. Arden removed his hand from his legs."I can heal myself… later. But you furballs come first."
The pack charged .
Arden swung left, right slashing them down blood splattering on the floor, his clothes soaked.
The numbers overwhelmed him and he was being pushed back.
One wolf snapped at his face—he blocked it with the axe, shoved it back. He slashed another wolf.
One bit his shoulder . He grabbed it's head and slammed it on the floor, then he pierced it's head clean through with the axe.
He yelled at the boss ." Are you just going to stand there and watch everything or are you going to scream and call more of your little puppies to protect you ."
A wolf lunged . He raised the axe to block. It bit the axe.
He rolled it sending the wolf flying.
He kept slashing mercilessly, his breath ragged, movements slowing.
Slash!
A wolf lunged and slashed him from behind with it's claw.
The wolf landed on it's feet as it turned to look at Arden growling.
He turned slightly, glaring at it with a scary expression on his face . He spoke coldly." Is that the best you can do ... dog?"
The wolf howled and charged . He raised the axe and sent it down splitting it's head.
" Speak English! Don't howl at me!" he yelled, blood dripping from his axe.
Two more latched onto his legs which made him groan in pain .
Slash!
He slashed them with his axe yelling. " Attack me head on. Don't chew on my legs.. I need them to walk out of here after murdering every single one of you!"
His leg now free he looked up and roared like an injured animal. The boss appeared beside him in a blur of speed .
He swung his fist with full force .
Arden turned in shock as he placed the axe vertically to block the blow.
The wood snapped and split into two .The force sent Arden flying as he slammed into the wall.
Dust rose, cobweb like cracks appeared on the wall.
Arden's eyes dimmed as blood trickled down his head to his eyes . He coughed out blood.
" Damn... think I broke a rib or two."
The boss walked closer . The other wolves watched like they'd left the job to their master.
It stopped in front of Arden and raised it's claw.
Arden laid down . The claw marks scored the wall.
He sat up fast, pulled an injection from his clothes, stabbed it into the boss's hand. It withdrew it's hand .
Arden chuckled. "Got you."
Bam!
The boss kicked him with force that he was sent flying to another wall tumbling and hitting the ground .
He could hardly move. He opened his eyes weakly .
The boss moved towards him slowly, but when the boss stood in front of Arden it's gaze staring down at him.
It fell to it's knees , vomiting blood . It looked confused . It's limbs turned purple slowly.
Arden chuckled and raised a weak hand over himself ."Heal!"
Green light glimmered over his body, then stopped. "I guess that's all I can squeeze out."
He turned to the boss smiling." You can't move those limbs of yours.. so what will you use to fight ."
The boss lunged, teeth sinking into his shoulder. Arden's eyes widened.
" Is it trying to suck out my mana?"
He hit the boss's head with his fist ." Let go.. dog."
But the boss teeth sank deeper .
A sudden pain, shot up his arm like molten metal. Veins pulsed, skin swelling, reddening .
Arden looked at his hand in shock." No.. he isn't sucking out my mana . Is this.... poison ."
Small cuts opened in his sore red hand .
He groaned in pain. His eyes closed slowly, till it shut completely.