[NARRATOR POV]
Two and a half months had passed since the incident with the Holy Beast, time stretching languidly under the constant patter of rain against the wooden structures of the Dedoldia village.
One particular afternoon, the Holy Beast sluggishly padded into Rudeus's room, its claws clicking softly against the wooden floor.
The creature's fur was damp from the perpetual rain, carrying the earthy scent of the Great Forest with it.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Lord Holy Beast," Rudeus said, looking up from his work. "Did you have some business with this sex beast?" He couldn't help but make the crude joke, though no one was around to appreciate it.
"Wan," the beast replied simply, its intelligent eyes reflecting the dim light of the room.
"Two," Rudeus countered, as if they were having a proper conversation.
"Wan," the beast repeated, seemingly ignoring him.
Whether male or female—Rudeus couldn't tell—the Lord Holy Beast approached and settled beside him, its body radiating a gentle warmth in the otherwise cool room. The beast's presence was oddly comforting, despite Rudeus's initial surprise at being chosen as its companion.
Currently in Rudeus's hands was a figure taking shape beneath his fingers. With the endless rain trapping them in the village, he'd taken to crafting to pass the time.
The subject of his current project was none other than Ruijerd.
An outside observer might question this choice, but Rudeus had his reasons. The Superd race was feared and misunderstood, their green hair triggering terror in those who recognized its significance.
Yet these stone figures Rudeus crafted bore no color—just solid grey representations. Perhaps, he thought, if he could make this doll appear noble and dignified, it might in some small way help others see beyond their prejudice.
He was working on the silhouette now, saving the distinctive hair for last. The clay was cool and malleable between his fingers, taking shape with each careful touch.
"Won!" The Holy Beast shifted closer, pressing its body against Rudeus's thigh before resting its head on his lap. The warmth and weight were unfamiliar sensations—no animal had ever approached Rudeus so trustingly before.
"Uon?" The beast gazed up at his hands with evident curiosity, its eyes tracking each movement of his fingers across the clay figure.
It was like a puppy, Rudeus realized—a divine, sacred puppy, but with a demeanor that matched its youthful appearance. Tentatively, he reached down to stroke the area around its neck, fingers sinking into the surprisingly soft fur.
"There's nothing to do during this endless rain, so I decided to make something," he explained, as if the beast could understand.
"Wan." Its warm tongue darted out to lick his hand while its tail swept back and forth across the floor in obvious pleasure.
It seems I'm not hated, Rudeus thought, surprised at how pleasant the interaction felt. With the rain showing no signs of letting up, the beast must be as bored as he was. I don't know where it's been hiding these past two months, but it specifically sought me out. It must be looking for some kind of stimulation.
"Shall we play?" he offered.
"Wan!" The enthusiastic response was immediate.
Soon enough, Rudeus found himself rolling around with the Lord Holy Beast, engaging in moderate exercise that left both of them pleasantly tired.
It was a simple joy—unexpected but welcome. A rare win-win relationship in his otherwise complicated existence.
Knock, knock.
The sound at the door interrupted their play. Rudeus straightened his clothes, suddenly aware of how undignified he must look.
"Hm? Come in," he called.
"Please excuse me. I could smell the Lord Holy Beast coming from here... Ah." The door swung open to reveal a woman dressed in the distinctive outfit of a village warrior. It was the female guard who had confronted him before—the big sister guard, as Rudeus had come to think of her.
"Ah, greetings. It's been a while," Rudeus said with a polite bow of his head, watching as her face drained of color upon seeing him.
"Ah, yes, greetings. It has been a while," she replied stiffly.
This was the woman who had thrown cold water on him and berated him with harsh words. Rudeus realized he hadn't seen her in the two months since that incident. He wondered where she had been all this time.
"I'm sorry about that time," she said suddenly, bowing deeply. "Please forgive my rudeness."
"No, it's fine. That matter has already been resolved," Rudeus replied, surprised by her formal apology.
"However, even though it was a misunderstanding, I subjected you to that kind of treatment..." Her face grew even paler, almost ghostly in the dim light of the room.
"That kind of treatment was just being stripped and having cold water thrown at me," Rudeus said dismissively, though he noticed her complexion turn even more ashen.
"I'm very sorry. Please... forgive me." Her voice trembled slightly.
Rudeus remembered then—to the beast race, being stripped naked and doused with cold water was considered deeply humiliating. What he had dismissed as a minor inconvenience was, to her, a grave offense she had committed.
"I had heard at that time that you were a person who had done something sexually cruel to the Lord Holy Beast," she explained, her eyes downcast.
"Of course, that was a false charge. You've heard the truth by now, right?" Rudeus asked.
"Ah, yes, of course." She nodded quickly, then glanced back and forth between him and the Holy Beast. Currently, the creature was using Rudeus as a pillow while licking his hand affectionately—a scene that clearly bewildered her.
"The things from that time couldn't be helped," Rudeus continued, noting her discomfort. "I'm not angry about it. Although, I would have appreciated at least one apology earlier."
"That is... umm, I'm really sorry. I was told to try my best to avoid meeting with Master Rudeus by Lord Gyes," she admitted.
Ah, so that was the case after all, Rudeus thought. If the actual perpetrator of a crime was before your eyes, you'd naturally want revenge. Gyes's judgment to keep them separated had been correct.
"Then, if you were told not to encounter me, why are you here now?" Rudeus asked.
"Umm, that is, the Lord Holy Beast went missing, so I followed its scent, and the trail led here."
"Won!" The beast barked cheerfully, seemingly unconcerned by the tension between the humans.
The female warrior was visibly nervous, a fine sheen of sweat forming on her brow. Rudeus wanted to tell her not to be so afraid.
Gyes had apologized thoroughly, and that was enough for him. After the rainy season ended, Gyes had even offered compensation—a cart and payment for their troubles. Rudeus had only spent a week in prison, which he considered fortunate given the circumstances.
The truth was, Rudeus wasn't particularly bothered by the incident. The cold water and accusations of perversion were just another strange memory in his unusual life.
He was certain that in the future, if something awakened inside him, he'd be able to accept that aspect of himself with more grace.
"Come to think of it," he said, changing the subject, "after the rainy season ends, you're getting married, aren't you? Congratulations."
His words only made the female warrior tremble more visibly. She had interpreted his comment as sarcasm, though Rudeus had genuinely meant it as a simple blessing.
"Umm, what would I have to do to be forgiven by you?" she asked, her voice small.
Hmm, Rudeus thought. She's misunderstanding something. Yet he couldn't deny the pleasurable feeling of superiority that washed over him. Is this that NTR sort of thing?
Nfufu.
Perhaps I should have her get naked and crawl on all fours, he thought darkly, before checking himself. No, that kind of thing isn't good.
Gyes had asked him to let the matter go, and he didn't know when Eris and Ruijerd would return. He considered what kind of punishment might be appropriate.
Stripping her would be unacceptable, as would throwing cold water.
Then how about I put on only a white t-shirt, hit you with a water technique—a water gun—and cover you in lukewarm water?
Wah, I'm a genius, he congratulated himself internally.
"Wan!" Suddenly, the Lord Holy Beast moved to stand protectively in front of the female warrior, glaring at Rudeus with unexpected intensity.
What's with that look? Rudeus thought, taken aback. It's just a joke, don't be mad.
"I've already received a proper apology," he said aloud, relenting. "Since that's the case, I don't need anything more."
Relief washed over the warrior's face, and she exhaled a long-held breath. "Thank you very much."
But as soon as that exchange concluded, her expression hardened, and she fixed Rudeus with a stern look. "More than that, Rudeus-dono, I would prefer if you didn't take the Lord Holy Beast out at your own convenience."
"What? I never took it anywhere," he protested. Great, more false accusations. You really aren't reflecting on your mistakes, are you? If you're not careful with your words, next time you'll be the one naked in prison while I throw water.
"If that's the case, then who took it out?" she demanded. "The Lord Holy Beast cannot leave the Holy Tree on its own."
"Ho. Then please explain it to me clearly," Rudeus said, genuinely curious now.
She proceeded to explain that the Lord Holy Beast was a magical creature born only once every several hundred years, with no formal name.
According to ancient lore, its appearance heralded an approaching world crisis. Once the beast reached adulthood, it would embark on a journey with a hero to save the world from that impending catastrophe.
For this reason, the Holy Beast was kept within a barrier in the roots of the Holy Tree at the heart of the Dedoldia village, carefully raised and protected.
It was a sheltered existence, keeping the innocent creature safe from the harsh outside world.
Incidentally, it would take approximately another century for the Lord Holy Beast to reach adulthood. If the legends were true, a great crisis would befall the world a hundred years from now.
This female warrior, it seemed, was primarily responsible for protecting the Lord Holy Beast. That explained why Rudeus had never encountered her during his walks around the village—she was guarding the sacred creature in the inner sanctum.
"Wan!" The Lord Holy Beast suddenly barked loudly, startling both humans.
The female warrior's eyes widened in surprise. "Eh! What did you say?"
Eh? What? Rudeus was equally confused.
"Won!"
"I see, but..."
"Wan!"
"I understand."
Why are you having a normal conversation with a dog? Rudeus wondered. The Lord Holy Beast isn't speaking in the Beast God's language, is it? How do you understand the different barks? Are you using some kind of animal translator?
Though filled with questions, Rudeus kept them to himself.
"The Lord Holy Beast says you are unrelated to its escapes," the warrior translated.
"Right?" Rudeus nodded.
"I'd like you to say more than that," he added when she remained silent.
"The Lord Holy Beast thanks you, Rudeus-dono," she finally said.
"Ho, I could have sworn I had been completely forgotten after being abandoned in prison," he remarked dryly.
"Wan!" The beast protested loudly.
"The Lord Holy Beast says, 'That's rude. I properly told them to send you good-tasting food. I had heard that Master Rudeus was enjoying the food quite a bit as well?'"
That's right, Rudeus realized. The food was surprisingly good. I even received seconds, which seemed strange for prison fare. So that had been at the Holy Beast's insistence. Still, for the creature's first thought of gratitude to be about food... in the end, it really was still a dog at heart.
"However, I would have preferred to be let out of prison," Rudeus pointed out.
"Wan?!" The beast seemed genuinely confused.
"Prison is a place where you lock up bad guys," Rudeus explained.
"Wan!" The beast barked indignantly, seeming to say, I also get locked up!
The conversation continued with the female warrior translating between them. Through this unusual exchange, Rudeus discovered that the Lord Holy Beast had been largely ignorant of the details surrounding the incident.
It hadn't understood that Rudeus was emitting a scent of arousal, nor did it comprehend why Gyes had imprisoned him.
The beast couldn't grasp the concept of imprisonment beyond recognizing that something scary had happened. In essence, it was still a child—innocent and oblivious to adult concerns.
Expecting it to understand such complicated matters was unreasonable.
"Thanks to the Lord Holy Beast, I was able to experience a pleasant lifestyle in prison," Rudeus said sincerely. "Thank you very much."
At his words of gratitude, the beast's tail began wagging enthusiastically, and it licked his face in affection. Nfufu, Rudeus thought, what a cute fellow. He enjoyed stroking its neck, only to be pushed down playfully by the excited creature.
Ahn, you can't, he thought. People are watching...
"Rudeus-dono," the warrior interjected sternly, "the Lord Holy Beast is sacred. Could you refrain from being so familiar and attached?"
"You're mistaken," Rudeus said with a mischievous glint in his eye. "The scent of my arousal is aimed at you."
"Huh?!" Her face flushed crimson.
"Excuse me, it's nothing at all," he backpedaled quickly, realizing he'd let a bit of his true nature slip.
"Cough Now then, Lord Holy Beast. Let's return home to the Holy Tree," the warrior said, composing herself.
"Wan!!" The beast nodded obediently and followed her out.
In the days that followed, the Holy Beast's ability to escape became a serious concern for the beast race. Despite their efforts, they couldn't identify who was helping it leave its sanctuary.
Given the recent abduction attempt, the escorts were increasingly on edge.
Strangely enough, the Lord Holy Beast continued to appear at Rudeus's side multiple times. After the second occurrence, suspicion naturally fell on him.
Fortunately, when one incident happened, Rudeus had been observing a drinking contest between Ruijerd and Gustav—despite not consuming alcohol himself, he had enjoyed something akin to walnuts. His alibi was solid.
As a magician capable of freezing the entire village, Rudeus might theoretically have some method of freeing the beast from a distance, but Gustav vouched for him, dispelling the doubts.
Adding more false accusations to the record would serve no purpose.
To avoid further suspicion, Rudeus initially tried staying close to Ruijerd, Gustav, and Eris, but eventually gave up and decided to remain near Gyes instead.
As warrior chief and head of security, Gyes's presence provided the most bulletproof alibi.
Meanwhile, Claude continued training the beast warriors, including Gyes himself. Since his meditative enlightenment, Claude had become less harsh—causing less damage and providing more guidance. However, his presence still commanded respect and a certain wariness.
Gyes remained busy every day, but having him as an alibi proved most efficient for Rudeus.
"I was under the impression that I was hated by Rudeus-dono," Gyes remarked after Rudeus had shadowed him for an entire day.
"You don't need to worry about that," Rudeus replied casually. "The next time you have a daughter, just give her to me."
"Do you really want to pledge marriage vows to a daughter of mine?" Gyes asked, raising an eyebrow.
"No, it was just a simple joke," Rudeus assured him. "Oh, excuse me, did I emit the scent of arousal?"
Gyes sniffed the air. "Sunsun? There's no such smell."
"I see, then this amount is alright." Rudeus nodded, satisfied. Unless there was a female nearby, his desires remained dormant. If they weren't in his field of vision, there was no cause for concern.
"This is something I've come to understand over the last month," Gyes continued. "Master Rudeus is rather mature. Even though you're still young, Master Ruijerd recognizes you as a warrior."
"What's with the sudden praise?" Rudeus asked, uncomfortable with the unexpected compliment.
"In the beginning, I just thought you were some sheetty brat depending on Master Ruijerd and doing whatever you liked," Gyes admitted frankly.
He puts it well, Rudeus thought. Well, it's not entirely wrong.
"Your magic skills far exceeded what I imagined," Gyes continued. "To freeze the entire forest during the rainy season is something I could only have imagined in a fairy tale."
"Fuu, my teacher is even more amazing," Rudeus replied, instinctively praising Roxy. No matter how much he lauded her, it never felt sufficient.
"And more than anything," Gyes added, "you hold that much power, yet you didn't seek revenge against our Dedoldia race even after being treated so poorly."
Rudeus considered this. It was true, but as Ruijerd had pointed out, Rudeus had let his guard down. Both sides had reason for reflection.
"This place is Ghislaine's hometown as well," Rudeus said instead.
"What did Ghislaine say about this village?" Gyes asked, curious.
"No, she didn't really mention anything specific," Rudeus replied. In truth, Ghislaine hadn't seemed particularly fond of the Great Forest, often grimacing when teaching him the Beast God's language.
"Who wouldn't want to get along with the family of a respected teacher?" Rudeus added diplomatically.
"Is it fine if I apologize once again?" Gyes offered.
"I don't need that prostration at all," Rudeus assured him. "Rather than that, please give me the right to lay my hands on Minitona-chan." He couldn't resist the jest.
"If Master Rudeus plans to consider my daughter properly and seriously as a partner, I wouldn't particularly mind," Gyes replied, surprisingly serious.
"Eh?!" Rudeus was genuinely shocked. Did that mean he had permission to pursue the cat-eared girl?
No, no, he chided himself. We're having a good conversation. You sheetty NEET, stay down.
"Of course, I'm joking," Rudeus clarified quickly. "Eris would probably get angry as well."
"Just now, a bit of the scent of arousal appeared," Gyes noted.
"That can't be helped. That would be because of Gyes-san's careless statement. Let it go," Rudeus said defensively.
"I see... I'm sorry about that," Gyes apologized, looking amused.
Really, Rudeus thought. I have a proper promise with Eris. Fifteen years old—another four years to wait. If he could be patient for four more years, paradise awaited him.
Speaking of promises, he had made one with Sylphy as well...
I wonder how Sylphy is doing now, he thought, his mind drifting. They are most likely doing well. I hope she's doing well... It would be good if she wasn't being bullied over her hair anymore... I wonder where she was sent to...
"And it seems like it's come today as well," Gyes's voice broke into his thoughts.
The Lord Holy Beast had appeared once again, seemingly out of nowhere.
"Ku... What in the world are the escorts doing?!" Gyes growled, grinding his teeth in frustration.
The beast barked cheerfully at Rudeus, who responded by stroking its head affectionately.
"Could it be that it's escaping on its own?" Rudeus suggested.
"No, there's no mistake that someone is helping it," Gyes replied, watching the beast with troubled eyes.
Someone within their own ranks was responsible, yet everyone seemed to have an alibi. It was unsettling.
"Should Ruijerd and I investigate?" Rudeus offered. "We could solve this quickly with Ruijerd's eye."
"No," Gyes declined firmly. "The protection of the Lord Holy Beast is a matter of pride for the Dedoldia race. We can't allow outsiders to interfere."
"Even though defending the village is fine?" Rudeus questioned, perplexed by the distinction.
"This and that are different matters," Gyes insisted.
Defending the village was acceptable, but investigating the Holy Beast's escapes was off-limits. Rudeus couldn't quite follow the logic, but accepted it as a cultural difference.
"If it's managed to escape this many times, it's concerning," Rudeus pointed out. "It's manageable during the rainy season, but after it ends, what if the beast is abducted again? Even within the village, it could be attacked by monsters in the worst case."
"That's probably right," Gyes admitted, his expression hardening with worry.
"Since it seems the Lord Holy Beast is escaping to meet me, what if I visit it every day?" Rudeus suggested. "Wouldn't that solve the problem?"
"That... However... Hmmm." Gyes hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of an outsider approaching the Holy Tree regularly.
Seeing his reluctance, Rudeus refined his proposal. "Well then, how about meeting near the Holy Tree and taking it for walks before someone else can spirit it away? If we do that with an escort present, there would be no need to worry about unauthorized excursions."
"Wouldn't that be getting our priorities backward?" Gyes asked skeptically.
"I think it seems better than having even a moment where you don't know the Lord Holy Beast's location," Rudeus countered.
Gyes fell silent, considering the suggestion carefully.
"You're troubled by me," Rudeus observed, "but what about Claude?"
Gyes seemed startled by the comparison, suddenly remembering that Claude was roughly the same age as his daughter. Despite Claude's eccentricities, he was still technically a minor.
"Well, that's different," Gyes said slowly. "He's not like you; he smells like a beast in human skin..."
"What do you mean?" Rudeus asked, genuinely curious.
"He smells like Master Ruijerd," Gyes explained.
"Huh?" Rudeus was confused by the comparison.
"It's difficult to explain," Gyes admitted. "You could say it's instinctual. By instinct, we can sense whether a person poses a danger. The same way we detect your arousal..."
That's a strange example, Rudeus thought.
"Do you mean it's connected with bloodlust, as Ruijerd often mentions?" Rudeus asked.
"Yes," Gyes nodded. "Claude looks prepared to murder anyone who disobeys him. He has the bearing of a beast king."
"Hoho... That's interesting," Rudeus murmured.
"It's odd to describe," Gyes continued, "but I sense danger from him. He reeks of it."
"Didn't you warriors think you could defeat him as a group?" Rudeus asked.
"No, we can't," Gyes said with surprising certainty.
"What makes you so sure?"
"We've trained with him—or rather, been beaten by him," Gyes clarified. "I can feel his wrath. He might not openly blame us for what happened, but the feeling is there."
"For what deaths?" Rudeus asked, before realization dawned. "Ah, Somar's parents..."
Gyes's expression darkened. "Not just that. The fact that Master Rudeus nearly fainted during the incident might be another reason. We wanted to retaliate during our second training session, but Claude is extraordinarily difficult to handle—especially with his time magic. His combat style is specifically designed for fighting multiple opponents simultaneously."
Ah, that's from his experience in the dungeon, Rudeus realized.
"In one-on-one combat, we can't defeat a saint-ranked swordsman," Gyes continued soberly. "And in group battles, we can't overcome a magic swordsman of his caliber. It's a hard truth we must accept."
"I see..." Rudeus nodded, understanding the predicament.
"Even so, since his enlightenment, Master Claude has become kinder," Gyes added.
"Ah, yes... that was his normal attitude in the past, so I just see it as typical behavior," Rudeus replied. The changes in Claude were subtle to those who didn't know him well.
"I see. It seems his experience in the dungeon was beyond what we can imagine," Gyes mused. To heal the wounds of the soul, Claude had been forced to confront painful memories and still move forward.
"How can my disciple become stronger than me in just a few years?" Rudeus wondered aloud. "It hurts my pride."
"Ah, right... You're Claude's magic mentor, aren't you?" Gyes recalled. "Then, your father must be even stronger, Rudeus-dono?"
"No," Rudeus shook his head. "Ghislaine is stronger than him. I'd wager my father is already weaker than Claude by now."
For nearly two weeks afterward, Rudeus lived alongside and played with the Lord Holy Beast. They never identified who had been helping it escape, though the disappearances eventually ceased.
Incidentally, the escort was furious when she discovered Rudeus had taught the sacred creature to offer its paw on command—a secret Rudeus kept to himself.
Meanwhile, Claude continued his rigorous training regimen with undiminished zeal. How he avoided growing tired of daily training was beyond Rudeus's comprehension. Even Claude's idea of relaxation involved sparring with the beast warriors.
Even Ruijerd expressed amazement at Claude's dedication. Though his goal of crafting a weapon as formidable as Ruijerd's heirloom remained unfulfilled, Claude's progress was undeniable.
His mastery of magic improved steadily, and his swordsmanship reached new heights.
Claude could already defeat the saint-ranked smuggler without effort, but now his prowess had grown to the point where even a glance from him seemed threatening. This wasn't to say he had reached the King rank in swordsmanship, but his unique combination of magic and weaponry had become formidable beyond what most ordinary fighters could handle.
Ruijerd's constant praise of Claude's abilities had begun to grate on Rudeus's ears, though he couldn't deny the truth of it.
Three months had passed since their arrival in the Great Forest, marked by various incidents and developments.
And finally, the rain had stopped.
[CLAUDE POV]
I sat cross-legged on the damp earth, feeling the unfamiliar sensation of sunshine warming my skin after three long months of perpetual rain.
The forest around us seemed to exhale with relief, steam rising from the saturated ground as sunlight filtered through the canopy for the first time since our arrival.
The cessation of rain meant one thing: our departure was imminent.
My hands moved automatically over the hilt of my sword, checking the bindings one final time. Though my goal of creating a weapon to rival Ruijerd's had fallen short, I'd made significant progress.
The knowledge accumulated from countless iterations—memories of failures and successes from other versions of myself—had proven valuable, even if incomplete.
A fragment of memory surfaced—another Claude in another timeline, dying in this very forest, torn apart by beasts he'd failed to detect. I closed my eyes, pushing away the visceral sensation of fangs piercing flesh that wasn't yet mine.
These memory echoes had been particularly strong during our time in the Great Forest, as if proximity to the locations where alternate versions of me had perished strengthened their pull.
"Ready to depart, Master Claude?" one of the beast warriors called, interrupting my dark reverie.
I nodded, rising to my feet. "More than ready."
The training sessions had been necessary—both for them and for me. While ostensibly helping the Dedoldia warriors improve their combat skills, I had been working through my own failures.
Each training session was penance for not preventing the teleportation catastrophe that had scattered our companions across the world.
Every bruise I inflicted, every harsh lesson I taught, was a manifestation of my frustration at my own limitations.
You knew it was coming. You had the knowledge. And still, you failed.
I caught sight of Rudeus across the gathering area, his expression thoughtful as he stroked the Lord Holy Beast one final time.
Something about his gentle interaction with the creature made my chest tighten. Despite all his perversions and flaws, Rudeus possessed a fundamental kindness I sometimes feared I had lost.
The memories crowding my mind—memories of lives I'd never actually lived—sometimes made it difficult to distinguish my true self from the echoes of other Claudes.
Each had died with regrets, each had failed in their own way, and now their collective weight rested on my shoulders.
"We will remember your teachings, Master Claude," Gyes approached, offering a formal bow. "Though your methods were harsh, our warriors are stronger for it."
I returned the bow, deeper than necessary. "The harshness was sometimes excessive. I apologize for that."
Gyes seemed surprised by my contrition. "There is no need. We understand that great strength requires great discipline."
If only you knew, I thought. The discipline wasn't for you—it was for me. To keep the fragments of myself from splintering apart completely.
"The North Port is still our destination?" I asked, changing the subject.
"Yes. We've prepared guides to take you safely through the forest paths. The journey should take approximately one week with favorable conditions."
One week closer to finding the others separated by the teleportation disaster—if they still lived. One week closer to confronting whether my fragmented foreknowledge would be enough to navigate this altered timeline.
As we prepared to depart, I caught Ruijerd watching me with that penetrating gaze of his third eye.
"Your burden is heavy," he said simply when I approached him.
I didn't pretend to misunderstand. "Yes."
"You carry memories that are not yours."
My breath caught. How much did he perceive? The Superd warrior's third eye saw beyond physical appearances, but could it truly detect the fractured nature of my consciousness?
"We all carry burdens," I deflected.
Ruijerd nodded slowly. "True. But not all burdens are meant to be carried alone."
Before I could respond, Eris bounded up, vibrating with excitement at finally leaving the village. "Are we going now? Finally!"
Her energy was infectious, and I found myself smiling despite the weight in my chest. Perhaps Ruijerd was right.
Perhaps the path forward wasn't to shoulder these memories alone but to forge new connections in this timeline—connections strong enough to withstand the coming storms.
As we set out beneath the clearing skies, I cast one last glance at the Dedoldia village. Another memory fragment surfaced—in some other timeline, we had never made it this far. In that iteration, we had all died here.
But not this time. This time, we moved forward.
The path ahead was uncertain, mapped incompletely by contradictory memories from lives I hadn't lived. But for now, at least, we were together. We were alive.
And perhaps that was enough to begin with.
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