The interrogation goes on with no relevant progress. Khael was glad when they let him ask questions for himself, and they gladly answered him reasonably. The conversation continued along with the incident.

He discovered it was something that happened to many people as well. The ones responsible for this are the so-called "Mnemonic Beings." It was a mystery where exactly they would appear. They can be anywhere. But most of the time, in a place like a forest where there is denser ambient mana around. And they will vanish without a trace or any resemblance of existence except for their fallen victims.

"There are indeed some few cases that they can still remember a thing or two from themselves after encountering those damn Mnemonic Beings. And my son, unfortunately, can't even remember a single thing from his life." Baron clenched his fist as a pained expression came over his face.

"There were still a few things we need to consider before releasing you. So we'll appreciate it if you don't do something unnecessary," Baron said. "We took care of your belonging. You can take them back, and maybe it can help you to ————- fe — t- — ke —. Gr— w— — —."

…Huh, I can't hear-

Suddenly, everything seems lost to focus. Khael can't hear anything well. Again, a faint but deafening screech suddenly enveloped his ears. He thought he had already recovered, but somehow… he felt utterly weaker than before…

Not so long, the fatigue ate him away as his consciousness slowly dissipated.

***

The clanking sound of metal seemed so loud in the middle of the silence. Khael blearily opened his eyes with blurred eyesight. And he can't situate his neck or body the way he wants to.

His vision distinguishes a figure doing something on the rails from the very corner of his eye. Even though his whole body fought against him—in contrast, to move freely. He was still eager to know who or what the figure was doing there.

Based on the silhouette, he can distinguish despite the slightly dim surroundings. Khael knew it was the old guard, Grant.

"You should just rest, for now, kid. I'm sorry if we still had you to be restrained here. But don't worry, I had placed some bed of straw on the floor and lent you an old pillow," said Grant. "Please bear the smell for the time being. It was the only pillow I could lend you."

"C-can I-" Khael halted, his mouth agape, not being able to comprehend what he saw.

Bewildered. Khael might be half-awake as of the moment, but what he had just seen was a tiny flicker of light from Grant's very own hands. But then… his body was already forcing him to take a rest as his eyes slowly shut down, and he fell into slumber.

***

The noon had dawned, which brought a hot atmosphere to the room. Now, Khael felt a lot better than before as he woke up on a bed of straw, unlike the first time on a hard, cold floor. His surroundings now were more apparent. The parts of the room were observable with the help of sunlight passing through the semi-circle window.

Too early in the morning, right after he just woke up, Grant passes by in an instant just to tell him to wait for someone to take him to where the cafeteria is. There's no need to know why. Khael knows we won't last any longer if he does not get something to eat this time.

After that, Grant will take him to have a thorough discussion with the Sergeant regarding what they should do in his case.

There's still some throbbing pain in some parts of his body. He was fortunate to recover some of his physical strength but still unfortunate as he hadn't yet regained his memories.

Not too long, an unfamiliar guard arrived. The guard was covered in silver armor throughout his body. It might not be visible, but it seems the guard was physically built well—based on the broadness of his figure. Khael was still bothered on that matter, but what bothered him more was something he wasn't expecting to see again.

He was astonished when a flicker of light released in the guard's palm. A sound of 'clang' indicates that the railing was now unlocked. "Khael, right? Follow me. I'll take you to the cafeteria." said the unfamiliar guard.

Speechless. Khael just followed him. His thoughts were filled with strange things he encountered. For him—those are supposedly not normal. He was shocked but not bothered at all, as if something influenced him that everything was as it was.

…

Eventually, they arrived in a hall where the so-called cafeteria was located, aside from the unpleasant heat caused by the sultry weather. The place was disappointingly in poor condition.

It was already terrible at first glance, but as he looked thoroughly… it became worse. The dirt and thick layer of dust are visible anywhere. The tables are unstably hanging on their own—which tells that the rest are eating on the floor instead.

Khael was not being too captious. For him, it was just not pleasant to eat in such a place.

After all, what would he expect from such a place where a prisoner like him eats? Khael just set aside his worries as he made his way into the pile where the rest were lining up to get their ration. For being last on the queue, there's still a lot of time before his turn comes.

Khael was lost in thoughts along the long queue in the line—staring solemnly in front of him, aimlessly. Asked in his mind—How did I end up in this place? And why… no… who was am I..?

He then carelessly steps forward—and bumps into the person in front of him. They both stumbled and struggled to maintain their balance. "S-Sorry… are you fine?" Khael asked the person he bumped into. But the person did not even budge to turn around and just walked along the line.

Khael felt worried and guilty about his carelessness. And then, somehow… his gaze got attracted to a portrait on a nearby pillar. He was enthralled for an unknown reason, as if it was calling for him.

He did not mind the spot he left. Khael mindlessly walked straight into the portrait and studied it thoroughly. It was an old wooden frame attached to the pillar that seemed simplistic—but had something that made it alluring to him.

The portrait was drawn well; the details are realistic, portraying pleasant countryside scenery. But the main feature of it was a young woman. For him, her appearance fascinates him. At first, he thought he knew her. How strange was that? Khael thought to himself.

"Are you sure it's fine to leave your spot like that?" A voice out of nowhere startled him, but it somehow made him back to his senses. "This portrait is alluring, don't you agree?" said Grant, but his expression contrasts with how he describes it.

"I-I agree. The place in the background brings a nostalgic feeling. Even though I do not know where that is…," said Khael. "It looks oddly familiar to me."

In the corner of his sight, Khael noticed the inquisitive stare of the old guard. "Of course… I wasn't still able to regain my memories yet. That's just what I feel about it." Khael added.

"Don't worry, I'll do what I can to help you with-" Grant halted as he noticed Khael being drawn further in the portrait. "Uh, you sure had liked the portrait, huh?"

"Ah… pardon me… It's just that… I thought I had seen this woman before. Or her face was that you'll unconsciously say that she was familiar, even though she's not." Khael laughed awkwardly but seeing the old guard's expression made him think he might have said something he shouldn't.

"Khael… d-did you just say, "Grant looks nonplussed, stuttering on his words.

"Did I say something wrong?" Khael said worriedly.

"Did you say that… that woman looks familiar to you??"

"I didn't mean it like that. I'm probably just talking nonsense. Don't mind me," Khael nervously said as the conversation suddenly felt uneasy. "Tell me, is there something wrong with anything I'd said earlier?"

"Khael… that woman in the portrait, Astelta. You said she somehow looks familiar to you, right?" Grant whispers as if not letting others hear what he says. "But look at the portrait… look at it carefully. The woman there… doesn't have a face. The portrait was drawn like that!"

Huh? …What the hell is this old man saying? Why he's telling me that the woman in the portrait didn't have a face? When it was... ah...

Khael doesn't even know how he'd react. He has inexplicably mistaken what he saw until someone made him realize it. The old guard was right. The portrait was drawn like what he had told it. There's a blank shade on the woman's face and no distinct appearance.

Khael felt chill and wondered whose appearance he pictured.

What he felt at the moment was undefinable. And then... the emptiness he had felt the first time he became aware of himself, slowly vanishing along with the resurfacing memories he had longed for.

Khael was overwhelmed more than being glad by the overlapping memories. It made his head feel like it was being drilled forcefully by information. The life he had, the memories he longed to regain for the entire time. But there's something different...

"—ther, can you tell me what my name is?" It was solely a voice that seemed familiar. Nothing can be seen as if he was listening to a nearby conversation. "—did my son forget his name?" said another voice that seemed from a woman. Her alluring voice resonates with a nostalgic feeling within.

"It's not like that. Of course, I know my name. But I'm kind of confused," the conversation continues in his mind. Khael felt like he was floating in an unknown space where nothing can be perceived. "—confused? Why then? Come on, tell me… if something bothers my sweet and kind—"

"—is my name, right? But why did they call me Khael? T-those people in my dream… they always called me by that name."