Dessia leans a little toward him with a worried expression. "Pardon me. You seem to be affected by the veil I cast. Should I tone it down a little?" the old woman gestured her hand on her chin. "Though I'm afraid if I make it weaker—it'll not be enough to prevent someone from hearing our conversation."

Khael was half perturbed by almost forgetting that there was such a thing as magic in this world. He was aware but not wholly convinced throughout the strange occurrences he encountered.

He thought those were just a product of imaginative ideas humans came up with. But here… the reality itself was the manifestation of something he never thought would be real. But he still has to be careful. Khael had decided not to reveal for now to anyone that he had already regained his memories.

"I'm fine, so… what do you want to discuss with me?"

"Right, let me get to the point. How much of your memory you can still remember?"

Khael expected this question, but he wasn't expecting it to be asked immediately. The old woman's gaze had met his astounded eyes. "Forgive me. I know how frustrating and terrifying your condition was," Dessia paused as she took a deep breath. "Many people had fallen victim to those Mnemonic Beings. I know many of them. And I know how terrifying that is..."

She was at least considerate and sensitive enough to take his reaction at being worried at most. Khael had to commend her attitude for that. And then Dessia Adhilla took something from her long dress pocket and directly handed it to him. It was a piece of trim, hand-carved wood. Khael was amazed as he mistook it for a monochrome photo.

The drawing on the small canvas was simplistically drawn with pure fine details. There were two people drawn in it; an adorable girl and a charismatic-looking boy.

"That charming little girl was me," said Dessia as an overly proud grin formed on her face.

"It doesn't seem a surprise," Khael retorted back with flattery. "So, what was the purpose of you showing me this?" he added with curious intent.

A pleasant smile formed on her face. "It's been almost five decades since my father drew this portrait of mine and this cheeky boy… Grant."

"I-Is that him?" Khael stuttered in astonishment.

Dessia chuckled. "Yes, that's him. It never gets old having to see the same reaction every time someone sees Grant when he was young. He really is handsome back then. What a waste," but then her cheerful demeanor abruptly changed. It was not as if she had done something strange again. It was only her short queer silence that made the atmosphere denser. "Khael… even I. I-I can't seem to believe that this little girl was me."

"…Pardon?" Khael probed.

"The memories I had until that day. Almost half of my lifetime of memories amounted to that had vanished and never been able to regain anymore."

"Don't tell me…."

"Grant already told you, right? You might have encountered the Mnemonic Beings and had your memories stolen, just like the rest."

"That's right, that's what they had told me," Khael answered. His intuition tells him that there's something more behind her words. He has to find out more about this. Dessia Adhilla seems somewhat trustworthy, at the least for him.

"It seems we have little time remaining now. Forgive me for this, but I need to know how much of your memories had been lost," said Dessia earnestly. "Is it everything? Or there was anything you still able to remember?"

Khael felt the sense of urgency in her voice. Was he right about having a notion that there was something more to this? Perhaps telling her half of the truth should be fine. And so he decided. "Everything… everything besides my name. I know it was strange… but that's what I can explain only even to myself so far."

"Besides your name? Were you able to remember anything aside from that?"

"Nothing," he answers clearly.

"Is that so?" she said. "Then… we might have been right that you were a unique case."

"Huh? What do you mean by that??"

"I would like to answer the questions you have in your mind now. But we don't have time for now," Dessia mumbles, something Khael couldn't discern. "Even if it's just a frail one, it would be too suspicious if they sensed the veil I made. It sucks that this is the extent of my skill in this branch."

Suddenly, the heavy atmosphere had trickled. It feels like Khael's whole body was freed from something heavy weighing on him the entire time they're talking. His breathing reverted to normal, and the strange ethereal presence he felt as if someone or something was floating around him. And it seems that its very existence became weaker but not entirely disappeared.

"Khael, come with me. If you choose to trust me, I'll protect you in any way."

Khael was startled. "To protect me? To what-" he halted as soon as he realized what she had meant by that. "D-Do you mean… I was in danger??"

"We hope that wasn't the case. Grant told you something about 'her', right?" Dessia frowned, and her face traced with worry and uncertainty. "So, what was your answer?"

"'Her'? C-Can I at least think about it first?" Khael inquired. He doesn't want to make himself look desperate for help. Though he badly needed her help to figure out everything he needed to know about himself or relatively into this world.

"That should be fine. Does until tomorrow enough for you?"

"I think that was enough for me," Khael responded.

"Someone's coming," then the old woman leaned closer to him as she whispered. "Khael, heed this warning of mine. Whatever they ask, don't ever tell anything about 'her'. Or even if you don't know, just don't mention anything related to Astelta."

Shortly, they heard a firm knock coming from the other side of the metallic door. As it opened, it revealed a person six feet tall with a manly and intimidating appearance. It was the Sergeant, Baron Gelfand.

"Pardon my intrusion," the sergeant gave a decent bow to the person in front of him. "It's been so long, lady Des-"

"Oh, Barry! It has been a long time. Glad you're still looking good," said Dessia in a cheerful tone.

"Ah… yes, lady Dessia. I assumed you had talked already?" asked Baron.

"Don't worry, we're done talking, anyway. Thank you for allowing us to meet Baron."

"My deepest pleasure, lady Dessia…" he paused as his gaze shifted to Khael. "You should remain here for now. Don't do anything unnecessary, and rest as much as you can," Baron regarded as he guided Dessia on her way out of the room.

Dessia took a last glance at Khael with a consoling expression and smiled before going out.

The metallic door closing echoed in the dark, narrow room. Khael had learned two or three things, but it made things more complicated for him. This place, or rather this world, is far from just being different. Him on someone else's body or the odd things he encountered that he couldn't fathom.

Khael knows he badly needs someone's aid, even if he isn't sure he can trust anyone. The old woman seems sincere, but there's something always hidden in one's kindness towards others. At least, that's what he learned from his life…

'There's no such thing as pure kindness.'

After the mentally exhausting discussion with Dessia Adhilla, Khael feels like his recently recovered energy had been drawn out of him instantly. 'What was that thing she did earlier inside this room?' Khael wondered, and suddenly… he could already feel his body urging him to fall asleep again.

'But what did she just tell me earlier? Astelta… I don't think I had heard a name before. Though somehow, it was oddly familiar to me… ah, what am I saying?'

The lingering throbbing pain in his body still bothered him most of the time. Even with his mind troubled by many things, the urge to fall asleep was stronger and brought a momentary peace to him.