“I was… picking up stones and sticks, jumping around in the forest, climbing trees looking for food. I think I was out camping.”

“...”

“No, not camping. Not only that anyways, I remembered that my house was burned to the ground. I still remember it vividly, the house that I saved so hard on was burned like that, I can still smell the smolders and t..the smoke.  There were people laughing. Laughing at my misfortune. They were holding bottles, I think it was oil inside of them and one of them had a stick with a gem in it, I think it was a wand? They were mocking me and slandering me, all because of my race. I ran up to them angry and tried scaring them a little. I remember it, I was pissed, I wanted to kill them, I wanted to beat them up, I wanted them to regret what they had done, maybe reflect a little. But suddenly I found myself with bloodied hands and lying on the ground crying and sobbing. I was confused and baffled, then I heard something, someone shouting. I didn’t look back and I just. I just ran and ran, as far as I could. Into a forest. I don't think I regretted it back then, I mean those brats just deserved a good lesson that’s all and I think it was justified. I mean they burned down my house.”

The memories started flooding back in. As Berg continued recalling his past, his face progressively grew more confused like there’s something missing, something he didn’t understand.

“Then I found myself lying down on a patch of grass, looking up into the night sky. I remember I was hungry, starving even. I was scared, I didn’t know what to do and suddenly I felt a… a force pulling me towards something, and I just went to it. Towards the force, I think there were a lot of fireflies and then there was someone there. Someone sitting on a rock, a child doing some…leg swinging. She was humming a melody, it was nice supported by the sounds of fireflies and rivers. Then everything blacked out. I don't know what happened then to this day. When I was awake again, it was daytime, and I… heard a bunch of hustling sounds and I hid. I thought they went looking for me, to lock me up.”

“But it weren’t them, instead there were beings vaguely similar to a human, but yet they are so different. They had the looks and structure of a human but they look so… animalistic. They had animal ears on the top of their head and they had furs on their limbs and claws for hands. Like beasts, part-man, part-beast. Instincts of a beast and intellect of a human, it was unlike anything I have ever seen before. I was nervous, because if they had seen me, I think I would've been eaten alive. They spoke differently too, using languages I have never heard, not even now.”

“I didn’t know how deep into the forest I was. When the beast-like people get closer and closer, the more nervous I get. I vaguely remember how hard I was shaking and how sweaty I was getting. It was then one of them smelled it and noticed I was here, they turned around and saw my eyes. They were very perceptive and sensed me in the bushes. Fearing for my life, I ran and ran and ran. I ran so fast it was like I was part of the wind and they chased me, running with all their limbs to the ground and chased me like a predator. Though they were faster than me. Definitely. I got away. By some sheer coincidence, I jumped across a river and right when I did it, the river grew more violent and delayed the beastmen from chasing. Now, I’d like to think that this is the interference of God as a way to bless me after my misfortune.”

The stables were silent, listening attentively to Berg’s story however there were those that doubted his story as made-up. Of course, something like beastmen was unheard of, yet alone seen by a mere slave.

“It was then I started picking up stones and sticks to make a spear or some kind, to at least hunt for food and maybe defend myself from those predators. I was dehydrated and hungry so I went looking for food then I saw a hunt. It was weird. All the weird things appear one by one from the beastmen and the child humming and a hut in the middle of nowhere, and the force. I-it was like it was beckoning me to come here, to this place.”

Berg’s head started to hurt the more he kept on recalling. 

“Ugh.”

*bang*

The thunder distracted him. 

“Yeah, sorry but I can't seem to recall more. I’ll continue it when i can”

“What about you kid?” As one of the audiences points towards Frei. “How did you end up here? A kid like you too.”

Frei couldn’t answer the question, he never questioned that before. His Origins, the reason for being here and his identity. He stared blankly at the man not knowing how to respond.

“The kid got amnesia, he doesn’t remember shit. Excessive mana overload fried his memories storage” said Johnny.

“Lucky kid huh? Gets to live without knowing his past and gets to live ignorant of his past. I wish I forgot about my past too.” said another man. “I know we don’t get to talk everyday since chances like this are rare but in case it does happen again, my name is Arthur.”

*whooosh*

A sudden burst of wind blows out the fire, leaving the stables dark and cold. The rain slowly decreases and the clouds slowly reveal the warm and bright sun. They all got up and prepared for work, “Whipper” can be heard coming, yelling at them to go back to work.