*Layla's POV

There are two reasons why someone might forget something. First, because of an external factor as a trigger, perhaps a blow to the head or a traumatic experience in the past. Or second, because he never experienced it.

I still can't make a clear conclusion. Even after talking to and seeing him directly. I think San didn't forget anything. He simply doesn't know.

Mala said that San is a Level One Subject. Simply put, he is like a live bomb hidden behind a beautiful birthday cake. There are no indications that make him look dangerous, but of course, the bomb can explode and destroy everything.

Mala said that, unlike me, the researchers had difficulty obtaining data from San. Not only because he doesn't know anything about Weaver or Solaris, but he also doesn't understand his power.

San only said one thing when they started the research. That they shouldn't make him feel comfortable in this place.

It might sound weird. But I fully understand its meaning. Comfort means not worrying about anything. Comfort means a place to call home. And for San, he has no such place. Not for now, at least.

Like the orphanage he lived in before. I don't know how long he was there. I only saw a news article from a torn newspaper on the street while searching for him in the human world. About an orphanage that burned down in mysterious black flames. A tragedy that killed 40 people—they vanished without a trace—except for one person who turned himself in. A teenage boy around 17 years old admitted to causing the incident.

I made the right choice by causing the same chaos to follow him. Although on a smaller scale and without any casualties. But it succeeded in bringing me here.

I also understand why, with a longer research period than mine, they still haven't obtained anything from San.

His power is not a simple one. A power that violates all concepts of pure energy usage or the history we've believed in for centuries.

The Weavers believe that power is not about how he can blow up a place, a city, or a country with unquenchable black fire. Not about how strong, dangerous, and illogical the power is. But always about the person who possesses it.

Perhaps God sent him to punish us, to destroy us. Or he is a miracle. A savior who will free us from the shackles of sin.

It's not about his power, but about what fate he will create for us.

Hence, I believe it's fair to describe him as a "ticking time bomb". And detaining him in a facility like this is the most stupid act I've ever seen.

I decided after that meeting. Maybe a few more days to stay and prepare a few things. After that, I will take San to Calmora.

***

The next day, the test was conducted differently.

They still brought me to the hall, but this time, there were no automatic rifles or bowls containing elemental substances. They followed my suggestion.

The previous night, after bringing me back to the detention room, I gave Mala an idea for a test to gather more data about San's power. So now in the hall, San and I stood facing each other.

The researchers stood behind the glass window, watching what would happen. In our hands, as I requested, there were wooden swords as long as our arms.

The test was simpler, although the ultimate goal remained the same. They hoped to learn something from San's power. And this time, they gave me the freedom to set the test myself.

"Hold the sword like shaking hands and place your feet as if about to step," I shouted while twirling the sword. "Whatever happens, don't let your sword detach."

San swallowed hard. His movements seemed stiff as he followed my instructions.

"Tell me, how many steps are we apart now?" I asked.

San frowned. "Seven steps."

"And how many steps do I need to attack you?"

"Six?"

"Two." And I took the first step. Then jumped after the second step.

San's face looked surprised to see the distance shrink so quickly. Fortunately, his reflexes were quite good. His wooden sword moved to block my attack aimed at his face. Unfortunately, his grip was still weak. I swung to the side and made the sword fly out of San's hand.

"I will keep doing the same move," I said. "Learn the pattern in each repetition."

The second attempt. San managed to block my first attack, dodging the second swing aimed at his waist. But couldn't avoid the third attack when I spun around and struck the same target.

On the third attempt, San managed to block seven attacks, then lost his balance and fell. On the fourth attempt, he counter-attacked on my first strike.

It surprised me. San spun around as I jumped, then cut the distance by one step before I could make the first strike. This time, I blocked his attack. He kept attacking before I could follow the composed movement pattern. Forcing me to change those patterns. On the fourteenth combination, I pushed him away and raised my hand.

"Can you see the number of steps now?" I asked.

San's breath sounds heavy, his stance still ready. "Yeah, you were also moving slowly."

This time, I smiled. "Let's do it again. This time we forget the rules."

I threw the wooden sword away, then took something from my pocket. A knife with a real blade. Shorter than the sword, but certainly more dangerous than the wooden sword. One of the items I requested from Mala for this test. "If you doubt... You die." And I lunged towards him again.

San's eyes widened suddenly. He tried to cut the distance first while swinging his wooden sword. I slashed, and with the real blade, the wooden sword was torn into two. My knife kept moving toward San's face. If my opponent were an ordinary person, he would have died at that moment.

But of course, this attack wasn't enough to push San. In a very short time, he spun around, dodged my knife, and rammed into me with his shoulder.

I was pushed back a few steps. I didn't understand why I was smiling, but I wouldn't lie. This feels fun. I ran again, this time faster. Changing direction when only two steps were left and attacking from the side. With a broken wooden sword, there wasn't much San could do except dodge or widen the distance. But that was what I wanted.

Attack after attack. I lost track of time. Surely, this fight became more dangerous for San. Until one situation. When the remains of his wooden sword were the hilt, and my knife was aimed precisely at his neck, with his position cornered against the hall wall. San finally did something I hoped for. Something the researchers here had been waiting for. He vanished. Making my knife plugged in the wall.

Teleportation. As I told him last night. One of the mysterious powers that also has no explanation.

San didn't stop there. He appeared behind me. Attacking with his foot. I spun around, dodging while countering. Just before the knife could pierce his face, San vanished again. This time appearing beside me. Hugging my waist and charging. Making me lose balance and fall.

San pinned me down. Holding my hand that held the knife and aimed his fist at my face, stopping just there.

I laughed. So hard and free. All that burden seemed to disappear. All my worries. All my fears. I just realized now. San indeed forgot everything. Or as I thought, he never experienced it. But one thing made me sure. That he is still the same San. The San I knew six years ago. The San who always protected me. The San who taught me many things.

The San I could never defeat.

He lowered his hand and moved aside. Dropping his body and sitting next to me. His breath was labored. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," I replied with a still sobbing voice. The hall door opened not far from us, and Mala stepped in.

"Your power," I continued. "In Solaris, we call it Enigma. The power to change fate."[]