(We’re going for a run around the woods for practice. We’ll be back).

He stared at the note, frowning slightly.

“But… we have running machines!.”

The forest path was quiet and cool, leaves crunching beneath their shoes as the four of them walked side by side, laughing freely for the first time in days.

Shadow Light: “It’s been a while since we went near the village. Do you think they’ll forget us and attack us or something?”

Sun-Z: “No way.”

Star X: “I just hope we find some information that’ll actually help us. I’m scared a day won’t be enough.”

Shadow Light: “Then we’ll go again. And don’t worry about Professor White — he won’t even notice.”

Sun-Z tilted her head thoughtfully.

Sun-Z: “Hey, Shadow Light… how do you imagine yourself before the amnesia? Do you think you were the same person?”

Shadow Light: “Hmm… I think some things haven’t changed. I kind of feel like I was royalty. You know, from a really important family.”

Sun-Z: “You’re such a show-off.”

Shadow Light laughed. “Just kidding. But I do feel like I had little siblings. I’ve always been the fun type. If our city was really destroyed like Professor White said… that’s a tragedy.”
He paused. “I can’t even remember my imaginary siblings.”

Sun-Z: “Sometimes I wonder if it’s even safe to remember. What if there are memories I don’t want to bring back? But still… I want to know who I am. My real name.”

Shadow Light: “You? You sound like you came from a super-educated family. A hardworking nerd.”

Sun-Z: “Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?”

Shadow Light: “Who knows, maybe I nailed it!”

He burst into laughter and took off running. Sun-Z chased after him, yelling, while Star X watched them with a smile.

Then she noticed Black Storm walking silently behind them.

Star X: “What about you?”

Black Storm: “About what?”

Star X: “How do you imagine your family… before we lost our memories?”

He kept his eyes fixed on the path ahead, his voice cold.

Black Storm: “Professor White said we were orphans from the beginning. So I don’t see the point in imagining something that never existed.”

Star X shook her head gently.

Star X: “But we don’t know that for sure. Maybe he wasn’t telling the whole truth. Everyone has a family… even if it’s only for a short time. We deserve to know.”

Black Storm finally looked at her — and smiled faintly.

“You’re really kind,” he said quietly. “You must’ve come from a great family.”

She brightened. “Really? I think you did too. You’re amazing at fighting.”

He let out a short laugh. “Shadow Light thinks I come from an athletic family.”

Star X: “Wow… that actually sounds really cool.”

Back in the village, they knocked on Mrs. Kelly’s door, but there was no answer. Shadow Light peered through the window — the house was empty.

Shadow Light: “She must’ve gone shopping. Never mind… we’ll come back later. Let’s meet here again in an hour.”

He pointed to a small spot beside the fence, and one by one they split up.

Sun-Z stood frozen in amazement at the marketplace. What she had expected to be a simple village square was now crowded with people, its stalls glittering with jewels and polished stones that shimmered in the sunlight.

“What… is going on here?”

She wandered between the booths, eyes wide.

“Where did all these people come from? I didn’t even know this village had a jewelry market.”

An elderly woman smiled warmly and waved her over, lifting a tray of bracelets to show her.

Star X slipped away to the lake, sitting at the water’s edge with her feet dangling above the ripples. An energy sphere glowed faintly in her palm as she practiced in silence, trying to control its pulse without making a sound.

Black Storm walked alone through the village streets, tilting his head back to stare at the clear blue sky. Children’s laughter echoed between the houses as they chased one another, carefree and alive. For the first time in days, he allowed himself a small, peaceful smile.

Shadow Light, on the other hand, wandered restlessly — until he heard shouting in a narrow alley.

A group of teenage bullies surrounded a younger boy. They had dumped his bag onto the ground, grabbing his money and belongings while he crouched there, arms over his head, trembling.

Shadow Light didn’t hesitate.

A small fireball shot from his fingers and landed squarely on one of the boys’ butt.

Bully #1: “HEY! You’re on fire!”

Bully #2: “What?!”

Bully #1: “Your butt is on fire, idiot!”

As they screamed in panic, Shadow Light rushed forward and kicked the burning boy hard enough to knock him over, snuffing out the flames. The others froze when they saw another fireball forming in his hand.

Shadow Light smirked down at them.

“Get out of my sight,” he said calmly, “or I’ll burn your faces off next.”

They didn’t need to be told twice. The bullies scattered, vanishing down the alley.

Shadow Light turned to the boy, who was still shaking on the ground. A strange watch lay beside him. Shadow Light picked it up.

“That’s a weird-looking watch.”

The boy suddenly lunged and snatched it back.

“Take my money, take everything — just don’t take my watch!”

Shadow Light blinked, then lightly kicked him on the forehead.

“I don’t need your money, you idiot. I’m the one who just saved your ass.”

The boy finally looked up properly, realizing the bullies were gone.

Shadow Light rubbed his temples in irritation. “What a pain…”

Boy: “You’re a mutant.”

“What?”

“I mean… you guys have weird magic.”

Shadow Light crouched to his level, eyeing him sarcastically.

“Did you see us turn into freaking monsters or something?”

Boy: “No…”

“Then why the hell does everyone keep calling us mutants?”

He held out his hand. “Come on. Get up.”

The boy hesitated, then took it.

Shadow Light: “What’s your name?”

Boy: “Nathan.”

Shadow Light nodded. “Listen carefully, Nathan. If someone bullies you and you can’t run, you’ve got two choices: fight back like you mean it… or scream loud enough so that everyone hears you. Bullies are cowards. Remember that.”

Nathan stared at him, deeply impressed.

“Okay.”

“Good.”

As Shadow Light turned to leave, Nathan called out.

“Wait… what’s your name?”

“My name?” Shadow Light scratched his head. “Honestly… I don’t remember. My friends and I have amnesia. That’s why we use dumb nicknames I’m too embarrassed to say. Maybe when I get my memory back, I’ll tell you.”

Nathan’s eyes lit up.

“I know someone who can help you.”

Shadow Light froze. “What?”

“My master is the village inventor. He has a machine that restores memory. He’s helped other people before. Maybe he can help you too!”

Shadow Light felt his heart race.

Finally…Luck had smiled on him at last.

Around the corner, Black Storm sat quietly on a low stone ledge. He lifted his head when he saw the village sage approaching and stood up at once.

Sage: “Hello, young man.”

Black Storm: “Oh—hello, sir. I was actually waiting for you.”

“They told me you were looking for me,” the sage said kindly. “I hope I didn’t keep you waiting.”

“It’s fine. I haven’t been here long.”

They stood by the side of the road, their voices low and serious as the topic turned to Mr. White.

Sage: “So… you’re living with Mr. White now.”

“Yes,” Black Storm replied, “but I noticed that many people here seem to know him.”

“Oh yes, Mr. White is quite famous in this village,” the sage said. “Though strangely, I’ve never actually met him myself.”

“Do you know when he first came here?” Black Storm asked.

The sage frowned slightly. “I… don’t really know. It feels as if I’ve known him for a very long time, but when I try to recall anything specific about him, there’s nothing.”

Black Storm’s eyes narrowed.

“Just as I thought, he mused. Everyone remembers his name, yet no one remembers how. It’s like their minds were nudged into accepting him… which means he doesn’t really belong here.”

The sage studied him curiously. “It’s rather odd that you’re asking about Mr. White instead of questioning him directly.”

“I wanted to know what others thought first,” Black Storm said carefully. “He told us that we came from a city that was destroyed in a war. I just wanted to confirm it.”

The sage stiffened, shock flashing across his face.

“A city? Impossible!” he exclaimed. “There are only six main cities here, and they are all allied. If any one of them had fallen, everyone would know about it…which city did you come frome boy!!!”

Black Storm felt his heart skip.

“I… I must have misspoken,” he said quickly. “I meant a village.”

The sage relaxed. “Ah, a village. That’s different. Villages fall easily, especially when the Leader and his men attack. They are divided, unlike the united cities. That’s why we are fortunate here—our village has survived for thirty years.”

He smiled warmly at Black Storm.

“And your arrival saved us. If it weren’t for you and your friends during that attack, we might not be standing here today. We are truly grateful.”

Black Storm bowed his head slightly.

“Thank you, sir. And we are grateful as well—for your kindness and your trust.”

The two exchanged gentle smiles, though a storm of doubt still churned quietly in Black Storm’s mind.

A while later, Black Storm was waiting at the meeting spot with Sun-Z when Star X came running toward them.

Star X: “Sorry I’m late!”

Sun-Z: “You’re right on time. We’re just missing Shadowlight.”

“Oh… okay.”

Sun-Z: “So, Star X, did you find anything useful?”

Star X lowered her head. “No, I’m sorry. I’m not very good at talking to people, so I didn’t really ask anyone.”

Sun-Z: “That’s fine. I actually found something interesting—but do we really have to wait for Shadowlight before I tell you?”

Star X, Black Storm, and Sun-Z all shook their heads at once.

Sun-Z: “Good. At the market today, there were people from many villages and cities, but no one recognized my clothes. They kept asking strange questions about them. I also learned that the cities are very far from here—and they’re powerful. No one has ever heard of riots or wars in them.”

Black Storm nodded. “That matches what the sage told me. No city has ever been attacked. Only villages get raided, because they’re small and weak.”

Sun-Z: “I knew it. Mr. White lied to us!”

Star X: “But why would he lie? What does he want from us?”

Black Storm: “He’s probably watching us. He’s obsessed with studying our bodies and abilities, and he always avoids our questions.”

Sun-Z: “If we could get our memories back, we’d understand everything. But how do we even begin?”

Star X: “Maybe if we found where we came from, our memories would be triggered.”

Black Storm: “Maybe. But for now, I feel like we’re being isolated. So I was thinking… I’ll sneak into Mr. White’s computer and see if he has any files about us.”

Sun-Z: “That makes sense. He must be hiding something there. But how will you do it when he’s always around?”

Black Storm: “I train in the lab, so I’m closest to him. You guys distract him outside while I get in.”

He glanced around irritably. “Where is that idiot? We can’t wait any longer.”

Two hours later, they were exhausted and furious when Shadowlight finally came running toward them.

He barely finished apologizing before they all jumped at him and beating him up angrily

Shadowlight:” sorry for the delay…”

Black Storm: “What delay are you talking about?!”

Sun-Z: “We waited for two hours, you jerk!”

Star X: “Now we’re late getting back to Mr. White’s!”

Shadowlight: “Wait—WAIT! I found someone who can help us get our memories back!”

They froze.

“I met the village inventor,” Shadowlight said breathlessly. “He has a device that can restore memories. He wants to meet all of us.”

Star X: “An inventor?”

“Yes! And this this time a real one—not like Mr. White!”

Meanwhile, Mr. White stood quietly outside the house, staring down the road.

“They’re late…”