Dragon Tales: Reincarnation.

It’s been a year since I set out from Iglacis and yes, I have arrived here in Diacis.

I’ve been living here quite comfortably. The travel took about two months. I’ve been doing Adventurer work since I arrived here and I’ve earned quite a name for myself. I’m an S-rank mage. Pretty cool right? Yeah.

I still haven’t forgotten the sorrow and the nostalgia when I met her. Her presence was so familiar that I might question my memory if I had forgotten someone very important. But in truth, she was someone from the future, at least from her world’s future.

Her warnings and the things she wanted me to do are still stuck in my head. I can't escape the responsibility. She told me because I made a mistake, I caused the downfall of the world. At first, I didn’t how it would have been my fault to begin with as the egg being displaced was not my fault either. I did not understand why an egg would make a difference in the world’s history.

But once she told me, that she saw a timeline where the world was saved. And it was done by Gelda’s daughter. She didn’t tell me the daughter’s name. she only told me to protect the egg. How do I approach this? I do not know.

“Thanks for the quest Questmaster!” I say and step out of the Adventurer Guild.

In the early days, I was approached by quite a number of elite Adventurers that wanted to intimidate me into submission but I won't be defeated by some cocky people. I just taught them a suitable lesson in accordance with their offense.

Once, an Adventurer tried to force me into... You know? I got so angry that I broke his arms and legs. Then I dragged him to the guild and reported his offense. After that, not a single soul dared threaten me again apparently because he was an S-Ranked adventurer. A famous one at that.

Enough of that. Today I’m heading out for the Forest of Alfera. They need me to bring some valuable Magic Herbs needed for some potions. The Forest of Alfera is one of the most dangerous places in this world so only elites get the Quests to go deep into it.

I’ve been on my toes, keeping my eyes out for The Fairy I’m supposed to meet but I haven’t met her to this day. I wonder if I’ll even meet her.

I put my staff on the ground and Chant,

“[Wind’s Embrace]”

This is a new spell I researched and finally succeeded in making it work. It just summons a draft of wind strong enough to make me float into the air and carry me where I want. I can travel long distances like this without tiring myself out.

As I am lifted into the air by my spell, I look in the direction of where Forest of Alfera is and start moving in that direction.

I remember studying that fairies live in The Forest of Alfera so there might be a chance that I meet her. But that’s what I think every time I go here and find nothing about her. Let’s hope I find her today.

There is a Dragon that has its territory in my way so I’ll probably go around it so as not to disturb it. I mean no harm but I might annoy it anyway.

I take a detour from a straight route from Diacis to Alfera. More than half an hour passes by and I finally see it. I see the forest. I know the area where these herbs grow so I’ll just fly over the forest and grab them as I land.

I fly over the forest and eventually find the sparkling pond. It’s known ad he Sanctuary because its water has light-healing property. That’s why the herb “ Nikrus” grows here. It has good healing properties so it’s used in healing potions.

I slowly begin to descend into the opening I see from above that leads to the Sanctuary.

“Huff… Finally. I’ll just grab these and get out in a snap.” I say as I start picking the herbs I see nearby.

They grow in small quantities since they take some time to absorb the healing attribute.

“[Splash]”

“Huh?”

I look around to discern the source of the splash I just heard. It must be from the pond since the only water body here is the pond itself.

“[Splash]!”

“What is it?! There!” I say.

I see the source of the splashing. Something seems to be struggling in there.

I run over to the splashes and see that there is something in the center of the pond.

“Ah shoot! I’m gonna have to get in there.” I say as I strip off my robe and put down my staff in a hurry.

I take off my boots and jump into the white sparkling pond.

“Hah! The water’s too cold!” I say.

This water is freezing! Am I going to freeze?!

I swim frantically to the thing splashing in the middle of the pond. I get close and,

“Ah!”

I exclaim as I recognize what, or rather, who it was.

“Twixie!” I say as I grab her in my hand I spring her up in the air in my fist.

“Oh…”

She just passed out. I think the struggle made her lose all of her energy.

“I should get out of here before I freeze to death…” I say.

I swim towards the shore of the pond and get out.

Now how to dry up…

“[Wind’s Blow]” I chant.

I just used a mid-level spell to dry myself. Of course, it wasn’t at full output or I'd be blown away by my own spell.

Now to dry her…

I point my staff at Twixie in my hand and lower the Output even more.

“Dry up…” I say.

“Hnghh….” I hear.

I move my staff out of my sight and see that she’s gaining consciousness. Her eyes slowly open but,

“AHHHH! HELP! She’s Dying! Help me! Fervie!”

She begins to claw her face in a fit of insanity,

“Twixie! Calm down! What’s wrong?!” I speak in a worried and loud voice.

“The people! They’re Dying! AAAAHHHH MY ARM!” she shouts.

What is wrong with her! This isn’t what she told me.

Wait, arm…?

“NO! GELDA! AHHHHH! MY EYE!!!” she shouts.

Her, eye…? Wait…

This might be a stretch but… I think she has memories of the Alternate Twixie.

“What are those?! RUN! I’LL HELP!”

I need to confirm that I’m right. I need to take a look inside her mind.

“GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF! NAMIL! YOU ARE THE KING OF THIS COUNTRY!” she shouts, squirming in my hand.

This seems very painful. I cant stop her from moving her hands and she won't stop clawing her face.

“Stop! Twixie! You’ll hurt yourself!” I say to her.

“Oh, Fervie… I should have gone with you….” She says, with tears welling up.

“NAMIL I KNOW MY WING IS ON FIRE! JUST RUN!” she shouts.

What spell is there to look into one’s mind? I know! [Mind Tether]!

“Twixie! I’m going to put you to sleep first!” I say to her.

“WATCH OUT!” she shouts and puts a hand to her face.

Her eyes have been open all this time but she doesn’t seem to respond to anything. Has she gone insane from the double memories? Is this how she ended up here…?

To put her to sleep, I’ll use [Induce Sleep]. It’s a low-level Magic Spell.

“[Induce Sleep]…” I say as I put one finger on her forehead.

“Wai…..” she immediately falls unconscious.

“[Mind Tether]” I chant at the same time.

Huh?!

 

I see a red sky and black earth. Bodies everywhere. This… is a kingdom. Is this Diacis…? Namil is the name of the King isn’t it…?

“[BLARE]!”

Shit! What is that?!

I see a three-legged creature towering over me. It shoots huge beams from it’s one eye.

“[Wum] [Wum] [Wum] [Wum] [Wum]…” the thing makes a sound, indicating the charging of the beam that it was going to shoot.

“[FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEN]!!”

The beam travels from its eye and hits the ground with a boom.

“[BOOOOM]!”

A colossal explosion sounds in the air.

“AHHH! Run!” I hear a man screaming.

“Maria! Where are you?!” I hear a woman looking for her daughter.

“Waaaah! Waaaaah!” I hear a toddler in the distance, his head’s bleeding when I look in his direction. His mother and sister lie motionless on the ground beside him.

“[FREEEEEEEEN]!”

“[BOOOOOM]!”

An explosion takes place where that boy was.

“NO!” I shout.

The next sight I see is nothing but ashes. No trace of the boy that was crying at top of his lungs.

“AHHHH! PUT IT OUT!” I hear. The man on fire runs as he tries to put out the fire raging on him.

 

“[FREEEEEEN]!”

“[BOOOOM]!”

Another explosion happens and a piece of land becomes a crater where that man was running to.

“[Thump]”

“Huh? AAAAH!” I scream, experiencing the horrible sight in front of me.

It was the torso of the man that was trying to put out the fire. The legs an arms are gone.

“Shit! This is too much! I’m sorry Twixie! For not being there!” I shout looking around the rubble of buildings around me.

“Twixie! Where are you?!” I shout at top of my lungs.

I get up from the ground and start walking towards the place that was supposed to be the gate to the City. Right now it is nothing but ashes. I walk and walk.

“God… I have to prevent this…” I say that as I see bodies of, Presumably, Soldiers piled here and there.

One can already tell that they tried to put up a resistance but failed and died. I walk much further and get in the middle of the pile of bodies that were all black, being burned.

In the middle, I see a golden armor. On that golden armor, I see a small figure. Smaller than the palm of hand.

“Twixie!” I run up to the Golden Armor.

She’s lying on the Armor’s chest…. No… It’s not Armor. It’s the body of The King…. His crown. I can see his crown. He lost his legs, that much is what I can see.

Twixie is losing blood fast. How does she survive….? Her hand, her eye… her wing…

 

“[SCREEEEECH]!”

“What the-?!”

I look behind me and see that the three-legged thing I saw was coming up to where I was.

“WHY IS IT COMING HERE?! GO AWAY!” I shout.

Leave her alone, please. She’s too injured… She’ll die….

“[THUMP]! [THUMP]! [THUMP]!” the thing gets over us and stops

“What….?” I say out loud.

 

“[Booom]!”

Something falls down from the top of the Three Legged thing. It sends a shockwave through the air as the fall forms a crater around with dust flung up in the air.

The dust begins to clear up. Just as the dust settles down, I see that it wasn’t only one thing. They were two people.

One of them, I recognize. She has flowing white hair, with colorful ends. Ruby-like eyes and Pale skin. She matches the description that Twixie told me. She must be Gelda’s Daughter.

The girl beside her has flowing black hair. But…. She is a Beast Race. One of the Cat people. Her sharp features render me speechless. She was a beauty too.

“Why are you here?!” I shout, but of course. No reply came since this is a memory.

The girl with the White hair walks up to Twixie. She crouches down to take close look at Twixie.

“My Lady?!” says the Cat-girl.

What is she doing…?

“What a cute thing… It’s a pity I can't take it with me. Master will get mad.” Says the Girl with White Hair.

She came to look at Twixie…?

“[Heal]” she says.

She’s healing Twixie? But why…?

“What was the reason for doing that?” asks the Cat-girl.

“You question my intentions, Felicia?” says the Girl with White hair.

“I did not mean to…” says the Cat-girl.

“Not a problem. It was just an act of mercy towards a thing I liked by chance.” says the Girl with White hair.

Out of interest…? She healed Twixie…? Fate works in many ways….

 

Both of them jump up with such force that the crater gets deeper as they go up. The jump sends a shockwave. They went on top of the thing again and the thing then walked away in the distance.

“Hnghh…” I hear beside me.

“Twixie…?” I say.

She opens her eyes. Just as she does that, tears start welling up in her eyes. She tries to bring her arm to her face but then she notices that it’s already gone. Then she uses her other arm to wipe off her tears. She sits up on The Golden Armor.

“Namil… I’m sorry. I couldn’t protect your people…. I’m broken Namil…. Come back, please. I miss Fervie. I miss you. I miss everyone. Come back, everyone.” She says as she cries.

“Twixie…” tears start welling up in my eyes too. I cannot bear to watch this. No more.

“[Wheeze]: I hear a faint sound.

Twixie shoots her head up as she hears the ultimately faint wheeze, she crawls up to the face of The King that is half burnt.

“Namil….?” She says, her lips trembling.

“Tw…i…x….ie…” I hear.

He’s still alive?! Heal… him… No. She can’t. His injuries aren’t healable. Not in her current state, she won’t be able to perform magic.

“Namil?! You’re alive! Let me heal you!” says Twixie.

“Ca…nt..” he says in his broken voice.

“Namil?! Why?!” she shouts.

“The… El…de…r…….tr……ee…” he says.

“The Elder Tree? What about it…?” she asks.

“Ru…..in….s….un…..d….er……it. sa…..ve…….th….e……….peo……….ple…….[Wheeze]….” He says and his breath runs out.

“Namil?! NAMIL?!” shouts Twixie.

The King’s face previously had a bit of color gone White. He passed away.

“No…. Namil….” Says Twixie.

Then she slumps herself on his chin,

“Don’t go… I’ll be alone again… You helped me… Namil… Thank you…. [Sniff]” she says as she cries with her voice.

Twixie… I’ll keep you away from danger. I promise.

“I’ll go there Namil. I’ll go to the Elder Tree. I’ll do what you said.” She says.

Is this how she found the way of going back…? The Elder Tree.

She gets up and climbs down from his Armor. She stands close to his face and cries with her hands put on his head.

“I can’t even bury you…. I’m sorry Namil…. I’m not a good friend, Right?” she says as she walks away.

She stops in her steps and then comes back running. She crouches near his left hand. Then she caresses one of his fingers.

“Namil…. I’ll take your ring as a… Memento. Okay? I want to remember you and Fervie in my hard times…” she says as she cries.

“Hnghhh!” she struggles as she tries to get the ring off with her one arm.

The ring gets off suddenly and she falls down on the ground. It makes a cling sound and lands in her lap.

“I’ll be going then okay?” she says.

She puts the ring on the shoulder where she doesn’t have an arm and hangs it in a cross with in the other arm, like you hang a bag, crossed.

She looks back one last time and then she walks away, never looking back again.

 

“[Gasp]!”

I sound an audible gasp just as I come back to reality. I touché my face, feeling that I had cried a lot while I was in the trance. I cried so much that my shirt had gotten wet. My hand hurts from holding it up for so long. My head hurts for staying too long in another person’s memory.

“Twixie… You should’ve said more, you idiot…” I say.

She just told me the specifics and never said anything about what happened to her. I think she dodged the question. She only said one thing and cried after saying it. Nothing more than that.

 

She won’t be able to keep her sanity if she keeps these memories. I have to erase her memories up to the point where she got them. I can try to store them in a Mana Stone but that won't suffice as a suitable vessel for memories.

I look at my hand that is holding the Staff. I look at it and then look at the [Manickett].

I can use this. This is a special one used to store information. I think it can hold it.

“This is going to hurt a bit….” I say as I place the [Manickett] on top of her forehead.

“[Copy Memory]” I chant.

The [Manickett] glows white and then starts to go green. Green must show the color of her personality. All of her memories are being transferred to this [Manickett]. The processing is being done by both myself and the [Manickett] itself.

“AHHHH!” Twixie lets out a cry of pain.

Transferring memories can hurt very badly. It may lead to memory loss too. A while passes by as the transfer completes. The [Manickett] goes completely green.

“Now to erase her memories,” I say.

I lift up my staff and then place it again on her forehead.

“[Erase Memory].” I chant.

“AHHHHH!” she shouts once again as the pain rises in her head.

I’m stripping her of memories that she didn’t need up to the point where she got them. It is a very difficult process since it’s lie solving a puzzle or untying knots in a tangled string.

She writhes in agony and stops just as the erasure is completed.

“Hnghhh…. Huh?” she wakes up and opens her eyes.

She flings into the air and flies a bit far.

“Who are you? Why was I in your hand?” she says.

“Umm… you were drowning in this pond… so I saved you…” I say.

“You sure you weren’t going to do anything bad?” she says.

“Do I look like a person that would do something bad?” I say.

“You… do not.” She says.

Her mind seems to be stable. She doesn’t notice the change in her memories,

“Why were you here?” I ask.

She looks at me for a moment and then,

“I was actually banished from my people. They did it because I couldn’t perform well.” She says.

Well, that’s good news. Not really but for me it’s good.

“Do you want to come with me then?” I say.

“With you?” she says, her interest piqued.

“I travel to all sorts of places and you can get some good food, you know?” I say.

“Let’s go then.” She says.

The food bait always works, he-he.