Lord of the Mysteries

The chirping of insects and the hooting of owls reverberated along the path back to the small town. Azik looked ahead and said after a few seconds of silence, “Even though I’m not entirely sure what happened to me, I do have a rough idea.

“Perhaps—perhaps I’m someone who has lived for a very, very long time.”

Mr. Azik, you have to seriously consider if you still fit the definition of “someone”…Klein thought to himself, but he didn’t dare to say it out loud.

“This wilderness, this silence, often makes one weak…

“I should’ve paid some sort of price in exchange for this long life. I’ve lived since the end of the Fourth Epoch, like a wandering spirit across the continent…” Azik’s voice deepened, as if he was trying to suppress his emotions. “I don’t remember the past. I’ve forgotten about the people and things that I’ve sworn to remember…”

Klein poked at the weeds in front of him and said, in thought, “Mr. Azik, I have a theory regarding your situation.”

“What theory?” Azik looked to the side.

“I think that there’s a cycle to your memory loss. Perhaps you ‘die’ once every few decades, and your memories of the events before that vanishes. Then, after some time, you wake up from the darkness of your slumber and begin on a new phase of life. This way, we can explain why you would have such varied dreams. Those are events that you came across over your several lives,” Klein described his theory.

Azik slowed down his pace, as if the darkness had grabbed onto his sleeve. He looked ahead with a turbid look before saying after a while, “That is consistent with the memories that were jolted awake just now.”

Memories that were jolted awake? Klein had an idea as he said immediately, “Mr. Azik, you might not have to leave Tingen to search for your lost past. You’ll regain your memories slowly!”

“Why?” Azik turned his head in surprise.

Klein smiled and said, “Your memories aren’t completely gone. The parts of your memory that jolted awake just now are proof of that.

“Furthermore, do you remember the moment you woke up in Backlund and discovered that you had forgotten all about the past?”

Azik nodded. “That’s a nightmare that bothers me till this day.”

Klein tapped downwards with his black cane and explained in detail, “Before today, I didn’t think that there was a problem with that. But your description just now, together with my own conjecture, makes it feel a little weird. You had a document of identification and enough money when you woke up from your dream. You also appeared in a way that didn’t startle anyone… All of that seems like it was arranged for you, allowing you to fit into society with little effort.

“Then, who made the arrangements?

is only one answer; the you

in a new life. Thus, he prepared everything for you, trying his best to not let you attract suspicion from

light coming

were the past me all along…” He sighed, admitting that Klein’s deduction

wait for your memories to come back to you,” Klein concluded and

subconsciously waved his cane before he turned

into the distance and answered, “Perhaps—perhaps I’ll only fully regain my memory when this life is nearing its end. I don’t want to wait that long. I want to have plenty of time to understand and free myself from this destiny. So I

Instead, he asked, “Mr. Azik, may I ask for your help in something trivial, other than

Azik nodded slightly.

you need me

can head to a town between two and five hours away from Tingen by carriage next week, or the week after. I need you to cause a paranormal incident, something that wouldn’t

hesitation. He didn’t ask Klein why he wanted him to do something

time, he had tacitly confirmed Klein’s

you can only choose a follower of the Evernight Goddess when you are picking a target. Also, don’t leave any clues behind,”

the mission and suggest using Sealed Artifact 3-0782.

was the most powerful item he could obtain at the

with the red chimney hasn’t left Tingen, and that Klein was going to continue investigating, he had to

stealing a little of its powers wouldn’t damage 3-0782. At the very most, it would only lessen the amount of time it takes to purify… This is for the safety and stability of Tingen City! Klein

about his motives. He

the town and the

He felt that this trip to Lamud Town wasn’t a wasted

of the mysteries surrounding Mr. Azik and had much more to find out, he had at least

…

half past eleven that night, Klein returned to 2 Daffodil Street, hungry

Mr. Azik didn’t treat me to dinner… Sigh. He wouldn’t have been in the mood to enjoy

warmly

to speak when he yawned. He had no choice but to cover

smiled, quipping, “I went to Lamud Town with Mr. Azik. There’s an abandoned castle with a long history over