The sun’s gaze drifted beneath the light-azure sky. Small clumps of clouds gather, but fortunately, there was no threat of another storm.

“So… we’re on the move again. It’s a good omen that the storm only lasted for a day!”

Wiz exhaled, standing at the Beaver’s observation post. It was called that because of its inherent purpose; it was really just a wide platform encompassing the vehicle’s back.

Leaning unto the platform’s fencing, she took a deep breath, as the cold wind breezing past her brown scarf wafted gently unto her nose. She then exhaled and looked at the surrounding landscape. The cityscape of Migny was starting to sink unto the horizon behind her. They were travelling onwards from the icy plains and slowly into the taiga of Henwales, the location of their local headquarters.

“Feels a little lighter outside the city, hm?” Wiz heard a voice called out behind her. It was Sora.

“Yeah. We’ll be back at command. I’m quite nervous, however.”

“Why is that?” He asked, walking unto her side to also admire the landscape.

“The incident. We failed to do our job. And our survivor complicates things even more. I just can’t fill it all in my head…”

“Don’t always gloom out, Wiz.” Sora said to her. She smiled in response. “It’s true that we need to be serious. But this world? It’s jesting us.”

Wiz looked at Sora after he said that. “We all come from different stories and paths. Be it fate or happenstance, we found each other in this line of work. And through what factor did that occur?”

“Because we’re born different.” Wiz answered.

“Hm. You’re wrong on one point.” Sora sternly replied.

“A Vassal might be born a Vassal, like us, but many acquire it through… unfortunate circumstances.” He noticeably looked down the ground, the snow being plowed away by the vehicle’s wheels. “Many are low on the hierarchy. People who found their power through desperation, will, or being broken too much they snapped. I’ve seen many of them succumb to their own abilities, turned into husks of their former selves. Some prosper, yet their scars are always there, waiting to surface again.”

“People that are in need of help the most are frowned upon. So are we. It all stayed the same. That is why I think the world is making a laugh out of us…”

“Hey, Sora?”

“Yes?” He said, seemingly lost into his own words. His lips were downturned, and his eyes were rested.

“Don’t always gloom out.” She said in a soothing voice.

Sora laughed as he composed himself. “Heh, right…”

After looking to the horizon once more, he asked her, “Say, that boy. Do you want to find out who he really is?”

“…Yes.” Wiz timidly answered.

“I do too. He might be a good guy, but I don’t want to get your hopes up too much…”

“No. I already know that.” She softly said. As they look at each other, the tall, looming trees of the taiga slowly come into sight.

Inside, each member was focused on their own business: Fein, sorting out their tentative report. Gen, arranging provisions and the usual preparations for cooking. Enna was reading a book, and Gris was driving.

“We’re approaching the territory of Henwales. Call those kids to go down.” Enna, book in her hand, accepted responsibility with a resounding nod and went upstairs.

“Girl’s too timid recently.” Gris remarked.

“It’s obvious, we’re busy.” Gen said, not batting an eye from his cooking.

“Why are you cooking, anyway? It’s way past lunch.”

“It’s for me, ONLY. Mind your driving, old man.” They chuckled on their small banter. Despite their little relief, Fein was still head deep into the papers on a desk, unfazed by any outside influence.

Gen looked at the captain, and turned to Gris, facing the big man’s back.

“…He is the busiest of us.”

“I know.”

‘You had enough rest. Wake up.’

It’s still too early, though.

‘You are hard to assimilate. You cling to vengeance too much, boy.’

They had to be hated, after all they did.

‘Was it only them? Or was it you?’

Shut up. Shut up!

‘THEN WAKE UP—!’

I swiftly opened my eyes. The first detail I caught was the room. Was this still the place where I last woke up? A wooden room, a bed across me, and a door between them. I tried to manually breathe, bracing for the spiking pain that I totally remembered.

It was not there anymore, to my relief. I tried to look outside through the window. Boreal trees were whizzing past by. I soon occurred to me that I was in a moving object. A vehicle, perhaps. The ambient humming tells me so. Trying to even sit just on the bed’s edge had the need to muster much of my energy.

Where am I?

What happened to that place?

More importantly, who am I?

I cannot remember anything past that night. Events before that were purged out of my mind.

But.

My name was lost, but I can see glimpses of memory.

I retained most of my time in that town. Mido, was it? But the people? I do not remember. I know I lived before that time, but any semblance of connections to anyone won’t come to mind. I try to remember, but it’s out of my hands. My head just keeps burning, I might critically impede myself just by thinking.

I heard voices outside the door. Finding composure, I successfully stood and tried to open it. The white glow of a light source in the ceiling greeted my eyes that also incited an annoying cacophony. As I squinted, I was greeted by a silhouette, shadowing the light. They pushed me back inside and into the bed. As I gained my senses, I saw who pushed me. A girl, likely aged near mine, with hazel hair split into a parted fringe, few were aesthetically hanging on the sides of her face. Her emerald eyes expressed both relief and concern.

For me, though? I don’t even know her…

“You’re awake! Are you okay now?” She said.

That soothing voice… I remember. It was her voice that assured me last time.

“…Yeah.” I need to be cautious first and get my bearings. Otherwise, I will be overwhelmed.

“You spoke…” She seemed shocked, covering her mouth with her hand. I just stared at her. I don’t know how to react…

Suddenly, I heard another voice. It was ladylike, and it was commanding.

“Wiz! Let me handle him!” “Right!” The girl just beside me quickly stood up and got outside. Wiz must be her name. Someone else barged in soon after. Another woman. She was taller and wore a mysterious face. I could not tell if that face was serious or suggestive. More than anything, she radiated beauty. Because of her white complexion, I can’t help but notice the beauty mark on her left eye. She stared at me, and slowly leaned, her dark hair that settled on her shoulder pointed down with her head as she leaned.

“Those amber eyes… Heh, just like mine.”

As what I intuited, I must be cautious, although her sultry way of speaking threatens to lower down my guard. She sat on the bed across me, and from what I can tell, readied herself. She giggled.

“Don’t try anything funny... I’m Enna Grante. Ability Apprehension Officer.”

Ability… Apprehension? Try as I may, I am not too familiar with those words. But then, she seemed to relax herself…

“First. Your name?”

No. I cannot answer that. I realized I just need to answer honestly, since I have no choice.

“I don’t remember…” She immediately huffed and wrote something on a paper she held.

“Do you remember anything about the incident at Mido?”

Yes. I do remember. In fact, it was the same image that flashed over and over again while I was seemingly a vegetable…

“Yes.”

“Please describe.” She is going through all of this, isn’t she?

“It was… burned to the ground. Everything was burned, there were no people left at the aftermath. The rubble maybe saved me from the cold, but that is all I can remember…”

Sorry. It’s all I can describe. All I can remember.

“Hmm… interesting. Now, do you have any information about the culprits?”

‘Was it only them? Or was it you?’

A voice pounded my head. No. I don’t remember. I only saw the flames that rose taller than the bell tower. Flames… Purple flames.

‘There were purple flames that destroyed everything…’ I desperately held on to it trying to speak it out, but I eventually fell to its stress…

“What was it?” She asked me. I had to reply, but my mind came empty. I had seemingly been blocked to whatever I thought I wanted to say.

“N-Nothing…” I know that answer will not meet her expectations, but at this point, I’m in a mental conundrum.

“Really?” She dragged that word in a frustrated manner. What am I supposed to say? I’m still recovering…

Suddenly, she stood up, set aside the paper and locked the door. She sighed. “At this point, I’ll need to do something… drastic.”

I’m now judging her actions? What is she going to do now? Slowly, she took off her gray gloves, and hovered her hands gently above my face.

Her pale hands reached out to my cheeks, expecting me to stay calm. She leaned closer, feigning innocence, ironic of her rested amber eyes that locked into mine.

I felt a jolt as her eyes mirrored an abstract feeling, as if I was sucked into her unknowable gaze.

What the--?

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you won’t remember this. I need you to say everything, you know…”

That sultry voice. It sends shivers. I don’t like it one bit, however; that voice got on my nerves… In a more passive way.

“This may take a while…”