We got to the glowing cave. Apparently, the reason why it was glowing was because there was a portal open there.

“Are we sure that it’s safe?” Moona asked.

“If we trust the riddle, then the Hall of Memories is just ahead”, Amelia answered.

“There’s only one way to find out, peko”, Pekora ran towards the portal and disappeared.

“Why is she always so reckless?” Moona followed after her.

Up ahead was a chance to restore my memories... I took a deep breath and entered the portal.

I found Pekora and Moona standing in the middle of a white hallway. Amelia appeared behind me.

“This is the Hall of Memories? I expected it to be more grand, peko”, Pekora said.

“Well... It looks sacred because of the whiteness of the walls and tiles”, Moona told her.

“Let’s follow down the hallway and see where it goes”, Amelia said and we started walking.

There was a huge door at the end of the hallway and when we opened it, we arrived at a wide room. The room had many large clear crystals which reflected us and at the center was a glowing ball of white light.

“Welcome to the Hall of Memories”, the ball said.

“The Primordial Memory”, Moona muttered.

I could feel it too. The ball radiated a powerful pressure as if I was staring at a powerful being.

“Come forward and state your desire”, it told us and we walked towards it.

“My name is Amelia Watson, a detective in Westa. Our desire is simple. We wish to have you restore Mikage Kamishiro’s memories”, Amelia spoke up.

I could feel the Primordial Memory looking deep inside me. It was like being naked and having someone look at every nook and cranny of your body.

“There is no one named “Mikage Kamishiro” who needs to have his memories restored”, it said.

What?

“What do you mean?” Amelia was also confused.

“As I have said, “Mikage Kamishiro” does not need to have his memories restored”, it told us again.

My sword glowed and turned into a small girl.

“Please wait a moment. Mikage did lose his memories. I’ve checked it myself. Take a look inside me if you have to”, Anya said.

The orb was silent for a while.

“Very well. I now understand the situation. You will now see his past”, a ray of light shone upon me and everything turned black.

###

Mikage collapsed to the ground when the ray of light hit him. Amelia and the others were alarmed and she rushed to his side.

“What happened to him?” she asked as she inspected his body.

He was still breathing and she could feel his pulse. It was great to know that he was alive but she was still worried.

“Worry not. He is just reliving his past. The sword can tell if he is in danger”, it said.

“The Primordial Memory is correct. Mikage’s consciousness is going at a rapid pace and reliving his memories”, Anya said after touching Mikage’s forehead.

“So all we have to do is wait? That’s boring, peko”, Pekora complained.

“If you wish to relive a certain moment, then you may request it”, the Primordial Memory said.

That gave Pekora an idea.

“I want to relive what happened on my birthday six years ago, peko!” Pekora raised her hand.

“Very well”, a ray of light shone on her from the ball and she collapsed to the ground.

“Do you two wish to relive a moment as well?” it asked the remaining two people.

“I’m fine”, Moona said.

“Me too. I don’t need to relive a memory”, Amelia told the ball.

She looked at Mikage who was sleeping peacefully. From what Anya and the Primordial Memory said, he wasn’t in any danger. He would just relive his memories.

“Wait... If he relives his memories, he would experience everything and feel whatever he was feeling at that moment, right?” Anya asked.

“That is correct”, the Primordial Memory answered.

“What about the part where he died? Would there be no problem if he experienced that again?”

Moona got curious about what she said.

“What do you mean by that?” Moona asked.

“You see... Mikage died before he got sent to this world. He got involved in an accident and lost his life. Would there be no aftereffects if he would relive that part?”

“There is no problem. His memories continued when he arrived in this world. He would continue his experience even after he died until the moment he arrives here”, the Primordial Memory answered.

“That’s a relief”, Anya said.

Amelia then noticed an important detail.

“I thought Primordial Beings require a vessel to exist in this world?” she asked.

“That’s the rule. Why do you ask?” Moona said.

“Then what is the vessel of the Primordial Memory?”

They looked at the orb of white light.

“If you wish to know, then I must tell you. My vessel is the entire Hall of Memories”, it said.

“The entire building is the vessel? I’ve heard that Primordial Beings can inhabit nonliving things but I never thought it was possible to make an entire place as a vessel”, Amelia asked.

“To think I’ll see 2 vessels of my fellow Primordial Beings here. This must be fate especially if it involved this man”, it said.

“What do you mean?” Moona asked.

“As the Primordial Memory, I know this man. And judging from his situation, he would be entangled in a complicated fate. Too complicated that even your vow and ideals would be tested”, it said.

Amelia felt that the Primordial Memory was talking to her. She looked at the sleeping Mikage. He was a normal boy who was summoned to become a vessel of the Primordial Dark. In more than one way, he was similar to her.

###

“Please... Have mercy...” a teenage boy was on the ground.

Another one was holding his bloody nose and one was groveling on the ground.

“That white uniform which is stained red because of blood, we wouldn’t have messed with the Chizome no Byakko if we knew you! We’re sorry!” they prostrated on the ground.

“Beat it”, I said.

The three people ran away as I picked up their victim’s wallet.

“Here”, I gave it to him.

“Y-You can have it. Just spare me please!!” the victim also ran away.

Ah great... Now I have another man’s wallet...

My school’s bell rang in the distance. I was late again... This was bad... Oh well, my day couldn’t get any worse than this.