In Cassius's Chamber
Cassius poured a thick stream of ale into his mug, the foam rising to the brim. He glanced up at Rethrus, his expression unreadable.
"So… what brings you here?" Cassius asked, swirling the drink lazily.
Rethrus shifted uncomfortably. "Ah… I need your help, sir."
Cassius raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a half-smile.
"Help? From me?" He took a long sip before leaning back. "After nearly beating one of my men to death… you've got some nerve, kid."
Rethrus bowed his head slightly, guilt weighing on his words. "I'm… sorry. I wasn't myself that time."
"Don't sweat it." Cassius waved it off. "Just another normal duel in our line of work." He eyed Rethrus carefully. "But tell me… what does a 'star' like you want from a bunch of mercenaries?"
Rethrus hesitated, uncertainty gnawing at him. He didn't fully trust Cassius—how could he? But if he wanted answers, he had to take a gamble.
"I know this sounds ridiculous…" Rethrus's voice lowered. "But the day before we left this city… I lost all memory of what happened."
Cassius's brow furrowed.
"When I woke up, I was in my bed… and I don't remember anything from that day."
"Huh." Cassius tapped his mug, considering. "You should've gone to the Medicinal Guild, not a mercenary hall."
"I… thought so too." Rethrus's voice trailed off. He clenched his fists, steeling himself. "But… something's not right. Before we left your gates… I saw a dwarf knight. He was from the Frings family."
Cassius's expression darkened at the mention of the Frings.
"And then…" Rethrus paused, his throat dry. "A vision of me… beating him senseless suddenly flashed in my mind."
Cassius took another long sip, draining his mug. He set it down, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Hmm… there's a simple explanation for that." His eyes gleamed with amusement. "Either you're losing your mind…"
Rethrus's breath caught.
"Or you can see the future."
Rethrus frowned, but Cassius wasn't done.
"Or…" Cassius leaned forward, his tone dropping lower. "It's your instincts."
"My… instincts?"
Cassius's smirk returned, but his eyes remained sharp. "A warrior's instincts don't lie, kid. Maybe you sensed danger before it happened. Or…" His smile faded.
"Your body reacted to something your mind hasn't caught up with yet."
Rethrus's stomach clenched.
"Of course…" Cassius leaned back, crossing his arms. "There's always the fourth option."
Rethrus swallowed hard. "And that is?"
"You're cursed."
Rethrus stiffened. "But… I've checked for marks. My seal was removed long before we ventured here."
"Then you can narrow it down." Cassius stood, his chair scraping against the floor.
"Look, kid… I've given you enough hints." His gaze turned cold.
"But be careful. Getting tangled with a family like the Frings… could bring a hell of a lot of trouble. For you—and for my guild."
Rethrus's mind raced as Cassius's words hung heavy in the air.
"Go," Cassius added, his voice quieter but laced with warning.
As Rethrus descended the stairs from Cassius's chamber, his mind churned with possibilities.
'I'm not cursed. I already checked my body.' His fingers brushed against his skin, where the seal had once been. Nothing.
'I'm not insane either. So… instincts?' He frowned. 'No… I'm not that kind of person. I don't act without thinking.'
His steps slowed.
'That leaves…'
His eyes narrowed as a realization struck.
'I can see the future.'
But doubt crept in almost immediately.
'Does that mean… losing fragments of my memory is the price for it? Give and take… that makes sense. But… I don't have a demon. How could I gain that kind of power if no one gave it to me?'
His thoughts spiraled as he reached the main hall.
The moment he stepped into the hall, Rethrus noticed the shift in the atmosphere. The people who had assisted Grob stood nearby, their faces unreadable—mixed with sadness and something else he couldn't quite place.
Grob, still bandaged but standing tall, stepped toward him.
'What now?' Rethrus sighed inwardly, preparing for another confrontation.
But to his surprise, Grob extended his hand.
"Damn, kid…" A wide grin spread across Grob's face. "You really are strong."
Rethrus blinked, caught off guard. Grob's smile was genuine—and as the mercenaries around them erupted in cheers, the tension in the hall melted away.
"Here's your bag," a familiar voice chimed in.
Rethrus turned to see the red-haired girl holding out his pack.
"Ah… thank you." He accepted it, then hesitated. "I'm sorry… I never got your name earlier. That was rude of me."
The girl smiled softly. "No worries. I understand—you had a lot on your mind. I'm Eri."
"Nice to meet you, Eri." Rethrus gave a small nod. "I'm Rethrus."
Before the conversation could go further, a blue-haired man approached, having a double dagger behind his back.
"I'm Kaeli," he said with a sly grin. "It's nice to meet the "strongest" student of Starglade."
"Ah… it's nice to meet you too."
Kaeli chuckled, his grin widening. "Damn… you were really gonna kill Grob back there, huh?"
"Eh… no, no! It was just… a misunderstanding." Rethrus scratched the back of his head, forcing a smile. "I'm not that kind of person."
Kaeli snorted, clearly unconvinced.
"Anyway…" Rethrus shifted uncomfortably. "It's nice meeting you all, but I should get going."
"Take care, kid." Grob gave him a nod of respect.
Eri and Kaeli echoed their goodbyes, followed by a few other guild members.
As Rethrus stepped toward the exit, the weight of Cassius's words still lingered in his mind.
As Rethrus walked along the stone path, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow across the city. The sight was breathtaking—the bustling streets now bathed in hues of orange and crimson. Yet, as much as he admired the view, his mind remained clouded.
'Why can't I remember anything… except for that scene?'
"Oh, Sir Rethrus!" Eddie's cheerful voice broke Rethrus's thoughts as he approached the inn.
"Did you eat already?"
"Ah… not yet. I was just about to buy something."
"No, no! Come here quickly," Eddie insisted, motioning him inside.
"Huh? Why?"
Eddie leaned in, lowering his voice. "Well, some lord's chaperones came by earlier… left you some gifts."
"Gifts?"
"Yep, all here." Eddie gestured toward a neat pile of items stacked beside the counter. "I took them since your room was locked, and the inn's been crowded lately."
Rethrus raised an eyebrow as he approached the gifts.
'What do they want now?'
He knelt down and examined the items—gadgets, food, potions, and several neatly folded notes. The notes were formal but inviting, all welcoming him to the city and offering invitations to their respective houses.
"Wow… the kingdom really favors you, huh?" Mrs. Hilda's voice chimed in as she approached with a warm smile.
"You can unbox them later," she added, gently tugging at his sleeve. "Come eat first."
Rethrus sat down at the familiar wooden table, the aroma of freshly cooked stew filling the air.
"So… how was your day?" Eddie asked, settling across from him.
"Tiring," Rethrus admitted. "Had to fight someone just to meet their guild master."
"Is that why you've got that cut on your nose?" Hilda's sharp eyes noticed immediately.
"Ah… yeah," Rethrus scratched his head. "But I beat him."
"Hmm, as expected." Eddie chuckled. "And I bet there was no healer in that guild."
"None," Rethrus sighed.
"Well, you're hungry now." Hilda piled more food onto his plate.
"Eat up. Later, I'll come by your room and put some hot water on that wound."
"Ah… you don't have to. It's just a small cut," Rethrus mumbled.
"No it's fine!" Hilda insisted.
"Hilda, the kid said no," Eddie gently reminded his wife, though his tone was warm. He glanced at Rethrus apologetically. "Sorry, Sir. We don't have children… and, well, she kind of sees you as her own."
Rethrus paused, catching the sadness in this elderly woman's eyes.
For a moment, he was reminded of his own mother. The warmth, the concern—it stirred something inside him.
'It's… nice,' he thought.
"Oh, it's fine," Rethrus said softly. "And you really don't have to call me 'Sir.' Just Rethrus is fine."
After finishing dinner, Rethrus sorted through the gifts. Most of them were unnecessary—blankets, extra clothing, and other supplies he didn't need.
"Here." He handed several items to Hilda and Eddie.
"What's this?" Eddie blinked.
"I don't need all of these," Rethrus said casually. "They'll be more useful to you."
"Rethrus… this is too much."
"Not at all," he insisted with a smile. "Consider it a thank-you for everything."
Later that night, as Rethrus climbed the stairs to his room, he was met with a crowd.
Adventurers.
Word had spread.
They stood by his door, some holding parchments, others simply eager to catch a glimpse of him.
"Sir Rethrus! Can we get your autograph?"
Rethrus sighed but gave them a polite nod, signing a few parchments before finally retreating to his room.
As he settled in, a soft knock echoed at the door.
"Come in."
Hilda entered, carrying a bowl of hot water and a clean cloth.
"Just one moment," she murmured gently, sitting beside him.
Rethrus didn't protest this time. He let her clean the wound, her touch delicate and careful.
The warmth of the cloth, the tenderness in her actions—it stirred memories of his mother.
'She really treats me like her son…'
For all his strength and fame, at the end of the day… he was still just a kid.
As sleep slowly overtook him, Rethrus allowed himself to feel that warmth.
Even if only for a moment.