Narihu

Echoes of the past

The wind blew fiercely as I lay on the ground, feeling the soft touch of the grass beneath me. The sun shone gently, calm and distant. It was the silence before the storm.

Zey was a traitor.

And yet, he had always seemed so kind, so trustworthy. I would've never believed he could do something like this. Then again, he once said something about Veldorian observers scattered across the continent... How did that not seem strange to me back then?

I pressed my hand to my forehead, feeling utterly foolish.

-I should probably start the trial…(I murmured, staring up at the sky, my thoughts lost in the void) Looks like the first trial is about the past… I wonder if it'll be different this time, or just continue where the last one left off.

-Alright, let's do this. (I sat up and found a tree nearby to rest under its shade. Closing my eyes, I began the trial)

The first thing I felt was water splashing all over me.

-W-What the— cough cough—what are you doing, Rei?! (I sputtered, wiping water from my face)

The sun burned hot overhead, and the wind had vanished entirely.

-Come on, don't tell me you're afraid of a little water! (Rei laughed, his voice bright with excitement)

So this wasn't a continuation of the last vision—but it was still my childhood. That meant I might be able to see my mother again.

-I'm coming, Rei! But I warned you, I'll give you a head start if you run!"

We kept playing, both of us drenched from head to toe, but the warm sunlight dried us almost instantly.

-Phfuu… I'm exhausted, (I said between heavy breaths) Who knew a water fight could be this tiring?

-That's because I clearly won. (Rei teased, collapsing against a tree trunk beside me)

My friendship with Rei truly went far back… I could imagine us spending every day together, laughing, chasing, dreaming. It made me happy just to know I'd once had a friend like him.

-So, I heard your dad's coming home today. He's been gone for a while, hasn't he? (he asked, leaning back lazily?

-Really? I… I had no idea.

(My father… what kind of man is he? Is he warm and kind like my mother? What does he look like? Do I resemble him at all?) Questions swirled through my mind.

-Your mom said you have to go home early to greet him together.

-Oh, right… she did say something like that. (I replied awkwardly, trying to act like I remembered)

We talked for a while longer, and I found myself admiring the flowing river and the distant mountains. It was all so peaceful, like a dream wrapped in sunlight.

-I've been meaning to ask. (Rei said suddenly) why do you always wear long sleeves, even when it's boiling hot?

I looked down at my arms, confused, and then slowly lifted my sleeve. The sight that met me made my stomach twist—I threw up.

-Hey, you okay? (Rei asked, grabbing my shoulder, her face filled with concern) Should I take you home?

-N-no, just… leave me alone. (I muttered, pushing myself to my feet. My vision spun, and I had to lean against the tree for support)

My arms were covered in puncture marks. Dozens of tiny needle scars.

Where… where had they come from?

Was this real, or was the trial playing tricks on my memories?

I stumbled home without saying goodbye. My head throbbed, my vision blurred. I'd hoped my mother's warmth would soothe me—but when I stepped inside, there was no warmth at all.

She sat in the kitchen, an empty bottle beside her, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

-Mom… what's wrong? Are you not feeling well? (I asked softly, fear creeping into my chest. The air was heavy, suffocating. This wasn't the loving mother I remembered—this was guilt, self-blame, pain made flesh)

-My son, (she whispered, gripping my shoulders with trembling hands) please… be strong. Be strong for me, because I can't be.

-I will, (I said quickly, panic rising in my chest) but what's happening? Why are you saying things like that?

-A mother like me doesn't deserve your concern, (she said, her voice breaking.) I'm not worthy to be called a mother at all…

Her words cut through me like a blade. Her eyes were distant, hollow, like she was already fading away.

Then—knocking.

A sharp, deliberate knock at the door.

-...I'm sorry, my son, (she whispered, her voice shaking) I'm so sorry…

A chill crawled down my spine. Something terrible was on the other side of that door.

I stood facing it, frozen, as the knocking grew louder, heavier.

Whatever the truth was—it was waiting for me beyond that door.

I reached for the handle.

The moment my fingers touched it—darkness swallowed me whole.

From within that endless black, a voice spoke.

-You're not ready to see that yet.

The voice was female, soft yet commanding, echoing from everywhere and nowhere.

-Who are you? (I demanded) What do you mean I'm not ready? Ready to see what? What's on the other side of that door?!

-If you knew now, (she said gently) you wouldn't be able to recover from it.

-The marks on my arms… my mother's sadness—were they real, or did the trial create them?

-What you see here, (the voice replied) is all drawn from your own past.

-No… that can't be true. My mother was always cheerful, full of light! Please, just tell me—who did this to her? Who made her so miserable?!"

There was silence—long, suffocating silence. Then, after what felt like an eternity, a sigh.

-You did.

Her words hit me like lightning.

-I can't keep you here any longer. (she continued) Congratulations on advancing to the next level. You've also earned three additional mana or—

Before she could finish, a blinding light pierced through the dark.

When my sight returned, I was back in my own world.

I'm the reason my mother suffered?

What did she mean by that?

What was on the other side of that door?

And why couldn't I be allowed to see it?

So many questions—too many. How could I ever find the answers?

-Hey, calm down. Everything will be fine. (whispered a soft, familiar voice near my ear)

I froze.

-Nari! You scared the hell out of me—what are you doing here?"

-I came to pick some flowers. (she said with a smile, handing me a small blue blossom) They're really beautiful here. Then I saw you looking so lost in thought, so… I wanted to surprise you.

-Thanks for the flower. (I said quietly. The soft blue petals seemed to warm the cold darkness inside me) I was just… thinking. But it's getting late. I should head back.

-I understand. (she said, smiling—that smile, the one that could melt away every shadow) It was nice running into you.

-(How can a smile feel so peaceful?) Take care on your way back! (I said) It can be dangerous out here.

-I've been coming here for a while—there's nothing dangerous. (she replied, still puzzled by my concern) But you be careful too, okay?

-I will. And… thank you, Nari.

I walked away, still smiling faintly.

Twice now, Nari had pulled me back from the darkness. I needed to repay her somehow.

Wait—had I really leveled up?

I stopped and focused my mana in one place.

-What the…? Four blue mana orbs already? (I whispered in disbelief. I'd never gained that much in a single trial before—not even in my previous life)

Which meant only one thing— I could finally begin training the most powerful technique I'd ever mastered.