"Because he's stupid, that's why."
Raghnall confidently said as he gazed at Frode's clueless expression. He felt that Frode finally got the hint so he released him from his headlock.
Frode stood up with a dissatisfied frown as he straightened his robe and glasses.
Why can't he just say the truth?!
It's like he's embarrassed to be my friend!
He glared at Raghnall before crossing his arms while huffing.
At the same time, Inna gazed at him with frustration.
After listening to his reply, it's clear that he's obviously hiding the real reason!
"What?! Stupid?! That's not even possible! There's no way a person can be that stupid to forget his own name! Can't you come up with a better excuse?!"
Raghnall laughed sarcastically at her outburst before his face grew serious.
"Ninny, if there are crazy people like you, then there are stupid people like him."
….
What the fuck did he just say?!
Inna's veins were about to burst.
"Okay… First of all…"
"I. AM. NOT. CRAZY!"
"Second, I will insist on the fucking fact that being stupid isn't a reason to forget your own friggin' name!"
Frode curiously looked at Raghnall and Inna with confusion in his eyes.
From what he heard from his friend's statement, this girl is supposed to be crazy?
Without any form of discretion, he began to observe Inna as she spouted more words of complaint. He looked at her body language, her clothing, her footing, and finally, her face. But all the signs of a demented person or a mildly crazed person doesn't seem to show up as he observed her.
Is she really crazy?
Or was his friend wrong about his assumption?
To test his friend's claim, Frode stroked his chin as he began going through the multiple books he read about being demented and crazed. While he was doing so, Inna ended her long speech about the reasoning on how stupidity isn't a valid excuse for forgetting their own name.
And of course, Raghnall and the rest only understood about a quarter of what she just said. Well, it's actually due to the fact that as soon as she started screaming, Raghnall immediately tuned her out with magic without her knowing.
Sensing that she was finally done, Raghnall nullified the deafening curse he casted.
"So you understand now? There's no way that that kind of reason is possible!"
"Then, tell me, what kind of reason can a person give that completely justifies forgetting his name?"
Raghnall challenged Inna because truthfully, he also can't think of any other reasons as well. Well, aside from the truth of course.
Hearing the challenge, Inna tried to think of possible things that can make a person actually forget their own name.
She tried to think but she can't even find a plausible excuse.
To think that she studied for 15 years and she can't even find a reason why people forget their names…
Ah WAIT!
Amnesia!
The iconic and cliché plot twist in dramas…
Amnesia… That's the only logical explanation…
Unless….
Wait…
There was an instance aside from amnesia where technically, 'she' didn't remember 'her name' either!
It was at that time!
It's possible!
Wait, a minute, if it's possible… then he…
No way…
So if he also can't remember his name, does that mean…
There's a small chance that he might be….
But there's a bigger possibility of amnesia and it's actually more logical!
Hmmmm…. I guess the only way to find out is to ask.
"Uhm… How should I say this without being rude…."
Inna murmured before deciding to just go with it.
"Did you ever hit your head?"
Raghnall smothered his laughter as he saw Inna ask Frode seriously. Despite hearing his sniggering, Inna decided to continue her line of questioning.
"Like a severe trauma in the skull? One where you were preferably in a coma? Like, after being hit in the head, you sleep in a very very long time?"
Frode had his eyes widened in awkwardness as he gazed at Inna with confusion. Still, obediently, he honestly tried to answer all her questions.
But when Inna saw Frode answering all her questions with 'no's', she tried to re-analyze the situation closely.
She realized that even if he was injured or may have suffered amnesia, someone would surely tell him or call his name immediately as he woke up. Then he would be saying, 'who are you?' Then the people would then try to fill in the gaps in his memories, including his name.
That's what usually happens in dramas...
So, it should be in a situation where there was no one who knew who 'he' was!
And left with only one possible choice, Inna can't help but giddily ask him.
"Did you also… reincarnate?!"
Raghnall and the rest of her teammates who heard her instantly coughed as they choked on their own spit. They all looked at her with eyes wide with disbelief and surprise but Inna ignored their exaggerated reactions. Instead, she focused her eyes on Frode's face and his smallest reactions.
But a few seconds after hearing his silence, she decided to elaborate.
"Did you like, arrive in Hel Halja with the Reapers and all? They're the ones with the cloak and the creepy yellow eyes! Did you also go through the walking in a straight line thing and reaching this tall castle? Then, then after that there was this handsome kingly guy who judges you using fancy words and such? Did you also see blue butterflies and purple grass? Oh wait, if you really did reincarnate, did you also jump in that pool?"
After being bombarded with strange questions, Frode didn't know how to react so he just looked at Inna straight in the eye.
For the first time, he held a serious expression as he looked at Inna, then at Raghnall. With a sympathetic gaze and a comforting pat on his friend's shoulder, he softly spoke to him.
"I'm sorry for doubting you. I can see now why you said those words earlier."
"She's definitely crazy."