Nyota was asleep.
It had been seemingly forever since he last met with Nora in his mind, this alleged "dream realm" she had spoken of before.
Falling deeper into his sleep, he waited for her appearance, and eventually, she showed.
"My son!" She began. "Hasn't it been forever?"
Nyota stood in place with a gloomy expression. "It has."
Nora frowned, her arms open. "What's the matter?"
"We have a lot to talk about," he sighed.
"You're telling me?" She joked. "Come, come, tell me about it." Somehow, she manifested a couple of chairs for them to sit.
Nyota declined, "I'm fine standing, honestly…" He trailed off, distracted by the scene's apparent transformation around him.
The dreamy, otherworldly scene of a dark sky and night stars all around and beneath the both of them shaped into a warm, cozy tavern right before their eyes.
It was empty, all the space for just the two of them to catch up, a wooden table placed between them with a couple of drinks.
Nyota was perplexed. "Did you… do that? How did you do that?"
Nora grinned. "You see, Son, your mind is my home now. Strangely enough, I can manipulate what it is you see in this realm.
I'm a supernatural plexus in your mind, like a 'system,' if you will. This newfound ability of mine, it will prove to be quite convenient to your benefit."
"Right…" Nyota trailed.
"I figured you could use something a bit more comforting. Please, have a seat."
Finally, Nyota accepted her invitation, sitting across the small table in front of her.
"Before we continue where we left off, how's life in the real world been? What's happened?"
Nyota paused before explaining. He shrugged. "The tournament went well. Sage, Kilo, and I made it to the final round.
Graduation was fine, too, although both events seemed to put Noriko on a pedestal. Not to mention that both the national anthem and pledge of allegiance were contextually off-putting to an extent.
Nonetheless, we lost to the Big Three, those… friends I told you about. They're the same agents we worked with when we traveled to the southwest.
Among the three of them is this girl, Idalia. Her and Sage seemed to have hit it off," he chuckled.
"Anway, Jora was proud of us, too, obviously. Before the tournament, he gifted us with katanas. I carry it everywhere I go with me now.
After the graduation ceremony, we met with him to figure out what our next steps would be.
We chose to join the Electric Path Spy Agency and the police force, that way the brothers and I stay within Lunanova to collect information and all that.
We thought that would be all to discuss at that moment, but he gave us some terrible news.
You see, his Modus allows him to see into the future when he comes into contact with people, and the way it works is that what he sees is inevitable.
Plus, what he sees vividly are things that are bound to happen soon. Sometimes he can see into the distant future without touching anyone, but those are hunches that usually turn out to be right, although not all the time."
Nyota stopped before continuing on. Holding back tears, Nora grabbed his hand from across the table. He looked her in her eyes, and she gave him a nod as to encourage him to continue on with his narration.
"Basically, we had to force the information out of him before he told us that he ran into the person who would kill him soon."
Without a word, Nora continued to listen intently, her expression still positive, although she struggled in part to keep her sincere smile.
"He spared us who the perpetrator would be, he spared us all of the details, actually, explaining that he didn't want to distract us from our elaborate plans.
That any sort of justice by our hands would come forth in due time if we remained patient.
So, reluctantly, we took his word for it. Later the same day, the brothers and I got a chance to speak to Noriko herself, exclusively. It was a very, honestly terrifying experience.
After that meeting, Sage went on a date with the girl, Idalia and didn't come back to our dorm until the next afternoon." Nyota laughed, wiping his face.
"We were in the middle of packing up from our dormitory into our new apartment, which looks virtually the same.
To be fair, I don't know if you could call our dormitory an actual one, it was one of the perks of working for Lunanova's government, I guess.
At this point in time, it had been some time since the brothers and I got to meet with Jora, just to hang out and stuff.
So on this day, we decided to venture to his usual place, the cadet campus. It's where he spent most of his time, just working, even when classes weren't in session.
But when we went…" Nyota trailed, this time, tears fell somewhat uncontrollably. He made no effort to wipe them away.
"We heard it, the gunshot. We ran to him, I held him in my arms, tried to save his life… But we were too late."
"I'm so sorry, Son," Nora comforted. "I'm sorry you've had to endure this."
Nyota shrugged, wiping away his dry tears again. "We're sort of okay, now. We had a funeral service, and many familiar faces came to gather in support.
But at the end of it, we saw Noriko's adjutant, Elwin."
"Elwin…" Nora trailed. "Hold on, wait a minute…
That name rings a bell."
Nyota's eyes widened as he'd been waiting forever for Nora to reveal more information about his past. "Really??"
She nodded. "Yeah… I can't quite remember why. But look alive, we'll get into all that tonight.
We'll replay all of your memories, each and every one of them."
"Really?!" Nyota was alleviated of his depression for a moment, finally glad to get to hear more about himself. He felt like he was finally getting somewhere.
"Yep!" Nora replied. "You've waited long enough, and you're officially an agent for Lunanova now. Not to mention you and your friends are on the same page.
I'd say you're quite settled and ready for your real journey to begin.
But back to your story, Elwin, was it? He appeared at Jora's service, but maintained an abnormal distance? Sounds to me like you know who your culprit is.
But I agree with Jora. Patience is a virtue, everything will sort itself out in time. Don't act too hastily."
Reluctantly, Nyota agreed. He acknowledged how Nora's reasoning for sparing him details about himself was for him to focus on his development as a fighter and agent, realizing how these reasons were shared by Jora all along.
"Okay," he spoke. "But enough, that's it on my front. You have to tell me everything! What don't I know?!
You have no idea how painful it's been going on living knowing my own memories were being hidden from me."
"Okay," Nora laughed. "Let's see, where did we leave off? What have I told you? What do you know?"
"I know you're my mother, which is why you care so much about me restoring my memory. I know your name, Nora.
I know that my mind is currently operating off two different sets of memories, the one that I'm conscious of being fabrications and the real one being hidden.
I know that you know you've found the real ones here in my mind, that I didn't grow up in an orphanage established by Noriko, even if the many orphanages around are indeed real and were indeed established by her.
I know Noriko is not the hero who I should dedicate my life to, and that, obviously, I couldn't have come from an orphanage right to the cadet campus.
I also know you didn't know who she was until I explained who she was.
Nora nodded. "That's right, there is a limit to what I know. Everything I can recall are my own memories from being alive as well as your old ones that you've forgotten."
"But with all that being said, I still have many questions, like where did I come from? Why and how did I forget everything?
And the biggest puzzle of all is how am I able to supernaturally communicate with you like this?"
All Nora could do was titter before giving Nyota what it was he had longed for seemingly forever.
"Okay… Let's get started then." She snapped her fingers, and the tavern domain vanished in thin air.
She then outstretched and crossed her arms. Then, she uncrossed and extended them wide open, creating and providing a stereographic and detailed view for Nyota.
It transformed into a theater-like screen, appearing small in size because of its distance from the two of them.
As it came closer, it became massive, enveloping both Nora and Nyota into a seemingly new world.
Nyota stood beside Nora as it brought them to the edge of a humble coastal town, Nyota's first glance at a distant, misplaced memory.
The memory unfolded in a gentle wash of light, warm and golden with the sun, high and confident, beaming down, its warmth softened by the occasional drift of clouds.
The air was thick with the mingling scents of brine and spice, a humid embrace that carried the unmistakable essence of the sea.
Beyond the town's weathered cobblestone streets, rolling hills cloaked in lush greenery framed the horizon, their peaks eclipsing the crystalline blue sky.
Trees swayed lazily in the breeze, their leaves shimmering like emeralds against the light.
The ocean stretched out in the distance, its waves glittering like liquid sapphire. The cries of seagulls mingled with the chatter of townsfolk and the rhythmic clatter of horse-drawn carts over stone.
Every breath Nyota took was saturated with life—the savory scent of grilled fish, spiced poultry, and the faint sweetness of roasted plantains.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Nora asked before turning toward Nyota, her voice a soft melody that matched the town's rhythm.
To her amazement, Nyota's eyes welled up, a priceless expression that accurately reflected just how much he had yearned to see just a slither of what was taken away from him.
"It is…" he replied, still starstruck by his surroundings.
"Come, let's take a walk."
Nora grabbed his hand, and together, the two walked the streets.
Nyota's gaze wandered to the bustling market stalls, where a vendor fanned the flames beneath skewers of marinated chicken.
Nearby, children played along the cobbled paths, their laughter a song carried on the breeze.
"Where are we?"
"Well, it's Lunenrane! It's the town you were born and raised in, of course."
"Lunenrane?" Nyota's heart skipped a beat, now having a name to attach to his roots. He had his suspicions this was the case, but now, it was unmistakable.
"These familiar faces… everything, it all feels so real." He murmured, his voice thick with wonder and a touch of unease.
Miniature bits and portions of his memories came rushing back, sure that what he was seeing weren't mere figments of his imagination.
He was certain. These senses were every bit real, and not the slightest bit a dream.
"That's because it was," Nora replied gently, her eyes lingering on the scene. "You lived this, Nyota. And it's time for you to remember it again."
Nyota could feel the sun on his skin, the humidity clinging to him like a second layer, the breeze a fleeting relief.
His eyes lingered on the hills, where homes nestled into the verdant slopes seemed to watch over the town. Vines crept along the wooden fences, and vibrant flowers bloomed wherever they could.
"This is where we used to stop for lunch after long walks," Nora said, gesturing to a stall where a younger version of Nyota stood with another image of her, gripping a bowl of rice and grilled chicken.
The boy's face was flushed with the effort of trying to blow the bowl cool.
Nyota's eyes widened, initially turning to Nora to ask if it was okay to interact with them.
After she encouraged him, he slowly approached the younger version of himself.
Cautiously inching closer to tap the boy's shoulder, he was caught off guard when his hand phased through him.
The past images of himself and Nora together walked away in the distance, disappearing as they went.
Nyota retreated his hand, his morale falling, having been reminded that no matter how real everything felt, it was all the past.
It was bittersweet, feeling like he belonged in the moment, even if only in a dream.
He thought about how people wish they could go back in time, and how they use memories as little snacks to munch on when reflecting on the past.
Then he thought about how he had wanted to do the same, except he had neither the experiences or the memories to hold on to and cherish…
Until now.
A tear dropped from his eye, and he remained speechless.
With Nyota ahead with his back turned toward her, Nora frowned, saddened at the sight of her son's apparent desolation.
She breathed as if to reset herself, clasping her hands together to grab his attention. "Now, let's delve in!"
She gestured forward. "Shall we?"