The moment the word escaped her lips, an ominous darkness descended like a heavy curtain, shrouding the scene in an impenetrable void that devoured all light.
'What the hell is this?'
It was as though an abyss had devoured everything in its inky embrace. Leon found himself plunged into an impenetrable void, a realm stripped of light and form, where shadows seemed to swallow every sound.
In the disorienting darkness, time itself warped. Seconds stretched into an eternity, and just as swiftly, it collapsed into a fleeting instant. Then, as abruptly as it had descended, the darkness receded.
As Leon's eyes adjusted to the returning light, he stood there, only Diana by his side. The bandits, poised for attack just moments ago, had vanished without a trace.
"Done," said the maid. "Now." She then turned her gaze to the two of them, who were still standing, flabbergasted. "I am sorry, but can the two of you forget that?"
"F-Forget what?" asked Diana, still reeling from the surreal events.
Leon seized the opportunity to inspect Lilian's stats.
——————————
Name: Lilian
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Title: ???
Strength: ???
Resistance: ???
Stamina: ???
Agility: ???
Magic: ???
Magic Resistance: ???
Skills:
-???
-???
-???
-???
-???
——————————
Apart from the basic information, Lilian's stats held no valuable details. It was as if her abilities were shrouded in the same enigmatic darkness that had just swallowed the bandits. The mystery surrounding her deepened as the void of information left more questions than answers.
"What the hell is this, Eve?" Leon demanded answers, his voice desperate for a response. Yet, there was only silence, a void where Eve's voice should have been.
"Lilian, what did you do? How did you do it?" Diana's disbelief was palpable.
Lilian, an embodiment of unsettling calm, spoke casually. "Just a simple trick to shoo away pests. Oh, and by the way, adventurer, feel free to pick up those weapons scattered on the ground. They're of no use to me, nor to the young lady, for that matter." Her disconcertingly serene smile widened. "Oops. I almost forgot. I'll erase the memory of me defeating all those pests and replace it with the image of Diana handling it all herself. Silly me for saying something like that, even though you won't be able to remember."
She regarded Leon with a smile so serene, yet her eyes betrayed no trace of joy. What was this?
"With my Eyes of Truth, I usually discern everything, but your stats elude my sight. Are you more powerful than me, your stats veiled from my gaze? I don't sense power within you. I don't feel hunger for it. This is kind of strange," Lilian mused. She closed the distance, approaching Leon. Leaning forward until their faces were inches apart, she continued, "Oh well. It's possible that you just possess a skill that hides your stats."
Diana, her entire being quivering, sought answers within the depths of Lilian's gaze. "Lilian... How do you wield such power?" Despite her outward show of bravery, an undercurrent of vulnerability pulsed through her.
Lilian's eyes, devoid of any discernible color or emotion, bore into Diana's with an unsettling intensity. "I possess it, and soon, it shall slip into the shadows of your memory," she whispered. Her gaze then shifted to the half-risen moon, casting an otherworldly glow across her expressionless face. With a soft murmur that seemed to carry an arcane weight, she pronounced, "Memory Manipulation."
As Lilian uttered those words, an otherworldly energy cascaded from her, sending ripples through the night air. The atmosphere crackled with an arcane force, and an ominous chill snaked down the spines of all who bore witness. The very essence of reality seemed to warp as if the fabric of time and memory were bending to Lilian's will.
Leon felt an unsettling sensation, like the delicate threads of his past experiences were being delicately rewoven. Images flickered in his mind, rearranging themselves in a dance of illusions. His last memories were of impending danger, but now, there was a subtle shift. Diana, in the forefront, courageously confronting the threat with unparalleled skill, erasing any trace of Lilian's involvement.
Diana, too, experienced the strange dance of recollection. The memories of Lilian's power transformed into a narrative where she stood alone, a fearless warrior, facing the challenges unaided.
Lilian's eyes glowed with an otherworldly light as she deftly manipulated the very threads of their consciousness. The moonlight reflected off her expressionless face, accentuating the mysterious power she commanded.
As she wrought her memory-altering sorcery, a holographic message materialized right before Leon.
——————————
Caution: Your mind is under siege.
To fend off this assault, you need a mental defense skill. Should I conjure one for you?
-Yes
-No
——————————
Without a moment's hesitation, he affirmed with a resounding yes. Instantaneously, a luminous holographic message manifested, captivating in its ethereal glow.
——————————
Alert: This decision may exact a substantial toll on your power, albeit temporarily. Are you certain?
-Yes
-No
——————————
Leon didn't hesitate to choose yes once again.
The holographic interface responded to Leon's choices, its ethereal glow pulsating with significance. As he confirmed his decision, an unseen force seemed to ripple through the air, acknowledging the gravity of his choice.
——————————
Processing...
——————————
The word materialized in luminous letters, hanging in the air as if echoing through the corridors of Leon's consciousness. The mental assault intensified, but a newfound strength surged within him—an ethereal shield crafted from the very essence of his decision.
——————————
Defense Skill Acquired: Mental Resistance (lvl. 1)
——————————
A cascade of radiant symbols, ethereal and pulsating with unseen energy, enveloped Leon. The very air seemed to shimmer as these symbols etched into existence, marking the birth of his newfound mental fortitude. The assaulting force, a torrent of insidious thoughts, recoiled in the face of this newfound resilience, repelled by the luminous strength emanating from his resolute choice. Yet, as the result of his decision materialized, a sudden weakness gripped him, his eyes rolling upward in a moment of vulnerability. Before his consciousness yielded, he succumbed to the unfathomable power at play, and the world blurred into unconsciousness.
***
Lilian regarded the adventurer not with concern, but with a calculated mix of intrigue and disinterest. Sprawled on the ground like a marionette with severed strings, only the whites of his eyes visible, a foamy specter graced his mouth. His body lay limp. He wasn't dead; he had simply slipped into the shadows of temporary oblivion.
"Seems he couldn't bear the weight of Memory Manipulation and fainted. Frailer than anticipated..."
Lilian's gaze then shifted, focusing on Diana, the canvas of her memories being meticulously painted over. In Lilian's orchestrated reality, Diana stood as the solitary victor over the bandits, a triumphant figure with no hint of Lilian's involvement.
"This might bruise your ego if you remember everything. Count your blessings; I'm crafting an alternate reality in your mind to spare you that burden."
After reshaping their memories, Lilian pivoted and gracefully walked away from the bewildered pair. She retraced her steps towards the carriage, where the young lady she served sat with closed eyes, her head leaning against the glass wall. Lilian's fingertips, touched with an ethereal glow, delicately brushed against the lady's forehead as she murmured, "Wake."
As Lilian spoke those words, a subtle ripple emanated from her touch, an unseen force beckoning Mellissa's consciousness back from the depths of oblivious slumber. Mellissa's eyes fluttered open. A moment of confusion painted her expression. "Huh? What transpired, Lilian? Why has the carriage halted? And when did I succumb to sleep?"
In truth, Lilian had orchestrated the dance of slumber just before the bandits' intrusion, veiling Mellissa in a blissful ignorance.
"I believe a minor issue with the carriage, Lady Mellissa. No cause for concern," Lilian reassured with a calming demeanor.
"I see. How much further until we reach Rusuan?"
"We're still traversing quite a distance."
Mellissa sighed, a tinge of worry etching her features. "Mother will be incensed with me now. Well, at least I've brought her a present."
"I am certain she will be overjoyed," Lilian replied with a gentle smile, yet her eyes retained an unwavering coldness, untouched by the emotions that graced her lips.
***
As Mellissa and Lilian exchanged words within the carriage, Diana lingered outside, her senses gradually returning. The world around her felt subtly altered, like a painting reframed to tell a different story.
Momentarily befuddled, she mumbled, "Oh, I see. I defeated those bandits," glancing at her sword, tightly clutched in her hands. However, a renewed confusion settled in, "Huh? But I feel like I didn't do anything at all. Why am I feeling like this?"
Amid her attempts to unravel the mystery, she noticed a figure sprawled on the ground out of the corner of her eye. It was the adventurer.
"Is he okay? He isn't...dead, right?"
She crouched down, her fingertips delicately brushing against his cheek in a quest for reassurance. However, the man remained locked in the grip of unconsciousness, unresponsive to her touch.
"H-Hey? Are you okay?" Her voice carried a tone of concern, a fragile echo in the stillness that enveloped them.
The adventurer lay there, unmoving, his features cast in an unsettling stillness. The air seemed to hold its breath. Diana's concern deepened as she noticed the absence of any response to her attempts to rouse him.
A distant rustle in the foliage hinted at the subtle shift of nature, indifferent to the unfolding scene. The world held its breath, mirroring the suspended animation of the adventurer's unconscious form.
As Diana persisted in her efforts, a subtle quiver ran through the man's body, almost imperceptible. It was as if the very fabric of reality hesitated before deciding whether to release him from the clutches of unconsciousness. Time seemed to stretch, elongating the seconds into an eternity of uncertainty.
Then, with a soft sigh, the adventurer stirred. His eyes, once veiled in an abyss of unconsciousness, flickered open. The world, momentarily suspended, resumed its dance, and the air, pregnant with anticipation, exhaled.
Diana exhaled a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "You're awake. Thank the gods."