The bustling cafeteria was a stark contrast to the quiet of Ryan's room.
People chatting animatedly, their voices creating a constant background hum as Ryan and Migi found a secluded corner table.
Ryan sat down with his tray - a poor substitute for pheasant, but the meatloaf would have to do.
Migi had transformed into her human form to avoid drawing attention, though her vibrant red hair still turned a few heads.
As Ryan took a bite of his food, he observed Migi with a sense of wisdom.
There was so much he didn't know, so many questions bubbling up from the fragments of memories he'd received.
"So," he began, his tone casual but his eyes sharp, "I've been wondering about something."
Migi leaned forward slightly, her emerald eyes meeting his. "Oh? And what might that be, darling?".
Ryan took another bite, chewing thoughtfully before speaking. "In these new memories, I recall you having a twin sister. What happened to her?".
Migi's expression flickered for a moment, a mix of surprise and something deeper - pain, perhaps?
She recovered quickly, but not before Ryan caught the change.
"Ah," she said, her voice softer than usual. "I didn't expect you to remember that detail so soon."
Ryan shrugged, his face impassive. "It stood out. You both served me well, it would be rather sad if I didn't remember her".
Migi nodded, her gaze drifting to the window beside them.
"My sister... She's been missing since the war. After the fall of the Spirit King - of you - chaos reigned. Many spirits were lost or scattered, my sister just happened to be one of them".
"And you never found her?" Ryan asked, his tone neutral but his eyes never leaving Migi's face.
Migi shook her head, a sad smile playing on her lips.
"No. I searched for years, but it was as if she had vanished completely. Sometimes I wonder if she's still out there, hiding, or if..." She trailed off, leaving the grim alternative unspoken.
Ryan nodded slowly, processing this information. "I see. And you believe she might still be alive?".
"I have to," Migi replied, her voice firm despite the pain in her eyes. "Hope is sometimes all we have."
As Ryan opened his mouth to respond, a flicker of movement caught his eye.
At a table not far from theirs, a man dressed in casual wear and a face cap quickly looked away, their hand moving suspiciously under the table.
Ryan's eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
Without changing his relaxed posture, he leaned slightly closer to Migi. "Don't react," he said quietly, "but I think we're being watched."
Migi's expression didn't change, but Ryan noticed her shoulders tense slightly.
"Are you sure?" she whispered back.
"Not entirely, I mean, I'm a nobody, why would anyone want to spy on me?" Ryan replied. "But something feels off. We should be careful about what we discuss in public".
Migi nodded almost imperceptibly, her eyes doing a casual sweep of the cafeteria.
"Perhaps we should continue this conversation elsewhere, darling?"
Ryan smiled, the expression not quite reaching his eyes. "Excellent idea. I think I've had my fill of mystery meat for one day".
As they stood to leave, Ryan cast one last glance at the suspicious individual.
There seems to be more than one now.
For a brief moment, their eyes met, and Ryan felt a chill run down his spine.
There was something in that gaze - recognition, perhaps? Or was it fear?.
Either way, as they exited the cafeteria, Ryan couldn't shake the feeling that their conversation had set something in motion.
....
Ryan and Migi strolled down the cobblestone streets of Old Town, a historic district in the heart of Technopolis City.
Unlike the sleek, modern architecture dominating most of the Human continent, this area preserved the charm of a bygone era.
"You know," Ryan mused, his eyes wandering over the quaint storefronts and cafes, "for all the talk of progress, there's something comforting about these old buildings… wonder why I never felt it before".
Migi, in her human form, nodded in agreement.
"Humans have always had a fondness for nostalgia. It's one of your more endearing traits."
As they walked, Ryan noticed subtle signs of the world's fusion of technology and magic.
A street lamp flickered to life as they passed, its glow emanating not from electricity, but from a small, captive spirit.
A shopkeeper used a runed tablet to update his inventory, the mystical symbols dancing across the screen.
"Tell me more about the current state of the Human continent," Ryan said, his tone casual but eyes alert. "My memories are still... jumbled."
Migi's voice lowered as she replied, "The Harmonea continent has become a powerhouse in recent years. After the war, they focused on combining technology with spirit magic, creating a unique hybrid culture. It's made them... formidable."
Ryan nodded, processing the information. "And the other continents? The spirit realms? Can't understand why everything seems so new yet old".
"Your past and present are a bit-"
Before Migi could answer, a commotion down the street caught their attention.
A crowd had gathered around a street performer, but something felt off about the scene.
As they passed, Ryan noticed the performer's movements were too precise, too fluid for a normal human.
The juggler's hands moved in blur, manipulating not just balls, but small orbs of elemental energy – fire, water, earth, and air.
"Impressive," Ryan murmured, his eyes narrowing slightly. "That must be an elemental artifacts… Lyla always had one of those".
The juggler's gaze suddenly locked onto Ryan, and in that moment, the performance changed.
The elemental orbs began to expand, growing larger and more volatile.
"Master," Migi whispered urgently, gripping Ryan's arm, "we need to leave. Now."
But it was too late.
The juggler's act exploded into chaos.
The fire orb burst into a column of flame, while the water orb unleashed a pressurized jet towards them.
Earth and air combined to create a swirling vortex of debris.
Bystanders screamed and scattered, revealing that the 'audience' had been anything but ordinary.
Several of them shed disguises, revealing sleek, form-fitting armour adorned with pulsing runes.
"Neutralise the target," one of them commanded, voice distorted by their helmet.
Ryan felt a surge of power within him, the dormant abilities of his past life stirring.
Part of him yearned to stand and fight, to unleash the full might of the Spirit King.
But Migi tugged insistently at his arm. "Please," she pleaded, her eyes wide with concern, "we can't fight them here. There's too much at risk."
For a moment, Ryan hesitated, the conflicting instincts of his past and present selves warring within him.
Then, with a slight nod, he allowed Migi to pull him into a narrow alleyway.
As they fled, the sounds of destruction echoed behind them.
The peaceful afternoon had shattered, replaced by the beginning of what promised to be a dangerous game of cat and mouse through the winding streets of Old Town.
Ryan's mind raced, analyzing their options, while a small part of him couldn't help but feel a thrill at the challenge.