Now that I was sitting on my bed, I realized just how cold it truly was inside, maybe I wasn't paying attention to my surroundings as well as I thought but it still seemed weird. Especially without air conditioning I simply couldn't understand how the room had managed to stay at such a cool temperature while outside it was really warm considering it was the night. Sadly, there wasn't a clear indication in the room indicating they had a cooling system in place, so I resigned myself to ask the maid once she was back.
After waiting for about 10 minutes, I could finally hear some voices from afar. I looked at the door and the long hallway that extended beyond it. I repositioned myself slightly, having my back straight and now sitting at its end facing the door. I didn't want to take the chance and seem impolite in front of whoever this *madame* was.
From a corner at the end of the hallway there were 5 people who showed up, the maid, the butler, 2 soldiers and one older lady. The soldiers were quite clearly older men, in there 30's presumably, they seemed to have the same logo on there clothes, a cypress vine. They weren't wearing armor, instead opting for soft clothes that had darker colours, but their muscles, expressions and clearly they're sword gave away what kind of position they owned. On the other hand, the women was quite a bit older, between her 50's and 60's. She had golden hair with green eyes, they looked a bit like mine in my past life in fact. She had a strong walking demeanor and had confidence shining in her eyes, a noble and probably the owner of this manor.
I let them keep walking towards me while I smiled awkwardly. Although they were talking earlier, they had stopped as soon as they saw me looking at them. I didn't really know what to make of it. Although the maid clearly seemed happy to see me awake, I couldn't really discern what the others thought about me, they all wore a poker face, not showing any indication of what they thought. As they got closer the maid rushed to my side again.
- Joel you shouldn't be standing up like this, lie down your body still isn't in good shape you should rest more, you just need to answer questions about what happened alright.
I could hear it in her voice that she was genuinely worried for me. She wanted the best for me, and she seemed to be quite a nice person, but sadly for her I couldn't do what she asked for. I repositioned myself a bit comfortably, but I was still sitting on the bed. I slowly opened my mouth to respond but the madame spoke first.
- Joel care to tell us what happened? We are still trying to find the perpetrators of the attack at your house and of your parent's death but we haven't found anything yet.
I looked at her surprised. My brain worked threw the information as quickly as possible. First of all, I seemed to have finally found a clew about my past, but it looked to be quite a tragic story. My parents are dead… my emotions got the hold of me again, to think I had to think about the death of someone I was close to again. Not that I was close with Joel's parents, but it still brought back memories of Kim and some of my friends… I missed them.
- Crying won't help I do hope you remember, or do you not care for what happened to your parents?
I looked up at the women again, did she not have feelings? Although it wasn't crying for my parents, it didn't mean that the real Joel couldn't have been. I didn't really hide my annoyance with her in my facial expression, I wasn't an actor anyways so I don't think I would of really succeeded. I took in a long breath…
- I'm sorry mam… I have no memories of what has happened. The closest memory that I...
- You dare lie to me Joel! After me and my family saved you and are trying to help you just go on and say things like that? Trust me I want to catch the perpetrator even more then you.
I was stunned, she really had no sympathy at all, if I wasn't in the situation I was in I would have shouted back at her but I just staired in disbelief, just what was she doing?? I then just simply said the truth not knowing what else to say.
- I'm really sorry, I'm sure you want to catch them, and I would never doubt it, but I really cannot remember anything, nor you, nor where we are nor myself.
I stopped talking, looking at her in the eyes. I didn't dare say anything else, I just hoped that my silence would carry the weight of the truth I was saying.
The women looked back at me, looking all over me. I assumed to try and determine whether I was lying or not.
- Arnold, please go get the curse detector, I want to know whether he's lying or not.
The butler quickly left the room. I looked as he walked quickly to the end of the hallway from where they had come initially. I looked back at the women.
- I'm sorry but can you tell me what that curse detector is? I don't remember what it is either.
I scratched my head in embarrassment, seemed like this would be a long day, clearly they had a different technological advancement path compared to what would be standard in the future. The women looked at me again with a stern expression.
- It's a device that can tell weather someone has been cursed. Since the only way for you to lose your memory is threw a curse, we'll know soon enough whether you are lying or not.
Her eyes were almost throwing daggers at me, just what had I done for this lady to hate me so much? And what was the whole story about curses? As much as someone could be misinformed in this era, how could they think it's a curse. Wouldn't they at least find a relationship between people injuring they're head and them losing parts of they're memory? Well, it wasn't the time to question the cultural aspects of where I was currently, I could always figure that out latter.
The room was now eerily silent, no one was talking but everyone was staring at me. It did feel a bit intimidating honestly, having all those stairs right on me. Although I was used to it in the past, at least then I knew why. Currently though I didn't, shouldn't they have sympathy for someone who lost they're parents and they're memory? I sighed, there wasn't much I could do for now, so I turned towards the maid to ask my initial question about the room temperature. I didn't feel like having daggers shot at me again so I thought it would be better to ask her.
- I'm sorry, but could I ask you why this room is so cold compared to outside? Do you have some sort of cooling mechanism? I just don't see any devices that could explain the temperature.
If before only the women and the soldier were looking strangely at me, now the maid had joined in on the fun. Her face was dumbfounded, clearly she wasn't expecting the question. Was it a stupid question? Did I miss something obvious?
- .. uhm do you really not know why? Well, no, why else would I be asking?
Now her reaction was really worrying me, was I being dumb? I tried thinking again but just what in the world could explain it if they didn't have modern technology. If anything this was better because clearly it took almost no space and was invisible to the naked eye.
- Young master... the reason that there's nothing is because there's no need. We simply use ice magic too cool the ro...
Huh… I stopped listening to the maid entirely. What did she mean ice magic? What magic, that doesn't exist. But at the same time it made sense no? A room that's cold without being any devices, the green flames, both would be explained by that simple answer. My mind refused to believe it, but it was just the simple answer, but it didn't make sense, why would magic exist? Weve never seen it or have hear of it on earth, so how could they have in the past. But in the end, I had to ask my last question.
- So… are you telling me the flames outside, the green ones, they were made by magic as well?
The maid looked at me with an even more surprised expression then before, but this time there was worry as well in her face. Was it a joke and now she was worried that I couldn't even tell the difference between reality and a joke? Well, I kind of hopped so, because I was now anxiously waiting for her answer, just what in the world was happening?
- Young master, are you ok? Of course that's magic as well, it's the Adayus families unique flame, your future wife's family, don't you remember that as well?
I stared at her deadpanned. Just what did she say???