I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, Linza's words replaying in my mind.
"Because I'm the only one who can hope to survive if you go on a rampage again."
A rampage? What exactly did I do? The way Eryndor spoke, the way Linza looked at me—not with fear, but with caution—it was as if they were expecting me to lose control at any moment.
I clenched my fists.
What am I?
I had no answers, only a gnawing emptiness in my mind. The memories were there, I could feel them, but every time I tried to grasp them, they slipped away like sand through my fingers.
Then a knock on the door pulled me out of my thoughts.
Linza stepped inside again, carrying a folded set of clothes. She placed them on a nearby chair. "The general said you are to change into these and join him for a meal," she said, her tone neutral.
I sat up, still feeling weak. "And if I refuse?"
Linza's expression didn't change. "It's the general's order I will have to drag you there myself."
I sighed. There was no point in resisting. If I wanted answers, avoiding Eryndor wasn't the way to get them.
Linza turned to leave but paused at the door. "Also… don't try anything foolish. You might regret it."
With that, she closed the door behind her.
I looked at the clothes she had brought. They were simple yet well-made—black pants, a dark tunic, and a thick belt—nothing extravagant, but still a thousand times better than the leaves I had been wearing before.
I got dressed slowly, wincing as a dull ache ran through my body. Whatever had happened two days ago had left its mark.
As I buttoned the tunic, my fingers brushed against my skin. My breath caught.
A strange mark was on my chest, just over my heart—a faint, glowing symbol—something ancient, something wrong.
What… is this?
I stared at it, my heart pounding. It hadn't been there before. At least, not that I remembered.
The door creaked open. "Are you done?" Linza asked, stepping inside without waiting for an answer.
I quickly covered my chest. " Yea...Yeah, I'm ready."
She gave me a once-over, then motioned for me to follow. "Then let's go. The general is waiting."
I took a deep breath and followed her out.
One thing was clear.
I had more questions now than ever before.
And I wasn't sure if I was ready for the answers.
The hallway outside my room was vast, its high ceilings adorned with intricate carvings. A red carpet stretched down the center, muffling our footsteps. Golden chandeliers hung above, casting a soft, flickering glow.
Despite the elegance, the air felt heavy. Guards stood at regular intervals, their gazes sharp and unwavering as Linza led me forward. Some of them stiffened at the sight of me, gripping their weapons a little tighter.
It was subtle, but I noticed.
I wasn't just a guest here.
I was a threat.
My fists clenched at my sides as we reached the grand dining hall.
Linza pushed open the large wooden doors, and inside, Eryndor sat at the head of a long table. Plates of food were arranged neatly in front of him—roasted meat, bread, fruits, and a pitcher of dark red wine.
He looked up as I entered, his gaze sharp but unreadable. He motioned to the seat across from him. "Sit."
I hesitated for a moment, then did as he asked.
Linza took her place near the door, standing like a watchful shadow.
Eryndor picked up his goblet and took a sip before speaking. "You must have many questions."
I looked down at my plate, my appetite nonexistent. "Too many," I admitted.
He leaned forward slightly. "Then ask."
I didn't know where to start. I was surrounded by memories I lacked, a strange mark on my chest, and the way everyone seemed to fear me.
I settled on the most pressing one. "What happened to me in the prison before I woke up here?"
Eryndor exhaled slowly. "You lost control. The mages who tried to read your mind to find out who you are died. After you fell we took them to the infirmary to check what happened to them and found out their brains burst. You survived, but you were unconscious for two days."
A cold shiver ran down my spine.
"I don't remember any of that," I muttered.
Eryndor's gaze hardened. "Convenient."
I gritted my teeth. "You think I wanted this to happen? You think I wanted to kill them?"
"I don't know what you wanted," he said, setting his goblet down. "But I do know this—magic like that doesn't come from nowhere. You are dangerous, whether you mean to be or not."
My hands curled into fists. "So what now? Am I your prisoner?"
Eryndor smirked. "That depends on you. I could have thrown you into a cell, but I didn't. You're in my mansion, not my dungeon." He leaned back. "But don't mistake that for freedom."
I stared at him, trying to figure out his intentions.
He wasn't treating me like a typical enemy. If anything, he was testing me.
"Tell me something, Silas." His voice lowered. "What do you remember? Anything at all?"
I hesitated, then placed a hand over my chest where the mark was.
There was something. A feeling. A distant, echoing voice whispering in a language I didn't understand.
But when I tried to grasp it, it faded.
"...I remember waking up in a cave," I admitted. "I remember the pain. The roots digging into me. I freed myself from those roots by cutting them with a sharp stone and when I thought I was free the heads of the roots that remained after the cutting started going into my body the pain was unbearable and fell unconscious and when I woke up again there was nothing on my body, not even a mark of the roots being there. when I got out of the cave it was then I found out it was not actually a cave but a hollow space between the roots of a huge tree it was a mystical tree that had a claiming aura to it. its leaves glowed."
it's better not to tell him about my world for now.
Eryndor raised an eyebrow. "A mystical tree with a calming aura?"
I met his gaze. "yes! That is where I was coming from if you don't believe me you go deep into the forest with me and I will show you."
I took a deep breath and said "I only remember my name. and what happened to me, why was I there I don't remember. and when you guys saw me I was trying to get out of the forest."
He studied me for a long moment before speaking.
"I believe you and I suggest you don't tell anyone else about this or you might find yourself in a troublesome situation."
His words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken warnings.
Linza finally stepped forward. "If you're done, I'll escort him back."
Eryndor waved a hand dismissively. "Go. And make sure he stays out of trouble."
Linza nodded and motioned for me to follow.
As we stepped out of the dining hall, my mind raced.
I wasn't sure if Eryndor saw me as a threat now that I had explained why I was in the forest.
But one thing was certain.
I had to find out who I was—before they decided for me.