The lab was a chaotic masterpiece of curiosities, tools, and strange inventions, much like the man who ran it. Vero bounced around the room with the kind of energy that could only belong to someone with far too many thoughts running through their head. He was already showing Roseiral yet another one of his "fun experiments," a bubbling liquid in a large glass container, clearly pleased with his latest concoction. Roseiral couldn't help but marvel at how someone could remain so enthusiastic in the face of so much nonsense.
"See this?" Vero said, holding up a vial filled with a swirling purple substance. "This is the perfect formula for enhancing strength for a brief time. I call it 'Stimulant 67.' Take it before a fight, and you'll feel invincible for about thirty minutes. Though, I wouldn't recommend it more than once a day—your liver won't forgive you."
Roseiral winced. "You put this in your body?" she asked skeptically.
Vero shrugged. "I'm a scientist. If I don't test it myself, how will I know it works?"
Roseiral shook her head but couldn't suppress a small smile at his reckless enthusiasm. She had already learned that Vero was unpredictable, often to the point of absurdity, but his passion for his craft was undeniable.
As Vero continued with his impromptu science lesson, showing her jars of what he called "enhanced enzymes" and "stabilizing agents," Roseiral's gaze drifted around the cluttered lab. Her eyes wandered across shelves of discolored glass bottles, strange powders in tightly sealed pouches, and metal contraptions she didn't even begin to understand. The lab felt like an ever-changing landscape of ideas and experiments, a reflection of Vero himself—a man who lived in a world of his own making.
But something else caught her attention. In the corner of the room, half-hidden behind a stack of papers and discarded bottles, was a bulky object—something she couldn't immediately place. It was square, metallic, and had a peculiar arrangement of dials and buttons on the front. Above it, a series of circular glass panels lined the top, each filled with a different color of light. The whole thing looked like a strange hybrid between a musical instrument and a machine, and the sheer oddity of it made Roseiral pause.
Her curiosity got the better of her. "What's that?" she asked, stepping closer to the object.
Vero, who had been happily talking about the potential of his latest "flesh-healing" serum, turned to follow her gaze. His face immediately shifted from playful enthusiasm to mild confusion. "Ah, that thing? No idea. It's been here ever since I moved in, but I've never figured out what it actually does."
Roseiral raised an eyebrow. "You've never tried to figure it out?"
"Well, I've tried a few things, but nothing seems to make it work the way I want," Vero said with a dismissive wave. "I have a friend who's really good with technological gadgets, but even he was stumped by it. He says it's probably some kind of thing the Art Kingdom made, you know, they're all about mixing technology with magic. It looks like something they'd build. Or, hell, maybe it's just some really weird old artifact."
The mention of the Art Kingdom piqued Roseiral's interest. She'd heard rumors about their technological prowess, how they blended alchemy with advanced machinery in ways that defied conventional understanding. They were known for their strange inventions, their augments and magical technology, though few outside their borders had ever seen them up close.
"I've heard of them," Roseiral said, studying the strange machine. "The Art Kingdom is to the east of my village, but we could never get there. There's a huge river blocking the way, and it was always too dangerous to cross. That's why we always traveled south toward the Heart Kingdom—it was easier to get there by carriage."
Vero's eyes lit up with curiosity. He leaned forward, his expression as eager as ever. "Really? That's fascinating! So, your village is near the border with the Art Kingdom. I'd love to visit there someday, see all the tech they've got. I'm sure there are things we can learn from them—maybe even discover some of their secrets."
Roseiral nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, it's… a shame we never got the chance. The river made it impossible for us to get there. But the Heart Kingdom wasn't so bad. The roads were well kept, and it was easy to travel there for trade. Still, I always wondered what it would have been like to see the Art Kingdom."
Vero chuckled, and for a moment, his face softened with the kind of nostalgia that seemed out of place for someone like him. "Yeah, I get that. The world is so full of places we'll never visit, mysteries we'll never understand… Sometimes I think that's the beauty of it, y'know? The unknown is what drives us to keep searching."
His sudden shift in tone caught Roseiral off guard. Vero, despite all his antics, had a way of turning serious when she least expected it.
Before she could respond, Vero snapped back to his usual self, his face lighting up with a mischievous grin. "So, what's your village's name again? You said it was near the Art Kingdom, but I don't think you told me the name of the place."
Roseiral blinked. "Oh… uh…" She racked her brain, but the name of the village remained frustratingly out of reach. She could see it in her mind's eye—the narrow streets, the homes with wooden fences, the smell of fresh bread wafting through the air—but the name itself eluded her. "I… I don't know."
Vero's grin faded, and he looked at her, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. "You don't know?"
Roseiral felt a knot form in her stomach. She tried to focus, to reach for the name, but it remained lost in the fog of her memory. "I—I can't remember it. It's like it's… gone."
Vero frowned, crossing his arms. "Eh, that's okay. Happens to everyone, right? Forgetting stuff here and there. You're probably just stressed out or something." He waved it off with a casual shrug, as if it was no big deal.
Roseiral wasn't convinced, but she didn't press him. She had tried, after all. But the feeling that something was wrong gnawed at her.
"Yeah… I guess you're right," she said, though her voice was uncertain.
Vero gave a wide grin and clapped her on the back. "Exactly! Don't sweat it, Roseiral. We all forget stuff, even the important stuff. Anyway, let's keep the train rolling!" He shifted the conversation with his usual enthusiasm, gesturing to the mess of potions and papers around them. "Got some cool experiments for you to look at. You won't believe what this thing can do!"
Roseiral nodded, but as Vero bounced from topic to topic, showing her all sorts of bizarre concoctions and devices, the unsettling feeling never left her. The name of her village—her past—was still missing, and though Vero brushed it off as nothing, Roseiral couldn't shake the feeling that something far more serious was happening. What had caused her to forget such an important detail? And why did it feel like there was more to it than just forgetfulness?
She tried to push it to the back of her mind as Vero launched into his latest project—something about a "speed-enhancing serum" he was eager to demonstrate—but the hole in her memory lingered, quietly growing larger with every passing minute.
-
The day had passed quickly in Vero's lab. Roseiral had been too distracted by his ridiculous antics and the peculiar experiments he showed her to even notice the time slipping away. But now, as the last traces of sunlight slipped through the windows, she realized she had been there far longer than intended.
"Oh! I should probably get going," Roseiral said, her hand instinctively reaching for the door.
Vero, who had been hopping from one side of the lab to the other, turned with exaggerated surprise. "Leaving already? You're no fun, Roseiral! You can't just leave me here with all this genius," he said, dramatically pointing at the piles of odd ingredients and half-finished projects. His grin was as wide as ever, and he waved her off with an exaggerated flourish.
"Well, I did promise to head back," she said, a small laugh escaping her lips. "I'll come back soon though, if you've got more crazy concoctions to show me."
Vero gave a mock gasp, his hands clutching his chest. "You wounded me! Of course, I'll have more crazy things to show you, and hopefully you won't be running off so soon next time."
His grin grew wider, if possible. "I'll be here, creating wonders you could only dream of! So go on, run along, but don't forget your genius friend, okay?"
With a final wave, Roseiral stepped out of the lab, feeling a strange mixture of relief and unease. Vero's unpredictable nature made her feel both at ease and on edge. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy his company; it was just hard to shake the feeling that things weren't as simple as they seemed.
As she walked down the street, the evening air crisp and cool, she decided to leave her thoughts about Vero's latest experiments behind. The whole day had been… odd, but the excitement of seeing new things had distracted her. Now, though, as the streets grew quieter, her thoughts began to wander to other things.
She had almost reached the main square when she heard Vero's voice calling out behind her.
"Wait up, Roseiral!"
She turned to find him waddling after her, his gait awkward but strangely endearing. As always, Vero had a way of making the simplest movements seem a little too dramatic, and now he was spinning around like a little child.
"You sure you don't want me to come with you?" he asked, his eyes wide. "I'll just follow along, making sure you don't get into any trouble. After all, what kind of friend would I be if I didn't?"
Roseiral laughed, shaking her head. "I think I can handle it, Vero. But thanks for the offer."
Vero pouted dramatically, raising a finger as if about to say something important. "Alright, alright. I get it. But just remember—I'm here when you need me." He spun around on his heel and marched back toward his lab, continuing his exaggerated steps until he reached the door. "Goodbye, my brave adventurer!" he shouted, his voice carrying down the street.
Roseiral couldn't help but smile as she watched him disappear inside. She turned back to the street, the weight of the day finally catching up with her. As the last of the evening light faded, she made her way back home, her mind racing with thoughts of what was to come.
-
After the door shut behind Roseiral, Vero took a deep breath and stretched lazily in his chair. He spun around a few times before stopping, his grin quickly fading into something more contemplative. He tapped his fingers on the armrest, his mind still replaying the conversation with Roseiral. She'd left, seemingly unaffected by the memory of her village—the village that had been destroyed long ago.
His thoughts were interrupted as he walked over to the hidden door at the back of the lab, pushing it open quietly. The secret room was dimly lit, filled with old books, charts, and devices Vero didn't quite understand. At the center, Ryker sat at a large desk, reviewing a map. His face was set in a serious expression, though Vero could tell the man was deep in thought.
"Hey, Ryker," Vero said, his voice steady but carrying a hint of unease. "We've got a problem."
Ryker looked up slowly, meeting Vero's gaze. There was no surprise, no alarm in his eyes—just the knowing look of someone who'd seen far too much in this world. He nodded for Vero to continue, already expecting trouble.
Vero stepped into the room and leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms. "Roseiral," he began, his tone measured, "she's… not herself. Something's wrong. She couldn't remember the name of her village."
Ryker's eyes narrowed, and he sat up straighter. "What do you mean? She couldn't remember it, or she didn't want to?"
Vero ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated. "She couldn't remember. I mean, when I asked her, she literally froze. Like the name just... vanished from her mind. And she wasn't upset about it like usual. Normally, she gets all emotional when she talks about it, especially since her village was destroyed and no one can access it anymore. But today? Nothing. It was like she didn't even care."
Ryker didn't respond immediately. He leaned back in his chair, arms folded, eyes distant as he processed the information. His brow furrowed slightly. "That's odd," he murmured. "Very odd. She's one of the few who still has a connection to that place—no matter how painful it is. Losing that connection…" He trailed off, as if thinking about the implications. "Something's definitely off."
Vero pushed himself off the doorframe and started pacing again. "I thought the same thing. That's why I came to you. You're the one who sees things clearer than I do. But Roseiral's situation isn't like anything I've seen. She's usually been resilient about the past. This time, though… it's like it was wiped out of her memory completely."
"Could be a Mind Fragmenter," Ryker said, cutting through Vero's rambling. His voice was calm but firm, as if he had already formed a theory in his mind. "Someone working with a Shadow Fragmenter, perhaps. We know the Shadow Fragmenters have been targeting her village for a while now. The fact that she can't remember something as vital as the name of her village… that's no accident."
Vero stopped pacing and looked at Ryker, the gravity of his words sinking in. "You think someone's messing with her mind, trying to erase the memories? But why? What would be the point of wiping out something as significant as that?"
Ryker stood and began walking over to one of the maps on the wall, his fingers tracing the lines of mountains that surrounded the area where Roseiral's village used to be. "Memory manipulation is a powerful tool," he said, his tone thoughtful. "It could be a tactic to break her down, confuse her, or make her forget her past. The reason could be anything—control, influence, or something more sinister. But it's clear to me that whoever is doing this is not just targeting her memories. They're targeting her core, her identity."
Vero frowned, his mind racing. "And if it's a Mind Fragmenter, you think they're above the fourth stage? Higher than that?"
Ryker didn't hesitate. "They have to be. No one under the sixth stage could manipulate memories that important. The stronger the memory, the harder it is to lock it away or manipulate it. And considering how connected Roseiral was to her village, its destruction, and the trauma she suffered—it'd take someone at least sixth stage to erase something like that."
Vero rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "That's bad news. Real bad news."
Ryker nodded grimly. "The fact that Roseiral didn't react the way she normally would tells me this isn't just an isolated incident. She's been affected deeply, and we don't know the extent of it. This could be a precursor to something worse."
Vero pushed himself off the doorframe and started pacing again. "Shit. So this Mind Fragmenter is working with a Shadow Fragmenter, and they're messing with Roseiral's head. We've got a problem, Ryker. A big one."
Ryker looked up, his gaze intense. "The mountains. The invisible barrier. Ever since that appeared, no one can access her village, and we've lost any means of seeing into it. It's as if something is closing in around her, and whoever is doing this knows exactly what they're doing. They've cut off any chance of recovery."
"Not just recovery," Vero muttered, running a hand through his hair again. "They've locked it all away. The mountains aren't just a physical barrier—they're a symbol. Someone is trying to isolate Roseiral, to erase her from everything she knows."
Ryker's jaw tightened. "We need to act fast. If this Mind Fragmenter is working with the Shadow Fragmenter, it means they're building something—something bigger than we've seen before. If they can manipulate her memories, they can control her entirely. And that's a power we can't let them have."
Vero nodded grimly. "We need to get to the bottom of this before they get to her first."
Ryker took a deep breath and turned toward Vero. "We'll need to be careful. We don't know the full extent of what's happening. We've got to protect Roseiral—but we also need to understand what these Fragmenters are planning."
Vero gave a small, cynical laugh. "Protect Roseiral? At this point, I think we're just trying to keep up with her. But yeah, I get it. Let's move fast."
There was a brief silence between them before Ryker spoke again. "I think there's more to her village than we realize. The barrier that was put up... It's not just to keep us out. Whatever secret lies in that village, it's something that the Dark Fragmenter and Mind Fragmenter have discovered. They know it's something big. It's going to take them a long time to obtain or fully understand whatever is locked in there, but we can't afford to wait. We need to move quickly before they uncover everything."
Vero's expression hardened, his eyes narrowing in thought. "You're right. We can't let them get any closer. We should get Liliac to help us. Isn't he the one who saved Roseiral in the first place? He's also the strongest in the kingdom."
Ryker remained silent for a long moment, his gaze far away, as if mulling over Vero's suggestion. Finally, he spoke, his voice calm and deliberate. "I'm not sure. Whatever Liliac is doing, we'll find out when the time comes. He's the type of guy who only reveals things when they're necessary. For now, let's stick to our own plan."
Vero raised an eyebrow but didn't press further. "Alright, then. Our plan is. Let's move."
As they continued discussing, the scene shifted.
Roseiral stood outside the door of her home, the soft breeze brushing against her face. The day had passed without much fanfare, and now the sun was beginning to dip below the horizon. Her mind felt restless, but as she entered the door, her gaze landed on the maid standing by the kitchen, holding a tray of food. Beside her, an individual was kneeling on the floor, making strange faces and playing with Godless.
Liliac.
He was wearing a simple tunic, his long hair falling loosely over his shoulders. His expression was playful and exaggerated, as if to entertain himself as much as Godless. He was making silly faces, each one more ridiculous than the last, clearly trying to coax a smile from the dog. And despite his odd behavior, there was something strangely captivating about him—his ease, his unbothered charm.
Roseiral stood frozen for a moment, watching Liliac from the doorway. He glanced up at her and winked, still in the middle of pulling an absurdly dramatic face. "Ah, there she is!" he exclaimed with a grin, rising to his feet. "It's a good thing you're back, Roseiral. Godless here was just telling me all your secrets. Right, buddy?" He rubbed Godless's head affectionately.
Despite herself, Roseiral couldn't help but smile. It wasn't so much his antics that were amusing as the way he made everything feel a little lighter.
Ryker thought deeply before leaving Vero's lab.
Yeah, Liliac is definitely planning something.