Kael settled into the worn wooden chair across from Mylar, the dim light of the Fanous Inn casting flickering shadows over the rough-hewn table. The Ironclad Order member leaned forward, his arms crossed as he exhaled a deep sigh.
"You've got someone looking for you, Kael," Mylar said, his voice edged with something between concern and relief.
Kael tensed. "You said my sister was looking for me."
"Yes, your sister. She's been searching for you for weeks, posting requests in every awakener's guild across Krythgard." Mylar's expression softened. "She's desperate to find you."
Kael's breath caught. A sister? He had no memory of family—only the gnawing emptiness in his past.
Mylar continued, "I figured you'd want to know. Also..." He opened his Ascension System interface, sending a friend request. "It's easier to keep in touch this way. You should accept it."
A system prompt appeared before Kael:
[Mylar has requested to add you as a friend. Accept?]
Kael pressed [Accept], and a new system tab materialized, linking them.
"I figured that you're not part of any guild? Cause if you do, you should have received this message."
Almost immediately, a message arrived.
[Mylar: Sending you something important. Check your inbox.]
Kael accessed the attachment, revealing a guild mission listing—a Missing Person's poster.
His own face stared back at him, but it was… different. Softer. Innocent. A boy untouched by hardship. The details listed his name, height, physical traits, and last known location.
But his gaze fixated on the bold-printed reward and, at the bottom, the name of the one who had posted it:
[Mission Issued By: Lira Avryon]
[Reward: 1,000 Coins]
Before he could react, a chime echoed in his mind.
[System Alert: Existing Memory Fragment compatible with received information. Initiating fusion request.]
Kael frowned. "Limo? What's this mean?"
His furry system guide popped into view, golden eyes gleaming. "Ooooh! This is interesting! It looks like that piece of your lost memories has found a matching trigger. By fusing them, you might regain something important!"
Kael swallowed. "So all I have to do is... accept?"
Limo nodded eagerly. "Yep! And in the future, if you gather more memory fragments and related information, you can unlock even more of your past!"
Kael hesitated, then firmed his resolve. [Confirm Fusion]
The moment he accepted, the mission poster dissolved into light, condensing into a thumb-sized, glowing orb. It hovered for a heartbeat before shooting into his forehead.
A sharp pain lanced through his skull as the orb reached his Rebirth Core. His vision blurred, his consciousness thrown into a storm of fragmented images.
A girl—no, a young woman.
Dark hair, the same shade as his.
Ruby-red eyes—large, warm, and familiar.
She was smiling, her hand resting on his head in a gentle pat.
He heard his own voice, younger, unguarded, calling out softly:
"Sister."
The vision shattered. Kael gasped, gripping the table as he came back to himself, his temples throbbing.
"Kael! You alright?" Mylar's worried voice grounded him.
Kael exhaled slowly, shaking off the lingering haze of memory. He met Mylar's gaze and managed a nod. "Yeah… I think I just remembered something."
Mylar raised a brow but didn't press. "If you ever need anything, you know where to find me."
Kael flexed his fingers, still feeling the ghost of that warm hand on his head. A sister…
He had a sister.
And she was looking for him.
Kael's brow furrowed as a troubling thought surfaced.
Did I... take over someone else's body when I reincarnated?
The idea unsettled him, but without answers, it was nothing more than speculation. He exhaled slowly, steadying himself.
I need to find more information like this—more Memory Fragments—if I ever hope to uncover the truth about who I really am.
*********
In the heart of Krythgard, within one of the city's esteemed guild halls, a beautiful young woman trained relentlessly. Her dark hair flowed like midnight silk, and her ruby-red eyes—an unmistakable trait of the Avryon lineage—burned with quiet determination.
Such striking features were once a mark of prestige, but here, far from the family's ancestral seat, they carried little weight.
The Avryon family was one of the most powerful lineages in the realm, its origin lineage boasting unparalleled strength and nobility.
Yet, beyond the heartlands, that prestige faded. In the remote territories of Erendath, particularly in Krythgard, the extended branches of noble families were often dismissed—seen as diluted vestiges of their once-mighty ancestors.
Where the origin lineage wielded immense power, those of the extended lineage might inherit only a fraction—if any at all.
But Lira Avryon never relied on the power of her name. She had clawed her way into the Ascendant's Guild through sheer will, earning her place after years of brutal training. No special treatment was granted to her.
Every battle, every hardship, was hers to face alone.
She wiped the sweat from her brow, rolling her shoulders as she caught her breath. Nearby, another guild member, a stocky man with a scar along his jaw, called out to her.
"Lira, you've been at it for hours. Take a break before you break yourself."
"I can't afford to rest, Ral," she replied, shaking her head. "Not yet."
Ral crossed his arms. "This about that Rift Mission? You know it's suicide, right?"
She hesitated but gave a small nod. "I don't have a choice."
Ral sighed. "You always have a choice, but I know I won't change your mind. Just… don't get yourself killed."
Yet, her reasons for pushing herself this time went beyond ambition. The upcoming Rift Mission, set to take place in two weeks, was dangerous—one few dared to take on.
But for Lira, it wasn't just another challenge. It was her last hope.
She had spent weeks searching, exhausting every lead, chasing every rumor. But no matter where she looked, her brother was nowhere to be found. He was still missing.
If tomorrow yielded nothing, then she would enter the Rift. Even if it meant risking her life.
Her movements faltered as doubt crept in. She clenched her fists, exhaling sharply. Her brother was all she had left.
They had been orphans since childhood, their parents slain while shielding them from an attack. Lira had survived.
But Kael... Kael had suffered wounds far deeper than flesh. His mind had never fully healed, leaving him trapped in a childlike state, as if he were still four years old.
A sudden noise—a sword clashing against a shield—sent her spiraling into memory. The walls of the training hall faded, replaced by the burning remains of their home.
Screams. Blood. The acrid stench of fire and death.
"Lira, run!" her mother's voice rang, desperate and terrified.
Lira remembered gripping her brother's tiny hand as they stumbled through the corridors, past fallen guards and shattered doors.
Shadows moved in the smoke, figures cloaked in darkness, their swords gleaming with fresh blood.
She turned, just for a second, and saw her father standing firm, his blade clashing with an armored figure's.
"Papa—!"
A force wrenched her away, her mother pulling her forward with inhuman strength. A blast of energy shook the walls, and when she looked back again—her father was gone.
The scent of her mother's hair, the warmth of her protective embrace, the blood trickling from her lips as she whispered, "Protect your brother, Kael. No matter what."
Then darkness.
Tears welled in her eyes, but she brushed them away before they could fall.
"Kael... where are you?" she whispered.
A quiet vow settled in her heart as she stood, tightening her grip on her training weapon.
"I will find you. No matter what it takes... You must stay alive."
Determination in her eyes, she resumed her training. The Rift awaited, and she would be ready.