Nareth Village lies on the eastern coast of the Solmare Region.
It isn’t a large village.
Nor does it have a powerful Vestiger to protect it.
Compared to the great cities in the heart of the region, Nareth is barely significant at all.
Only around three thousand people live there.
Most are fishermen, salt farmers, hunters, and craftsmen.
Yet to those born there, Nareth is still home.
A quiet enough place to live an ordinary life.
At least…
until monsters appeared.
Or until the Abyss swallowed another part of the world.
That morning, the sky was clear.
A thin mist still hovered above the surface of the sea.
Seabirds flew low between the waves.
The salty wind drifted gently through the air, carrying the familiar scent of the ocean.
Along a dirt path leading toward the shore, five young people walked together.
Or, more accurately…
four of them were walking.
One was complaining.
Finn: “I still think this is a stupid assignment.”
It was the seventeenth time Finn had complained that morning.
???
“No one’s forcing you to come.”
A girl walking ahead answered without even looking back.
Finn: “If I didn’t come, who’d protect you guys?”
???
“Protect us from what?”
Finn: “Your own stupidity.”
???
“Go look in a damn mirror.”
Finn: “No need.”
???
“Why?”
Finn: “Because I’m already too handsome.”
The girl rolled her eyes.
Her name was Lyra.
Twenty-three years old.
A Ranger-type Vestiger.
Her Vestige was:
Authority of Starshot.
An Authority that enhanced her movement speed, reflexes, balance, and long-range marksmanship.
It also possessed The Power of the Star— a fragment of the Authority of the Star.
Not a Unique-Class Authority.
But an exceptionally fitting one for a Marksman.
That was why Lyra had become the best archer in Nareth despite her young age.
Walking behind her was Finn.
A Scout-type Vestiger.
His Vestige was:
Authority of Sight.
An ability that enhanced his vision several times beyond that of an ordinary human.
He could track footprints, read a monster’s movements from a distance, and even hit targets that were nearly impossible to see.
The problem was…
Finn: “If we get a reward from the guild, I’m taking fifty percent.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Finn: “Why’d you all go quiet?”
Finn asked.
Lyra: “Because we’re considering killing you.”
Finn: “That’s not very nice.”
Lyra: “It’s very nice to people like you.”
Behind them, a loud laugh echoed.
“Hahahahaha!”
Doran.
A Fighter-type Vestiger.
His body was built like a bear.
He stood nearly two meters tall.
His Vestige was:
Authority of Ironblood.
An Authority that enhanced physical strength, endurance, and regeneration.
Vestigers like him were commonly used as the frontline against monsters.
Yet despite his intimidating appearance, his personality was the complete opposite.
Doran might have been the friendliest man in all of Nareth.
Doran: “I think Finn has a point.”
He said it casually.
Doran: “If there’s a reward, we should split it evenly.”
Lyra: “No.”
Lyra answered immediately.
Doran: “Why?”
Lyra: “Because Finn didn’t do anything.”
Finn: “That’s discrimination.”
Finn protested.
Lyra: “Against what?”
Finn: “Handsome people.”
Lyra: “Shut up. We haven’t caught a single thing because you won’t stop talking.”
Finn: “Hey! How is that my fault?”
Lyra: “You’re too damn loud.”
Beside Doran, a petite girl let out a soft laugh.
Her name was Mira.
A Support-type Vestiger.
Her Vestige was:
Authority of Bloom.
An Authority that allowed her to accelerate wound healing, slow bleeding, and improve the body’s natural recovery.
In a small village like Nareth, a Vestiger like Mira was far more valuable than an ordinary fighter.
There simply weren’t many healers around.
And walking at the very back was Kael.
The group’s leader.
A Fighter-type Vestiger.
His Vestige was:
Authority of Echo.
An ability that allowed him to detect vibrations and movements in his surroundings.
Not especially powerful.
But extremely useful.
Especially when hunting monsters.
Kael: “The guild report says there are Tide Fang tracks along the coast.”
Kael spoke calmly.
Kael: “We’ll check the area, then head home.”
Finn: “What if we don’t find anything?”
Finn asked.
Kael: “Then we go home.”
Finn: “And if we do?”
Kael: “We go home anyway.”
Finn looked confused.
Finn: “Huh?”
Kael: “The five of us aren’t strong enough to kill an adult Tide Fang.”
Finn: “Ah? I didn’t think of that…”
Kael: “And that’s exactly why I’m the leader.”
Lyra: “No.”
Lyra cut in.
Lyra: “You’re the leader because you’re the only one who thinks before acting.”
Kael: “Thank you.”
They continued walking.
The atmosphere remained relaxed.
None of them had any idea that this day would become the beginning of something far greater than their simple lives.
Until Doran suddenly stopped.
Doran: “…Huh?”
The entire group stopped with him.
Kael: “What is it?”
Kael asked.
Doran pointed toward the shore.
Between the rocks.
Near the waves.
Someone was lying there.
Finn: “…A person?”
Finn immediately narrowed his eyes.
His Authority of Sight activated instinctively.
Finn: “A man.”
Finn: “And… he’s still alive.”
Lyra: “How do you know he’s alive?”
Finn: “His chest is moving. He’s still breathing.”
Lyra immediately broke into a run.
The others followed.
The closer they got, the clearer the figure became.
A man.
Messy black hair.
A body covered in old scars.
His clothes were almost completely destroyed.
The few torn pieces of fabric left weren’t even enough to reveal where he came from.
No family crest.
No guild emblem.
No weapon.
Nothing.
Kael immediately crouched beside him.
He checked the man’s pulse.
Kael: “He’s alive.”
Mira: “A Vestiger?”
Mira asked.
Kael shook his head.
Kael: “I don’t know. But most likely.”
Kael: “The problem is… he isn’t giving off any aura.”
Finn: “That’s normal.”
Finn said.
Finn: “I don’t give off an aura when I’m sleeping either.”
Lyra: “Thank you for that completely useless information.”
Then— the man’s eyes slowly opened.
A blue sky.
The sea.
Five unfamiliar faces.
Everything slowly entered his vision.
“…”
He blinked.
Then once again.
There was no panic.
No screaming.
No exaggerated reaction.
Only confusion.
Kael: “Can you hear us?”
Kael asked.
The man slowly nodded.
???
“Yes.”
Kael: “What’s your name?”
Silence.
The man tried to answer.
But when he searched for it…
he found nothing.
Nothing.
No name.
No face.
No home.
No past.
Nothing at all.
His hand slowly rose and touched his temple.
???
“…I…”
Several seconds passed.
???
“…don’t know.”
The five youths exchanged confused glances.
Lyra: “Huh?”
???
“I don’t remember.”
Kael: “Your name?”
???
“I don’t remember.”
Kael: “Where are you from?”
???
“I don’t remember.”
Kael: “How did you end up here?”
???
“I don’t remember.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Finn looked at Kael.
Finn: “I think he’s broken.”
???
“I can hear you.”
The man replied flatly.
Finn: “Then you’re not completely broken.”
Lyra smacked Finn on the head.
Finn: “Ow!”
The man slowly sat up.
His eyes swept across the sea.
The shore.
The sky.
The five people standing before him.
Everything felt unfamiliar.
Far too unfamiliar.
And yet strangely…
he wasn’t afraid.
As if something inside him had faced something far worse than this.
Something he couldn’t remember.
Then Mira pointed at something.
Mira: “There’s a necklace.”
An old silver chain hung around the man’s neck.
At the end of it was a small name tag.
The man lowered his gaze.
He reached for the necklace and looked at the words engraved upon it.
AETHER
He read the name silently.
Aether.
Nothing came back.
No memories.
No images.
No flashes of the past.
But since it was the only clue he had…
he tightened his grip around the name tag.
???
“…Aether.”
Kael: “Hm?”
Kael looked at him.
???
“I think…”
He paused.
Aether: “…my name is Aether.”
Lyra: “You think?”
Aether: “It’s written here.”
Finn immediately nodded.
Finn: “Makes sense.”
Finn: “If my name were written on my forehead, I’d probably assume my name was Finn too.”
Lyra: “What an incredible discovery.”
Lyra said dryly.
Finn: “I know.”
Finn: “I’m a genius.”
Lyra: “Shut up.”
Lyra sighed.
For the first time since he had been found, the corner of the man’s lips twitched slightly.
Not quite a smile.
But close enough.
Kael watched him for a moment.
Then stood.
Kael: “We can’t leave him here.”
Mira: “Agreed.”
Mira nodded.
Finn cut in.
Finn: “We don’t even know who he is.”
Finn: “What if he’s actually a bandit pretending to have amnesia?”
Lyra nodded.
Lyra: “For once, I agree with Finn.”
Kael sighed.
Kael: “We’re still taking him back to Nareth.”
Lyra: “Why?”
Kael: “We don’t even know whether he’s a Vestiger or not. And besides…”
Kael: “A group of Tide Fangs is roaming around this area, isn’t it?”
Silence.
Lyra let out a long sigh.
Lyra: “…Fine.”
She looked at the man.
Lyra: “If you really have nowhere to go…”
Lyra: “We’ll take you to Nareth Village.”
Finn: “Old Man Rowan is going to lose his mind.”
Lyra: “Doesn’t he always?”
Finn: “Fair point.”
Kael: “You can stay there for now.”
Kael continued.
Kael: “We’ll figure out the rest later.”
The man fell silent.
He looked at them one by one.
Five strangers.
They didn’t know him.
They didn’t know who he was.
And yet…
they were still willing to help.
A strange feeling appeared in his chest.
Warm.
Unfamiliar.
Hard to explain.
Aether: “…Thank you.”
Lyra: “Don’t thank us yet.”
Lyra said.
Lyra: “If Rowan gets angry, you’re the one explaining everything.”
Aether: “I don’t even know who Rowan is.”
Finn gave him a small grin.
Finn: “Hey, buddy. Trust me…”
Finn: “I’m pretty sure you’ll start wishing you were left on the beach once you meet that guy.”
The group laughed together.
And for the first time since opening his eyes in a world he didn’t recognize…
Aether followed them toward Nareth Village.
Yet somewhere far away from Nareth— far beyond the sea, far beyond the lands known to mankind, in a region that did not appear on any map…
something that had been silent for a very long time slowly opened its eyes.
As if checking for something.
Then…
no sound.
No words.
No explanation.
Only silence.
And for the first time in a very, very long time…
that silence had been disturbed.
Love you all.