The journey back to Nareth was far noisier than Aether had expected.
Or perhaps…
he simply hadn’t had any expectations to begin with.
Because, honestly, he didn’t even know what he was supposed to expect from this world.
Finn: “I’m hungry.”
Finn complained.
Lyra: “We just ate breakfast.”
Finn: “I’m hungry again.”
Finn frowned.
Lyra: “Just be quiet. We’re almost there.”
Finn: “Isn’t Old Man Rowan going to yell at us for coming back empty-handed?”
Lyra: “We’ll deal with that later.”
Finn: “Aaah, fine.”
Aether walked behind them.
Listening.
Watching.
Silent.
Since waking up on the beach, he had spent more time observing than speaking.
Not because he didn’t want to talk.
But because every time he opened his mouth, he was reminded of just how little he knew.
He didn’t know this place.
Didn’t know this world.
Didn’t even know himself.
But one thing had caught his attention.
These five people.
Every one of them was completely different.
They didn’t always get along.
They weren’t particularly organized.
And yet…
they moved like a group that had been together for years.
Kael didn’t talk much.
But everyone naturally followed his lead.
Lyra often interrupted him.
Yet whenever Kael made a decision, she always supported it.
Finn complained about everything.
But when Doran nearly slipped on a wet rock, Finn was the first one to grab his arm.
Mira was the quietest.
Yet whenever someone suffered even the slightest injury during their journey, her hands were always the first to move.
They felt…
warm.
Not like strangers who happened to be traveling together.
But friends.
Companions.
Something that, for some reason, made Aether’s chest tighten slightly.
The feeling came for only a moment.
Then disappeared.
Lyra: “What’s wrong?”
Lyra suddenly asked.
Aether turned toward her.
Aether: “Nothing.”
Lyra: “You were spacing out.”
Aether: “I don’t know.”
Lyra: “That’s an answer you use a lot.”
Aether: “I really don’t know.”
Lyra went quiet.
Then gave a small laugh.
Lyra: “Fair enough.”
For the first time,
Aether realized just how miserable he probably sounded.
They soon arrived at a simple wooden gate marking the entrance to Nareth Village.
There wasn’t even a guard.
Only a large wooden sign that read:
WELCOME TO NARETH
Beneath it was another sign.
NO FISHING IN THE VILLAGE WELL
“…”
Aether stared at the sign.
Why was that even there?
Finn immediately avoided everyone’s gaze.
Finn: “Don’t look at me.”
Lyra: “That’s because of you.”
Finn: “It happened once.”
Lyra: “You put six fish in the well.”
Finn: “It was an experiment.”
Lyra: “Why do you call every stupid thing you do an experiment?”
Finn: “Uh… because it really was an experiment.”
Lyra let out a long sigh.
They entered the village.
Dirt roads.
Wooden houses.
Small shops.
The smell of freshly baked bread.
The scent of salted fish.
The sound of people talking.
Children running through the streets.
The place was simple.
But warm.
Several villagers immediately greeted them.
?: “Kael!”
?: “Back from hunting?”
Kael: “Yeah. Same as always.”
?: “What did you get today?”
?: “A human.”
“…”
“…”
The villager stared at Aether.
?: “Why do you people always bring trouble home?”
Finn: “It’s a talent.”
?: “Shut up.”
An elderly woman suddenly appeared from in front of a small shop.
?: “Well, look who’s back.”
?: “If it isn’t Nareth’s favorite troublemakers.”
Mira: “Good morning, Grandma Hana.”
Mira greeted her politely.
The old woman immediately smiled.
Grandma Hana: “See?”
She pointed toward Mira.
Grandma Hana: “If every young person were like Mira, the world would be at peace.”
Lyra: “I agree.”
Lyra: “If everyone were like Finn, the world would explode.”
Finn: “I’m starting to feel bullied.”
Lyra: “I’m just stating facts.”
Aether watched them all.
Strange.
Very strange.
He didn’t know anyone here.
And yet…
this place felt comfortable.
As if the world wasn’t always filled with war.
Wasn’t always filled with death.
…
Aether stopped.
His brow furrowed slightly.
War?
Why had that word appeared in his mind?
He didn’t know.
He tried to think about it.
Nothing.
Empty.
Only a vague feeling he couldn’t explain.
Finn: “Oi.”
Finn’s voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
Finn: “You okay?”
Aether: “Yeah.”
Finn chuckled.
Finn: “You’re stiff as a board. Like someone who forgot to pay his debt.”
Aether: “I don’t know what a debt is.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Finn: “That’s actually pretty sad.”
They stopped in front of a small building.
A simple wooden house.
Not large.
But decent enough.
Kael: “It used to belong to a traveling merchant.”
Kael explained.
Kael: “It’s empty now.”
Kael: “You can stay here for the time being.”
Aether stared at the house.
Then looked back at them.
Aether: “You don’t even know me.”
Kael: “Hm?”
Aether: “Why go this far to help me?”
A brief silence followed.
Then Finn shrugged.
Finn: “Hey, buddy…”
Finn: “If I found someone half-dead on a beach, of course I’d help them.”
Aether: “That’s it?”
Finn: “That’s it.”
Doran nodded.
Doran: “If I woke up with no memories, I’d probably panic.”
Lyra: “You panic every day even without losing your memories.”
Doran: “That’s different.”
Lyra: “No, it isn’t!”
Mira smiled softly.
Mira: “We’re just doing what anyone should do.”
Aether fell silent.
Normal.
For some reason, that word felt so distant.
As if he had once lived somewhere completely different.
But once again…
there was no answer.
After that, they dragged Aether to a clothing shop.
Literally.
Because Finn insisted that Aether’s appearance was ruining the village’s aesthetic.
Finn: “You look like you just survived a robbery.”
Aether: “Well… maybe I did.”
Finn gave a small laugh.
Finn: “Good point.”
An hour later,
Aether walked out wearing new clothes.
A simple black shirt.
Dark pants.
Cheap leather shoes.
Nothing special.
But still far better than the scraps he had been wearing before.
Lyra nodded in approval.
Lyra: “There.”
Lyra: “At least now you look human.”
Aether: “Thank you?”
Lyra lightly punched him on the shoulder.
Lyra: “That was a compliment.”
Aether gave a faint smile.
Aether: “I’m not convinced.”
They laughed.
And without realizing it,
Aether laughed with them.
Only for a moment.
But enough to make everyone stop.
Aether looked confused.
Aether: “What?”
Finn pointed at him.
Finn: “That.”
Aether: “What about it?”
Finn: “You just laughed.”
“…”
Aether: “…So?”
Mira smiled and joined in.
Mira: “Isn’t that a good thing?”
Mira: “You look much more human now.”
She paused.
Mira: “And a lot better than that empty expression you had before.”
For some reason,
Aether didn’t know how to respond.
So he chose silence.
Kael gave a faint smile.
Kael: “Don’t overthink it. Come on… we’ll show you around.”
Aether: “Alright.”
And so they continued exploring Nareth.
For the first time since opening his eyes on that beach…
he began to feel that maybe…
just maybe…
this world wasn’t entirely foreign.
Even though he didn’t know who he was.
Even though he didn’t know where he came from.
Even though his entire past was gone.
Right now…
in a place called Nareth, surrounded by people he’d only met a few hours ago, he had found somewhere to begin again.