Zell was adrift in darkness. He could hear fragments of conversation from distant familiar voices. Were they memories? There was pain too, here in the deepest part of his mind. How long had he been in pain? Since his mom left? Yes, ever since he was four. An aching emptiness, and subconscious fear had been growing here, festering into rage and agony.

He had become a true master of avoiding this place, where the memories of the monster’s visits lived. He had built an unbreakable barrier with his reflexive need to protect himself assisted by the monster’s memory suppressing magic. But now rather than the barrier keeping the memories sealed safely away, it was trapping him here with them.

He relived his mother’s last goodbye to his father, watching them from the top of the stairs while he was supposed to be in bed. They embraced tightly, there was a hooded figure just outside the door waiting for his mother in the cold snowy wind outside. Grey hair could be seen just inside the low pulled cowl as it shifted. Teacher.

The door closed, and his father hung his proud head. It was as if he knew she wouldn’t return.

The memory dissolved to be replaced by another. A formless tall shadow standing over his bed. It was the first time he had seen the mana lamprey. The mind shattering fear collided with the unnatural soothing bombardment of suggestions and magic to create a symphony of horrifying thoughts and feelings. His eyes had been open when he saw the first cut on his abdomen, paralyzed in the moonlight as the tentacles did their surgical work.

The memory faded, to be replaced by others of the same scenario. Hundreds of visits, hundreds of violations. Each time the creature was more solid, more menacing. It was stealing his vitality, his very life.

Zell’s consciousness began to lose the battle for sanity in the face of the terrible montage. He screamed soundlessly, he cried but no tears came, he was helpless and hopeless. He felt a hand touch his hand then, his real hand. He could clearly feel it through the chaos he was spiraling into.

It was warm, gentle, and strong. An anchor holding him tightly to himself. He looked desperately for the hand’s owner but found only darkness and more frightening images. Though they were still horrible to endure, the gentle hand never let go. He faced his past, his dark and grizzly past with open eyes and a steady heart. Someone was with him. He wasn’t alone.

The repressed memories played out one by one, and the recoil and shock in Zell’s heart began to crystallize into a simple resolve. It was the same subconscious resolve he now recognized that had driven him down this path to be Agitha’s disciple and someday a monster hunter himself.

Dead monsters don’t destroy happiness. Dead monsters don’t invade the dreams of children. Dead monsters don’t steal mothers. Through it all the hand holding his remained. The last memory of the lamprey faded, and his own promised words echoed back to him now.

“No!” He screamed in his mind. “Not this time. I’m going to remember. I’m going to remember!”

The next vision was of the muddy earth where he had been reborn as Bait. Something happened in the very foundation of his soul when Agitha had given him that name. It was not just a name, but a tool. It was an identity. Bait never stuttered, never complained, and always came through for those he cared for.

The memories rolled on. He relived the days spent with Agitha and Merc, training in the yard, cooking with Birna, long idle chats with Kel as he smiled and leaned on the sturdy bar. His family had grown. His heart was so full of gratitude that the pain of those earlier memories seemed no more than a tiny slug drying up in the warm sunlight of it.

The hand holding his seemed to sense his relief and relaxed its grip but did not let go. He looked to the side and finally saw what he had been missing all this time. They had been there all along. His mother, his father, Cora, Agitha, Rin, Nin, Kel, Birna, and even Merc. The heroes of his heart had defeated the monster, and he felt himself rising...

Zell’s eyes fluttered open, and the world was a blur. As his vision found focus he realized his weakness. His body would barely answer his most basic commands. He was in his room, that much was clear. Something heavy was across his legs, and there was a hand holding his.

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With great effort he turned his head. Sitting in a wooden chair with her head on the bed next to him and her hand holding his, Rin was sleeping soundly. He could smell the lavender essence she used in her hair and the warmth of her hand filled his heart so full that he thought it might burst. He tore his gaze away to look down, there was Merc also asleep with his big head resting on his legs.

He tried to talk but his voice failed. His throat was too dry and weak to make anything other than a cracking whisper. He managed to move his hand enough to stir Rin, who lifted her head sleepily and noticing Zell awake leaped forward and hugged him tightly. Merc also lifted his head with a start.

“You woke up! Thank the gods!” She was so overcome that she took a moment to catch on to Zell’s whispers.

“It was you... I felt it. You saved me.” His next whisper was a plea. “Water. Please.”

Rin quickly poured a cup of water from the pitcher on the nightstand. She helped him sit up and take a few desperate sips. After he had finished the cup and settled back onto his pillow she sat next to him.

“I wanted to be here when you woke up.” She began. “You saved my life. There was no hesitation. You saw my peril and didn’t even consider choosing yourself over me.” She stared directly into his eyes. “Thank you. If you ever need anything please promise to come to me first.”

“S-sure. I’ll count on you.” Zell stuttered for the first time that wasn’t in response to a question. “What happened after I cast the spell, how long have I been out?” He asked the obvious questions burning in his mind.

“Three days. Agitha has gone to finish off the lamprey and believes your sister might be its target. The city has been wild with rumors about the monster fight but officially Agitha has been awarded the kill by the Bounty Office. A team of dwarves has been dismantling the demon skeleton and the news is that more than half of the sheep in the bleating meadow were eaten. My mom misses you in the kitchen, my sister is anxious to get back to training, and my dad is my dad. We’re all awaiting word from Agitha.” Rin finished her summary and let Zell process it.

“I’ll let the others know you’re awake and get some food ready.” Rin started to stand but Zell caught her weakly by the wrist.

“Sorry, but could you sit with me just a little longer?” He asked, his cheeks turning red. “I’m still not quite ready for all the excitement.” He finished quietly.

The tall girl blushed, and smiled under her long bangs. She sat back down and took hold of Zell’s hand once again. Zell closed his eyes, awake but resting peacefully. The three sat in silence for a long while after that; Merc licked Zell’s face once before returning to the spot on the bed that he had claimed. It was a moment that would light the darkness in Zell’s memories for the rest of his life.

Some time later, the door opened quietly and Nin came in carrying a plate of hot food for Rin.

“How is he?” She asked.

“Ask him yourself.” Rin replied.

Zell opened his eyes and looked at Nin with a weak smile.

“Heya coach.” He said as she walked up to him and set the food down next to the pitcher of water.

Nin knelt down next to her sister and put a hand on Zell’s shoulder. She didn’t say anything for a moment but she didn’t need to. She squeezed his shoulder and finally spoke.

“Welcome back Bait, we all missed you around here. Now hurry and get better so we can get back to work.” Nin released his shoulder and stood up to leave. “I’ll let mom and dad know he’s up.”

That day for the first time since the restaurant was opened, a hastily painted sign was hung on the front door that simply read: Closed for a private party. Welcome back tomorrow!

Later with the support of the twins, Zell walked unsteadily into the dining room and sat down. He wasn’t sure if he would be able to eat at first, but the smell of sizzling venison tenderloin and garlic roasted potatoes brought his appetite back with a vengeance.

He devoured two full plates and drank three cups of apple cider. All the while he enjoyed the cheerful company of his new extended family. Just when he thought life couldn’t possibly get any better, Birna went to the kitchen and returned with a big wooden mixing bowl filled with fragrant, purple, jiggly plum pudding.

“I died, didn’t I? This is the afterlife.” He ate the pudding with tears welling in his eyes.

A knock sounded on the door in a peculiar pattern and Kel hopped to his feet. “That knock!” He exclaimed.

Kel rushed to the door, unlocked it and flung it open to reveal three travel weary and muddy people. he invited them in. Agitha, his dad Arlim, and his sister Cora entered and Zell doubled down on the notion that he was actually dead and in heaven. He forgot his weakness and stood up to run to them but promptly fell flat on his face.

“Guess you can fall down in heaven too.” He muttered as Rin helped him to his feet.

Zell hugged his father and sister once he was near enough, and even drew Agitha into their embrace. The absolute happiness triggered something in his heart at that moment and there was nothing he could do to hold back the tide of tears that rushed from his eyes. His family held him close as nearly a decade of pain and frustration burst forth like ichor from an infected wound. He wept, and laughed, and held his family for dear life until he finally regained control and sat back in his chair.

The party lasted long into the night, the weariness of the travelers held at bay by the joy of the reunion until one by one they all said goodnight until only Zell, Agitha, Arlim, and Cora remained.

“Will you tell me what happened?” Zell finally asked when they were alone. The topic had been intentionally untouched to spare the mood.

“Yes.” His father assured him. “In the morning there’s very much that we need to tell you. For now just rest assured that you and your sister are safe.”

“I want to catch up on everything that’s happened to you too, Z.” Cora said as she stood up raising her arms as she stretched, and finished with a profound yawn.

With that, the Balfonse family retired to their beds under the same roof for the first time in what felt like ages but in fact had only been a few short weeks.