"Let's go get some food, I'm hungry! What do you want to eat?"

-Willpower: 9/24-

"Anything is fine, Sophie."

"Hihi Hihi. I'll tell the maids so we can eat."

The morning started off crappy but towards the afternoon, it started trending upwards. Training mana is much more fun than talking to a crabby old woman.

Sophie is smiling, and everything is well.

We're seated next to each other, chomping away peacefully.

"Hey, Claud?"

Hmm? I look up from my meal.

"Don't you think it would be better to conserve your Willpower?"

It would be. Stop twirling your fork please.

"In case of dangerous situations like when we got separated. You ran out of Willpower during the fight. If you didn't have enough for one last heal spell, you could've died."

True. I was cutting it close.

"That's why, you don't have to use your skill to talk! I already know you have the foul-mouthed trait so it's fine to say whatever. I'll do my best to understand you. I promise I won't get angry or saddened by your words. I'll read between the lines!"

-Willpower: 8/24-

"Seriously? But how would you do that?"

"Let's play a game! I call it, Guessing What Claud's Feeling Game! The name... needs some improvements. Hehe. So, here's how it'll go. I've prepared some questions here that I'll read from and you either respond or you don't. But I have to guess precisely what you're thinking and feeling. And you'll write down in my diary how close my guess was!"

That sounds like a pain. I was hoping she would use a skill...

"Ah, that face! I know! You thought it would be annoying to play my game! I've seen that face a lot after all. I understand it well. Your eyes narrow and your brows dip a little when you're annoyed. So, was I right?"

Does my face really react like that? But it's true I was annoyed slightly.

I nod.

"Yes! Okay, a real question this time! Did you like today's food? Hmm... I'd say you did. You ate everything."

'Yeah. It was nice', I write on her diary.

"What did you like most about it? I think it would be the... Meat!"

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I nod. I write, 'Yes'.

"Yes! Me too!"

You eat meat in every single meal... It was obvious.

"Alright, next one... Does your hand hurt? You never show any signs of pain."

I write, 'Yes. It hurts'.

Of course, it does. Some of the fingers are gone.

"Really? You don't look like it hurts... Are you lying?"

I shake my head.

It does hurt. Why are you pestering me about this?

"Hmm... Okay... I can't tell if you're lying or not."

That's because I'm not.

"Next question. When is your birthday?"

... Oh crap. The status window doesn't display my birthdate. And I don't know my actual birthdate anyways.

"Did it already pass?"

Lying would be bad if others found out. I'll just be honest.

'I don't know my birthday'.

"Eh? Really? Are you making fun of me?"

I shake my head vigorously.

"D-do you not remember?"

'Don't remember', I quickly write.

Please leave this subject alone. I don't know what to say.

'When's your birthday?' I write, trying to change the subject of conversation to her.

"D-don't change the subject, Claud! This is serious! Did you hurt your head? Did you forget anything else?"

I shake my head even more vigorously than before.

'How would I be able to tell you if I had actually forgotten anything else? I wouldn't remember it after all. Hahaha'.

"How can you joke about this?! This could affect your life! What if you forgot your skills or how to fight?"

Darn it. I'm not fooling her. She's not that naive after all.

'My memory will probably come back later. I still remember who you are and who I am. That's all I need.'

A small lie eventually snowballs into bigger lies. But... this is necessary. Telling her I'm from another world will just complicate things.

"You... you..."

'Don't cry, it'll be fine. I definitely won't forget anything else', my willingness to lie translated into words on the page very fluently.

"I'll bring the doctor, don't go anywhere at all. You must stay here, alright? Actually, I'm bringing you. I can't trust you to be alone right now."

According to the scenario in your mind, I'm an amnesiac, not a dementia ridden old man... You don't have to worry about me wandering off, you know.

----------------------------------------

"Asides from his arm, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with him physically. As for mentally, it is difficult to give a diagnosis. His mental faculties seem to be intact, he's very alert, remembers important events and has maintained his skills."

Yeah, yeah, tell her doc. My eyes tracked the lamp's movement very precisely.

"But he forgot his birthday! That's a very important event, isn't it?"

"Hmm... not necessarily. Perhaps he only forgot about it because it doesn't hold any particular meaning to him."

"His birthday isn't important to him? How can that be?"

"Memories which have a lesser impact on an individual's life do fade over time naturally. The shock of his injuries may have disoriented him more than he's showing outwardly."

No, no, no. I'm not disoriented at all. Cut that out you quack doctor.

"More than he's showing outwardly... Ah! He says his arm hurts, but he doesn't show it at all. He didn't wince even when I pinched him. That can't be normal!"

She pinched me. When? Maybe my arm is in more dire straits than I thought.

"Hmm? Is that true? The nerves in his arm might be damaged. Also, I've noticed the boy's not talking at all. Before the injuries, was that normal for him?"

"Yes. He's a naturally quiet person. He probably only says twenty sentences a day. He spends most of his time in the library if he can."

Naturally quiet? Why is she adjusting my character setting as she likes? I only speak when it's necessary. I'm not quiet by any means. Saying someone is naturally quiet would give the impression that they're not very good at socializing.

"Don't pout, Claud. I'm not saying you're bad at talking to people, but you really are just a quiet person. You always only talk when you have to."

I guess that's true. Also, I didn't pout. My lips barely moved.

"For now, continue observing him to confirm which memories have been lost. That is all that can be done, I'm afraid."

But I haven't lost any memories at all, have I? Stop staring at the floor so solemnly, Sophie. I'm not on my death bed or anything like that.