Inside the Heart Blade Guild’s cozy office, Kyren, Hiro, and Alaine found Lili immersed in a pile of ancient tomes and scrolls, studying spells related to memory and mind control. The dim light cast shadows around her, but her focus was unwavering as she prepared for the delicate task ahead.

"Yo! Are you ready, Kyren?" Lili asked, standing up and gesturing to a chair across from her.

Kyren took a deep breath, his nerves visible in the tension in his posture. "Yeah," he replied, though the uncertainty was clear in his voice.

As Hiro and Alaine watched from the sidelines, Lili began her incantation. Her wand pointed directly at Kyren’s face, and her voice took on a mystical, rhythmic tone. "Lady Arramaya, one of your creatures loses its vision..." Lili’s eyes began to glow with a soft green light as an aura enveloped the room. Her power surged, filling the space with energy. "We beg you for your extraordinary and infinite power to guide him to find his way... and use me as a tool to help him."

The room trembled slightly as the spell reached its peak. Suddenly, the wand flashed a bright light into Kyren’s eyes, and Lili’s voice rang out, "NOW! MEMORY TRANSCEND!"

Both Kyren and Lili collapsed at the same time, their bodies limp. Alaine rushed forward, catching Lili before she hit the floor, while Hiro hurried to check on Kyren, who had slumped onto the table.

After what felt like an eternity, Kyren stirred, blinking in confusion as he regained consciousness. He looked around, still dazed. "What happened?" he asked, his voice groggy. He noticed Alaine and Hiro helping Lili onto the couch, her breathing steady but shallow.

"She’ll be fine," Alaine reassured him. "She just needs a bit of rest."

Lili’s eyes fluttered open moments later, and she sat up slowly, looking slightly disoriented but determined. Alaine didn’t waste time. "Did you see anything?" she asked, her voice filled with urgency.

Lili’s expression turned somber as she sighed. "Kyren... I’m not sure if I got the spell exactly right. I couldn’t see much from your past—it was like your soul didn’t originate in that body. But..." she hesitated before continuing. "I saw something. A picture of a nearby forest, a river running through it, and your body, dripping wet, lying by the riverbank near Vermint Town."

Alaine’s brow furrowed. "Could it be...?"

Lili nodded. "It might be the Forest of Paramnesia."

Kyren’s face was a mask of confusion. "The Forest of Paramnesia?"

Hiro jumped in with his usual enthusiasm. "Oh yeah! I forgot to tell you. It makes sense now! There’s this weird forest outside the Verboten Gate where everyone who enters loses their memories. No one who goes there ever comes out the same."

Kyren frowned, still trying to make sense of it all. "So... I ventured into this forest and lost my memories? Could I have been a scientist or explorer?"

Alaine shook her head. "I doubt it. Scientists usually hire mid-to-top level guilds to protect them, and they always have strong magical support, like high-level healers or sorcerers, to resist the effects of the forest."

The room fell into a contemplative silence as the weight of Kyren’s situation became clear. His past, his very identity, seemed locked behind a wall of magic, and the key lay somewhere beyond their reach.

Alaine was the first to break the silence. "There’s only one place that might hold answers—Tower Watch #2, on the far side of the forest. It’s possible you came from there before accidentally venturing into the forest."

"Then we should go there!" Hiro blurted out, his eagerness palpable.

Lili, however, quickly shut down the idea. "It’s not that simple. The forest borders Darklord’s Territory. You can’t just stroll in there. To go there, we’d need to be on an A or S-rank mission, and right now, our guild isn’t ready for that level of danger."

Kyren slumped in his chair, the weight of the revelation pressing down on him. "So... we just have to get stronger."

Alaine’s voice was determined. "I’ll talk to the AL member in charge tomorrow. Maybe they’ll have some advice or an alternative. We’ll figure this out, Kyren."

Kyren smiled weakly. "Thank you, Alaine. And you too, Lili. I think I know what I need to do now. Hiro, you were right—I need to focus on the present. The Academy’s our first goal, and I need to get stronger. Maybe the answers will come with time."

Alaine gave him a warm smile. "If you’re sure about that, then let’s call it a night."

"Yeah," Kyren nodded firmly. "I’ll build myself up before worrying about the past."

"That’s what I’m talking about, Kyren!" Hiro chimed in with his usual enthusiasm.

Alaine stood up, gathering her things. "Don’t forget, Patricia wants you in full armor tomorrow. Be prepared."

"Got it!" Hiro exclaimed. "I’m gonna wear all the armor here! I’ll be ready!"

Alaine chuckled and waved them off as she and Lili headed out. "Good night, you two."

With Alaine and Lili gone, Hiro quickly fell asleep, his soft snores filling the room. But Kyren remained awake, staring at the ceiling, his mind swirling with everything he had learned.

“The Forest of Paramnesia? Could that really be where my answers are?” he thought, the weight of the unknown heavy on his chest.

As he lay there, he couldn’t shake the feeling that his life was tied to something larger, something he didn’t yet understand.

“What is this world, with all its mysteries?....” The thoughts buzzed in his head until sleep finally claimed him.

But rest didn’t bring peace. Kyren found himself plunged into a nightmare once again. This time, he was forced to watch as Hiro, Alaine, Patricia, and the other guild members were imprisoned, tortured by shadowy, faceless creatures.

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"Kyren! Help us!" Hiro’s voice was desperate, his face contorted in agony as one of the creatures stabbed him through the chest, the blood pooling at his feet.

Kyren tried to move, but he was bound to a chair, his mouth gagged, unable to scream or break free. His eyes darted around in panic, and that’s when he saw her—the girl from his nightmares, stepping out from the darkness with a twisted grin.

"Soon... sooooo soon," she whispered, her voice sending chills down his spine.

Before he could react, the nightmare snapped to an end, and Kyren woke with a start, blinded by the morning sunlight streaming through the window.

"ARRRGHH!" he groaned, rubbing his temples.

"Kyren! Hurry up!" Hiro’s cheerful voice called from across the room. He was already fully dressed in armor, holding his sword, ready for the day.

Kyren sighed, still shaken from the nightmare. "Give me a minute, Hiro."

Noticing Kyren’s pale expression, Hiro handed him a cup of water. "The nightmare again?"

"Yeah," Kyren muttered, taking a sip. "Thanks."

Hiro’s voice softened. "Don’t worry, Kyren. Look around us. There are so many people helping us now. We’ll get through this. I know you can overcome it—and I’ll be right there with you."

Kyren looked up, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. "Yeah. You’re right."

After Kyren got ready, the two joked about their armor, the heavy metal weighing them down.

"Kyren, that armor looks awful on you," Hiro laughed. "It doesn’t suit your style at all."

Kyren smirked. "Well, I wouldn’t be wearing it if it wasn’t for training."

They continued to banter until a knock interrupted them. Hiro rushed to the door, and as he opened it, his eyes widened in disbelief.

"What the—? Why are you in a bikini, Alaine?" Hiro exclaimed, seeing her standing there in sunglasses and a two-piece swimsuit. Behind her, Patricia was similarly dressed, holding a plastic beach ball.

"You too, Patricia? What’s going on here?" Hiro demanded, looking between the two.

Patricia grinned. "Relax, boy. We’re heading to the beachside for your training—and maybe a little celebration. There’s even talk of a welcome party."

"But why are we wearing this armor, then?" Hiro questioned, still baffled.

Alaine winked. "We’ll explain later. Just follow us."

When they reached the beach, the contrast between their full-body armor and the townspeople’s casual beachwear made them the center of attention. Hiro groaned in embarrassment. "They’ve totally set us up, haven’t they?"

Kyren shrugged. "Yeah, looks like we’ve been trolled."

Patricia wasted no time. "Alright, boys, it’s time for training. I want you to run back and forth across the beach, knee-deep in water. That armor and those swords you’re carrying. They’re your weight. Run until you can’t anymore."

Kyren raised an eyebrow. "I see.”

Patricia nodded. "Exactly. You’ll run until the afternoon. After that, you can join us for lunch."

Hiro grinned. "Let’s go, Kyren! We got this!"

As they started jogging, Alaine, Patricia, Lili, and Roland set up for a beach volleyball game, while the other guild members prepared food for lunch. But the weight of the armor quickly became a challenge.

As soon as Kyren and Hiro stepped into the water, the challenge became apparent. The ocean waves gently lapped at their knees, but the sand beneath their feet shifted unpredictably with every step. Combined with the weight of their armor and the swords strapped to their backs, it felt like they were wading through molasses. The resistance from the water made each movement a struggle.

With their first steps, Kyren could feel the drag of his heavy armor pulling him back, the cold water adding an extra layer of difficulty as it sloshed against the metal plates. His boots sank into the soft sand beneath the water, making it even harder to maintain balance and rhythm. Each step required twice the effort, and the weight of his sword seemed to tug at his back with every forward movement.

Hiro wasn’t faring any better. His initial enthusiasm quickly faded as he found himself nearly tripping with every step. The water splashed violently as he tried to maintain his footing. "Damn... this is harder than it looks," Hiro muttered under his breath, his breath growing ragged with the effort of simply jogging.

After only a few minutes, the sheer weight of the armor and the resistance of the water became overwhelming. Every step was a battle against fatigue. Kyren could feel his muscles burning, especially in his thighs and calves, as he pushed himself through the knee-deep water. His breath grew labored, the heat from his exertion and the armor combining with the cool breeze from the ocean, creating a strange contrast.

Despite the difficulty, Kyren was determined. “I can’t give up”, he thought, glancing over at Hiro, who was clearly struggling as well but refused to slow down.

"Kyren, are you still with me?" Hiro gasped, his voice breathless but filled with resolve.

"Yeah," Kyren managed to reply, focusing on maintaining his pace. The water slapped against his legs, each wave feeling like a new obstacle. He could feel his armor growing heavier as droplets clung to the metal, increasing the strain on his already tired muscles. The sword strapped to his back felt like a lead weight pulling him backward with each stride.

Hiro, trying to keep up, was clearly struggling. His face was flushed from the effort, and sweat dripped down his brow, mixing with the salty spray from the ocean. His feet sank deeper into the wet sand with each step, making it feel as though the earth itself was trying to pull him down. "Kyren... I swear... this armor... is going to be the death of me," Hiro panted, laughing breathlessly despite his exhaustion.

Kyren couldn't help but smirk at his friend’s comment. "Keep going, Hiro. Remember... we’re not just fighting the others at Sky Academy—we’re fighting ourselves."

The two pushed forward, trying to keep a steady pace. Each lap across the beach felt longer than the last as the fatigue set in. Kyren’s lungs burned, and his legs felt like they were made of lead, but he refused to give in. He could feel his strength draining with every passing moment, yet something inside him pushed him to keep going.

Hiro’s breaths became shallow, his normally confident grin replaced with a grimace of concentration as he fought against his body’s urge to stop. His armor clanked with every step, the sound of metal and water splashing creating an almost hypnotic rhythm.

By the time they had reached the halfway mark, both of them were completely drenched, their movements slower and more labored. The weight of the waterlogged armor made it feel like they were dragging the ocean itself with them.

"This... sucks," Hiro groaned, his voice barely audible over the sound of the waves crashing against the shore.

"Yeah... but we’re not giving up," Kyren replied, his voice equally strained but determined.

Patricia watched them from the shore with an approving grin, her arms crossed as she observed their progress. "Not bad, boys. Keep pushing! You’ll thank me later when your stamina doesn’t fail you in a real battle!" she shouted, her voice carrying over the beach, barely audible above the sound of their labored breathing.

Kyren gritted his teeth, focusing on the rhythm of his movements, trying to ignore the burning in his legs and the growing tightness in his chest. “I need to get stronger”, he reminded himself, each step forward a testament to his resolve.

As Kyren pushed ahead, the weight of the armor and the drag of the water seemed to fade from his focus. He was determined now, his body aching but his mind set. With each step, he felt more in tune with the rhythm of the ocean’s resistance, his legs burning but carrying him forward. His pace increased, and soon he was pulling ahead of Hiro.

"Wait, are we running now?" Hiro called out from behind, trying to keep up with Kyren's sudden burst of speed. "Are you finished warming up already?"

Kyren glanced back, a determined look in his eyes. "Yeah, like you said, we need to have each other's backs," he replied, his voice firm with resolve.

Hiro was confused for a second, his brows furrowed. "Of course! But what does that have to do with this?" he asked, struggling to understand what Kyren was getting at while keeping up his pace.

Kyren smirked, his eyes sharp with newfound focus. "Before we can compete with others, we need to compete with ourselves first, Hiro. If we push ourselves now, no one else will be able to push us harder later," he explained. Then, with a gleam of challenge in his eyes, he added, "Let's make this interesting. The first one to give up loses. We'll record the time and see who really has what it takes."

Hiro's face lit up in realization. "AHH! I SEE NOW!" he shouted with enthusiasm, a wide grin spreading across his face. "SO WE NEED TO COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER AND PUSH OUR LIMITS! THAT SOUNDS GOOD, KYREN!"

…