The village of Arvalis was peaceful, nestled in a valley surrounded by dense forests and rolling hills. The scent of fresh earth and blooming flowers lingered in the air, a stark contrast to the emptiness Kael had felt in the void. As he walked alongside Elara, his mind continued to wander, trying to piece together the fragments of his memories. It was like trying to capture smoke with bare hands.

“Here we are,” Elara said, her voice bright. They reached the edge of the village, a modest settlement with cobblestone streets, thatched-roof cottages, and a few children playing near a fountain. The sight of life felt almost surreal, as if Kael had forgotten what it was like to see people simply living.

Kael looked around, still feeling detached, as though he were an outsider in a world that didn’t belong to him. His gaze landed on the simple, everyday scenes before him—the laughter of the children, the vendors shouting their wares, the elderly men sitting together near the square—but nothing seemed to stir his heart.

“Welcome to the heart of Arvalis,” Elara said, noticing his distracted gaze. “It’s not much, but it’s home.”

“It’s... nice,” Kael replied, though the words felt hollow. The peacefulness was unnerving. In his past lives, he had never known true peace—not like this. It made him uneasy, as if he didn’t belong here, or perhaps, as if he had forgotten the cost of peace.

Elara led him through the village, past the marketplace where merchants sold their goods, and toward a modest wooden building with a sign reading “Dr. Corwin – Healing and Remedies.”

“I’ll take you to see the village healer,” Elara said, pushing open the door. A warm breeze scented with herbs and dried flowers greeted them as they entered. Inside, the dim light from a few flickering candles danced across shelves lined with vials of potions, jars of ointments, and bundles of dried plants.

“Dr. Corwin?” Elara called out, her voice echoing slightly.

A man emerged from the back of the shop, his white hair and beard giving him the appearance of someone well into his years. His eyes, however, were sharp and intelligent, an observer of the world rather than a mere participant.

“Ah, Elara, back again so soon,” Dr. Corwin said with a warm smile, though his gaze quickly turned to Kael. “And who do we have here?”

Elara stepped aside, allowing Kael to come forward. “I found him outside the Elderwood. He doesn’t remember anything—his name, where he’s from, nothing.”

Dr. Corwin studied Kael intently, as if trying to peer into his very soul. There was a moment of silence, and for a fleeting instant, Kael felt as if the healer was searching for something deeper, something more than just the amnesia he claimed to have.

“I see,” Dr. Corwin murmured, walking over to a nearby table. “Well, there’s no use dwelling on the past for now. Let’s see what we can do.”

He gestured for Kael to sit on a stool near the table. As Kael did, Dr. Corwin began to prepare a concoction of herbs, muttering to himself. “You’re lucky, you know,” he said as he worked, his hands moving with the precision of someone who had done this for decades. “The Elderwood can be dangerous for travelers, especially those who wander too deep. The forest has a way of... altering memories. Some lose themselves entirely, others—well, others find themselves in worse fates.”

Kael’s brow furrowed as he watched the healer mix the herbs. “I don’t remember anything from before. But I don’t feel like I’m in the right place,” he admitted, his voice tinged with frustration. “Like... I should know something. Someone. But it’s all just empty.”

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Elara, who had been quietly watching, looked at him with a gentle expression. “You don’t have to remember everything all at once. Sometimes, it’s better not to. But in time, it’ll come back to you. Just be patient.”

The healer handed Kael a small cup filled with the warm, earthy brew. “Drink this. It’ll help with the confusion. A little clarity, at least.”

Kael hesitated, glancing at the cup, then at Dr. Corwin. He felt no real trust in the man, but there was something in the healer’s eyes—something that suggested kindness, even if it was tempered with a certain wariness.

He drank.

The liquid was bitter, its taste lingering on his tongue as warmth spread through his chest. At first, it was nothing more than a dull, calming sensation, but then, the world around him seemed to... shift. For the briefest of moments, he saw flashes—images that didn’t belong to this world.

A vast sky filled with stars, a battle raging across the cosmos, the clash of powers beyond comprehension. And then... a woman’s face. Silver hair, eyes full of sorrow and strength.

“Lyra...” Kael whispered under his breath, his voice breaking.

Elara’s gaze softened, but Dr. Corwin’s eyes darkened for a moment. “You’ve seen something, haven’t you?” he asked, his voice low and cautious.

Kael blinked, the vision fading as quickly as it had come. He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. “I... don’t know. It was just a flash.”

Elara’s eyes narrowed. “A flash of what?”

“I... I don’t remember,” Kael muttered, feeling the weight of frustration press down on him again. The images were gone, slipping through his mind like water through his fingers.

Dr. Corwin crossed his arms, his face thoughtful. “Memory is a tricky thing. Sometimes, it takes a while for the pieces to fall into place. But those flashes...” He trailed off, seemingly lost in thought. “You may want to be cautious. If you were to stay here too long, the more you forget. It’s the influence of the Elderwood. It’s not just a forest—it’s a place that can pull at your very soul, erase what’s important. And... it’s been known to trap wanderers in endless loops of forgotten lives.”

Kael stiffened, his heart racing. “Loops? What do you mean?”

“It’s not just stories, son. People who go too deep into the forest, or linger too long, sometimes lose themselves entirely. Some even claim they live a hundred lives in the span of a few days, none of them real, none of them true.” Dr. Corwin’s voice grew heavier. “But they’re not all lies. There’s truth buried in those loops. Buried so deep that even the strongest minds can’t see it until it’s too late.”

Elara frowned. “That’s... unsettling.”

Kael stood abruptly, the stool creaking beneath him. “I need to leave,” he said, his voice firm. “I don’t belong here. None of this feels real.”

Elara stepped forward, her eyes pleading. “Don’t be rash, Kael. The forest is dangerous, and Dr. Corwin is right. You can’t just walk out there without knowing what’s waiting for you.”

“I don’t care what’s out there,” Kael said, his voice harder than he intended. He met her gaze, his eyes cold. “I don’t care about this village, this life. I need to know who I am. I need to remember.”

Dr. Corwin sighed, a knowing look crossing his features. “The forest calls to you, doesn’t it?”

Kael froze. The words struck something deep within him, something that he couldn’t explain. His heart beat faster as the overwhelming sense of déjà vu washed over him.

“I...” he began, but his voice faltered. He didn’t know why, but he felt as if the forest held the answers he was searching for, the answers that had been taken from him.

Elara stepped in front of him, her voice firm yet caring. “Don’t do this, Kael. You don’t know what you’re walking into.”

Kael looked at her, his gaze unreadable. “I have no choice.”

Before either of them could stop him, Kael turned and walked toward the door. His steps felt heavy, as though the weight of his forgotten past had finally caught up with him.

Dr. Corwin didn’t try to stop him. Instead, he murmured, almost to himself, “The truth always finds a way to surface.”

Kael paused at the door, looking over his shoulder. “And if the truth is too much to handle?”

Dr. Corwin’s gaze met his, eyes filled with an unsettling understanding. “Then you’ll have to make a choice.”

Kael didn’t reply. He stepped out into the village square, the air still warm but thick with the pull of something unknown. He had to find the answers. The answers that would fill the empty space inside him. The answers that would bring clarity to the fog of his past.

And if the Elderwood held those answers, then he would go to the very heart of it, no matter the cost.