"Huff! Huff! Huff!" A child sprinted through the dense forest, his heart pounding in his chest as fear coursed through his veins.

"RUN! GO AWAY!" a woman's panicked voice echoed through the trees, urging him to flee.

"SAVE YOURSELF! GO!" a man's desperate plea reverberated in the air, blending with the child's own ragged breathing.

The child ran for his life, fueled by the urgency of the screams that echoed in his ears, commanding him to save himself.

"GO!"

"RUN!"

"SAVE YOURSELF, Ric!" The voices shouted, growing increasingly frantic.

"Ric! Ric!"

"Ric!"

Suddenly, the voices morphed and merged into one as Ric jolted awake from his haunting nightmare.

"Ric! Are you up?!" Yota's concerned voice pierced through the remnants of the dream.

"Huh?! W-what?" Ric mumbled, disoriented from the sudden awakening.

"It's me, Yota," Yota reassured him, standing by Ric's bed.

Ric took a moment to collect himself, rubbing his temples. "Oh, Yota, it's you," he finally managed to say.

Yota nodded, a worried expression etched on his face. "Another nightmare, huh?"

Ric sighed, his voice tinged with resignation. "Yeah, the same one where I'm running and someone keeps telling me to save myself."

Yota furrowed his brows, concerned. "Do you remember anything about them? Their faces?"

Ric shook his head, his eyes clouded with the remnants of the vivid dream. "No, it's all a blur. Just... intense emotions and the urgent screams."

Noticing Yota's evident concern, Ric reached out and patted his friend's shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry, Yota. Let's focus on getting ready for the exam. We can't let these nightmares distract us."

With that, Ric swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood up, clutching his head momentarily.

"Did you have enough rest, Ric?" Yota asked, still worried.

"I'll be fine, Yota. Let's go, time to prepare for the exam," Ric replied, mustering a smile to ease Yota's concerns.

As Ric made his way to freshen up, Yota pondered silently, his mind tracing back to the day he found Ric near the cliff in the nearby forest. It had been five years since then, and Ric's memories of his past remained elusive. Yota vividly remembered that fateful day when a lost ball had led him to discover the injured and amnesiac Ric lying on the forest floor, battered and alone. The boy had nothing but tattered clothes, a locket bearing his name, and haunting bruises that hinted at a painful past. Since waking up in the orphanage, Ric had sporadic nightmares, adding another layer of mystery to his forgotten past.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

Yota's thoughts took an unexpected turn, a peculiar idea sparking in his mind. "Wait a minute! What if Ric lost his memories from a blow to the head? Maybe... if I hit him on the head again, hard enough, his memories might come rushing back!" he mumbled to himself, hope mingling with doubt.

Ric emerged from the bathroom, calling out to Yota, "Hey, Yota! Let's go. It's time for breakfast."

Yota's excitement flickered, replaced by uncertainty. "Yes, I'm coming," he replied, his hidden intentions now conflicting with the genuine care he felt for his friend.

After breakfast, Ric prepared to head out for practice and asked, "Hey, Yota, are you coming with me

?"

Yota hesitated, his internal struggle evident. "N-no, you go ahead. I'll join you later."

Ric raised an eyebrow, suspicion coloring his tone. "Hmm... alright, but make sure you practice too."

With a lingering sense of guilt, Yota watched as Ric left for the open ground near the orphanage, where he could train his magical abilities. Most of the land lay empty, bordered by forests that concealed untold secrets. As Ric delved into his studies, Yota sought refuge behind a large rock, clutching a small stone in his hand. His mind raced with conflicting thoughts, his plan forming in desperate whispers. "If I just add a bit of fire magic to the stone before throwing it, maybe the impact will trigger Ric's memories. It's worth a try... though I hope he doesn't get hurt. He's strong, and we have the old man to rely on if things go wrong."

With a mixture of trepidation and determination, Yota executed his ill-conceived plan, casting the stone towards Ric. However, luck was not on Yota's side, and Ric's instincts guided him to duck down, reaching for his fallen book just as the stone whizzed past him and collided with a nearby tree. Yota's attempts to hit Ric were repeatedly thwarted, leaving him frustrated and growing angrier with each failed endeavor. The day dragged on, and the sinking sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, marking the end of yet another day.

Lost in his frustration, Yota muttered to himself, "Why is he so unbelievably lucky? I tried so hard, but he always manages to dodge or divert the attacks. Heck, one stone even bounced back and hit me in the head!" Disheartened, he pondered the futility of his plan.

Interrupting his thoughts, Ric's voice cut through the air, surprising Yota. "What are you doing?" Ric asked, an incredulous expression etched on his face.

Startled, Yota stammered, "W-what?! Ric?"

"Yes, it's me. Why were you trying to hit me on the head?" Ric questioned, his eyes narrowing.

Yota's nerves got the better of him, and he struggled to find the right words. "Uh... umm, well..."

Ric's expression softened as he pieced together the fragments of Yota's intentions. "Let me guess... you thought that hitting me on the head would miraculously bring back my memories?"

Yota's eyes widened, his secret plan exposed. "Huh? How did you know?"

Ric chuckled, a mix of amusement and exasperation in his voice. "It's quite obvious, Yota. This is precisely why I always tell you to read books. Memories don't just come flooding back with a mere hit to the head, especially not with a tiny rock!"

Shame washed over Yota, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "I'm sorry, Ric. I was just desperate."

Ric's gentle smile replaced his previous annoyance. "It's alright, Yota. I understand your intentions, but we need to find another way. Now, get up. The sun is setting, and we should head back inside before the Oldman starts scolding us."

Yota nodded, gratitude mingling with relief. "Thank you, Ric. Let's go."

Side by side, Ric and Yota walked toward the orphanage, the sun casting long shadows behind them. They knew that despite the mysteries shrouding Ric's past, their friendship and determination would guide them forward. Another day had passed, and with it, a glimmer of hope emerged—a hope that, together, they would uncover the truth

and forge a brighter future.

[https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/952a01aa-e384-401c-a0f2-be8702666a5f/dfyhllz-c7d17430-650e-4a03-b775-6cb1f0ebb02d.jpg/v1/fill/w_1280,h_1280,q_75,strp/sun_sets_in_middle_of_mountains_and_a_house_near_t_by_tricky786_dfyhllz-fullview.jpg?token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJzdWIiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5ODIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwiaXNzIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBkMTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsIm9iaiI6W1t7ImhlaWdodCI6Ijw9MTI4MCIsInBhdGgiOiJcL2ZcLzk1MmEwMWFhLWUzODQtNDAxYy1hMGYyLWJlODcwMjY2NmE1ZlwvZGZ5aGxsei1jN2QxNzQzMC02NTBlLTRhMDMtYjc3NS02Y2IxZjBlYmIwMmQuanBnIiwid2lkdGgiOiI8PTEyODAifV1dLCJhdWQiOlsidXJuOnNlcnZpY2U6aW1hZ2Uub3BlcmF0aW9ucyJdfQ.H-rZqB-jABgNzddaI2ZpF7N-Z9lEwloxlWHi_e6xEYM]