Sorus tried his hardest to recall everything. He tried to remember what he did. The death of Liemus, the betrayal, the death of his brother, but he couldn't remember anything. "Why... can't I recall anything? I don't... Why... Where... am I going?"

It was the price of his redemption, the ability to recall his memories, his brain resorted to protecting his mind from the trauma of his brother's death. When his brother died, his mind cracked, but Liemus' death was the breaking point. As he killed him, he turned into a blank slate. A person without a goal. A man with nothing to lose.

--

It has been a day since he was held captive. The carriage had reached its destination hours ago. They had him stripped of all of his belongings, and sent into a cell. He barely said a word since he got here. There was nothing left for him anymore, after all.

All that was left for him was his death.

Although it was natural to him, Sorus couldn't use magic, for the Voidsteel cuffs hindered his ability to do so, but not enough to deactivate his Elemental Heart.

Sorus stared outside from the barred windows. If it had been like any other day, he would've enjoyed it with... who, exactly? He shrugged it off. It was annoying that he couldn't remember who he was, or his family. Something was missing, as if a huge part of his life was taken from him.

"Fresh meat, huh?" His cellmate, a Dragonman, sent a smirk. He had the same handcuffs as him, except for an extra one cuffed to his arms. Fear Cuffs, disabling the ability to boost oneself with Willpower.

Willpower itself is a weapon that could be honed. Not only is it an ability, but it can also strengthen the mind, body, and spirit of a person.

"So... how'd you get landed here? Thievery? Murder? I've murdered someone myself, but I can't exactly admit to it, or my head would be sent to the chopping block."

"I... don't know. I don't remember." Sorus said, trying hard to recall anything. For a second, an image flickered in his mind. An image of a child, burnt. He could remember the smell of the searing flesh, and then the image goes away.

Sorus sweats. "I don't remember anything..."

"Heh, good luck trying to prove yourself innocent in court, then." The Dragonman rested on his bed. "Name's Cragston, by the way. What's yours? Or did you forget about your name as well?"

"It's... Sorus, I think?"

"Well then, Sorus. Welcome to prison. Try not to get yourself killed early, 'kay?" He crossed his arms and went straight to bed.

--

Liene

It has been 3 months since his arrival in the Alarian Prison.

Sorus had been hearing a lot about magic, although he couldn't bring himself to perform any due to the cuffs preventing anyone from casting magic.

He has been dreaming of a man that he couldn't remember. A man that he should never forget, yet here we are. Making friends in prison was not difficult, thanks to the help of Cragston's charismatic abilities.

They managed to secure themselves into a safe group, unharmed by the other prisoners.

Sorus spent most of his time painting on the stone walls with colored rocks that he bought from a prisoner.

He painted until their entire room was covered with scribbles and drawings, like a kid's room.

"I dunno about you, but I'm sick and tired of the prison food... Think that if we paid the guards some coins, we'll get better food?" Cragston asked Sorus, still painting. "I don't really care," Sorus replied.

"Fair. The food's easy to get used to, but I can't stand the bland taste anymore. I'd rather eat a rat than have that sludge anywhere near my mouth anymore."

Cragston sat on his bed. "So... got any plans, Sorus? Or are you just gonna draw all day like usual?"

Sorus turned around. "We're in prison. What else can I do other than draw?"

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

Cragston shrugged. "Play games? Brawl? Anything to kill time."

"I'm already killing time with what I'm doing." Sorus went back to drawing. This time, he draws a golden figure from his dream.

"I've been seeing this... person in my dream. Something about them is just... I dunno, warm? I don't know how to describe it, but whenever I dream about them, I get this warm feeling in my chest."

"You sure it's not the girl of your dreams? Or man? I don't judge." Cragston said, chewing on a piece of bread that he had been keeping.

"No... I don't feel love from them. I feel... inspired. I feel free just thinking of that dream. It's like being in prison doesn't matter as long as I can dream about that person."

"Heh... maybe it's Clarenth. You probably had a weird prophetic dream."

"Clarenth? Who's that?" Sorus asked.

"He's the God of Light and Peace. Most humans worship him, but considering you don't remember anything, you're part of the group who don't, I guess?"

"God of Light..." Sorus stared at his drawing. Could it be? Has a God taken notice of him?

"But it's just a laughable thought. Unless you're an Apostle, I'd just chalk it off as a random dream." Cragston said and kept on eating his bread.

"I'm gonna go and play cards with some people. Have fun with your drawings." He left, throwing his bread onto his bed.

---

A dream again... but this time, it was golden.

A land of light, full of peace and wonder.

Sorus looked around to see a beautiful castle of luminous rock.

Just what is this place?

--

In the land of light, Sorus kept on walking in the direction of the castle. This land is beautiful. The grass twinkles with glamor. Even the sun, despite its strain on his eyes, gleamed with a mystical beauty. Is this... the Continent of Lichtrias?

Perhaps not. He's heard of the continent before, about its searing heat and its expansive deserts... but this is no desert. This must be an entirely different place then.

It only took him 30 minutes to reach the castle. It was quite far, but he did it. Sorus went inside, clueless of what it may hold.

And there sits a huge, glowing man on a giant throne.

"So... you must be Sorus. I've heard a lot about you," the man said.

"You have? How? Did the news of my captivity reach outside of the country?"

"No. But I have been hearing about you and your path of vengeance."

"Vengeance? What do you mean?" Sorus wasn't an idiot. He had heard from the guards about the reason for his capture. He killed multiple people in cold blood. It's just that he didn't know the reason.

"Your mind is shattered, my child. Broken from the things you've seen. Even so, would you like to know the reason behind your actions?"

Sorus gulped. This is it! It might be in a dream, but he could finally learn why he did those things.

Why he killed people in the name of revenge.

"Yes. I would like to remember." Sorus said.

And instantly, a flood of memories surged into his brain. Filling him with information.

He remembers it all. He killed a man named Liemus for murdering his brother. Not only that but a few people were caught in the crossfire. Children who have been living in the alleyways.

"I... killed people other than him? I... what have I done?!" Sorus fell to his knees, bawling with the pain in his heart.

"I'm... no different. I'm a monster..."

"Why should I live when I've killed innocent people? I don't deserve to live... I now understand why I'm in prison. I deserve to be there..."

"Your crimes will not go unpunished. But what if I told you that there is a way for you to repent?"

"How could I make everything right? They're already dead..."

"Their souls remain in the purgatory, to be judged by the other Gods, but what if I told you that there is a way to send them to the heavens?"

"Really? How can I do that?"

"I will offer you a choice, child. You can either spread my faith and become the next Apostle of Light, or you can stay in prison, to be executed for the crimes you've committed."

Sorus stood still. This is it! A way to make things right! He might not be able to bring the dead back, but he can give them a peaceful rest in heaven.

"I'll do it. I will spread your faith. Just promise me that you'll bring them to the heavens."

"A wise choice. Tomorrow, the current Apostle of Light will arrive to guide you into the ways of Light."

The dream ends with Sorus waking up on his bed.

"You were talking in your sleep," Cragston says.

"I was?" The dream was vivid. He couldn't forget what transpired in his dreams.

"Come on, let's get some grub." Cragston leaves their cell, and Sorus follows, only to be stopped by a guard.

"Sorus, you have a visitor."

"I do?" It must be the Apostle of Light from his dream, or it could be someone else.

Sorus starts following the guard into the visiting room, and he sees a man clad in white and yellow robes.