The cruelty of the world

I woke up in Cor’t, my memory is better now. I can remember more things. But then I don’t think my memory is the problem, I think someone took my memory. I could be wrong. Even I am not sure. I got outside and took breakfast of which is still tasteless to me. I am just a vessel; I am getting used to moving around without dropping.

After a day or so, I left the village so I can go search for more things of interest and that will lead me to the gang members. Then I just realized, if I did meet the gang members, what am I going to do. I do not know how to wield a sword. I do not have any magic powers; I have seen other people perform it and tried to imitate it to no avail.

I wanted to find something I am good at when it comes to fighting or at least defending. I found a little training camp that trains people with swords and magic. I decided to enroll and test out how it was. As expected, I tried swinging the blade and I couldn’t hit any of the targets. It seems that my eyes were still somewhat hazy, but I might have gotten used to it and can see properly with a hazy vision.

I was searching my bag, and found the maiden’s mask. I decided to wear it for some reason. When I wore it, a sound played. The sound that played was a voice saying, “Online”. I was surprised and decided to see what it was. A voice of an unknown person yet sounded familiar played. “Welcome UNKNOWN” the voice said.

I decided to check around me, and as I thought, the sound was playing in the mask. I wasn’t dreaming. The voice asked for my name, which was the next problem. I don’t even remember who I am. What am I supposed to answer? I went ahead and said, “I do not know who I am”.

The voice responded with a “That is not an actually name, I am certain”. It seemed that the Ai in this mask is on a different level.

I wanted to go back to Moze’t village to get some sort of clue to the mask. I stayed in Cor’t to get some rest.

I woke up in the middle of the night. I decided to go to Moze’t Village since I was already up, and I had the energy. I took my bag and went to Moze’t. I found the woman’s body again. I checked around the burnt-up house. I found a piece of paper with the something written on it. The word that was written on it was “Arthur”. I wasn’t sure what that clarified but I decided to test the mask and said Arthur was my name. It registered and I was logged into the mask.

I asked the mask, “Who are you?”.

I didn’t expect any straightforward answer from the mask. But it replied, “I am the woman who you saw die in Moze’t village”.

I was in shock. I didn’t know what to saw afterwards. I asked the mask for the woman’s name even though it claimed to be her. The mask replied with “Call me Arthur for the time being, though that isn’t my actual name.”.

I decided to go along with it. I asked for the mask if it had any memories of me or my name. The mask replied “My memories is before the gang’s intrusion into the village. So, my memories are up until there and I do remember taking care of you but unfortunately I do not know your name”.

The mask continued “Arthur is a name given to me for wielding that sword that you are holding carrying around”. “I am terribly sorry for taking it, I responded.”

The mask replied with “It is fine, I am now just a mask, so what is the use of it to me anyways?”.

The mask then continued “You just showed up at the village and passed out. Everybody else was freaking out about what happened to this foreigner. So, I decided to take you in and nurse you”.

“I am very thankful for what you did”, I replied.

We talked for almost the whole night. Even though it was weird to talk to a mask at first, I got used to it over time. From what I understood, she took her soul and placed it in this mask which was passed down from her family to her. I then asked her whether there was anything special about me.

She/The mask then replied with “Yes, you have no pulse, yet you are alive. I mentioned this first time you spoke to me. You still have no pulse. I am a mask that can do a lot of things like measuring and calculating at high speeds, so I know”.

I soon returned to Cor’t village. Just to find it destroyed.