Who Am I?

I woke up with a throbbing pain all over my body. Above me was a gray sky, and all around were trees. The ground was cold and damp. I pushed myself up, my head spinning, my stomach growling. Nothing. I couldn't remember anything. Who am I? Why am I here? I looked around. A strange forest. There was no sound of people, only the rustling of leaves and the frantic beating of my heart.

I touched my face, then looked down at my body. No obvious injuries, but my clothes were covered in dirt. Nothing felt familiar. Nothing rang a bell. I tried to recall a name. Anything. But my mind was a blank slate, as if someone had wiped away everything. I staggered to my feet, leaning against a nearby tree. The headache persisted. I stood there for a long time, not knowing what to do. I didn't remember who I was, where I was, or even my own name.

"Damn it…" I looked around. Forest. Trees. It was cold and silent.

"Where the hell am I?" No one answered. Only the wind whispered through the leaves.

I took a deep breath and started walking. With every step, I felt more and more uneasy. "What the hell is going on?"

I touched my head, then slapped my cheeks. My heart hammered in my chest, each beat loud and clear.

"Who am I, really?"

I repeated the question in my head dozens of times. The harder I tried to remember, the more my head hurt. Nothing came to mind. No family. No friends. No memories. Just emptiness.

"I can't die like this… I don't even know who I am yet…" I gritted my teeth and kept moving. My stomach churned. Thirst parched my throat. A sound came from my left.

I flinched and turned my head. "Is anyone there?!"

I swallowed hard. I told myself it was just the wind, but my legs moved faster. Suddenly, I heard a rasping sound, like a hoarse, ragged breath. I froze. Sweat beaded on the back of my neck. My heart pounded like a drum.

"Don't mess with me…" CRASH! Before I could react, a dark shape burst from the bushes. I screamed and turned to run. "Aaaaaah! What is that?!"

The thing was right behind me. I didn't dare look back. I just ran, stumbling and getting back up to run again. Its footsteps grew closer and closer. I tripped. A sudden slope appeared before my eyes. "Shit!" I tumbled down, my back hitting the ground, my ribs hitting rocks. My head slammed into a dead tree stump, and my vision went dark for a moment. I groaned and lay still. I wasn't unconscious, but everything was spinning. A sharp pain shot through my left side. I brought my hand up. Blood. So much blood.

"You've got to be kidding me… I don't want to die in this miserable place… No… not when I don't know a single thing…"

The footsteps disappeared. I didn't know if the thing was still chasing me. I lay there, trembling. My vision blurred with blood. "…Aaagh… damn it…"

I gasped for breath. "What the hell is happening?"

"Not now… I can't die now…"

A frantic pair of footsteps rang out. Then a young girl rushed from the bushes, her eyes wide, her face pale. "Can you hear me?" She knelt down beside me, her hand shaking as she reached for my shoulder, but she pulled it back when she saw the blood. Her face was full of fear. She looked like she was about to cry.

"Please try to hold on! I'll save you! Please, just try!"

I tried to open my eyes, to stay conscious. It was so hard. Why… why was this girl so worried? Who was I? And who was she? We didn't even know each other. Why was she risking herself for a stranger? I bit down on my lip, trying to move, but the pain made me want to scream. My shoulder was still bleeding, the wound deep. How could this even be healed?

"I'll heal you… don't move…"

The girl whispered something I couldn't understand. Her hand lifted, trembling slightly. Then, a light appeared from her palm. It was soft and clear. It wasn't blinding or scorching hot. Instead, it was gentle and warm. I didn't know what I was looking at, but it was captivating. The light spread, covering my torn shoulder. The spot that had been screaming in agony… slowly became warmer… and the pain subsided. I could barely breathe. This light didn't just soothe the wound; it also calmed my mind, which had just been a chaotic mess of panic and fear. It felt like an invisible embrace… holding me.

I glanced at the girl. Her eyes were focused, her lips still moving as she recited something. Her hair swayed gently in the wind, and the light reflected on her cheeks made her seem to glow in the middle of the forest. It was the first beautiful sight I'd seen since I woke up, and perhaps the most beautiful.

I staggered to my feet, still clutching my shoulder. The bleeding had stopped, but the wound still stung. The girl stood close beside me, her expression still worried. She clutched the hem of her clothes. "…Can you walk?"

I nodded slowly. "Yeah… I think so."

She took my arm, more gently than I expected. We started walking along a path covered in rotten leaves. We walked in silence for a while. I couldn't get the image out of my head—the strange light, the gentle feeling, and the look on the girl's face.

"…Hey," I spoke up, "back there… what was that?"

She looked up at me, seeming a little hesitant. "Healing magic. I used it to heal your wound."

"…Magic?" I repeated. The word sounded like a joke.

"Yes," she nodded firmly. "Everyone has mana. But not everyone can learn magic. Especially… healing magic."

"Mana? What the hell is going on?" I muttered.

She overheard me and said softly, "You're not from around here, are you?"

I was silent for a moment. Honestly, I didn't even know who I was, let alone where "here" was. "…I don't remember anything," I said. "I don't know who I am, or why I'm here. Everything… is blank."

Her eyes widened. "…Like amnesia?"

I nodded.

"Well… I'll ask first, then." Her voice was quiet but resolute. "What's your name?"

"…I don't know."

She looked at me, her eyes wide. "…How old are you?"

"I'm not sure. Maybe sixteen… seventeen?"

She stared at me for a moment, then nodded softly. "Okay… I'll just call you 'Brother,' then. My name is Frea."

"Frea…" The name sounded a little strange. "Frea… why did you save me?"

She didn't answer right away. She looked down at the path, her hand still holding the sleeve of my shirt as if she were afraid I might disappear. "…Because you needed help. I didn't think much about it. I don't want to see anyone die in front of me again."

The answer made my throat tighten a little. I looked at her, seeing her small face looking down, hiding some kind of emotion. I didn't ask anything else.

"…Frea, where is this place?" I asked, changing the subject.

"You're on the Kyvalos continent. Near the northern edge," she replied. "And my village is part of the Elstein Kingdom. It's a small village; it's not even on the map."

Kyvalos. Elstein. All strange names. I memorized every word, as if I was afraid they would vanish if I didn't hold on to something.

"I…" I mumbled, "I really don't remember anything. No name, no memories, no idea who I am…" I stopped, standing in the middle of the path covered in dry leaves. A light breeze blew through, carrying wild grass. "I don't know where to go. I don't know what to do anymore."

Frea turned around and looked straight at me. Her brown eyes shone with an unusual determination. "Then… why don't you come back to the village with me?"

I looked at her, surprised. "I think you should rest," she continued. "Eat something. Talk to the adults in the village. Maybe… maybe someone knows something about you?"

I was silent for a few seconds. A strange feeling swelled up inside me. I had nothing. I knew nothing. But now, a strange girl was offering to take me in. I looked at her. "…Okay. I'll go."

I walked slowly behind Frea. The trees began to thin out. Above us, sunlight filtered through the leaves. The air became more pleasant. Ahead, a path led out of the forest. I walked by instinct, feeling like I'd been walking for a very long time, though I didn't know how long. Frea glanced back and smiled. "Can you still go on? We can rest if you're tired."

I shook my head. "I'm okay. I can still walk."

She nodded and turned back, continuing to lead the way. A few minutes later, the village came into view. A small village nestled in the forest. Simple wooden houses with dry grass roofs. Smoke rose from the chimneys. There were the sounds of roosters crowing and children laughing in the distance. It wasn't big or grand, but it felt… peaceful. I stopped to look for a moment.

"Is this your village?" Frea turned back, nodding hard. "Yes! Eden Village. There aren't many people, but everyone here is kind."

I didn't say anything, just quietly followed her. A few villagers passed by, looking at me with curious eyes. They didn't say anything, just gave a small nod of greeting and continued on their way.

Frea led me to the largest wooden house in the village. There was a wooden bench and a pot of flowers in front of the door. She knocked three times. "Grandpa! I'm home!"

Soon after, the door opened. An old man with a long white beard and a few wrinkles on his face, but his eyes were still bright. He looked at me, then at Frea. "You're back, Frea. Who's this boy?"

Frea stepped inside, pulling me behind her. "I found him in the forest! He was badly hurt and he has amnesia!"

I bowed slightly, my voice a little hoarse. "I'm sorry for intruding. I don't remember who I am or why I was in the forest. I just woke up… alone, with nothing."

The old man was silent for a moment, his eyes thoughtful. Then he stepped back and said, "Come inside. No need to talk outside."

I stepped inside. The interior was simple and clean. The faint scent of herbal tea hung in the air. The old man sat down, poured tea into three cups, and pushed one towards me. "Drink up. You must be tired."

I took the cup and nodded. "Thank you, sir…"

He looked at me for a moment, then asked, "You really don't remember anything? Name, hometown, family?"

I shook my head. "No. When I woke up, my head was pounding. I tried to think, but… there's nothing. As if it was completely erased."

He stroked his white beard thoughtfully. "That's strange. I've never heard of anything like that happening in this region."

Frea chimed in, her voice worried: "Grandpa, can I let him stay in the village? He's still so weak!"

He turned to look at Frea, his eyes softening. "You always do what you want, Frea. But… this time, it's okay."

I was a little surprised. "You mean… I can stay?"

The old man looked at me and said gently, "You don't remember anything, and you have nowhere to go. This village is small, but there's an empty house. Stay for a while, rest. But you'll also have to earn your keep."

I bowed my head, grateful. "Thank you, sir. Truly."

The old man smiled faintly, then placed a hand on Frea's shoulder. "This girl lives alone. She has no parents. If you stay, please… look after her a little. She tends to worry about others too much."

I turned to Frea. She was pursing her lips, her face a little red. "I'll try. Even though I don't remember who I am… I owe her my life."

The old man stood up and got more water for the pot. "That's good, then. Frea, take him to the house."

Frea replied, "Yes." She then said softly to me, "Please take care of me."

"You too," I said.

It was already late afternoon when Frea and I walked along the small stone path to her house. Along the way, a few villagers smiled and greeted us. Their eyes weren't suspicious, but curious and warm.

"My house is here," Frea said, pointing to a small wooden house with a palm-leaf roof, located near the edge of the forest. Smoke was rising from the chimney, and the smell of food wafted through the air.

I followed her inside. The house was simple, with just a wooden table, a few chairs, and a small kitchen area on the left. On the right were two simple beds, neatly made.

"Please sit down," Frea said, pulling out a chair for me. I nodded, sitting down and feeling the dull ache in my back from the injury.

"Can I help with something?" I said, watching Frea roll up her sleeves.

She turned around and shook her head. "You don't need to. You're still injured. Just rest and recover."

I didn't argue. To be honest, my limbs were still sore, even though they felt better than this morning. Frea went into the kitchen, washed vegetables, and prepared the pot. She did everything with a practiced ease, as if she was used to living alone. I leaned back slightly, my eyes looking around. The space was small, but it felt safe. Everything was tidy and just enough. The smell of old wood mixed with the aroma of herbs hanging by the window. The stove began to smoke. The sound of crackling fire filled the air.

Less than five minutes later, a delicious smell filled the room. I took a long breath. "That smells amazing…"

Frea brought the food out and placed it on the table. There was a full bowl of soup, a few slices of toasted bread, and a plate of stir-fried vegetables that smelled like fried shallots and garlic. It was simple, but the smell made my stomach rumble loudly. Frea placed a spoon on the table and sat down across from me, her eyes twinkling in the firelight from the stove.

"Go ahead and eat, it's still hot."

I looked at the bowl of soup, then at her. "…Thank you," I said softly, perhaps out of shyness. Or because my throat was still dry. I picked up the spoon, scooped up some soup, and put it in my mouth. The soup was rich and sweet, slightly salty, but not overpowering. It tasted a bit like chicken stock. Either way, it was delicious. It felt like my body was coming back to life.

"It's really good… Did you make this?"

Frea smiled gently, her hands clasped on the table. "Yeah. I'm just an okay cook…"

"'Okay'?" I looked at the bowl of soup and took another spoonful. "If this is 'okay,' I don't dare imagine what a truly good meal would be like."

She blushed. I think it was because of the compliment. Sometimes, a meal and a word of thanks are enough to make someone's whole day. I gnawed on a piece of toasted bread, chewing slowly. It was crunchy and had a buttery, salty flavor—combined with the soup, it was a treasure.

"Frea…"

"Yes?"

"When you healed my wound… what did you do?"

She tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

"Your hand… it glowed. And my wound… it healed. I've never seen anything like that before."

"Oh, that's magic," she replied as if she were talking about watering plants.

I put down my spoon and frowned. "Magic?"

Frea blinked. "…That's right. Everyone has mana inside them. Those who can learn to control it can use magic. It's like… gathering mana and pushing it out."

I was silent, looking at my hands. Mana…? Magic?

"So… everyone can use it?"

"Not really. Some people don't have enough mana, or they can't learn how to control it. But some people are just naturally better at it than others. I can only use simple spells like healing."

I looked up. "What about me? Do you think I can use it?"

Frea looked at me for a moment, then shook her head softly. "I don't know… But if you don't remember anything, then… you probably never learned, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I don't remember anything. I don't know who I am. I don't know where I am. Even the idea of 'magic' is a shock to me."

She looked at me for a moment, then gave a sad smile. "…I was like that once, too. Not amnesia. But… lost, not knowing what to believe in."

I was silent. Outside the window, it was completely dark. The sound of crickets was a steady rhythm.

"Arven," she said, calling me by a new name, gently, as if she was afraid of breaking something fragile. "No matter who you are, you're the person I saved. And… the first person I've ever invited home for dinner like this."

I felt a lump in my throat. I didn't know why.

"Well… thank you."

She smiled. I continued to eat the rest of the soup, and for the first time since I woke up in that forest, I felt… warm inside.

I placed the last bowl in the sink. Frea was already washing the dishes, her hands moving quickly, not needing my help. But I still stood by her, wiping each bowl she had just washed.

"You're a good wiper," Frea said, glancing at me and smiling.

"I'll call it repayment for the wonderful dinner," I shrugged.

She chuckled, her voice light. "You don't have to do that. I can wash them if I can cook them."

"I know. But I'd feel guilty if I didn't help." I shrugged. For some reason, after only a few hours here, I was already starting to feel comfortable.

After we finished, Frea dried her hands and turned to me. She brought me a thin blanket. "You can sleep in the room upstairs. It's not very big, but it's quiet."

I followed her up the small wooden stairs. The room upstairs had only a single bed and a small window where moonlight peeked through the curtains. Frea placed the blanket down and turned back. "If you need anything, just call me, okay?"

I nodded. "Okay. Thanks… for everything."

She looked at me for a few seconds, then smiled softly. "Goodnight, Arven."

The door closed. I sat on the edge of the bed, looking up at the ceiling. The night wind blew softly through the crack in the window. The space was still. I lay down. The bed was soft, not too plush, but still a lot better than the cold ground from this morning. I sat up on the bed, gently stroking the blanket.

"…Who am I?" That question returned, like a familiar breath. I lay back down, my eyes on the wooden ceiling. The moonlight streamed in, illuminating my hair, my hands, and the old ceiling… But my mind was a mess. Who am I? Why am I here? Where did I come from? Who is my family? How did I use to live? There was nothing.

And when my eyes closed… an image suddenly appeared in my dream. Fire. Explosions. People screaming. A little girl stood in the middle of a sea of fire, reaching her hand out to me. "Save me… please…" I lunged forward, but the fire blocked me. The closer I got, the more intense the flames became. The girl's eyes were full of tears, but I couldn't see her face clearly. "Don't leave me… Please!" I screamed, but couldn't hear my own voice. The scenery spun, the flames swallowed everything, and then… everything went dark.

I woke up with a start, terrified of the dream. "What the hell is going on?" I jolted awake from that nightmare, hoping it was just a dream.