As Nia'le's soul returned to the earthly realm, it merged with the sand that had taken the shape of his new body. Standing there, he remained motionless, his mind filled with countless questions. He gazed at his hands, flexing his fingers in an attempt to grasp the reality of his existence. It seemed incomprehensible to him, for he knew in his heart that he was once dead. The mystery of his resurrection perplexed him, leaving him in a state of profound confusion.
Meanwhile, Vilyn observed Nia'le with a mix of curiosity and concern. She yearned to explain the circumstances to him, but her attention was abruptly diverted when she caught sight of his unclothed lower body. Blushing furiously, she quickly sought refuge behind Calguas, accusing him of being a pervert. Calguas, unfazed by her sudden outburst, merely cast a sidelong glance at her, choosing not to comment on her reaction.
Summoning her courage, Vilyn inquired, her voice tinged with both curiosity and possessiveness, "Who is this nude guy, honey?" Clinging to Calguas's arm, she awaited his response. Calguas, once again casting a subtle glance in her direction, calmly replied, "He is an old friend of mine, Vilyn. Would you mind giving us some privacy for a while? We need to have a brief conversation." Vilyn, unable to resist the urge, planted a swift kiss on Calguas's cheek before issuing a warning to Nia'le, "Don't you dare try to steal him away from me, you naked guy! Understood?"
Nia'le, still grappling with the return of his consciousness, remained silent, devoid of any emotional response. He regarded Vilyn with a perplexed expression, questioning her identity and purpose in addressing him. Vilyn, growing increasingly exasperated, retorted, "How can you be so nonchalant while speaking to me, you naked guy!"
Attempting to diffuse the tension, Calguas interjected, his voice calm yet authoritative, "Please, let us all remain calm. Vilyn, it's time for you to leave us now." Vilyn shot a disdainful look in Nia'le's direction, but her gaze softened as she sweetly smiled at Calguas. With a high-pitched voice, she cheerfully replied, "Okay!" before planting another affectionate kiss on Calguas's lips. With that, she dashed off towards the shore, her excitement palpable as she anticipated a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear waters, shallow enough for her to frolic without a care.
Calguas observed Vilyn as she frolicked in the distant waters, the sunlight casting a golden glow upon her. With her occupied, he seized the opportunity to engage in an uninterrupted conversation with Nia'le. Settling himself on the warm sand, he spoke with a calm yet purposeful tone, "Nia'le, you are not truly alive. I have merely borrowed your soul from the realms of Heaven for a fleeting moment. There is a task that I need you to undertake, one that aligns with your own desires." Nia'le, his gaze fixed on the vast expanse of the sea, spoke softly, "I perished that fateful night. Céline lost her life because of me. But Tassa, I have yet to find her." Calguas responded, his voice tinged with a mix of sympathy and resolve, "I know where she is. As for Céline, I have already laid her body to rest." Nia'le turned his attention to Calguas, his eyes filled with curiosity and skepticism. "Who are you, and why would you do such a thing?" he inquired. Calguas introduced himself formally, stating, "Nia'le, I am Ayamani. However, in the presence of that audacious girl, you must address me as Calguas."
Nia'le struggled to comprehend Ayamani's motives for bringing him back to life. Sensing his confusion, Calguas endeavored to provide answers, knowing that Nia'le's mind was filled with a multitude of questions. Speaking in measured tones, he revealed, "Nia'le, Tassa has lost all memory of you and Céline. This was not due to the tragic incident that occurred, but rather the result of an Aginer named Flute sealing away her recollections. Flute did so to safeguard the future, but only Tassa herself possesses the ability to unlock her memories. However, if she forgets about you and Céline entirely, she will never remember that the two of you ever existed in her life." Nia'le lifted his gaze, his expression one of resignation. "I deserve to be forgotten by her. She would be better off starting anew with someone else," he confessed.
Calguas delivered a startling revelation, causing Nia'le to sit up, his attention fully captured. "Well, it seems your hunch was correct. She is indeed with someone else," Calguas disclosed. Nia'le moved closer to Calguas, his voice filled with a mix of resignation and curiosity, "Then why resurrect me? Would it not be better for her to forget about me and begin a new life with this person?" Calguas's response carried a weight of urgency, "The problem lies in the identity of the person she is with. It is Ixartxist. I need you to separate Tassa from him. Otherwise, she will soon be wedded to him, and if that happens, our chances of intervening will be slim." Nia'le, seeking a solution, implored, "Can you not do something about it?" Calguas's tone grew somber as he explained, "Ixartxist is a friend of mine whom I have betrayed. I assumed the guise of a Grim Reaper named Ayamani solely to protect Tassa. Once he discovers my deception, he will undoubtedly seek my demise. And if that were to happen, who would protect Tassa?"
Nia'le regarded Calguas intently, a smile playing upon his lips as he remarked, "You are not skilled at lying, you know. I know Ixartxist is a strong demon, but I also know that you are not an ordinary individual who can be easily subdued. Who exactly are you, Ayamani? What is your connection to Tassa, and why protect her to such lengths?" Calguas chuckled, his laughter tinged with a hint of mystery, as he revealed that his reasons for being there and his deep concern for Tassa were highly confidential. "I do not require your trust, nor do I need to divulge the truth of my identity. I simply implore you to assist me in restoring her memories, Nia'le. Will you lend me your aid?" Nia'le, teasingly, responded, "If you beg, I might reconsider." Calguas fixed him with a cold and serious gaze, prompting Nia'le to feign laughter and concede, "Consider it done."
After bringing Nia'le to his mansion, Calguas arranged for him to stay there temporarily. Turning to Vilyn, he assigned her the task of assisting Nia'le. Vilyn, however, voiced her discontent, questioning why she was chosen for the role. Calguas, taking hold of her hand, reassured her, "Because you are the perfect person for this job, more so than anyone else." Vilyn, being trusting by nature, readily believed and agreed to Calguas's request.
Calguas then asked Vilyn for another favor—to keep their current situation a secret, especially from Suman and Ixartxist. Vilyn, confused, inquired why it was necessary to keep it from them. Calguas explained the potential dangers if they were to find out, pleading with Vilyn to maintain the confidentiality. He asked her not to leave the mansion until his return. Though Vilyn didn't fully comprehend the reasoning, her unconditional love for Calguas compelled her to agree and trust him. Calguas knew he could rely on Vilyn to take care of Nia'le in his absence, and he often left them to attend to Tassa.
Facing Nia'le, Vilyn spoke, "Alright, since my husband has entrusted you to me as our son—wait, son?" Vilyn embraced Nia'le, overwhelmed with the sudden idea of having a family. However, Nia'le pushed her away, harshly calling her a "stupid bitch." In response, Vilyn unleashed a surge of electricity, warning him, "You have a long way to go before you can speak to your mother that way." Nia'le adamantly refused to address her as his mother, stating, "Listen, woman, I refuse to play house with you. Besides, how am I supposed to call you Mom when we're the same age?"
Vilyn crossed her arms, questioning Nia'le about his age. With confidence, Nia'le replied, "I am twenty-one." When Nia'le asked Vilyn about her age, she evaded the question, simply stating, "Age doesn't matter, you know." Undeterred, Nia'le persisted in his inquiry. Frustrated, he murmured beside her, "Perhaps the reason why you don't want to tell me your age is because you know it would embarrass you. You're aware that you're younger, yet you continue to treat me like your baby."
"I'm a demon, you jerkhead. I've lived for over eighteen centuries! Are you happy now?" Vilyn finally revealed, her tone tinged with annoyance. "But as I said before, age doesn't really matter. At least I still look young and fresh, right?"
Nia'le retorted, "What a hag."