His hand held mine tightly, guiding me gently as we danced beneath the glowing lanterns. The villagers swayed to the rhythm too, laughing, smiling, their joy contagious — but somehow, it felt like the world had narrowed, and we were its center. Our steps were quiet, soft against the earth. And when the music slowed and our bodies stilled, he looked at me.
He smiled.
But this smile… this one was different.
It was hauntingly beautiful, yet painful — so painfully familiar. As if I had seen it before, a long time ago, in a place I could no longer reach. My chest tightened. The world around us blurred. The music faded.
And then he looked into my eyes — and his expression shifted.
"Hey…" he said, surprised. "Why are you crying?"
I blinked. I hadn't noticed the tears slipping down my cheeks. My hand moved instinctively to my face. Why was I crying? I didn't feel sad… not really. But the tears wouldn't stop. My heart felt strange — like it was remembering something my mind couldn't grasp.
"I… I need a moment," I whispered, turning away before he could ask more.
And then I ran. I ran without knowing where or why, my feet carrying me as if they remembered the path. Past lanterns and laughter, through the forest's edge, until I reached the lake.
The moonlight shimmered over the still water. I fell to my knees and stared at my reflection. The tears kept coming.
What's wrong with me?
I cupped water in my hands and splashed it on my face. When I looked back, the reflection had changed.
Short hair. Blood. A fresh scar running down my cheek. A version of me I didn't recognize… and yet, it was me.
Once, I would have screamed. But now… I only stared.
I was tired of being confused. I wanted to understand.
I sat beside the lake in silence, the night breeze brushing over my skin. I didn't even turn when I heard the footsteps behind me. I already knew who it was.
Raiden.
He walked to my side, quietly, like he always did. He didn't ask why I ran. He just sat beside me, dipped his fingers into the cold water, and said softly, "What's going on?"
I looked at him, the desperation in my eyes clear. My lips trembled, but I spoke anyway.
"The more I search for the truth," I began, "the more I question myself. And the closer I get to the answers… the more I wonder if I'm ready to know them."
I looked at my own reflection again.
"I can see myself. But I don't know who I am."
He was silent. I could tell he wanted to say something. But before he could, I turned to him.
"How would you react… if you didn't know your past?"
He didn't answer at first. He looked into the water, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, he said, "Sometimes… it's better not to know."
I stared at him.
And then he looked up at me with a strange seriousness and said, "You'll hope you survive."
Survive what…?
I wanted to ask, but he stood up and offered me his hand.
"Come. Tomorrow," he said, "we'll go again to search For the Rain of Memory."
the moment he said it, a wave of energy surged through my veins. My tears stopped. I reached up and took his hand. He pulled me to my feet.
When we walked back, the village lights shimmered ahead. The music had started again. The girls were still dancing, laughing, spinning under the stars. When they saw us return, their joy seemed to grow even brighter.
That night, for a little while, I forgot my questions. I smiled, I danced, I laughed.
And then I fell asleep.
In my dream, I was on a battlefield. My feet stood on cracked earth. My clothes torn. My heart heavy.
I was fighting… but I didn't know why.
The enemies were soulless, faceless — demons made of shadow and rage. I fought until my body gave in. Until my hands bled and my soul screamed.
And just as I was about to fall for the last time…
Someone approached.
I couldn't see the face. Only the robes. The way they moved. Familiar… terrifying.
They stood in front of me — a blade in hand.
But they didn't strike.
Instead, they stepped back… and drove the sword into their own chest.
I gasped — and woke up.
My body was soaked in sweat. My breath came in shallow pants. My hands were shaking.
And then — a knock at the door.
It creaked open, and a girl stepped in.
My heart stopped.
"…Sister?" I whispered.
She only smiled gently. "You need to get up," she said warmly.
"I… I don't want to," I whispered.
She leaned down and whispered, "Come on."
Tears burned my eyes again. "I'm so sorry… I've missed you."
She didn't answer. Her smile wavered. "Hello?" she whispered again. "Wake up…"
And then she faded — replaced by a kind woman I didn't know. Her voice was soft.
"Hello… dear. Wake up."
It had been a dream. A cruel, beautiful dream.
She handed me fresh cakes and tea. I nodded, still dazed, and dressed myself in silence. Then I stepped out of the house into the sunlit village.
The people were lively — washing, eating, greeting one another. Everything felt calm. But my heart still beat fast.
Where was Raiden?
I found him eventually, surrounded by children. They tugged on his sleeves and giggled, trying to get him to play. And he… he let them.
When he noticed me, his face lit up a little.
I laughed. "I didn't know you were good with kids."
He gave me a look — that classic Raiden glare. "I'm not."
I knelt down and told the children gently to give him a break. They obeyed with giggles and ran off. I turned back to him and smirked.
"They still like me," I teased.
He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah…"
I tugged his hair playfully. "Women know how it's done."
He pulled away. "Of course…"
But before we could talk more, an old woman approached us. She looked at us quietly, then at Raiden.
"You shouldn't stay here forever," she said.
We both turned to her.
Her eyes were sad. "There's a path ahead… but it leads to a miserable labyrinth. And once you enter it — there's no going back."
I swallowed. My voice came out quiet."Then tell us more."