An awkward silence fell between us, heavier than the twilight air around us.
"...Um.. What about my memories, master? Can you help with that?" I broke the ice.
Virion didn’t answer immediately. His tail flicked absently as he stared into the water, as if searching for something in its depths. When he finally spoke, his voice carried an unusual weight.
"I’m afraid I won’t be able to help you—not fully." He turned his gaze to me, emerald eyes glowing faintly. "Or rather, I could try, but you should understand—the mind is a mysterious and fragile thing. Tampering with it would be like diving into a storming sea with no map, no anchor, and no guarantee of surfacing again."
His scales rippled in what might have been unease. "One mistake could ruin everything. And yours... yours is particularly complicated."
My fingers tightened around the fishing rod. "Why? Is it because of the false awakening?"
"That too," Virion admitted. "But more than that..." His tail coiled tightly. "Your mind is shrouded, boy. Not just broken or scattered—deliberately locked away. Those barriers weren’t meant just to keep the memories from you, but from anyone who dares to look too deeply."
I nodded slowly, my mind racing. Was it the System’s doing?
But why? Couldn’t it have appeared without locking my memories?
Hey, system, I’m talking to you.
Wait a sec.... Could it be...
Did I fail some event or scenario before, and my memories were ’erased’ due to a penalty?
The thought sent a chill down my spine.
It made a twisted kind of sense.
After all, the System had given me a memory-erasing penalty right from the start. But the penalties lately hadn’t been so severe—if anything, they weren’t exactly about me, and the rewards always came exactly when I needed them without me knowing they would be needed.
One thing was clear, though - the system seemed to want my survival, my growth.
But... What kind of mission could my past self have gotten that they refused or failed to complete, even if it meant their memories would be erased?
...Urgh. That’s why I hate this kind of setup!
Did the system want me to kill someone or do something unthinkable?
Whatever happened back then, if this idea is really true...
...I hope my past self had a reason.
Still... I need to be careful in the future...
"Don’t worry, boy." Virion’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. "Although I may not be able to restore your memories, I could take a look inside your mind—if you want that, that is."
I blinked at him. "Huh?"
He sighed dramatically as if to say I was really useless without my memories. "If I peer into your consciousness, boy, I’ll see everything. Every embarrassing secret. Every thought you’d rather keep hidden." His emerald eyes twinkled with mischief. "Even that time you—"
"Oh! Right, that..." Heat rushed to my face as I finally caught on. "T-then I think I’ll keep my memories to myself for now."
Virion chuckled, scales rippling in amusement. "What? You’ve got some truly embarrassing ones?"
I shook my head vigorously. "Even if I did, the most embarrassing thing would be getting beaten up by you every day!"
"Pfft—" Virion’s laughter sent ripples across the lake. "That’s not embarrassing at all! Not many can survive my training, you know."
As his mirth subsided, his expression grew serious again. "Jokes aside... the only ones who could help you properly are Mystics—true masters of the mind. Powerful ones can navigate memories like reading books." His tail coiled tighter. "But as I said, they’ll see everything. Therefore, you’d need to find someone both trustworthy and skilled. I know a few powerful Mystics, but..." He grimaced. "Let’s just say we’re not on the best of terms."
I watched Virion’s expression twist between distaste and restraint, a rare flicker of unresolved history in the otherwise composed draconian. It was strange to see someone like him—so powerful, so ancient—grimace like that.
Just what kind of Mystics did he cross paths with?
Still, I understood his warning. The mind was a dangerous place, especially mine.
Locked memories, a false awakening, mysterious penalties, the System’s existence... Everything pointed to one simple truth: No one else could be trusted with what lay in my head.
A brilliant idea bloomed in my thoughts.
I narrowed my eyes, staring into the lake’s surface. My reflection rippled—uncertain, murky... but mine.
"What if... I become one myself?"
Virion’s tail froze mid-flick. "...What?"
"I mean, what if I become a Mystic myself?" I clarified, watching the idea take shape in my mind. "Wouldn’t that solve the problem too?"
Virion’s tail unfroze, curling in thoughtful circles. "That’s... actually not a bad idea." His emerald eyes gleamed with approval. "But there are conditions. First, you’d need to complete your awakening—whether naturally or through the traditional ceremony. Second..." His expression turned serious. "The path of a Mystic isn’t for everyone. It requires specific aptitude, years of brutal training, and most importantly—an innate talent for navigating the mind’s labyrinths."
I nodded slowly. "I understand. So my options are either waiting for my awakening to complete naturally, or..."
"Or hoping the traditional ceremony works for you," Virion finished. "Unfortunately, they are your only current safest options."
As I stared at the lake’s surface, another thought occurred to me. There was a third possibility—the System might eventually reward me with memory-related skills or even unlock my past directly. After all, it had provided exactly what I needed so far, even if unpredictably.
"Well," I said aloud, forcing a small smile, "as long as I’m alive, I’ll uncover the truth eventually. Let’s just hope it won’t take too long."
Virion studied me for a long moment before suddenly grinning. "That’s the spirit! And until then, you can become physically strong too! You just need to continue your training and do as I say."
My lips twitched, but I nodded. "Of course, Master. As long as I can get stronger, I won’t mind the pain." I hesitated before adding, "But... can you add that stars’ massage after every session?"
Virion’s mouth curved in amusement. "...Already got addicted after one time?" He chuckled when I didn’t deny it. "Well, can’t blame you. But little ones don’t work for free, you know."
He pretended to think about it, his tail swishing lazily. "Alright," he conceded, "in that case, let’s increase the training difficulty starting tomorrow. Little ones will need some entertainment as a payment, you know."
Are you sure it’s not you who wants it?
Although I thought that, I knew that it would probably happen soon anyway.
"A-alright." I replied after hesitating for a bit.
I know I will be regretting this...