How could I not remember anything? Is this just a joke? My hands began to shake uncontrollably, trembling like a sapling caught in an earthquake's wake. I had fought alone for countless days, months, even years, enduring hardships to keep my soul tethered to life. Yet here I stood, disoriented and lost, grappling with the enormity of my own helplessness. How had I become so weak, so vulnerable to the opinions of these two men? The irony was almost too bitter to swallow. I had conquered the tower by my sheer will and strength, yet now I was nearly undone by mere words and fleeting glances.
I laughed, a harsh, mirthless sound that echoed through the darkened forest. My laughter was a release, a recognition of the cruel twist of fate that had forced me into this farcical role, a character in a story that had once been my reality but now seemed a distorted mockery.
"If only I could reclaim my memories and my strength," I whispered to the void, "then I could end this nightmare."
Just then, a notification from the gods appeared before me, glowing with a divine light:
Notification:
Nine Night Player agrees with your sentiment and shares your disgust for these men. Nine Night Player sent you water from the Mnemosyne.
Note: This medicine works over time to detoxify the water of Lethe.
The notification was a rare and sacred sign. The gods occasionally took an interest in Rankers, particularly those who showed promise or who were struggling against overwhelming odds. These divine interventions were not just happenstance; they were part of the tower's grand design, a way for the gods to gain worshippers and manipulate the course of the scenarios. Many Rankers dreamed of catching a god's eye, hoping for a faster path to power or a chance to forge a divine pact. Yet few understood the true nature of these gifts.
The Nine Night Player was none other than Mnemosyne, the Greek goddess of memory. She was a figure of ancient lore, a divine muse who had been the consort of Zeus and bore him the Nine Muses. Her gift was a rare and precious one: water from the Mnemosyne itself. This was not a mere trinket but a vessel of potent magic. In Greek myth, Mnemosyne's water was said to counteract the effects of the Lethe, a river in the Underworld that caused souls to forget their previous lives. Drinking from Mnemosyne's water could restore lost memories and provide clarity to those who had been robbed of their past.
The vial appeared in my inventory with a soft, glowing light. I could see it there, a small, iridescent bottle suspended in the blue-lit interface of the tower's system. The inventory screen was a delicate overlay of translucent blue, a magical window into the realm of the tower's resources. It displayed a neat grid of items, each represented by a small icon and a brief description.
The vial itself was exquisite, crafted from crystal-clear glass that caught and refracted the dim light of the surrounding forest. Inside, the liquid swirled in mesmerizing patterns of blues and greens, shifting as if alive. Tiny flecks of gold floated within, catching the light and sparkling like stars in a night sky. The bottle's design was elegant, adorned with intricate Greek motifs: olive branches and flowing waves that whispered tales of ancient times.
I reached for the vial, feeling its cool surface against my fingertips. As I unscrewed the crystal top, a delicate fragrance of fresh rain and ancient forests wafted out, mingling with the earthy scent of the forest floor. I tilted the vial to my lips, and the liquid flowed into my mouth, sharp and invigorating.
The moment the liquid touched my tongue, a searing sensation erupted in my throat, as if thousands of tiny needles were scratching at my insides. I gasped, clutching my neck as I collapsed to the ground. The pain was intense, but there was something else—something profound and transformative.
As I lay there, the world around me seemed to change. A brilliant, white light began to emanate from my body, expanding outward like the radiance of a newly ignited star. It was as though mana itself was being drawn from the environment and flowing into me. The trees, the grass, the very sky above—all were connected to me through this invisible force, creating a web of energy that linked me to the tower's core.
My vision started to fade, the light of the world dimming as if the sun was setting on my consciousness. The blue-haired man, who had been a distant figure, now appeared at my side, his face a mask of urgent concern. He shook me gently, as if trying to wake me from a deep slumber.
"Wake up! What's happening? Are you okay?" His voice was frantic, laced with desperation.
I managed a weak chuckle, my eyes half-closed as I looked up at him. "Who shakes a dying person?" I thought, almost amused by the futility of his efforts. The light that had once been blinding was now a gentle, encompassing presence, soothing and warm.
In this moment of transformation, I was aware of the profound significance of the water I had just consumed. Mnemosyne's gift was not just a remedy for my amnesia but a bridge to my forgotten past, a chance to reclaim what had been lost. I could feel the old memories stirring, like dormant seeds beginning to sprout, and I welcomed this painful, yet hopeful, resurgence.
As the world around me continued to blur and fade, I clung to the knowledge that I was not alone. The light and the mana that connected me to the tower's essence were a reminder that, despite the trials ahead, I had not been abandoned.
YOU ARE READING
I Became a Ranker Before Rankers
Fantasy(REWRITING ALL CHAPTERS) Suddenly, I could see bright white lights creeping quickly towards me, so quick that I could only see what it was right before the impact. My weak body was no match for the large transportation bus that would not let anythin...
