mnemonic

prologue

Amidst the brisk of time sometimes lies the memories a person's mind can never hold. Some of those memories are meant to be forgotten, some should be remembered, but most of them were buried only beneath the sands and time - endlessly hidden beneath everyone's peer, forgotten through each moons, awaiting to be recovered.

"To create a lot of memories is to create a new life, y/n. That is behind my reason and vows for you to create a new legacy to fulfill. For all wisdom lies not only knowledge, but also emotions, dreams, and memories." The bedridden Grand Sage of the Akademiya once mentioned to her daughter as she was lying above the cushions of her own bed, sick and unable to continue the legacy she once owned and created.

Beside her lies someone who was supposed to continue that legacy, but as youthful and too young as she is, the scholars and the professors never approved that she should lead the Akademiya. Hence why l/n y/n, the Grand Sage's daughter, was never appointed to be the next Grand Sage of the Akademiya after knowing that her mother will soon pass it down.

"Are memories really that important, mother?" Y/n asked back.

The old l/n nodded lightly at the question. A sly smile appeared on her lips as she gestured to the kid, her daughter, to come over and sit beside her.

Being a Grand Sage and a professor at once is a hard work. The backlash of the tiresome endeavors strike the old woman and even when Sumeru is a land full of wisdom, knowledge, and intelligence, nobody in their nation can even cure her illness. So, she lies there, waiting for the demise to take over whilst leaving the wisdom she once embraced towards her daughter.

"Memories are important, whether they're good or bad. When something bad happens in the present, don't we look back to the good memories? And when something good occurs, worry will sometimes enter our mind to remind us of our bad memories. The thing is, memories reflect on how you see it, my child. All you need to do is remember... and reflect."

Polar to the wind across the desert, the professor gently caressed the young y/n's head as they were both deafened by what the professor stated. At that moment, at the ripe age of her youth, y/n didn't think much of what her mother said, but as she grows with the skies and battles with the sands, the wisdom her mother once left to her was all she can think of.

"You know what, y/n? Aaru Village is not for you, if I'm frank to speak. Your intelligence way surpasses all of ours in here. Why don't you go back to the Akademiya after your case study? You've been here since you were 11. You're 24 now!" Setaria, the previous Grand Sage's assistant mentioned to y/n while they were both seated at the edge of the cliff of Aaru's Village, wandering to themselves how time flew past their lives.

The latter chuckled, "I'm actually done with my case study. All it needs for me to do is take this towards the Akademiya and have it approved by my professor. Thing is... I don't think I can ever go back to that place."

They were both silenced by the sullen retort. Setaria, y/n's childhood friend, felt guilty after saying that. To what does she owe the guilt? She just knows too well that the lady is still gravely afflicted by the passing of her Mother - the previous Grand Sage before the one that Setaria served, Azar, yet she still insisted that the latter should go back there.

"In any case, I think the Akademiya are doing something now, aren't they? I mean, after what happened there, are they appointing a new Grand Sage? Y/n diverted the matter.

Setaria nodded, her lips pursed, "As far as I know, after I quit in the Akademiya and after the samsara in the Sabzeruz festival, they already appointed someone in the position. His name is Alhaitham, and although he rejected the offer of being a Grand Sage, four of the renowned mages were exiled for what they did in the City, so he has no choice but to be an Acting Grand Sage for now. Until they appointed a new one, he will eventually take over."