Aspiration to the Heavens: Becoming the Supreme Mage Vol 2- Descent of Darkness

Episode 51: Lost Memories and Familiar Things

*Hal*

I entered the grand library of what was once our nation's greatest magical academy, prior to the decline of magic. I stepped in and looked around. The place was filled with countless books, but none of them were what I was looking for. Rather it was a person I was searching out.

"Dan!" I yelled out. There was no response.

I sighed. He had to be here, at least that was what I was told. Surely the guy had to be enamored with a new book. He really was a bookworm.

I looked up at the green carpeted stairs with wooden rails with a nice orange-red tinge, giving them an earthly feel. Dan always said it reminded him of something, likely his home. The guy was found by my mom and dad during one of their walks on the beach. He had washed up on the yellow sands, encased within a crystal. He couldn't remember who he was nor where he had come from, but certain things felt 'familiar' to him. This library being one of those.

"Hey, Big brother!" I yelled. "Dad made your favorite curry! If you don't hurry up then I'll eat it!"

"Cu-curry?" Dan said as he emerged from behind a shelf near the top of the stairs.

I grinned. "Ahhh, there you are, Danmall! Come on, we've got to get going!"

I stared at his eyes. They were a nice golden color, but were barely visible beyond his long bangs.

"Is something wrong?" I asked as I shifted my gaze the book. He had been looking at it as if recalling a memory. It was a book on Zionia, the realm of angels. "Zionia, eh? Do you have some connection to it?"

Dan put the book back on the shelf. "I... don't recall. But, it seems fa-familiar."

Dan, ever since I met him he had always been one who spoke little, and when he did he would usually stutter. It might've had something to do with him remaining stuck in the crystal for who knew how long.

I turned around and put my hands behind my head. "I see. Ya know, I actually went there."

"Yo-you did?" Dan asked, startled.

I gave him a smug grin. "Yeah. It was nice. We visited Kuroriku and--"

Danmall took a step back and touched his head. "Kuro...riku..." He fell to one knee and grunted.

"Hey! Are you alright, big bro?" I asked.

"Why does that place, ring a bell?" he asked, wincing. He pushed himself up and shook his head.

"You know, I'm starting to think that you are from Zionia," I said, putting a hand on my hips. I summoned a card and threw it to him. "Later on you should check that out. It has some info I gathered while at the place in addition to some sights. Maybe some of them will further jog that memory of yours."

Dan smiled. "Th-thanks, little bro."

I grinned and patted his shoulder. "No need to thank me! What else are brothers for?"

He might not have been my real brother, but just like Vermeil loved Haroun, I too loved Danmall. Maybe that was why I understood her relationship with her foster brother the best. Haroun... he suffered a lot with his real family. I hoped that the same wasn't for Danmall. That whoever his family was, that they were looking for him, if they still lived.

Despite being a second-year in high school, Danmall had failed his application for the Mahoulympics. Apparently he was older than twenty-one.

Dan chuckled. "Say..."

"Hmm?"

He grinned and poked my face. "You were lying about the curry, weren't you?"

My face reddened. "I... alright, you got me!"