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

Episode 93: Questioning the Memories

*Hal*

Dan and I wandered around looking for interesting events. Sadly none of the ongoing events fit me or the others had taken up the positions...

I glanced at my brother. He seemed to have been out of it since he bumped into that stranger outside the hotel.

"You alright, big bro?" I asked, placing a hand on his forehead. "Did you hurt yourself badly?"

Dan lowered his gaze. "N-no. I-I'm fine. I-it's just that... that person knew my name. H-he ca-called me 'Dan'. Yet... he didn't seem fa-familiar at all."

"Huh, how peculiar," I said, putting my hands behind my head. "If you want, I can try to look into it. Find out who that guy is. Who knows, perhaps he's dangerous."

"I d-don't t-think so."

"Hmm? Well, what makes you think he's not?"

"I-I'm... not sure."

I glanced up at the sky. How odd... who in the world was that guy? He smelled different... same with his companion. Neither one was a Xelerian. Instead their scent was like that of the people from Zionia...

I smiled at my big brother. "Don't worry, Dan. You probably only reminded him of someone he used to know."

"Maybe..." he said, keeping his eyes down.

"You think he might know who you are?"

He touched his head. "I... I was hoping he would... so-sometimes I wonder... a-are these memories even mine?"

"Huh?"

"W-what if these aren't my memories? W-what if they were implanted?"

I snickered. "Come on, that's ridiculous. Who would do that?"

He tilted his head. "I'm... not sure."

I shrugged and shook my head. "See, bro. It's just your doubt creeping in again."

Hal laughed half-heartedly. "Maybe..."

"Hal!" someone called out. I glanced forward and saw An running toward me.

I grabbed Dan's hand. "Let's go," I said, turning away from An.

"Hal?" the Aiefian asked.

I kept on walking away.

"B-brother, w-why are you ignoring him? A-aren't you friends?"

I thought we were...

"Hal," An said, appearing in front of me.

I jumped back. "D-don't appear so suddenly!" I snapped.

Someone scoffed behind me. "You're one to talk." It was Sarah. Walking alongside her were Vermeil, Xue, and Moon.

"Looks like you don't like it when the shoe is on the opposite foot," Vermeil said, giggling.

I turned my attention back to An.

The psychic mage furrowed his brow. "Hal... are... you mad at me?"

I clenched my free hand into a fist. "Of course I am! You betrayed us!" I yelled, glaring at him.

"Well, Kyuu Seishin also betrayed us," Xue mumbled.

"Wait, you allied yourself with Kyuu Seishin?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah... but I don't really blame them. Sefa and us had the last two stones. Xian and Mina defeated us... It would've been foolish to have continued the alliance for a rematch against Mina following Xian's advancement. Actually, Xian's advancement made betrayal inevitable."