Memoir Inanis

A year had passed since we began traveling together, fleeing an entity Cain refused to explain. He masked the truth with a smile, but I could see the pain hidden beneath it better than anyone.

I practiced my katas, pouring my soul into every movement. Each slash embodied the emptiness inside me, a means to endure the weight of my burdens. Immersed in the katas, I heard nothing but the whistle of my blade slicing through the air.

My blade was a fragment of a life I'd long forgotten, and the katas mirrored the life I now dreaded. Together, they reflected the essence of who I'd become.

"Rio! Rio!" Cain's voice pierced my trance. I blinked, realizing my body was drenched in sweat. The sun dipped below the horizon—it must have been hours since I began.

"Time for sparring. Take your stance," Cain called, one hand tucked casually behind his back.

During our sparring sessions, Cain relied on his mysterious ability. I had never lasted more than thirty seconds against him, but I was starting to piece together how it worked.

I lunged, aiming for the side his free arm couldn't protect while keeping an eye on his every movement. At last, the opportunity came—his eyes glowed faint blue.

I leaped, narrowly avoiding a crushing force that swept beneath me. I swung for his neck, but Cain flicked his wrist, and the force hurled me backward. This time, it lacked the strength to finish me off.

Dodging the invisible attacks while closing the distance was my only chance. I lunged again, my katana slicing through the air. For a moment, I saw faint specks of blue in the force as it surged toward me. Twisting my body, I skimmed its edge—neither blown away nor fully dodging.

Using the force's momentum, I feigned an attack. Changing my blade's trajectory at the last second, I landed directly beneath Cain. His arm was outstretched, leaving his neck exposed.

This was my chance. I swung upward, but Cain's free hand blocked the attack, the one he'd kept behind his back. With a final burst of force, he sent me crashing into a tree, my vision blurring.

"You win," Cain said, stepping back. "I wasn't supposed to use my right arm, but you forced me. That means today's your victory."

It was my first win in a year of sparring, and I had doubled my best time—two minutes.

"How did you get so strong?" I asked, still catching my breath.

"I'm not from this world," he replied. His voice was calm, but I couldn't tell if he was serious. Deciding to leave it for another day, I nodded.

As we prepared to leave, Cain patted my head. Though I pretended to dislike it, the gesture was oddly comforting. He walked ahead, trying to appear casual, but I noticed him coughing blood.

Time was against me. I had to grow stronger—faster—if I wanted to kill Cain before his illness did.

We camped in the woods that night, setting out at dawn. Soon, we emerged into an open grassy field just beyond the forest.

Lost in mental image training, I barely noticed my surroundings. My mind replayed the katas until the faint sound of something slicing through the air jolted me back to reality. I tilted my head just in time.

Cain caught an arrow engulfed in blue flames. Calmly, he snapped it in half, extinguishing the fire with his powers.

"We're under attack," he said, his voice tense. "Under no circumstances are you to fight. Do you understand?"

"But—"

"I SAID, DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" Cain's shout left no room for argument.

Nine attackers surrounded us, clad in black suits that revealed only their eyes. Each bore a crest unfamiliar to this world.

Cain struck first, pulling the archer toward him with his power and crushing his skull in an instant.

These enemies were different—they had abilities like Cain's. Flaming swords, electrified blades, wind slashes, and beams of energy filled the battlefield. Explosions erupted with a mere flick of their fingers.

Despite the odds, Cain held his ground. Wounded and visibly pained, he fought with unmatched determination. But the more he used his abilities, the clearer it became—they were killing him.

Even as he fought, Cain glanced back at me to ensure my safety. The assailants noticed. They charged together, their attacks converging.

Before I could react, Cain stood before me, his body pierced by swords, ice, and stone. Blood dripped from his lips as he turned to me.

"I didn't want to do this so soon… but I have no choice. Remember, not everyone is your enemy," he said, a tear slipping down his cheek.

He pressed his hand to my chest, his eyes glowing a mesmerizing blue. As he pushed me back, I felt the pull of a raging portal behind me.

Its chaotic energy seemed rejected by the world itself. Cain turned to face the attackers one last time.

"Let's end this once and for all," he said, his voice resolute.

An explosion tore through the air as the portal engulfed me in searing pain. It felt as though my body were being ripped apart infinitely.

When it finally released me, I collapsed onto vibrant grass under a surreal sky. In the distance, a winged beast the size of a mountain screeched, its scales glinting in the strange light.

Before I could process my surroundings, a wave of pain struck again, tearing through me. My head flooded with fragmented memories, unlike anything I'd ever known.

Fading in and out of consciousness, I barely registered footsteps approaching. Friend or foe, it no longer mattered. I had no strength left.

At last, the torment ceased. My body gave out, and I collapsed into darkness.