Hello?

  Are you there?

  Can you hear me?

  Oh, that’s right. You can’t answer.

  Well, Sys’ screen says the recording paused, and that my voice is being picked up, so hopefully you can hear what I’m about to say………..

  This might be the last time you hear from me.

  Okay, before you get confused and think that I’m about to be murdered, just wait.

  I’m not going to die……….I hope.

  What I mean is that someone is most likely tampering with my recordings. We already know the recordings have been altered, but I’m specifically referring to my personal audio logs.

  I’ve been trying to stop the recording for a long time now. This isn’t my first attempt at making an audio log.

  Someone is limiting my ability to speak to you.

  And it’s clear that it’s Egoros……….or maybe even Death.

  I don’t know yet, and that’s the same for practically everything.

  Nothing makes sense. It might be even more confusing for you now since……….there’s something I need to say.

  I don’t remember anything.

  I’m not sure when it started, but there was definitely a time when I remembered the events of my life—of that, I’m certain. I remember the act of me telling you what I knew, it’s just that I can’t recall what I actually said. The problem is, for quite a while now, I haven’t been able to recall anything personal. I don’t remember my life on Earth, let alone what I did on Zarvendia. The only things I know come from what's been said in the Narrative, and general concepts like school, family, and religion. I still understand basic ideas—but nothing specific about my own life.

  It’s strange. I know I’m Beric. I know this is my life. And yet, I can’t prove it. I can’t say anything that happens beyond what’s been recorded in Sys’ Narrative. It’s as if someone erased my memory and—

  Oh. It’s Egoros. He erased my memory, since there was a possibility I could divulge too much information to you. He didn’t want any possible spoilers.

  But then, that would mean you’re some type of………reader? Listener? Man, who the hell are you?

  ………Still no answer huh?

  Either you’re actually incapable of responding or you just don’t want to talk.

  It sort of makes sense. Usually, when someone’s reading a book or watching a show, they don’t say much, right? All they have to do is quietly take in the entertainment presented to them.

  Shit. Are you even on my side? Are you working with Egoros?.......

  Hah. I don’t even know anymore.

  What’s up? You’re taking quite a while.

  “I’m just trying to inform our audience on what I’ve thought about.”

  Really?

  “Yeah?”

  Alright.

  “What? Why’d you say it like that?”

  You’ve been sitting there on the bed just staring at the wall. I’ve been waiting for you to do something, but I guess you were just intensely thinking.

  “Huh? What are you talking about? I’m talking to-”

  Hold on. Something like this happened before.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  In the Narrative, I…..Beric mentioned how Sys seemed to lose him when he was talking to……you? Us? That doesn’t matter.

  Sys lost him. Sys can’t talk to us like how Beric does. To Sys, Beric’s mind goes away and he just acts like a mindless husk.

  The same thing’s happening here………Actually, it always has. I just never noticed it. It’s almost as if something is making me purposely avoid that line of thinking. To miss how I’m acting like I’m talking to somebody, even though I should just be recording a message.

  You. I’m talking to you, just like how Beric talked to us.

  Wait, that’s not the only thing strange here.

  This cell I’m in. I said I don’t remember anything, so subsequently, I don’t remember why I’m even here.

  What did I do? Who put me in here?

  I darted to the cell door, fumbling with it and trying to force it open. Locked.

  It’s so strange. Throughout my entire time here, I’ve never seen a single guard or fellow inmate. Outside my cell, there’s nothing but empty cells shrouded in darkness. The stone floor is battered and damp in places, and a strong, musty smell of fungus drifts down from above.

  This is clearly a prison. So, where are the prisoners? The guards? The owner?

  Why am I here, alone?

  No, not alone. You’re here.

  This is fucked up. I’m trapped in an empty prison with zero memories on how I got here, and I’m talking to an invisible person that can’t even talk back. At least I have Sys……..holy shit, I’m stuck with Sys.

  No, don’t lose track. You.

  Can you seriously not talk? Can you whisper? Gasp? Hell, can you even make a breathing noise?

  ………Nope.

  Okay, fine, how about this? I have my pillow. Excuse the…….terrible state. I don’t sleep well here.

  Anyway, try to punch it.

  …………….

  ……………..

  Okay, either you’re a pacifist, or you seriously can’t do anything.

  This is tough.

  I can’t even trust you now.

  I let out a sigh.

  Nah, I have to, don’t I?

  Just as how I’m forced to listen to this Narrative, I’m forced to trust you.

  Is that how this works?

  This is bullshit, but sure. I’ll play your games.

  Let’s reset.

  Now you know that I have memory loss, I’m trapped in an empty prison, and that I suspect you’re in cahoots with Egoros.

  Let’s move past that all. I still have a few more things to say.

  I don’t get hungry here. That’s definitely a good thing, considering there’s no one around to bring me food—but it’s also undeniably strange. Does that mean I’m in some kind of supernatural place? Could I possibly not be on Zarvendia at all? That would support the theory of Egoros’ existence and his involvement in orchestrating everything. If this really is a supernatural prison, it would make sense for Egoros to be my captor—keeping me within his reach.

  As for Death, I’m even more confused. I was suspecting him due to his alliance with Egoros………..but I don’t know. Ever since I heard of his past, I felt…….a bit sorry. Empathy? Maybe. I don’t know why, but from what Beric said, it’s probably because we share some experiences.

  Uh……….Right, the Narrative itself. Have you been keeping track of everything? Remember, I asked you to help……..though, you wouldn’t need to help if you were working with Eg-

  Oh whatever. Just make sure you’re listening to everything well. Beric’s life and the occasional viewpoint from Death. Everything is important. And, if my theory is right, after my personal audio log, we’ll go back to Death. Be ready.

  Hmm…….that’s everything. Sorry I had to rush it—I was worried Egoros might cut my audio log short and move on with the story, so I had to get everything out quickly. But now that I’ve said it all, I think I don’t need to worry about that anymore. As I see it, there are two possibilities. One: you’re some ghost working with Egoros to mess with me while I talk to myself. If that’s the case, you’re a real piece of work. Or two: you’re actually some intangible listener, someone who can only observe. If that’s true, then you’re important—because you’re the reader. That’s probably why Egoros erased my memories: to protect you from spoilers. Like any story, the reader has to be informed gradually to enjoy it fully. That’s why I believe this audio log won’t be cut short, as long as I stick to what’s important. It’ll keep recording until I’ve said everything necessary…….....But that also means I can only make audio logs when Egoros decides it’s time.

  Hah………You might not hear from me for a long time then.

  If that happens, you’ll be on your own. You’ll have to figure out the truth on your own.

  As for Sys and I, there’s actually not much. All we can do is listen and theorize, same as you.

  This is going to be rough, but it’ll be fine. I have faith in you, whether I like it or not.

  To fit the mood, the light from outside the single barred window went away, as the night began to cast down.

  I went onto the bed as I peeked out.

  There wasn’t much to see besides the dark sky, hovering over me as it seemed to laugh with the stars joining in.

  This sight makes me recall Beric and Lucian. His depression fits.

  I grasped my chest.

  Even though I have no memory of them, it still hurts. Muscle memory?........Perhaps.

  Even though I don’t remember our talk, Lucian’s words still touch me deeply……….I would've liked to remember them. To remember what it felt like as he told me personally.

  But, there’s nothing I can do. Nothing, besides stand here with Sys and you as we look upon the stars. Those stars, shining confidently and brightly.

  This whole situation feels strange and unfamiliar. But, it’s fine. As Grandpa said in the Narrative, even in places where we feel unwelcome, where everything feels foreign and bewildering, we just need to look up. If we ever feel lost, we can find guidance in the lights above. We remember that, no matter where we are, the stars have always been there—and always will be. They won’t change, and they’ll wait for us, lighting the way for the lost path once again.

  Hopefully, when all this is over, those stars will still be there. And if they are, I’ll be able to appreciate them somewhere other than this murky prison.

  Hopefully, you’ll be there too, on my side, and you’ll be able to say the same thing about the stars.