"Memory Pace? Which noble’s castle is that?" Aric asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Tia chuckled. "It’s not a real castle. It’s a pace within the mind. A mental technique to store and recall rge amounts of information for a long time.

  “If the castle has an owner, it would be me.”

  "A pace in the mind?" Vina tilted her head. "How does that work?"

  (To readers: Do note that, I am using original terminology here for understanding)

  “A Memory Pace, also known as the Method of Loci, is an ancient technique used to enhance memory. It involves associating information with specific locations in a familiar pce, such as home, a castle, or a well-known path. This method takes advantage of the brain's strong ability to remember spatial retionships.

  "That sounds complicated, how does it work?" Emma asked.

  “Not really,” Tia shrugged. ”But it takes a lot of practice.”

  How it works:

  Step #1 Choose a Familiar Pce

  It could be your house, a school, a temple, or any location you know well.

  Step #2 Create a Mental Pathway

  Imagine yourself walking through the pce in a specific order (e.g., from the front door to the bedroom).

  Step #3 Assign Information to Locations

  Pce each piece of information you want to remember at different locations along your mental path.Example: If memorizing 4 numbers mPin, pce 9 on the doormat, 7 on a mp, 0 on the floor and a 1 on the photo frame on the wall.

  Step #4 Use Vivid, Strange, or Emotional Imagery

  The more unusual the images, the better you’ll remember them.Example: To remember "apple," imagine a giant apple floating in your kitchen.

  Step #5 Walk Through the Memory Pace to Recall

  Mentally retrace your steps to recall the stored information.

  Step #6 Retain the info

  From time to time, try to walk through the memory pace you created, in order to retain the memory.

  People naturally remember pces and visual images better than random words.By linking facts to a physical journey, we can create strong memory connections.A picture is worth a thousand words. Recalling the image, you can deduce its content by contempting it.

  Tia expined step by step about the memory pace.

  “Then what kind of pce do you imagine?” asked Vina curiously.

  “I-” Tia paused, unconsciously forming a nostalgic smile. "My memory pace… is a monastery."

  "Monastery?" Aric asked, puzzled.

  Tia thought, blinking, ‘Right… They don’t know what a monastery is.’

  With a smile, he expined, "I imagine a serene mountain, lush with greenery, its peak shrouded in mist, with old mossy stone steps leading all the way to the top.

  “My mood shapes the world around the temple, shifting the air, the sky, and the very atmosphere. Mellow sun, bzing heat, tranquil moon, twilight shade, chirping birds, rustling leaves, shrouding clouds, rumbling thunder, gentle breeze, raging storm—everything reflects my state of mind.

  "Each step is engraved with Arcane letters, accompanied by their corresponding dummy letters, arranged in perfect order. With every step I take, the stone chimes a sound that corresponds to the letter inscribed upon it.

  "Every few steps, a stone tablet stands, dispying a grammatical rule of the nguage.

  "At the mountain’s summit, there is a grand temple called Zen Temple. The environment is pleasant and tranquil.

  “The air hums with deep chanting of sacred scriptures. Priests (monks) silently go about doing their duties. Each specializing in a different field.

  "Every stone, every bird, every insect, every idol, and every book on that mountain is a treasure trove of knowledge.

  "I assign my memories and information to these priests and entities, each holding a different piece of what I need to remember.

  “Whenever I want to retrieve something from my memories, I go to the priest who holds this information and ask him for guidance. He then expins it to me.

  "Sometimes, I find them giving me advice, revealing insights I had no prior knowledge of, almost as if I were speaking to the real person."

  ‘Maybe it's information I’ve forgotten. Perhaps my mind generates it automatically… or maybe my inner voice is speaking through them, offering me its wisdom and guidance.

  ‘Hmm… maybe I’m actually crossing time and space in my soul form just to have deep, meaningful conversations with them…

  ‘Maybe I am the chosen one sent to save the world who is yet to realize his powers.’ Tia’s imagination ran wild.

  Tia paused for a moment before ughing to himself.

  ‘Pfft—yeah, right! Being a demonkin, who am I kidding here? It is just my active imagination speaking.’ Tia shook his head amused at his own thoughts.

  Tia paused.

  “From time to time, I roam the temple to retain the memories from fading.”

  Sera and Vina watched as a wistful smile crept across Tia’s face. Nostalgia washed over him as he recalled the pce of soce from his past life.

  Seeing the mature expression on Tia’s face, Sera fell into deep contemption, while Vina felt a lingering sense of dissonance.

  “Is this what you’ve been doing, sitting cross-legged beneath the tree?” Sera asked.

  “Yes.” Tia nodded. “I’ve been constructing my own memory pace. Sorting and storing various pieces of information. It was difficult at first. I had to repeat the process over and over, retracing the same paths to solidify my image of the pace.

  “It took a lot of time, and I have to journey through it at least once a week to keep the memory from fading. But, I’ve finally solidified it.”

  His lips curled into a faint, self-deprecating smile, as he thought. ‘That’s why I want to take the next step. To use what I’ve learned to help Mother and Vina. But neither of them will let me do anything.’

  Sera’s gaze lingered on him as her thoughts ran deep. ‘Tia spent nearly two years building her memory pace… almost all his time dedicated to perfecting it.

  ‘Is it truly so difficult to imagine a memory pace? Or was it the Arcane letters that made it harder? Maybe she had so much knowledge that sorting through it took years… or perhaps all of these reasons pyed a part. If so, then what exactly is her mind filled with?’

  On the other hand, Tia found himself lost in thought. ‘I always believed memories were stored in the brain… but if that were true, how am I able to remember my past life with an entirely different brain? Then where do memories truly reside?’

  His fingers unconsciously traced invisible patterns on his knee. ‘Is it the Arcane letters Mother instructed me to study? Ever since I began practicing them, my memory faculties have improved dramatically. I can recall and retain information far longer than before.

  ‘Would this ability grow even stronger if I awakened my mana? If so… Mother’s instincts about learning the Arcane nguage were absolutely right.

  ‘For me at least.

  ‘Although Vina and I compined a lot at that time, thinking she was only teasing us, I am gd I still listened to her. As expected of her… she’s always right.’

  A quiet admiration swelled in his chest.

  ‘And my image of the pace is also solid. Stronger than I expected. I even recovered many memories from my past life, ones I thought I had lost forever.

  ‘But it wasn’t without consequences.’

  A shadow passed over his expression. ‘Along with the memories I wanted to recover, I unearthed the ones I wanted to forget the most.

  ‘Sorting through them was agonizing. Those recollections returned as nightmares, haunting me night after night, making me go through many sleepless nights, worrying those around me.

  ‘But I had to face them. I had to sort through them all. It was unbearable at times, but once I finished, I sealed those memories away within a specific pce in my pace.

  ‘After that, the nightmares finally began to fade.

  ‘Only haunting me from time to time.

  ‘So why… Why did the frequency increase recently?

  ‘What triggered them?’

  Before he could dwell on it further, Emma’s excited voice pulled him back to the present.

  “Wow! That’s amazing, Tia! How did you come up with something like that?”

  “Huh?” Tia blinked, then chuckled awkwardly. “Haha… it’s a secret.”

  He hesitated for a moment, feeling a twinge of guilt. He hadn’t invented this technique. He had simply learned of it. But he didn’t want to lie to his family. So instead, he chose to say nothing at all.

  Copyright ? [May] [2025] [The Rainy Imp]. All rights reserved.

  Sigh

  Sera sighed deeply.

  "Did I waste an entire year?" she murmured, doubt creeping into her voice. She couldn't help but wonder if keeping things from Tia and Vina had been the wrong choice.

  Seeing her slightly dejected expression, Vina hesitated, unsure of what to say. But Tia stepped forward.

  "No, Mother," he said firmly, shaking his head, grabbing everyone's attention.

  "No effort given wholeheartedly is ever wasted. It’s just that the results don’t always come in the form we expect and imagine. They’re often overlooked or unrecognized.

  “For the past year, you’ve been researching and practicing magic. Even if you couldn’t make sense of it or retain all the details, I’m certain your efforts weren’t in vain.

  “Studying Arcane knowledge must have sharpened your memory faculties. I don’t know to what extent, but your ability to store magic-reted information has surely improved. That will be invaluable moving forward.

  “Your mana capacity increased after awakening. Combined with the efforts you've put in till now and what you'll continue to do, you should be able to overcome the first hurdle: understanding the know-how of your research.”

  Sera's expression brightened, as if a weight had been lifted. "Is that so? Then… that's good."

  Tia smiled, relieved. "Still, Mother, even if your efforts weren’t wasted, you should share your burdens with us. See? We’ve helped you solve another issue. If you had spoken up earlier, you would have felt much more at ease."

  Seeing Tia acting as if she is reprimanding a child, Sera chuckled. "Huhu," she chuckled softly, kneeling down in front of him.

  She reached out and ruffled his hair.

  "You always do this. Every time I feel trapped, convinced there’s no way forward, you show me a new path. You open my world, offering me a different perspective, solving my problems before I even realize it.

  “What you said is true. I too wish to share various things with you.”

  Tia opened his mouth to respond, but Sera gently pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him.

  "But not yet," she whispered. "Wait a few more years. At that time, we’ll walk side by side, hand in hand, sharing everything with each other."

  Something in her words settled Tia’s heart.

  Watching their exchange, Emma and Aric smiled. They felt as if everything would be alright now.

  But then, Sera tittered softly and pulled Tia into a gentle embrace. Leaning in, she whispered in a sultry tone, her voice just low enough for only him to hear.

  "You know… having secrets makes a person more mysterious and attractive. Just like you."

  Tia stiffened, his heart skipping a beat. ‘Was she suspecting something? Did I act too mature or intelligent for my age?’

  Anxiety crept in as he struggled to gauge the meaning behind her words.

  "It stirs a woman’s curiosity… and her possessiveness," Sera murmured, her breath warm against his ear. "It makes me want to strip you bare, to know everything about you."

  "When the time comes, I will reveal my everything. I won’t keep any more secrets between us. Not even my darkest and intimate ones."

  Gulp Tia gulped as his heartbeat raced.

  "What will you do then? Will you stay mysterious?" Sera whispered, her voice teasing. "Or will you strip yourself for us?"

  Before Tia could respond, she slightly leaned back and pressed her luscious lips against his cheek, as her succulent tongue amorously licked his delicate skin sending a shiver running down his spine, prickling his skin with goosebumps.

  Feeling satisfied, Sera stood up, leaving Tia flushed and speechless.

  "Ah!"

  Suddenly snapping out of it, Tia shook his head, "Mother, don’t try to run away!" he yelled.

  "You said I could go out to learn if I told you how I was able to read the Arcane text!"

  "Tch, he's catching on too quickly," Sera muttered, clicking her tongue in annoyance.

  “Mana-linked retention. I already gave you a hint on how to overcome this problem,” Tia said, watching Sera intently.

  “Can I start learning now?”

  “Nope,” Sera denied immediately.

  “But you said—”

  “She only said she’d consider it,” Vina interjected with a grin. “She never said yes.”

  “Nice one, Vina,” Sera praised, fshing a thumbs-up, making Vina giggle.

  Aric and Emma sighed, shaking their heads, thinking it is back to square one again.

  Tia, however, refused to back down. “Then what did you decide after considering it?”

  “Mmm… I’m still considering it,” Sera said, tapping her chin as if in deep thought.

  “Mother!” Tia protested.

  "Fine, fine, I was only teasing," Sera sighed, realizing she couldn’t dodge the question any longer. If she kept avoiding it, Tia might start resenting her, and that was the st thing she wanted.

  She knelt down and started gathering the scattered papers from the floor. Emma and Aric joined in to help.

  As she picked up a sheet, Sera finally spoke. “We really don’t want you out of our sight. But since you’re so determined, let’s make a deal.”

  Tia perked up, listening intently.

  "Help me find hints to solve the other two issues. You don’t have to solve them. Just find clues on how to use high-level magic or find a way to make these 4 basic circles work and something about Ravencrest’s pact."

  "If you can do that, I’ll give you permission to go out and learn."

  Emma frowned. "Come on, Sera. Even you, that high-level mage, or Priest Joshua failed to find a solution. How can you expect Tia, a child, to do it? It’s already impressive that she solved one of your problems."

  Aric nodded. "You should at least change it to something reasonable for her age."

  "Nope. Not happening." Sera rejected without hesitation.

  Emma groaned. "Damn you, stubborn, doting parent. Are you a child? There’s a limit to—"

  "La! I’m not listening!" Sera interrupted, covering her ears pyfully, as if shutting out all their compints.

  Beside Sera, Vina nodded in approval.

  ‘These sis-con and daughter-con idiots…’ Emma and Aric exchanged exhausted looks, sympathizing. ‘Poor Tia.’

  ‘Who’s the idiot here?’ Sera scoffed internally. ‘She’s the one I, Seraphina, have chosen. How can you measure her by the standards of a normal child?’

  ‘I don’t want her wandering out alone. What would I do if something happens to her when she is out of my sight? She is too pure and innocent. What if some homewrecking bitch deceives and steals her from me?’ She let out a soft snort.

  Her gaze flickered toward Tia, ‘Besides… it’s rare for her to come to me, asking for something. I don’t want to just hand it over. Vina is unconsciously enjoying this too.

  ‘It is so much fun to see her struggle and get frustrated because of us. I can’t get enough of it. I want to see her beg us some more.’

  Sera thought, unconsciously licking her lips, a slight sadistic grin crept on her red lips.

  "Fine. I’ll find it." Tia’s decration silenced the room, drawing everyone’s attention.

  Sera grinned internally. ‘See? She won’t back down. That’s how it should be. Come at me more, Tia.’

  Vina clicked her tongue in mild frustration.

  ‘At least give me some time… Time to become strong enough to protect you. Then, you can do whatever you want.’

  Her eyes flickered with worry.

  ‘She doesn’t even know how to fight back if someone bullies her. How can I keep her safe out there when she’s out of my sight?

  ‘She is curious, but also extremely obedient. She never asks for anything for herself, never compined, and always seemed content with whatever she had.

  ‘In all these years, I could barely count the number of times she asked for something.

  ‘But when she truly decided on something, she was as stubborn as a mountain. Others had to bend to her will. But she wouldn’t budge even an inch.’

  Vina smiled softly. ‘I wonder if she’s even aware of this side of herself.’

  Meanwhile, Tia had her own thoughts.

  ‘Since these are Mother’s and Vina’s problems, I want to try and find a solution anyway. It’s fine to postpone my pns a bit.’

  She took a deep breath and met Sera’s gaze.

  “But Mother, you have to keep your word. If I find a hint to the other two issues, you must let me go out and allow me to learn what I want.” Her voice was firm, unwavering.

  Sera exhaled, rubbing her temples.

  ‘Where did she learn this stubbornness from? Or is it just inborn?’

  She sighed.

  ‘If she’s set on something, nothing will change her mind. Honestly, it’s irritating sometimes. Makes me want to lock her up. But I don’t want to say no to her either. I want to give her everything she desires… but now isn’t the time.’

  Sera’s lips curled into a knowing grin.

  “No problem. You have my word.”

  ‘The fish had taken the bait. We can’t stop her without hurting her. But we can dey her.’ Sera smirked, thinking.

  ‘With this, it should at least stop her for a year or two before she can come up with something. In the meantime, I or Vina should be able to free some of our schedule to accompany her during her training.’

  Sera and Vina gnced at each other, instantly coming to a silent agreement, nodding to each other, grinning.

  Watching them, who seemed to have cooked up a silent pn against Tia, Emma and Aric shared a weary gnce, shaking their heads.

  ‘These two are really…’

  Knock, Knock.

  A sharp rapping on the door interrupted the conversation.

  “Yes, come in,” Aric granted entry.

  A soldier stepped in, saluting. “Sir, Madam Sera, a noble’s entourage has arrived in Ravenscrest.”

  “A noble?” Sera’s brows furrowed as she exchanged confused gnces with the others as there had been no prior notice of any visit.

  “They’ve gone to the church first to pay a visit,” the soldier continued.

  ‘Any noble who visits a new territory will always go to the local church first, if avaible. It’s an unspoken show of respect. Not mandatory, but a deeply ingrained tradition.’ Tia thought as he recalled how Ravenna first visited the church, before coming to the castle.

  “Who is it?” Sera asked.

  “They cim to be Royal auditors from the capital, sent under the king’s orders.”

  “Royal….Auditors?” Sera echoed.

  Everyone looked at each other, surprised, as a tense silence filled the room.

  Copyright ? [May] [2025] [The Rainy Imp]. All rights reserved.

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