I returned to Nethria as dusk fell. The air carried that earthy smell after a storm, though here it wasn’t rain that had fallen—it was sweat and blood. The village seemed peaceful, with the villagers rebuilding, but there was a sense of joy among them. No sign of Eldrek or Gronn. They were probably still at their village, finishing burying their dead.

  Thalrik was the first to approach.

  "You have no idea how grateful we are, Darius. If it weren’t for you, Nethria wouldn’t exist." Thalrik couldn’t stop thanking me, shaking my hand at every chance he got. Persistent, but I didn’t mind.

  I smiled and shook his hand firmly. "You have what it takes to lead them. I trust you, Thalrik."

  He nodded, though I could see he was struggling to hold back his emotions. I let his words fade into the wind.

  I said farewell to the demi-humans, wishing them success, and set off for Eldrek and Gronn’s village. I mounted Aeryn, and we set out calmly. The daylight dimmed as we traveled. The whole way was silent, the only sound being Aeryn’s wings.

  When the village came into view, I immediately felt the tension. The place was wrecked. Burnt houses, rubble everywhere. The forge where I had crafted my sword with Eldrek and Gronn was now just a skeleton of ashes. Aeryn stepped lightly, as if she, too, felt the weight of the scene.

  The silence hung like a giant stone. There was no sign of Eldrek or Gronn until I reached the far end of the village. There they were, burying the last of the fallen giants.

  Gronn saw me first and greeted me with a slight nod. I nodded back as I dismounted. We didn’t say a word. I simply grabbed a shovel and began digging alongside them.

  Eldrek was exhausted. His breathing was heavy, and sweat ran down his face. He didn’t seem able to continue, so I let him rest while Gronn and I finished. It seemed he had used his control over the earth to help bury the giants, and combined with the fatigue from the previous battle, it had taken its toll.

  When the last giant was laid to rest, Gronn leaned on his shovel and whispered, "May the souls of these giants find their way to the next life."

  Eldrek sat nearby, silently watching.

  "Maybe we’re the last ones left," Gronn said, his gaze fixed on the graves.

  "If that’s the case, let’s make sure we leave behind a good legacy," Eldrek replied, eyes distant. "Our skills and traditions can’t be lost. Let’s share them with the world, my friend. What do you think?"

  Gronn looked at him and nodded with a faint smile.

  The three of us sat by the graves, sharing stories. Gronn told us about the time Eldrek almost destroyed the forge trying to light a new furnace. We laughed, and although the sorrow lingered, for a moment we felt at peace.

  "And you, Darius," Eldrek asked after a while. "How did it go in the mountains? Did you find the answers you were looking for?"

  I nodded. "The sage helped clear some things up. I think I’m finally starting to understand my abilities a little better. I know I can’t control everything... but I can’t help worrying that I might make a big mistake on the next jump."

  "At least you’re not in this alone, right?" Gronn said with a half-smile.

  "Yeah, that gives me some comfort."

  There was a brief silence. Eldrek noticed my unease.

  "This is where you say goodbye, isn’t it?" Eldrek glanced at me.

  I lowered my head, feeling my eyes water. "Let’s just call it a 'see you later.'"

  They nodded with subtle smiles.

  "I have to jump to the next era. That’s where my fate lies. Besides, I doubt the dark sage will return here. I’ll take care of that."

  Gronn laughed and gave me a firm slap on the back—hard enough to make me stumble. "We’ll be fine, dwarf. We’ll help rebuild Nethria. The next time you see it, you won’t recognize it."

  "I don’t doubt it. I know you’ll do a great job."

  I stood and walked toward Aeryn. "I can’t leave without saying goodbye to my travel companion."

  I gently stroked Aeryn’s neck. "She’s a great bird," Eldrek said.

  "More than that. She’s saved my life many times."

  Aeryn cawed energetically as if she understood. I smiled.

  Before leaving, I turned back to them. "If you see me in the future, don’t mention anything we lived through here. At first, I’ll lose my memory, but when I regain it, we can talk again."

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  Gronn quickly joked, "Maybe a few slaps like these will bring your memories back."

  I laughed. "With slaps like that, you’d reset me completely."

  Still laughing, I unbuckled the belt holding my sword and handed it to Eldrek.

  "Why are you giving me this?" he asked, confused.

  "When you see me again, return it to me. Trust me, it’ll help."

  Eldrek nodded without question.

  We shook hands with gratitude, and I stepped away. I sat on the ground, crossed my legs, and closed my eyes, letting the chaotic magic flow slowly. My thoughts drifted to Nethria, to Lythara, and to the sage’s words.

  Here we go again... I hope this works out.

  The air around me began to shift. I felt the ground beneath me dissolve, as if I were floating in dense water. The sound was strange, somewhere between the bubbling of a river and the soft crackling of electricity.

  Little by little, my surroundings started to fragment. I felt the landscape blur, as if the whole world was shattering into tiny pieces, revealing a formless darkness beneath.

  Every particle of my body vibrated, and though the process wasn’t painful, there was a palpable discomfort, as if every part of me was being rearranged. I knew what was coming. My memory slowly faded, but this time I wasn’t afraid. I had faith it would turn out fine.

  As everything faded, I heard Gronn’s voice in the distance.

  "Safe travels, dwarf!"

  I smiled, and just before the jump finished, I murmured to myself:

  "See you soon, Selene."

  ???

  I opened my eyes with effort. They felt heavy, as if they had been shut for days. My head ached, but it wasn’t an ordinary pain. It felt like thousands of tiny cracks running through it. I placed a hand on my forehead and groaned softly.

  As my vision cleared a little, I noticed I was lying in a bed. In front of me, a window with closed curtains let in just enough light to hint that it was early morning. I took a deep breath, trying to remember how I ended up here.

  Something was wrapped around my waist. I lifted the sheets and saw a slender arm. My eyes widened. I was naked. Slowly, I turned my head and saw a woman sleeping beside me. She had long, silver hair, and she was also naked. I flinched slightly, but she didn’t stir.

  Carefully, I sat up, sliding away from her to avoid waking her. I spent a good while trying to recall what had happened, but my mind was blank. Worry crept in. Had I been drugged? Did this woman have anything to do with it?

  I shook my head and stood up. My clothes were scattered beside the bed. I dressed quickly, grabbing my boots and slipping out of the room. I needed air. Maybe that would help jog my memory.

  I stepped into a small living area. There was a space for cooking, a sofa, and a low table. The door to the street stood ahead. I made my way toward it, but a faint sound stopped me in my tracks. A soft whimper, coming from a room behind me.

  Curiosity led me to the half-open door. I gently pushed it open.

  Inside, there was a crib. I approached it, confused. A small child, no older than three, slept peacefully. Was he the woman’s child? I stepped back, questions piling up, and returned to the door leading outside.

  I opened it carefully and stepped out into the street. I slipped on my boots, and the sun hit my face hard. I squinted, groaning under my breath.

  The streets were paved with stone, lined with houses—most made of wood. Creatures of various races strolled calmly. In the distance, the noise of a crowd caught my attention. I hurried toward it, hoping it might help me remember something.

  When I arrived, I found a lively market. Merchants and families filled the area. There was laughter, trading, and peace in the air. Beyond the market stalls, a tall tower loomed over the rest of the village.

  "Ah, Darius! What are you doing just standing there?" a voice called from nearby.

  I turned around. A lean demi-human, wearing brown trousers, a white shirt, and suspenders, approached with enthusiasm. I didn’t recognize him.

  "Hurry to the bar. They’re waiting for us. I have to grab something from the tower first. See you there!"

  He seemed in a rush. He waved and darted off toward the tower.

  "The bar..." I murmured. "Where the hell is the bar?"

  "It’s that way, young man. You’ll see it if you follow the path," an old woman sitting nearby answered.

  "Oh, thanks. Excuse me..." I hesitated, hoping to clear at least one of the many questions racing through my mind. "Where am I?"

  The old woman laughed. "You must’ve had quite the party last night! This is Nethria, son."

  I repeated the name. It felt familiar, but I couldn’t place why. I thanked her and followed the path.

  It didn’t take long to find the bar. It was a simple wooden building, its doors wide open. Laughter and the clinking of glasses spilled from inside. I stepped in slowly.

  Inside, warriors of various races drank and laughed. Adventurers, perhaps. I glanced around quickly. My mind was still foggy. I couldn’t remember anything.

  Suddenly, I felt a large, rough hand on my shoulder.

  Reflexively, I spun and shoved the hand away. A tall, muscular lizard-like creature stumbled back a step, glaring at me. His expression left no doubt—he wasn’t happy.

  "Whoa, calm down. I didn’t mean to..."

  Before I could finish, he lunged at me. I dodged and stepped back. The lizard growled, trying again. I kept dodging without fighting back.

  The other adventurers quickly took notice and began cheering, eager to see a fight. The lizard’s frustration grew. He drew a large axe from his back. The mood shifted instantly.

  "What do you think you’re doing, idiot? Are you trying to wreck my bar?"

  A calm yet authoritative voice rang out from the second floor. I glanced up. A sharply dressed man with pointed ears leaned on the railing, staring at the lizard.

  The lizard gritted his teeth but sheathed his axe. He stomped toward the stairs, heading up.

  "You. Get up here too, idiot," the man called out to me.

  I followed, climbing the side stairs. The man sat at a table, smoking a pipe and flipping through documents. Two lizard guards flanked him. The one who had tried to fight me still scowled, baring his teeth.

  We exchanged glances, but I ignored him.

  I waited, hoping the seated man would address me, but he stayed focused on his papers. The silence and my lack of memory gnawed at me. I considered speaking up but was interrupted.

  A demi-human waitress came upstairs, carrying food and drinks. She set them down and bowed lightly before retreating. As she passed by me, I whispered to her.

  "Hey, could you bring me the same? I’m starving."

  She glanced nervously at the man for approval. The lizard snarled.

  "How dare you..." he began, stepping forward.

  I turned to him, this time meeting his gaze with a firm stare. "Are you sure you want to try that again?"

  He froze, grinding his teeth as if thinking twice. The seated man chuckled softly.

  "Bring him what he asked for."

  The lizard stepped back, growling under his breath.

  "Of course. I’ll be right back," the waitress said, bowing slightly.

  "Thanks," I muttered.

  From downstairs, the demi-human from the market burst in, climbing the stairs hurriedly.

  "Darius!" he called out, waving a handful of papers. He stopped to bow before the man. "Good morning, Mr. Grimmor."