Chapter 7

Chapter seven : New identity

–—–

The three of them stared at each other, as if they hadn't expected this question from her, but the silence didn't last long...

"Healer, examine her now," the leader said in a deep, worried voice.

The 'normal' young man nodded quietly, but he seemed busy thinking about how to handle the situation. As he started to move towards Mai, there were a few hesitant steps on her part.

May, in a state of fear, recoiled. She looked as if she would explode with tension, but the nanny raised her hand in a calm gesture, and took a step towards her.

"Don't worry, Mai. It's just a checkup, and it won't hurt you."

Mai felt the barriers in her heart breaking at the nanny's words, so she took a deep breath and tried to relax.

"I'll introduce myself first, I'm Stella, I've taken care of you since you were little," the nanny said gently, a hint of pride evident on her face. "Here, do you see that muscular old man? He's your Grandpa Mai… He may look tough because of his appearance, but he's very kind." She whispered the last part in a sarcastic tone, "Hmm, finally…" She pointed out, 

The healer nodded, crossed his arms over his chest and bowed slightly. Mai looked at him warily. He began, "My name is River. This may sound like an exaggeration, but I am the most skilled healer in the village and I have treated you many times before. These herbs in the room were a gift from me to help you sleep." 

Mai laughed a little and accepted the examination. 

Moments later, the healer began to activate the Dark Elemental Magic, his hand moved slowly, and it seemed as if darkness was flowing through his fingers in invisible threads, surprising Mai and make her run away again. 

This time it wasn't by her will, it was the result of sharpening her reflexes in her life as a dark elf and who knows the danger of dark magic better than her? 

"Don't be afraid," the nanny said quickly, "It's a dark element used by all of our tribe, the magic the healer is using now is a memory activation spell. You may feel some pain, but you will regain your memory, okay?" 

Mai felt confused in her heart, but after a few moments of silence, she decided to accept it. She knew that this might be the key to regain what she had lost.

She looked at the therapist's hand and then realized what the nanny had said was true. She took a deep breath and agreed to receive the treatment. Then Mai felt something strange flowing deep inside her, which made her heart beat quickly.

Mai felt a mixture of fear and pain as the magic coursed through her body. As the healer's magic began to work, memories came flooding back to her:

Her memory began in the arms of a pink-haired woman who had taken care of her since she was a child, this was Stella.

Then it moved to scenes of her with her grandfather. There were few moments of him playing with her, but it was clear that his interest was genuine.

There are also scenes of her being hurt and the care River gave her. in fact it was different from the present time, he was scolding her all the time in a strict tone but he never failed to treat her despite that she seems to hate him and always ends up kicking him in the face and running away.

She also saw scenes of other persons she hadn't met yet but there simply weren't many who hated her, not that the opposite was true. 

In the end she learned a few things, she is the granddaughter of the tribe leader and the three people were telling the truth too. from what she gathered she has no other relatives, no mother, no father, no siblings. There is another relative but she has never met him before, it seems like that is forbidden. 

There was also someone she wasn't sure of, yet. so she planned to look into it later. 

Finally, a horrific memory came to her, the mana explosion that almost destroyed her life at the clan's mana awakening ceremony. 

It is a custom of their clan, the Balingia, to hold a ceremony to awaken mana early. In this ceremony, a secret technique is used to forcefully open mana vessels.

Normally it should open automatically at the age of five, but the Balingya clan speeds up the process and gathers children at the age of three to begin training them from a young age, due to their living environment.

 The Dark Forest, the clan's home, is one of the most dangerous places as it is home to various types of sacred, spiritual, and demonic beasts as well as magical beasts of various elements. This is why the Balingya clan is ranked among the best battle masters.

However, the moment the mana energy started flowing through her body, she felt as if she was being burned from the inside.

Then... explosion.

Unbearable heat. Blinding light. Screams around her and the echo of pain piercing through her bones. She could clearly remember the vessels in her body rupturing under the immense mana pressure. Her body was collapsing.

The blood, the pain and the darkness that swallowed her up after that. She didn't know what happened next, she just remembered a feeling of fear and despair. 

The shock was enough to wake her up, and while she was catching her irregular breathing, a question popped up in her mind, so she opened her eyes and removed it from her chest: "How am I still alive?"

"It's a long story," River replied hesitantly. "The important thing is that you're fine now."

May frowned and almost jumped to hit him but stopped herself. Habits really are scary. 

Suddenly Stella came closer, patted her on the head and said, 

"Don't worry now, rest well" 

The two of them left the room first and when the clan leader was following them he stopped and turned around. 

He stared at Mai for a while then said, 

"When you're bored come visit this old man... Good night"

He quickened his steps and closed the door hardly. 

Mai was confused. "Good night?!" She looked out the window and then back at the door. "It's morning, Grandpa."

–—–

Later, after leaving her to rest, the three gathered outside the room.

Their conversation alternated between concern for her condition and the possibilities for her future. The healer indicated that she needed to be monitored closely, while the grandfather discussed how to deal with the loss of her mana. 

On the other hand, Stella was worried about how to explain it to her and whether she had fully recovered her memories. 

–—–

At the same time, inside the room, Mai felt something strange. She tried to activate the mana inside her body, but was surprised that she couldn't. She felt a deep shock. Nothing came out. 

She began to examine her body carefully, wondering what caused this helplessness, and realizing that this might be the way to find out what had happened to her and what its consequences might be.