Chapter 8 : The Song of Tides

The new lord of Emerald City, deeply grateful for Leo and Luna's sacrifices, decided to offer them a personal gift.

He led them deep into the treasury, where countless ancient artifacts lay hidden. However, his gaze was fixed on a particular object that shimmered with an unusual radiance.

It was a ring—smooth, metallic, and unassuming in design, yet crafted with extraordinary precision. A tiny, transparent gemstone was embedded in it, and when light passed through, the gem seemed to hold an endless, flowing void within.

"This is the Void Ring." The lord's voice was solemn, tinged with reverence. "Forged from the essence of the Great Tree, it connects to the void and gathers various elements. The wearer can access its stored energy at will."

Leo took the ring, feeling the faint pulse of its energy. It fit his finger perfectly, as if responding to something deep within him.

"Thank you for this gift," Leo said, though a strange unease stirred in his heart—the ring's energy felt eerily familiar, as if tied to the fragmented memories that had haunted him.

Luna observed the ring with narrowed eyes, sensing something beyond its simple appearance. It resonated with an inexplicable part of her intuition.

After briefly explaining how to use the ring, the lord bid them farewell, and the two resumed their journey.

On the third day after leaving Emerald City, Luna suddenly stopped in her tracks. Her brows furrowed as her sharp gaze swept across their surroundings.

"Leo, do you feel that?" Her voice was low and tense.

Leo halted as well, scanning the area. "Feel what?"

"We're being followed." There was an urgency in Luna's tone that was impossible to ignore.

She adjusted her perception, searching for any anomalies. Then—faintly—she heard it. A heartbeat, almost ghostlike, lingering in the air.

Leo, now on high alert, tightened his grip on his broken sword. The atmosphere felt heavy, an invisible pressure pressing down on them.

That night, they set up camp in a dense forest. Moonlight filtered through the branches, and the wind carried the crisp scent of the wilderness. Sitting by the fire, they exchanged lighthearted words, yet both were acutely aware of the growing tension.

Then—soft footsteps.

A familiar presence drifted toward them.

Luna instantly sprang to her feet, prepared for a confrontation. Leo followed suit, his expression dark as he fixed his gaze ahead.

Under the moon's glow, a figure emerged from the trees—

A masked thief. Agile and armed with twin daggers, his face was hidden beneath a cloth veil.

Leo wasted no time. With a swift step forward, he swung his fist—

BAM!

The thief crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

But what surprised them more was the tiny figure beside him. A delicate shell spirit, its wings flowing like shifting tides, hovered close. A faint melody, like the rhythmic crash of waves against the shore, whispered through the air.

Luna's eyes widened in shock. "This… This is the Song of Tides."

The masked thief stirred, groaning as he regained consciousness. He stood, swaying slightly, and locked eyes with Leo.

"You don't remember me, do you?" His voice was low, laced with anger and a bitterness that ran deep.

Leo studied the man's face, but his mind was blank. Yet, an unsettling familiarity crept into his heart.

"Who are you? Why are you following us?" Leo demanded, his voice cold.

Silence. Then, the thief slowly removed his mask.

A familiar face was revealed beneath.

"My name is Dan." The thief's voice carried both resignation and fury. "I was once a member of the Silver Pentagram."

Luna's eyes widened. "You're Dan?"

Dan nodded. His gaze was filled with layered emotions. "Yes. One of the Silver Pentagram's own."

Leo stiffened. His mind felt like a shattered mirror—fragments of memory attempting to surface but never fully forming.

"You really don't remember?" Dan's voice sharpened. "You don't remember the battles we fought together?"

Leo shook his head. "I… I can't."

Luna's voice broke the silence. "The leader of the Silver Pentagram… was Leo."

Leo's body tensed. The broken pieces of his past shifted again, but clarity remained out of reach.

Dan's expression darkened. "Head north. There, you'll find a part of your missing memories."

He hesitated for a moment before continuing, his voice edged with frustration.

"I'll be waiting at my home—"

A pause. Then, a sharp glint in his eyes.

"Driftwind Sea."

With that, Dan broke free from their grasp and vanished into the night.

Leo stared at the empty space where Dan had stood, his heart pounding.

"…Driftwind Sea?" Luna murmured, frowning. "I've never heard of it."

Leo's brows furrowed. "Neither have I."

Luna's fingers tightened around the Void Ring, deep in thought. A determined glint flashed in her eyes.

"We have to go," she said. "If there's even a chance it can unlock your past, we can't ignore it."

Leo took a slow breath, his resolve hardening.

"Then let's go," he said. "I need to know who I really am."

With that, they set off once more, their path now leading northward.

No matter what dangers awaited them, Leo knew one thing—

He had to reclaim his lost memories.

And the key to his past lay in the Driftwind Sea.