Chapter 13: The Forest of Forgotten Names

The trees stood like silent giants, their bark etched with runes no one remembered. A suffocating fog blanketed the ground, whispering lost words in the ears of those who dared tread here.

Kairo's voice was grave. "This forest devours memories. If you hold onto regrets, it'll twist them."

Kane pulled up his hood. "I know. It's where I left my name."

Elara tilted her head. "You… forgot your own name?"

Kane didn't answer. He simply walked forward, and the others followed.

---

The porcupine system trailed behind, dragging a leaf like a makeshift notebook. *"Entering memory-manipulating terrain. Emotional spikes expected. Probability of romantic tension: 62%. Probability of someone crying: 84%."

Kael leaned toward Elara. "So, did he really forget his name, or is that just dramatic bad-boy branding?"

Zan sighed. "It's real. I was there when he… vanished."

---

The deeper they went, the heavier the air became. Faces appeared in tree trunks—laughing, crying, whispering forgotten truths.

Elara shivered. "They're not real. Right?"

Varek muttered, "If you doubt, they become real."

Kane stopped before a clearing. A pedestal stood there, wrapped in vines. On it lay a steel circlet.

He spoke, voice hollow. "The Circlet of Resolve. Only those who know who they are can wear it."

Kael snorted. "Well, we're screwed."

The porcupine system: *"Correction: You are screwed. Everyone else has existential backup files."

Kane stepped forward, and the moment he touched the pedestal, fog surged around him, cutting him off from the group.

---

In his trial, Kane stood alone.

Before him appeared a man with silver hair, gentle eyes, and a bloodied chest.

Kane whispered, "Father..."

The illusion spoke. "You let me die. You ran."

Another vision—his sister, face half-burned. "You promised you'd protect me. You vanished."

He dropped to his knees. "I tried… I… forgot who I was because remembering hurt."

A third figure rose—it was Kane himself, younger, eyes bright.

"You wanted to be a hero. What happened?"

Kane stood, trembling. "I failed. But failing once doesn't mean I'm finished."

He walked through the illusions. They didn't stop him.

The circlet pulsed, rose, and crowned his head. The fog scattered.

---

Back outside, the group tensed as Kane emerged, eyes shining gold for a moment before dimming.

Elara smiled. "You did it."

He nodded. "And I remember my name. It's Raykan. Kane was a mask."

The porcupine system squealed. *"Identity confirmed! Plot armor leveled up! Also, please note: 'Raykan' sounds way cooler than 'Kane.'"

Kael grinned. "Alright, Raykan. That's one emo soul saved. Next?"

Kairo pulled out a crumbling map. "Two more relics remain before the awakening can begin. Next stop: the Skyforge Spire."

Elara touched the circlet. "And you're okay now? Really?"

Raykan gave her a small smile. "No. But I'm ready to fight for who I want to be."

From behind a bush, the porcupine system whispered to itself, *"Another one joins the Elara Fan Club. I'm gonna need a bigger notebook."

---

End of Chapter 13