He stood there, his confusion reaching a new high.

‘Wasn’t this a memory? Then why the heck…’

Was she talking to him?

The young Zephyr, who was engulfed in flames, had a distorted smile.

Meanwhile, the Zephyr next to him was silent, and her presence faded away as she took a few steps back.

“I am still a little confused, but I finally remember. My mission, my calling!”

She opened her hands as if to embrace the world as her eyes stared into nothingness.

This made Illyan’s stomach churn.

‘What did I get into?’

Staring at the girl in front of him made him wonder how the heck he got into such a situation.

“Now, now, I know that you must be confused and that you have many questions. Unfortunately, I—no, I mean, we—can't divulge much since the world itself would censor us and possibly penalize us. There are other reasons, but you don't need to know. You aren't ready.”

Illyan watched in silence when he realized that they weren't in the same place at all.

While she spoke to him, it was mostly her talking to an empty place where she expected him to be.

It was as if she stared at him through the timescale.

Goosebumps showed on Illyan’s hands as he realized what implications this could have.

“I’ve just regained some of my memories, so the restrictions should be looser for a short time.”

Illyan heard her muttering as he watched her burn alive.

As she said this, the burned flesh on her face started to disappear.

But not in the way Illyan expected.

Instead of burning to ashes, her body was dissolving into some kind of silvery energy as her skin turned translucent.

The same thing was happening in the entire tent as things inside dissolved into thin air.

Soon, even the tent itself disappeared as Illyan was greeted once again by the northern night sky.

The difference was that the stars, which were usually faint, were now suddenly blazing as certain patterns of never-before-seen constellations appeared.

These constellations, as if to guide the world’s laws and rules, shone with intensity as the surrounding land’s air rippled.

Soon, small things started to change.

The place where the tent stood now had kush grass growing on it, which was promptly covered in snow.

The traces of boots that were aiming toward the tent also disappeared, and in no time the entire place seemed to be untouched by human hands.

While he could not put his finger on it, he found the sensation quite peculiar.

As if the world itself got rid of her existence.

“Though I have lived through many lifetimes, this one was very enjoyable. Strange, considering its short yet uneven nature. But maybe that was what was so peculiar about it. Peaceful days like this were truly… enjoyable.”

While Zephyr talked, lost in melancholy, Illyan listened to her attentively.

It was obvious that she didn't talk to just herself but was directing her words at him as if to explain.

‘Lifetimes and regaining memories? So it was like that, huh?’

It was not the bad scenario Illyan imagined.

There was no possession nor any infiltration in the Bakur Tribe.

It was reincarnation.

A phenomenon that was said to happen from time to time.

Simple as that.

Of course, not many people believed in that, but considering that Zephyr seemed to be much stronger than he imagined, there was no way for him to outright deny it.

‘If a powerful being forcibly reincarnated for the sake of the so-called mission part was true… What was the mission then? And why was I included in this?’

Just as he thought about it, the scene changed.

It returned back to the younger version of Illyan that was meditating at this moment.

Little did he know, however, that silverish smoke was heading his way.

“To finish this without being discovered by them, I need to hide my existence. I already erased everything. Except in your memories, I do not exist. Not even these bastards can peek into the mind of a broken man.”

As her formless body whispered words that made Illyan frown, the silver haze started to seep into his clueless younger self.

With this, the name of Zephyr, Bakur Tribe’s youngling, disappeared from the history of this world.

Only one man remembered.

But because of that, his own mental state was questioned.

Zephyr, the imaginary friend he thought up during his worst days…

Wasn’t imaginary at all…

………

As other memories showed up, Illyan lost himself in them.

These were memories of him and Zephyr.

When he had to amputate her leg as she was screaming in pain, when she was bickering with Zers over insignificant things, or when she gave him the advice that turned his life around.

“In truth, I felt guilty. Even now, I feel guilty. Since that day I met you, from the pain and shock, I started to remember more and more from my life. Only small snippets. But it was enough to make me realize how much I have wronged you.”

The remorseful voice echoed as the real Zephyr appeared next to him.

“Even now, I remember only the most important things. The rest is gone until I find these memories personally.”

“I have done many things I have regretted in the past. It is nothing new. But you could say that the memories of us traveling together influenced me a lot. The desire to repay this karma.”

Illyan turned from the memories playing out and looked into those starlight-like eyes.

“What… what did you do?”

Illyan’s voice almost wavered as he felt a bad premonition deep inside his guts.

“Fate is fickle. I knew that by reincarnating, I would not achieve my goal with my memories and abilities sealed. Thus… before I reincarnated, I made small insurance.”

She looked deep into Illyan’s eyes.

“And that was you.”

“Me?” Illyan opened his eyes wide.

“I am the one who gave you your gift, Illyan. To the soul fated to be extinguished right after its birth, I gave an ability that I stole from one of the enemies I had faced before and gave it to you to turn your fate around. Thanks to this karmic connection, I also knew we would meet one day to settle the debt.”

She said it calmly, but her eyes betrayed the true emotions behind her words.

“I just didn’t expect that instead of you repaying me for the opportunity I gave you, the karma I have caused made me indebted to you.”

With a sigh, she shook her head.

“What…?” Illyan could not understand for a second what she had just told him. He just could not face it.

“So my suffering…”

“It was my fault. Or rather, everything happened as it was supposed to, but the only thing that changed was your survival, which was at the same time the cause of your prolonged suffering.”

Illyan looked with a complicated gaze at the woman in front of him.

There wasn’t a day where he didn’t wonder what he would be like without that accursed ability of his.

Would he live a peaceful life in the village?

Or would he already be the fertilizer for the plants?

It was obviously the latter, but he still thought of ‘what if’ scenarios.

“But didn’t the false gods, or whatever they are called, attack me just because of this ability?”

He asked with dim eyes. There was something bubbling deep inside his heart, but he didn’t show it.

The Zephyr in front of him was an unfathomable being.

Showing his raw emotions would not do anything.

However, while he expected her to apologize or try to excuse her actions, she said something else.

“No. They would attack you anyway. That is because you were fated to have one ability already.”

Once again, Illyan felt the ridiculousness of the words he had just listened to.

If he had the ability from the beginning…

Then…

Just as he wanted to speak, she waved her hand and suddenly no voice could escape through his mouth.

“Your original ability could be called Rapid Regeneration. Quite strong, but nothing special. It is a kind of power that this World’s Will throws everywhere to strengthen the world’s populace, especially in such barren parts where there is a higher chance of survival.

Unfortunately, you were discovered, and your original gift was enough for them to eliminate you before you could mature. Those that the Blood Emperor named as false gods would not let you off that easily. They would calculate the exact limit of your ability and use that to kill you.

But that changed when I interfered. At that time, I was in a precarious situation and was barely able to use my powers. I could not choose anyone specifically and had to use the connection to the World Will to feel people’s fate and their gifts given to them by the world. And your ability was the best suited, considering the fate they already prepared for you.

So I used a certain essence and fused it with your ability. That was enough to change your life, as they didn't foresee the change of your ability. However, I did not expect the outcome, as I myself was in a hurry to reincarnate. You suffered, Illyan. Much more than most people deserve.

Yet you survived. Not only that, but through that suffering you fully fused with that ability which I intended to take back. They still do not know, but once they realize, you will be pursued even more.”

Zephyr didn't stop talking as her words flowed out lightly despite the heaviness of their meaning.

Illyan, who couldn't speak, felt that he should be angry, but instead he felt tired.

The emotions surging through him made him feel drained.

There was simply too much to take in.

Zephyr was an otherworldly being beyond his comprehension, and she was the one to give him this accursed power…

‘I wouldn't have suffered so much if not for her.’

This was the first thought going through his mind.

‘I would have died back then.’ And this was the second thought.

He could not truly loathe her if she had given him the opportunity to survive and to live.

Of course, the feeling of betrayal was palpable.

Zephyr saw his expression and sighed lightly.

“But now, since I finished my thing here, I must return. That is the reason why I met you like this. This is my apology and also my farewell.”

With her saying that, she caressed his cheeks as she looked into Illyan's eyes.

There was a feeling of release as Illyan's throat could move again, and he stood there stiff, letting her caress him.

“Was it all fake?”

But in the end, he could not suppress his curiosity and asked.

“What was?”

“The relationship between you and the tribe, between you and your family and… between you and me.”

He stared right into her eyes as he sought the answer.

“Of course not. I did not have any ulterior motives towards you. I truly felt that the tribe is my home. Unfortunately, for someone like me who has lived through this not once, I kept a certain distance. I only needed to visit this place and then travel with you to meet Him.”

She softly explained as the scenery around them changed once again.

“Him?”

Illyan asked as he looked around.

The surroundings shifted once again.

Another place he knew. It was the Cold Sea.

“You don't mean…?!”

The idea that bloomed in his mind made him widen his eyes.

“That’s right. I visited this world to visit the Ancient Dragon. One on the verge of True Godhood, a Transcendent being called Azar Hail’llaar, the Cold Death.”

As she said this, Illyan remembered the dragon spirit that was in the Cold Sea.

“That was a dragon on the verge of Godhood?”

“He was. Until he wasn't. They got him. Shot him ruthlessly down into this place where he got stranded.”

As Illyan absorbed her words, he thought for a second before he asked: “The eye I met under the lake. Was it also that strong?”

“That? No. That is only a little thing playing a king here, one to scheme against mortals while fearing the mighty ones.” Zephyr’s eyes flashed with disdain as she sneered and pushed the single strand of hair falling across her face aside.

“It was lucky to find Azar and use the opportunity to attack the weakened dragon. However, despite attacking at its strongest, it still lost the battle. Of course, it had the last laugh since the dragon’s essence spilled into the world, but it still needed to recover.”

Illyan almost sighed in relief as she added: “Despite that, you were lucky that I was with you back then. Even with your ability, the destruction of spirit would be difficult to survive. The eyes would also not heal because of its essence seeping in. And even if you survived, it would see through your ability and pursue you until the very end of the world. I had to forcibly change the focus of regeneration on your broken spirit and forcibly amplify it by burning your lifespan. Fortunately for you, your lifespan will grow faster as time passes.”

Illyan turned silent as he watched the proud woman in front of him.

The world around them showed the battle on the ice where Illyan was separated from the tribe at a very fast pace. Illyan didn't even look at it as it just blurred around him, showing that it was not important.

It was only when he was pinned down by the Frozen Worm deep under the water, where he stirred the consciousness of the ancient dragon, that the world slowed to its original pace as Illyan came to be once again face to face with this mythical being…

However, his sight was slightly blurred when he looked at the large body, as if he could not fully fathom the being so large, so majestic.

“Azar was someone no mortal should look upon. But the days of his glory passed because of his foolishness.”

As she said this, she waved her hand at Illyan, who felt a sudden shift inside his body.