MEMELAND

"...We've met before?"

Zane looked into Kai's eyes for a long moment.

"..."

"Not yet."

Kai frowned.

"...What?"

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Zane's lips.

"We hadn't."

"..."

"But..."

She took another step forward.

"We've met now."

Silence.

The sound of the waterfall filled the valley.

Neither of them spoke.

Behind them...

Chocomint let out a quiet sigh.

"...Looks like you two will have plenty to talk about."

He stretched his shoulders.

"I'll leave you both to it."

Without waiting for a reply...

He turned and walked back toward the village.

Within moments...

He disappeared behind the trees.

Now...

Only Kai and Zane remained.

The silence lingered.

Finally...

Zane spoke.

"You should have a lot of questions."

Kai looked at her.

Then slowly nodded.

"...Yeah."

"I do."

"Good."

She turned away.

"Follow me."

Neither tried to start a conversation.

The path climbed steadily until it reached a rocky cliff overlooking the hidden valley.

Below...

The Order carried on with their daily lives.

Children ran across rope bridges.

Farmers tended their fields.

A few members trained beneath the shade of towering trees.

The peaceful scenery stretched as far as the eye could see.

Zane stopped near the edge.

The wind gently moved her black-and-red hair.

Without looking at Kai...

She asked,

"What do you remember?"

Kai was quiet.

He looked toward the valley.

"...Fragments."

"What kind?"

He closed his eyes.

"...I remember..."

"...seeing you die."

The wind suddenly felt colder.

"..."

"I don't know where."

"I don't know when."

"But..."

"You died."

Zane remained silent.

Kai continued.

"And..."

"...another memory."

"You handed me a sword."

"I think..."

"...you were smiling."

"I reached for it..."

"...and then everything disappeared."

Silence returned.

Zane stared quietly at the valley below.

Her expression didn't change.

After several long seconds...

She finally spoke.

"...I don't remember much either."

Kai looked toward her.

"...But..."

Before the sentence finished—

She vanished.

Kai's pupils shrank.

"What—"

A hand shot toward his neck.

Its fingers perfectly straight.

Like the edge of a blade.

Instinct moved before thought.

Kai twisted sideways.

His forearm intercepted the strike.

Thud.

The impact sent him sliding backward.

"...!"

"What the hell?!"

"For now..."

Zane answered calmly.

"...Block."

She stepped forward again.

Another strike.

Kai barely caught it.

A third.

Then a fourth.

Each attack flowed seamlessly into the next.

No wasted movement.

No unnecessary force.

Just...

Perfect efficiency.

Kai continued retreating.

Every block rattled his arms.

Every impact pushed him another step back.

"What are you doing?!"

Zane didn't answer.

Her hand swept toward his shoulder.

Kai instinctively redirected it.

His body moved before his mind understood why.

Zane's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.

Again.

Again.

Again.

Kai redirected another strike.

Then another.

For nearly ten seconds...

Neither landed a clean hit.

The only sounds were footsteps against stone and the sharp impacts of each exchange.

Then—

Zane stepped inside his guard.

Her palm struck Kai square in the chest.

THUMP.

The force launched him backward.

He slid several meters before dropping onto one knee.

"...Ghk..."

Kai looked up, breathing heavily.

"...The hell, Zane?!"

She calmly walked toward him.

Kai immediately raised his guard.

Zane stopped.

Then...

Extended her hand.

"...?"

Kai stared at it.

Confused.

Zane spoke softly.

"Even if you don't remember..."

"...your body does."

Kai lowered his guard slightly.

"What?"

"There was hesitation."

"...But your body still followed the flow."

She looked directly into his eyes.

"...Although..."

"...there's a slight difference."

Kai frowned.

"What difference?"

"You."

"..."

"You're different from the one I remember."

Kai blinked.

"...What the heck are you talking about?"

Zane didn't answer.

Instead...

She simply moved her outstretched hand a little closer.

Silently telling him to take it.

After a brief hesitation...

Kai grabbed her hand.

Zane effortlessly pulled him back onto his feet.

She brushed the dust from her sleeve.

Then turned away.

"Meet me at the hall later."

Kai frowned.

"...That's it?"

No answer.

Zane continued walking.

Without another word...

She disappeared down the mountain path.

Kai remained standing on the cliff.

More confused than ever.

"...What the hell is wrong with everyone in this place?"

Far below...

The peaceful village carried on as if nothing had happened.