lost in memories

A Stein goes on, and I can't know at which time I will leave this place. My memories become so faint, and the only thing I can see are the harmless creatures going around me, always accompanying me, making me feel so comfortable. One of them approaches me, their color white and clear like glass, walking slowly on small feet.

I lower myself to see what it wants. It looks at me, smiling, putting its hand on mine cheerfully, which feels strange for some reason. 'Mia, come with us. Let's run together. No one will be here to bother you or make you sad. You'll always be happy with us.'

Initially feeling strange, suddenly, I feel so comforted that I just want to do what they want. So, I hold its hand, and all of them surround us. They start to run, and I run with them as peacefully as I can. It feels so fun and comfortable that at some point, I don't want to return. I just want to stay in this place. I don't need anyone, and even if I want someone, I can't remember. We're going through beautiful fields with all these beautiful trees around us. I forget everything and just go with the flow.

Fairy King (POV)

I am sitting on a bridge, alone for the first time. All the fairies are around me, each engaged in their tasks. The weather is pleasant, and everything seems fine. I wonder what Mia is doing—whether she's training, relaxing, or just gazing at the serene blue sky. I'm not sure. I feel the need to visit her, but I can't, especially after this recent incident. I don't know how I ran away, but suddenly, I see Mia and the other fairies running towards me, some even flying with their wings. I get a bit flustered, wondering what might happen next because I haven't heard anything from her until now.

There she is, on the ground, panting for air. When she looks at me, she shows, from the bottom of her heart, tears and sobbing. It looks like an emergency. I approach her, trying to be her voice, 'Mia... Mia... I can't find her. She disappeared into thin air.'

At this point, I clap my hands to transport myself to Mia, but all I see is the field; she's not there. So, I sneak into the magic tower guided by a small fairy to her room. There's nothing but a source of magic in the room. I begin to follow it, finding a book in a closet, looking like a cheap artifact. I approach cautiously and sit down.

I see a circle drawn inside the book and realize this contraption is capturing souls. I look at the little fairy, and my eyes darken. I go to the table nearest to me, making sure no one can hear me, and put it down slowly, without activating anything. I look at the fairy, who seems responsible for Mia's safety.

I hit the table with all my force, looking at the fairy again, wanting answers. Her voice is cracking as she pleads, her body shaking. She knows everything. 'Mia started to be so interested in the artifact that she began making some herself. She asked me if she could do something like this, and I told her she could, but only if she collected those items. I didn't tell her about the danger if it failed...'

As I feel my blood boiling, I try to calm myself, sitting in the nearest chair, putting my hand on my head, thinking about the trouble this girl has gotten me into. I know this magic tower is somewhat neglectful because they didn't even care when one of them disappeared. They didn't even track a strange mana in their tower. I didn't expect this to happen. Anyway, I glance at the little fairy, who's still terrified, shaking on the table.

I don't even give her comfort because she doesn't deserve it. She didn't do her work properly. I begin analyzing the type of magic she put on. While I discover it's more tragic, the type of magic she used is linked to the soul. So, even if I try to stop the artifact or damage it in any way possible, her soul will be shattered all around the world. I bite my lips, trying to think of just one idea to help me save her. The only option is to enter this broken contraption, even if it fuzzes my soul a bit. I need to save her, my face growing firmer.

I put my hand on the artifact, and it transports me to Mia's location. I can't feel her, but at the same time, it's so faint, like some type of magical plat, no one can feel it. So, I start looking around to understand what's happening. I stumble upon something weird: a pawn with the same colors as Mia's. A woman dressed all in white approaches me, smiling as if she's achieved something, holding my hand so creepily.

I let my hands free, but she keeps smiling at me. 'You have to know what you want. She's waiting for you. I don't even know if she still remembers. I hope you find her.' She disappears, her voice vanishing with her. I look at the piece in my hand; it's a bit just strange.

I don't know how this girl managed to stay here that long. So, I start walking around, trying to find... At first, everything is full of flowers, hills, trees, and all the beautiful nature, but suddenly, everything turns into a desert. It washes over everything and lenses of metal. Younger ones yelling at some people, the sky full of younger ones trying to make me feel uncomfortable. But one of them smiles, and it gets interesting, so I begin to observe it slowly.

I see her talking to another man I don't recognize, but it irritates me a little. I hate this type of feeling. So, I focus my eyes, trying to find her again, walking more. Things worsen in every direction I look. Some of her memories play around. One of them reminds me of myself when I was younger before becoming a king. Memories of a young girl version of Mia, looking so young and innocent, sitting in a place, holding a paper that seems essential to one of the men. Why does her life look like this?

I start exploring more, seeing more memories with every step I take, making me more curious. One of her memories, so beautiful, shows her as a little artist, drawing, making everything look so beautiful. I like this version of her. But at some point, I get lost in these moments, observing more of her memories just to understand how much determination she has and how she acquired it.

I start to understand her from being abandoned by this man I don't know. He seemed wealthy. Her memories show that he treated her well at first but gradually shifted for some reason. One of the memories shows her mother's death, and this poor girl just crying hysterically. As I put her memories together, the surroundings start feeling less bitter.

As if understanding her point of view, I remember my old self to relate a bit to her, even though she's suffered more than me. Honestly, I start walking faster, with memories popping up uncontroll and I look around this girl is strong than me as more I look at it

As if understanding her point of view, I remember my old self to relate a bit to her, even though she's suffered more than me. Honestly, I start walking faster, with memories popping up uncontrollably left and right. Suddenly, I see her with some magical creatures, the type that makes a person foolish, causing them to lose all their memories. My heart sinks, realizing she has already lost her memories because all of them are present around this place, but not within her. It means she has become a part of this artifact.

Even if I try to save her, it'll be a big risk. I start walking slowly, reminding myself that I am a king and shouldn't fear anything. But she made an artifact that can kill any person without them feeling pain. It's useful but not for suicide. So, I move closer to her, trying to touch her shoulder without making too much contact. She looks at me confused, tilting her head, not recognizing me.

I expected this reaction, but the magical creature gets closer to me, so I step back for my own safety. I can stay in this place all day and go out, but she is already a part of it. 'Mia, I am someone you've known for a while. If you want to talk to me, I need to get those creatures away because I can't talk with you if the magical creatures know all your secrets.'

Because her brain feels so numb, she agrees easily. The magical creature leaving her is a relief. But as she gets closer to me, I feel something strange. Her mind seems to be of a five-year-old. She sits on the ground, looking at me so purely, as if she has never experienced any type of pain, physical or emotional. I look at her, feeling a pang in my eyes. She's so fragile now that even a slightly harsh word, even as a joke, might make her cry. So, I remind myself to talk to her as if she's five years old and sit beside her.

'So Mia, what do you want to do now?' She looks at me excitedly, pointing in the direction she was running earlier. Her face is red from walking too much. 'We were running in this direction, but I still don't remember why. But it was so much fun. You have to try it.' At this point, when she says she doesn't remember anything or why, I know we need to collect all her scattered memories.

But when I look at her again, her body and form change to a younger version of herself, like an eight or five-year-old when I first met her. It was normal before, but now I only see her younger version. It means Mia is getting more scattered, and this place. I need to save her now before she becomes the artifact herself.