The forest of Avalon was never silent. Even in the dead of night, whispers and unseen horrors loomed in the woods—especially that thing.

  To Derek, and to most adventurers, it was an ever-growing graveyard of glory and coin.

  Levi said with a confused look, “But Derek, you’re an A-rank adventurer. You said the forest monsters were nothing to you. If we go now, we can save the others!”

  Derek sat on the floor, his broad shoulders sagging. His eyes glinted with a mix of rage and terror. He spoke in a low, strained voice.

  “Listen, Levi. There’s a lot you don’t know about Avalon. I can handle most forest beasts here. But that thing…”

  His voice shook.

  “It’s not just a monster. It’s a curse on this land. This adventurer’s hallucinating—his party’s gone. They’re all dead by now.” Tears welled in his eyes.

  The adventurer’s breaths grew shallow, then stopped. Derek gently closed the man’s eyes with a trembling hand.

  “We treat that thing like a natural calamity.”

  Levi asked, “If the forest is that dangerous, why go there? Can’t you just avoid it?”

  “Then what do you want us to do? Sit in our houses and watch our wives and children starve to death?” A giant, scarred man with overgrown muscles shouted. He rested a massive axe on his shoulder.

  “We are adventurers. Risking our lives to fight monsters is part of who we are. There’s never a guarantee we’ll come back from a quest, yet we go—because of the adventure, and to feed our families.”

  “Luis,” Derek said in a worried voice. “He’s new here. Don’t scare him too much.”

  The muscular giant frowned. “Why are you siding with an outsider? Why defend him? Oh… I know. It’s because of your little—”

  Suddenly, the ground trembled.

  The crowd began to fade away. Some adventurer took the dead body to his family to bid him last goodbye.

  Derek and Levi went to the healer’s room. There Levi saw a beautiful woman in her late twenties wearing glasses.

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  She was sitting on a chair. On the table there were lots of papers. She was busy writing something with a feather pen and ink.

  The room smelled good like herbal medicine. Derek with a smile, “How are you doing Miss Lily?”

  Lily with a forced smile, “I’m fine Derek. What brings you here. I told you last time if you injure yourself again by being carefree, I won’t heal you for free.”

  Derek putting his hand on Levi’s shoulder, “It’s not me this time, Miss Lily. I found him in the deep forest, he had lost his memories, can you check if he has any internal injuries and can you do something about his lost memories.”

  Miss Lily with a suspicious look, “That’s rather odd to be in the deep forest like this. Derek it’s one surprise after another when you are around. Ok I’ll see.”

  Looking at Levi, Lily asked, “What’s your name, do you remember?”

  “It’s Levi,” Levi said hesitantly.

  Lily said, “Now I’ll flow my mana into your body to see your health condition and whether you have any internal injury.”

  After a while Lily said with a surprise look on her face, “He is totally fine, he had some bruises on his face and body I healed it. I can’t do anything about the lost memories though. I’m an average Healer even high level healers can’t solve memory related health issues.”

  Hearing this Levi became depressed. Because it was crucial to know who his current body belonged to.

  What if the previous owner of the body had lots of enemies who wanted him dead that would explain him being unconscious in the deep forest.

  Derek said with a worried voice, “Is there no other way, his family must be worried sick about him.”

  Lily said, “There is a way which is next to impossible. The head healer of the royal family may be able to restore his lost memories. I heard the head Healer of the royal family is the genius of the century when it comes to healing.”

  Derek with a depressed voice, “There is no way I can afford the money or connection for this, neither can you Miss Lily.”

  Derek turned to Levi and said, “I’m sorry Levi. It looks like you have to live your life without your past memories. There’s nothing that can be done about it. Just start a new life.”

  Levi with a smile, “It’s ok Derek you have already helped so much. I don’t know how to repay you. Without your help I wouldn’t have made it this far. I would have gotten eaten by the deep forest beasts. So thank you kindly.”

  Levi was surprised because some words were coming out of his mouth unintentionally.

  Derek with a happy smile, “Look at this well-mannered young man. You must be from a decent family, maybe a noble family perhaps. You do look like a noble if you were dressed and cleaned properly.”

  Lily, “Now that you mentioned it. He does look and talk the part. He’s going to be fifteen soon and the big awakening ceremony is going to happen in a few months in our town. All the people, even royals, are going to come to Avalon for the awakening ceremony."

  "Who knows? Maybe a royal will adopt him if he has potential. He’ll be set for life and if he is lucky maybe he’ll be able to meet the head Healer of the royal family.”

  Levi got confused, “Why would royals come to this town?”

  Derek said, “Avalon is semi developed. But it was the birthplace of the legendary hero. It has a huge stone that can awaken and measure potential talent. It is said, children who awaken by touching this stone in their coming of age will be blessed by the gods.”

  Derek said, “Don’t worry. In this few months I’ll train you to shape.”

  Suddenly, Levi's left eye began to glow again, and a whisper echoed in his mind.

  "The eclipse approaches... the chosen must rise."