"Nirik, so how do we help Emily with this artifact?" Adam asked.
"Just like how you're able to merge with the artifact, Emily would need to merge with this artifact. Since you have Emily's life force, you can connect your body to hers and merge the artifact inside of her," Nirik explained.
Adam quickly brought the Hands of death artifact over to Emily, watching her still in stasis. Lyra came over and connected her mind to Adam via neuro-link. Adam started the process of merging Emily with the artifact. Adam held Emily's hands as he transferred his mana inside, and Lyra decoded the artifact before merging it with Emily's body.
As the artifact sank into Emily's body, the process started. The artifact broke down and merged with her body. Emily suddenly opened her eyes, as if she had just woken up from a nap. As Emily looked around, seeing Adam holding her hands, she instantly pulled her hands back.
"Who are you?! What are you doing in my room?" Emily asked, feeling a sudden fear, not knowing how she got inside an unknown location.
Emily's parents came in, and she saw familiar faces. "Mom! Dad! What is happening? How did I get here?" Emily asked as she hugged her parents.
"It seems that Emily has lost part of her memories due to the life force depletion and the incomplete artifact to replenish it. Since she was in the process of rebirth, it could mean that part of her memories are lost," Lyra spoke to Adam via neuro-link.
"I'm glad you're okay, my dear," Emily's parents said, embracing her.
"Mom, Dad, please take me home. I can't remember what happened and how I got here," Emily pleaded in distress.
"Calm down, my dear, we are currently safe in this house," Emily's parents tried to calm her down.
As Emily looked at Adam, a jolt of fragmented memories shocked her and put her into hysteria. "Ahhh, Get away from me!!! Why are you doing this to me?!" Emily shouted frantically, trying to stay away from Adam.
Adam looked on in disbelief, seeing his wife in hysteria. He was unable to comprehend what was happening; she wasn't just losing her memory but couldn't stand him being there as well.
"Adam, we need to leave the room. Give Emily some time to recover," Lyra said as she pulled Adam away. Adam reluctantly moved, unable to say anything, not knowing if whatever he said could calm her down. Adam's heart ached, seeing and hearing Emily in that state. He felt powerless, knowing he couldn't do anything to help her.
Lyra pulled Adam out of the room and closed the door. Adam stared blankly, wondering if her memory loss could be permanent. "What should I do?!" Adam whispered, holding back his tears, feeling helpless.
"Be patient! You need to give her some time," Lyra said, trying to comfort him.
Adam walked away, unable to process the turmoil. So many thoughts raced through his mind: "Is it permanent memory loss?! Should I go now and take all the artifacts? Could I just get a hug from her?! Will she ever talk to me again? Is the child inside going to be okay? Will me being near her cause more pain?!" Adam thought to himself as he walked slowly toward the front door.
Everyone who heard Emily's voice shouting remained silent. They saw the look on Adam's face at the door, knowing he was unable to grasp the situation. Internally, his mind was shattered, unable to think straight. Helena wanted to go to Adam to hug him, but Albert grabbed her shoulder. "Now is not the time. Let him internalize everything by himself," Albert advised.
Everyone watched as Adam walked out of the door, staring into the blank area in front of him. Lyra walked behind him, assuring everyone she would take care of him.
Adam instantly teleported away into a forest in the unknown lands. Lyra used a teleportation scroll to get near the unknown lands. Lyra transformed and flew over, knowing where Adam was located. She descended quietly, not wanting to disturb Adam, and walked to a nearby tree, peeking at what Adam was doing.
Adam's tears began flowing as he tried to cover his face while leaning on a tree. He felt the exhaustion of fighting through the apocalypse to get the artifact, the journey of going through almost dying only to find his love hating him. He was afraid of her losing her memories permanently. All those memories she spent with him gone; he was afraid of losing Emily completely. Adam cried his heart out alone in the unknown lands where he once felt calm.
Lyra, seeing her love heartbroken and crying, felt a tang of jealousy mixed with heartache. Lyra covered her mouth as the feeling of wanting to be loved hurt her even more. She didn't want Adam to hear her cries. She knew she could never be Adam's first love. Lyra broke down on her knees, knowing Adam's heart belonged to Emily. It hurt her even more seeing Adam hurting due to Emily. Lyra felt the pain of human emotions deeper; Adam love for her could never be the same as his love for Emily. Adam's cries echoed throughout the area as Lyra quietly cried near him.